Whether Long Xiaoyao would intervene in this matter remained unknown. Huo Yuhao could only wait quietly and see how things unfolded.
Long Xiaoyao had a better temperament than the Evil Soul Masters, but that did not mean he was some great philanthropist. Otherwise, he would not have become the Holy Spirit Cult's Grand Elder because of Ye Xishui.
Huo Yuhao kept his head lowered on the surface, but his mind remained taut, his attention constantly fixed on Zhongli Wu.
Long Xiaoyao first glanced at Huo Yuhao, then looked at Zhongli Wu. "Zhongli Wu, I'm taking this child with me."
Zhongli Wu froze and secretly gritted his teeth. "Grand Elder, you should know that he is the Holy Son. He..."
"I said I'm taking this child with me. Do you have a problem with that?" Long Xiaoyao said flatly, not giving Zhongli Wu a chance to finish.
Sensing the unquestionable tone in Long Xiaoyao's voice, Zhongli Wu could only grit his teeth and yield.
Long Xiaoyao glanced at Zhongli Wu, then slowly walked to Huo Yuhao's side. "Child, come with me."
Huo Yuhao kept his head down and followed closely behind Long Xiaoyao, no one able to see the expression on his face.
No matter his reason, Long Xiaoyao's intervention was better than becoming Zhongli Wu's puppet.
Watching Long Xiaoyao lead Huo Yuhao step by step into the depths of the darkness, Zhongli Wu slammed a hand against the armrest of his throne, and fine cracks immediately spread across it.
However, Long Xiaoyao was not only the Holy Spirit Cult's Grand Elder, but also a rank ninety-nine Limit Douluo. Though Zhongli Wu was furious, he had nowhere to vent it and could only wave Scorpion Tiger Douluo away.
Scorpion Tiger Douluo scratched his head. He did not need to bring the person he had brought anymore, and it seemed he no longer needed to carry out the mission either?
As for Huo Yuhao, who had been taken away by Long Xiaoyao, he had not forgotten to conceal himself. He continued pretending to be frightened and stayed close to Long Xiaoyao at all times.
As though he had suddenly remembered something, Long Xiaoyao spoke without turning around.
"Child, what is your Martial Soul?"
Huo Yuhao answered honestly, "My Martial Soul is my eyes."
"Eyes... a Body Martial Soul?"
Yet Long Xiaoyao did not stop walking because of that.
Body Martial Souls were rare, but Long Xiaoyao had lived for so long that he had already seen quite a few. It was not enough to shock him.
Huo Yuhao did not activate Spiritual Detection. He merely followed Long Xiaoyao with his head lowered, secretly using his sharper-than-average eyesight to constantly observe his surroundings from the corner of his eye.
At last, Long Xiaoyao stopped before a purple-black hall.
Huo Yuhao raised his head and swept his gaze around slightly before finally fixing it on the slowly opening doors of the purple-black hall.
Beyond them was pitch-black darkness, so dark one could not see their hand before their face. It was like a monstrous beast opening its jaws, waiting for its prey to walk in willingly.
And who was that prey?
Huo Yuhao followed Long Xiaoyao into the purple-black hall. Dim firelight suddenly flared to life, casting an atmosphere unlike that of any ordinary hall.
Long Xiaoyao stopped and turned around. He said nothing, merely looking at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao had lived a second life, so Long Xiaoyao's gaze naturally could not intimidate him.
But that would have been abnormal, so he could only put on a timid appearance.
"Child, release your Martial Soul and let me have a look."
Long Xiaoyao tried his best to make himself look kind and benevolent.
Given his appearance, he truly could be called kind and benevolent.
At least, no one would have guessed from his appearance that his Martial Soul was the dark-attributed Dark Holy Dragon.
Huo Yuhao released his milky-white Soul Ring, instantly activating Spiritual Detection and Spiritual Sharing.
"Grandpa, you need to relax your mind and let my spiritual power enter for my soul skill to work."
Long Xiaoyao did not suspect anything. His formidable strength meant he had no concern whatsoever that a tiny one-ring child like Huo Yuhao could plot against him.
After accepting Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sharing, Long Xiaoyao's spiritual vision instantly changed.
Feeling the changes in his spiritual vision, Long Xiaoyao could not help but look at Huo Yuhao's milky-white first Soul Ring in admiration.
It was only a Ten-Year Soul Ring, yet it could grant Huo Yuhao such an ability. What kind of extraordinarily rare Soul Beast could have produced it?
Long Xiaoyao immediately asked the question.
"Child, what Soul Beast did your first Soul Ring come from? As your Soul Power rises in the future, can it continue evolving?"
As expected of a Titled Douluo, his insight was completely different from that of ordinary Soul Masters.
Huo Yuhao recalled that after Fan Yu had learned of this soul skill in his previous life, he had never considered such a possibility. He had only regretted that the range of the skill was so limited.
Even after learning that Huo Yuhao's first soul skill could evolve as his level increased, Fan Yu had been extremely shocked, as though he had never known such a thing was possible.
"Grandpa, I don't know what Soul Beast my first Soul Ring came from either. When I arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest, there happened to be a Soul Beast on the verge of death. I only wanted to become a Soul Master, so I immediately killed it. As for the soul skill evolving... I don't know either."
Huo Yuhao gave an ambiguous answer, while also revealing a piece of information.
He only wanted to become a Soul Master.
Long Xiaoyao immediately caught that detail and could not help sighing inwardly.
Nearly all Soul Masters across the continent came from prestigious clans and noble families, which was why the Holy Spirit Cult had been given the opportunity to rise in secret.
Taking advantage of how commoners had no way to awaken their Martial Souls and wished to become Soul Masters, the Holy Spirit Cult had secretly gathered many commoners from Douluo Continent as followers.
After the continents collided more than four thousand years ago and the Holy Spirit Cult migrated to Sun Moon Continent, its development became even more hidden.
As for the Sun Moon Empire, it was not that it could not gather followers there, but rather that the Sun Moon Empire was completely different from Douluo Continent.
The Sun Moon Empire had specialized Martial Soul awakening institutions distributed throughout the empire, specifically awakening Martial Souls for commoners. (There was direct evidence in the original text.)
Therefore, compared with Douluo Continent, the Holy Spirit Cult naturally had far fewer sources of followers in the Sun Moon Empire.
Long Xiaoyao was actually a good person. Although his connection to Ye Xishui meant he could not control the Holy Spirit Cult, in other respects, he was at least far better than that group from Shrek.
Zhongli Wu regarded Huo Yuhao as the Holy Son, but he had no intention of truly raising Huo Yuhao. Instead, he intended to use his Martial Soul to control him.
But after hearing Huo Yuhao's words, all of Long Xiaoyao's thoughts ultimately turned into a sigh.
Huo Yuhao could not be corrupted within the Holy Spirit Cult.
He had also heard Zhongli Wu's words and understood the concept of the Holy Son well.
Therefore, Huo Yuhao could not be allowed to remain in the Holy Spirit Cult.
He could not interfere with the Holy Spirit Cult's fundamental core interests, but for Huo Yuhao, this "Holy Son," Long Xiaoyao was willing to lend a hand.
After pondering for a moment, Long Xiaoyao said, "Child, do you... know Shrek Academy?"
Before you continue