Against Dai Huabin

Three days later.

"What a grand display!" Huo Yuhao was dressed in formal attire. The White Tiger Duke's Mansion, usually cold and austere, was decked out in finery just like him today.

The main gate, which rarely saw much traffic, was bustling with an endless stream of visitors today.

The head steward of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, a middle-aged man with a simple, honest smile, a broad build, and an appearance that seemed completely harmless, stood at the entrance, greeting every distinguished guest with the utmost respect.

Huo Yuhao swept a glance over the scene and, guided by a delicate-looking maid, walked into a spacious hall and arrived at his designated seat.

"Oh, Yuhao, you're here!"

Dai Hao, sitting at the innermost position in the center of the hall, hurriedly beckoned for his favored son to sit down.

Sitting beside Dai Hao was a middle-aged beauty with a fiery figure; she was the Duchess.

After offering a polite greeting, Huo Yuhao sat in his place.

His seat was next to Dai Hao. On the side of the Duchess, a small, golden-haired head kept peeking out.

It was a young boy with a tender face who bore a slight resemblance to Dai Hao; he was Dai Huabin.

Dai Huabin stared at Huo Yuhao. This was the son of the woman who had stolen his mother's affection.

Having been indoctrinated by the Duchess since childhood, Dai Huabin was filled with prejudice against Huo Yuhao.

Especially since the other party had awakened the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power.

Originally, Dai Huabin had been smug about his own White Tiger Martial Soul, which had awakened with Innate Full Soul Power and possessed even higher talent than his eldest brother.

But when he heard that Huo Yuhao had awakened the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, which was even rarer and potentially stronger than his own, jealousy welled up in Dai Huabin's heart. Why?!

"Master, Young Master Yueheng has arrived!"

At the entrance of the hall, a youth of about thirteen, dressed in luxurious clothing with his golden hair combed meticulously, strode into the hall.

Dai Yueheng, Dai Hao's eldest son! He was also the primary heir to the White Tiger Duke's Mansion in the future.

Dai Huabin looked at this so-called elder brother, his gaze even sharper than when he looked at Huo Yuhao.

He disliked Huo Yuhao purely because of his mother and his own personal reasons.

As for Dai Yueheng, he thought, I am also the father's son. Why shouldn't I be the one to inherit this massive Duke's Mansion in the future?

It was the typical traditional mindset of the Dai family: whoever is strongest is the successor!

"Father, Mother!" Dai Yueheng called out respectfully to Dai Hao and the Duchess.

Seeing his eldest son arrive, Dai Hao stood up from his chair, clearly delighted.

"Yueheng, you're here. I was worried that your studies at Shrek Academy were too busy for you to make it back in time for your younger brothers' Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony!"

"Your timing is perfect!"

Dai Yueheng smiled gently. "For my dear younger brothers' Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony, as their big brother, I certainly had to return!"

Dai Hao patted Dai Yueheng on the shoulder. "You have a good heart. This year, both of your younger brothers have awakened their Martial Souls."

"As their big brother, you must set a good example for them!"

"No problem. Father, may I go and have a chat with my dear younger brothers?" Dai Yueheng asked with a smile.

Dai Hao waved his hand grandly. "Go ahead!"

Dai Yueheng bowed and walked over to Dai Huabin first.

Looking at Dai Huabin's lowered head, Dai Yueheng knew that this guy was definitely thinking about the Duke's position he hoped to sit on in the future.

After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, he waited until Dai Hao and his wife had stepped out to meet an old friend, then took the opportunity to belittle Dai Huabin a few times.

Dai Yueheng then walked over to Huo Yuhao. Regarding this younger brother, he felt more surprise than anything else.

He hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to have such high talent. It was a headache; had he known, he would have built a better relationship with him earlier. Still, it wasn't too late.

A flicker of intensity flashed in Dai Yueheng's eyes. A level ten Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, no eligibility to inherit the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, and the blood ties of brotherhood.

He would be the perfect right-hand man in the future. As long as Dai Yueheng could bring Huo Yuhao under his wing, becoming the master of this mansion would be a certainty.

Huo Yuhao had no interest in getting involved in the affairs between these two brothers.

Mainly, with a dog leash hanging over his head watching him at all times, how could he possibly be at ease?

Facing Huo Yuhao's perfunctory attitude, Dai Yueheng was not annoyed; a level ten Spirit Eyes Martial Soul had the right to be arrogant.

"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived! Her Royal Highness the Princess has arrived!"

Once the Emperor of Star Luo arrived, Dai Yueheng and Huo Yuhao could no longer chat idly, so they both went out to welcome the Emperor.

"Greetings...!"

"Worthy Brother, please, there is no need for this. Given the friendship between us, these tedious formalities are entirely unnecessary."

A man wearing a yellow robe and a crown, who looked to be about the same age as Dai Hao, gripped Dai Hao's hand tightly.

"I have come today simply to celebrate your joy in having two such gifted sons!"

The identity of this person was clear: the current Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiawei.

"Thanks to His Majesty's great kindness, Yuhao, Huabin, step forward and meet your father's sworn brother, the current Emperor."

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" x2

Xu Jiawei chuckled, not putting on any of the airs of a sovereign ruler.

"Don't be so formal. Given my relationship with your father, you can just call me Uncle Xu."

"Hello, Uncle Xu." x2

"Good, good, good. Congratulations to you both on awakening your Martial Souls today. These are gifts from your uncle."

Xu Jiawei took two cards from the attendant behind him and handed them to Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin.

"Each of these cards contains 10,000 Gold Soul Coins. Consider this a small token of my affection—it isn't much, but it is a gesture of my goodwill."

Amidst the laughter and cheer, the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony for Dai Huabin and Huo Yuhao reached its final stage.

In this last segment, Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin accompanied Dai Hao onto a stage that had been prepared in advance.

They were there to present themselves to everyone in attendance.

In reality, it was just a way to show their faces to the various major powers: these two are children of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, understand?

Once the introductions were over, just as Huo Yuhao thought the ceremony was coming to an end, an ill-timed voice rang out—it was the Duchess.

She walked onto the stage, her eyes smiling. "Thank you all for coming to attend the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony for my two sons today."

"As it happens, the Starlight Auction held a sale of Spirit Bones a few days ago, and I happened to attend the auction."

"I managed to obtain a Secret Method Soul Bone. You are both such good children to your mother."

"I have been unable to decide which of you should receive this Secret Method Soul Bone."

"Since it is such a lively occasion today, I would like to ask everyone present to bear witness."

"Huabin, Yuhao, are you willing to offer your first Spirit Master Duel on this day, with all eyes upon you?"

"If you are willing, the winner shall receive this Soul Bone as a personal reward from me. Are you willing?"

The Duchess wore a kind and benevolent expression, presenting the image of a doting mother that left Huo Yuhao stunned.

"I am willing, Mother!" Dai Huabin declared immediately.

Having awakened the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, Huo Yuhao possessed astonishing vision.

He looked at Dai Huabin as he made his declaration and did not see a single trace of surprise on his face.

A setup? Do they want to defeat me in front of everyone to win fame for Dai Huabin?

"Then I agree as well! Mother!" A Spirit Bone was still quite attractive; since the other party insisted on giving it away, Huo Yuhao wouldn't be polite!