First Soul Skill: Blood Silk Net

[Ding, detected that the Plane Will is granting you a Seed of Fortune. Do you accept?]

"Seed of Fortune?" Lin Ran was puzzled.

[A person's fortune is not fixed. It changes according to one's choices, life's circumstances, and the will of the people. The Seed of Fortune can help a person gather fortune and become a Child of Fortune.]

[If you accept the Seed of Fortune, you may additionally advance fortune to become a Child of Fortune without consuming an advance attempt.]

"A Child of Fortune? Not even a dog would be one! I refuse!"

Lin Ran refused with exceptional decisiveness.

Never mind what benefits becoming a Child of Fortune might bring—becoming one would definitely draw Tang San's attention. It would be as conspicuous as tossing Milk Dragon into a pack of Charmanders.

After doing all that, Lin Ran looked through the window at Dai Yuhao and Huo Yun'er as they entered the small courtyard.

Huo Yun'er kept her head lowered, making it impossible to see the emotions in her eyes. Yet the dazed sorrow radiating from her still could not be concealed.

Dai Yuhao followed beside Huo Yun'er and comforted her in a light voice:

"Mom, are you worried about the Duchess? Don't worry, I have a way to leave the duke's mansion. Tonight, I'll go out and find Dad. Once he learns what we've been through, he definitely won't stand by and let the Duchess bully us."

Creak—

Just then, the door opened, and Lin Ran walked out.

"Aunt Huo, you're back?"

When Dai Yuhao saw Lin Ran, he froze for a moment. Then he found the information about him in his "memories," and a look of realization appeared on his face.

So it was Brother Xiao Ran. In his Previous Life, the other party had died in today's conflict. He had nearly forgotten that he even existed.

It seemed his rebirth had saved the man's life. Speaking of which, he could be considered his savior. What a pity Lin Ran didn't know it.

It seemed that from the very moment of his rebirth, the world had already begun changing because of him!

Dai Yuhao sized Lin Ran up with the gaze of a "benefactor," while Lin Ran also examined this newly born "Dai Yuhao." Seeing that he showed no unusual reaction because of him, Lin Ran nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Xiao Ran!"

At the sight of Lin Ran, Huo Yun'er forced out a smile and called to him in a trembling voice.

The next moment, the expression on her face finally collapsed. She staggered toward Lin Ran and threw herself at him, hugging him desperately as though she wanted to knead him into her embrace.

Seeing this, Dai Yuhao's expression stiffened, and an irrepressible sourness rose in his heart.

He was the biological son! Ever since he had transmigrated here, Mom hadn't even hugged him once!

He looked at Lin Ran again, his gaze now carrying a hint of scrutiny and contemplation.

Lin Ran hadn't survived today in his Previous Life. Now that he had lived, would it have any effect on the future?

A moment later, his brows relaxed.

He didn't think the other party would have any effect on the future. Even if he did, Dai Yuhao believed he could handle it.

Feeling Huo Yun'er's softness, Lin Ran was similarly taken aback.

Something seemed off about Huo Yun'er today. This sorrow... could she have noticed that something was wrong with Dai Yuhao too?

Then again, how could a mother possibly fail to notice that her child's personality had suddenly changed so drastically?

Lin Ran gently patted Huo Yun'er's back with his little hand and looked at Dai Yuhao.

"Yuhao, you awakened your martial soul today. Aunt Huo's emotions may be a little unstable, so let her rest first."

"Okay, I'll help Mom inside to rest."

"By the way, what martial soul did you awaken?"

"Eyes."

"Eyes... Eyes are the windows to the soul. I hope your heart can discern all things as clearly as your eyes, and that you never forget your original intention."

"...Of course I will."

"That's good."

After returning to his room, Lin Ran watched the fallen leaves drifting outside the window.

The leaves on the tree grew and fell, fell and grew again, but they were never the same leaves as before. And Huo Yuhao was no longer the Huo Yuhao he knew. He was Dai Yuhao.

"Discern all things? Never forget your original intention?"

Lin Ran shook his head. Dai Yuhao's original intention had long since vanished. As for discerning all things, Lin Ran only hoped he would be able to do so when he met the White Tiger Duke.

Lin Ran had also heard what Dai Yuhao said when he entered the courtyard. He neither approved nor disapproved of the idea of changing their situation through the White Tiger Duke.

Whether Dai Hao truly loved Huo Yun'er as he had claimed in the Original Work—Dai Yuhao could verify that himself.

He needed to prepare to leave the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

Once Dai Yuhao left the duke's mansion tonight, no matter the outcome, Huo Yun'er and he himself would surely suffer before Dai Yuhao returned.

He needed to make preparations early.

"System, advance the soul ring best suited for me."

[God-Bestowed Soul Ring: Age 800 years, advanced in advance. (Advance within the same realm)]

[Task generated: Go to the Star Dou Great Forest and hunt a Bloodline Bat over 800 years old. Time limit: half a year]

"Why was the task this?"

Lin Ran had a headache. Finding a specific Soul Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest would undoubtedly be a huge hassle. Fortunately, the mission gave him half a year.

Since things had come to this, he might as well absorb the soul ring first.

Lin Ran steadied his mind, sat cross-legged on the bed, and drew in the yellow soul ring beside him.

His heart began to pound rapidly, and the blood in his body boiled once more, surging through his veins. The skin on his body began to flush red, as though he had been steamed in a sauna.

The energy within the soul ring was drawn into his blood like a giant whale sucking in water, then flowed through his limbs and bones, toward his heart and lungs.

The energy contained in his blood subtly nourished his heart and body, strengthening his physique.

After a long while, a yellow soul ring rose from beneath his feet, pulsing with a soft glow.

Lin Ran slowly opened his eyes and clenched his fist, feeling the abundant power filling his body—far greater than before.

"Could the soul skill I obtained be strength-type?"

Lin Ran looked at the System Panel, somewhat surprised.

"The soul ring's age actually reached 800 years? It seems the Blood Martial Soul provides quite a substantial boost to the body."

He had never consumed any heavenly treasures that enhanced one's physique. His ability to absorb a soul ring of such an age relied entirely on the support of his martial soul. It seemed the Blood Martial Soul was even stronger than he had anticipated.

"It doesn't matter if the soul ring's age is a little lower for now. I can advance it and increase its age later. Let's first see what soul skill I obtained."

The yellow soul ring faintly lit up. In the next moment, a few more realizations surfaced in Lin Ran's mind.

At that moment, his senses enveloped the entire Duke's Mansion.

The two blood auras in the neighboring room belonged to Huo Yun'er and Dai Yuhao respectively. Farther away were the servants and guards coming and going through the Duke's Mansion. The ones with faint blood auras should be cats and dogs? The strongest few should be Soul Douluos?

Through his perception of blood aura, he pinpointed every living creature within a two-kilometer radius in his mind.

"A perception-type soul skill? Not a strength-type one?"

Lin Ran frowned. He felt that this soul skill's use went far beyond that.