The Huohuo of the Deep Sea, Captured by a Little Fox

It wasn't just Huohuo who noticed Huoyao.

Behind him, Han San and Xiao Wu also felt Duoxu's gaze sweep over them.

Duoxu's eyes flicked across Han San and Xiao Wu, sizing him up briefly before she muttered to herself.

"Plain-looking, nothing special. One look and you can tell he's not Huoyao. That demon, he's the one who killed Uncle Yueyan and Uncle Du, and wiped out our Seven-Colored Glazed Sect's outer-realm demon, Han San."

Duoxu shot him a fierce glare, leaving Han San utterly baffled, unsure what he'd done to offend this unfamiliar girl.

If not for Huoyao's note in the diary about the protection of the Repair God, Han San would have been dead meat by now.

Otherwise, Duoxu would have likely drawn her blade right then and there, stabbed Han San, and hung him from the transparent barrier as a warning.

As a notorious little demoness, she couldn't care less whether Han San was the son of the Heavenly Demon Lord Han Chen. Killing Han San—would it really bring Han Chen's revenge?

But since killing Han San was useless anyway, Duoxu forcibly suppressed her murderous intent and redirected her focus onto Huoyao.

Although she was very curious about this reincarnator, to avoid Huoyao sensing anything unusual and exposing the existence of the diary, Duoxu didn't continue her observation.

Still, she was determined to find a chance to get close to Huoyao once they entered Taolangke's mansion.

She had already scouted the branch market in Fen Shang City. There were cultivation resources there that could help her advance in the Seven-Colored Glazed Sect's techniques. The only downside was the price.

But the problem wasn't the cost of those resources—it was her own lack of funds.

Well, that wasn't such a big deal either.

After all, she'd have plenty of time to interact with Huoyao from now on. With her intelligence, she could easily make sure her name appeared in the diary every day.

Huoyao, as a transmigrator, already had a strong spiritual force to begin with. Add to that the divine blessing he'd received from the Heavenly Ice Silkworm, and even though the silkworm's power was temporarily sealed, it still granted him immense benefits, pushing his spiritual force to a terrifying level.

Even yesterday, when Huoyao simulated three ten-year soul rings, it was only because he knew Han Chen wasn't nearby. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to show off.

Huoyao didn't mind Duoxu's observation. He could roughly guess that this little demoness was trying to get close to him—and that was exactly what he had orchestrated.

The initial test at Taolangke's mansion was simple. It only verified the examinee's age and soul power. As long as they met the requirements, they could proceed to the next room.

Plus, many who knew they couldn't pass had already left to avoid wasting their gold soul coins. So it didn't take long before Huoyao and Zhu Zhuqing were called forward.

The examining old woman grabbed Huoyao and Zhu Zhuqing's wrists, confirmed they were both over thirteen, and nodded with a dark expression.

"Ages meet the requirements. Next, release your martial souls."

Hearing this, Han San, who had already passed, stopped in his tracks and looked at Huoyao along with Xiao Wu.

Duoxu also deliberately put on a curious expression and leaned in.

The most arrogant of them all was Huohuo, who scurried to the front, eyes wide as he stared at Huoyao, wanting to get a clear look at what color Huoyao's soul power really was.

The examining old woman saw Huohuo's nosy behavior and scolded him.

"Huohuo, what are you doing?"

Huohuo grinned foolishly, not daring to say anything more, and silently stepped back a few paces.

Facing everyone's attention, Huoyao didn't waste any time. He activated the soul power within his body, and three soul rings rose from beneath him.

Two yellow, one purple—the best soul ring configuration.

"Impossible! What's going on here?!"

Huohuo's pupils dilated, and he blurted out without thinking, only to earn a glare from the old woman.

"You little brat, what exactly are you trying to do?!"

The old woman was startled by Huohuo's outburst. She had just been delighted that Huoyao was a soul master, and now this kid was yelling nonsense again—it was practically a fit of madness.

Huohuo realized he had slipped up, but his eyes were still fixed on Huoyao as he panted heavily.

He was certain now—he had been tricked yesterday.

That bastard's soul power was clearly just ordinary two-yellow-one-purple, yet he had pretended it was three ten-year soul rings, making him kneel on the ground in utter humiliation.

How could the proud and arrogant Huohuo ever accept such disgrace?

But just as Huohuo was about to lose his temper, he suddenly locked eyes with Huoyao and caught a flash of golden light buried deep in Huoyao's gaze.

That glance instantly reminded Huohuo of the excruciating pain he had suffered yesterday from the soul-shaking slap, as if he had been doused in ice water, chilling him to the bone.

Even if Huoyao's three ten-year soul rings were fake, just that terrifying spiritual force alone meant he was no match.

Huohuo thought this over, then shifted his gaze to Zhu Zhuqing.

When he saw the Netherworld Spirit Cat attached to Zhu Zhuqing, he froze once again.

"This is... the Netherworld Spirit Cat? Someone from the Zhu Family?"

Huohuo was stunned.

Yesterday, he had felt that the aura emanating from Zhu Zhuqing was very familiar, as if he had seen it before, but before he could recall it, Huoyao had slapped him unconscious.

Now, seeing Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul, he finally understood where that sense of familiarity came from.

A woman from the Zhu Family, the right age, even her face closely matched the records—could it be... she was his fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing?

At the thought of this possibility, Huohuo could no longer hold back and directly asked Zhu Zhuqing.

"Are you from the Zhu Family? What's your name?"

Zhu Zhuqing withdrew her martial soul, her expression icy cold as she glanced at him, utterly disinterested in paying him any attention.

Her indifferent attitude made Huohuo extremely displeased, especially when he thought about how Zhu Zhuqing had been able to share a bed with Huoyao just yesterday—it made Huohuo feel like he had been cuckolded.

No normal man could tolerate something like this happening, let alone a staunch advocate of male chauvinism like Huohuo.

Just as Huohuo was about to continue pressing for answers, Huoyao stepped in front of Zhu Zhuqing, her face expressionless as she said, "What's the matter? Did yesterday's lesson not leave a deep enough impression on you?"

"You!"

Huohuo was furious, his clenched fists cracking audibly, itching to throw himself at Huoyao for another round.

But looking at Huoyao's cold eyes, he realized he had already developed a psychological shadow, and a thought of retreat actually emerged in his mind.

Han San, standing to the side, shook his head with a wry smile, looking at Huohuo with a gaze that was both sympathetic and mocking.

Losing face so badly yesterday, and still daring to talk to Zhu Zhuqing in front of Huoyao today—this guy really had no shame.

Just as the atmosphere was stuck in a stalemate, the old nanny beside them suddenly slapped Huohuo on the back of the head and said with a smile, "What's gotten into you today, kid? Alright, stop standing around here—go help her carry all those things inside."