Huo Yun'er's Shock

Dai Huabin had no idea that he had just taken a trip to Ghost Gate.

Nor did he know what astonishing power and secrets lay hidden within the body of the useless younger brother he considered free to bully at will.

At that moment, he saw that Dai Yuhao not only showed no fear or retreat, but was instead meeting his gaze with those calm eyes.

A surge of irritation suddenly rose in his heart, instantly turning into a feeling of being "offended."

A piece of trash without even a Martial Soul—what gave him the right to look at him like that?!

Almost instinctively, he stepped forward another half-step and, as if courting death, even stretched out a finger and jabbed Dai Yuhao hard in the chest.

"What? Looking at me like that, are you dissatisfied?"

"Or... do you want to fight me? Hm?"

He deliberately drew out the last syllable, his voice dripping with mockery. "Come on! Let me see what else you can do besides glare, you trash!"

Dai Yuhao remained silent. His brain raced as he considered whether Dai Huabin had come here on a whim or under the Duchess's orders.

But no matter which it was, he had made up his mind to take his mother and leave the White Tiger Duke Mansion as soon as possible!

Seeing that Dai Yuhao still stood there like a block of wood despite such provocation, Dai Huabin felt nothing but boredom.

He was used to lording over others. In this Duke Mansion, he could practically do whatever he pleased. He never needed a proper reason to beat or bully someone—it all depended on his mood.

He took half a step back and casually waved at the four lackeys behind him.

"Come on, teach him a lesson!"

For the sake of leaving the Duke Mansion safely with his mother, Dai Yuhao forcibly suppressed the urge to kill.

But enduring it did not mean he would take another beating for no reason before they left!

Facing the four vicious-looking lackeys, Dai Yuhao's facial expression did not change in the slightest.

With a thought, a condensed Mental Shock, fine as a needle, silently pierced the mind of Dai Huabin, who stood there with his arms folded and a look of eager amusement on his face!

Dai Yuhao deliberately controlled its force. It would not damage his soul, nor would it leave behind any trace that could be detected.

But the instant agony and intense dizziness it caused were enough to strip Dai Huabin of all ability to move or think!

"Aah!"

Dai Huabin's smug expression suddenly twisted!

He let out a short, shrill scream and abruptly clutched his head with both hands.

The violent stabbing pain and sudden spinning dizziness made his legs give way. He collapsed onto the ground, curled into a ball, groaning in agony as beads of cold sweat instantly seeped from his forehead.

The four lackeys who had been about to pounce on Dai Yuhao froze in midair!

The cruel grins on their faces stiffened, replaced by utter shock and panic!

They instinctively turned to look at their "master" behind them.

The four no longer cared about Dai Yuhao. They hurriedly gathered around Dai Huabin, completely at a loss.

At that moment, Dai Huabin felt as though countless needles were stabbing through his head. His vision darkened, and his ears rang.

"Take... take me back! Hurry!"

He barely squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, his voice weak and trembling.

In a panic, the four helped the limp Dai Huabin to his feet. One carried him on his back while the other three guarded him from the sides. Without sparing Dai Yuhao another glance, they hurriedly fled the shabby Small Courtyard.

Dai Huabin's appearance was nothing more than a minor interruption to Dai Yuhao.

After the sun slowly sank behind the western high walls, the Small Courtyard gradually grew dark.

Just like countless nights before, Huo Yun'er did not return to the Small Courtyard until darkness had fully fallen, dragging her exhausted body behind her.

Her footsteps were heavier than usual, and her facial expression looked increasingly pale in the dim light.

Today, at the Laundry Room, she had learned from others' whispers about the result of her son's Martial Soul Awakening.

No Martial Soul, no Soul Power. From then on, he could only live as an ordinary person.

After entering the room, she did not even sit down to rest. Instead, she went straight to the crude stove in the corner and silently began lighting the fire, washing rice, and preparing dinner.

Half an hour later, mother and son sat facing each other at their only small table, eating quietly.

Afraid of upsetting her son, Huo Yun'er did not mention anything about Martial Souls. She merely stole occasional glances at him, observing his expression.

Dai Yuhao looked calm, but that calmness only made Huo Yun'er more uneasy. She feared that he was suppressing immense disappointment and pain deep in his heart.

Their silent dinner ended amid an oppressive atmosphere.

Just as Huo Yun'er was about to rise and clear the dishes, Dai Yuhao suddenly reached out and gently caught her sleeve.

He Lifted Head, and his clear eyes appeared especially bright beneath the lamplight.

The childish innocence was gone, replaced by a seriousness beyond his years.

"Mom, we... should leave the Duke Mansion."

Just yesterday, Dai Yuhao had cautiously asked his mother whether she had ever considered leaving.

His tone had still been questioning then, but now it was completely different. It was firm and decisive, the tone of someone who had already made up his mind!

Huo Yun'er was stunned by her son's sudden forcefulness.

Her first thought was that the blow from today's failed Martial Soul Awakening had been too great, and that he had spoken those words in a moment of impulse.

A pang of sorrow and heartache welled up within her. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly froze!

She saw a deep, noble Purple Halo flash beneath her son's feet without warning!

Immediately afterward, a solid Purple Soul Ring rose abruptly from beneath Dai Yuhao's feet, rhythmically moving up and down around his body.

"Th-this is...?!"

Huo Yun'er's eyes flew wide open, her pupils violently contracting from overwhelming shock!

Even though she was merely an ordinary person without any Soul Power, she recognized it at a glance. This was unmistakably a Soul Ring, the most direct symbol of a Soul Master's strength!

And its color was purple!

A Millennium Soul Ring!

In an instant, she was completely stunned, her thoughts plunging into a chaotic blank!

Hadn't her son only just undergone Martial Soul Awakening today?

Hadn't they said he had awakened neither a Martial Soul nor Soul Power?

Then what was this before her eyes?

A purple Millennium Soul Ring was circling her son, who was only Six Years Old!

Th-this... what was going on?!

In that instant, Huo Yun'er felt her thoughts descend into complete chaos, leaving her unable to say a single word.

She could only stare wide-eyed, her gaze fixed firmly on her son.

"Mom." Dai Yuhao's voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet Small House. "I awakened a Martial Soul. I have Innate Full Soul Power."

"Also, I have successfully added my first Soul Ring. It is a Millennium Soul Ring."

"So now, I am already a true Soul Master."

Dai Yuhao did not explain the unbelievable process of how he had gone from "having no Martial Soul" to becoming "a Soul Master with a Millennium Soul Ring" in a single day.

That was because it involved secrets far beyond Huo Yun'er's understanding, such as traveling through time and space, the Spirit Pagoda, and the Indomitable Soul Spirit. Explaining them would only leave her more confused.

Only after seeing the shock in his mother's eyes slowly begin to fade did Dai Yuhao continue.

"Mom."

He leaned forward, his tone becoming more earnest. "Look, I'm already a Soul Master now. I can earn money."

"We don't have to stay in this place any longer, living at others' mercy and fearing for our safety."

"We can leave the Duke Mansion, go outside, and live peaceful, stable lives."

Leave?

Was the outside world really that wonderful?

Could a widow and her son truly establish themselves out there?

The shock in Huo Yun'er's eyes was gradually replaced by worry. Though she was an adult, she had grown up in the Duke Mansion and rarely had contact with the outside world. This was fear of the unknown.

Seeing his mother's hesitation, Dai Yuhao knew that he needed to give her a reason they absolutely had to leave.

Dai Yuhao's expression turned solemn, and he lowered his voice. "Mom, there was a reason I did not reveal my talent during the awakening ceremony."

"Do you remember... what happened three years ago?"