The Story Huo Yuhao and the Auspicious Beast Had to Tell

Leng Yaozhu's first stop on this inspection tour was a second-tier city in the eastern part of the continent, called Wanxing City.

When the inspection team led by Leng Yaozhu arrived at the Spirit Pagoda in Wanxing City, Tower Master Lin Feng had already led a group of senior officials out to respectfully greet them.

The Tower Master in charge of the region was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties. He had an honest, kindly face and seemed to carry a faint smile even before speaking. At that moment, he warmly ushered everyone into the tower.

Huo Yuhao quietly followed at Leng Yaozhu's side, his gaze discreetly settling on Lin Feng.

He also noticed that Tower Master Lin Feng's eyes lingered on him noticeably longer.

Clearly, the sudden appearance of a teenage boy in the inspection team had caught Lin Feng's attention as well.

Once everyone had stopped in the first-floor lobby of the Wanxing City Spirit Pagoda, Leng Yaozhu took the initiative to introduce him. "This is my disciple. He came along to broaden his horizons and will not be taking part in the formal inspection."

Understanding flashed through Lin Feng's eyes, and his smile deepened slightly. When he turned to Huo Yuhao, his tone was especially genial.

"So you're Tower Master Leng's prized disciple. Is this your first time in Wanxing City?"

"Would you like me to arrange for someone to show you around? Wanxing City may not be as bustling as those great cities, but it has a few unique sights and places worth visiting."

In Lin Feng's mind, children of this age were at the height of their playful years and surely had no interest in the work of adults.

Leng Yaozhu did not answer. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Huo Yuhao, clearly leaving the decision to him.

Meeting Lin Feng's gaze, Huo Yuhao considered it briefly before looking at Leng Yaozhu and giving a small nod to show his agreement.

He truly had no interest in the inspection procedures. Rather than sit through those tedious formalities, he might as well take this chance to see the unfamiliar city.

Leng Yaozhu smiled faintly and nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble Tower Master Lin."

"Not at all, not at all. It's no trouble."

Lin Feng waved his hands repeatedly, his smile modest.

His gaze swept the surroundings before quickly settling in a certain direction. Raising his voice, he called, "Qingyuan!"

Not far away, a teenage boy sitting on the steps lifted his head at the call.

Huo Yuhao's sharp eyes caught sight of the book in the other boy's hand just as he closed it. On its dark cover, he clearly saw the three characters: "Huo Yuhao."

His heart stirred. Could this guy be one of my fans?

The boy looked about fourteen or fifteen. He had delicate features, with a scholarly air between his brows.

He deftly put the book away in his Storage Soul Tool, rose to his feet, and hurried over. Standing properly before Lin Feng, he called out, "Teacher."

Lin Feng smiled as he introduced him. "This is my disciple, Du Qingyuan."

Then he turned sideways and pointed to Huo Yuhao. "This is Tower Master Leng's disciple. Qingyuan, accompany this young friend around the city today. Make sure he is well looked after."

Following Lin Feng's gesture, Du Qingyuan's gaze fell upon Huo Yuhao.

He respectfully bowed to Leng Yaozhu, then gave Huo Yuhao a slight nod before turning to Lin Feng. "Rest assured, Teacher."

Lin Feng then left with Leng Yaozhu and the others to begin the routine inspection.

The lobby instantly fell quiet, leaving only Huo Yuhao and Du Qingyuan standing face-to-face.

After a brief silence, Huo Yuhao was the first to smile. "Hello, my name is Huo Yuhao."

"Huo Yuhao?"

Du Qingyuan repeated the name, and his eyes suddenly lit up. The hint of reserve in him vanished at once. "Are you also an admirer of Spirit Ice Douluo? You actually chose exactly the same name as his!"

Huo Yuhao merely smiled and nodded without offering any further explanation.

But Du Qingyuan seemed to have found a kindred spirit. His expression visibly warmed, and even his tone became more lively.

"Teacher asked me to show you around... but honestly, there's nothing particularly special about the Spirit Pagoda here. It can't compare to the headquarters in Shrek City at all."

Naturally slinging an arm around Huo Yuhao's shoulder, he spoke with the frank cheerfulness unique to young people. "Come on, I'll take you around the city! There's a place not far from here called Yuhao Grilled Fish. The taste is definitely authentic."

Seeing that Huo Yuhao had no objection, Du Qingyuan led him toward the main entrance.

As the two walked side by side out of the Spirit Pagoda, Huo Yuhao asked casually, "What book were you reading on the steps just now?"

Since it concerned himself, Huo Yuhao naturally paid more attention to it. He was also curious which of the biographies about him Du Qingyuan had been reading.

Du Qingyuan halted, turning his head in surprise. "You saw it?"

A trace of embarrassment flashed through his clear eyes, only to be replaced by the excitement of having found one of his own kind.

"I knew it... you're one of us too!"

He suddenly grabbed Huo Yuhao by the sleeve, turned, and pulled him behind a quiet colonnade at one side of the lobby.

After making sure no one around them was paying attention, Du Qingyuan mysteriously took out a book from his Storage Soul Tool and quickly stuffed it into Huo Yuhao's hands.

"Here. Since we share the same interests."

Lowering his voice, he spoke with the solemnity of someone sharing a treasure. "I'm giving you this book. It's an edition I've treasured, and it's not easy to find outside."

Huo Yuhao lowered his head to look at the book in his hands.

The gilded title on the dark blue cover glimmered faintly in the light.

<The Story Huo Yuhao and the Auspicious Beast Had to Tell>

His gaze froze on those words for a full three seconds.

This title...

Was the content inside... even decent?

Du Qingyuan watched his expression and could not help chuckling twice.

"What's written in here are all precious records of how Spirit Ice Douluo met and befriended the Auspicious Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest back then!"

"I heard the author was a senior scholar from Shrek Academy, and the research was especially rigorous..."

He spoke with great animation, lightly tapping a tiny insignia along the edge of the cover with his fingertip. "Look here—a collector's edition certified by the Star Dou Great Forest Research Society."

"I had someone bring it over from Shrek City. Make sure you take good care of it."

Huo Yuhao rubbed the faintly raised patterns on the book cover, unsure what expression to make for a moment.

Besides the title, the cover bore a simple line drawing.

Within the forest, a vague human figure faced a brilliant golden beast silhouette from afar, creating an unexpectedly profound atmosphere.

Huo Yuhao lifted his head and met the young man's pure, eager gaze before carefully storing the book in his Storage Soul Tool.

"Thank you." A subtle, almost imperceptible emotion colored his voice. "I'll... read it carefully."

As he put the book away, Huo Yuhao also recalled the historical records he had seen in the library at Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.

The one favored by the fate of the Star Dou Great Forest—the Emperor Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

Later, she shed her beast form, took the name Wang Qiu'er, and entered the human world.

The History Book contained only a few brief lines about the emotional entanglements between her and him, and in the end, she sacrificed herself to become his Soul Ring!

Although he knew there was probably nothing decent in the book Du Qingyuan had given him, he could not help feeling curious.

But clearly, this was not the time to read. Following Du Qingyuan, he had already walked out through the gates of the Spirit Pagoda.

Outside lay a broad plaza paved with white stone slabs. Sunlight cast the tower's shadow diagonally across the ground, drawing a sharp boundary between light and dark.

With practiced familiarity, Du Qingyuan led Huo Yuhao to the right. After walking roughly a hundred meters along the edge of the plaza, a narrow alley paved with bluestone appeared ahead.

"That shop is in there." Du Qingyuan introduced it with a smile. "They use fine Soul Power control to regulate the heat. Their grilled fish is crispy on the outside and tender within, and they've developed several new dipping sauces too..."

Before he could finish, both of them stopped at the same time.

A faint tremor traveled through the air, mixed with the distinctive hum of colliding Soul Power.

The smile vanished from Du Qingyuan's face instantly. His eyebrows drew together, and a trace of coldness flashed through his eyes. "Someone dared to fight within the Spirit Pagoda's jurisdiction?"

As the Personal Disciple of Wanxing City's Spirit Pagoda Tower Master, he had known since childhood that this white plaza and the surrounding streets and alleys were all under the Spirit Pagoda's authority, where private fighting was strictly forbidden.

Instinctively, he was about to rush into the alley. As the "Young Tower Master," how could he allow anyone to cause trouble right at his doorstep?

But just as his toes left the ground, he forcibly stopped himself.

Du Qingyuan turned his head, his gaze falling on Huo Yuhao beside him.

His teacher had tasked him with taking good care of Huo Yuhao. If they went over and encountered any danger, that would be bad.