Concept-Level Abduction, Look Who It Drew Out

"They're here."

"Mm, they're here."

Outside Star Luo City, Liu Yuan sat astride a horse. The one speaking with him was naturally Huo Yuhao.

However, the latter's eyes were red. He had clearly just cried.

Liu Yuan glanced at him.

"How is it? Can't bear to leave your mother?"

"Mm, I can't."

Huo Yuhao spoke with a slight nasal tone. "But Mother insisted that I go to Shrek Academy. She said that only then could I repay Father and help him once I grew up."

Liu Yuan: "..."

Huo Yuhao's mother really was lovesick to the extreme.

Was this the power of the Continent of Love?

Truly terrifying!

After a moment of reflection, Liu Yuan asked in return,

"So what do you think?"

"I don't think anything!" Huo Yuhao answered resolutely, a flash of hatred appearing in his eyes. "I refuse to acknowledge him as my father! My surname is Huo, not Dai!"

Seeing this, Liu Yuan said no more. He merely pointed at another horse still grazing nearby. "Get on the horse. I'll take you to Star Dou Forest to hunt for a Soul Ring."

Then, beneath the sunlight,

the two horses galloped off into the distance.

A few days later, at the edge of Star Dou Forest.

"Brother, I think I hear water."

Huo Yuhao pricked up his ears from horseback. Upon hearing the murmur of running water, all the exhaustion from the bumpy journey vanished. He turned to seek Liu Yuan's opinion.

"How about we find somewhere with water to rest? We can improve our meals while we're at it. What do you think?"

Liu Yuan's eyes lit up at those words.

"Sure."

He dismounted, expressing his agreement through action.

Though he was not someone who pursued the pleasures of food, he had truly grown sick of eating dry rations for days.

Besides, Yuhao's cooking was genuinely excellent. It was practically like Food Wars!, as though it had been laced with an aphrodisiac.

So, after releasing the two horses, Liu Yuan and Huo Yuhao followed the sound of water and found a small stream.

Watching the fish swimming within, Liu Yuan simply pointed a finger. Several willow branches transformed into fish spears, locking onto their targets with precision and skewering quite a few black carp onto the shore.

This move was none other than Liu Yuan's Third Soul Skill:

Myriad Transformation!

It could turn willow branches into any inanimate object, complete with the corresponding effects, except for things like Soul Tools.

Based on this,

he had also developed quite a few Self-Created Soul Skills.

After setting up the cooking fire, Huo Yuhao used the White Tiger Dagger Liu Yuan had returned to him to clean the black carp.

Before long, the fish gradually turned golden brown. A unique fragrance wafted above the fire, utterly enticing.

When the first fish was done,

"Brother, you eat first."

Huo Yuhao immediately handed it to Liu Yuan. Liu Yuan did not stand on ceremony and took a bite.

Mm!

It was still that same flavor—truly authentic!

"Yuhao, your cooking keeps getting better and better."

"Hehe..."

Huo Yuhao smiled bashfully at the praise.

But at that moment, Liu Yuan suddenly looked back, immediately putting Huo Yuhao on alert as well.

"Come out. I've already noticed you."

As he spoke, Liu Yuan raised a brow.

It seemed his assessment of Huo Yuhao's grilled fish had been completely correct—if anything, he had underestimated it. This was like a concept-level weapon that could lure other people right over.

Was it Tang Ya?

Or Bei Bei?

"S-Sorry..." A petite young girl poked her head out from the woods. She was not especially beautiful, but she looked delicate and pleasant.

Liu Yuan: ???

Who was this?

Some random passerby?

Though puzzled, it did not stop him from teasing her. He waved the grilled fish in his hand. "Little girl, were you drawn here by the smell of the grilled fish?"

The instant she was exposed, the little girl's face turned bright red with a whoosh. Then, in a soft voice no louder than a mosquito's buzz, she quietly answered.

However, at that moment,

"My apologies. My daughter has disturbed you two."

Suddenly, the woods behind the little girl rustled.

Then, a tower-like figure slowly emerged. Compared to the girl's petite build, this man was as different as heaven and earth.

Liu Yuan had already risen warily.

At the same time, he shielded Huo Yuhao behind him.

That was because he had not sensed this man's aura at all. This person's strength was definitely above that of a Soul Emperor.

"Greetings, Senior."

The man waved his hand.

"Hehe, no need to be nervous."

With a smiling gaze, he swept his eyes over Liu Yuan and Huo Yuhao, though he quietly passed over the latter. "At your age, little brothers, you must be like my daughter and planning to take part in Shrek Academy's admissions, yes?"

Even so, Liu Yuan did not lower his guard. "We are indeed New Students of Shrek."

"Oh?"

The man was surprised.

He looked at Huo Yuhao and, after confirming that he was merely a level-ten Soul Warrior, kindly offered a reminder.

"Little brother, I wonder if you know that Shrek's admission requirements include not only a recommendation letter from the lord of a main city, but also Soul Power of at least level fifteen."

"But this little brother..."

"Thank you for your concern, Senior." Liu Yuan cupped his hands. "Although my younger brother's cultivation is low, once he obtains his first Soul Ring, reaching level fifteen will come naturally."

At those words, the man immediately understood. So he had been suppressing his progress in obtaining a Soul Ring. No wonder...

"It seems I guessed wrong."

As the two exchanged a few simple pleasantries, the little girl and Huo Yuhao gradually became acquainted as well.

Seeing how eagerly the little girl eyed the grilled fish, Huo Yuhao could not bring himself to refuse, so he offered her one.

The man smiled faintly at the sight.

"Xiao Xiao, why aren't you thanking this little brother?"

Xiao Xiao's pretty face reddened.

Holding the grilled fish awkwardly, she said, "Thank you."

Xiao Xiao?

Hearing that familiar name, Liu Yuan gave her a sidelong glance, studying the little girl from the corner of his eye.

It seemed the aroma of Yuhao's grilled fish had not lured Tang Ya and Bei Bei over, but had instead abducted Xiao Xiao, a girl their age, first.

As time passed, the man and Xiao Xiao also bid them farewell. Before leaving, however, he kindly asked, "Little brothers, would you like me to take you with me to hunt Soul Rings?"

"We won't trouble you, Senior."

Liu Yuan politely declined.

If they went with Xiao Xiao and her father, what would they do when Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Electrolux appeared?

"Very well."

Though regretful, the man did not insist. After exchanging a few polite words, he led Xiao Xiao away.

Watching Xiao Xiao and her father depart, Liu Yuan said to Huo Yuhao, "Yuhao, we should get moving too."

There was no helping it. Yuhao's grilled fish smelled too good. If they stayed any longer, who knew what else might show up.

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Yes."

After simply dealing with the fire, Liu Yuan led Huo Yuhao away in the opposite direction.

Sure enough, not long after they left,

"Rustle, rustle..."

The woods shook, and a man and woman emerged.

The woman looked around in confusion. "I clearly smelled the fragrance here. Why is it gone now?"

"Enough, Xiao Ya."

The man, Bei Bei, said helplessly, "Let's go hunt a Soul Ring for you first."

Tang Ya's beautiful eyes widened as she snapped,

"What did you call me?"

Bei Bei immediately raised both hands in surrender.

"Alright, Teacher Xiao Ya. Is that acceptable?"

Tang Ya rolled her eyes at him.

"That's more like it." Then she reluctantly sniffed the lingering fragrance in the air before saying,

"Let's go. Keep moving!"

Meanwhile,

on another small path deeper in the forest, Xiao Xiao reluctantly tossed away the grilled fish stick and asked in confusion, "Father, why did you say you wanted to help them hunt Soul Rings?"

"Of course it's because that leading little brother was no ordinary person." At the mention of Liu Yuan, Father Xiao could not help feeling moved. "He's already level thirty-three at only eleven years old. His future prospects are boundless."

Eleven years old, level thirty-three!?

Xiao Xiao stared with her mouth agape.

She was only level twenty herself!

Seeing his daughter's shocked expression, Father Xiao chuckled. "What? Feeling discouraged?"

"A little..."

A trace of conflict flashed through Xiao Xiao's eyes. "Father, how about I obtain three Soul Rings after all?"

The moment she said that, Father Xiao came to an abrupt halt.

He regretted it.

He should not have told his daughter any of this.

Before they had left home, Xiao Xiao had already proposed that, in addition to obtaining the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron's second Soul Ring, she should also obtain the Nine-Phoenix Flute's first Soul Ring to strengthen her competitiveness at Shrek Academy. Left with no choice, Father Xiao had agreed.

Who could have expected her to push it even further now?

Father Xiao wanted to dissuade her, but just as he wondered how to begin, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind—the image of that child who was about to obtain his first Soul Ring.

Got it!

"Xiao Xiao, listen to me. Your Nine-Phoenix Flute already gives you tremendous competitive strength even without a Soul Ring. Look, that level-ten kid from before dared to enter Shrek Academy without worrying. What do you have to worry about?"

Xiao Xiao: "..."

When he put it that way, it actually made a lot of sense.

Then perhaps... forget it?