Brother Yuan's Words Are My Command!

A year later, Liu Family Courtyard.

In the spacious courtyard,

the phantom of a willow tree stood tall.

Beneath its shade stood a youth of around eleven. His long black hair cascaded down his back to his waist, while his slender, upright figure stood around one meter seventy tall. Though his deep gaze was sharp and cold, his overall presence felt like a refreshing spring breeze.

He was none other than Liu Yuan.

However, he was not alone at the moment. Huo Yuhao stood opposite him.

Ever since Liu Yuan had used that Essence Crystal to save his mother, Huo Yun'er, Huo Yuhao had avoided the servants of the White Tiger Duke Mansion and come alone to help out in the pharmacy's medicine room. Not only did he refuse even a single copper soul coin, but he also sacrificed his usual cultivation time.

Taking pity on him, Father Liu and Mother Liu provided his meals, and the frail boy had put on quite a bit of weight.

After much deliberation, Liu Yuan

passed the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record on to Huo Yuhao.

As for whether Buddha Ancestor Tang would notice anything amiss... there was no need to worry about that. Under the platform's trace-erasing influence, perhaps in Buddha Ancestor Tang's eyes, Liu Yuan's family and Huo Yuhao had already formed some connection with the Tang Sect.

Huo Yuhao obtaining the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record was perfectly reasonable.

After Huo Yuhao began cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, Liu Yuan had him focus his energy on cultivation.

He had even arranged medicinal baths for him.

After all, to repay the debt of saving his mother, the boy had actually sworn a poisonous oath with his Martial Soul, saying he would sell his life to Liu Yuan.

Liu Yuan: "..."

Since he had said that, how could Liu Yuan drive him away? Besides, taking in a Child of Luck was no loss.

At that moment,

"Yuhao, can you keep going?"

Huo Yuhao lowered himself into a firm horse stance, his feet gripping the ground. Even with his teeth clenched and cold sweat streaming down his forehead, blue bruises densely covered his bare body. Still, he forced himself to say, "I... can still hold on..."

"That's the spirit."

Watching Huo Yuhao, Liu Yuan nodded in satisfaction and flicked his wrist. A willow branch tore through the air like a whip and struck Huo Yuhao heavily across the shoulder.

Slap— Another long blue bruise immediately appeared, with even a faint trace of blood seeping through.

The sudden, burning pain made Huo Yuhao feel as though his entire body were about to convulse. He sucked in a breath, his lips trembling violently as his legs nearly gave out.

Before the pain could fade, he shouted, "Again!"

His face was filled with determination and stubbornness.

Only by becoming a powerful Soul Master could he repay his benefactor!

Only then could he take revenge!

Liu Yuan did not hold back. The willow branch lashed out like a raging storm. Slap! Slap! Slap! A series of unsettling dull impacts, mixed with muffled groans of pain, gradually spread through the courtyard.

Only when Huo Yuhao could no longer endure

did Liu Yuan finally stop.

Rustle, rustle, rustle... A gentle breeze seemed to pass through the courtyard. Willow catkins swayed through the air, while leaves drifted down from the branches and lightly landed upon Huo Yuhao's body. An incomparably soothing coolness instantly spread throughout him.

Bruises, wounds...

They all vanished without a trace at that moment.

"Training is over."

As one yellow and two purple Soul Rings faded away and the Origin Willow dispersed, Liu Yuan looked at Huo Yuhao and spoke.

By now, Liu Yuan

was already a genuine Soul Elder.

"You did very well today."

Liu Yuan praised him sincerely.

"Really?" Suppressing his exhaustion, Huo Yuhao broke into a happy smile. Expectation flashed through his lively eyes. "Then when can I obtain my Soul Ring?"

In fact, as early as three months ago, Huo Yuhao had reached Rank 10 with the aid of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

However, Liu Yuan had held him back on the grounds that his body was too weak to withstand the Soul Power of a hundred-year Soul Ring. He told him they would go obtain one after he trained for a while longer.

Huo Yuhao had not hesitated and agreed at once.

He had even declared:

"Brother Yuan's words are my command!"

"Very soon."

Liu Yuan raised his head and made a rough estimate of the time.

It would soon be time for Shrek Academy's admissions. When that happened, he not only needed to enroll in Shrek Academy, but also strive to become the Sea God Pavilion Master.

Only then could he truly and legitimately come into contact with the Golden Ancient Tree on the island.

Over the past five years, based on the unique traits of his Origin Willow Martial Soul, Liu Yuan had found ample reason to suspect that he was connected to the Life Core. The platform's [Son of Nature] designation was most likely genuine as well.

Therefore, Shrek Academy

was somewhere he had to visit no matter what.

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Liu Yuan took out a shirt from his Storage Soul Tool and tossed it to Huo Yuhao. "Put your clothes on first."

"Okay."

Just as Huo Yuhao obediently caught it, Father Liu's voice suddenly rang out from the distance. "Busy?"

Liu Yuan turned around. "Dad."

Huo Yuhao bowed slightly. "Hello, Uncle."

"Good, good..." Father Liu patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder and chuckled. Then he turned to Liu Yuan and said,

"Son, you're already eleven. It's time for you to enter Shrek Academy's Outer Courtyard to study."

At the mention of this,

Father Liu felt a surge of pride.

Back then, his son had possessed only Innate Rank 7 Soul Power, yet he had become a Soul Elder at just eleven years old.

Their Liu Family had produced a genius!

"It's just that..." After his pride faded, Father Liu's gaze shifted to Huo Yuhao. His previously smooth words became hesitant. After a pause, he asked, "Yuhao hasn't obtained his first Soul Ring yet, right?"

Liu Yuan's eyes flickered.

He understood what his father was thinking.

"It's fine. Yuhao broke through to Rank 10 three months ago. With his cultivation progress, reaching Rank 15 won't be a problem once he obtains his Soul Ring."

"That's good." Father Liu nodded slightly, took out two letters from his Storage Soul Tool, and handed one each to Liu Yuan and Huo Yuhao. "These are recommendation letters from the city lord. Take them to Shrek."

"Alright."

Liu Yuan accepted them and handed one to Huo Yuhao. Yet as the latter looked at the recommendation letter, hesitation appeared on his face, as though he had something difficult to say.

Noticing this,

Liu Yuan asked, "You're worried about leaving your mother behind?"

"Mm..."

Huo Yuhao nodded with difficulty.

"I'm worried that if I leave..."

Before he could finish, Liu Yuan stuffed the city lord's recommendation letter into his hand.

"Yuhao, I know you want revenge, but revenge requires strength. If you aren't strong enough, how will you face the colossal White Tiger Duke Mansion?"

After hearing those words,

Huo Yuhao was left speechless.

Seeing him fall silent, Liu Yuan did not try to persuade him further. He merely said, "Since you can't make up your mind, go back and ask your mother's opinion. Go on."

After watching Huo Yuhao leave, Father Liu looked at his departing back and could not help sighing. "Yuhao is a poor child too."

Liu Yuan: "..."

There was no helping it. Weakness was the original sin.