Huo Yuhao of the White Tiger Duke Mansion Becomes a Shadow!

[Because of my Innate Soul Power of level 8, I was sent to the main family for cultivation, and here, I indeed saw Huo Yuhao.]

Lin Qing of the White Tiger Mansion arrived at a spacious soul master training ground.

Lin Qing of the White Tiger stood at the edge of the training ground.

His gaze swept past the peers who were training diligently and landed in a corner in the distance.

There, a boy who was thinner and smaller than his peers, with a somewhat pale complexion, was practicing the most basic soul power guidance movements over and over again, all by himself, with extreme seriousness.

He was taciturn.

Against the backdrop of the arrogant boys from the direct line of descent around him, he appeared out of place, even somewhat lonely.

Huo Yuhao.

His martial soul was the "Spirit Eye".

Similar to Lin Qing's Heavenly Eye Martial Soul, it was a body martial soul of the mental type.

However, his Innate Soul Power was a pitiful level one.

In the main family of the White Tiger Duke Mansion, which worshipped strength, such talent was practically synonymous with "trash" and "having no future".

Most others looked at him with contempt, disdain, or complete disregard.

But the way Lin Qing of the White Tiger looked at him was incredibly fervent.

[Only I know what kind of path this boy, who looks so unremarkable and even somewhat pitiful right now, will walk in the future.]

[He will encounter the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, that million-year soul beast, receive the inheritance of the Holy Necromancer Electrolux, and obtain the soul rings of the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress... Countless heaven-defying opportunities that others dream of and would break their heads to snatch will fall onto his head one after another as if they were prearranged.]

[He will grow from a "trash" that anyone can step on into a cheater who stirs up the winds and clouds of the continent, even if he eventually becomes Tang San's 'dog'.]

Seeing this, the Lin Qing in reality felt his pupils slightly contract.

He understood instantly.

"As expected... is this Lin Qing of the White Tiger taking that route?"

If it were himself, placed in that environment, knowing that those opportunities were just lying there, waiting for a specific person to acquire them...

He asked himself, and in all likelihood, he would also make the choice to seize those opportunities.

Nonsense!

With massive benefits placed right before his eyes, if he didn't reach out to take them, was he supposed to wait for them to grow legs and run away, or let them go to someone else?

That would make him a fool!

The images on the light screen confirmed his conjecture.

The eyes of Lin Qing of the White Tiger shone astonishingly when he thought of that possibility, as if flames were burning deep within his pupils.

[A thought, bold to the point of madness yet incredibly tempting, rose uncontrollably in my heart--]

The screen gave a close-up of Lin Qing of the White Tiger's face.

The corners of his mouth slowly curled up, and determination and ambition burned fiercely in his gaze.

The narrator's voice was even more resolute.

[Intercept!]

[I will intercept all of Huo Yuhao's opportunities before he can!]

[The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm is mine! The inheritance of Electrolux is mine! The Ice Empress, the Snow Empress... everything can be mine!]

Lin Qing in reality couldn't help but nod, silently praising: "Clear thinking, clear goals!"

This is the "awakening" a transmigrator should have!

To guard a treasure mountain and return empty-handed—wouldn't that be a pure sucker?

He continued to watch with rapt attention.

[I know that no matter how good the idea is, it is just empty talk without strength.]

[To successfully intercept those opportunities, strength is the foundation, the stepping stone, and the root of securing the results.]

The screen began to flash back rapidly, like a series of frozen silhouettes.

Early morning.

Before dawn.

Lin Qing of the White Tiger was already sweating profusely on the training ground, tempering his body.

In the morning, he followed the family instructors to learn soul master theory and combat techniques.

In the afternoon, he engaged in high-intensity practical sparring.

At night, while others were already resting, he was still sitting cross-legged in his room, meditating.

His soul power was like a trickling stream, accumulating and growing bit by bit.

His life was disciplined to the point of being harsh; all his time was filled with cultivation.

Lin Qing of the White Tiger knew his advantage—foresight.

He knew the general timeline and the locations of the opportunities.

He also knew his own disadvantage—born into a branch family, his starting point was not the peak.

Therefore, he had to put in more effort to outrun time and outrun that future "Child of Destiny."

[My talent is far better than Huo Yuhao's was at that time, and my resources are more abundant than his as an "outsider."]

[More importantly, I know which direction to strive toward.]

[By the time I was over ten years old, my soul power had already successfully broken through to level twenty, reaching the standard for obtaining a second soul ring.]

The White Tiger Duke Mansion's Lin Qing, having broken through to level 20, did not show much joy on his face.

Instead, he frowned slightly, as if pondering something.

[At that time, Huo Yuhao was still struggling at the threshold of level ten, his soul power growth so slow it was anxiety-inducing.]

[After careful consideration, I did not rush to hunt for my second soul ring.]

Lin Qing stood before his room's window, his gaze cast toward the direction of the remote courtyard where Huo Yuhao lived.

The moonlight outside the window was cold and clear.

His eyes, however, were exceptionally deep and calm, as if patiently waiting for something.

[I am waiting.]

[Waiting for Huo Yuhao to leave the White Tiger Duke Mansion.]

[Waiting for that critical moment that will change his destiny and the destinies of many others.]

Lin Qing, in reality, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

"Smart, able to keep his cool."

If he had foolishly followed the original work and accepted the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's sacrifice at level ten.

Not only would he have wasted the time window where his talent was superior and his cultivation faster.

But also, attempting to scheme for those great opportunities with the strength of a level ten Soul Master carried too high a risk and too slim a chance of success.

It was better to follow his own rhythm and first raise his strength to a more secure level.

A level 20 Soul Grand Master.

Although still not considered strong.

Compared to a level ten Soul Master, his ability to protect himself, his mobility, and his room for maneuvering in unexpected situations were all much greater.

This was the rational choice that maximized benefits.

No one had stipulated that the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm could only sacrifice its first soul ring.

The light screen image shifted.

It seemed that quite some time had passed.

Lin Qing had grown a bit taller.

The childishness on his face had faded slightly, but his eyes were even calmer and sharper.

He was like the most patient hunter, silently observing every move of his prey.

Finally—

[I waited until I was eleven.]

[Thank heavens, Huo Yuhao has finally broken through the level ten bottleneck.]

In a corner where no one paid attention, the thin, weak boy's soul power fluctuated.

His face showed an expression of relief mixed with a hint of bewilderment.

Level ten meant he could leave the White Tiger Duke Mansion to obtain his first soul ring.

For this boy whose mother had long since passed away and who had suffered cold glares and humiliation in the White Tiger Duke Mansion, there was nothing left here worth lingering over.

In his heart, there was only resentment toward the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

One morning.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

Huo Yuhao carried a tattered little bundle on his back, looking back one last time at the cold and oppressive White Tiger Duke Mansion where he had lived for eleven years.

Filled with resentment, he turned and stepped onto the road leading away.

His figure soon disappeared at the end of the street leading out of the city.

[Huo Yuhao has finally left the White Tiger Duke Mansion.]

High up on the pavilion, Lin Qing stood by the railing, the morning breeze fluttering his clothes.

He watched from afar as that back, which gradually moved away and eventually turned into a black dot, showed no expression on his face.

But the corners of his mouth had already imperceptibly curled into a confident arc, as if everything were under his control.

[He has set off.]

[To obtain his first soul ring, which is also the true starting point of his legendary destiny.]

[And for me, it is also time to set off!]