Give Huo Yuhao a Spirit Ring!

Intercepting the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was the most critical step in his plan, as well as the one with the highest risk and the most variables. This was because the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was not being coerced; it was choosing to offer itself as a sacrifice of its own volition.

Its choice of Huo Yuhao was certainly due to Huo Yuhao possessing a spiritual attribute and necromancy, but the deeper reason likely lay in Huo Yuhao's unique destiny as the "Child of Luck" and his future potential. The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wanted to use Huo Yuhao to ascend to godhood and thereby attain eternal life.

"Although I carry the inheritance of two God Kings and my own luck is not weak, I am not a spiritual-attribute martial soul. The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm might not necessarily choose me."

Zichuan analyzed calmly, "It is different from those immortal herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The immortal herbs were at a dead end with no path forward; seeing me, a 'Son of a God King,' was like grabbing a life-saving straw. But the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm still has choices. What it values is the 'possibility' of Huo Yuhao's future, that fated 'connection' and 'luck' ordained by the heavens."

"Moreover," Zichuan paused, his tone tinged with helplessness, "The reason I could make the immortal herbs sacrifice themselves earlier was mainly due to the lingering aura of the Goddess of Life and their own despair. Forcing a soul beast like the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, with its million years of cultivation and spiritual power that reigns supreme over the continent, to sacrifice itself... is not very realistic."

"If it is unwilling and determined to hide or flee, with its terrifying spiritual power, it would be difficult for us to catch it, let alone force it."

The God of Destruction fell silent for a moment, acknowledging that Zichuan's words made sense. In his prime, crushing the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm would have been as easy as crushing an ant, but now... the tiger had fallen to the plains, and the dragon was trapped in shallow waters.

"Then what do we do? Are we just going to watch this million-year soul ring fall into the hands of the son-in-law arranged by Tang San?" The God of Destruction was unwilling to accept this.

Zichuan did not answer immediately. He stood in place, his gaze flickering as his brain raced. The plot of the original work flashed through his mind: how Huo Yuhao met the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, how he was sacrificed to, and how he obtained his first soul ring...

Suddenly, his eyes lit up!

"I've got it!" A cunning arc hooked the corners of Zichuan's mouth, "There is an important prerequisite for the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm choosing Huo Yuhao—Huo Yuhao is of the spiritual attribute, and at that time, he had no first soul ring. His body was a 'blank slate' that could perfectly accommodate its million-year soul ring and origin! What if... Huo Yuhao already had a first soul ring?"

The God of Destruction was stunned upon hearing this, then immediately understood Zichuan's meaning: "You mean..."

"Exactly!" A brilliant light shone in Zichuan's eyes, "No matter how impressive the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm is, its sacrifice is built on the foundation that Huo Yuhao can absorb it!

If Huo Yuhao has already absorbed a soul ring, even if it is just a ten-year soul ring, his body and soul would have already established a stable connection with that ring.

If the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm tried to sacrifice itself then, it would cause conflict and rejection. The risk would be immense, and it might even fail!

With the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's cautious and cowardly nature, it would never take such a risk! When that happens, it will either abandon Huo Yuhao to seek another target, or..."

"Or, it will have to settle for the next best thing and choose you, who also possesses a powerful spiritual attribute and has an 'empty' soul ring slot!"

The God of Destruction took over, his voice filled with excitement, "Brilliant! Kid! Stripping the firewood from under the cauldron! Cutting off Huo Yuhao's path is equivalent to cutting off the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's greatest desire! When the time comes, it will have no choice, and since your conditions are sufficiently superior, it will have to submit obediently! At the very least, the initiative in the negotiations will be in our hands!"

"That's it!" Zichuan punched the air, a look of certainty on his face, "Let's go, Old Zi, sense where that kid Huo Yuhao is right now. We're going to 'gift' him a soul ring!"

Man and god immediately sprang into action.

Although the God of Destruction had little divine power left, the essence of his divine sense was extremely high. Searching this area for a young boy with low soul power and a unique aura was not particularly difficult.

Especially since Zichuan knew the approximate location where the plot unfolded—the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, near a stream.

Before long, the God of Destruction locked onto a target.

"To the northeast, about three miles away, there is a kid with very weak soul power but a seemingly unique spiritual aura, currently in a... er, bitter struggle with a ten-year Wind Baboon?"

Zichuan: "..."

He did not delay any longer, his figure turning into a wisp of smoke as he sped toward that direction.

On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, near a clear stream.

A boy who looked only eleven or twelve, thin and small, wearing patched coarse clothes, was gripping a rusted dagger. With his back against a large tree, his face was full of tension and determination.

His face was pale and his lips were tightly pressed together, but his deep blue eyes were exceptionally bright, filled with unyielding stubbornness.

It was none other than Huo Yuhao, who had just escaped from the White Tiger Duke Mansion, his mother newly deceased, determined to become strong and seek revenge.

He was lucky; not long after entering the forest, he encountered a lone ten-year Wind Baboon.

This Wind Baboon did not have strong attack power, nor was it the fastest, making it his ideal target for a first soul ring. However, real combat was far more difficult than he had imagined.

The Wind Baboon moved with agility, its claws sharp. As a soul master without a soul ring, he had already sustained several bloody scratches after a few exchanges, and his stamina was rapidly depleting.

But he did not retreat, his eyes locked firmly on the Wind Baboon that was baring its teeth and testing him.

He knew this was his chance, the first step on his path as a soul master. No matter what, he had to kill this soul beast and obtain the soul ring!

"Roar!" The Wind Baboon seemed to lose patience. It kicked off its hind legs, bringing a foul wind as it lunged at Huo Yuhao, its sharp claws aiming straight for his heart!

Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted, his spirit highly focused. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, and simultaneously backhanded his dagger toward the Wind Baboon's ribs!

However, the Wind Baboon reacted faster, whipping its tail like a steel lash against his wrist!

"Clang!" The dagger flew from his hand. A sharp pain shot through Huo Yuhao's wrist, and his heart turned cold. It was over!

Just at this critical moment.

"Whoosh!"

A black shadow inserted itself between him and the Wind Baboon like a ghost! The newcomer didn't even look at the lunging Wind Baboon, simply throwing a punch with casual ease.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud echoed. The fierce Wind Baboon was hit as if by a charging wild bull; it didn't even have time to let out a scream.

Its entire body flew backward faster than it had arrived, crashing through seven or eight small trees as thick as a bowl before finally slamming into a rock and sliding down limply. It was clearly dead.

Huo Yuhao stared blankly at this scene, his mind a complete void. The Wind Baboon he had fought to the death and nearly lost his life to... was just killed with a single punch? Who was this person?

He stared up blankly, looking at the person who had saved him.

It was a black-haired youth, tall and robust, appearing not much older than himself and dressed in tight-fitting black attire.

The youth had handsome features and clear eyes; he was currently retracting his fist, a gentle smile on his face as he looked down at him.

"Th-thank you." Huo Yuhao snapped out of his daze and hurriedly expressed his gratitude, his voice still trembling but filled with sincere appreciation.

"My name is Huo Yuhao. Just now... it was really thanks to you! Otherwise, I would have..."

"You're welcome." Zichuan waved his hand, his tone casual.

"I'm Zichuan. I was just passing by; it was no trouble at all."

His gaze swept over the Wind Baboon that was dead beyond any doubt, then looked at the trees knocked over in the surroundings, as if only just realizing he had been too heavy-handed, and he scratched his head with a touch of embarrassment.

"Oh, I might have been a bit heavy-handed just now... it seems I smashed a whole patch of Wind Baboons to death?"

He pointed to the side of the Wind Baboon carcass, where several ten-year or hundred-year Wind Baboons had also been killed after being caught in the path of the collapsing trees.

Huo Yuhao followed his finger and indeed saw several more Wind Baboon corpses. He was even more shocked in his heart; the power of a single punch could reach such a level? This Big Brother Zichuan, what formidable strength!

"Go pick a suitable one and absorb it as your first soul ring."

Zichuan pointed at the Wind Baboon corpses, suggesting it in a natural tone.