Star Luo Empire, White Tiger Duke Mansion.
Inside a remote woodshed, the cold wind cut to the bone.
"Yuhao, Mother doesn't have much time left."
"This is the White Tiger Dagger. You are his son, so take it and survive."
Huo Yun'er lay on a hard wooden bed, covered by a thick quilt.
But the quilt was stuffed with hemp and wild grass, offering almost no warmth.
Her complexion was terrible, her lips pale. She did not have long to live.
"Mother! I still have money. You have to hold on!"
"I'll go get medicine for you!"
The teenage Huo Yuhao knelt beside the bed, clutching two copper coins tightly in his hand.
Even knowing those two coins would not buy much medicine, he still rushed out the door in thin clothes.
Heavy snow filled the sky outside as the boy ran through the snow, his consciousness beginning to blur.
In his haze, he seemed to bump into something.
It was furry and warm.
Even huddling close to his mother for warmth had never felt this warm.
"Hey, brat, how rude of you to run into me!"
Huo Yuhao lowered his head and hurriedly apologized.
"I'm sorry... I..."
With his head lowered, he saw two paws before him.
When he looked up, he saw a silver-white Slender Dog.
The Slender Dog was snow-white from head to toe, lean and agile, with a narrow waist and long neck.
Its golden eyes were sharp as cold stars, its pointed ears stood erect, and its fangs showed faintly.
Its fur was sleek, its limbs powerful. It carried a savage, divine majesty, radiating chilling killing intent.
Especially in winter, it seemed to possess an inexplicable holiness.
Looking to the right, he saw a figure standing nearby, wrapped in a fox-fur cloak. His clothes were smooth and lustrous, embroidered at the chest with a miniature angel.
"My lord, I apologize."
Huo Yuhao bowed to Shen Zhou, who wore the fox-fur cloak.
"Hey, kid, you look pretty adorable. What, are you blind?"
The Slender Dog continued speaking.
Huo Yuhao jumped in fright.
A dog had become a spirit?
A dog could talk??
I haven't eaten in three days. I must be starving badly enough to hallucinate.
Before Huo Yuhao could react, Shen Zhou spoke softly.
"Little brother, this dog has no manners. Please do not take offense."
With that, he kicked the Slender Dog flying into the distance.
The Slender Dog traced a graceful arc through the air, still talking nonstop.
"Boss, that kick was insanely fierce!"
Shen Zhou ignored him and crouched down instead.
"I have a few questions. Can you answer them?"
"Of course, I will not waste your time. Take these Gold Soul Coins."
Shen Zhou opened his palm, revealing roughly a dozen Gold Soul Coins.
Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment before finally accepting them.
This lord was dressed extraordinarily and carried himself with refined elegance. Even the dog he kept was so extraordinary.
Most importantly, the dog could talk in such an eerie manner.
He had lived in the White Tiger Duke Mansion for so long, yet he had never seen anything this strange. This lord's identity was likely exceptionally noble.
Of course, what moved Huo Yuhao most were those dozen or so Gold Soul Coins.
For a boy who had not yet become a Soul Master and could not even afford enough food, this was a genuine fortune.
"Please ask whatever you wish. As long as I know the answer, I will tell you."
Huo Yuhao silently tucked the Gold Soul Coins into his sleeve, afraid they would grow legs and run away the next moment.
"No rush. You are wearing so little in the middle of winter. Put this on."
Shen Zhou removed his fox-fur cloak and draped it over Huo Yuhao.
The cloak was not small. Made from the fur of a thousand-year-old fox Soul Beast, it more than covered Huo Yuhao's thin frame.
Huo Yuhao was overwhelmed by the favor as he felt the lingering warmth on the cloak.
This cloak is so beautiful, and so warm. I've never worn such fine clothes in my life.
This lord is truly generous. If I bring it back for Mother to keep warm, she will not need that hemp-stuffed quilt that cannot hold in heat.
Compared to this, the White Tiger Duke is not even as good as a stranger.
As Huo Yuhao thought this, Shen Zhou had already asked his question.
"What is your name? And where is this place?"
"My lord, my name is Huo Yuhao. This is the White Tiger Duke Mansion of the Star Luo Empire."
A thousand waves surged within Shen Zhou's heart, but his expression remained unchanged.
"That is all. You may go."
Huo Yuhao nodded, pulled the fox-fur cloak tighter around himself, and ran toward the apothecary.
Only Shen Zhou remained where he stood, his face twisted as if he had swallowed shit.
"Damn! You thieving old heavens!"
"This can't be Douluo II, can it?"
Shen Zhou was utterly speechless.
Originally, he had already transmigrated once, becoming someone from Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen's era.
He had awakened the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear and the Heavenly Eye as his Martial Souls, and even possessed the Howling Celestial Dog as a companion Soul Beast. His Innate Soul Power had reached Level 20.
Unsurprisingly, he rose to prominence quickly and became close friends with the seven Offering Elders led by the still-young Qian Daoliu.
After breaking through to Titled Douluo, he had even been able to become the Eighth Enshrined.
A top-tier Martial Soul, top-tier talent, and a top-tier background—a truly heavenly start.
He had originally thought that by arriving on the continent a hundred years early, Tang San would not be his match no matter how overpowered he became.
And now? That pure and immaculate Tang San had already become a god, while Shen Zhou had been forced to transmigrate here with the seven brothers from the Worship Hall.
Yes, not only had he transmigrated, he had brought the seven Offering Elders along with him.
"What the hell? I was only absorbing my ninth Soul Ring."
"What sort of chance to transmigrate was there in that?"
Shen Zhou shook his head and ultimately chose to accept it.
Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it.
He could accept this era too.
Of course, that was only if the ice-pure, jade-clean God King Tang did not interfere.
Spirit Hall was probably gone as well, but with Qian Daoliu around, everything would still be there.
Evil Soul Masters running rampant?
Did they really think Qian Daoliu was useless?!
With a ninth soul skill, surviving would count as a miracle.
After adjusting his mindset a little, Shen Zhou prepared to return and relay the information to his brothers.
Seeing Shen Zhou about to leave, the Slender Dog hurriedly followed.
"As expected of the boss. You gathered information so quickly."
"You Er Ha."
Shen Zhou laughed as he scolded him.
Er Ha could grow alongside him. With Shen Zhou now at the Titled Douluo realm empowering him, Er Ha had already reached the level of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Er Ha became solemn. "Insanely fierce!"
"What do you think of that boy, then?"
Shen Zhou asked in return.
"Uh... pretty adorable."
"It would be nice if he could become This Emperor's human pet."
"This Emperor has some strange treasures here. I guarantee that once that kid eats them, he'll become insanely fierce."
Er Ha smacked his lips. His large, bell-like dog eyes were full of lewdness. Clearly, he was thinking nothing good.
Shen Zhou twitched at the corner of his mouth. If this stupid dog learned that Huo Yuhao would become the future God of Emotions, it would probably be scared to death.
"Enough nonsense. Let's go back and report."
"Got it."
Man and dog trod through the falling snow and stopped at a ruined temple.
Then Shen Zhou brushed the snow from his body and entered the ruined temple.
There was no one else inside, only a handsome figure sitting cross-legged. Under the influence of his Soul Power, the entire ruined temple was as warm as spring.
This man was Qian Daoliu, who had just broken through to the Peerless Douluo realm.
As for the others, they had gone to different places to gather information.
"Xiao Ba is back. What did you find out?"
"Big Brother, the situation is somewhat complicated."
Shen Zhou sighed.
"Oh?"
Qian Daoliu was surprised. "Did you not contact the nearby Spirit Hall Branch?"
Before you continue