Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged, with the Emperor Auspicious Beast lying beside him, full and content, its eyes half-closed as it dozed.
Its golden fur had already been bright, but after Huo Yuhao had fed and groomed it nonstop these past few days, it looked even softer and glossier.
Though he wasn't exactly a cat person, having an Emperor Auspicious Beast to pet wasn't bad.
"Mm..."
The Emperor Auspicious Beast let out a soft murmur as Huo Yuhao stroked its fur. It opened its eyes and secretly glanced at him, then sneaked a look at Gu Yuena, who hadn't said much all this time. Who knew what it was thinking?
The Sovereign hadn't objected, so it was allowed.
It lifted its head and rubbed against Huo Yuhao's sleeve, looking sweet and endearing.
"In another day, the vitality of the core area will be restored. Then you can condense the second Soul Ring for your Ancestral Dragon Spirit."
Huo Yuhao's hand paused as he stroked its fur, and he glanced at the Emperor Auspicious Beast, who was enjoying the attention.
He planned to head back after condensing the second Soul Ring for his Ancestral Dragon Spirit.
He really was going to miss this adorable little golden fluffball.
The Emperor Auspicious Beast had no idea that its caretaker was about to leave. It was still stretching its body, purring contentedly.
"I won't get to eat Yuhao's cooking for a few days. I should eat extra tonight."
The gluttonous Auspicious Beast nudged Huo Yuhao's leg and began placing its order. "Yuhao, can I have roasted pig brains today?"
"Sure. I'll prepare some extra food for you, but don't eat it all at once."
That was going to be your provisions for the next little while.
The Emperor Auspicious Beast nodded. It was only a few days; it could put up with eating some leftovers.
The Emperor Auspicious Beast had never imagined that Huo Yuhao would leave the Star Dou Great Forest. When he left the Lake of Life to condense his Soul Ring, it waved a paw at him, looking quite happy.
"Yuhao might absorb it for several days again this time. I'll have to make my food last."
Staring at the many dishes stocked inside the small Space Soul Tool Huo Yuhao had left behind, the Emperor Auspicious Beast couldn't stop itself from drooling.
How could food like this never get old?
The Vitality Vortex formed once more in the core area at the center of the Star Dou Great Forest, and this time it lasted even longer.
Seven days later, the energy vortex dissipated.
The Emperor Auspicious Beast waited and waited by the Lake of Life, but its caretaker still didn't return.
At last, it couldn't stand it anymore and went to find Di Tian.
"Di Tian, Di Tian! Why haven't the Sovereign and Yuhao come back yet?"
Di Tian looked at the Auspicious Beast, whose mind had been completely stolen by food, with complicated feelings. His little darling was about to grow legs and run off.
"Di Tian?"
When Di Tian remained silent for a long while, the Emperor Auspicious Beast nudged his leg again.
"My lord is the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall in the human world. He spends most of his time there. Humans advance far faster than Soul Beasts. In just a few years, the Sovereign and my lord will come back."
The Emperor Auspicious Beast: "!!!"
The sky had fallen!!
Upon learning that Huo Yuhao had successfully obtained his Soul Ring and returned to Spirit City, Qian Xunji abandoned his official duties and rushed straight to the Worship Hall.
Qian Xunji couldn't understand what his ancestors had been thinking when they built the Worship Hall so high.
At least there wasn't some absurd rule like, "You may not use Soul Power or Soul Skills to reach the Worship Hall; you must climb up on foot."
"Senior brother, you got here fast."
Huo Yuhao had never expected that Qian Xunji—the man in the original story who had made a terrible mistake, been reviled from beginning to end, and gone down in infamy—would have such a genuine personality.
By that logic, could his teacher have a hidden side to her personality too?
It couldn't be because of him, could it?
"With that Sovereign helping you obtain your Soul Ring, it still took you this long. Your Soul Skill must be quite something."
Huo Yuhao was just about to answer when he saw the curious look on Qian Xunji's face.
"Senior brother, it's a little hard to explain just by describing it. Why don't we try it out for ourselves?"
Qian Xunji was a little puzzled, but he knew Yuhao wouldn't hurt him, so he readily agreed.
He was nearly fifty levels above Yuhao, after all. How could a puny Soul Elder like Yuhao possibly take him down?
Huo Yuhao couldn't hide his smile.
Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo hadn't been particularly interested, but when they saw that smile, they stood up in perfect unison and walked out to the square in front of the Worship Hall.
"Senior brother, here I go."
Huo Yuhao smiled so broadly that his eyes curved into crescents. There was unmistakable mischief in his expression.
Qian Xunji's heart thumped at the sight.
Why did his junior brother look so evil right now?
His Angel Spirit was about to panic!
Three Soul Rings appeared around Huo Yuhao.
The first two were black, each encircled by golden patterns.
The third Soul Ring, however, was a dazzling red.
After Huo Yuhao had added a Soul Ring to his Second Martial Soul, his physical abilities had improved considerably, and he could now withstand a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring.
Once his physique had improved, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's source power had helped raise the age of the six-thousand-year Dark Demon Evil God Tiger Soul Ring on the third ring of Huo Yuhao's Eye of Life to a hundred thousand years.
In fact, his first two Soul Rings had changed as well, though not as noticeably.
Huo Yuhao's third Soul Ring flashed, and a third eye appeared on his forehead. A silver-gray ripple spread out from it.
"Third Soul Skill, Space-Time Cage."
Qian Xunji, standing not far in front of Huo Yuhao, felt the strength drain from his body and his field of vision sink lower and lower—all under the stunned gazes of Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo.
In the blink of an eye, the handsome, imposing Pope had turned into a six-year-old boy.
Huo Yuhao finally couldn't hold it in and shook with laughter.
"Senior brother, you were so cute as a kid!"
The little golden-haired boy had an adorable, tender face, so fresh it seemed you could squeeze water from it. He started groping himself from head to toe.
"Why did I turn into this?!"
His clothes had changed too, becoming what seemed to be the clothes he'd worn as a child.
His voice, physical abilities, Soul Power Level, and everything else had reverted to how they were when he was six.
One Soul Skill from his junior brother had made him thirty years younger!
But this was not the kind of youth he wanted!
"This is my third Soul Skill, Space-Time Cage. It can force anyone I've marked with my spiritual power to revert to the state they were in at six."
This Soul Skill came from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's Life-Death Arena.
In fact, the restriction that someone could only leave after one side had died had also been retained. Whether to use that restriction was up to Huo Yuhao.
It wasn't as though he'd actually let his senior brother die because of this Soul Skill.
"There are a few ways to end this state. First, you can defeat me completely, and the Soul Skill's effects will vanish automatically. Second, you can wait for the skill to wear off. That depends on how much Soul Power and spiritual power I use at the time. In your case, senior brother, you'll be back to normal in twelve hours~"
Qian Daoliu found it incredible too.
Six years old was the weakest point in a Spirit Master's life, and he was no exception.
If Huo Yuhao had wanted to kill his opponent, this one Soul Skill would have been enough.
No wonder it had taken him so long. The Soul Beast that had given him this Soul Skill must have been extraordinary.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Ji'er like this." Qian Daoliu looked at his son, who had suddenly become a child, and felt his heart soften.
Qian Xunji: "..."
"Junior brother." Qian Xunji's childish voice suddenly rang out. "Does this Soul Skill of yours work on Titled Douluo too? My father and Uncle Golden Crocodile are right here..."
Before you continue