Leaving the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Huo Yuhao's Despair

The City Lord held the gilded letter of recommendation in both hands, his tone sincere and respectful, the admiration in his eyes barely concealed.

Shrek Academy was the number one soul master academy on the entire continent.

The City Lord smiled and spoke again, adding, "Besides that, this old man has specially prepared a modest gift for the Young Sect Master, as a token of my sincerity."

With that, he raised a hand to signal the guards accompanying him to step forward.

Several exquisite rosewood gift boxes were opened one by one. In an instant, an incomparably rich spiritual aura rushed forth.

Century-old Spirit-Concentrating Immortal Herbs, soul master body-tempering liquid for refining the meridians, and even several exceptionally rare medicinal pills!

Every single resource was worth a fortune.

Such lavish gifts showed that this City Lord had truly put thought into it.

The elders of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect watched with trembling hearts, growing ever more emotional.

They had thought the other party had come looking for trouble. Instead, he had come bearing gifts—and such fine ones at that.

Just then, a cold system notification suddenly rang out in Ning An's mind!

[ Ding! New mission triggered! ]

[ Mission Objective: Persuade Huo Yuhao to join the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and steal Electrolux! ]

[ Mission Reward: Complete Tang Sect Secret Arts (When you are better at the Tang Sect Secret Arts than the people of the Tang Sect, it will be obvious who is genuine and who is counterfeit.) ]

The familiar system prompt echoed through his mind. A glint flashed quietly through Ning An's dark eyes, and a faint yet profound smile curled at his lips.

Every Tang Sect Secret Art possessed endless wonders. Once mastered in their entirety, they left no weaknesses in any aspect!

Moreover, the orthodox Tang Sect's inheritance was incomplete, while his was whole.

And then there was persuading Huo Yuhao and stealing Electrolux!

As someone familiar with the plot, Ning An knew better than anyone that Huo Yuhao was the child of destiny of this plane. If he could bring him into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, how could the Nine Treasure Sect fail to rise?

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Ning An's expression remained unchanged as he calmly accepted the weighty Shrek recommendation letter, then naturally accepted all the boxed resources as well. His demeanor was gentle, yet he did not lose the bearing of a great sect's Young Sect Master.

"Thank you, City Lord."

"My Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will remember this. Should the main city ever have need of us in the future, our sect will surely offer its full support."

Ning An's polite words were perfectly measured—neither servile nor overbearing—fully displaying the deep foundation of a great sect with ten thousand years of heritage.

The City Lord laughed heartily. He became even more convinced that this young Young Sect Master not only possessed peerless talent, but also a temperament and vision far beyond his peers. His future achievements would be limitless; befriending him was absolutely a sure profit!

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the City Lord learned that Ning An had only just recovered from serious injuries and needed to rest. He no longer disturbed him and happily departed with his attendants.

Inside the bedroom, everyone's eyes fell upon Ning An, who held the Shrek recommendation letter, their gazes filled with gratification and expectation.

Beside him, Ning Tian lowered her little head. Her delicate face was full of reluctance and grievance, her small hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes. A mist of tears instantly clouded her large, watery eyes.

She slowly shuffled over to Ning An's bedside and muttered softly, her voice thick with tears, "Brother... now that you've received Shrek's recommendation letter, are you going to Shrek Academy right away?"

"Then... then won't I be unable to see you for a very, very long time?"

Since childhood, the siblings had never been apart for even half a day. At the thought of her brother going to Shrek to study while she was left alone in the sect, Ning Tian felt hollow and miserable inside. She did not want to be separated from her brother.

Seeing his sister's aggrieved appearance, Ning An's heart softened. He raised a hand and gently rubbed the top of her head, his fingertips brushing through her soft hair.

He shook his head slightly, his voice warm and certain. "Who said I was going alone?"

"Although my Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has declined, we still hold one quota every year for admission to Shrek without an entrance examination."

Ning An truly wanted to complain. Shrek Academy was really too "generous." They gave the Tang Sect one quota out of consideration for them, and they also gave the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect just one quota.

What a "deep friendship" indeed!

"Pack your things. This time, we siblings will go to Shrek together."

With that simple sentence, Ning Tian was no longer sad.

She looked up. Her reddened eyes immediately lit up, and the mist within them completely faded, replaced by surprise and joy.

"Really? Brother! I can go with you too?!"

"Yes, together." Ning An nodded gently.

The elders beside them also smiled one after another, finally putting their minds at ease.

The sect's two peerless geniuses would enter Shrek together and cultivate side by side. When they returned in the future, they would be the greatest foundation for the rise of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

Ning An turned his gaze toward the white-haired elders, his expression becoming more solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Tian'er and I will be heading to Shrek to study. I'll have to trouble all of you elders to look after the sect's affairs for the time being."

"I ask you all to put in more effort."

The First Elder immediately stepped forward, bowed with cupped hands, and said in an incomparably resolute tone, "Rest assured, Young Sect Master! Leave it to us!"

The remaining elders also bowed in unison and answered loudly.

The frustration and loneliness that had accumulated over many years had, on this day, all transformed into fervent passion and hope!

With Ning An, this heaven-defying Young Sect Master, they could wait for the day their sect was restored!

Ning An nodded slightly and said no more.

After briefly arranging the sect's affairs, the siblings rested for a while and simply packed their luggage. Without making a public display of it, they left the sect under the escort of an elder.

Star Dou Great Forest.

A small, frail figure stood bloodied, teeth clenched tight.

The boy looked no more than eleven and a half. Thin and gaunt, he wore tattered clothes covered in scratches and bloodstains. Veins bulged across his bare forearms, and wounds of all sizes covered his body. Blood continuously dripped from the hem of his clothes onto the ground.

He was young Huo Yuhao.

At this moment, with no one to rely on, he had entered the Star Dou Great Forest alone, all to seize an opportunity to change his fate and obtain his first soul ring with everything he had.

He tightly gripped a White Tiger Dagger in his hand. His childish face was filled with determination, yet his eyes concealed endless restraint and fear.

Before him, a nimble Ten-Year Wind Baboon with disheveled fur bared its fangs viciously. A low growl rumbled from its throat, its sharp claws and teeth gleaming coldly as it locked onto the tiny human before it.

Roar!!

The Wind Baboon suddenly sprang forward, the wind howling as it lunged straight for Huo Yuhao's face!

Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted sharply, but he did not retreat in the slightest. Driven by a savage will to survive, he twisted aside, gritted his teeth, and swung the White Tiger Dagger, thrusting it forward with every ounce of strength in his body!

Pshk!

The blade pierced flesh, striking precisely into the Wind Baboon's vital point!

A miserable howl rang through the forest. The Ten-Year Wind Baboon struggled violently for a few moments before crashing to the ground, utterly still.

"Ha... ha..."

Huo Yuhao panted heavily, his entire body drained of strength. His legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed onto the ground as cold sweat mixed with blood streamed down his forehead.

Killing a Ten-Year soul beast with all his strength had already exhausted every bit of his physical and mental strength.

But before he could even catch his breath, a sudden change occurred!

Rustle—!

The dense bushes on both sides suddenly shook violently!

Three even fiercer, more powerfully built Wind Baboons burst from the shadows!

The three Ten-Year Wind Baboons formed a triangle, trapping Huo Yuhao tightly in the center!

Ferocious roars rose and fell, their cold beastly eyes filled with bloodthirsty malice as they fixed on the already exhausted boy!

He had only barely managed to kill one by risking his life. Surrounded by three, in his utterly depleted state, he had no chance of victory at all!

Overwhelming despair instantly swept through Huo Yuhao's body!

His entire body stiffened, his hands and feet turned ice-cold, and he could no longer hold onto the White Tiger Dagger clenched in his hand. With a clatter, it fell onto the muddy ground.

Endless darkness and despair shrouded the young boy's heart.

He closed his eyes, completely gave up resisting, and quietly awaited death's arrival.

But just as the three Wind Baboons lunged at him with savage grins, in that instant between life and death—

A clear, calm young voice suddenly pierced through the wind in the forest and fell steadily into Huo Yuhao's ears.

"Don't be afraid."