I'm Here to Join You

Deep within the Sea of Spirit.

The Heavenly Creation Cauldron let out an exceptionally soft hum.

A hazy layer of creation mist slowly dispersed.

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and looked at the few dark-red pills in his hand, an extremely satisfied expression appearing on his face.

This was an upgraded version of the Red Jade Pill.

Or, it could also be called version 2.0.

It used that batch of thousand-year whale glue as its main ingredient.

It also contained Blood Demon Tiger bones, Azure Spirit Deer antlers, Blackwater Turtle shells, and other valuable materials stripped from ten-year soul beasts.

Finally, dozens of mutually complementary ten-year medicinal herbs were added as catalysts.

The originally chaotic and violent medicinal properties had been forcibly crushed and fused together by the Heavenly Creation Cauldron's utterly unreasonable transformation.

Its basic medicinal effect was a full five times that of the Red Jade Pill version 1.0.

It was extremely overbearing.

Even if an ordinary person only took a small bite, they would probably get such a severe nosebleed that they bled to death on the spot.

But for soul masters who had already absorbed their first soul ring, this medicinal power was just right.

Not to mention him now.

Even if this stuff were given to Shao Xing, the six-ring Soul Emperor guarding outside, it would still have a powerful effect in strengthening his foundation and replenishing his vitality.

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had gone by.

Over the past half year, Huo Yuhao had practically lived like a god.

With an unlimited supply of top-tier resources piled onto him.

The nutritional deficit he had accumulated from going hungry as a child in the White Tiger Duke's Estate had been completely wiped away.

The current Huo Yuhao was still not yet nine years old.

But the scrawny, shriveled appearance of a little refugee had long since vanished.

His body had grown much sturdier, faintly carrying a balanced sense of strength.

Especially his eyes.

With sufficient nutrition and long-term nourishment from soul power, his eyes had become clearer and brighter than those of ordinary people, making him look exceptionally spirited.

On this day.

The afternoon sunlight was lovely.

In the small courtyard of the camp.

Huo Yuhao was sitting peacefully on Ye Guyi's lap.

His back rested against her soft embrace.

He had his eyes slightly closed, thoroughly enjoying this rare moment of ease.

He had to admit it.

Compared with Ju Zi, whose body had yet to begin developing but whose mental age was that of a max-level reborn regent empress dowager.

He actually preferred being with Ye Guyi.

After all, she was a genuine fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl in the bloom of youth.

Soft jade and warm fragrance.

That was a normal aesthetic preference.

If he truly had improper thoughts toward ten-year-old Ju Zi, what difference would there be between him and an animal?

Elsewhere.

Ye Guyi quietly held the boy in her arms.

For someone like her, who had spent years hunted by evil soul masters and could only hide among desolate mountains and wilderness, such peaceful and comfortable days were something she had never even dared dream of.

Such peaceful and comfortable days were something she had never even dared dream of.

Since Ju Zi had said that Huo Yuhao was her future younger brother.

Then.

An older sister holding her younger brother.

Was only natural.

Ye Guyi's arms gently circled Huo Yuhao's shoulders, her breathing steady.

The feeling of being relied upon quietly filled that barren place in her heart that had once belonged to family.

But very soon, Ye Guyi's expression changed.

She saw a figure enter through the courtyard gate.

Ju Zi.

Looking at that delicate little face carrying a faint smile, Ye Guyi's heart suddenly lurched.

After spending a full half year together.

She understood this ten-year-old girl's way of doing things all too well.

Ju Zi practically regarded Huo Yuhao as a personal jade pendant engraved with her own name.

Other than herself, anyone else who wanted to take even a second glance had to think twice.

It was an absolute possessiveness that felt suffocating.

"Yuhao..."

Ye Guyi lowered her voice and gently nudged Huo Yuhao in her arms.

She wanted him to get up quickly.

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes.

He also saw Ju Zi walking toward them.

"Good afternoon, Sister Ju Zi."

Huo Yuhao greeted her obediently.

But he did not climb down from Ye Guyi's lap.

After living off others for so long, he had grown bolder. Besides, he had not done anything wrong.

Yet Ye Guyi grew even more flustered.

She took a deep breath, and her body gradually tensed.

She had even prepared herself to lower her head and apologize, because she simply could not afford the cost of leaving this shelter now.

If she angered this young mistress, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"It's fine."

The smile on Ju Zi's face did not change in the slightest.

She walked up to them, her voice still as gentle and pleasant as a spring breeze.

Then.

Ju Zi took two exquisitely crafted wooden boxes from the black-clad guard behind her.

The guard withdrew.

She casually placed the boxes on the stone table beside them.

With two soft pops.

Both lids opened at the same time.

Ye Guyi's gaze instinctively fell upon them.

Just one second later.

Her pupils abruptly contracted, and her entire body froze.

Inside the box on the left lay a pale-green pill that gave off a faint fragrance.

Inside the box on the right was a pitch-black, round pill containing an extremely powerful water-attribute fluctuation.

Others might not recognize what these were.

But Ye Guyi, who came from the Angel lineage, possessed knowledge far beyond that of ordinary people.

"Th-that..."

Ye Guyi's voice trembled slightly.

"Is that a Soul Ascension Pill?"

"Yes."

"And the one beside it... could it be a Profound Water Pill?"

"That's right."

Ju Zi nodded, her tone as calm as if she had merely gone out and bought two bundles of scallions.

At that moment, Huo Yuhao's heart began pounding wildly as well.

These were a Profound Water Pill and a Soul Ascension Pill!

They could cleanse the tendons and marrow, and raise one's soul power by one rank while ignoring bottlenecks.

Outside, these would absolutely be peerless treasures worth fighting over. Even core disciples of major sects might not receive a single one.

Huo Yuhao cursed inwardly.

When he had read the original novel as a reader, the original Huo Yuhao would never have been qualified to obtain these two treasures in the early stages if he had not been the child of fate.

And now?

A huge pile of high-level resources was being delivered right to his doorstep, shipping included.

Just how far had this ten-year-old girl gone behind the scenes?

She could even forcibly obtain the Dark Nether Sect's secret medicine?

She was utterly insane.

"These are for you."

Ju Zi closed the two boxes again and pushed them directly in front of Huo Yuhao.

"Don't be in a hurry to take them."

After thinking for a moment, Ju Zi added thoughtfully, "You can take these apart and study how to refine them if you want. But if you plan to consume them, remember to do so under my supervision."

"Thank you, Sister Ju Zi."

Huo Yuhao honestly accepted the boxes.

With the matter settled.

Logically speaking, Ju Zi should have turned around and left at this point, returning to her grand ambition of unifying the continent.

But.

Ju Zi did not move.

Under the bewildered gazes of Huo Yuhao and Ye Guyi, Ju Zi stepped forward.

Not only did she not fly into a rage over her territory being invaded.

She instead squeezed naturally into Ye Guyi's embrace.

Then, imitating Huo Yuhao, she leaned back comfortably against her.

Ye Guyi:?

Huo Yuhao:?

The impending storm of a love rivalry was instantly shattered by this utterly bizarre action.

"What are you doing?"

Ye Guyi's body stiffened, both hands hanging in midair as she had no idea where to put them.

Ju Zi found a comfortable position.

She closed her eyes, a calm smile curling at the corners of her lips.

"I'm not here to break you two apart."

"I'm here to join you."