A Promise Made by Boys (Revised)

Yu Chen stepped forward and patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder, smiling as he said, "Well done. I can tell you've improved a lot over the past few years."

"It was all thanks to Brother Chen helping me back then. Without you, I never would have made it this far."

Yu Chen waved it off. "That's all in the past. No need to keep bringing it up. By the way, how has Auntie been lately?"

The next second, he cursed himself for being an idiot. How could he ask something like that?

As soon as those words left his mouth, large tears rolled from Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Huo Yuhao's voice choked up, his eyes red. "My mother... she's gone."

Yu Chen let out a heavy sigh and hurriedly comforted him. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought it up and reopened your wound."

The two walked away side by side. Mu En watched their retreating backs with a meaningful gaze, quietly looking forward to how far they might one day rise.

Yu Chen slowed his pace and spoke softly. "Yu Hao, your mother may not be beyond revival."

Huo Yuhao's body suddenly stiffened. He clenched his hands, his voice trembling. "Brother Chen, what do you mean? Is that true?"

"But there is one condition."

Huo Yuhao's eyes were bloodshot, his fists tightly clenched, his tone incomparably resolute. "No matter what the condition is, I'll fulfill it!"

Looking at the determination in Huo Yuhao's eyes, Yu Chen slowly said, "There is only one way to bring back someone who has died: become a god."

A thunderous boom went off in Huo Yuhao's mind. The words become a god echoed endlessly in his heart. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had also spoken to him before about the mysteries of godhood.

Within his spiritual sea, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hurriedly comforted him in a gentle voice. "Yu Hao, don't be sad. That boy is right. Once you attain a divine position, you'll naturally have the power to revive your mother."

Huo Yuhao's eyes instantly lit up. He firmly etched the words become a god into his heart and gritted his teeth as he silently made a vow: I must become a god, cultivate desperately, and revive Mother!

Huo Yuhao turned to Yu Chen, his eyes reddening as he sincerely thanked him. "Thank you, Brother Chen. From now on, you're my real big brother!"

Yu Chen smiled and patted his back. "Good. I've seen your determination, and I believe you can do it."

"Brother Chen, do you want to become a god someday too?"

Yu Chen smiled faintly and looked into the distance. "Who wouldn't want to become a god? It's just that many things..."

Huo Yuhao paused. Brother Chen's words sounded evasive. Could it be that even he wasn't certain he could become a god?

Yu Chen's eyes held absolute confidence. If the ordinary path to godhood would not work, then he would carve out a brand-new path of his own.

"Becoming a god is merely the starting point for me. I can't even say whether I'll live to see the day I attain a divine position."

Huo Yuhao hurriedly asked, "Brother Chen, do you know the way to become a god?"

Yu Chen casually fabricated an explanation and slowly said, "I do know the method. My clan has worshipped an ancient god for generations, and I am his direct descendant. Something happened back then, and that ancestral god met a tragic end. There is a great chance that I can inherit the divine position he left behind. But those who killed my ancestor definitely won't let me become a god so easily."

"In other words, I may very well be intercepted and killed before I can even reach the divine position."

"If that's the case, Brother Chen, I'll cultivate desperately and become a god as soon as possible. When that time comes, I'll protect you!"

Yu Chen laughed and patted his shoulder. "I haven't spoiled you for nothing. Then I'll wait for the day you come to protect me."

At that moment, the two made a youthful promise, a secret shared only between them, unknown to anyone else.

"Alright, go back to the dormitory and get some rest first."

Huo Yuhao nodded and turned toward the dormitory building.

Meanwhile, in the dormitory, Wang Dong paced back and forth in anger, filled with regret and frustration.

She should never have been so arrogant and overconfident. Now she had lost to Huo Yuhao in public and thoroughly embarrassed herself in front of Yu Chen. The more she thought about it, the more stifled she felt.

Huo Yuhao pushed open the door and entered, completely ignoring Wang Dong beside him.

The two each took one side of the room. It was silent, and neither of them spoke.

Huo Yuhao directly sat down cross-legged and began cultivating. He intended to meditate through the night and train hard, raising his cultivation as quickly as possible so that he could fulfill the promise he had made with Yu Chen.

In the blink of an eye, the next morning arrived.

Huo Yuhao finished his overnight meditation and stood up, preparing to go out for breakfast.

Unable to hold back, Wang Dong asked, "Where are you going?"

"To find Brother Chen and have breakfast together."

The moment she heard the words Brother Chen, Wang Dong's mind heated up, and she blurted out, "I'm going too."

Huo Yuhao replied flatly, "Suit yourself."

Inside Dormitory 111, Yu Chen was still curled up in bed, sleeping soundly. His breathing was steady, and he looked exceptionally comfortable.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood outside the door and knocked. There was no movement inside; Yu Chen had not woken up at all.

They knocked harder a few more times, but the room remained completely quiet, without the slightest response.

"Brother Chen isn't still asleep, is he?"

"Let's just push the door open and go in. It's probably unlocked."

"Alright."

The two pushed together and gently opened the door before walking inside.

Yu Chen was immersed in a beautiful dream, and the scene within it was magnificent.

He dreamed that the Golden Dragon King had summoned him for a grand ceremony to appoint him as the one who would preside over the Dragon God's divine position.

The entire God Realm had been unified, and countless divine officials and divine generals bowed their heads together, their cheers shaking the nine heavens.

The Golden Dragon King's majestic voice resounded throughout the God Realm as he publicly invited Yu Chen to ascend to the position of Dragon God.

Then, the Golden Dragon King personally stepped forward and slowly placed the Purple-Gold Dragon Crown, symbolizing the supreme authority of the Dragon God, upon his head.

Yu Chen slept deeply, drool streaming down the side of his face. The dream of being crowned Dragon God had him completely entranced.

Huo Yuhao looked at him helplessly and muttered softly, "Brother Chen sleeps way too deeply. We knocked for so long, but he didn't react at all."

He turned to Wang Dong and asked, "Should we wake Brother Chen now?"

But Wang Dong did not hear him at all. Her gaze was fixed on Yu Chen's bare upper body, and she stared blankly.

Yu Chen slept without clothes on. Wang Dong's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, her heart pounding wildly as she panicked and found herself unable to look away.

Seemingly disturbed by the commotion around him, Yu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

Still groggy, he rubbed his eyes. Seeing Huo Yuhao standing before him, he thought he had not fully awakened and mumbled vaguely, "Hm? Why do I see you the moment I open my eyes? Am I still dreaming?"

"Brother Chen, it's me. You're not dreaming," Huo Yuhao answered.

Yu Chen's mind instantly cleared. He sat upright, looking astonished. "Huo Yuhao, why did you two just walk straight into my dormitory?"

Yu Chen's gaze swept over Wang Dong beside him, and he asked in confusion, "And you, Wang Dong, why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?"

Wang Dong's heart skipped a beat. She suddenly came back to her senses and hurriedly waved her hands, even the tips of her ears turning red. "No, no! I don't have a fever. It's just... it's a little too hot in here!"

Yu Chen did not think much of it. He casually acknowledged her words and threw back the covers as he got out of bed.

"Alright, wait outside for two minutes. I'll wash up and be ready."

Huo Yuhao and the utterly embarrassed Wang Dong retreated to wait outside the dormitory door.

Inside, Yu Chen moved very quickly, and before long, he had finished getting himself ready.

"Alright, let's go. We'll have breakfast together."

Only then did Wang Dong completely recover from her earlier embarrassment. She hurriedly nodded again and again, softly replying, "Okay, okay!"

Her heart was still pounding, and she did not dare lift her head to look at Yu Chen again.