Nine-Year-Old Three-Ring Soul Exalt

Just as Tang San was about to make a move against Huo Yuhao, Tang Wulin suddenly appeared and stood between them.

"Dad, you can't beat Brother Yuhao, so save your strength. Brother Yuhao only did this for your own good. If you dare lay a hand on Brother Yuhao, I'll never speak to you again."

Tang San was furious. "Wulin, move aside! If I don't teach Huo Yuhao a lesson, he'll only become more excessive in the future."

Huo Yuhao pulled Tang Wulin behind him and looked calmly at Tang San.

"You're right. I really will ruin your plans again and again. Since you insist on fighting, I'm willing to take a beating."

Huo Yuhao's gaze then turned resolute. "But I don't regret it, and I won't change."

Tang Wulin tugged at Huo Yuhao's sleeve. "Brother Yuhao..."

Huo Yuhao took Tang Wulin's hand and continued speaking to Tang San.

"Aren't you trying to improve your relationship with Wulin? Wulin only listens to me, so you can only listen to me too. If you're dissatisfied, then beat me up properly while you still can. You may not get another chance afterward. After all, Wulin and I have limited patience too."

Killing intent surged from Tang San. "Fine. After this battle, I'll listen to you and Wulin in everything."

Tang Wulin frowned tightly, his face full of worry.

"Brother Yuhao, what if Father gets serious? Why don't you plan to fight back?"

Huo Yuhao stroked Tang Wulin's head. "After all, I stole away his son. I have to repay this debt somehow. Wulin, don't worry. I'll be fine, because I promised I would never leave you."

Time in this world seemed to suddenly freeze, as though it had been permanently halted at that very instant.

Sea God Island.

Tang San, Huo Yuhao, and Tang Wulin suddenly appeared out of thin air above the surface of the vast sea.

Huo Yuhao lightly snapped his fingers, and the frozen sea resumed its rippling rhythm.

"Tang San, you think you're the one moving the pieces. But you aren't. The two of us are merely players within the game, following the referee's commands. The only one with the authority to overturn the board and destroy the game has always been Wulin."

Huo Yuhao chuckled softly. "If Wulin becomes unhappy, this game won't be playable anymore."

Tang San held the Sea God's Trident. "Enough nonsense. Take this!"

Huo Yuhao had no intention of attacking. He did not resist or retaliate in the slightest, simply allowing Tang San to attack him as he pleased.

A quarter of an hour later.

Covered in blood, Huo Yuhao merely brushed the dust from his clothes and said calmly, "Already tired?"

Tang San, who had long since shifted into his Asura God form, held the bloodstained Asura Demon Sword and immediately snorted coldly.

"If we keep fighting, Wulin will completely sever ties with me. I'll spare you this time."

Tang Wulin's reddened eyes were already full of bloodshot veins. Seeing Tang San stop attacking, he immediately flew toward Huo Yuhao.

"Brother Yuhao, why are you so foolish... It must hurt terribly, right?"

Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. "I'm fine. This little pain is nothing. Wulin, come change clothes with me."

Tang Wulin nodded and left with Huo Yuhao.

Tang San snorted coldly at the sight and flicked his sleeve before leaving as well.

The sea surface, whose waves had been splashing about, likewise lost its vitality and fell into stillness once more.

Half an hour later.

Tang San, Huo Yuhao, and Tang Wulin returned to the Star Dou Great Forest. Time began to flow again, and everything returned to normal.

Seeing Tang San and Huo Yuhao staring each other down, Xiao Wu stepped forward and asked:

"What are you two arguing about again?"

Huo Yuhao explained, "I'm planning to take you somewhere to cultivate. Tang San is worried that we'll be discovered by that Titled Douluo."

Tang San snorted. "The risk is too great. We can't go now."

After thinking for a moment, Huo Yuhao said, "How about this? Tomorrow, I'll go by myself. Once I've refined the pills, I'll come back for you."

Tang San nodded at this. "I have no objection to that. It's settled, then. I'll keep watch tonight. You should all get some proper rest first."

After helping Xiao Wu set up their tent, Tang San leaned against a large tree alone and began keeping watch.

Hu Liena and Xie Yue also set up a tent and rested together. Likewise, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wulin set up a tent together, and the two slept in the same bed.

Huo Yuhao touched Tang Wulin's face. "You promised me that you'd get a good rest tonight. Don't forget."

Tang Wulin nodded slightly. "I haven't forgotten. I'll sleep now."

With that, he took Huo Yuhao's hand and closed his eyes.

Watching Tang Wulin fall peacefully asleep, Huo Yuhao silently closed his eyes as well and drifted into dreams alongside him.

The following morning.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Huo Yuhao left the Star Dou Great Forest and set out alone.

Huo Yuhao first used his divine sense to search for the God Realm Fragment that would later be discovered and used by Spirit Pagoda descendants. He brought it back and hid it at the center of the lakebed beneath the Icefire Yin Yang Well.

While Huo Yuhao refined Ascension Spirit Pills, the God Realm Fragment continuously absorbed the world's ambient power. Huo Yuhao also refined this transformed spiritual power into another kind of pill—the Heaven-and-Earth Pill.

Ascension Spirit Pills could raise Soul Power, while Heaven-and-Earth Pills could increase the age of Soul Rings. The Ascension Spirit Pills refined by Huo Yuhao had the same effect as Spirit Pagoda's Soul Ascension Pills, while Heaven-and-Earth Pills shared the same fundamental nature as Spirit Pagoda's Spirit Ascension Platform.

By the time Huo Yuhao returned to the Star Dou Great Forest and reunited with everyone, three years had passed in the blink of an eye.

After three years of training, Tang San had successfully reached the two-ring level, absorbed Ghost Vine's Soul Ring, and gained the ability Parasitism.

Xiao Wu, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue naturally became Two-Ring Soul Masters as well, each gaining their own second soul skill.

Because Tang San had advanced in rank, Tang Wulin likewise recovered the strength he possessed during the two-ring stage.

His hundred-thousand-year second soul skill differed from Tang San's second soul skill, yet it was exactly the same as the fourth soul skill Tang San would later comprehend—Blue Silver Thorn Array.

At the same time, Tang Wulin also recovered the Golden Dragon King's first Blood Essence Soul Ring skill—Golden Dragon Body.

Huo Yuhao gave Tang San, Xiao Wu, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue one Ascension Spirit Pill each. After consuming the pills, the four were shocked to discover that their Soul Power was rapidly rising, eventually breaking through the bottleneck at level thirty.

The four ultimately hunted and absorbed their third Soul Rings, advancing into Three-Ring Soul Exalts.

Nine-year-old Three-Ring Soul Exalts!

Hu Liena and Xie Yue were overjoyed. The two walked up to Huo Yuhao together and spoke in unison:

"Thank you, Huo Yuhao."

Huo Yuhao waved his hand. "This is only the beginning. Still, taking too much of the same pill will produce resistance, and its effect definitely won't be as good as it was the first time. Don't celebrate too early. Cultivation depends on perseverance. You must not become lax because of this."

Hu Liena and Xie Yue nodded. "We understand. Thank you for your guidance."

Looking at the people before him, Huo Yuhao could not help smiling.

"Before taking you to the Icefire Yin Yang Well, why don't we spar first and work on our mutual coordination? What do you think?"

Tang San's mouth twitched. You're not planning to use this chance to take revenge on me, are you?