[Huo Yudie] [Martial Soul: Spirit Eyes] [Cultivation: Level 10 Soul Scholar] [The twin sister of the former Child of Fortune, Huo Yuhao. The Douluo Plane had her assume her elder brother's identity, making her the next guardian of Douluo's destiny.]
"This..."
As the panel appeared in his mind, Chu Ge's expression instantly froze. Huo Gua, the most tragic protagonist in Douluo history, had just died like that?
"Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing..."
"At least you won't have to spend the next ten thousand years being trained like a dog by the Tang Family. At least you won't have to suffer so much..."
For Huo Gua, this might have been a release.
"Older Brother, my name is Huo Yudie. Do... do you know my brother?"
He didn't look like a bad person.
"Yes, I know your Older Brother, Yuhao. He was such a sensible, well-behaved boy..."
Looking at the girl before him, who had shared her brother's womb, Chu Ge wore a gentle smile, though he couldn't help feeling a little wistful.
Huo Yuhao, a tragic protagonist who had truly risen from the humblest beginnings, had been so sensible!
At those words, Huo Yudie couldn't hold back her tears, as though her departed loved one's voice and face were still right before her.
"Older Brother, are you a Soul Master?"
"Could you teach me how to grow stronger and become a powerful Soul Master? I'll be good and repay you."
Then something occurred to the little girl. She raised her head and asked cautiously.
Throughout her wandering journey, she had never dared ask anyone for help. She knew she had nothing of value to offer, so no one would be willing to help her.
But during her fight with that Wind Baboon earlier, she had realized that she couldn't even defeat a ten-year Soul Beast with her strength. As for a hundred-year one, she didn't dare imagine it.
She had to grow stronger, stronger than everyone else, strong enough to avenge her mother and Older Brother, strong enough to make the White Tiger Duke pay the price he deserved...
She needed her first Soul Ring, a powerful first Soul Ring!
"I can wash your clothes and cook for you. I can make grilled fish, too. I can do anything for you..."
"And I don't eat very much, so I won't cost you much money. I still have a few Silver Soul Coins. I'll give you those too, okay?"
"Would that be okay?"
Huo Yudie gazed at him pleadingly, listing everything she could offer. She even pulled the few coins from her pocket, terrified that he would think she was useless.
"My name is Chu Ge."
"From now on, you can stay with me."
Looking at this girl, so pitiful that she made his heart ache, Chu Ge felt a knot tighten inside him and nodded.
He certainly wasn't some saint, but this was little Huo Gua's sister!
Even setting aside the system's task to befriend her, he had already been dissatisfied with Huo Yuhao's life. Since the girl before him was his sister, there was no reason not to lend her a hand.
Besides...
She was a first-rate daughter of destiny. Perhaps she wouldn't even need his help.
"Really?"
Huo Yudie blinked and asked in disbelief. He really was willing to take her in!
"Really. Xiao Yudie, just keep this money yourself."
"We aren't short on money."
He put her coins back into her pocket one by one, patted her head, and spoke gently.
Despite saying that, however, he couldn't help sinking into thought. Money really was a problem.
"I'll do whatever you say, Master."
Xiao Yudie's pretty eyes visibly lit up. She revealed a row of little pointed teeth and answered obediently.
[Side quest: Form a positive bond with Huo Yudie] [Completed] [Congratulations to the host for exceeding the requirements of the positive bond quest] [Rewards: Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone-Bursting Endless Right Arm Bone; Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone-Shadow Ace Left Arm Bone. May be fused at any time.]
"Ma... Master?"
Those words caught Chu Ge a little off guard. The little girl had taken him as her master.
This...
Well, that wasn't really a problem. He was, after all, a Titled Douluo with an outstanding Soul Ring configuration. He could protect this daughter of destiny.
"The rewards are actually two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones."
"The system really is generous... though something about this feels a little strange."
He couldn't help marveling silently.
"Let's go."
"I'll take you to hunt for your first Soul Ring."
"Yes!"
Chu Ge brushed the dirt off Huo Yudie and led her toward the edge of the forest.
With her teacher accompanying her, Huo Yudie looked much more spirited and was no longer as frightened as before.
As Chu Ge walked toward the outskirts, he quietly kept watch over everything around them.
If nothing unexpected happened, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, that little cheat belonging to the Child of Fortune, should be appearing soon.
"Master, what kind of Soul Ring should I get?"
Huo Yudie looked around with her wide eyes. Earlier, she had been so busy watching out for Soul Beasts that she hadn't properly taken in her surroundings. Looking now, she found them so beautiful.
Unfortunately...
She was the only one left in her family who could see them.
"Your Martial Soul is your eyes, a mental-type Martial Soul. Soul Beasts with this attribute tend to be rare, but..."
"We'll find a suitable one soon."
Chu Ge smiled, for the system's notification was already echoing in his mind.
[Main quest: Sky Dream Ice Silkworm] [Rookie host, you are about to encounter the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who escaped pursuit by the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts: the Douluo Continent's number one runner and number one survivalist.] [Unfortunately, you already possess your first Soul Ring, so this excellent-quality Soul Spirit is destined to be beyond your reach. Try earning some of his favor; perhaps you will gain some worthwhile benefits as well.]
"It's not just that I already have my first Soul Ring..."
"All my Soul Ring slots are full."
Chu Ge wasn't particularly bothered by the system's words. Still, since the quest had appeared, Tian Meng would surely show up soon.
Before long, just as the two were about to leave the Star Dou Great Forest, a voice filled with excitement and the urge to cry without tears rang out beside their ears.
"I finally found a human with the mental attribute! Too bad I can't cry, or tears would be streaming down my face!"
At that very moment, the ground beneath them suddenly trembled without warning, and a huge crack began to open...
"Master, this is..."
Huo Yudie grabbed Chu Ge's arm in fear, staring helplessly at the sight before her. Had that voice belonged to a Soul Beast?
Soon, as a faint golden-white light shone from the crack, a gigantic worm appeared before them.
His entire body was the color of white jade, translucent and lustrous. Though he had burrowed out of the earth, there wasn't a speck of dirt on his smooth skin.
A halo of light flowed beneath his skin, and a pair of small, gleaming golden eyes sat on his head. They were now fixed brightly on Huo Yudie, as though she were a treasure.
"The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm."
Chu Ge admired the worm before him. Although he had long known how big this fellow was, knowing it and actually seeing him in person were clearly two different things.
Who wouldn't marvel at a seven-meter worm right in front of them?
"He can burrow underground, he can talk, and he's so huge."
Huo Yudie immediately felt a sense of danger. That little baboon had already been so strong. This worm had to be at least as powerful as a hundred Wind Baboons.
At once, Xiao Yudie gripped her White Tiger Dagger tightly, watching everything before her with a wary expression.
"A mental type, and so clever, too!"
"Her talent might be a little lacking, but she's still young. She has limitless possibilities!"
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm forcibly suppressed his excitement, joy welling up inside him. It seemed his plan could come true...
"Hm?"
But when his gaze fell on the man beside her, he couldn't help growing cautious. He sensed a dangerous aura coming from him.
"He's only a Titled Douluo..."
"How..."
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm simply had no brows. Otherwise, they would surely have knitted tightly together by now.
The man clearly wasn't that strong, and his Soul Rings probably weren't anything special either. Yet the pressure he exerted was scarcely weaker than that of the monsters deep within Star Dou.
In other words, despite his million years of cultivation, he was nothing but a little pushover before this man.
"Your Excellency, please don't attack just yet..."
At once, he gritted his teeth, preparing to explain his plan.
He believed the man wouldn't refuse, provided he first resisted the temptation to kill a beast for its bones. After all, few Soul Beasts in this world were willing to sacrifice themselves. Killing beasts and taking their bones was the surest way.
"Little worm, my disciple Yudie has a boundless future. Would you be willing to become her Soul Ring?"
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was about to discuss matters with him, but before he could speak, Chu Ge had already come up to him.
"Huh?"
"There's actually such a good deal!"
Surprise and delight spread across Tian Meng's face.
An excellent candidate, plus a teacher who was a young Titled Douluo. How could he lose? Seriously, how could he lose?
He had this in the bag! In the bag!
Huo Yudie, meanwhile, froze completely upon hearing those words, enormous confusion written across her little face.
Her?
Absorb a Million-Year Soul Ring?
(End of chapter)
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