[Ding, congratulations to the host on completing the main quests!] [Main quest one: rescue Huo Yuhao and his mother from the Duke's Mansion. 100% complete.] [Main quest two: Jiang Nannan's mother is gravely ill. Please treat her. 100% complete.] [Quest rewards obtained: 56.89 million Gold Soul Coins, Soul Power Enhancement Cards ×2, Protagonist's Halo, Black Pallbearers Experience Cards ×3.]
Protagonist's Halo?
He was shocked.
The rewards this time were certainly generous!
Was this Protagonist's Halo what he thought it was?
Cao Yu hurriedly asked, "System, explain it to me."
[Protagonist's Halo: after using it, the host will become the child of the Douluo Continent's plane and strip Huo Yuhao of his Protagonist's Halo!] [Black Pallbearers: after an experience card is used, the designated target will be placed in a coffin by black pallbearers and carried away.] [Friendly reminder: one Black Pallbearers Experience Card already has a designated target-the Duchess! The host may assign the remaining two freely.]
The Duchess was so vicious that even his big bro, the system, could no longer stand it.
It had even gone out of its way to designate a target.
Cao Yu did not know whether to laugh or cry, but he did not want to use it yet.
If he killed the Duchess now, wouldn't that be the same as telling everyone that he, Cao Yu, had done it?
If the White Tiger Duke went to complain to Brother Xu, he would be left in an awkward position too.
At the very least, he had to wait until the duke went to war, leaving the Duke's Mansion to focus on killing enemies for the Star Luo Empire at the front.
He would let the Duchess live a few more years, hehe!
As for the Protagonist's Halo, naturally, he used it without hesitation.
At worst, he would give Yuhao a bigger raise later. After all, the one thing he, Boss Cao, did not lack was money.
In the past, heroes were judged over wine warmed with green plums; today, a thousand gold bought a horse's bones.
Cao Yu truly had the makings of a formidable overlord!
A towering palace stood in a seemingly illusory space.
Clouds on the horizon floated to either side like mist.
Purple clouds streaked past like shooting stars, spreading out into a breathtaking painting.
A figure stood quietly amid the clouds and mist.
Long, water-blue hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall. From behind, he looked like a peerless beauty.
His silhouette alone had already conquered the world!
Alas, when he turned around!
He was a perfectly ordinary man, suddenly throwing that beauty into disarray.
He gazed into the distance, then half-closed his eyes, seemingly sensing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.
A moment later, the man opened his eyes.
He murmured, "The mortal world's presence has changed..."
"Third Brother." A woman in a pink dress landed beside him and called affectionately.
"What are you thinking about?"
Her two long rabbit ears were remarkably lively.
Tang San gazed into the distance. "A rising star seems to have emerged on the Douluo Continent recently, answering the call of destiny."
"Ten thousand years have now passed on the Douluo Continent. The Tang Sect should have withered away, yet he has brought it back to life. There are also traces of powerful mortals around him."
Xiao Wu's eyes flickered. "Could it be those two God Kings?"
Tang San shook his head. "No. Those two fellows aren't in the Douluo Plane right now."
"Isn't that perfect? If he comes to inherit your divine position someday, won't we have time to go everywhere and have fun?"
Tang San raised a hand and affectionately brushed her nose. "You! All you ever think about is having fun."
A breeze stirred their long hair.
Blue and black strands tangled together.
Tang Shan held Xiao Wu tightly, thinking to himself.
It's time to let my precious daughter go play in the mortal world.
As for my precious daughter's Martial Soul Fusion partner... he'll do!
Wutong? That does sound quite nice.
Two days passed in the Divine Realm.
Two years had already passed in the mortal world.
By then, Cao Yu had turned thirteen,
while Huo Yuhao was eleven, old enough to head to Shrek Academy for further study.
As for Jiang Nannan, Tang Ya, and Ning Tian?
They had gone to Shrek Academy a year earlier.
Xu Jiujiu, meanwhile, had become a royal student at the Royal Soul Master Academy.
"I feel awful all over!"
Cao Yu felt that his body was in terrible shape.
Because he did not want to level up so quickly, his soul power had kept accumulating, and now it was about to burst his body apart!
Over the past few years, he had been suppressing his cultivation and even deliberately slacking off.
Unfortunately, the degree of suppression still could not keep pace with the rate at which his soul power increased.
His primary Martial Soul, the Gold Soul Coin, had not even been given a Soul Ring yet.
As it happened, this was also the year the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm escaped from the Star Dou Great Forest!
"Yuhao, let's go."
"Okay, Brother Yu."
Cao Yu had already packed his luggage and called for Huo Yuhao before leaving.
Before long, a young lad walked out of the river snail rice noodle shop.
The eleven-year-old boy was tall and sturdy, though still about a head shorter than Cao Yu.
After all, the age gap was there.
Thanks to his improved living conditions, along with the cultivation resources Cao Yu provided.
Huo Yuhao's physical constitution had improved considerably, and his soul power had reached rank eighteen. He should be able to break through to Soul Grandmaster before long.
This was more than a little faster than before. Presumably, Shrek's entrance examination would not pose a problem for him either.
This could also count as a little compensation from Cao Yu.
"Yuhao, be careful on the way. Ask your Brother Yu if there's anything you don't understand, and study hard once you get to school."
"Young Master Cao, I'll be entrusting my son to you."
"Sister Yun, don't worry. I've got it covered." Cao Yu agreed with a smile.
Seeing him agree, Huo Yun'er smiled even more happily.
Cao Yu had treated her and her son well these past few years, so naturally, she was deeply grateful.
That was why she worked from dawn until dark every day, just to help Cao Yu's shop earn a little more money. Naturally, Cao Yu said little about it.
Since she was willing, he would not stop her. Otherwise, she would not feel at ease.
Afterward, he said goodbye to the old man and his parents.
The old man said with a worried expression, "Little Yu, how about I go with you? The journey is dangerous, and I could look after you."
Cao Xiang said worriedly, "Dad, what would you do on the way back? These seniors only follow Little Yu. Without anyone to protect you, your return trip would be dangerous too."
Luo Lingyun also said, "That's right, Dad. What if you run into an Evil Soul Master on the way back? Besides, Little Yu has the seniors protecting him."
His father, Cao Xiang, and his mother, Luo Lingyun, were both uneasy about letting the old man go.
Seeing that Cao Yu had people protecting him, the old man finally abandoned the idea.
Before long, Xu Tianshui and the others also came to see him off. "You brat, go to Shrek without any worries. Try to break through to Titled Douluo soon, then take us to watch a good show."
"Don't worry. We'll keep an eye on the Cao Clan after you leave."
At this point, Cao Yu did not forget to remind them, "And the Tang Sect."
That was his wife Tang Ya's home, after all.
He could not let someone backdoor their base the moment he turned away.
It had to be protected properly.
Cheng Gang laughed heartily. "Don't worry. With me, Cheng Gang, around, no one will be able to touch the Tang Sect!"
He thumped his chest, producing loud bangs.
Beneath his brawny exterior lay a burning heart.
Naturally, his parents and the old man were delighted to hear this.
Having people willing to lend a hand was a blessing for Cao Yu too.
"Then thank you, Uncle, and all you uncles."
"No need for thanks. If you want to thank us, just waive our bills a few more times when we come for hotpot."
Cheng Gang did not forget to add, "And river snail rice noodles."
Xu Tianshui and the others shot him a glance. "You're the one with a taste for the pungent stuff!"
(End of chapter)