"What?!"
"Feng Xiaotian came looking for you?!"
Huo Wu was furious at the news.
She had nothing to do with that guy—this made it seem like they were involved!
"Yep," Yang Fan confirmed. "He even said your brother sent him."
Huo Wu's brow furrowed.
Her dear brother!
She'd rip Huo Wushuang's mouth off later.
"Oh, right," she added, suddenly serious. "I came to tell you something important."
Her usual playfulness vanished. Before Yang Fan could ask, she blurted:
"My great-grandfather really admires you. Now that he knows you're alone, he wants you to join Blazing Flame Academy—for proper, systematic training."
Huo Wu only knew Yang Fan by name, yet sensed his identity ran deeper than it seemed. He never shared details, and she didn't pry.
"He also said you'd have full freedom in the academy—no one would interfere with your choices," she added.
The elder's intent was clear:
Don't let Yang Fan repeat his own wasted potential.
"I'll think about it," Yang Fan said.
Truthfully, he wanted to join.
Though he now had a 10,000-year wisdom head bone, he still coveted the 50,000-year spirit-type head bone promised to the next tournament's champions.
To claim it, he needed to:
1) Join a registered academy
2) Win the championship.
"I'll wait for your answer," Huo Wu said earnestly. "Blazing Flame specializes in fire-attribute soul masters—it's perfect for you."
Yang Fan didn't mind her recruitment.
The Breaking Clan's future revival required powerful allies.
After Huo Wu left, Yao Lao materialized:
"What's there to hesitate about? Just join!"
"With your talent, they'll groom you as their heir. Resources will flow freely—we won't need to scavenge herbs anymore."
But Yang Fan changed the subject:
"Master… we're leaving."
Yes—he'd depart Tian Dou City soon.
First, rumors of him crushing Blazing Flame and Godwind's prodigies might spread. Better to vanish before drawing attention.
More importantly:
He'd been away from the Breaking Clan for two years and nine months.
Time flew—
He was nearly nine years old now.
From innate full soul power to Level 39 Soul Elder, he'd nearly reached Soul Ancestor—if not for focusing on alchemy lately.
It was time to go home.
To avoid trackers, he slipped out under cover of night.
His route was simple:
Travel 800 km from Tian Dou City → Enter Star Dou Forest → Cut through to the Star Luo Empire → Return to Yunluo City.
Dangerous? Yes. But ideal for cultivation—and kept him off everyone's radar.
…
Half a month later, Yang Fan entered Xing Luo territory.
"Don't run!"
He chased a 3,000-year Phoenix-Tail Cockscomb Snake through the forest.
To ordinary soul masters, this meant a soul ring—and dreams of a soul bone.
But Yang Fan saw alchemy ingredients.
The snake's gallbladder was a top-tier alchemy ingredient—rarer than gold in Tian Dou City's apothecaries. Even professional beast-hunters avoided these snakes—they were notoriously hard to kill.
Third Soul Skill—Flash!
His third ring flared. 200% speed boost turned him into lightning.
In a blink, he covered 100 meters—appearing directly before the snake.
Then—the Soul Breaking Spear thrust like a comet.
A Level 39 Soul Elder with 200% attack boost? The snake never stood a chance.
Ssshk—!
The spear pierced its body clean through.
"You reckless brat—slow down!" Yao Lao warned. "If you puncture the gallbladder, all our efforts would be wasted!"
Yang Fan grinned confidently. "Impossible."
Though he favored the Heavy Xuan Ruler, he hadn't abandoned spear techniques.
Precision strike!
He flicked the spear—exposing the gallbladder perfectly.
Following Yao Lao's instructions, he sealed it in a special container and stowed it in his soul tool.
Returning to his pre-scouted cave, Yang Fan sighed in relief.
No more freezing nights!
He ignited wood with palm-flame. The cave showed signs of prior human habitation—a disguised thicket at the entrance confirmed it was a soul master's campsite.
But such tricks couldn't fool Yao Lao's soul perception.
Tomorrow—he'd return to the Breaking Clan after nearly three years.
Grandfather will be thrilled to see my growth.
Staring at the fire, Yang Fan's homesickness drowned his focus. All he wanted was to go home—
Suddenly, movement outside caught his ear.
Forest dangers were routine. Most beasts slept by night—but some hunted in darkness.
Wait—
His nerves snapped taut.
That sound wasn't a beast—it was soul masters.
He slapped the fire out, plunging the cave into darkness.
As he moved to investigate, a shadow burst in—moving with practiced ease.
Yang Fan's grip tightened on the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
The intruder, sensing heat in the cramped space, froze.
Tension crackled in the dark…
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