Neither evolution nor mutation happens overnight. Thus, after a brief period of fruitless observation, Huo Yuhao skewered the Soft-Boned Rabbits he had previously used as dissection subjects and began his "traditional specialty"—cooking.
A moment later, Gu Yuena held a spicy rabbit head, eating with extraordinary focus. Beside her, the Three-eyed Golden Lion feasted on fragrant roasted rabbit, her three eyes sparkling with delight.
Di Tian didn't lose his composure, eating at a moderate pace without stopping. Clearly, even the Beast God could not resist Huo Yuhao's culinary skills.
Huo Yuhao himself didn't eat much, stopping after a few bites to sit quietly and watch, a faint smile on his lips.
"Something on your mind?"
Elder Yi's kindly voice drifted from his side.
Since returning from the Extreme North, Huo Yuhao had used that piece of Life Gold to reshape his body and stabilize his Divine Consciousness. Perhaps due to the unique nature of this body, he had little desire for food.
After a brief taste, he had moved to Huo Yuhao's side.
"It's not exactly... I'm just a bit lost. I don't know how to face it."
Huo Yuhao spoke softly, his gaze landing on the large golden cat nearby.
He had actually thought about avoiding her—avoiding the Three-eyed Golden Lion and never meeting her. Perhaps then, she wouldn't be hurt.
After all, in his previous life, all the suffering the Three-eyed Golden Lion endured stemmed from him—from a sinner like him.
But intentions and reality often diverge. He had met her again after all, and the moment he saw her, Huo Yuhao felt his fate and hers intertwine once more.
Huo Yuhao was lost, once again at a loss for what to do.
"But you are facing it right now, aren't you? The child has appeared before you, and your heart has already made a choice on how to interact with her."
"In truth, the moment you recognize your confusion, you already know where the problem lies, don't you?"
Elder Yi spoke gently.
Having experienced the betrayal of a lover and the death of kin, and having let go of everything after a life of vengeful destruction, he saw through emotions with exceptional clarity.
"I know?"
Huo Yuhao murmured softly, his dazed eyes seemingly gaining a glimmer of realization.
"Before anyone asks a question, they usually already have the answer in their heart; they simply aren't willing to believe it."
"Whether it is fear, hesitation, or cowardice—regardless of which emotion causes the reluctance—the final result is already known."
A flicker of reminiscence passed through Electrolux's eyes.
Was he not the same? After facing his lover's betrayal, he still went to her with all his might, wanting to ask for an answer... even though he had long known the truth. He simply hadn't been willing to believe it.
"Yuhao, compared to hesitation or evasion, facing it is the best choice. At least then, you can hold everything in the palm of your hand and truly determine the course of events."
"You will have the right to choose, rather than sitting still and waiting for fate to arrange everything for you. That is the true meaning of facing it."
Elder Yi said no more. He believed Huo Yuhao had attained enlightenment in his heart.
Moreover, life's choices should ultimately be left to the individual. For a being like himself, the only thing he could do was guide, not decide.
Elder Yi departed, leaving Huo Yuhao in silence.
Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but in the end, he suddenly smiled. He seemed to have understood something.
"The fruit obtained once the Seed of Emotion is fully grown is the complete Emotion God King Divine Position, and I will naturally become the Emotion God King."
"But... is it really that simple?"
It wasn't that he lacked a Divine Trial; rather, from the moment of his rebirth, he had been undergoing a trial every second. This was the trial unique to the Emotion God King.
Huo Yuhao sighed softly. Then, he looked up at the Three-eyed Golden Lion.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao no longer hesitated. As if making a final resolution, he reached out to touch his brow. In an instant, the phantom of the Eye of Destiny descended, and the suppressed connection reappeared.
The Three-eyed Golden Lion, who was happily munching on roasted rabbit with a face of bliss, suddenly froze. As if sensing something, she looked up in shock, her gaze fixed straight on Huo Yuhao.
"How can you have the same fate as me?!!"
Her startled cry shattered the silence. Gu Yuena, who was elegantly gnawing on a rabbit head, blinked and looked up at the Three-eyed Golden Lion in confusion. Realizing the lion was speaking to Huo Yuhao, she calmly lowered her head to continue eating, signaling for a restless Di Tian to stay calm.
Gu Yuena had sensed the Power of Destiny within the Life-bound Divine Artifact at Huo Yuhao's brow from a close distance.
Indeed, the similarity to the Auspicious Beast was extremely high, yet there were many differences.
But that was a conclusion she had reached only after careful observation. It was normal for the Auspicious Beast to mistake it at first glance; she wasn't surprised.
As for why Huo Yuhao had been secretive earlier and was now suddenly revealing his destiny aura for the Auspicious Beast to feel...
Gu Yuena didn't care about the reason. Rather than wasting time worrying, she'd rather eat another rabbit head.
Beside her, Di Tian watched Huo Yuhao and the Three-eyed Golden Lion with suspicion and uncertainty. Had it not been for Gu Yuena's command and the clearly special relationship between her and Huo Yuhao, he likely would have rushed forward to interrogate him.
Sitting in place, Di Tian held a half-eaten rabbit leg in one hand while closely watching Huo Yuhao's every move. If the Three-eyed Golden Lion were in danger, he would charge in to save her immediately.
The Three-eyed Golden Lion abandoned her fragrant roasted rabbit and dashed to Huo Yuhao's side. Her three eyes stared intently at the phantom of the Eye of Destiny at his brow.
Huo Yuhao did not hide. He watched as the third eye on the Three-eyed Golden Lion's brow emitted a faint light. In an instant, her gaze pierced through the phantom of his Eye of Destiny, seeing the original Eye of Destiny located at the center of Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness.
"No... it's different. But, it's so similar..."
A hint of human-like confusion appeared in the Three-eyed Golden Lion's eyes. She leaned in to sniff Huo Yuhao, catching a very, very fragrant scent.
But what made her even more puzzled was that she felt a strange sense of familiarity with this human whom she was clearly meeting for the first time.
She blinked, realizing she might be losing her composure. After thinking for a moment, the Three-eyed Golden Lion said seriously:
"I'm sorry. I was a bit too excited just now and mistook you before looking clearly."
Admitting a mistake when you've made one was something Uncle Di Tian had taught her. Though she had never followed that rule before, she was inexplicably following it now in front of this human.
She wanted to be closer to him and didn't want to leave a bad impression. Thus, following her heart, she apologized.
"It's alright." Huo Yuhao shook his head with a smile. He reached out to gently rub the Three-eyed Golden Lion's fluffy head and spoke softly:
"Hello. My name is Huo Yuhao. It's a pleasure to meet you."