Gu Yuan left the Soul Realm with Gu Xun'er.
Just as he was about to tear open space and take Xun'er away, the little girl suddenly called out in her crisp voice:
"Father, can we wait just a moment?"
"Hmm?"
Gu Yuan paused, his hand freezing mid-action, and looked at his daughter with curiosity.
The little one cast a lingering gaze toward the Soul Realm—she was clearly reluctant to leave, though she understood she had to go.
Seeing her reluctance, Gu Yuan's heart stirred with mixed emotions. He gently patted her head and spoke softly:
"When you grow up, you can marry your Brother Hun Xiu.""So you have to work hard to grow up—and grow strong too, okay?"
"But Father," Xun'er tilted her head, confused, "if I grow up, I can marry Brother Hun Xiu, right? Why do I also need to get stronger?"
Gu Yuan smiled:
"Because, Xun'er… if you don't become strong, your Brother Hun Xiu might get taken away by someone else.""So you must become strong—so strong that your Brother Hun Xiu will always belong to you, and only you."
"Oh…"
Xun'er nodded as if she half-understood, then clenched her tiny fists with determination:
"Xun'er will work hard! I'll grow up—and become strong too!"
She glanced once more at the Soul Realm, then said resolutely:
"Let's go, Father."
Gu Yuan smiled, pleased—this was the kind of determination he hoped to see in her.
Who says two people can't grow strong together?
"Good!"
With a wave of his hand, space shimmered and cracked open. Holding the little one's hand, Gu Yuan stepped into the void with her.
As they walked in, the rift slowly sealed behind them.
Night fell.
The moon hung high, casting silvery frost-like light across the entire Soul Realm.
For Hun Xiu, this night would be a sleepless one.
In the study—
Present were Hun Xiu, Hun Tiandi, and—unexpectedly—Void Swallowing Flame.
Seeing Void Swallowing Flame there, Hun Xiu was momentarily stunned… but quickly composed himself.
"Father.""Lord Void."
He greeted them respectfully.
Void Swallowing Flame's position within the Soul Clan was equivalent to his father's. No way Hun Xiu would dare be disrespectful.
"Mm."
Void Swallowing Flame nodded, his gaze sharp as he studied Hun Xiu.
"Hun Xiu, you're different from others.""You refined my high-grade sub-flame, yet your cultivation only went from Two-Star Dou King to Eight-Star Dou King.""Meanwhile, that boy Hun Yu refined a common sub-flame and jumped from Five-Star Dou King straight to Dou Sect."
"Understand, the sub-flame I gave you is comparable to a top-five Heavenly Flame. It cost me quite a bit of my source essence."
"Thank you, Lord Void," Hun Xiu replied respectfully. "Maybe I really am different. After all, I do possess the greatest divine-grade bloodline in history."
Hun Xiu didn't quite know what Void Swallowing Flame was getting at—but with Hun Tiandi present, he was confident no harm would come to him. At least, not yet.
"Indeed."
Black flame flickered in Void Swallowing Flame's eyes as he nodded slightly.
"You've always been different. Both Hun Tiandi and I have seen it with our own eyes.""No other Dou King could possibly wield an Earth-level high-tier Dou Technique with nearly perfect destructive effect. You were the first."
"Hun Tiandi once said you would surpass both of us. I didn't believe him then. But seeing your progress now… I believe it.""You not only have the potential to become an Emperor—you will become one."
Hun Xiu was a bit confused by this string of praise.
"You flatter me, Lord Void. The future is long—who can say what might happen?"
Void Swallowing Flame looked at him seriously:
"You must believe in yourself. Time may be long for others—but not necessarily for you."
Hun Xiu fell silent.
He honestly didn't know what to make of this. The minds of powerful beings were too hard to grasp, and he dared not guess carelessly.
At this point, Hun Tiandi spoke:
"Void, stop teasing the boy."
"Fine…"
Void Swallowing Flame chuckled and stepped aside, falling silent as he gave the two space.
Hun Tiandi simply looked at Hun Xiu without saying a word.
Hun Xiu didn't speak either.
The silence stretched—and the air began to grow awkward.
To break it, Hun Xiu was the first to speak:
"Father."
"Yes?"
"Do you need something?" Hun Tiandi asked, nodding.
Hun Xiu: …
At that moment, all Hun Xiu wanted to say was: "Seriously, old man? You're pretending to forget this now?"
[Hun Tiandi: Of course. I don't care what you think—I only care what I think.]
"Father," Hun Xiu said, "it's about leaving the Soul Clan—"
"I know."
Hun Tiandi nodded again:
"According to clan rules, anyone who wishes to leave must be at least sixteen years old—only after reaching adulthood can they go."
"But Father, didn't you say that as long as I came first in the clan trials, I could leave?"
"Correct."
Hun Tiandi clasped his hands behind his back, looking at him steadily:
"I did say that.""But… did you forget that I also mentioned there would be a surprise?"
"Huh?"
Hun Xiu looked up at him with suspicion:
"This surprise of yours—it's not that I can't leave the clan, is it?"
Can't blame Hun Xiu for thinking that way. With people like his father, anything was possible.
The thoughts of powerful people were unpredictable.
Hun Tiandi smiled and shook his head:
"Of course not."
Then he slowly added:
"Clan rules say no one may leave before coming of age. But…""Rules are dead. People are alive. I gave you my word—and I will keep it.""However, you must first pass my trial. Once you pass, you can leave."
"What trial?" Hun Xiu asked.
No matter what it was—he had to pass.
Even though he was engaged to Gu Xun'er, he still feared being "green-hatted" (cheated on).
What if even that divine artifact he gifted her didn't work?
Nothing could replace his actual presence.
No one would cherish his woman more than he would himself.
"It's simple."
Hun Tiandi slowly raised his palm, and two ancient black storage rings floated into view.
"See these two rings? They are your trial."
"Huh?"
Hun Xiu was filled with question marks.
The rings looked ordinary—nothing out of the ordinary at all.
This… was his trial?
Was he serious?