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"Is this how the Shui family treats its guests? Attacking without asking questions?"
Huo Yuhao, a standout among the younger generation, remained calm under the immense pressure. His eyes were fixed on Shui Wuya.
Shui Wuya smiled slightly, knowing Huo Yuhao's words were directed at him.
"It's been years, and you have indeed made significant progress."
As he spoke, Shui Wuya waved his hand, first glancing at the Grand Elder of the Tian Shui Sect before refocusing on Huo Yuhao.
The Grand Elder, understanding Shui Wuya's signal, withdrew his oppressive aura but remained vigilant.
"Patriarch Shui, your praise is misplaced. Progress isn't always visible on the surface."
In a short time, Huo Yuhao accepted the reality of Shui Wuya as the Shui family patriarch. However, he remained unimpressed by Shui Wuya's condescending praise.
"Interesting. So, what do you intend to do?"
Shui Wuya caught the deeper meaning in Huo Yuhao's words. He had no particular grudge against Huo Yuhao and no reason to kill him. From the beginning, he never considered Huo Yuhao a threat. Now, he regarded him as insignificant.
"After so many years, there's only one way to settle this—a battle!"
Huo Yuhao formally challenged Shui Wuya, clenching his fists as the aura of a Soul King burst from within him. At not even seventeen, Huo Yuhao was a Soul King, a core disciple of Shrek, and part of the Extreme Single Combat Training Program. Previously, the gap between him and Shui Wuya was too vast for a challenge. But now, he was confident the gap had narrowed significantly. At the very least, he could challenge him!
"How dare you!"
The moment Huo Yuhao unleashed his aura, Shui Xingtian, standing behind Shui Wuya, was filled with murderous intent. As a member of the Shui family, he would not tolerate any challenge to the patriarch's authority.
"Stop."
Seeing Shui Xingtian about to strike, Shui Wuya immediately gestured for him to halt. Then, Shui Wuya turned his gaze to Mo Ling'er, acknowledging her for the first time since she re-entered the hall.
"Who do you think will win between us?"
A slight smile formed on Shui Wuya's lips. He wanted to see if Mo Ling'er was truly beyond redemption.
"I believe Yuhao is stronger. If the patriarch accepts Yuhao's challenge, I hope that if Yuhao wins, he will be allowed to enter the Tian Shui Pool."
Mo Ling'er slowly walked to Huo Yuhao's side, clearly stating her stance.
As a student of Shrek Academy, Mo Ling'er had heard of Shui Wuya's feats at Shrek before his arrival at the Tian Shui Sect. However, since meeting Huo Yuhao, she had become convinced that he was stronger than Shui Wuya. Huo Yuhao was a genius capable of fighting opponents above his level!
"She says you are stronger than me. What do you think?" Shui Wuya asked Huo Yuhao, amused rather than angry at Mo Ling'er's statement.
"You'll know whether I'm strong or not after a fight!" Huo Yuhao's confidence was at its peak, and his entire demeanor exuded self-assurance.
Hearing this, Shui Wuya laughed heartily and was about to accept Huo Yuhao's challenge when Mo Lihai, who had been absent, suddenly appeared in the hall.
"Silence! How dare you conspire with an outsider and show disrespect to our patriarch, you unfilial daughter!" Mo Lihai shouted furiously, striking Mo Ling'er across the face.
"Slap!" The sound of the slap echoed as blood marks appeared on Mo Ling'er's face.
"Huo Yuhao, as a student of Shrek Academy and a member of the Sea God's Pavilion, the Tian Shui Pool will never be open to you!" Mo Lihai glared angrily at Huo Yuhao, his palm radiating soul power, ready to kill.
He had overheard the conversation in the hall and seen Huo Yuhao's arrival. Mo Lihai, who had been thinking of how to apologize to Shui Wuya, now wanted to kill Huo Yuhao on the spot. The last thing he needed was for the Shui family patriarch to misunderstand him.
Just as he was about to strike, he was infuriated further by his daughter's lack of judgment.
"Father, I love Yuhao! You can't do this to us!" Mo Ling'er, knocked to the ground, covered her bruised face with one hand, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Huo Yuhao, just arrived, not knowing why the sect leader is so angry?" Huo Yuhao spoke calmly. He recalled his first encounter with Mo Lihai during the Soul Master Tournament, where Mo Lihai had treated him with great respect and even promised to provide all his future cultivation resources.
The world has changed, and it seemed Mo Lihai no longer recognized Huo Yuhao.
"Intruding upon our sect and disrespecting our patriarch, Huo Yuhao, for these offenses, you deserve to die!"
Finally, Mo Lihai lost control of his rage and directed a soul power attack filled with destructive energy towards Huo Yuhao with a wave of his hand.
In an instant, Huo Yuhao's expression changed dramatically.
"Tianmeng, help me!"
Facing a blow from a Titled Douluo, Huo Yuhao didn't dare to be careless and immediately called upon the Tianmeng Iceworm in his spiritual sea. Sensing the immense danger, the Tianmeng Iceworm quickly released a vast amount of spiritual power, forming a protective barrier in front of Huo Yuhao.
"Bang!"
A loud explosion echoed through the hall. Mo Lihai's attack shattered the barrier and partially hit Huo Yuhao.
"Hmph!"
Huo Yuhao let out a muffled groan as he was sent flying several meters away. When he regained his footing, his hair was disheveled, and blood was trickling from the corners of his mouth, leaving him in a sorry state.
Mo Lihai was surprised that his attack hadn't killed Huo Yuhao and prepared to strike again, his palm glowing with soul power.
"Father, you cannot kill Yuhao!"
Seeing her father about to strike again, Mo Ling'er panicked and turned her gaze to Shui Wuya.
"Patriarch, I was wrong. Please stop my father from killing Yuhao, I beg you!"
Her pleas echoed in the hall.
Realizing Mo Lihai's intention to kill him, Huo Yuhao was also filled with panic. He couldn't accept dying like this—he had so much left to do, and Dong'er was waiting for him!
"Senior Mo, it was my mistake. Please, spare my life!"
Desperate, Huo Yuhao swallowed his pride and begged for mercy. Survival was all that mattered now.
"You think you can come and go as you please? Our Tian Shui Sect does not tolerate such behavior."
Mo Lihai remained unmoved by Huo Yuhao's plea and prepared to launch another deadly attack.
At the critical moment, Shui Wuya finally spoke.
"Stop."
His voice, though simple, was like a resonant bell in Mo Lihai's mind. Mo Lihai quickly lowered his hand and retracted the soul power he had gathered.
(End of Chapter)