"Innate Soul Power: Level One."
"Click."
The sound of disdain was clearly heard, but it failed to draw any attention from Huo Yuhao, who at this moment was staring blankly at the nearby window.
A set of poorly-fitting, coarse clothes covered his frail body. The colored glass couldn't hide his pale face, and his deep blue eyes now exuded a depth not typical of a child. After a moment of stillness, he suddenly laughed.
"A mutated martial soul with only Level One innate soul power. And this kid can still laugh."
"Heh, it's better than having no soul power, isn't it?"
"After all, he's just the son of a servant. The fact that he even has soul power is thanks to the grace of the Duke."
As the mocking words from others echoed, invisible energy began to dissipate from their bodies, trickling into Huo Yuhao's forehead. The original sin of arrogance gathered into a gray mass within his spiritual space.
That lifeless gray mass seemed as if the dust had been wiped away, revealing a deep, dark blue hue beneath.
The source of arrogance was gradually awakening.
Was this something brought back from his rebirth?
Recalling the scene from his past life where he perished together with Tang San, a glimmer of light flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes. Upon careful reflection, he realized that most of the arrogance he had absorbed didn't come from those who bullied him and his mother over the past six years, but rather from the bystanders.
As a direct descendant of the current White Tiger Duke, it was a source of pride to awaken the Evil Eye White Tiger martial soul. This was enough to secure a high status for Huo Yuhao, who wasn't even considered a legitimate heir, within the Duke's mansion.
That's why Huo Yuhao's awakening ceremony today was highly anticipated by everyone in the mansion. Whether they had bullied Huo Yun'er and her son, or were merely observing, they all awaited the outcome.
If Huo Yuhao awakened the Evil Eye White Tiger, those who had wronged him would need to rush to apologize, while the onlookers would seize the opportunity to curry favor. After all, even among servants, there were ranks, and the treatment of those working as mere laborers and those serving the Duke's concubines was worlds apart.
However, not only did the boy before them fail to inherit the Duke's martial soul, but his talent was also at the lowest level, completely dashing the hopes of the onlookers. The fence-sitters, eager to remedy their errors and regain favor with the Duchess, naturally felt the need to voice their opinions even more strongly.
"May I leave now?"
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Huo Yuhao asked softly.
Six years old! He was only six years old now, and everything had just begun!
"Ah, yes, you may."
The ceremony's host finally snapped out of his daze, nodding stiffly. He watched as Huo Yuhao turned and walked out of the slightly crowded doorway without any hesitation, his expression unchanged. A shiver ran down the host's spine.
He couldn't explain why, but when Huo Yuhao tested his soul power earlier, the host, who stood closest to him, suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
And why did it feel like the boy's gaze had changed after the test?
He shook his head, dismissing it as a result of the boy awakening an eye-related martial soul. After all, in this world, martial souls came in all shapes and sizes, and physical changes after awakening were entirely normal.
As Huo Yuhao walked along the path embedded in his memories, he focused on the arrogance energy in his mind, which was gradually turning completely dark blue. Next to this core were six other gray masses of similar size, quietly floating.
From what had just happened, it seemed that whenever someone near him exhibited feelings of arrogance, he would absorb it. However, it appeared that each person could only provide this once.
But was this "once" a permanent limit or did it reset after some time?
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Huo Yuhao unconsciously arrived at the side gate of the Duke's mansion. Looking at the lush forest beyond, he touched the White Tiger Dagger he had hidden in his chest and stepped forward.
Today was the day of his martial soul awakening, and his mother, Huo Yun'er, had given him this dagger as a charm for good luck. Unfortunately, in his past life, it hadn't served much of a purpose.
He suddenly thought of his rebirth and chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Perhaps this is what they call good luck?
He still remembered how excited he had been in his past life after discovering his soul power, rushing home with joy. Now that he had been reborn, he couldn't go back empty-handed, could he?
After walking a short distance beyond the gate, Huo Yuhao faintly heard the sound of a stream in the distance. Following the path ahead, he hadn't yet reached his destination when a commotion of footsteps caught his attention.
Turning his head, he saw a golden-haired boy about his age, dressed in luxurious clothes, being escorted by a few guards. The boy's expression remained arrogantly indifferent, even as those around him tried to curry favor. Invisible energy began to seep from his body, flowing toward Huo Yuhao.
"Dai Huabin."
Huo Yuhao's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't expected to run into him here.
Dai Huabin seemed to notice him as well, his brow creasing. A young lackey, only slightly older than Huo Yuhao, hurried to explain to Dai Huabin.
"Young master, he's the son of the Duke and that servant. I've already heardβhis martial soul is an eye, and his soul power is only Level One."
Huo Yuhao heard the lackey's words clearly due to the short distance, and instantly realized something was wrong. He had only just awakened his martial soul, and this person had clearly just returned with Dai Huabin. How could he possibly know his martial soul and soul power?
"Oh?"
Dai Huabin's eyes grew cold. "Since his martial soul isn't the Evil Eye White Tiger, do as you suggestedβdeal with him cleanly."
The lackey's eyes gleamed with malicious delight. He gave Huo Yuhao a sinister grin and gestured for the guards to act. The four guards beside him hesitated but still rushed at Huo Yuhao.
As the guards approached, Huo Yuhao's expression shifted before he sighed softly.
"On such a joyful day, I hadn't planned on spilling blood."
In an instant, as he spoke, dark blue light radiated from his body, and his gaze became unbearably arrogant. But that arrogance was immediately suppressed and vanished quickly.
In the stunned eyes of Dai Huabin and his lackey, Huo Yuhao erupted with speed they hadn't anticipated, clashing with the guards.
One guard was the first to be struck by a kick from the small, frail Huo Yuhao. With a sharp crack of breaking ribs, he spat blood and collapsed, clutching his chest and howling in pain.
The other three, slightly slower, froze in shock, their minds instinctively echoing with disbelief: "Impossible."
Could this really be the strength of a six-year-old child!?
What was that blue light?
The next moment, one of the guards saw a flash of cold steel. The White Tiger Dagger slashed down diagonally, embedding itself in his chest, tearing through flesh as blood splattered.
The intense pain drained all the strength from him, and he collapsed as his legs gave out beneath him.
In just one encounter, two of the four guards were already incapacitated.