"Knock, knock, knock."
The heavy door to Leng Yaozhu's office was gently knocked upon, three distinct, rhythmic raps, neither too light nor too heavy.
"Please come in."
Leng Yaozhu's voice came from inside the room; the volume was not loud, yet it clearly penetrated the heavy door and reached Huo Yuhao's ears outside.
Huo Yuhao pushed the door open and entered. His gaze habitually swept across the office, and he discovered that besides Leng Yaozhu, Gu Yue had also arrived early.
Gu Yue was sitting on one side of the long sofa by the window. Seeing him enter, her pair of purple eyes lifted slightly to silently exchange a glance with him, before she looked away again.
Huo Yuhao's heart stirred slightly; it seemed that the matter Aunt Leng was about to discuss concerned both of them.
He walked a few steps to the side of the sofa, sat down next to Gu Yue, and then looked up at Leng Yaozhu opposite them, asking straightforwardly: "Aunt Leng, what matter is so urgent?"
Leng Yaozhu sat opposite the two, her gaze slowly sweeping over Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue's faces as she spoke: "People from the Star Luo Continent have arrived and have officially issued an invitation to the Federation, hoping that the Federation can send an inspection delegation to the Star Luo Continent for exchange and visits."
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered slightly as his brain began to run at high speed.
He then asked directly: "Does Aunt Leng mean that you want both Gu Yue and me to participate in this inspection delegation?"
Leng Yaozhu nodded: "According to the Star Luo Empire's invitation, the scale of this inspection delegation is quite high. Not only will the federal government and the military send representatives, but major associations and the elite of the Federation's younger generation will also accompany the delegation."
"As one of the top powers in the Federation, the Spirit Pagoda is naturally among those invited. In addition, powers such as the Tang Sect and the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Master Academy will also recommend candidates to join the inspection delegation."
She paused slightly here, lifting her eyes to look at the two Disciples she was most proud of in front of her, and said: "For the Spirit Pagoda, I want the two of you to go."
Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue both fell into deep thought. The two of them lowered their eyes in unison, clearly calculating the deeper meaning behind this matter in their own hearts.
Leng Yaozhu looked at the two, and a gentle smile surfaced in her usually cold phoenix eyes.
"You are still young; do not always stay in the laboratory, you should also go out and see more."
"This time you are going with the federal team, so safety should be guaranteed, and you can consider it a way to relax."
These two children, lately, have been pushing themselves harder than each other.
Not only Huo Yuhao, but even Gu Yue recently applied for a laboratory.
Most of their time was spent soaking in the laboratory researching Spirit Souls, all for the sake of the upcoming position of Spirit Transmitting Envoy.
Leng Yaozhu felt both heartache and gratification; she even faintly regretted the plan she had originally formulated for the two, as it had pushed them too hard.
Therefore, this time she specifically fought for two spots for these two children to go to the Star Luo Continent, just to take the opportunity to let these two little workaholics go out and get some fresh air, to see the outside World. After all, young people should go out and see the World more.
Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment, then asked: "Aunt Leng, why would the Star Luo Continent suddenly want to invite the Federation to send an inspection delegation over?"
"Although these two continents are not hostile, their interactions are not close either. To be so proactive suddenly, I'm afraid it's not just for simple exchanges, right?"
Leng Yaozhu's expression was natural as she slowly said: "You guessed correctly, this matter is indeed not that simple."
"Half a year ago, when Shrek Academy was destroyed, this news did not just shake the Douluo Continent; after learning the news, the Star Luo Continent and the Douling Continent were also greatly shaken."
"This is the gold content of the number one academy on the continent. One move affects the whole situation; its survival or destruction is enough to affect the power structure of the entire continent."
"Although the two countries of Star Luo and Douling have been at peace with the Federation all these years, in private, they have always regarded the Federation as an imaginary enemy."
"Now that Shrek Academy is suddenly gone, the Federation will inevitably undergo changes."
"Therefore, the Star Luo Empire's proactive invitation for the Federation to send an inspection delegation this time is ostensibly for friendly exchange, but in reality, they want to take this opportunity to probe the current reality of the Federation."
Although these were only speculations Leng Yaozhu made based on intelligence and experience, after hearing it, Huo Yuhao felt in his heart that the truth was probably exactly like that.
The Star Luo Empire wanted to use the name of inspection to probe the Federation's reality, and the high-level officials of the Federation were not stupid; they naturally also wanted to take this opportunity to go over and see the development situation of the Star Luo Empire over these years.
Both sides had their own hidden agendas, yet on the surface, they were both hanging up the guise of friendly exchange.
Huo Yuhao did not ask any more questions and nodded decisively: "Okay, I will go on this trip to Star Luo."
Leng Yaozhu nodded in satisfaction, then turned her gaze to Gu Yue, who was sitting beside Huo Yuhao.
Gu Yue, however, frowned slightly and was silent for a long while before slowly speaking: "Teacher, my research has just entered a critical stage; could I..."
She did not finish her sentence, but the meaning was already very clear; she did not really want to go.
Gu Yue's research was never just to secure the position of Spirit Transmitting Envoy; it was even more for the Ten Thousand Years grand plan she was plotting for herself.
She needed to master enough speaking power within the Spirit Pagoda as soon as possible and needed to let those councilors who were still watching see her value, and all of this could not be separated from the unfinished results in the laboratory.
Leng Yaozhu said: "Going to Star Luo this time, the round trip will only take about half a year, which will not delay your research."
Huo Yuhao did not speak from the side, but simply reached out his hand and gently held Gu Yue's slightly cold little hand.
He turned his head slightly and said: "Let's go together; are you going to leave me behind?"
Hearing this, Gu Yue turned her head and met Huo Yuhao's smiling eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat, and those rejection reasons that had already been hovering on the tip of her tongue were, the moment she met his eyes, impossible to utter even a single word.
A moment later, a trace of helplessness flashed in her purple eyes, and she said softly: "Okay, I will accompany you."
Leng Yaozhu leaned back on the sofa, taking in the interaction of the two little ones in front of her from beginning to end, and a meaningful smile could not help but appear on her usually cold and dignified face.
She coughed lightly, restraining that aunt-like smile a little, and said seriously: "Alright, then this matter is settled. You should both go back and prepare; the departure will be in these two days."
Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue just stood up to leave, but Leng Yaozhu suddenly seemed to remember something and called out: "Yuhao, you stay for a moment."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yue's footsteps paused; she turned her head to look at Huo Yuhao, nodded slightly, and without asking anything, pushed open the door and walked out.
Huo Yuhao turned back around, walked a few steps back to the side of the sofa, and sat down.
Leng Yaozhu straightened her posture slightly, her tone becoming a bit more solemn than before: "The current Star Luo Imperial Family is exactly the descendant of the Duke of White Tiger's lineage from Ten Thousand Years ago; calculating it, you and them have a real Bloodline connection."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's face sank slightly, carrying an undisguised coldness and detachment: "Aunt Leng, I have long drawn a line with the White Tiger lineage; now I am surnamed Huo, not Dai."
Leng Yaozhu was silent for a moment, looking at his stubborn face, and changed the subject: "Actually, letting you join the inspection delegation this time, besides my own intention, the envoy from Star Luo also specifically mentioned your name."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's brows could not help but knit together, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Star Luo envoy?"
Leng Yaozhu nodded: "Actually, it is not strange if you think about it. Your face now is no different from the Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao from Ten Thousand Years ago; the Star Luo Imperial Palace still hangs a portrait of that Spirit Ice Douluo to this day."
"Coupled with your Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, it is only natural for them to be interested in you."
Huo Yuhao raised his eyebrows slightly and said with a half-smile: "Are they trying to claim kinship?"
Leng Yaozhu did not shy away at all: "Meeting a Genius like you, even if there were no relation, they would want to claim it, let alone that there really is a relation between you."
She paused and reminded him: "After arriving at the Star Luo Continent, members of the imperial family will likely approach you proactively; how you want to handle it then is up to you."
Huo Yuhao nodded, taking note of Leng Yaozhu's advice one by one in his heart.
Subsequently, he saw that Leng Yaozhu seemed to have nothing else to entrust, but he did not leave immediately.
He also straightened his posture, his tone adding a bit more solemnity: "Aunt Leng, there is exactly one matter I also need to tell you about."
-------------------------------------------------
A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.