Shrek City, Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
Qiangu Dongfeng sat behind his wide mahogany desk, a mountain-like pile of files stacked on his right, waiting for his review and approval one by one.
Since the destruction of Shrek Academy, the power structure at the highest levels of the Federation had undergone an unprecedented reshuffling.
The Spirit Pagoda took the opportunity to extend its reach into the Federal Parliament and the military, securing several key seats in one fell swoop. Its influence surged, making it seemingly the undisputed number one power within the Federation.
However, with greater power came more complex affairs. The conflicting interests of various factions, the infighting within the Pagoda, and the political maneuvering with the high-ranking military and government officials of the Federation—every single matter weighed heavily on the Tower Master's desk.
Even with Qiangu Dongfeng's profound cultivation and abundant energy, he had been thoroughly exhausted by these endless files lately, making him look visibly more haggard than before.
The heavy wooden door of the office was silently pushed open a crack, and a middle-aged man of medium build and ordinary appearance slipped in soundlessly, his footsteps so light that they didn't make a single sound on the carpet.
He quickly walked up to Qiangu Dongfeng, bowed slightly, and lowered his voice, saying, "Tower Master, an urgent report just came from the Star Luo Branch Pagoda. Huo Yuhao seems to have comprehended the Spirit Domain."
Qiangu Dongfeng, who had been looking down flipping through files, froze mid-action, and then suddenly snapped his head up.
A sharp light flashed in his deep, piercing eyes, and his voice involuntarily deepened, "Are you sure?"
The middle-aged man nodded solemnly, his tone certain. "Zhang Geyang saw it with his own eyes, so it shouldn't be wrong."
Zhang Geyang, the Tower Master of the Star Luo Branch Pagoda of the Spirit Pagoda and also one of the four Vice Tower Masters of the Spirit Pagoda, was a genuine rank ninety-eight Super Douluo.
Since Saint Dragon could see that Huo Yuhao was using the Spirit Domain, Zhang Geyang could naturally see it too.
And since Zhang Geyang happened to be the core direct subordinate of Qiangu Dongfeng's faction, he immediately transmitted this information back to the headquarters through an encrypted channel.
Qiangu Dongfeng frowned and said, "I understand. You may leave."
After the man left, Qiangu Dongfeng leaned back into his wide chair, looking up at the Spirit Tool chandelier on the ceiling that emitted a soft glow.
Only after a long time did he slowly speak, whispering to himself as if muttering.
His voice carried an emotion so complex that even he could not fully decipher it—there was sighing, wariness, and a trace of fear that was extremely hard to detect: "Only fifteen years old."
After another long while, Qiangu Dongfeng slowly stood up from his chair and walked to the huge French windows.
Outside the window was the Shrek City under reconstruction. Standing with his hands behind his back, a trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but in the end, he still raised his hand and pressed a string of encrypted channel numbers on his communication Spirit Tool.
The call was connected quickly, and a sarcastic and eccentric male voice came from the other end.
"Yo, isn't this the great Tower Master Qiangu?"
Qiangu Dongfeng snorted heavily through his nose, "You should have quite a few people in Star Luo, right?"
The voice on the other end of the communicator paused for a moment, then let out a meaningful chuckle, which was full of undisguised mockery: "What? Does Tower Master Qiangu want to kill someone with a borrowed knife again?"
"Cut the crap," Qiangu Dongfeng's voice suddenly sank. "Huo Yuhao's mental force has already stepped into the Spirit Domain Realm, and he has comprehended the Spirit Domain."
The other end of the communicator scoffed dismissively, "Spirit Domain Realm, Spirit Domain... It does sound quite intimidating."
"But what does that have to do with us? The one he's threatening is your position as Tower Master Qiangu."
Qiangu Dongfeng's left hand holding the communicator suddenly clenched. He took a deep breath and lowered his voice, speaking slowly, "Don't forget, during that attack on Shrek Academy, he almost died at your hands. There is no way he will forget this blood feud."
"Do you really want to wait for him to grow up and then come to settle scores with you one by one?"
"If you let him continue to grow, it won't be long before he becomes a second Yun Ming."
"By then, it will be too late if you want to kill him!"
There was a long silence on the communicator before a low, solemn voice finally came from the other end, sounding like a completely different person from the sarcastic and eccentric, frivolous tone from before: "Fine, we will make our move."
Qiangu Dongfeng ended the call expressionlessly, letting out a long breath.
Since Leng Yaozhu kicked open his office door and threatened him to his face last time, he had indeed restrained himself quite a bit, intending not to make a move against Huo Yuhao in the short term.
But Huo Yuhao's growth rate was simply too fast, far exceeding his predictions and control.
A fifteen-year-old in the Spirit Domain Realm, a fifteen-year-old who had comprehended the Spirit Domain—this was no longer a Prodigy that could be described by the word Genius.
If he waited any longer, by the time he grew into a Titled Douluo or even a Limit Douluo, his position as the Tower Master would probably really have to be handed over to someone else.
Therefore, he had no choice but to make a deadly move!
...
The Youth Advanced Spirit Master Elite Competition had come to a close, and most of the exchange activities of the Federal Delegation in Star Luo City were also nearing their end, with the schedule no longer as tight as when they first arrived.
Young people like Huo Yuhao didn't have any substantial tasks to begin with. Aside from their daily, unshakeable Cultivation, they spent their free time wandering around Star Luo City in groups of three to five.
Tasting the special delicacies of Star Luo and experiencing customs and cultures completely different from those of the Douluo Continent.
That evening, Xie Xie changed into a suit of casual clothes and was just about to go out.
As soon as he reached the lobby of the hotel, he caught a glimpse of a familiar golden soul tool automobile parked outside the revolving glass doors, the conspicuous royal emblem on its license plate gleaming in the setting sun.
He braked immediately, spun around on the spot with lightning speed, and rushed into the elevator door that had just opened with the wind at his heels.
Going all the way up to the top floor, he rushed breathlessly into the suite where Huo Yuhao was, collapsing onto the soft leather sofa.
Then he lowered his voice and said, "Yuhao, that little Star Luo princess, Dai Yuner, is here again!"
Hearing Xie Xie's dramatic fuss, Huo Yuhao remained as calm as ever.
Seeing him like this, Xie Xie bounced up from the sofa in anxiety, earnestly reminding him, "At least give some reaction! Gu Yue isn't here right now, you can't make any mistakes."
Only then did Huo Yuhao glance at him, asking in a flat tone, "What mistakes could I possibly make?"
Xie Xie snorted heavily, crossing his arms with an "I've seen through it all" expression.
He analyzed with great seriousness, "This little princess has been coming every day for the past few days, specifically asking for you by name every single time. The way she looks at you is so full of affection, and she always brings you Star Luo specialties in different ways."
"Isn't her intention obvious enough? She's interested in you. So, what mistakes do you think you could make?"
"I'm warning you, you're already taken. Although Gu Yue usually looks cold, she's definitely not someone to be trifled with in this regard."
How could Huo Yuhao not see Dai Yuner's intentions? However, in his view, Dai Yuner's attentiveness might not be entirely of her own accord; the Star Luo Emperor, Dai Tianling, was probably the one pushing things behind the scenes.
He casually picked up his coat draped over the armrest of the sofa and stood up. Looking at Xie Xie's nervous expression, he couldn't help but smile and retort, "Look at you, lecturing me when you don't have any experience yourself. If you have the ability, win over Xu Xiaoyan first before talking to me about these grand principles."
Huo Yuhao had long seen that Xie Xie liked Xu Xiaoyan, but he was just too lazy to expose him on ordinary days.
Having his secret exposed so mercilessly by Huo Yuhao, Xie Xie's face, which was usually as thick as a city wall, actually flushed with a rare blush of embarrassment.
He stammered in defense, "I... I have my own pace. What do you know? This is called making gradual progress, a steady stream flows far."
"Don't change the subject, I'm talking about your business."
Seeing Huo Yuhao put on his coat and walk straight towards the door, he hurriedly asked, "Hey, where are you going?"
Without turning his head, Huo Yuhao waved his hand, "To see that little Star Luo princess. There are some things that indeed need to be made clear."
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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.