Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Roman smiled gently, straightened his body slightly, and said,
"It's normal."
"Isn't that how the extraordinary world is?"
"Life's thirst for evolution is endless, even if you haven't started researching soul spirits."
"When the people of this world find that the path to the future is blocked, they will find a way out themselves."
"There is no such thing as limiting the development of civilization."
"It's just a matter of speed."
Huo Yuhao just smiled at this.
"That's too slow, isn't it?"
"According to the development progress of soul tools in this world,"
"Without interference, they'd probably need another ten thousand years to reach the information society."
"Another ten thousand years before they could even enter the starry sky."
"Not to mention there's a God Realm above them; they're not exactly benevolent people."
"To put it bluntly, they're just parasites sucking blood from various worlds."
"At least that's how it is with Douluo Continent. Tang Buddha didn't give Douluo Continent any benefits, but kept
using underhanded tricks and dirty tricks." Roman tapped his temple, about to say something more, when he saw Huo Yuhao put his legs down, point outside, and say,
"Someone's here."
"It's Feng Jin and Xia Die."
"They're probably here to see you, right?"
Roman smiled and nodded,
"Yes."
"I promised Feng Jin a while ago that I'd teach her about things related to Reality Barriers."
"And also teach her some alchemy."
Huo Yuhao proactively used his telekinesis to open the office door.
"A Reality Marble."
"That's not easy to learn."
"It not only requires a high level of alchemy skill, but also a very high standard of the user's mind and will."
Roman, of course, knew the high requirements of Reality Marbles. He said confidently,
"These kids are unparalleled in terms of talent and will."
"If even they can't learn a Reality Marble, then this technique can be thrown away, because it's impossible for anyone to learn it."
"A technique without inheritance is not much different from not existing."
Just as Huo Yuhao and Roman were chatting, Feng Jin and Xia Die finally arrived at the door of the top-floor office.
"Dr. Roman!"
"Die Bao and I have come to see you!"
Feng Jin's pink-to-blue curly pigtails swayed slightly, and her bright green eyes shone, indicating that the girl was very excited.
"Oh! Brother Huo is here too!"
Feng Jin's tone was full of surprise. She didn't expect to see Huo Yuhao here.
"Father."
Xia Die's amethyst eyes also showed surprise. She gently lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed slightly to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao greeted Feng Jin with a smile.
"How have you been lately, Feng Jin?"
"I came here to talk to Roman about some things. After all, I'm a hospitable boss, you know."
Then he looked at Xia Die and said with a slightly dissatisfied tone,
"Didn't you say you don't need to bow to me?"
"That seems too formal."
Huo Yuhao stood up gently, the chair scraping against the wooden floor with a soft sound. He walked over to Xia Die and Feng Jin and gently patted the two girls' heads.
A satisfied expression appeared on Xia Die's indifferent face, and Feng Jin also enjoyed Huo Yuhao's caresses.
Feng Jin herself didn't know why, but every time she saw Brother Huo, she felt relaxed and happy, with a faint sense of dependence.
It was like a child who had run away from home suddenly seeing their parents.
That feeling of having a mountain to rely on behind her always brought Feng Jin back to peace, no matter how anxious she was inside.
"It's alright."
"It's just that the accommodations at Shrek Academy are really indescribable, but thankfully we have Teacher Tibao here!"
"We can go outside to shower through Teacher Tibao's Hundred Realms Gate."
"Because of this, Teacher Tibao is very popular in the girls' dormitory."
"Many people are very nice to Teacher Tibao, hoping that she will take them outside to shower."
Like a child who had run away from home telling their parents about the fun things at school, Feng Jin excitedly told Huo Yuhao about their recent experiences.
Huo Yuhao smiled gently, patiently listening to the girl's words. Seeing that she seemed a little thirsty, he poured a glass of water for both girls from the nearby table.
"It sounds like this will definitely be a romantic story,"
Huo Yuhao said softly, his dark eyes gleaming.
Feng Jin and Xia Die both nodded. Feng Jin said energetically,
"Being with your companions is the most romantic story in the world!"
Hearing Feng Jin's answer, Huo Yuhao nodded in satisfaction. This was exactly the answer he wanted, and the very reason they could stand firm after falling from the rock.
Roman, standing to the side, revealed a barely perceptible worry in his eyes. He knew Huo Yuhao's plan.
These children would be the center of all future storms; their future path would undoubtedly be fraught with thorns.
Huo Yuhao's mental strength was incredibly strong; he naturally noticed Roman's unusual expression. His thoughts were too easy to guess.
So he transmitted his voice to him through mental power:
"I also promised that after they traverse the thorny path, they will be greeted by a new world of bright sunshine and gentle breezes."
Roman nodded almost imperceptibly to Huo Yuhao, trusting that this future [Above All Things] would not mistreat his followers.
Then, Roman looked at Feng Jin and Xia Die and said,
"It's almost time. Let's go. I'll teach you alchemy related to Reality Marbles."
Feng Jin nodded her little head, her green eyes shining slightly, while Xia Die hesitated.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao gently took Xia Die's hand and looked at Roman, saying,
"It seems Die Bao would rather go to Shrek City with me."
"You can teach her next time,"
Roman said gently. This [Above All Things] was more humane than the previous one; of course, it would be even better if he could do less work.
"I don't care."
"Just come find me whenever you want to learn, Die."
"It also gives me a reason to ask your father for leave."
"When will this mountain of documents ever end?!"
Just thinking about that mountain of documents made Roman's eyes go blank, devoid of any light.
Huo Yuhao ignored Roman's grumbling and pulled Xia Die directly towards the door.
"As long as you persevere, even an iron rod can be ground into a needle."
"Keep it up! My excellent employee!"
Roman smiled helplessly. After tidying up the documents, he took Feng Jin directly to the open space behind the Passion Building to teach her alchemy.
"Feng Jin, next, I will show you every detail of the Reality Barrier. Remember it!"
"Okay! Dr. Roman!"
...…
"Come on, try this dress on."
Huo Yuhao picked out a light purple dress for Xia Die at a clothing store on Shrek City's main street. He held it up slightly in front of her, thought it looked good, and let her try it on.
Xia Die took the dress, her eyes lighting up slightly, and went into the fitting room to change.
This child was so obedient to Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao felt that even if he gave her the same outfit as himself, she wouldn't refuse.
Huo Yuhao stood at the entrance of the clothing store, imagining Xia Die wearing a trench coat, a purple top, and black trousers, and found it surprisingly stylish!
He glanced at the fitting room, thinking that next time he could prepare a set of outfits for a powerful person for her as well.
Later, he'd find a way to coax Su Tong into wearing the same outfit. The three of them, just standing there, would intimidate anyone.
"Brother Huo?!"
A familiar voice interrupted Huo Yuhao's thoughts, and three figures emerged from the bustling crowd.
The leftmost figure had long, golden curly hair and slightly widened eyes; it was Jiang Nannan, his half-disciple.
The middle one had a black ponytail and a petite figure; Huo Yuhao almost didn't recognize her—it was also an old acquaintance, Xiao Xiao. The
one on the right was a familiar stranger, with her signature pink-blue short hair; it was Wang Dong, dressed as a man.
Looking at her face, similar to yet slightly different from his previous life, Huo Yuhao was filled with countless thoughts.
"I wonder if they survived?"
"Did they overcome the Jupiter crisis?"
"If they did, will they be able to reach Proxima Centauri smoothly?"
"Is the star system there suitable for the continuation of humanity?"
Huo Yuhao had almost buried his memories of his previous life deep within his heart, but seeing the familiar stranger, he couldn't help but worry about Earth from his past life.
The malice from a star is an unbearable burden for any species; a single joke from the sun nearly claimed the lives of billions.
Even in this world, even the gods of the divine realm could not withstand a solar helium flash.
They could probably only rely on the divine realm to defend against solar storms.
Finally, Xiao Xiao's elbow strike pulled Huo Yuhao back from his wandering thoughts.
She pouted and looked up at Huo Yuhao, her face full of displeasure.
"Hey!"
This almost triggered Huo Yuhao's passive ability.
"Should I call you Danzo or Huo Qiqiang?"
Huo Yuhao could only smile awkwardly and say,
"Call me Huo Qiqiang."
Xiao Xiao turned her head, her black side ponytail striking Huo Yuhao's abdomen like a whip.
This child hadn't changed at all in a year.
In the end, she still had to look up at Huo Yuhao.
"Alright, don't be angry, I didn't mean to hide it."
"Back then, we were unfamiliar with the place, so I couldn't use my real identity, could I?"
Of course, his current identity was also a disguise; only a few of his closest friends knew Huo Yuhao's true identity.
Xiao Xiao raised her fist, wanting to punch Huo Yuhao's chest, but found she couldn't reach it. Finally, torn between anger and frustration, she chose to be frustrated.
Seeing her little face puffed up like a balloon, Huo Yuhao chuckled and poked her cheek, causing her to let out a soft, bubbling sound.
Everyone present barely suppressed their laughter.
Huo Yuhao ruffled her hair and said,
"Don't be so sullen. I'll take you to Shrek City for a meal right away."
"I'll eat whatever I want."
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao calmed down a little and said,
"Hmph, that's more like it."
"I want to eat the most expensive thing!"
"You're the Spirit Ice Douluo, you can definitely afford it, right?"
Huo Yuhao said with a smile,
"Of course, of course."
Then, Huo Yuhao looked at Jiang Nannan and said,
"Long time no see."
Jiang Nannan smiled and said softly to Huo Yuhao,
"Yes, long time no see."
Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Dong and said,
"And this is?"
Wang Dong had heard Xiao Xiao mention Huo Yuhao before, and naturally had also heard that this was the leader of the Passionate Alliance, the powerful Spirit Ice Douluo of the continent.
He was slightly reserved, and nodded slightly to Huo Yuhao, saying,
"Your Majesty Lingbing, my name is Wang Dong."
At this moment, Xiao Xiao pointed at Wang Dong and said,
"He and I were teammates during last year's freshman assessment."
"Unfortunately, we lost to Sister Sui in the end."
"But we both became core disciples in the end."
Wang Dong also showed a little regret on his face.
"Alas! It's a pity that the final Butterfly God's Light didn't hit, otherwise we might have been able to turn the tide."
Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes at Wang Dong and said,
"Come on, back then you were like a goose, charging straight at Sister Sui, I didn't even have time to support you!"
"In the end, you were surrounded and beaten by three people, and I was the one who saved you!"
"Otherwise, you would have been lying in bed for half a month!"
Wang Dong stomped his foot and retorted to Xiao Xiao,
"That was a tactic!"
"I didn't want to capture the leader first, but who knew that Sister Sui was only level 23 at the time, and her attack power was so strong!"
"Luckily, my movement technique was better, and I bought you five minutes with my body!"
Xiao Xiao said with a disgusted "Eh."
"You were clearly the punching bag for five minutes."
Jiang Nannan's beautiful eyes showed helplessness as she waved her hand at Huo Yuhao.
Then, Jiang Nannan mentally cheered herself up, intending to chat with Huo Yuhao about recent events to build a closer relationship.
Just as she was about to speak, she heard a clear, cold female voice coming from behind Huo Yuhao.
"Father! I'm changed."
"And who are they?"
Huo Yuhao was about to turn around and answer his obedient daughter when he caught a glimpse of Jiang Nannan out of the corner of his eye, and her eyes seemed to lose their light.
(End of Chapter)
Read 15+ chapters ahead at Patreon
patreon.com/TaroYamato
patreon.com/TaroYamato