Xilai City. A year ago, the poorly managed restaurant next door to the Wu Family Blacksmith Shop quietly changed hands, underwent a renovation, and put up a brand-new sign—Yuhao Soul Tool. Judging by the name, it was obvious that Huo Yuhao had taken over this shop.
But human hearts are always insatiable. The income from blacksmithing in Xilai City was already considered decent, enough for Huo Yuhao and his mother to live a stable life. However, after Huo Yuhao encountered the manufacturing of spirit tools in the world 10,000 years ago, he gave up his job at the blacksmith shop, took over the premises, and transitioned into the spirit tool business.
Most of the goods sold in the shop were Tier One and Tier Two low-grade spirit tools made by Huo Yuhao. Although the tiers were not high, in the Star Luo Empire, where Spirit Tool Technology was relatively backward, especially in a small city like Xilai City, they were genuine rarities. With ingenious designs, practical functions, and relatively affordable prices, the Yuhao Soul Tool Shop quickly made a name for itself.
Not only did local Spirit Masters and families with some savings in Xilai City patronize it, but customers from several nearby cities often came specifically to make purchases. As the business flourished, the income generated was far beyond what blacksmithing had offered in the past.
Huo Yuhao and his mother's lives were getting better and better, and what made him happiest was the great recovery of his mother, Huo Yuner's, health. Her formerly pale and haggard face regained a healthy blush, the frequent suppressed coughing had long vanished, and the sorrow in her eyes was replaced by peace and contentment.
Inside the Yuhao Soul Tool Shop, the lighting was bright, and various exquisite low-grade spirit tools were neatly displayed in the glass counter along the wall. In the back of the shop, next to a large workbench, Huo Yuhao was busy hunched over his desk. A slender Carving Knife in his hand etched fine, stable Core Formation patterns onto the Spirit Tool Metal, his expression focused.
"Ding-dong!" The crisp sound of the doorbell and the gentle push of the shop door came simultaneously. The Carving Knife in Huo Yuhao's hand paused slightly. He looked up and saw a familiar figure: Wu Ming from the neighboring Wu Family Blacksmith Shop.
Huo Yuhao put down the Carving Knife and walked out from behind the workbench. "Uncle Wu? Please, have a seat."
Their relationship had indeed been quite good over the past two years. When Huo Yuhao was learning his craft at the blacksmith shop, Wu Ming had taken good care of him, and later, when Huo Yuhao opened this spirit tool shop, they became neighbors.
Huo Yuhao only needed a glance to keenly catch the fleeting restraint in Wu Ming's eyes. He knew that Wu Ming's visit this time was likely not a casual chat but a request for help. Sure enough, Wu Ming sat down as requested, rubbing his hands awkwardly on his knees, a clear trace of hesitation flashing across his face.
The shop was quiet for a moment, save for the faint ticking of the Spirit Tool Clock. Finally, Wu Ming seemed to make up his mind. He raised his head, looking at Huo Yuhao with earnest eyes. "Brother Huo, I came this time... because I actually have something I need your help with."
Huo Yuhao picked up the warming kettle, poured a cup of warm water for Wu Ming, and gently pushed it toward him. "Uncle Wu, do we need to be so formal between us? If there's anything, just say it. If I can help, I definitely will."
Hearing this, Wu Ming's heart immediately warmed, and his hesitation and embarrassment lessened considerably. He picked up the cup, took a sip, composed himself, and stopped beating around the bush, stating his purpose directly. "Brother Huo, here's the thing: my good-for-nothing son has finally managed to grind his spirit power up to rank ten. I was thinking of asking you to accompany us on a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest to help him obtain his first spirit ring."
Huo Yuhao had met Wu Ming's son, Wu Yang, a few times; his Innate spirit power was only Rank One. Now sixteen years old, he had only just managed to Cultivate to Rank Ten through persistent, painstaking effort.
After stating his request, Wu Ming looked embarrassed again and quickly added, "Of course, I can't let you go for nothing. Whatever the fee is, you... you just name it."
He knew the market rate. In a place like Xilai City, hiring a reliable two-ring Spirit Grandmaster to accompany them into the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest typically cost hundreds of gold coins. If they hired a Spirit Elder, the price started at 1,000 gold coins.
Although his blacksmith shop business was quite prosperous, it was small-scale, and he still had to support his son's Cultivation, so he couldn't immediately produce too much money. The reason he approached Huo Yuhao, a boy only eight years old, was that about half a year ago, he had personally witnessed the boy easily defeat a two-ring Spirit Grandmaster without even using his Spirit.
That scene had deeply shaken Wu Ming. Only then did he understand that the true strength of this usually gentle and polite young neighbor likely far exceeded his expectations. Within the limited connections and knowledge of him, an ordinary blacksmith, the only person capable and potentially willing to help him seemed to be the young man before him.
After asking, Wu Ming felt even more anxious. He looked eagerly at Huo Yuhao, waiting for his reply. After all, the Star Dou Great Forest was fraught with danger. Even if Huo Yuhao was strong, he was still young, and a refusal would be understandable.
However, Huo Yuhao merely pondered for a moment before saying straightforwardly, "Uncle Wu, just tell me when it's convenient for you and set a time. I'm available anytime."
Wu Ming was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then realized that Huo Yuhao had agreed! The immense surprise instantly scattered the anxiety in his heart. He was so excited he nearly jumped out of his chair and quickly said, "Then... then tomorrow! First thing tomorrow morning, is that okay?"
"That works." Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement.
A huge weight lifted from Wu Ming's heart. Filled with gratitude and a hint of embarrassment, he asked, "Brother Huo, thank you so much for this! Then... what about the fee? How much do you need?"
Huo Yuhao looked at his nervous yet sincere gaze and understood that if he offered to take nothing, Wu Ming, with his honest and proud personality, would definitely refuse. So, after a brief thought, he said, "Uncle Wu, just give me 300 gold coins."
This figure was far lower than Wu Ming's expectation, and he immediately understood that Huo Yuhao was deliberately looking out for him. He was even more moved, his eyes becoming slightly warm. He knew that any further refusal or attempt to increase the price would only make their relationship seem distant.
He nodded heavily, recording this profound kindness in his heart. "Alright! Brother Huo, I, Old Wu, have noted this favor! Then I'll bring Little Yang over to meet you first thing tomorrow morning!"
...The next day, after riding in a carriage for nearly half a day, they finally arrived at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest. Tall trees blotted out the sky, vines were intertwined, and the cries of unknown creatures faintly echoed in the distance. The air was mixed with the scent of soil and decaying leaves.
Although Huo Yuhao was the youngest, he walked ahead, leading the way. Behind him followed the nervous blacksmith Wu Ming, and the young Wu Yang, who was both excited and fearful upon entering the Spirit Beast Forest for the first time.
It was indeed Huo Yuhao's first time physically entering the Star Dou Great Forest, but in the Spirit Pagoda 10,000 years ago, he had already undergone countless trials in the Spirit Ascension Platform. Walking in this real forest now, although there were subtle differences, the intuition and vigilance stemming from extensive simulated battles made him appear completely at ease.
Passing a warning sign covered with the words "Spirit Beasts Ahead, Danger!", they truly entered the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest. The initial journey was quite calm. They only encountered ordinary wild beasts without spirit power fluctuations, and they didn't even see the shadow of the lowest-grade ten-year Spirit Beast.
Suddenly, Huo Yuhao, who was leading the way, stopped without warning, raising his right hand in a gesture to halt. Wu Ming and Wu Yang behind him felt their hearts jump. They instantly held their breath, their muscles tense, nervously scanning the surrounding dense woods.
"Screech!!!" Just then, a sharp, piercing shriek erupted from the tree canopy not far to their front and side! Immediately afterward, a brown-yellow shadow, like an arrow shot from a bow, tore through the branches and leaves, bringing a rank odor as it leaped through the air straight toward the three of them!
Wu Yang's face turned white with fright, and Wu Ming instinctively moved to shield his son. However, facing this sudden attack, Huo Yuhao didn't even fully turn his body; he merely tilted his head slightly and casually glanced at the pouncing shadow.
In that instant, the fiercely pouncing brown-yellow figure strangely froze in mid-air, then fell straight down. With a dull thud, it crashed into the grass a few steps away from them. After twitching twice, it stopped moving.
The Wu father and son, still shaken, cautiously craned their necks to look. Lying in the grass was an ape-like creature, about a meter long, covered in long brown-yellow fur, with sharp hooked claws on its limbs and pointed tusks visible around its mouth. Its eyes were now rolled back, and there appeared to be blood around its mouth and nose; it was clearly dead.
Huo Yuhao's calm voice finally sounded: "It's nothing, just a 70 Year Wind Baboon."
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