Even though Wang Dong understood in his heart that what Huo Yuhao said was fair and reasonable, there was indeed nothing wrong with it. It was a simple truth of communal living that any rational person would accept.
But understanding was one thing; getting him to just nod and agree like that was impossible. His pride wouldn't allow him to back down so easily to a complete stranger.
From childhood to adulthood, he had always been a little princess who was coaxed and pampered like the stars surrounding the moon. He had never known the meaning of the word "no" from those around him.
Among the elders and playmates around him, who didn't follow his wishes and find ways to please him? He was used to being the center of the universe, with everyone else acting as his servants.
That innate pride and willful, self-centered temperament had long been etched into his bones. It was as much a part of him as his pinkish-blue hair and striking eyes.
Wang Dong's exquisite little face lifted slightly as he snorted coldly, "Hmph! Logic is logic, but don't forget, on this continent, the strong are ultimately revered!"
A trace of imperceptible surprise flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes, thinking that his future "wife" actually had such a spoiled and tsundere personality in her youth. It was a sharp contrast to the woman he remembered.
This was somewhat different from the gentle and resilient Tang Wutong recorded in the history books ten thousand years later, who had shared life and death with him. He wondered if the history books had glossed over her more difficult traits.
Huo Yuhao smiled and asked, "Then... what do you want?"
"Let's have a fight!"
Without even thinking, Wang Dong immediately waved his fair little fist. "Whoever wins, the dormitory listens to them from now on! That includes cleaning, and... and any other disagreements; everything will be decided by the winner's opinion!"
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected her to be so direct in her aggression.
Meeting for the first time and they were already going to "meet in battle"? It was a bit faster than he had anticipated, even for someone as impulsive as her.
This really was... a unique way of making friends. Or perhaps, a unique way of establishing a hierarchy.
Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Dong opposite him, whose pinkish-blue hair was slightly upturned and full of fighting Spirit; a meaningful curve unconsciously hooked at the corner of his lips. He found her spirit quite refreshing.
A fight would be good too. It would be a quick way to settle things and move on with their lives.
It was the perfect opportunity to make the other party yield completely and to secure an active position for himself at the start of this special relationship. He needed to show her that he wasn't someone she could easily push around.
This was an excellent time to lay the foundation for their future... ahem... "family status." He wanted to ensure their relationship was built on a solid foundation of mutual respect.
Thus, Huo Yuhao suppressed that slightly deep smile and nodded crisply. "Fine, let's have a fight then."
"Follow me!"
Wang Dong tossed out those three words, his pinkish-blue hair whipping through the air in an arrogant arc. Not caring if Huo Yuhao followed, he strode directly out of the dormitory. He was confident in his victory.
Huo Yuhao chuckled and quickly caught up. He followed her out into the cool night air, feeling a sense of anticipation.
Outside the dormitory building, there was an open space. The moonlight was cold, making the ground shimmer slightly; it was a good place for a spar. The silence of the night was broken only by the sound of their footsteps.
Wang Dong stood still in the center of the clearing, turned around, and gestured with a hook of his index finger toward Huo Yuhao, who was a few paces away. He was ready to prove his dominance.
"Come on!"
At eleven years old, he was already a level twenty-five Spirit Grandmaster, his second spirit ring was at the thousand-year level, and he possessed the talent of twin spirits. He was a prodigy among prodigies.
Among his peers in the Clear Sky Sect, Wang Dong was the undisputed number one and had never met an opponent, so he naturally possessed a sense of arrogance. He believed he was invincible.
In his view, even if Huo Yuhao was a Genius in the eyes of the world, he could absolutely not be his opponent. He expected a quick and easy victory.
However, the youth opposite him seemed somewhat absent-minded at this moment. He wasn't even looking at his opponent.
Huo Yuhao did hear Wang Dong's words, but more of his attention remained focused on another side. He was sensing the world around him.
The Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
At such a late hour, this peerless powerhouse standing at the Peak of the continent was actually still lying on a recliner outside the dormitory building. He was a silent watcher of the night.
"Hey!"
Wang Dong's slightly angry voice interrupted Huo Yuhao's thoughts. He didn't like being ignored, especially when he was trying to pick a fight.
He frowned, his pinkish-blue hair fluttering slightly in the night wind, as he glared dissatisfied at Huo Yuhao. "If you don't make a move, I'm coming first!"
Only then did Huo Yuhao withdraw his attention from Mu En's direction. A gentle smile rose at the corners of his mouth, and he still had no intention of making the first move. He wanted to see what she could do.
"Hmph!"
Seeing this, Wang Dong snorted coldly again, seemingly mocking Huo Yuhao's overconfidence. He thought the boy was just being foolish.
Without further nonsense, he suddenly exerted force with his feet, and his whole person charged toward Huo Yuhao like an arrow from a bow! He was fast, a blur of motion in the moonlight.
Under Mental Detection, Huo Yuhao had long ago judged the other's cultivation level. He knew exactly what he was up against.
A sharp light flashed in his eyes as invisible mental force instantly condensed and silently burst through the air. He didn't even need to move his hands.
No spirit ring lit up, there was no spirit power fluctuation, and without even any warning, a Mental Shock was launched. It was a silent, invisible attack that struck at the core of her consciousness.
Wang Dong, who was charging forward with all his might, only felt a sharp pain in his head, and his consciousness instantly fell into a blank void. His world went dark in an instant.
The momentum of his charge remained, but the master controlling the body had lost consciousness. He was now just a projectile moving through the air.
Wang Dong's body slumped forward, his short pinkish-blue hair rising helplessly in the air, looking like he was about to have a close encounter with the solid ground. He was completely defenseless.
However, at the very moment he was about to fall... a figure, as if having waited for a long time, instantly crossed several meters of distance. Huo Yuhao steadily caught Wang Dong's falling body. He was too fast for the eye to follow.
Under the moonlight, he looked down at the "youth" in his arms, whose eyes were tightly closed and whose breathing was steady. She looked so peaceful in her sleep.
That face, which had shed all its arrogance in sleep, appeared exceptionally beautiful at this moment, causing his own breath to hitch. He felt a sudden surge of affection for her.
Then, Huo Yuhao carefully laid Wang Dong flat on the ground. He didn't want her to get hurt, even in a spar.
On the recliner not far away, Mu En's seemingly cloudy old eyes took everything in. He had seen everything that had happened.
In the night, a very faint smile seemed to flash across that aged face. He was amused by the antics of the young people.
He then closed his eyes and thought to himself, "Young people these days really know how to play!"
Only a moment later, Wang Dong's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and he slowly woke up. He was confused and disoriented.
The moment his consciousness returned, the first thing he felt was the hard, cool ground beneath him and the sensation of the night wind brushing against his cheeks. He realized he was no longer standing.
Wait... why am I lying on the ground?!
Wang Dong sat up abruptly. Before he could think carefully, his first reaction was to subconsciously feel all over himself quickly. He wanted to make sure everything was still in place.
His clothes were intact, his hair wasn't messy, and besides his head being a bit strangely dazed, there was nothing wrong with his body. He was perfectly fine.
He suddenly looked up, those pinkish-blue eyes still slightly drowsy, now full of vigilance and slight anger, stabbing straight at the youth standing with his hands behind his back not far away. He was demanding an explanation.
"You... what did you do to me?!"
His tone was like a cat with its fur standing on end, both guarded and aggrieved. He felt like he had been cheated out of a fair fight.
Huo Yuhao looked at him and said with a smile, "You lost!"
He paused, his smile deepening a fraction. "From now on in the dorm, you have to listen to me."
Lost... lost?!
Memories from before the "blackout" flashed through Wang Dong's mind. He had charged forward, and then... then there was no then. He had no idea what had happened.
He hadn't even seen how the opponent made a move. He had lost inexplicably, lost in an utterly stifling manner! He was humiliated.
An embarrassed flush spread from Wang Dong's fair cheeks to the tips of his ears. He bit his lower lip, his eyes filled with the light of unconvinced stubbornness as he sprang up from the ground. He wasn't going to give up so easily.
"Buzz..."
One yellow, one purple—two spirit rings rose from beneath his feet, their bright light exceptionally conspicuous in the night. He was ready for round two.
"How exactly did I lose?" Wang Dong's voice rose a few pitches, saying with indignation, "I hadn't even released my Spirit yet! This doesn't count!"
Huo Yuhao said nothing; he simply took a step forward. He was going to show her the truth.
A deep purple spirit ring quietly rose from beneath his feet. It was a sight that shouldn't have been possible.
A thousand-year first ring.
Wang Dong's pupils suddenly contracted. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
That touch of purple reflected in the depths of his pinkish-blue eyes, stirring up waves of shock that were hard to calm. He was frozen in disbelief.
However, this was only the beginning. Huo Yuhao wasn't finished showing off.
Then, Huo Yuhao took three more steps forward, and with every step, another spirit ring appeared on his body. Each one was more impressive than the last.
Finally, he stood still three meters in front of Wang Dong, not approaching any further. He let the power of his rings do the talking.
The moonlight stretched his shadow long. Two purple and two black—four spirit rings circled his body like stars guarding the night sky. He looked like a god of war.
A four-ring Spirit Ancestor!
Wang Dong's pinkish-blue eyes, which always sparkled with pride and agility, were now wide and round. He was completely speechless.
In those wide-open eyes were reflected the four rhythmic spirit rings and that calm-faced youth. He realized just how outmatched he was.
He opened his mouth but could not make a sound. His arrogance had been completely shattered.
The pride and self-confidence in his mind, at this moment, melted away without a trace like thin snow under a blazing sun. He was humbled.
He never imagined that his roommate would actually be a four-ring Spirit Ancestor. It was a level of power he could only dream of.
Looking at Wang Dong's dumbfounded expression, Huo Yuhao spoke. His voice was calm and steady.
"I am a mental-type Spirit Master."
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You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion