Soul Land: Xiao Yan Reincarnates as Huo Yuhao

"It's him!" When Xiao Yan saw the young man's face, his entire body began to tremble. His eyes reddened slightly, and his clenched fists dug his nails deeply into his palms.

Tang Ya, who was grilling rabbits, turned to look at Xiao Yan and was startled. She saw that his face was pale, his expression was filled with deep, uncontainable hatred, and he looked as though he was on the verge of breaking down.

---

Flashback: Years Ago, White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

"Mom, I'll hang up the clothes for you." A boy around six or seven years old, with a delicate appearance, struggled to carry a large wooden basin, staggering out of the room to dry the laundry.

Inside, a middle-aged woman watched him with a gentle gaze, speaking softly, "Yuhao, you're still young. Just leave it; I'll do it later."

"Mom, I'm not little anymore. I'm growing up, and I want to help you. This way, you can have it a bit easier," the boy replied, his voice determined. "When I get older, I'll find a way to take you away from here."

But just as the boy reached the yard, a powerful force suddenly slammed into him from the side, knocking him and the wooden basin to the ground. The freshly cleaned clothes scattered across the dirt.

"You filthy little thing! Can't you see the young master is back? How dare you block his path?" An arrogant voice rang out, as a brawny guard looked down at the boy with disdain.

"It was you who ran into me!" Xiao Yan retorted, still young and unable to hide his anger.

A young boy in a white embroidered robe strode forward, his appearance regal and imposing, his eyes bearing a rare double pupil.

"Hmph." The young master stopped, looking down on Xiao Yan. He sneered, stamping his foot onto the freshly soiled clothing and said coldly, "What did you just say? Repeat that if you dare, you filthy brat!"

"You…" Xiao Yan's teeth ground together with a harsh creak, his eyes turning red with fury.

"Hit him! Beat him until he knows his place," the boy commanded.

At his order, the guards around them descended on Xiao Yan, kicking and beating him without restraint.

Despite starting to cultivate at age four, Xiao Yan's cultivation was still low, and he struggled in vain. But he was just a child, facing a group of trained adults—some of whom were spirit masters. Ultimately, he was overwhelmed and beaten to the ground.

"Stop! Please, stop!" Hearing the commotion, Huo Yun'er rushed out of the room, shielding Xiao Yan with her body, begging the guards to stop. But her pleas were ignored, and mother and son were beaten until they were barely conscious.

Watching the young master, the guards finally relented as he walked away, unconcerned and indifferent.

"Pfft!" Xiao Yan spat out a mouthful of blood that stained the ground. Under the setting sun, the sight of the blood looked especially striking.

Staring in the direction the golden-haired boy left, Xiao Yan slowly struggled to his feet. In a voice full of grief and fury, he muttered, "White Tiger Duke's Mansion… Dai Huabin… Today's grievance, I will repay a hundredfold!"

"I'll come for you one day. I'll end your bloodline."

This incident had caused Huo Yun'er's already frail health to deteriorate further, and she never fully recovered, succumbing to illness not long afterward.

---

Although years had passed, Xiao Yan instantly recognized that golden-haired boy. The distinctive twin-pupiled eyes marked him as Dai Huabin, the youngest son of the White Tiger Duke and one of the culprits who had caused his mother's death.

"Dai Huabin, I never thought I'd run into you here at Shrek Academy. Mother, watch over me—I'll kill him with my own hands." Xiao Yan's gaze turned vicious, and his eyes, filled with seething hatred, glowed red. Within the depths of his mind, a faint, gray orb pulsed, releasing a low sigh.

---

In the bustling street, the golden-haired young man—none other than Dai Huabin—showed no sign of slowing down as he charged forward on horseback, ignoring the crowd.

"Out of my way, you dogs! Don't blame me if you get trampled!" He shouted, showing no sign of slowing down as he rode toward the girls who refused to step aside.

"Bastard! How dare you speak to my Nan Nan like that?" Enraged, the young man in black following the girl leaped forward. He moved with lightning speed, intercepting Dai Huabin's horse and yanking him down from the saddle.

Dai Huabin's gaze darkened as he raised his fist, launching a direct punch at the black-clad young man with immense force and speed.

The black-clad young man didn't dodge or retreat but met Dai Huabin's attack head-on, matching his punch with equal strength.

"Boom!" A loud impact echoed through the street as both fighters were forced back a few steps.

"You're a spirit master too?" Dai Huabin said with a hint of surprise.

"Dare to insult Nan Nan? I'll make you regret it!" The young man's eyes blazed with anger as three spirit rings—two yellow, one purple—rose from his feet. His skin darkened, muscles bulging, and a massive turtle-shell shield appeared on his arm.

Seeing the small insignia on the man's chest, Dai Huabin's expression relaxed slightly. "You're a student at Shrek Academy?"

"So what?" the young man sneered. "Apologize to Jiang Nannan, or I'll beat you to a pulp."

Ignoring him, Jiang Nannan continued walking down the street, seemingly indifferent to the confrontation behind her.

Dai Huabin laughed mockingly. "Pathetic. Are you really going to keep following her when she's made it clear she wants nothing to do with you?"

"What did you say?" The young man, embarrassed and angry, straightened his back, glaring at Dai Huabin.

"White Tiger, Possession!" A burst of white light exploded from Dai Huabin's body as his arms stretched outward, bones cracking as his skin shimmered. The character for "king" appeared on his forehead, marking his transform

ation.

"You said you'd make me regret it? Let's see if you can follow through."