The two guards at the entrance both appeared to be around twenty years old. The fluctuations of Soul Power on their bodies were barely noticeable — it didn't even feel like they had reached the level of a Soul Master. It seemed that Nuoding City really was remote; the rank of its Spirit Hall alone spoke to how important the city was within the Tian Dou Empire.
"Hello, sir. I'm a first-year student at the Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy. My teacher asked me to come here for an advancement assessment." Tang San pointed at the school uniform he wore and addressed the guard.
As soon as the guards saw the Nuoding Academy emblem on Tang San's uniform, a flicker of envy crossed both their eyes. The guard who had spoken first said, "Is that so? Then go on in. Head to the reception hall on the first floor and find Ma Xiu Nuo, the Great Soul Master there. He'll help you."
"Thank you." Tang San nodded and quickly entered the Spirit Hall.
The guards' envious gazes followed him all the way inside. One of them muttered, "If I could have afforded Nuoding Academy back in the day, maybe I'd be a Soul Master by now. But wait — doesn't Nuoding Academy have its own Soul Power testing equipment? They only come here for advancement evaluations. Why's this kid coming to our Spirit Hall?"
"Who knows? He's just a little kid. Maybe his teacher sent him to deliver a letter or something — they just can't say it outright."
A soaring dome reaching twenty meters high — what kind of grandeur that was. The moment Tang San stepped into the Spirit Hall's main hall, he was immediately swept up by its imposing atmosphere. Murals covered the entire surface of the dome overhead, each small square panel depicting different Martial Soul figures. The background was a gleaming, resplendent gold, giving the impression of magnificence blended with ancient simplicity.
Giant crystal windows lined the Spirit Hall. Sunlight refracted through the transparent panes and scattered across the murals, the golden shimmer making it all the more dazzling.
The reception hall — where was the reception hall? Still caught up in the atmosphere of the main hall, Tang San began searching for his destination.
There were few people inside the Spirit Hall, with only some servants cleaning around. Just as Tang San was wondering how to find the reception hall and about to ask someone for directions, he spotted a familiar figure. It was none other than the Great Soul Master who had helped awaken his Martial Soul back then — Su Yun Tao, possessor of the Lone Wolf Martial Soul.
Tang San hurried over to him. Alongside Su Yun Tao was a female Soul Master — tall and shapely, with looks that were above average at the very least. The two were chatting and laughing, completely unaware of the small figure approaching them.
"Master Su Yun Tao," Tang San called out.
Su Yun Tao finally noticed his arrival. The female Soul Master beside him let out a small "huh" and said, "How come there's such a little kid in our Spirit Hall? Don't tell me some noble's young master has come for a Martial Soul Awakening again?"
Su Yun Tao didn't recognize Tang San at first glance. After all, he had awakened Martial Souls for far too many children, and Tang San's attire was no longer as shabby as it had once been.
"Who are you?"
Seeing the confusion in Su Yun Tao's eyes, Tang San quickly explained, "Master Su Yun Tao, I'm Tang San — the one with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power whom you awakened in Sacred Soul Village."
"So it's you. What are you doing here?" Innate Full Soul Power was not something easily forgotten, and Su Yun Tao recalled Tang San at once.
Tang San said, "My teacher asked me to come to the Spirit Hall for an advancement assessment, and to have my Soul Power level tested as well."
Su Yun Tao was visibly surprised. "You've already obtained your first Soul Ring? That was fast. That uniform is from Nuoding Academy, isn't it? As expected of the best academy in Nuoding City — the teachers there are certainly responsible."
Su Yun Tao's companion seemed a bit put out at being ignored. "Yun Tao, aren't you going to introduce me?"
Seeing that his companion was growing displeased, Su Yun Tao hurried to appease her. "Si Si, this is the child I told you about — the one with Innate Full Soul Power. It's a shame his Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. Otherwise, his future would have been limitless! He's already obtained a Soul Ring now, so he counts as a proper Soul Master. Could you wait here for a moment? I'll take him to the reception hall to see Master Ma Xiu Nuo."
When Si Si heard Su Yun Tao say that Tang San had Innate Full Soul Power, her eyes clearly brightened. But when she learned that this Innate Full Soul Power resided in a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, the hint of pleasant surprise on her face turned to a trace of contempt. She nodded and said, "Go ahead. I'll wait here."
"Thank you." Su Yun Tao had left a decent impression on Tang San — he seemed like one of the more conscientious Deacons in the Spirit Hall.
Su Yun Tao led Tang San up the staircase beside them to the second floor of the Spirit Hall. Once they reached the second-floor corridor, Tang San could see rooms arranged in a circle here, and from this vantage point he could look straight down into the first-floor hall. Without needing to ask, this was clearly where the Spirit Hall conducted its business.
Su Yun Tao was obviously eager to get back to Si Si. He brought Tang San swiftly to a door and pushed it open without even knocking.
"Who's this — barging in without a word?" A somewhat aged voice came from within the room. It was a bright office. Behind a broad desk sat an elderly man dressed in a pristine Soul Master's uniform. The three-sword insignia on his person marked him as a Battle Soul Master of the Great Soul Master rank.
"So it's Yun Tao. You're still so rash. Soul Master cultivation demands full concentration — a steady temperament is far better. Otherwise, you'll end up like me, unable to break past the threshold of level thirty."
Su Yun Tao grumbled, "Master Ma Xiu Nuo, spare me the lecture. This child is here for an advancement assessment. I'll leave him in your hands."
Su Yun Tao clearly had a good relationship with the old Soul Master. The latter chuckled warmly, but when his gaze fell upon Tang San, a note of surprise crept into his expression. "Yun Tao, are you certain this child is here for an advancement assessment and not a Martial Soul Awakening?"
(End of Chapter)