Tang San's Martial Soul Advancement Certification

The next day, Wu Liang got out of bed feeling satisfied. The Work-Study Students had already gone to class and work. Though Wu Liang was technically a Work-Study Student, he never lacked money. And after obtaining the unlimited Delicious Biscuits, he even saved on meal costs.

After washing up and having breakfast with little Kanna, Wu Liang had no intention of attending class. He knew he could not learn much at this elementary academy. He would be better off seeking guidance from his cheap master.

The moment he stepped outside, he ran into Tang San and Xiao Wu, who had just returned from paying their respects to the master. Wu Liang teased, "Yo, isn't this Tang San? Are you heading to class?"

"No. I'm going to Spirit Hall today for a rank certification. Also, I haven't done any blacksmithing for days. I'll see if I can find a Blacksmith Shop in Notting City willing to take me in so I can train," Tang San said, shaking his head. "Are you coming?"

"No, no, no. I don't need to. What about you, Xiao Wu?"

"Me? I'm going to class."

"Alright. Little Kanna, you should go to class with Xiao Wu too. That's it, then. If anything comes up, come find me at the little hill behind the academy. Unless something special happens, I'll be there."

After saying that, Wu Liang turned and headed toward the back hill. Little Kanna nodded and followed Xiao Wu off to class.

As he walked along the path behind the academy, Wu Liang suddenly thought of one of Douluo Continent's unresolved mysteries: how had Xiao Wu obtained a Work-Study Student spot? Logically, as a soul beast that had taken human form, she should not have had one. Could Xiao Wu have used her Martial Soul to cast Charm and confuse the academy teachers? No, that could not be right either. Her Charm skill should not have been that powerful yet. Then, like him, she must have gotten her spot through a recommendation letter from Spirit Hall. After all, she was a soul beast in human form, so her talent should have been exceptionally strong.

Meanwhile, Tang San arrived at the imposing Spirit Hall and encountered Su Yuntao, the tool guy who had awakened their Martial Souls back then.

"Why is it you? What are you doing here?" Innate Full Soul Power was easy to remember, and Su Yuntao immediately recognized Tang San.

Tang San said, "My teacher sent me to Spirit Hall for an advancement appraisal and to test my Soul Power level."

Su Yuntao was startled. "You've already obtained your first Soul Ring? That fast? This uniform is from Notting Academy, right? As expected of Notting City's best academy. Your teacher is really responsible. Oh, right, where's that kid named Wu Liang? Why didn't he come?"

Su Yuntao's female companion seemed somewhat displeased at being ignored. "Yuntao, aren't you going to introduce him to me?"

Seeing that his companion seemed unhappy, Su Yuntao hurriedly ingratiated himself. "Sisi, this is one of the two children with Innate Full Soul Power I told you about. Unfortunately, his Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. Otherwise, his future would be limitless. He's already obtained a Soul Ring, so he can be considered one of the Spirit Masters now. Please wait here for me. I'll take him to Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo in the reception hall."

When Sisi heard that Tang San had Innate Full Soul Power, her eyes clearly lit up. But when she learned that his Innate Full Soul Power belonged to a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, the surprise on her face turned into a trace of contempt. She nodded. "Go on. I'll wait here."

"Thank you. But A Liang didn't come. He's at the academy." Tang San had a fairly good impression of Su Yuntao. He counted as a responsible deacon of Spirit Hall, even if things had ended a little unpleasantly.

Su Yuntao led Tang San up the stairs to the second floor of Spirit Hall. Once they reached the corridor, Tang San saw the ring of rooms there. From this spot, they could also directly see the main hall on the first floor. There was no need to ask; this was where Spirit Hall truly conducted its business.

Su Yuntao was clearly anxious to return to Sisi. He quickly brought Tang San to a room, did not even knock, and pushed the door open.

"Who's barging in so recklessly?" An elderly voice came from inside. It was a bright office. An old man sat behind a large desk, dressed neatly in Spirit Master robes. The standard three-sword emblem on his body showed that he was a Battle Spirit Master at the Soul Grandmaster rank.

"So it's Yuntao. Why are you still so reckless, kid? Spirit Master cultivation requires concentration. You should be more steady-tempered. Otherwise, you'll end up like me, unable to cross the threshold of level thirty no matter what."

Su Yuntao complained somewhat, "Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo, stop nagging. This child is here for advancement appraisal certification. Please help him."

Su Yuntao was clearly quite close to the old Spirit Master. The old man chuckled, but when his gaze fell on Tang San, he could not help looking surprised. "Yuntao, are you sure this child is here for an advancement appraisal and not a Martial Soul awakening?"

Su Yuntao smiled bitterly. "Of course I'm sure. I was the one who awakened this child's Martial Soul. He's one of the two children with Innate Full Soul Power I mentioned to you—the one whose Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. He's already obtained a Soul Ring, so I'll leave him to you. Sisi is waiting for me, so I'm leaving first." With that, he patted Tang San's shoulder and hurried out.

Watching Su Yuntao's departing figure, the old Spirit Master Ma Xiunuo shook his head helplessly. "Another young man blinded by love. What a pity. Sisi isn't suited for him. That girl's ambitions are too great. How could someone like him possibly restrain her?"

Tang San stood before Ma Xiunuo's desk. Hearing Ma Xiunuo muttering to himself, he grew a little anxious. "Hello, Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo."

Ma Xiunuo smiled at Tang San. "Child, there's no need to call me Grandmaster. I'm no grandmaster. Just call me Grandpa Ma Xiunuo. I'm eighty-one this year. I'm old enough to be your grandfather, aren't I?"

The old man's warm and kindly voice immediately increased Tang San's favorable impression of him. He quickly called again, "Hello, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo."

Ma Xiunuo smiled faintly. "Come, I'll take you for your advancement appraisal. You're a very polite child. What a pity that your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. Oh, right, where is that child with the strange Martial Soul who also has Full Soul Power?"

Tang San could not help being speechless. Was his Martial Soul really so looked down upon? He said, "Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, A Liang didn't come today. He's at the academy."

Ma Xiunuo nodded. Like he was leading his own grandson, he took Tang San's hand and walked out of his office, heading deeper into Spirit Hall along the second-floor corridor.

When they reached the end of the corridor, three towering arched doors appeared before Tang San.

Ma Xiunuo smiled. "This is Spirit Hall's Martial Soul Laboratory for advancement appraisals. Come, child."

As he spoke, he pushed open the door on the far left and led Tang San inside.

The moment he entered the room, Tang San had a peculiar feeling. The internal energy of his Mysterious Heaven Skill seemed to pulse faintly in a special rhythm.

The room was vast and tall, covering a full two hundred square meters. An enormous floor-to-ceiling window provided ample lighting.

Tang San immediately found what was stirring his internal energy. Black stones the size of fists were embedded in the surrounding walls. Judging by their material, they should be the same kind of stones Su Yuntao had used to awaken his Martial Soul.

A huge emblem shaped like a token was carved into the floor. A longsword pointed straight downward, directly toward the entrance.

It was the same emblem hanging outside Spirit Hall.

Seeing Tang San looking at the pattern on the floor, Soul Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo smiled. "Ours is the lowest-level Spirit Hall, also called a Martial Soul Branch Hall. Across the continent, even the smallest cities have Spirit Halls on our scale. Above Branch Halls are Martial Soul Sub-Halls, and one level higher are Martial Soul Main Halls. Only major cities can possess Martial Soul Main Halls. The capitals of the two great empires have the fourth level, Martial Soul Palaces. The fifth level is Pope's Hall, the most revered place in all of Spirit Hall. Above Pope's Hall lies only the legendary Douluo Worship Hall. Only Spirit Masters who reach the Douluo rank are qualified to enter it. It is also the final destination for all Spirit Masters at the Douluo rank and above who register with Spirit Hall. It is a place all Spirit Masters yearn for."

The six levels of Spirit Hall Ma Xiunuo described corresponded exactly to the six types of emblems the master had mentioned. Tang San understood.

"Thank you for telling me this, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo. Can we begin now?"

Ma Xiunuo smiled. "Young people these days are all so impatient. Very well. We'll begin now. Release your Martial Soul and your Soul Ring."

Tang San walked to the center of the floor pattern and stood still. Raising his right hand, he calmed his mind. The internal energy of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, together with the heat brought by his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, slowly flowed from his palm.

Thick Blue Silver Grass leaves surged out, drooping to the floor in an instant. A bright hundred-year Mandala Serpent Soul Ring rose from beneath Tang San's feet, moving up and down around his body.

Ma Xiunuo had worn a gentle smile, but when he saw the Blue Silver Grass emerging from Tang San's palm, his expression turned to astonishment. "Th-this is Blue Silver Grass?"

A faint blue light flickered in Tang San's eyes, a distinctive effect of using the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. "Is there a problem, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo?"

Ma Xiunuo rubbed his eyes and made sure he had not misseen it. Then his attention shifted to the yellow Soul Ring around Tang San. "A hundred-year Soul Ring. So it's a hundred-year Soul Ring. No wonder even Blue Silver Grass has changed so drastically. Child, I still don't know your name."

"My name is Tang San."

Ma Xiunuo calmed his excitement and took out a yellow crystal ball for testing Soul Power, holding it before Tang San. Though Tang San had never seen one before, he understood that it should be used to test Soul Power. After all, it looked very similar to the blue crystal ball Su Yuntao had taken out during his awakening.

Tang San placed his hand on the crystal ball and slowly poured in his Soul Power. The crystal ball lit up with a layer of light that was not particularly intense, but extremely clear.

When Ma Xiunuo saw it, he was immediately dumbfounded. "Th-this... It hasn't been long since your Martial Soul awakened, yet you're already level thirteen? This is simply too..."

At that point, Ma Xiunuo looked at Tang San as though he were looking at a monster.