Spirit Hall Main Hall, Certification Incident

Early the next morning, Ling Yun greeted Flender, then left Shrek Academy alone and entered Suotuo City once more. This time, his destination was clear—the Spirit Hall Main Hall located in the city center.

He needed to "obtain" a Soul Ring for himself in preparation for the scrutiny of the broader stage ahead. After all, a boy without a Soul Ring who could unleash astonishing strength was simply too shocking. He would attract countless unnecessary troubles and investigations. Using a "reasonable" Soul Ring to conceal the existence of his Origin Soul Ring was the safest choice for now.

Suotuo City's Spirit Hall Main Hall was far grander than the branch hall in Notting City. Its towering dome and white marble pillars exuded solemn majesty, while Hall Guardian Knights clad in silver armor stood guard at the entrance.

Ling Yun headed straight for the entrance, only to be stopped by two Hall Guardian Knights.

"Stop! Unauthorized personnel are forbidden from entering the Spirit Hall Main Hall!" The knight's voice was cold, carrying a hint of condescension.

Ling Yun halted and said calmly, "I'm here for Soul Master rank certification."

"Certification?" The knight sized up Ling Yun's youthful face and ordinary clothes, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes. "Kid, you can get certified at your local Spirit Hall sub-hall or branch hall. This is the main hall. We only handle certification for Soul Grand Masters and above, or important affairs."

Clearly, neither of them believed the boy before them could be a Soul Grandmaster.

Ling Yun could not be bothered with more nonsense. With a slight movement of his mind, a condensed pulse of Soul Power spread from his body. Though he deliberately restrained it, its purity far surpassed that of an ordinary Soul Master, making both knights' expressions change.

"Can I go in now?" Ling Yun's tone remained calm.

The two knights exchanged a glance, put away their contempt, and stepped aside. Their tone became more respectful. "Please enter, Lord Soul Master."

Upon entering the hall, Ling Yun found the interior exceedingly spacious. Exquisite murals covered the dome, and the floor was polished bright enough to reflect a person's image. Several counters in the main hall handled different matters. Ling Yun walked directly to the counter marked "Soul Master Certification."

Behind the counter sat a middle-aged man in a white deacon's robe, lazily flipping through a booklet.

"Certification." Ling Yun kept it brief.

The deacon looked up and was also slightly taken aback when he saw Ling Yun. He then asked in a businesslike manner, "Name, age, Martial Soul, Soul Power Level."

"Ling Yun, eleven years old. Martial Soul... a Mutated Dragon Spirit. Soul Power Level, thirty." Ling Yun gave the information he had long prepared. Level thirty was the reasonable upper limit for obtaining a First Soul Ring. It could explain his strength without being too outrageous.

"Level thirty?!" The deacon's hand trembled, and the booklet nearly fell to the floor. He sprang to his feet and stared at Ling Yun with wide eyes. "Level thirty at eleven years old?! Are you sure?"

An eleven-year-old Soul Elder? Such a genius was unheard of in the entire Balak Kingdom!

"I'm sure." Ling Yun nodded.

The deacon did not dare neglect him and hurriedly said, "Please wait! I'll invite Master Ma Xiunuo over immediately! Certification for a level-thirty Soul Elder requires Master to conduct it personally!"

Before long, an elderly man with graying hair and a kindly face hurried over. He was Ma Xiunuo, the certification master of the Soto Spirit Hall Main Hall. He was equally astonished after hearing the report.

"Child, your name is Ling Yun? Come with me to the testing room." Ma Xiunuo's attitude was extremely gentle.

Once they reached the testing room, Ma Xiunuo took out a more advanced Soul Power Test Crystal. Ling Yun placed his hand on it, carefully controlling his Soul Power output.

Buzz—!

The crystal ball erupted with dazzling light, steadily stopping at level thirty!

"My heavens! It really is level thirty! An eleven-year-old Soul Elder!" Ma Xiunuo was so excited that even his beard trembled. "Child, what is your Martial Soul? Quickly release it and let me see!"

Ling Yun raised his right hand. With a thought, he did not fully release the true form of the Chaos Dragon God. Instead, he simulated the phantom of a dragon-type beast Martial Soul that carried faint Dragon Might and resembled an earth dragon, though it possessed far greater majesty. He had simulated it based on a trace of the Chaos Dragon God's aura, enough to pass for the real thing.

"A Mutated Dragon Martial Soul!" Feeling that faint Dragon Might, Ma Xiunuo became even more certain that Ling Yun was an unparalleled genius. "Good! Excellent! Spirit Hall needs geniuses like you! Child, have you obtained your First Soul Ring?"

"Not yet," Ling Yun said. "I was preparing to head to the Soul Hunting Forest."

A fervent gleam flashed through Ma Xiunuo's eyes as he quickly said, "There's no need to go to the Soul Hunting Forest! Spirit Hall can provide the most suitable Soul Beast for you! We guarantee it will be a top-tier hundred-year Soul Beast! Even... if you are willing to join Spirit Hall, we can invite an expert at the Soul King level to protect you. Obtaining a thousand-year First Soul Ring would not be impossible!"

As such a genius, Ma Xiunuo naturally wanted to recruit him for Spirit Hall.

Ling Yun shook his head. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm used to cultivating alone."

Regret appeared on Ma Xiunuo's face, but he still refused to give up. "Child, think it over a little more. Spirit Hall possesses the best resources on the continent. With your talent, you have every chance of becoming a Spirit Douluo, or even a Titled Douluo in the future! This is an opportunity countless people dream of!"

Ling Yun still refused, his attitude firm.

Ma Xiunuo sighed. Knowing he could not force the matter, he could only complete Ling Yun's certification procedures and issue him a brand-new Soul Elder Badge. Yet inwardly, he had already decided that he had to report Ling Yun's situation to the higher-ranking bishop immediately. A genius like this could not be allowed to slip away so easily. Even if they could not recruit him, they had to keep a close watch on him.

After completing the certification, Ling Yun put away the badge and left the Spirit Hall Main Hall. He could feel several concealed gazes watching him from behind. Spirit Hall's reaction was within his expectations.

Next, he needed to visit the Soul Hunting Forest and put on a show. Then, he could "obtain" his First Soul Ring. As for his Soul Skill, he had already decided to use a weakened version of Dragon Emperor Earthshaker Wave as a cover.

Not long after Ling Yun left the Spirit Hall Main Hall, a figure quietly emerged from its side entrance. Watching the direction in which Ling Yun had departed, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He was tall and thin, his face hidden beneath the shadows of a cloak. On his chest was a distinctive deacon's badge engraved with serpentine patterns.

"An eleven-year-old level-thirty Soul Elder? A Mutated Dragon Martial Soul? Interesting... it seems the plan needs a slight adjustment. If such a genius cannot be used by the Holy Cult, then he can only be... destroyed."

He muttered a few words to himself, then flickered and vanished around the street corner like a ghost.

Ling Yun did not know that, aside from Spirit Hall's official attention, another force lurking in the shadows had also begun stirring because of his appearance. A storm aimed at him was quietly brewing.