Appraisal, Spirit Hall's Invitation, Next Sign-in Location: Papal Palace?

"What martial soul is that?"

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, perhaps!"

"Doesn't look like it. Even Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect only has a seven-story Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. He's considered the strongest support Spirit Master among the entire sect's disciples, while his sons and daughters have merely average talent. It's impossible for someone so monstrous to exist—one that mutated all the way to a hundred stories?"

"And this tower-shaped martial soul has a hundred stories. Even if it's a glazed tile pagoda, it shouldn't be called the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. It should be called the Hundred Treasures Glazed Pagoda."

"That brat actually deceived me! He clearly has Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls, yet back in Holy Spirit Village, he only showed me the Chicken Blood Vine martial soul. He hid this Hundred Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul as well. Otherwise, I would have brought him back to Spirit Hall long ago. I nearly lost a genius!" Only now did Su Yuntao realize that Wang Xiao had fooled him.

Ma Xiunuo said irritably after hearing this, "Xiao Tao, Xiao Tao, what am I supposed to say to you? Young people need to be careful, careful, and more careful in everything they do. Don't be impatient or frivolous. A genius like Xiao Xiao appeared right under your nose, yet you failed to notice him. And you still dream of promotion and riches?"

"Sigh! What am I supposed to say to you? I think this is as far as you'll ever get in life!"

Su Yuntao also felt that he had been careless, frivolous, and unreliable. Such a genius had stood right before his eyes, yet he had failed to see him. If word got out, wouldn't it become a stain he could never erase for the rest of his life?

Fortunately, there was still a chance to make up for it. Otherwise, he really would have been beyond unreliable.

"Old Soul Master, there's still more than a month before the major junior academies begin classes. If we report this now, we can still salvage the situation."

"Mm." Ma Xiunuo nodded. "Xiao Tao, at least you still have some brains. Then that's what we'll do! I'm already old, and I have no desire for promotion or wealth. I'll leave this opportunity to young people like you. I hope you can seize it. Whether you can rise through the ranks in the future will depend on your own fortune."

Su Yuntao was overjoyed. "Thank you, Old Soul Master! I definitely won't disappoint you."

"Fine, then!" Ma Xiunuo was somewhat speechless. He had mistaken such a genius for trash and hadn't had a shred of awareness. The "Tool Man" label was fully confirmed!

He then turned to Wang Xiao. "All right, child. Please withdraw your martial soul."

Wang Xiao immediately withdrew it, then walked over to the two of them and asked, "Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, what level am I?"

Ma Xiunuo nodded kindly. "Your four soul rings are respectively White, Yellow, Purple, and Black. Two of them are eight-thousand-year and thirty-thousand-year soul rings. Your current level is Level Forty-Two, giving you the rank of Soul Ancestor."

Wang Xiao considered it. Four soul rings and Level Forty-Two meant he was indeed a Soul Ancestor!

If he counted that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring as well, he had five soul rings in total. He should be Level Fifty Plus. In that case, his rank would be Soul King.

Wang Xiao was overjoyed. Even he felt fortunate that this trip to Soul Hunting Forest had raised him from a Spirit Master all the way to a Soul King.

The next time he went to Sunset Forest or Star Dou Forest, wouldn't he become a Soul Emperor, Soul Sage, or even a Soul Douluo?

Ma Xiunuo immediately brought him back to the office, issued him a Soul Ancestor badge, and gave him five Gold Soul Coins. "Child, this badge represents that you are now a true Spirit Master. These five Gold Soul Coins are a subsidy for your Spirit Master rank."

"Since you are a Soul Ancestor, over Level Forty, you normally would not receive any subsidy. But because you are still a junior academy student, you can receive it once. There will be no more in the future."

Wang Xiao nodded. He understood. This subsidy was issued to new Spirit Masters below Level Forty. Once they surpassed Level Forty, it was no longer available.

"But if you join Spirit Hall and become a full-time Spirit Master with official duties, working for us, then your position and compensation will be much higher. That is a matter for later."

"The key is your ability. The greater your ability, the more attention you will receive from Spirit Hall's superiors, and the greater your compensation will be."

"Of course, it isn't only about the compensation. There are other benefits too, such as helping you hunt soul beasts in the forest to obtain soul rings, or even more precious soul bones."

"So, child, I'm asking you now: are you willing to join Spirit Hall and become a true Spirit Master?" At last, Ma Xiunuo had come to the point.

This was what he had wanted to say to Wang Xiao all along. After listing so many benefits, he simply wanted to entice him into joining Spirit Hall.

Seeing Wang Xiao still hesitating, Su Yuntao could no longer sit still.

He rushed over, grabbed Wang Xiao's hand, and said excitedly, "Xiao Xiao! Join our Spirit Hall. There are countless benefits! You absolutely must not miss an opportunity like this, one that comes once in a lifetime. Whether you achieve glory and success in the future depends on the choice you make today."

"You can't go wrong listening to your brother! As long as you nod, Brother Tao will immediately report you to Spirit Hall's higher-ups. The moment there's any news, I'll contact you."

"A genius like you has only appeared twice in the entire Douluo Continent over the past century. You are the third. The other one is the current Your Excellency the Pope, Bibi Dong."

"If my guess is right, once we report your Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls, even Your Excellency the Pope of the Papal Palace will attach great importance to you."

Ma Xiunuo immediately nodded and took over. "Xiao Tao is right! A genius Spirit Master like you, one seen only once in a century, is exactly the sort of talent our Spirit Hall longs for. How could Your Excellency the Pope not focus on nurturing you? Once you join, you will certainly head straight to the Papal Palace."

"By then, you will become a new-generation seed member of the Papal Palace. You can meet Your Excellency the Pope directly and work alongside her. An old man like me has no hope of such a thing. It all depends on you now, child."

"Besides, you are a talent produced by our Spirit Hall in Nuoding City. Once you achieve greatness, even our lowest-ranking Spirit Hall will benefit from your glory. I'll get to share in it too."

Su Yuntao continued persuading him. "Xiao Xiao, don't hesitate any longer. Opportunity knocks but once! If you miss this chance, there won't even be any medicine for regret later. Brother isn't lying to you. Just listen to Brother this once, Xiao Xiao, and agree right away, okay?"

Wang Xiao clicked his tongue. Look how anxious Brother Tao is. It's my fault for being too softhearted, too softhearted, always unwilling to refuse your kindness!

"Ding! Xiao Xiao's next sign-in location: Papal Palace! There may be special rewards. Note: If the sign-in fails, the mission will repeat and punishment will be imposed."

The Sign-in System said in a loli voice.

Wang Xiao smiled faintly. This was exactly what he wanted. "System Sister, there's no time limit this time?"

"Ding! There is. Three months."

"This is good. It probably won't even take three months before I can go to the Papal Palace."

"Ding! Xiao Xiao, this system wishes you good luck. Keep it up."

"Okay, System Sister."

"Ding! Shouldn't it be System Sister? Why are you calling me System Sister again?"

"You're my system. I'll call you whatever I want."

"..." The Sign-in System was speechless.

Only then did Wang Xiao look at the two of them. "All right, Brother Tao, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo. I'll listen to you. If you say join, then I'll join, okay?"

"Great!"

Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao were overjoyed upon hearing this. They immediately registered Wang Xiao's name and residence, then reported him to Spirit Hall's higher-ups, promising to notify him as soon as there was any news.

About two hours later.

Wang Xiao finally left Spirit Hall. When he reached the entrance, the two guards took the initiative to step forward, greeting him politely.

He raised his head and looked at the clear blue sky. It's been over a month already, and I haven't gone to see Xiao Wu even once. I wonder how she's doing now?

Since I have time, I might as well go see her!

And buy her a few little gifts while I'm at it.

Sisi watched Su Yuntao approach, still angry with him. He had abandoned her without a word earlier. She did not know who that boy was, but apparently he was more important than she was. "Yuntao, what was that young man here for?"

"Oh." Su Yuntao brushed back his hair with one hand and said handsomely, "Sisi, he came to have his martial soul rank assessed. Let me tell you a little secret, but you can't tell anyone else."

"Go on?" Sisi was somewhat curious. What secret could make him act like this?

Su Yuntao immediately leaned close and whispered several words into his girlfriend's ear.

Sisi was instantly dumbfounded after hearing them. She whispered, "Y-you're saying he has Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls? He also has four soul rings, including an eight-thousand-year one and a thirty-thousand-year one? And he's a Level Forty-Two Soul Ancestor?"

"Mm-hmm. Master Ma Xiunuo and I just appraised him in the testing room. There's no mistake."

"Isn't that a genius?" Sisi's face was filled with disbelief. Though it was true, it did not feel real. She also realized that she might have missed something earlier.

A few days later.

The blazing sun hung high overhead, and the weather was bright and clear.

Taoshan Village.

"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu?"

Xiao Wu had been taking an afternoon nap when she suddenly heard someone calling her. She groggily opened her eyes and saw a handsome teenage boy with an oval face standing before her.

She rubbed her eyes with her slender little hands, studied him again for a while, then sprang from the bed and circled around him several times. She still did not recognize him.

Yet his eyes seemed familiar, giving her a sense that she had seen him somewhere before. "W-who are you? Why did you enter my bedroom without this young lady's permission?"

As Xiao Wu spoke, she darted to one side and raised both hands into a fighting stance, preparing to attack the young man.

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