Soul Master Certification, Deacon Elder Charlotte!

After thinking it over, he turned his gaze to the Guard stationed at the city gate.

Lin Xia took a deep breath, suppressing the slight embarrassment brought on by sleeping rough and being covered in dust, then quickly walked toward a Guard who looked relatively kind.

"Sir!"

Lin Xia tried to make his voice sound clear, with a trace of the childishness appropriate for his age.

"Excuse me, do you know where the Spirit Hall in this city is?"

The Guard had been standing watch with a stern expression. Hearing the voice, he looked down and saw a Child in tattered clothes, his face covered in dust and his hair a complete mess. He looked just like a little beggar.

The Guard instinctively frowned and was about to impatiently wave him away, but when his gaze met Lin Xia's tired yet exceptionally clear, bright eyes, his heart softened.

This child was so young and all alone. He looked as though he had suffered quite a bit.

The hardness on the Guard's face eased. He crouched down and tried to make his tone gentler.

"Little Guy, are you going to Spirit Hall? To awaken your Martial Soul? You'll have to wait for the fixed day each year for that."

"No, sir!"

Lin Xia shook his head and explained, "I'm a Soul Master. I want to get certified and see if I can... receive some subsidy." When he mentioned the subsidy, his voice lowered slightly, carrying a hint of embarrassment.

A flicker of surprise passed through the Guard's eyes.

Such a young Soul Master? And alone, at that? Still, he did not ask further and simply gave Lin Xia detailed directions.

"Follow this main road straight ahead. When you reach the central square, turn right. You'll see a building with a white spire and a Six-Winged Angel Statue at the entrance. That's the Spirit Hall of Gengjin City. Remember, turn right at the central square."

"Thank you, sir!"

Lin Xia thanked him sincerely, bowed to the Guard, then wasted no more time and hurried into the city as directed.

Gengjin City truly deserved its reputation as the Metal Capital. Shops lined both sides of the streets, many displaying signs bearing hammers, Mineral Ore, or all sorts of metal tools. The clanging of blacksmithing rang without end.

The scent of metal dust in the air was even stronger here. To Lin Xia and Larvitar, it was simply an enticing fragrance.

Before long, Lin Xia saw the central square the Guard had described, as well as the iconic white building on its right—the Spirit Hall.

The Six-Winged Angel Statue gleamed beneath the sunlight, radiating a solemn and sacred aura.

Lin Xia straightened his worn clothes. Though it did little good, he still tried to make himself look less like a beggar. Then he took a deep breath and walked through the gates of Spirit Hall.

The interior was spacious and bright, its floor polished as smooth as a mirror.

A young receptionist wearing the standard uniform of Spirit Hall saw Lin Xia enter and imperceptibly frowned.

Lin Xia's appearance was simply out of place in such a solemn, dignified setting.

"Little friend, what can I do for you?"

Still, the receptionist asked with basic courtesy.

"Hello!"

Lin Xia tried to keep his voice steady.

"I'm a Soul Master. I'd like to undergo Soul Master certification and... receive the Soul Master subsidy."

"Soul Master certification?"

The receptionist looked Lin Xia up and down, his eyes full of suspicion. This child looked no older than six or seven, and he was in such a bedraggled state. Could he really be a Soul Master?

"Are you sure you're here for certification, not to awaken your Martial Soul?"

"I'm sure."

Lin Xia nodded firmly and rummaged through his clothes, pulling out a folded sheet of paper that was somewhat wrinkled.

"This is my Martial Soul Certificate."

The receptionist took the certificate and unfolded it. Written clearly on it were:

Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy Martial Soul Certificate

Name: Lin Xia

Martial Soul: Larvitar (Detached Beast Martial Soul)

Innate Soul Power: Level 8

Certifier: Su Yuntao

Nuoding City Martial Soul Branch Hall (Seal)

Upon seeing the certificate stamped with an official Spirit Hall seal, the suspicion on the receptionist's face faded, replaced by surprise.

Innate Soul Power at level eight—his talent was quite impressive!

And the name of this Martial Soul... Larvitar?

He had never heard of it.

His only doubt was why this child had come all the way from the Heaven Dou Empire to get certified as a Soul Master here.

However, the receptionist did not dwell on it. After all, it was none of his business!

"Little friend, come with me. I'll take you to see Elder Charlotte!"

"Okay!"

Lin Xia followed the receptionist through the corridor and arrived at a quiet room.

The room was simply furnished. An elderly man with graying hair but a vigorous spirit sat behind a desk, dressed in a Spirit Hall deacon's robe trimmed in silver.

He was the Deacon Elder of the Gengjin City Martial Soul Branch Hall, Charlotte.

The receptionist respectfully bowed.

"Elder Charlotte, this child is named Lin Xia. He brought a Martial Soul Certificate from Nuoding City and wishes to undergo Soul Master certification and receive the Soul Master subsidy."

As he spoke, he stepped forward and handed Lin Xia's Martial Soul Certificate over.

Charlotte accepted the certificate and examined it carefully. Then he raised his head, his sharp gaze falling on Lin Xia with obvious astonishment.

"Are you sure you didn't mishear? He's not here to awaken his Martial Soul, but to undergo Soul Master certification?"

Charlotte confirmed it with the receptionist once more. Lin Xia's age and appearance made it difficult to associate him with the words "Soul Master."

"Yes, Elder. This is his Martial Soul Certificate."

The receptionist confirmed again.

Charlotte nodded and waved for the receptionist to leave.

Once only he and Lin Xia remained in the room, Charlotte rose to his feet and slowly walked over to Lin Xia.

He showed no hint of disgust at Lin Xia being covered in dust. Instead, he wore a gentle smile.

"Child, don't be nervous."

Charlotte's voice was steady and kind.

"According to the Rules, I need to personally test your Soul Power and bone age to confirm your identity and level before I can process your certification and issue the subsidy. This is a necessary procedure."

Lin Xia nodded to show that he understood.

"I understand, Elder."

Charlotte extended his hand. Soft white light glowed from his palm—it was pure Soul Power.

He first gently placed his hand atop Lin Xia's head. A mild current of energy entered him, testing his bone age to confirm whether Lin Xia's actual age matched the certificate.

A moment later, understanding flashed in his eyes. This child's bone age was indeed only around six.

Next, Charlotte moved his hand to Lin Xia's shoulder. Even purer Soul Power entered Lin Xia's body, beginning the test of his Soul Power Level.

When his Soul Power reached Lin Xia's Dantian Sea of Qi and came into contact with the abundant, surging Soul Power within—like a small pool on the verge of overflowing—the gentle smile on Elder Charlotte's face instantly froze, replaced by undisguised shock!

"Level ten?! You... your Soul Power has already reached level ten?!"

Charlotte cried out in disbelief, his sharp gaze fixed firmly on Lin Xia.

"Innate Soul Power at level eight... How long has it been? Half a Month? How could you have broken through to level ten so quickly?!"

This cultivation speed was simply unheard of!

Even someone with Innate Full Soul Power, without guidance or resources, could not possibly cross two levels in such a short time and directly reach the bottleneck requiring a Soul Ring!

This child definitely had secrets!