Nuoding City.
The streets were decked with lanterns and decorations, and the entire city was immersed in celebration.
No one had time to mourn Xiao Dachuan anymore. The next figure to take the stage was Lord Viscount Nuoding.
Though both had been city lords, Yu Cheng and Xiao Dachuan held vastly different statuses.
Xiao Dachuan had been an imperial official. During his tenure, Nuoding City had still belonged to the Heaven Dou Empire.
Now, however, Nuoding City had become Yu Cheng's fief. The entire city and its surrounding villages belonged to him alone. It could be said that he was the local emperor here.
The square was packed with people.
Today was the celebration for Yu Cheng assuming office, and everyone wanted to see this young viscount.
"The ceremony begins!"
A city official announced loudly.
"Whooo—"
A grand, majestic horn sounded, filling everyone with solemnity.
As the horns rang out, several officials stepped forward and performed kneeling bows. Seated in the place of honor, Yu Cheng accepted in turn the maps and records, household registries, and tax ledgers they presented.
This marked the completion of the transfer of power.
From this day onward, Yu Cheng was the one in control of Nuoding City.
Over the coming days, he would also need to inspect his fief, learn about the people's circumstances, comfort the soldiers, and issue decrees to demonstrate both his closeness to the people and his authority.
The viewing platform.
"Truly, heroes emerge in their youth!"
Lin Dashan looked at the dignified Yu Cheng and could not help but sigh.
It was his first time seeing a ten-year-old viscount.
What was more, Yu Cheng was his student, and a surge of pride rose in his heart.
"Indeed!"
Su Yuntao nodded.
"Yu Cheng's wisdom is rare in this age. In my opinion, even making him a marquis or a king would not be excessive!"
He spoke excitedly.
Lin Dashan turned to glance at Su Yuntao and could not help frowning.
A king?
Although Yu Cheng had made outstanding contributions to the Soul Master world, directly making him a king was going too far, wasn't it?
"Su Yuntao assisted Yu Cheng in researching theory and was promoted to hall master of the Nuoding Branch Hall. It seems he and Yu Cheng are of one mind."
"Perhaps the Nuoding Branch Hall will completely follow Yu Cheng's arrangements from now on!"
Lin Dashan's thoughts raced.
If that happened, would not Nuoding Academy become completely isolated?
After the ceremony, I need to prepare a few more gifts, Lin Dashan thought.
Below the platform.
Old Jack's eyes brimmed with tears.
Who could have imagined that an orphan from their village would become the lord of Nuoding City?
For commoners like them, the city lord was their heaven.
Most importantly, Yu Cheng had promised Holy Spirit Village ten years of tax exemption. When Old Jack heard about it, he had nearly been so excited that he ascended straight to heaven.
Not far away.
Tang San stood squeezed among the crowd, watching Yu Cheng bask in boundless glory as a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
"A true man should be like this!"
He could not help sighing.
The Tang Sect was a martial arts sect, and Tang San had no interest in becoming an official. Yet seeing Yu Cheng in such glory, it would have been a lie to say he was not envious.
"What true man? He's just a little brat!"
Xiao Wu pouted and giggled.
She raised her fist and waved it. "So what if he's a viscount? Sister Xiao Wu is a two-ring Soul Grandmaster. Tang San, let's go find Yu Cheng later and play. Watch Sister Xiao Wu beat him until he's crawling around looking for his teeth!"
"Yu Cheng's First Soul Ring is six hundred years old. His combat strength isn't weak."
Tang San sighed.
After obtaining his Second Soul Ring, he had also wanted to spar with Yu Cheng.
But after reading Yu Cheng's Theory, he had lost the urge.
Whenever Tang San thought about how the age of his Second Soul Ring had failed to surpass the limit, he felt somewhat unwilling to accept it.
"Tang San, Soul Ring age is important, but what suits you is best."
Xiao Wu patted Tang San's shoulder in comfort.
These past few days, Tang San had mentioned Yu Cheng's Theory more than once. At the same time, he had kept feeling that his Second Soul Ring's age was too low. Xiao Wu's ears were practically growing calluses from hearing it.
Xiao Wu had also been greatly surprised after reading Yu Cheng's Theory.
However, she was a Soft Bone Rabbit in human form, and her body structure differed from that of ordinary Soul Masters.
Even if she consumed Whale Rubber, it would not greatly improve the strength of her meridians unless she absorbed some kind of heavenly treasure.
In a corner.
"A youthful genius..."
"A master of theory..."
"Those honors should have been mine!"
Yu Xiaogang stared fixedly at Yu Cheng and muttered under his breath.
At this moment, he was in rather poor condition.
His face was pale, his features haggard, his eyes hollow, and his beard looked as though it had gone at least ten days without being groomed.
If not for the fact that he was still decently dressed, others might have mistaken him for a beggar.
I have walked on thin ice all my life. Why are there always so many people targeting me?
Heavens, how can you be so unfair!
Could it be that I, Yu Xiaogang, am truly trash?
"Ah..."
Yu Xiaogang let out a long sigh.
Such was fate!
Dragging his exhausted body, he turned and left.
"Buddy, that guy looks just like a dog."
Yu Cheng caught sight of Yu Xiaogang's bedraggled figure and mocked him inwardly.
"I saw him."
Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng nodded slightly. His illusory spirit body floated silently above the Ash Box.
His gaze lingered on Yu Xiaogang for a moment before falling upon the cheering crowd, then slowly returning to the Ash Box.
"A viscount, huh!"
"Congratulations. In the future, you won't have to be chased around like a stray dog, like I was."
Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng chuckled softly.
Those words carried far too many complicated emotions.
There was relief, there was mockery...
Perhaps there was even a trace of envy that was difficult to detect.
He had squandered half his life, and his heart remained unwilling.
In Slaughter City, he had often imagined that one day he could break free from that cage and personally slaughter every one of his enemies.
But what he truly wanted was something that seemed ordinary, yet was also the most precious thing of all.
Freedom!
"Once the Ash Box is opened, my consciousness will dissipate. Live well in my stead. You may inherit other Ash Boxes in the future, but remember one thing..."
"In the end, you must walk your own path."
Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng spoke calmly.
Yu Cheng fell silent.
He knew this might be a final farewell in the truest sense.
The next moment, Yu Cheng suddenly sensed something.
Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng's illusory spirit body began to emit a gentle, pure light.
The light was not dazzling.
Instead, it carried a warmth like the winter sun.
His previously somewhat translucent face gradually became clear within that radiance.
Yu Cheng froze for a moment.
From the other's smile, he saw his own future self, high-spirited and full of vigor.
Even trapped in Slaughter City, he had never given up.
Unfortunately, he had encountered the Child of Destiny.
After all his calculations, he had lost by one move.
The next moment, the unwillingness in Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng's eyes gradually faded, turning into the relief of someone who had laid down every burden and found peace.
That gave Yu Cheng an insight.
Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng did not seem to be his "golden finger."
In some world, he had truly existed.
Only because he had died with powerful obsessions in his heart had he found Yu Cheng.
Once his wish was fulfilled, he could be freed.
"Buddy, go well," Yu Cheng said reluctantly.
Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng smiled faintly.
"My final wish has been fulfilled. Take care of yourself from here on..."
Before you continue