The Sea God Pavilion

Xiao Jin had always had a strong impression of Lu Lin—or, more accurately, a good impression of him.

He also knew that the boy had crossed the usual age limit to absorb a Soul Ring of over four hundred years as his First Soul Ring.

Although he couldn't figure out how Lu Lin had managed it with his Martial Soul and aptitude.

But his opinion was exactly the same as Liu Yanchi's had been back then.

That Lu Lin's potential was limited.

There was no other reason. Innate Soul Power and Martial Soul quality were the two most important things for a soul master.

And Lu Lin had neither going for him.

"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless soul masters" was just something people said.

Even though Lu Lin had created that fire lotus, which was practically a Self-Created Soul Skill, to make up for his lack of offensive abilities,

in Xiao Jin's view, it still wasn't nearly enough.

But when he saw the striking yellow and purple Soul Rings on Lu Lin,

his opinion began to waver.

How had this kid dared to absorb a Thousand Year Soul Ring as his second ring?

And he'd actually succeeded???

That completely defied common sense.

To be honest, Xiao Jin had been at Shrek for many years, and this was the first time he'd seen anything this absurd.

Xiao Jin tapped his fingers lightly on the desk and looked at the Green Lotus Martial Soul in Lu Lin's hand without a word.

The Pure Fire Green Lotus was jade-green and exquisite, with fiery red patterns appearing at the tips of its petals. This was the most original form of Lu Lin's Martial Soul.

At a glance, it didn't seem much different from before.

But on closer inspection, one could see that his Martial Soul looked clearer and more translucent, with wisps of pale golden light flowing across the lotus petals.

It really did seem as though the quality of his Martial Soul had been elevated.

Xiao Jin wore a thoughtful expression and remained silent.

Xiao Jin was one thing.

After all, he was a Soul Emperor and an adult. No matter how shocked he was inside, he wouldn't let it show on his face.

Qin He, naturally, couldn't do the same.

Watching the Soul Rings revolving around Lu Lin and the Martial Soul in his hand, he felt as though he were dreaming.

After a brief silence, he raised both hands and rubbed his eyes.

When he looked again, he could only accept reality—Lu Lin really hadn't lied to him. He was truly at level twenty-six.

Xiao Jin had been watching Lu Lin's expression the whole time.

Sure enough, he noticed that Lu Lin looked hesitant, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to. His thoughts stirred, and he asked,

"You seem to have something else to say?"

At that, Lu Lin put away his Martial Soul and said uncertainly,

"Yes, Teacher Xiao. I feel like... my Innate Soul Power might be at level ten now."

"But I can't be sure. I don't know if it's just my imagination."

???

At those words, Xiao Jin's eyelid twitched again.

What did he mean, level ten Innate Soul Power? Wasn't that Innate Full Soul Power?

Xiao Jin tapped his forehead lightly and immediately felt a headache coming on.

This kid really did know how to say the most shocking things.

Innate Soul Power, which represented a soul master's aptitude, was supposed to be fixed.

Though some rare treasures of heaven and earth could cleanse a soul master's body and raise their Innate Soul Power by a level or two after birth,

he had never heard of anyone raising their Innate Soul Power all the way to the maximum after birth.

Suppressing his shock, Xiao Jin took a blue crystal ball for testing Innate Soul Power from his Storage Soul Tool.

"Lu Lin, put your hand on it and let's test again."

Lu Lin did as he was told.

He reached out and lightly touched the surface of the crystal ball.

The next moment, the crystal ball suddenly burst into brilliant blue light.

Soft blue radiance filled the entire crystal ball, shining brightly without leaving even the tiniest gap.

It really was Innate Full Soul Power!

When Xiao Jin saw the result, he drew in a sharp breath.

This was simply too unbelievable.

Beside him, Xiao He was utterly stunned.

He had seen it with his own eyes at the entrance examination: Lu Lin's Innate Soul Power had only been level four.

"So you're saying that after absorbing a Thousand Year Soul Ring, not only did your Martial Soul evolve, but your Innate Soul Power also rose from level four to Innate Full Soul Power?"

There was something strangely off about Xiao Jin's voice.

This kid was just too bizarre.

Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that there wasn't a single honest word in his mouth.

Xiao Jin believed Lu Lin when he said that absorbing a Thousand Year Soul Ring beyond his limits had caused his Martial Soul to show signs of evolving.

But for his Innate Soul Power to go from level four to Innate Full Soul Power after absorbing a Thousand Year Soul Ring—

that completely overturned everything Xiao Jin knew.

Xiao Jin was certain that Lu Lin had stumbled upon some kind of extraordinary opportunity, but it was clear he didn't want to talk about it.

For a moment, Xiao Jin didn't know what to do with Lu Lin, and could only fall silent.

"Actually, it wasn't level four. It was level five."

Lu Lin seemed not to notice anything strange in Xiao Jin's words and continued on his own.

"Teacher Xiao, you should know that one of the Recommendation Letters in my application came from the Blacksmith Association."

"The Blacksmith Association gave me a Mysterious Water Pill."

"It raised my Innate Soul Power from level four to level five, and my Soul Power reached level twenty as well."

A Mysterious Water Pill?

Xiao Jin's eyes flickered at Lu Lin's words.

That did explain how Lu Lin's Soul Power had jumped three levels in less than a month since the start of the school year.

But it didn't explain how Lu Lin had suddenly become an Innate Full Soul Power talent.

Lu Lin, however, looked perfectly calm.

If he wanted to grow stronger quickly and gain the strength to take revenge in the future,

he naturally had to show some of his value and get the academy to take him seriously.

Besides, there was no way to hide his Soul Rings or Soul Power Level.

So he might as well be honest with Xiao Jin.

But the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes were his trump card as a disciple of the Body Sect, something that could change the sect's future.

And he had already promised Si Yuan Ye, so he couldn't tell Shrek.

He could only attribute the changes to his Martial Soul's evolution.

Lu Lin knew this explanation didn't hold up.

But the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes were only a legend, and had not appeared in nine thousand years.

As long as he kept quiet, no one could possibly connect that far-fetched legend to him.

Even if they didn't fully believe Lu Lin's explanation,

at most, they would assume he'd had some kind of extraordinary opportunity but was hiding it for some reason.

As far as Shrek Academy's higher-ups were concerned, there was nothing wrong with that.

After all, Shrek Academy wasn't some evil organization.

As long as the matter didn't cross a line or violate any principles—for example, if Lu Lin became an Evil Soul Master and endangered the continent's ordinary people—

Shrek would most likely turn a blind eye rather than press Lu Lin relentlessly.

Xiao Jin had no idea that Lu Lin had so many twists and turns in his mind.

After pondering for a while,

Xiao Jin waved a weary hand and told Lu Lin and Qin He to leave first.

After the two had gone, he let out a long breath.

He rubbed the corner of his eye without thinking, his expression troubled and uncertain.

After a long while, Xiao Jin let out a silent sigh.

He straightened up and prepared to leave the office for the Sea God Pavilion.

An issue this serious was better left to the old-timers in the Sea God Pavilion to worry about.

Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.

In a quiet wooden building, light streamed through carved window lattices and fell across an antique tea table.

An old man in a gray robe lay with his eyes closed on a wooden recliner, seeming to be asleep.

Beside him, Xiao Jin recounted Lu Lin's situation in full.

The old man listened quietly. Then he opened his cloudy eyes and took out a letter.

The seal on the letter bore the Claw Emblem of the Inspection Team. It was one of the three Recommendation Letters for Lu Lin's entrance examination, from about two months earlier.

"Xiao Jin, do you know anything about this child's background?"

His background?

At that, Xiao Jin shook his head.

He had looked through Lu Lin's file, but all he knew was Lu Lin's Innate Soul Power, Martial Soul, and the like.

The gray-robed old man sighed.

"Our entire academy owes this child a great debt."