Flaunting His Status

"Senior Sister, I'm a little nervous."

After three years of training, Tang San had grown taller than others his age and had become quieter and more composed.

But none of that composure remained when he was in front of Tang Ling.

Outside the Spirit Hall branch in Barak City, the boy, now slightly taller than Tang Ling, rested his head against her shoulder and whined softly.

He paid no attention whatsoever to the dumbfounded Xue Qingxi and Xue He beside them, nor to the people whispering among themselves nearby.

"It's okay. A-Xuan will definitely have a very powerful martial soul." Tang Ling looked at the head on her shoulder, sighed helplessly, and patted his head.

Then she lightly pushed the person who had no intention of moving away. "So many people are watching, and you're still clinging to me. Do you still think you're a child?"

"With Senior Sister, I am a child!" Tang San refused to budge and continued acting spoiled.

Then he raised his head and looked at her accusingly. "And you're blaming me, Senior Sister? It's obviously your fault! Tell me, how long has it been since we last met?"

"Only three days. Why do you make it sound like three years?" Tang Ling sighed as if helpless, then put on a regretful expression. "Since that's how it is, I guess the things I specially brought back can only be thrown into storage."

"What did Senior Sister bring back?" Tang San immediately forgot about complaining and quickly leaned closer, staring at Tang Ling with an obedient expression.

Tang Ling watched him play cute, chuckled, pinched his cheek, and handed him a small box.

Tang San hurriedly took it, secretly cracked it open for a glance, then excitedly shut it and tucked it into his clothes.

"So whose fault is it now?" After coaxing him, Tang Ling shot him a proud glare.

"My fault. I shouldn't have made a fuss at Senior Sister." Tang San wore an obedient smile as he moved over to massage her shoulders. "But Senior Sister promised to take me with you wherever you go."

Tang Ling sighed helplessly. She had expected this when she left without him. Unfortunately, it had already been the middle of the night when she returned home yesterday, and he had gone to sleep. Otherwise, he would not have made such a scene here today.

"Fine, I'll listen to you." Tang Ling raised a hand and patted the hand resting on her shoulder, indulging him. Having gotten the response he wanted, Tang San happily continued massaging her shoulders.

Then, where Tang Ling could not see, he smugly swept his gaze around the surroundings.

Did they think he knew nothing just because he rarely left the manor? As Senior Sister's cooperation with the king advanced rapidly, countless people throughout Barak City had begun currying favor with her.

That was precisely why Tang San had made a scene with her in public. He wanted to flaunt his status.

"Creak—"

The doors of the Spirit Hall branch opened from within, and a tall, thin middle-aged man walked out.

"Everyone, the martial soul awakening ceremony is beginning. Please line up and enter." The man spoke gently, though his expression was serious as he looked at the crowd waiting outside.

He then turned and walked into the hall.

Following closely behind him were Third Prince Xue Qingxi and Fourth Prince Xue Luan.

Once they had entered, everyone else looked at one another, but no one moved.

"Little Xue He, go wait in the carriage. We'll be out soon."

Tang Ling swept her gaze over the people still hesitating, then smiled and spoke to Xue He, who was waiting to the side and was less than a year younger than her. She then took Tang San's hand and walked inside.

Seeing this, the other nobles exchanged a few polite courtesies before entering one after another.

"Hello, everyone. Let me introduce myself first. I am Kong Fan, a Soul Master stationed at Spirit Hall in Barak City. I will be presiding over your martial soul awakening next."

Kong Fan spoke with a stern face and a rigid manner. He then picked up the register and began calling names under everyone's watchful eyes.

"Third Prince, Xue Qingxi." Kong Fan read the first name on the register.

Xue Qingxi answered with a grin, then strode forward and stood within the six-pointed star formed by six black stones under Kong Fan's instructions.

"Green Bamboo!" Once he was in position, Kong Fan swiftly summoned his martial soul. Three Spirit Rings, white, yellow, and yellow, descended in sequence, while a stalk of green bamboo appeared in his raised right hand.

He walked to the edge of the six-pointed star and poured Soul Power into the stones. The stones instantly emitted a yellow glow that enveloped Xue Qingxi.

When the light faded, Xue Qingxi's short golden hair had become long gray hair, feathers had grown behind his ears, and an enormous phantom hovered behind his back. His body itself was slightly suspended in the air.

"Xue Qingxi, martial soul: Gyrfalcon." Kong Fan looked him over with some surprise before quickly regaining his composure. "Come over here and test your Innate Soul Power."

Upon learning that his martial soul was the same as his royal father's, Xue Qingxi immediately broke into a brilliant smile and quickly followed Kong Fan to the table nearby.

A blue crystal ball sat on the table. Following the instructions, Xue Qingxi placed his hand on it, and the crystal ball instantly gave off a dazzling light.

"Xue Qingxi, martial soul: Gyrfalcon. Innate Soul Power: Level Nine." Kong Fan glanced at the result and announced it loudly.

The person standing at the back, who had remained silent all this time, quickly recorded the information.

Hearing this, Xue Qingxi smugly raised his brows at Tang San before walking aside to wait.

"Fourth Prince, Xue Luan." Kong Fan called out another name from the register, repeated the process from before, and announced the result.

"Xue Luan, martial soul: Barn Owl. Innate Soul Power: Level Seven."

Xue Luan looked rather gloomy after receiving his result. However, when he passed Tang Ling, he pursed his lips and gave her a sweet, obedient smile.

Tang Ling politely nodded and smiled in return, then quickly turned away and let her smile fade. Tang San stood behind her, secretly curling his lip at Xue Luan's behavior.

"Princess Chloe, Tang Ling." Holding the register, Kong Fan slowly read out the third name under everyone's watchful eyes.

The nobles who had gotten their answer silently raised their estimation of Princess Chloe. The register had been sent over by the royal family, so naturally, the more favored one was by the royal family, the higher their name would be placed.

"Why does this sword look so much like the legendary Ice Phoenix Sword?" Looking at the layer of ice spreading across the floor, Kong Fan carefully approached and examined Tang Ling's martial soul.

"Yes. It is Ice Phoenix." Tang Ling gripped the hilt, swung the sword twice, and then spoke to Kong Fan.

Kong Fan's gaze followed her martial soul up and down. Only after it was withdrawn did he look away and lead her to test her Soul Power.

"Tang Ling, martial soul: Ice Phoenix Sword. Innate Full Soul Power!" Kong Fan stared at the blue crystal ball, his face filled with excitement as he looked at Tang Ling. Then, realizing she could not join Spirit Hall, he restrained his expression.

Tang Ling ignored the change in him. Facing the burning gazes below the platform, she turned and walked toward Tang San.

"Don't be afraid." Tang Ling patted Tang San's left hand, then stepped two paces aside.

"Chloe Princess Manor, Tang Xuan." Kong Fan regained his calm and continued calling names.

Hearing the prefix before his name, Tang San raised the corner of his mouth slightly and quickly stepped forward. Since he already knew his martial souls, all he cared about now was his Soul Power.

"Tang Xuan, martial soul: Faceless Plate." Kong Fan looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar golden disk before him and spoke with some regret.

He was just about to withdraw the formation when he spotted the short blade in Tang San's other hand and widened his eyes in surprise.

"Child, do you know what your other martial soul is called?" Kong Fan tried hard to restrain his excited expression as he asked in an agitated tone.

"I do. It's called Fingertip Blade." Tang San held the sharp short blade between two fingers.

"Good, good! Hurry and test your Soul Power!" Kong Fan immediately pulled him over to test it.

Just moments ago, he had thought this youth from the Princess Manor was an unfortunate child with a useless martial soul. Who would have thought that he possessed Twin Martial Souls? Moreover, they were mutated martial souls that he had only seen similar versions of before, never identical ones.

"Tang Xuan, martial soul: Faceless Plate. Martial soul: Fingertip Blade. Innate Full Soul Power!" Kong Fan's excited voice cracked.

He bent down and grabbed Tang San's arm, staring at him with fanaticism. "Child, would you like to join Spirit Hall? Spirit Hall can provide you with better resources and—"

Before he could finish, Tang Ling walked over and pinched an acupoint on Kong Fan's hand, forcing him to release Tang San.

"Thanks, but Tang Xuan belongs to my Princess Manor. There's no need to trouble Spirit Hall." Tang Ling looked down at him slightly, her eyes full of coldness.

She then pulled Tang San toward the door.

Xue Qingxi, who had been shocked again and again, watched their backs as they left one after the other and quickly followed them.

The moment the three of them walked out of Spirit Hall, a clamor erupted.

And in the corner, the only one neither cheering nor discussing anything was Xue Luan, his face dark and gloomy.