The father and son arrived at the Spirit Pagoda shortly after its doors had opened.
They entered the lobby, a spacious and brightly lit reception hall.
The ceiling soared dozens of meters overhead, and enormous Soul Tool Screens were embedded in the walls on all four sides, displaying a constant stream of information about various Soul Spirits.
Several people were already waiting in line, most of them parents with children.
Wang Heng led his son straight to the front desk.
A Spirit Transmitter in a gray robe stood behind it. He looked to be in his thirties and had delicate features.
He looked up at the father and son. His gaze swept over Wang Heng, then shifted to Wang Zhi, whose calm bearing caught his eye. His expression immediately softened.
"Hello. How may I help you?"
The Spirit Transmitter spoke politely.
Wang Heng took a badge from his robes and handed it over.
It was the badge of a Five Ring Soul King, engraved with the markings denoting his rank.
The Spirit Transmitter accepted it and inspected it carefully. His expression grew even more respectful.
He returned the badge with both hands and bowed slightly.
"So a Soul King honors us with his presence. My apologies for not recognizing you."
"May I ask who this is...?"
"My son. He's here to choose a Soul Spirit today."
Wang Heng waved a hand, his tone bold and confident.
"Bring me the information on all your best Hundred Year Spirits."
Seeing Wang Heng's nouveau riche manner, Wang Zhi could only sigh helplessly.
To be honest, he found it all rather embarrassing.
But perhaps it was because strength was revered above all else on Douluo Continent, or perhaps this was simply the way of things here. The Spirit Transmitter before him grew even more deferential.
His tone grew warmer, and a perfectly measured smile appeared on his face.
"Certainly. Please wait a moment."
"You can wait in the lounge over there while I compile the information for you."
He gestured toward a passageway on one side of the lobby.
Wang Heng nodded and led his son toward the lounge.
Every Spirit Pagoda had its share of unwritten rules.
This was especially true for families who brought their children to choose a Soul Spirit.
If the parents were ordinary people, dressed plainly and carrying themselves like ordinary people, the Spirit Transmitters were usually either arrogant or indifferent toward them.
They knew that such families couldn't afford good Soul Spirits and could only buy the worst, lowest-quality rejects.
And the quality of a Soul Spirit determined a person's future.
They didn't have to worry about some rags-to-riches reversal.
Children from ordinary families had already lost at the starting line.
But someone like Wang Zhi, whose father was a Five Ring Soul King, was treated differently.
He got a private lounge instead of having to wait in line in the lobby.
A Spirit Transmitter would also explain the differences between various Soul Spirits in a gentle voice and tell him how each one would affect a Soul Master.
That was reality.
The lounge wasn't large, but it was tastefully furnished.
There was a soft sofa, an elegant coffee table, and several paintings of Soul Beasts on the walls.
A few potted plants sat by the window, bringing a touch of life to the room.
The father and son had barely sat down when an attendant knocked and came in, bringing them two cups of hot tea.
The fragrance of tea curled through the air.
A short while later, the Spirit Transmitter knocked and entered, carrying a Soul Tool Tablet.
He sat on the sofa opposite them, his manner respectful.
"Your Highness, Young Master, before I select a Soul Spirit for you, I'll need to learn about the Young Master's Martial Soul."
"Different Martial Souls are suited to different Soul Spirits. Choosing the right one will help him get the most out of it."
Wang Heng looked at his son.
Wang Zhi nodded and spoke.
"My Martial Soul is Summoning Style."
He said no more, offering no specific explanation of his Martial Soul's form.
Summoning Style?
The Spirit Transmitter paused in surprise, then nodded.
Summoning Style Martial Souls were indeed rare, but not unheard of.
Soul Masters with this kind of Martial Soul usually chose support or amplification Soul Spirits, with the aim of strengthening their summoned creatures.
"Understood."
"Please wait a moment while I select some suitable Soul Spirits for you."
The Spirit Transmitter stood, bowed slightly, and left the lounge.
The door closed.
The lounge fell quiet.
Wang Heng looked at his son, his gaze settling on Wang Zhi's face as he pondered.
When Wang Zhi had said "is Summoning Style" earlier, his tone had been casual, but he'd said "is," not "might be" or "should be."
That meant...
Wang Heng's eyes suddenly lit up. He sat up straight, his voice brimming with excitement.
"Xiao Zhi, does that mean...?!"
Wang Zhi nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"Dad, my Martial Soul underwent a Secondary Mutation last night."
"Now I'm a Summoning Style Soul Master too, just like you."
He didn't say much, but those words were enough.
Wang Heng froze for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.
"Good! Good! Wonderful!"
"Just as I'd expect from my son!"
His laughter echoed through the lounge, filled with unrestrained joy.
But as he laughed, his eyes grew slightly red.
Heaven knew how miserable he'd felt over the last three years.
He'd watched Wang Zhi grow increasingly withdrawn, and it had felt like a stone weighing on his heart.
After all, Wang Zhi was only nine years old, the age when a boy should be full of youthful energy and love to play.
Yet because of his Martial Soul, he'd grown taciturn and stopped talking much. He hardly ever played with the other children his age.
Although Wang Zhi had always been more mature than his peers, Wang Heng couldn't help imagining the worst.
Now, at last, he could relax.
A Secondary Mutation of his Martial Soul, and one for the better.
What could make him happier than that?
Of course, if Wang Zhi knew that was how Wang Heng saw him, he'd have plenty to grumble about internally.
His quietness had nothing whatsoever to do with his Martial Soul.
It was simply that his soul belonged to an adult, and his mental age was in his twenties. He had nothing to talk about with a bunch of little kids.
A short while later, there was a knock at the door.
The Spirit Transmitter came in, still carrying the Soul Tool Tablet, but this time it was displaying information.
He sat on the sofa, set the tablet on the coffee table, and gently swiped across the screen.
"Your Highness, Young Master, based on the Young Master's Martial Soul, I've selected three of the most suitable Hundred Year Spirits for you."
"Please take a look."
He turned the tablet toward the father and son.
Information on the first Soul Spirit appeared on the screen.
"The first option is a Hundred Year Phantom Butterfly."
"A Mental Attribute Soul Beast that excels at creating illusions and distracting enemies."
"If the Young Master fuses with this Soul Spirit, he can gain a Phantom Skill, and his Spiritual Power will also increase to some extent."
He paused and swiped across the screen.
"The second option is a Hundred Year Shadow Cat."
"An agility-type Soul Beast that excels at stealth and surprise attacks."
"If the Young Master fuses with this Soul Spirit, he can gain a Stealth Skill, and his speed will increase considerably."
He swiped again.
"The third option is a Hundred Year Netherlight Grass."
"A Spirit Attribute Plant Type Soul Beast. It's extremely rare."
"Its strength lies in its ability to continually nourish Spiritual Power, which can greatly aid its growth over time."
"If the Young Master fuses with this Soul Spirit, he can gain a Spirit Amplification Skill, and the rate at which his Spiritual Power grows will increase slightly."
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