Spirit Master Holy Land, Spirit City

It had been three months since Qin Ming left Suotuo City, and the merchant caravan he had joined was finally about to reach Spirit City.

Over those three months, they had encountered several bands of bandits. However, this caravan belonged to Suotuo City's City Lord's Mansion and represented the official authority of the Balak Kingdom.

Several Soul Ancestors were stationed with the caravan as well, so Qin Ming never needed to intervene. There had been a few minor twists along the way, but overall, the journey had been peaceful.

"Everyone, Spirit City is in sight!" someone in the caravan shouted, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

After all, Spirit Masters could endure a three-month journey well enough, but ordinary people had truly suffered.

Qin Ming looked up and saw a hexagonal city ahead. The entire city had been built against the mountain, and from afar, it seemed shrouded in a layer of holy light.

Spirit City's first impression on Qin Ming was one of magnificence and grandeur. Suotuo City was the second-largest city in the Balak Kingdom and already renowned across the continent, but compared to the Spirit City before him, it could only be called a small town.

Once they neared Spirit City, Qin Ming left the caravan and headed alone to the city gates.

The eighty-zhang-high walls were built entirely from pure white Holy Light Stone. Directly above the gates stood a towering stone statue of a Six-Winged Angel, suspended in the air. Its golden wings gleamed with cold light, as though it were overlooking every person entering the city.

As expected of Spirit City. As the Angel God's stronghold on Douluo Continent, its atmosphere of faith was indeed dense, Qin Ming silently evaluated.

"Please present your travel credentials." At the gates, a knight clad in golden armor stopped Qin Ming. Judging from the powerful Soul Power fluctuations emanating from him, Qin Ming estimated that he was at least a Soul Emperor-level Spirit Master.

As expected of Spirit City. Even a gate guard was a high-level Spirit Master, Qin Ming sighed inwardly.

"Brother Guard, I came from the Balak Kingdom to study at Spirit Hall Academy in Spirit City. This is a Recommendation Letter from Bishop Charlton of the Suotuo City Martial Soul Main Hall." Qin Ming took out two letters from his Storage Soul Tool. One was the Recommendation Letter Charlton had written for him, while the other was a reply from the Pope Palace.

When the golden-armored knight saw the envelope bearing the Angel insignia, he understood that Qin Ming was a genius who had come to further his studies at Spirit Hall Academy. He immediately greeted him with a smile.

"Don't be nervous, little brother. I'll have someone take you to Spirit Hall Academy right away."

"Xiao Wang, come here for a moment." The golden-armored guard waved toward the inside of the city gate, and a soldier in silver armor ran over.

"Brother Qiang, did you call me?"

"Help take this little brother to Spirit Hall Academy. No problem, right?" The golden-armored guard pointed at Qin Ming and asked the soldier.

"Sure, no problem." The soldier grinned and agreed at once.

"Little brother, follow me."

"Alright." Qin Ming nodded.

After following the soldier through the city gates, Qin Ming saw a straight White Jade Main Imperial Road running across the entire city, leading directly to the Holy Mountain at its center.

Qin Ming noticed that nearly everyone walking through Spirit City gave off Soul Power fluctuations to varying degrees. Even the Soul Power dispersed in the air was several times denser than in Suotuo City.

No wonder it was the holy land of Spirit Masters. Cultivating here would probably yield twice the result with half the effort.

"So, little brother, do you feel what makes Spirit City different?" The soldier leading the way turned around and smiled at Qin Ming.

"Yes. The people on the streets should all be Spirit Masters, right? Back in my hometown, Spirit Masters were rarely seen," Qin Ming replied.

"Haha, of course. After all, Spirit City has the most Spirit Masters on the entire continent."

"You're still so young, little brother, yet you've already broken through to the Twentieth Level and come to Spirit City. Your future achievements will probably be immeasurable." The soldier marveled at Qin Ming's age, with a trace of barely noticeable envy in his tone.

Qin Ming merely chuckled and did not offer much of a response.

Spirit Hall Academy was located in the center of the city, at the foot of the Holy Mountain.

Qin Ming raised his head and gazed at the towering mountain shrouded in holy light. The palace complex halfway up the mountain, covered in gilded gold and white jade, was especially eye-catching.

"That is the Pope Palace, the core of all Spirit Hall and the residence of His Holiness the Pope." The soldier followed Qin Ming's gaze and enthusiastically explained.

"And behind and slightly to the right of the Pope Palace is that gray palace, the Douluo Palace. It holds the remains of many Title Douluos. None but Title Douluos may enter. It is the symbol of the pinnacle of Spirit Masters across the continent!" The soldier's voice was excited, and his eyes burned with fervor.

Qin Ming nodded, then looked toward the highest peak of the Holy Mountain. Clouds and mist curled around the summit, and golden light spread everywhere. Within that glow, only a corner of a gilded palace could be seen.

"That atop the mountain is the Worship Hall, surrounded by holy light all year round. From the foot of the mountain, we cannot glimpse its full appearance."

"It is the place where the Angel God is worshipped, as well as the residence of the former Pope—one of the two great peaks of the Spirit Master world, the ninety-ninth-level Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu."

"I heard that all the worshippers who may enter the Worship Hall are Title Douluos of at least the ninety-sixth level. It is a forbidden place that no one dares disturb."

"These are the Holy Mountain's famous three great halls."

Qin Ming said nothing, simply staring at the golden light atop the mountain. That was where Spirit Hall's true foundation lay, where the Angel God's inheritance and many worshippers were hidden.

When he had read the original story in his previous life, he had always wondered how Spirit Hall could have begun with so many good cards in hand, only to be overturned by the Heaven Dou Empire in the end.

Since he had chosen to join Spirit Hall's side, he naturally could not allow events to develop as they had in the original story. But for now, his priority was to increase his strength. Only with strength could he gain more say within Spirit Hall.

"Little brother, we're here." Before long, the two arrived at the entrance of Spirit Hall Academy.

It was a gate dominated by pure white and dark gold. The gilded plaque above bore the five large characters, "Spirit Hall Academy," and looked solemn and imposing.

"Brother Soldier, thank you."

"It's nothing, little brother. I'll be going now. Good luck!" The soldier waved to Qin Ming.

After bidding farewell to the soldier who had led him here, Qin Ming walked up to the gates of Spirit Hall Academy.

The two guards at the entrance both wore standard Spirit Hall robes, and neither had weak Soul Power fluctuations around him.

Qin Ming steadied himself, then slowly stepped forward and gave the two guards a slight bow. "Junior Qin Ming, from the Suotuo City Martial Soul Main Hall, has come to study at Spirit Hall Academy under arrangements from the Pope Palace."

As he spoke, he handed them the envelope bearing the Pope Palace's seal.

The two accepted the letter without showing any surprise, as though this was an ordinary occurrence to them.

After inspecting it, they found no issues.

"Student Qin, right? Come with me. I'll take you to see Principal Ling Yuan."