Ma Xiunuo's gaze fell on Wang Xian, and he could not help looking somewhat surprised. "Are you sure this child is here for an advancement assessment, not a martial soul awakening?"
"Of course I'm sure. I just saw his Soul Ring—it was yellow." Su Yuntao's tone was certain.
Ma Xiunuo adjusted his glasses and carefully examined Wang Xian for a few moments before smiling and beckoning. "Come here, child."
Wang Xian stepped forward and politely called out, "Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo."
Ma Xiunuo rose to his feet and took Wang Xian's hand. "Come, I'll take you for your advancement assessment."
He led Wang Xian out of the office and along the second-floor corridor toward the inner area of Spirit Hall.
At the end of the corridor stood three tall arched doors side by side.
Ma Xiunuo pushed open the middle door. Inside was a spacious room, its floor covered in intricate patterns that resembled some kind of formation.
"This is Spirit Hall's Martial Soul Laboratory for advancement assessments." Ma Xiunuo smiled. "Come, child. Summon your martial soul and release your Soul Ring."
Wang Xian walked to the center of the room and stood still, raising his right hand as he calmed his mind.
Azure-green light poured from his palm as strands of Blue Silver Grass stretched out one after another, swaying gently before him.
At the same time, a yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, pulsing up and down around his body and giving off a warm glow.
Ma Xiunuo had worn a gentle smile, but when he saw the Blue Silver Grass emerging from Wang Xian's palm, his expression turned to astonishment.
"Th-This... is Blue Silver Grass?"
"My Blue Silver Grass has mutated," Wang Xian explained.
"I see." Ma Xiunuo nodded.
He took out a fist-sized crystal ball from a nearby cabinet and walked over to Wang Xian. "Come, place your hand on it. Let's test your Soul Power Level."
Wang Xian controlled his Soul Power and slowly fed it into the crystal ball, releasing only strength equivalent to around level eleven.
The crystal ball lit up with a faint yellow light. It was not dazzling, but it was clear enough.
Ma Xiunuo stared at the crystal ball for two seconds, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. "Level eleven Soul Power. Not bad. How old are you this year?"
"Seven and a half."
"A Soul Master at seven and a half is quite rare in Notting City. Even in Heaven Dou City, you wouldn't be considered poor."
Ma Xiunuo put away the crystal ball and wrote a few strokes on a form on the table.
Then he took a round metal badge from a drawer and handed it over.
"Alright, your advancement assessment is complete."
"From now on, you are an honored Soul Master of the Heaven Dou Empire. Welcome to the ranks of Soul Masters."
Wang Xian accepted the badge with both hands and turned it over to inspect it. His name was engraved on the back, while the front bore two crossed thorns, symbolizing a Soul Master's rank.
The badge was made of some unusual material. He could not tell what metal it was, but it felt heavy in his hand and had an excellent texture.
"From now on, you can use this badge to collect a monthly stipend from Spirit Hall. A Soul Master's stipend is one Gold Soul Coin per month."
"Once you reach the Soul Grandmaster rank, the stipend will become ten Gold Soul Coins." Ma Xiunuo explained patiently.
"Thank you, Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo." Wang Xian carefully tucked the badge into his clothes.
Ma Xiunuo waved his hand and said with a chuckle, "Go on. Cultivate well. You still have a long road ahead of you."
Wang Xian thanked him, then turned and left the laboratory.
Su Yuntao was still waiting outside. When he saw Wang Xian emerge, he patted him on the shoulder. He did not say much, merely telling him, "Keep it up," before hurrying back to find that female Soul Master.
Wang Xian went downstairs alone and walked out through Spirit Hall's main entrance.
The sunlight outside was brighter than when he had entered, warming his body.
He stood on the steps, took out the badge from his clothes for another look, then put it away and headed toward the city gate.
His business in Notting City was finally complete.
After buying some dried provisions in the city, Wang Xian headed out of Notting City.
Heaven Dou City, the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, lay slightly northeast of the empire's center.
It was both the heart of political power for the entire Heaven Dou Empire and one of the two largest cities on the continent.
On Douluo Continent, only the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire could compare to it.
Farnos Province lay in the northwest of the Heaven Dou Empire, while Heaven Dou City was located slightly northeast of the empire's center. The two places were practically at opposite ends, so the distance between them was naturally considerable.
Farnos Province was in the northwest of the Heaven Dou Empire, while Heaven Dou City lay slightly northeast of the empire's center. The two locations were practically at opposite ends.
Wang Xian barely rested along the way. He traveled during the day, found somewhere to sleep for a few hours at night, and set off again before dawn.
Even so, it took him a full seven days to reach Heaven Dou City.
When he spotted those towering city walls from afar, Wang Xian finally let out a long breath.
Heaven Dou City's walls were taller than any structure he had ever seen. The grayish-white stone bricks were laid out in perfect order, and arrow towers stood at intervals along the walls, giving them an imposing presence.
The city gates stood wide open as carriages, horses, and pedestrians streamed in and out. It was bustling beyond comparison with Notting City.
Wang Xian entered the city with the crowd. The stone-paved streets beneath his feet were smooth and broad, while shops lined both sides in neat rows, their signs advertising every imaginable kind of merchandise.
The people on the streets were also dressed far more elegantly than those in Notting City. Every now and then, he saw a few people in Soul Master attire passing through the crowd, badges of different ranks pinned to their chests.
He had chosen to attend an intermediate academy in Heaven Dou City for two reasons.
The first reason was simple. This was the empire's capital, where many exceptionally gifted Soul Masters gathered.
The higher the quality of a martial soul, the more Cultivation Points he could obtain.
In a small place like Notting City, encountering a D-Rank Martial Soul was already a blessing, but things should be much better in Heaven Dou City.
The second reason was Dugu Yan.
Or, more precisely, the person behind her—Title Douluo Dugu Bo.
Having transmigrated to Douluo Continent, the one thing he absolutely could not pass up was Immortal Herbs. They were truly items capable of defying fate and changing one's life.
Aside from Tang San, none of the Shrek Seven Devils had possessed the potential to become gods. Only after taking Immortal Herbs had they been forcibly elevated to the level of second-class gods.
If he could obtain a few plants as well, his strength would undoubtedly rise to another level.
But he was not Tang San. He had neither the Tang Sect's poison arts nor the ability to help Dugu Bo cure his poison.
Therefore, he could not simply seek him out directly as in the original story. He had to make arrangements in advance, starting with Dugu Yan and gradually making contact with Dugu Bo.
Otherwise, the Immortal Herbs would be taken away for nothing by Tang San and the others, while Tang San would gain the support of another Title Douluo. That would not be good for his revenge.
I can only start by making contact with Dugu Yan, Wang Xian calculated as he walked.
As for curing poison, perhaps I might not be completely without a solution... Could I possibly obtain a trait that can help others cure poison?
Before you continue