You're Called Mu Qian?

Mu Qian had a fairly favorable impression of Spirit Hall.

At the very least, it gave everyone on the continent the opportunity to become strong.

That alone put it far beyond the imperial families of the Two Great Empires.

And judging by what had happened in Guja City, Spirit Hall unifying the continent might not be a bad thing.

"Stop! This is the Spirit Hall branch in Star Luo City. You can't just barge in."

As soon as Mu Qian reached the entrance, two rows of soldiers in golden armor stopped him. Their bright-gold helmets were topped with two pure-white angel wings.

The guards gave off strong Soul Power fluctuations. They eyed Mu Qian warily and didn't look down on him because of his age.

Mu Qian carefully sensed the Soul Power fluctuations around them. They were all above the Soul Elder level, and at least had the strength of Soul Ancestors.

As expected of one of the two major Martial Soul Branch Halls. Even the guards at the entrance had considerable strength.

"Hello. I'm here to have my Martial Soul assessed. Could you let someone know I'm here?"

Mu Qian was humble and polite. He didn't act arrogantly just because he was stronger than them.

"So that's what it is. Go on in, then. Find Mr. Sanchez in the hall at the far east end of the first floor. He's in charge of Martial Soul assessments at our branch."

The soldiers took in Mu Qian's plain clothes, his good manners, and his young age, and didn't give him any trouble.

After all, they were commoners themselves. Otherwise, they wouldn't be working as guards here.

Of course, even being a mere guard was enough to make them proud for the rest of their lives.

"Thank you," Mu Qian replied, then entered Spirit Hall under their watchful eyes.

As he stepped inside and looked up at the impossibly high ceiling, an imposing grandeur washed over him.

All around the hall, the walls were carved with various murals. The place was grand and solemn, at once resplendent and steeped in an old-world elegance.

The hall was very quiet—so quiet he couldn't hear a single clamorous sound. It felt sacred and untouchable.

Mu Qian's presence drew no attention from the people coming and going. Everyone went about their business in orderly fashion.

He privately compared it to the Divine Temple he had seen in the Far North.

Even though he had never entered the main hall of the Divine Temple, Mu Qian was certain the two places were in no way comparable.

That wasn't to say this place was bad, of course.

At the very least, it made him feel at ease.

Night fell, and brilliant lights bathed the entire hall in a golden glow.

Mu Qian made a few inquiries at the front desk and, following the directions he was given, soon arrived outside a spacious office.

"Mr. Sanchez, this child is here for a Martial Soul assessment. Sorry for the trouble."

The office door was open. The attendant knocked out of habit and explained the reason for their visit, clearly having done this many times before.

Mu Qian looked into the office. It was spacious, with an old-fashioned desk and an open area where a Soul Power crystal sat in the center.

An old man in a white robe sat behind the desk. He looked nearly seventy, and the Soul Power emanating from him was extremely strong.

Mu Qian didn't probe him with Spiritual Power, but he was certain the man was at least a Spirit King—and might even have reached the Spirit Emperor level.

"Mr. Sanchez, my name is Mu Qian. I'm ten years old, and I just obtained my First Soul Ring. I came here to register." Mu Qian was neither servile nor overbearing, and gave no hint of what he was thinking.

Sanchez nodded. "You only obtained your First Soul Ring at ten? Four years, then. Your talent seems average."

At Mu Qian's words, Sanchez's enthusiasm diminished considerably, though he didn't show any disdain.

It was his job. After all these years, what kind of Spirit Master hadn't he seen?

But when he heard the name "Mu Qian," he suddenly froze. "Mu Qian? You said your name is Mu Qian?"

Mu Qian was a little puzzled. Was he famous?

Or did the old man know someone else with the same name?

As for the man knowing him personally, Mu Qian simply couldn't believe that.

He had lived in the Extreme North Core for years, and this was his first time in the outside world. There was no way he'd ever crossed paths with this old man.

Meanwhile, Sanchez's mind had drifted back into the past.

Four years ago, the Elder Hall in Spirit City suddenly issued an Elder Token, instructing every branch to keep an eye out for a child. If I remember right, the name was... Mu Qian?

Sanchez wondered to himself, But would the Elder Hall really issue an Elder Token over a child who only obtained his First Soul Ring at ten?

The more Sanchez looked at Mu Qian, the less likely it seemed. Maybe he just has the same name. Never mind. I'll report it anyway. The name matches, and even if I get no credit, at least I won't have made a mistake.

At that thought, Sanchez shook his head. "Come on, kid. Show me your Martial Soul and Soul Ring."

Mu Qian nodded. A faint Soul Power fluctuation appeared in the room, and behind him materialized a shadowy wolf-shaped figure.

At the same time, a milky-white Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet. Sanchez frowned at the sight.

"Martial Soul: Lone Wolf. Soul Power Level: eleven. White Ten-Year Soul Ring. All right, have the attendant help you with the paperwork."

With that, Sanchez lost interest.

Mu Qian chuckled to himself. Sorry, Brother Tao. I'm borrowing your Martial Soul.

In truth, what Sanchez saw was nothing more than an illusion conjured by Mu Qian.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast didn't just produce a Soul Ring; it also produced an accompanying Spirit Bone.

The two-hundred-thousand-year Head Soul Bone had given him two Mental Attribute Soul Skills.

Even though Mu Qian's ambitions reached the heavens, he wasn't foolish enough to look down on a Spirit Bone produced by a two-hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast.

And with Jinyu's Spiritual Power helping him from the sidelines, Sanchez had no way of seeing through it.

"Brother Tao's a legendary figure, after all. There's nothing wrong with borrowing his Martial Soul."

Mu Qian followed the attendant out of the office.

What he could never have imagined was that before long, a letter containing his information would leave Star Luo City overnight, bound for Spirit City thousands of miles away.

He had now completed half of what he'd come to do.

Before leaving Spirit Hall, the attendant couldn't help glancing at Little Flower in Mu Qian's arms.

She simply couldn't understand why someone getting a Martial Soul assessment would bring a pet dog along.

Mu Qian didn't bother explaining. With some free time on his hands, he began strolling around Star Luo City.

"Little Flower, you don't have to eat leftovers today. I'm taking you out for a feast."

"Woof!" Little Flower understood him perfectly. Her adorable eyes turned into hearts, making Mu Qian exclaim that it was strange to see.

"You humans really are the cleverest species. Is this what a human city looks like?" Jinyu's astonished voice rang out in his mind.

It wasn't the first time this had happened. Though she was residing in Mu Qian's Martial Soul, she could still use her Spiritual Power to observe the world outside.