Clip-clop, clip-clop.
The carriage rattled away from Holy Soul Village, and Village Chief Jack headed home, leaning on his cane.
Inside the carriage, more than a dozen children were crammed together, and Su Yan was no exception.
There was still a long way to go, so he closed his eyes for a nap. The carriage was noisy all around him, filled with the excited chatter of children.
"Boss Su!" The little girl finally squeezed her way over to him.
Su Yan's eyes lit up. He made room for her to sit beside him. "Pan, what are you doing here?"
"Grandpa Jack said Spirit Hall can take care of me." The girl seemed a little nervous, her fingers clutching the hem of Su Yan's clothes.
Su Yan understood. He remembered that half a year ago, Grandpa Jack had led a group up the mountain to search for her parents, but they had found no trace of them. Pan's parents were missing, and their fate was unknown.
He knew all too well what it was like to lose family. He tenderly gathered the girl into his arms.
"Why are we going to Spirit Hall if we don't have any Soul Power?" one of the children muttered.
"Maybe we're going to farm. My dad said we'll have to work hard over there too, so the Lord Soul Masters will have enough to eat."
"I know, I know." A round-faced boy with a runny nose chimed in. "My sister went there a few years ago. They're studying Soul Master theory, and she'll be a teacher someday. She said more than half the stewards in Spirit Hall don't have any Soul Power. There's even an elder who doesn't!"
"Are there any of us who can become Soul Masters?"
The children looked at one another and shook their heads. Then the round-faced boy spoke again. "Hehe, that means only Boss Tang is going to become a Soul Master. He has Innate Soul Power Level 9!"
His words set off a storm of excited chatter.
"Wow, there really is a Soul Master!"
"Our village chief said we'd be lucky if we had Soul Power Levels 1 or 2."
"But Boss Tang has Level 9! That's got to be... got to be... got to be a whole lot of good luck!"
The other children crowded around Boss Tang, peppering him with questions.
Su Yan looked up, just in time to meet Boss Tang's gaze. His eyes were cool and full of pride.
Innate Soul Power Level 9 was exceedingly rare. He certainly had reason to be proud.
But Su Yan was more interested in his surname.
Tang. The Tang of the Clear Sky Sect.
"Hmph, what's so great about that? Boss Su has Level 8 too!" Pan muttered. Just then, she saw Su Yan stretch lazily, looking utterly relaxed, and suddenly understood.
This was the art of playing the pig to eat the tiger!
Boss Su had once told them about Xiao Yan's fantastic adventures, and that story had mentioned the trick again and again.
Boss Su was pretending to be a fat pig, letting the other little brats wear down the tiger surnamed Tang.
Meanwhile, he could rest comfortably in the carriage. When the Soul Master test came later, he'd have the advantage and be able to gobble up that tiger.
Tsk. Brilliant!
That was Boss Su for you!
Su Yan happily stretched out his legs. This old carriage was so uncomfortable; he was even starting to miss the hard seats on green trains. He turned his head and saw Pan looking as if she'd just had a revelation. Her adorable expression made him smile.
Pan leaned close and whispered, "Boss Su, I won't tell anyone!"
"Tell them what?" Su Yan asked.
But Pan had already clapped both hands over her mouth to show where she stood.
She absolutely wouldn't tell anyone!
Children around six years old had plenty of energy. It was their first long trip, and they were all excited, chattering noisily along the way. Before they knew it, half a day had passed. The carriage stopped in front of a magnificent palace with a gold-lettered plaque that read "Spirit Hall."
"Kids, we're here." Su Yuntao lifted the curtain and called to them. "This is the Notting City Martial Soul Hall. Don't run off. Everyone, gather at the entrance."
The dozen or so children lined up, and Su Yuntao split them into two rows. Su Yan and Boss Tang stood in one row, while everyone else stood in the other.
Su Yuntao addressed the larger group. "In a little while, a handsome big brother will come to take you to the Main Martial Soul Hall."
"Ah—aren't we staying here?" Pan muttered, pouting in protest.
"You'll all study and train at the Main Martial Soul Hall. In the future, you can become advisers at the branch halls or theory teachers at Soul Master Academies." After speaking, Su Yuntao looked at the two children in the other row. "Su Yan, Tang Chi, come with me. The rest of you, don't run off."
Su Yuntao headed into the hall first.
Tang Chi yawned and followed him.
Pan looked at Su Yan, who seemed completely at ease, and nodded knowingly. "Boss Su, good luck!"
Su Yan waved and headed into Spirit Hall as well.
A notice was posted beside the entrance.
Su Yan glanced at it and smiled.
Notice: Beware of scams claiming to improve Martial Soul quality, raise Soul Power Levels, or guarantee the Awakening of Soul Power. Please trust only the official announcements issued by Spirit Hall. Don't believe in free money, and protect the money you worked hard to earn.
They even sold Strength Pills on the Douluo Continent. Scams and swindles were everywhere.
But another notice beside it left Su Yan stunned for a long moment.
Spirit Hall Bulletin: Palace Master Yu Xiaogang, age thirty-five, has broken through to Level 90, becoming the youngest Titled Douluo in history. His title is Holy Dragon!
Tsk. Master Yu Xiaogang was truly terrifying.
This Douluo Continent was a little different from what he knew.
As Su Yan entered the main hall, a deafening crash rang out from the front desk in the middle. It sounded like someone was causing trouble.
A woman in a gold-trimmed armored dress had her wine-red hair casually pinned up. She swung a punch and smashed the front desk to pieces. "I'm so mad! I'm so mad! Yu Xiaogang wants to take on disciples, so why did he snatch mine?!"
Behind her stood a man of breathtaking beauty in an embroidered yellow robe. With a delicately raised hand, he held a chrysanthemum between his fingers. "Holy Maiden, please calm down. Palace Master simply has a great appreciation for talent..."
"Are you saying I'm not as good a teacher as he is?" The woman shot the man a sharp glare.
"I wouldn't dare. Holy Maiden, you're naturally an excellent teacher as well." The man held himself stiffly and smiled faintly.
The woman snorted and urgently asked the receptionist, who had lost her seat, "When will the children be back? How many of them have Soul Power this time? Is there anyone with Innate Full Soul Power? Ideally, someone with Twin Martial Souls?"
The beautiful man silently swallowed.
Twin Martial Souls. Innate Full Soul Power.
The Holy Maiden had probably gone mad.
In the entire history of the Douluo Continent, there had only been three recorded cases of Twin Martial Souls.
The third little monster with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power had joined Palace Master's tutelage not long ago.
The woman who had been sitting at the front desk was so frightened that her face had gone deathly pale. Her heart pounded, and she didn't dare say a word.
Su Yuntao hurried forward and shielded the woman behind him. When he saw the woman standing before him, he dropped to his knees. "Greetings, Holy Maiden. Greetings, Elder Ju. I didn't know the Holy Maiden was visiting, so I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me."
The Holy Maiden sighed deeply, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. "It's not your fault. Yue Guan, take the children back with you."
"Yes." Yue Guan bowed slightly, then turned to Su Yuntao. "How many children want to join Spirit Hall this time?"
"Two children have Soul Power. One has Level 8, and the other has Level 9. The other fourteen have no Soul Power."
"Level 8 and Level 9." The Holy Maiden's interest piqued. She raised her left eyebrow. "Bring them over for a look."
"Yes." Su Yuntao bowed again, then motioned to the two children. "Su Yan, Tang Chi, come over and greet the Holy Maiden and Elder Ju."
Su Yan and Tang Chi obediently stepped forward and bowed.
Though Tang Chi was only six, he was quick-witted and spoke first. "Holy Maiden, Elder Ju, my name is Tang Chi. I have Innate Soul Power Level 9, and my Martial Soul is the Thunderclap Hammer."
The Holy Maiden's brows knitted together, and she looked displeased. "Another child surnamed Tang? Are you from the Clear Sky Sect?"
"No, I'm not." Tang Chi refused without hesitation.
The Holy Maiden turned her head toward Su Yan. "And you?"
Su Yan bowed. "Holy Maiden, Elder Ju, my name is Su Yan. I have Innate Soul Power Level 8, and my Martial Soul is a Fire Wolf."
"A Fire Wolf, a fire-attribute Beast Martial Soul." The Holy Maiden's lips curled into a smile.
She pointed at Tang Chi. "You have excellent talent. If you're willing, I can recommend you to the Main Martial Soul Hall and help you choose an elder to study under."
"Thank you, Holy Maiden!" Tang Chi smiled and bowed again.
"And you." The Holy Maiden pointed at Su Yan. "Become my disciple!"
Tang Chi's smile froze.
Su Yan was just as stunned. Was she taking him as her disciple just like that?
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