"Don't be afraid, kid. It doesn't matter if you missed your Martial Soul awakening. Go into Spirit Hall and find Deacon Lu Renjia. He'll help you." As he spoke, the guard stepped aside and gestured for "Qin Heng" to enter.
The moment "Qin Heng" heard that name, he nearly lost it. Fortunately, his spiritual power was strong enough that he did not laugh out loud.
"Qin Heng" politely thanked the guard before entering the hall, where he quickly found Deacon Lu Renjia.
The main reason was that he was currently awakening the Martial Souls of several children, so "Qin Heng" spotted him as soon as he arrived.
After greeting Deacon Lu and receiving permission, "Qin Heng" joined the back of the line.
There were six children ahead of him. One of them actually awakened a food-type Mantou Martial Soul, but unfortunately, his Innate Soul Power was only level one.
Soon, it was "Qin Heng's" turn. He stepped into the awakening formation and put on a convincing act. In the end, he used Soul Power to make his eyes glow faintly, indicating that his Martial Soul was his eyes.
"Eyes as a Martial Soul? Another useless Martial Soul. Come test your Innate Soul Power."
"Qin Heng" placed his hand on the crystal ball, then deliberately restrained his Soul Power output, allowing the crystal ball to emit only three layers of light.
"Huh? A useless eye Martial Soul actually has level-three Innate Soul Power. Child, what is your name? Where are you from?"
"My name is Huo Yuhao, and I'm from Notting City," "Qin Heng" casually made up.
"Your home is in Notting City? Then why did you come all the way to Suotuo City?"
"My father made money through business, so our whole family moved here."
"I see." As he spoke, Lu Renjia had already finished writing the Martial Soul certificate and handed it to "Qin Heng." At the same time, he told Qin Heng that he qualified to become a Soul Master and could use the certificate to enroll in a Junior Soul Master Academy.
After watching Qin Heng leave, Lu Renjia sighed. "Level-three Innate Soul Power... If he had awakened a decent Martial Soul, he might have been worth recruiting or investing in. But a useless eye Martial Soul? Forget it. Besides, the kid said his family moved here only after making money, so they must be able to afford Soul Master Academy."
With the Martial Soul certificate in hand, "Qin Heng" headed straight for the Junior Soul Master Academy. He had already seen Suotuo City Junior Soul Master Academy on his way to Spirit Hall.
"Qin Heng" walked directly up with his certificate. After the gatekeeper confirmed that it was genuine, he immediately let him through. He even reminded "Qin Heng" that registration for this year had ended three months ago, and the first-years had long since started classes. If "Qin Heng" wanted to transfer in, he would need to speak with the academy director.
The gatekeeper's attitude was exceedingly friendly, and Qin Heng felt that this was how it should be. The gatekeeper at Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy had clearly had something wrong with his head. Any child coming to enroll at a Junior Soul Master Academy had the potential to become a Soul Master in the future.
Anyone with a functioning brain would not offend them. As for whether the certificate might be fake, what did that have to do with a gatekeeper? Wouldn't the academy teachers check it themselves?
"Qin Heng" asked a few students and quickly found the academic affairs office. After knocking and entering, he handed his Martial Soul certificate to the man seated at the head of the room.
"Teacher, I just awakened my Martial Soul today. Deacon Lu from Spirit Hall said I could study here."
The man accepted the certificate and glanced over it. "Registration for this year has already ended. However, considering that you have level-three Innate Soul Power, I can make an exception and arrange for you to enroll. But..."
"Qin Heng" immediately took out a money pouch, removed five Gold Soul Coins, and offered them over with an excited expression. "Thank you, Teacher..."
"There's no need for that. I'm a Soul Elder; I'm not short on this little bit of money. What I mean is that the academy will not reteach the material you missed by enrolling late. You can only study it yourself. If you can't read, I advise you to come back next year."
"Teacher, I can read."
"Then that's fine. During the academy's first two months, aside from teaching the meditation method, it teaches students how to read. By that count, you've only missed one month of classes. Spend more time reading in the library later, and you should be able to make up for it. Oh, right. Will you be a work-study student or a self-funded student?"
"I'll pay for myself. I heard work-study students have many people sharing one dormitory room. I'd like somewhere quieter."
The teacher nodded and went to make the arrangements.
Half an hour later, the procedures were complete. "Qin Heng" paid twenty Gold Soul Coins and received a school uniform and a set of bedding. After telling him the dormitory location and room number, the teacher handed him a key and stopped bothering with him.
Fortunately, the student dormitories were easy enough to find. "Qin Heng" quickly located his room. Since he had paid, he naturally had a private room.
Thus, "Qin Heng" officially began studying at Suotuo City Junior Soul Master Academy.
Meanwhile, at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Guang Ling Douluo received a message from Qian Daoliu, ordering him to send Qin Heng back to Spirit City.
Guang Ling Douluo did not hesitate over Qian Daoliu's order and immediately carried it out, escorting Qin Heng back to Spirit City.
Who would have expected that the moment Qin Heng entered Spirit City, Yue Guan took him away? Gui Mei transmitted something to Guang Ling Douluo, and Guang Ling Douluo ultimately did not intervene.
Yue Guan rapidly brought Qin Heng all the way to Pope Palace, then gave him a meaningful look.
Qin Heng's heart began pounding at the sight.
"Your Holiness, I have brought him." After entering Pope Palace, Yue Guan bowed as he spoke.
Qin Heng raised his head and looked at Bibi Dong, seated upon the pontiff's throne. She wore the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown and a luxurious pale-purple robe. Her bearing was cold and noble, yet her brows were filled with displeasure.
Qin Heng inwardly cursed. Something was wrong with Bibi Dong's expression!
"Qin Heng, I hear that you created an entirely new cultivation method called a technique?" Bibi Dong's voice echoed through Pope Palace.
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"You also intend to make this cultivation method public?"
This time, Qin Heng merely nodded.
"Do you know that what you are doing is no different from aiding the enemy?"
"Your Holiness, I do not see it that way. I believe I am breaking the monopoly of the old powers. Those sects and clans have relied on their accumulated foundations from years ago to improve their meditation methods generation after generation. With their high-level meditation methods, children of equal aptitude cultivate noticeably faster in those sects and clans.
"But even after being simplified, my technique cultivates faster than the meditation methods of those sects and clans. That way, they can only cultivate my meditation method alongside countless ordinary Soul Masters, and their advantage in cultivation speed will no longer exist."
"Then isn't Spirit Hall the same?" Bibi Dong demanded.
"Of course it is different. Those who are truly loyal to Spirit Hall can cultivate a better, more complete technique. The technique I intend to spread lacks some of its more core components. It is not the best version."
"Oh? Is that so? Then why was the one I received also simplified? Why are only those from Worship Hall allowed to cultivate the complete technique? Is it that I, the Supreme Pontiff, am not loyal enough to Spirit Hall either?"
Qin Heng's expression froze upon hearing this. He finally understood what was going on. There was an eighty or ninety percent chance that Qian Daoliu had acted up again, adhering to his righteous gentleman's principles and insisting on receiving Qin Heng's consent before giving the technique to Bibi Dong.
Qin Heng's back was drenched in sweat. Wasn't this setting him up?
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