Thank You, Thank You

After finishing his call, Xie Xie followed Wu Zhangkong as they stepped onto the wide white jade stairs in front of the Spirit Pagoda, a cold metallic scent washing over them.

The lobby was filled with Soul Masters coming and going.

Some walked with hurried steps, while others paused to converse; everyone radiated a degree of soul ring fluctuation, with even the lowest among them being at the Soul Grand Master level.

Several information kiosks stood in the center, clearly marking the functional areas of each floor of the Spirit Pagoda.

From martial soul awakening and soul ring acquisition to high-level Soul Tool trading and exclusive Soul Master services, everything was available.

Wu Zhangkong's expression remained indifferent and cold, her pace steady as she headed toward the exclusive passage on the inner side of the lobby, a natural aura of detachment surrounding her that caused nearby Soul Masters to subconsciously steer clear.

An exclusive passage? Does Teacher Wu actually have connections in the Spirit Pagoda?

Though Xie Xie was somewhat puzzled, he followed closely at Wu Zhangkong's heels.

At the end of the passage, a middle-aged man dressed in the attire of a Spirit Pagoda deacon had been waiting.

The moment he saw the two, the deacon's stern face immediately broke into a respectful smile. He hurried forward, bowed slightly, and spoke with great courtesy:

"Teacher Wu, Young Master Xie, the higher-ups have already given instructions. Since you have arrived, I am to lead you directly to the Exclusive Soul Spirit Preparation Room without the need for waiting."

Eh? Is the old man at home really that fast?

Xie Xie scratched his head.

Wu Zhangkong merely nodded faintly, her cold voice devoid of any ripples: "Lead the way."

"Yes! Please, follow me."

The deacon quickly complied, stepping aside to gesture them forward.

The group proceeded along a mirror-smooth Soul Tool corridor, where bands of pale blue energy flowed along the walls, and the soul power fluctuations in the air grew increasingly rich.

Other staff members passed by on either side of the corridor, and upon seeing the three, they all stopped to bow in greeting.

Xie Xie felt a surge of excitement; damn, he was finally experiencing the treatment of the elite!

As the old saying goes, forty is the prime age for making one's mark!

The old man at home clearly still had untapped potential!

Before long, the deacon stopped in front of an alloy door engraved with intricate soul spirit patterns and pressed his hand against the Soul Tool screen beside it.

Click—

Accompanied by a low mechanical hum, the heavy alloy door slid open to both sides.

Inside was an exclusive training room that was simply furnished yet extremely refined.

In the center stood a waist-high, translucent white Soul Tool Pedestal, surrounded by several Soul Tool Crystals emitting a soft glow, bathing the entire room in a warm and tranquil light.

The concentration of energy within the room reached a staggering level.

Even standing at the doorway and taking a deep breath, one could feel their martial soul stirring within their body.

"Teacher Wu, Young Master Xie."

The deacon stood respectfully at the door.

"This is the Exclusive Soul Spirit Adaptation Room prepared for you both. All devices have been calibrated. If you have any needs, feel free to press the call button on the wall at any time."

Having said that, he bowed again and added: "I will wait outside the door so as not to disturb you."

Wu Zhangkong nodded slightly and stepped inside.

Xie Xie hurriedly followed.

The moment he stepped into the adaptation room, he couldn't help but rub his hands in excitement, looking up at Wu Zhangkong with eyes full of anticipation.

Wu Zhangkong scanned the entire adaptation room, her cold eyes devoid of any unnecessary emotion.

She lifted a fingertip, and a strand of pale blue soul power silently probed into the Soul Tool Pedestal to confirm that the device was operating normally.

"Stand in the center of the pedestal," Wu Zhangkong said flatly.

"You got it, Teacher Wu!"

Without a second word, Xie Xie excitedly stepped into the very center of the translucent white Soul Tool Pedestal.

As soon as his feet were planted firmly, he felt a gentle energy flowing up from the soles of his feet into his body, making his Light Dragon Blade and Shadow Dragon Blade become even more active.

Xie Xie straightened his back, the playful look on his face receding quite a bit.

Although he was usually flighty and loved to joke around, he knew when to be serious when it came to the critical moment of improving himself.

Wu Zhangkong walked slowly to the side of the Soul Tool Pedestal, her cold tone calm and ripple-free as she instructed:

"When the connection begins, keep your mind steady and do not resist the guidance of the soul power."

"This Soul Tool Pedestal will screen for the soul spirit most compatible with you based on your cultivation level, martial soul attribute strength, and your body's actual capacity to bear it."

Having said that, her gaze fell on Xie Xie, and after a few seconds of silence, she added instinctively:

"With me here, nothing will go wrong."

Xie Xie waved his hand dismissively, poking and prodding at the Soul Tool Pedestal as he laughed casually:

"It wouldn't matter if something did go wrong; it's fine even if I give my life to Teacher Wu."

The moment those words fell, the icy aura that perpetually surrounded Wu Zhangkong faltered for a fleeting, uncontrollable instant.

Her fingertips, hanging at her sides, curled slightly, and her eyes, cold as frost, trembled involuntarily.

Having finished his search, Xie Xie looked up only to find Wu Zhangkong standing motionless.

"Teacher Wu?" He tilted his head in confusion.

As Wu Zhangkong snapped back to reality, she found herself caught off guard by the boy's gaze—eyes that held a hint of a smile, yet remained clean and sincere.

The moment their eyes met, her heart felt as if it had been lightly seared by something.

Almost instinctively, she hurriedly looked away.

Wu Zhangkong forced down the inexplicable panic rising within her. Her voice remained cold, though it lacked its usual biting chill, replaced by a subtle, imperceptible hesitation.

"...Stand straight."

She uttered the two words flatly, her pace a fraction faster than usual, before turning to press her right hand against the Soul Tool Console at her side.

Only when her fingertips touched the light screen did she manage to steady her mind.

Wu Zhangkong's cold voice rang out once more, deliberately restored to its usual sternness:

"Stand firm. Soul Spirit Induction, beginning now."

Yet, the hand hanging at her side remained slightly taut, refusing to relax for a long time.

As Wu Zhangkong's fingertips descended, the Soul Tool Console instantly lit up with pale blue light patterns, which seemed to come alive as they spread across the floor toward the perimeter of the Soul Tool Pedestal.

The Soul Tool Crystal embedded in the wall grew brighter, and a gentle yet vast energy slowly converged, lifting Xie Xie into the air.

Xie Xie hurriedly closed his eyes.

Following Wu Zhangkong's instructions, he held his focus firmly, allowing the warm, moist energy to envelop his entire body.

Wu Zhangkong stood to the side, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on Xie Xie atop the pedestal.

The Soul Tool Pedestal emitted a faint hum, and streaks of pale blue energy crawled up Xie Xie's body, outlining the silhouette of his martial soul.

The auras of light and shadow flickered alternately, at times bright as day, at others dark as night, weaving and engaging in Entanglement within the halo of energy.

Xie Xie felt nothing but a soothing warmth throughout his body.

He felt as if he were soaking in the most comfortable ocean of soul power, with countless fragments of soul spirit energy lingering and probing around him.

In the end, they were all filtered and guided by an invisible force, drawing closer toward his martial soul.

The radiance of the Soul Spirit Induction grew ever more intense, illuminating the entire Adaptation Room in a brilliant glow.