Soul Power Test

"Hehe, young friends, this old man was blind before. I never imagined this little girl had already reached the rank of Soul Master at such a young age. Such talent is truly rare. May I ask which faction you two are disciples of? Could you perhaps tell me? Though this old man is ignorant and poorly informed, I might have heard of it." Ma Xiunuo chuckled. As the wrinkles on his face spread, his smile bloomed brilliantly like a chrysanthemum.

Seeing Ma Xiunuo's ever-changing expression, Xiao Wu burst into laughter and said sweetly, "Hmph, old man, do we have to announce our backgrounds just to test our Soul Power here? Who do you think you are?"

"The little girl is right, hehe. How about this? This old man will take you to test your Soul Power now." Ma Xiunuo's face twitched slightly, but he still forced out what he considered a rather gentle smile.

It seemed that, having occupied a high position for so long, this was the first time he had been reprimanded so mercilessly. What made it even more absurd was that the one scolding him was such an adorable little girl as Xiao Wu. For a moment, he did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Lead the way," Cao Yan said flatly.

Hearing this, Ma Xiunuo nodded and said no more.

After all, the little girl before him was not only a genius with Innate Full Soul Power, but she also possessed a hundred-year soul ring. The signs Xiao Wu had displayed forced him to speculate about the force behind her. His earlier judgment of the two's origins was instantly tossed to the back of his mind.

One had to know that the value of a hundred-year soul ring was by no means comparable to that of a ten-year soul ring. It was absolutely impossible for her to have obtained such a soul ring by herself. Therefore, Ma Xiunuo had no choice but to conclude that Xiao Wu had an extraordinary force backing her.

People like this absolutely could not be offended!

Having figured this out, Ma Xiunuo quietly let out a breath. He was quite impressed by his own quick thinking.

Under Ma Xiunuo's guidance, the three passed through a long corridor. At its end, three rather mysterious-looking archways appeared before them.

"Hehe, this is where Soul Power Levels are tested. You two, please come in!" As he spoke, Ma Xiunuo pushed open the archway on the far left and led them inside.

Perhaps because of his suspicions, his tone toward the two had become noticeably more courteous.

The room was broad and lofty, spanning a full two hundred square meters. A huge floor-to-ceiling window provided ample lighting.

A strange fragrance drifted through the room. Four or five small black stones were embedded in the surrounding walls, and the scent seemed to come from them.

Those were Soul Condensing Stones. They could draw out the Soul Power within a Soul Master's body. However, they were quite expensive, and the fact that they were placed here for use was enough to demonstrate Spirit Hall's immense standing.

A massive emblem shaped like a badge was carved into the floor. A longsword hung straight down from it, pointing directly at the entrance.

"Little girl, you may begin. This old man also wishes to see just what level your Soul Power has reached," Ma Xiunuo said with a smile. As he looked at Xiao Wu, a bright gleam seemed to flash in his eyes.

Faintly, he seemed to feel something strange about the little girl before him, though he could not say what that feeling was.

Xiao Wu smiled faintly and nodded in understanding.

Then she shifted her feet and stood directly in the center of the pattern on the floor. She extended her fair right hand, calmed her breath and focused her mind, and slowly released her Soul Power, which carried a soft pink glow.

As that gentle Soul Power poured forth, subtle changes took place in Xiao Wu's body.

Pink light lit up around Xiao Wu. Under its glow, her eyes began to turn red, her ears gradually lengthened and rose from the sides of her head, covered in soft white fur, while her figure seemed to grow a little taller as well.

After Martial Soul Possession, Xiao Wu's figure was undoubtedly even more perfect. Her slender, tender legs, wrapped in little pink shorts, appeared long and breathtakingly beautiful. What would it feel like to hold such a pair of legs in one's palms and carefully caress them?

Through the pink shorts, glimpses of snowy white skin could be seen. As he silently stared at those flawless, fair legs, Cao Yan's breathing grew slightly hurried.

Though the shorts concealed them, the perfect contours they outlined were exceptionally alluring. Such beautiful legs, beautiful enough to make one suffocate, made him feel an urge to tear those shorts apart in one motion.

"Heavens! This is the fluctuation of Level Thirteen Soul Power! Little girl, your Soul Power has actually reached Level Thirteen!" At the side, Ma Xiunuo could not help crying out as he saw the dazzling light emanating from the crystal ball.

Level Thirteen Soul Power, and a hundred-year soul ring as well. Of course, those were not what shocked him the most.

The little girl before him was only six years old!

With talent like this, if he could persuade her to join Spirit Hall, perhaps before long they would cultivate another Soul Sage-level powerhouse. And then, his own status would rise along with it!

"Little girl, I want to ask you something seriously now. I hope you can answer truthfully, because it concerns your future accomplishments and prospects. Is that all right?" Ma Xiunuo's voice trembled slightly, and his eyes were full of anticipation. That look was almost impossible to refuse.

Xiao Wu glanced at Cao Yan. Only after seeing him nod did she calmly reply, "Mm."

"Little girl, could you tell me exactly where you come from? If possible, I hope you can join Spirit Hall. With the talent you have displayed, I believe you will certainly attain incomparably lofty glory." As Ma Xiunuo spoke, his left hand pressed tightly against the badge on his chest, showing just how sincere he was.

"Hmph, old man, didn't you look down on us just now? So what if it's Spirit Hall? I'm not going!" Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips, her little face full of determination.

"Little girl, do you know that if someone with your talent joins Spirit Hall, you will receive the finest resources? What we can provide is far beyond anything you can imagine. This old man may not be able to promise everything, but at the very least, I can guarantee that here, you will become a Soul Sage in the future!" Ma Xiunuo said urgently. At this moment, he regretted his previous offense.

He had never expected that, at his age, he could be so blind.

Although he had yet to witness Cao Yan's Soul Power Level, he vaguely had some guesses. Perhaps these two young friends before him were true geniuses!

"Old man, stop talking nonsense. She will not join Spirit Hall, because she is my younger sister. Besides, we come from a Hidden Family and do not like being constrained. As for what you mentioned, it holds no appeal to us whatsoever," Cao Yan stepped forward and said calmly.

"A Hidden Family? These two young friends actually have such a background?" Ma Xiunuo's pupils contracted sharply, and he drew a cold breath in his heart. No matter how unwilling he was, he knew these two children were likely fated to have no connection with Spirit Hall.

"You might not believe it, but in our family, even those with the lowest strength are Titled Douluo-level. At that level, they can only end up as gatekeepers." Looking at Ma Xiunuo's horrified expression, Cao Yan continued, his face still utterly unconcerned.

"Th-then what kind of family is that?" A stormy sea had already risen in Ma Xiunuo's heart. Even Titled Douluo-level powerhouses could only serve as gatekeepers. How powerful must the family behind them be?

"Young friends, this old man was indeed rash today. Let us leave it at that. Here are two Soul Master Badges. Please accept them!" Ma Xiunuo lowered his head and bowed at a ninety-degree angle, respectfully raising the golden badges in his palm before the two of them.

"Hehe, you're giving me a Soul Master Badge so casually? Don't you need to test my Soul Power?" Cao Yan could not help laughing at Ma Xiunuo's attitude.

"Young friend, you jest. With your extraordinary background, your talent naturally cannot be low. There is no need for such tedious procedures," Ma Xiunuo said, waving a hand to indicate that he did not care about such things.

"I assume you know how to handle our identities?" After pinning the Soul Master Badge onto Xiao Wu's chest, Cao Yan looked at Ma Xiunuo and smiled faintly.

Since the latter had taken the initiative to award him a Soul Master Badge, Cao Yan naturally could not be bothered to undergo another test.

"Young friend, rest assured. I swear upon my Martial Soul that I will absolutely not report any part of today's events. If this old man lets even the slightest word slip, then may I die a miserable death." Ma Xiunuo clasped his hands before his chest. Such an oath was the highest form of vow in the Soul Master world; breaking it would invite the wrath of both man and gods!

After that, Cao Yan slowly took Xiao Wu's delicate hand and headed out of the hall.

"Cao Yan, thank you for helping me out," Xiao Wu said softly, looking at Cao Yan with gratitude.

She knew that if it had not been for her, Cao Yan would not have revealed the secret of his Hidden Family background. Not only that, he had lost the chance to further his studies at Spirit Hall because of it. Thus, Xiao Wu felt somewhat guilty.

As for what Cao Yan had said earlier, she absolutely did not believe it. If Titled Douluo-level powerhouses had been reduced to gatekeepers, would the world not be thrown into chaos?

Yet Cao Yan had made Ma Xiunuo completely believe such an outlandish claim. For that alone, she greatly admired him.

"Silly girl, you're my younger sister. Do we really need to say thank you to each other?" Seeing Xiao Wu blame herself, Cao Yan smiled gently, pinched her tender cheek, and spoke with concern.

Treated to such an intimate gesture by Cao Yan, Xiao Wu blinked before revealing a sweet smile.

Just as the two walked out of Spirit Hall, their gazes coincidentally fell upon a figure.

It was a middle-aged man sitting upright on the steps before Spirit Hall. His pale face carried a deep sorrow.

At that moment, the setting sun cast streaks of fading crimson over him, giving him an inexplicable air of loneliness and desolation.

Combined with the self-mocking expression at the corners of his mouth, he seemed, for a moment, entirely out of place with the world around him.