The Old Friend's Talent? Could He Be the Old Friend's Son?

All in all, in short.

Lin Nuo's specialty was sincerity.

After a round of heartfelt persuasion, Lin Nuo successfully calmed Su Yuntao, who had been so excited he was nearly losing his mind.

Well-versed in the art of workplace bluffing from his past life, he put on an utterly sincere expression and stated that

he was still too young and mentally unprepared to join Spirit Hall directly, leave his hometown, and head to Spirit City for training.

But then he abruptly changed tack and thumped his chest as he promised Su Yuntao

that if he ever chose to join any faction in the future, Spirit Hall would absolutely be his first choice!

Thanks to Lin Nuo's perfectly timed speech of gratitude earlier, Su Yuntao already had complete faith in the boy's character.

Although he regretted being unable to pocket such a heaven-shaking achievement on the spot,

he still decided to cast a long line for a big fish and give this peerless genius all the respect and understanding he deserved.

In order to forge this good connection in advance, Su Yuntao waved his hand grandly

and, in the name of the Nuoding City Martial Soul Branch Hall, forcibly stuffed ten gleaming Gold Soul Coins into Lin Nuo's pocket as financial support for his early living expenses.

Before leaving, the enthusiastic deacon even patted his chest and solemnly made a promise:

"Kid, if you need to hunt soul beasts later, don't hesitate. Come find me at the branch hall anytime!"

"Nothing is forbidden by Spirit Hall!"

After leaving Spirit Hall, Lin Nuo headed toward Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy with the Martial Soul Branch Hall's letter of introduction and his soul master certificate in hand.

Nuoding City was neither particularly large nor particularly small. Lin Nuo asked for directions as he walked and soon arrived at the academy gates.

But before he could approach, a burst of piercing insults reached his ears.

"Hahaha, a Grass Chicken wants to become a Phoenix?

Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power?

Old man, hurry up and get lost with this little beggar!"

Then came a dull bang, followed by the gatekeeper's scream:

"Ow! You little brat, you dare hit someone?

I'll kill you!"

Had he run into this famous scene?

Lin Nuo raised a brow and looked toward the sound.

He saw a gatekeeper in academy uniform sprawled on the ground in a sorry state,

while standing before him was a boy dressed in coarse cloth.

The boy looked utterly ordinary, even somewhat dark and skinny—the sort who would be impossible to pick out if thrown into a crowd.

This should be Tang San.

It seemed that before awakening the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, this kid truly had the appearance of an unremarkable extra.

Lin Nuo sharply noticed

that Tang San's left arm was slightly raised, and beneath his sleeve, a faint glint of cold metal was aimed at the gatekeeper on the ground.

A Silent Sleeve Arrow?

Lin Nuo clicked his tongue inwardly.

Just because the gatekeeper had shoved and mocked him a few times, he was going to blow his head off and kill him in the street?

As expected of the man who labeled people with the Way of Seeking Death at every turn. His murderous aura truly was no ordinary thing.

"Stop!"

Just as Tang San was about to trigger the mechanism, a slightly hoarse male voice suddenly rang out.

A thin middle-aged man with a Flat-top and gray at his temples walked out slowly with his hands behind his back.

He looked ordinary, even somewhat dispirited,

but the moment he appeared, that air of forced inscrutability immediately drew everyone's attention.

With just a few words, the Flat-top took the certificate Spirit Hall had issued for Tang San,

gave it a glance, then turned around with a stern face and harshly berated the gatekeeper, perfectly playing the role of an upright and impartial academy higher-up.

But from not far away,

Lin Nuo keenly caught the flash of wild delight deep within the flat-topped middle-aged man's eyes!

Innate Full Soul Power and the useless martial soul Blue Silver Grass!

Wasn't this the most perfect test subject for his Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul?

After staying in this little place for so many years, had he finally encountered the worthy disciple of his dreams?

Moreover, there was one thing Master Yu could be certain of: this boy must possess a powerful second martial soul!

Otherwise, how could mere Blue Silver Grass possess the talent of Innate Full Soul Power?

Just as Master Yu was secretly reveling and preparing to put on airs while leading Tang San into the academy,

the corner of his eye inadvertently swept over Lin Nuo, who was standing at the edge of the crowd watching the show.

Just one glance.

Merely that casual glance

made Yu Xiaogang's advancing foot seem as though it had been nailed to the ground alive,

and his entire body froze stiffly as if struck by lightning.

He stared fixedly at Lin Nuo's delicate, gentle, doll-like face, which had become more refined after his martial soul awakening. His breathing instantly stopped, and his lips began to tremble violently.

A murmur filled with disbelief and endless complicated emotions squeezed from his trembling throat.

"Dong... Dong'er?!"

Tang San was dumbfounded.

Lin Nuo was dumbfounded too.

Who was this Flat-top calling?

Master Yu strode over to Lin Nuo in a few quick steps, practically pressing his face against Lin Nuo's.

What the hell is with him?

Lin Nuo leaned back tactically, putting a safe distance between them.

Meanwhile, inside Yu Xiaogang's mind, something called World-Shocking Wisdom was violently elbowing his brain, helping him complete the logical loop.

Too alike!

Those brows, those eyes, that outline—they looked as if they had been carved from the same mold as Dong'er back then!

Sure enough, she still had me in her heart!

She had sent this child all the way to Nuoding City, right beneath my nose. She must want me to personally teach him, to make up for the regrets of the past!

But then a flicker of self-mockery, pain, and loneliness passed through his eyes.

The child was already this old, which meant Dong'er had ultimately married someone else!

Then why had she entrusted the child to me now?

"C-child, are you here to enroll?"

Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled, and his eyes reddened.

Watching the Flat-top suddenly start imagining things wildly, his expression even beginning to crack, Lin Nuo got goosebumps from this inexplicable show of affection.

Completely bewildered, he nodded and instinctively held the Spirit Hall certificate in his hand protectively against his chest.

That very movement caused Yu Xiaogang's lowered gaze to sweep over the brand-new soul master certificate.

In the martial soul section, four words were clearly written:

Death Demon Spider!

Boom!

The final puzzle piece clicked perfectly into place.

Yu Xiaogang felt as though his heart had been struck by a heavy hammer.

For a moment, the spine he had held straight to maintain the bearing of an expert instantly collapsed.

It was as though all spirit had been drained from him. He turned around in a daze and staggered toward the academy interior.

His back looked desolate, like that of a defeated dog.

Even when he passed Tang San, the worthy disciple of his dreams, he had no mind to spare him another glance. All his previous wild delight and calculations had vanished without a trace.

A cold wind blew through the academy gates.

Outside, Lin Nuo and Tang San stared wide-eyed at each other.

In the end, neither paid the other any attention. They entered the academy one after the other, heading toward the Academic Affairs Office.