Becoming a Disciple and Meeting the Elders

Su Zhen headed toward the magnificent Spirit City. He had barely approached the city gate when he was stopped.

"Stop! Spirit City is a sacred place. Anyone who isn't a Soul Master may not enter."

The guards wore black heavy armor and held spears as they rebuked Su Zhen.

Su Zhen stared in astonishment. He'd forgotten that Spirit City had this rule. Although he had Innate Full Soul Power, he hadn't obtained a Soul Ring yet, so he didn't meet the requirements to enter. He also hadn't asked Qian Daoliu for a token before coming. No guard would believe him if he said he was here to find the Great Enshrined and become his disciple.

Just as Su Zhen stood there at a loss, Qian Daoliu walked out of the city.

"Wait. Let him in."

The guards looked toward the voice and were immediately stunned.

"Greetings, Great Enshrined!"

All the guards promptly dropped to one knee and bowed to Qian Daoliu. They might never have seen him in person, but they all recognized the angel embroidered on his clothes—the Great Enshrined's distinctive attire.

Qian Daoliu waved for the guards to rise.

"Teacher, I'm here."

Holding Oscar in his arms, Su Zhen approached Qian Daoliu.

The guards heard the child, who looked like a vagrant, call the Great Enshrined his teacher. Since the Great Enshrined didn't deny it, they broke out in a cold sweat. They'd just stopped the Great Enshrined's disciple. Would they still have jobs after this?

Qian Daoliu turned and entered the city, signaling for Su Zhen to follow.

Flying was forbidden in Spirit City. It was a matter of upholding Spirit Hall's dignity, and even the Great Enshrined and the Pope had to set an example.

"Congratulations on reaching Spirit City within the time limit. As agreed, from now on, I'll be your teacher."

"Your disciple pays his respects, Teacher."

Su Zhen was about to kneel while holding Oscar, but Qian Daoliu lifted him with Soul Power.

"There's no need to kneel. Being my disciple doesn't come with so many rules. Just don't do anything that tarnishes Spirit Hall's dignity."

"Come on. I'll take you to the Worship Hall and introduce you to my old friends."

Su Zhen was thrilled. He was about to meet the Spirit Hall dream team from the novel in his previous life.

As they walked, Su Zhen gazed curiously at the street stalls and shops. He'd spent his entire life in a village; he'd never seen so many strange and wonderful things.

Watching Su Zhen's reaction, Qian Daoliu thought he could give the boy more free time in the future to explore Spirit City.

"Waaah~"

Oscar woke up, roused by hunger. Su Zhen reached into his clothes with practiced ease and pulled out half a wild-vegetable flatbread. He was going to soak it in water for him.

"Let's buy some milk."

Qian Daoliu handed Su Zhen a ring. It was purple, with ancient patterns carved into it.

"This ring is a Storage Soul Tool with fifty cubic meters of space. Consider it a gift for taking you as my disciple. Inject Soul Power into it to use it. There are five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins inside—your pocket money for this month."

Su Zhen put on the ring and injected his Soul Power to inspect it. The piles of Gold Soul Coins shone so brightly they nearly blinded him.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Su Zhen thanked Qian Daoliu, then went into a shop nearby to buy milk.

Before long, Su Zhen came back with a Milk Bottle. He handed it to Oscar, who clutched it and gulped down the milk.

"Teacher, aren't you curious about the baby I'm carrying?"

Su Zhen was puzzled. His teacher hadn't mentioned Oscar at all.

"Do you think I'd really let a six-year-old child travel to Spirit City alone?"

Qian Daoliu glanced at Su Zhen and answered casually.

Su Zhen was deeply grateful. No wonder he hadn't encountered even a single bandit along the way. His teacher had been protecting him from the shadows. He also realized that his teacher probably knew he'd encountered the Black-Robed Man, but since his teacher hadn't brought it up, he kept quiet too.

The three soon reached the center of Spirit City. A mountain stood there, with a white-jade staircase winding from its foot to the summit. A guard stood every ten steps along either side, their cultivation ranging from Soul Elder to Soul King.

"Xiao Zhen, hand Oscar to the guard. Someone will take good care of him."

Su Zhen handed Oscar to the guard beside him, who carefully carried him away.

"The Worship Hall is at the summit. It's where we live and cultivate. The Pope Hall is halfway up the mountain. You shouldn't go there often..."

The two climbed the steps as Qian Daoliu introduced Su Zhen to the general layout of Spirit Hall.

It took them half an hour to reach the summit. There were thousands of steps, and Su Zhen could never have climbed them so quickly on his own. Halfway up, Qian Daoliu decided they were moving too slowly and used Soul Power to carry Su Zhen up the mountain.

A tall, ancient-looking palace stood atop the mountain. Two Angel Statues stood before its entrance, guarding it with drawn swords.

Qian Daoliu led Su Zhen inside. A towering Six-Winged Angel statue stood at the center of the hall. Beneath it stood six splendid figures. When they saw Qian Daoliu enter with someone, they hurried over.

"Big brother, is this the Su Zhen you told us about? It's this boy's good fortune to have caught your eye."

A white-haired boy who looked about fifteen ran his eyes over Su Zhen, stroking his chin. A white greatbow was embroidered on his exquisite robe. He was none other than the Fifth Offering, Guangling Douluo.

"Fifth Elder, show a little more composure in front of the younger generation."

A middle-aged man with a blue luan embroidered on his clothes spoke up. Third Offering Azure Luan Douluo was usually the most composed of them all.

Qian Daoliu introduced the offerings to Su Zhen one by one.

"Hello, Second Granduncle, Third Granduncle, Fourth Granduncle, Fifth Granduncle, Sixth Granduncle, and Seventh Granduncle."

Su Zhen greeted each offering politely.

"What a good boy. Here, this is a welcome gift from your Second Granduncle."

Golden Crocodile handed Su Zhen a bracelet. It was a Storage Soul Tool. Su Zhen injected Soul Power into it. Its thirty cubic meters of storage space was quite substantial, and inside lay a small mountain of Gold Soul Coins.

"Thank you, Second Granduncle. I love it."

"A trifle. I'm glad you like it, Xiao Zhen."

Su Zhen simply loved Gold Soul Coins. Golden Crocodile Douluo's gift was right up his alley.

"Xiao Zhen, come here. This is for you. There's a Heavenly Spirit Fruit inside. It can improve your constitution and strengthen your meridians. It's just right for someone like you, who hasn't obtained a Soul Ring yet."

Azure Luan handed Su Zhen a jade box.

"Wow, Third Brother, you're really generous. The Heavenly Spirit Fruit is a rare medicinal treasure. Great families often use it to improve their younger generation's aptitude, but it's very hard to find. The last time one appeared at the Heaven Dou Auction House, it sold for a million Gold Soul Coins!"

Guang Ling exclaimed in surprise.

"Huh? Third Granduncle, this is too valuable. I can't accept it."

Hearing how precious the Heavenly Spirit Fruit was, Su Zhen hurriedly waved his hands in refusal.

"It's all right, Xiao Zhen. Take it. I have no descendants, and the Heavenly Spirit Fruit is of no use to me. Giving it to you is the best use for it."

Azure Luan shot Guang Ling a glare, then turned and spoke gently to Su Zhen.

"Just accept what Third Brother gave you."

Qian Daoliu spoke up.

"Thank you, Third Granduncle."

Su Zhen took the jade box in both hands and carefully put it into the Storage Soul Tool on his finger.

"If Third Brother is being so generous, then the rest of us elders can't be stingy either. This Soul Bone is for Xiao Zhen."

Lion spoke as he took out a lead-lined box and handed it to Su Zhen.

Before Su Zhen could refuse, Qian Daoliu snatched the box away.

"Xiao Zhen is only six. He hasn't even obtained a Soul Ring yet. It's too early to give him a Soul Bone."

Qian Daoliu looked at Lion in exasperation.

Lion realized that this wasn't the right time to give the gift and scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile.

"Xiao Zhen, your Fourth Granduncle gave you a thirty-thousand-year-old fire-attribute right leg bone. I'll keep it for now and give it to you when you're able to absorb it."

"All right, Teacher. Thank you for the Soul Bone, Fourth Granduncle."

Su Zhen thought that each of these offering granduncles was richer than the last. They could hand out medicinal treasures and Soul Bones as if they were nothing.

"Fine, you've all come so well prepared. I won't be outdone either."

"Xiao Zhen, I found this Ice Scale Soft Armor while exploring some ruins when I was young. It can withstand most attacks from Soul Emperors and those below their level. It's yours."

Guang Ling started competing with his brothers. He'd planned to give Su Zhen something else, but his competitive streak got the better of him, and he gave away the armor.

"Thank you, Fifth Granduncle. I'll be able to wear this armor for many years."

Su Zhen accepted the armor and put it into his Soul Guidance Ring.

Qian Jun and Jiang Mo exchanged a glance, then each took out a jade box from his Soul Tool.

"Xiao Zhen, your Seventh Granduncle and I are giving you a medicinal treasure too. It's called the Yin Yang Body Forging Lotus. It has one stem and two flowers, sharing a root but bearing opposite attributes, one yin and one yang. Taking them together can greatly improve your physical constitution."

"The Yin Yang Body Forging Lotus is incredibly rare. Spirit Hall has found only three in its entire history. The current Pope managed the feat of obtaining a thousand-year Soul Ring as his second ring because he took one."

When Qian Jun mentioned the Pope, the atmosphere in the Worship Hall turned icy—but only for a moment.

"Thank you, Sixth Granduncle and Seventh Granduncle."

Surrounded by the people of the Worship Hall, Su Zhen was filled with joy. This place would be his home from now on, and these granduncles would be his family. He swore he would never let Spirit Hall's future history unfold as it had before.

Su Zhen touched his chest. Inside his clothes was an inner pocket, where he kept his father's wooden hairpin close and safe.