Qian Daoliu's Invitation

"Innate Full Soul Power!"

The crystal ball, filled with Soul Power, blazed with light, illuminating the astonished expressions on Mi An and Dean He's faces.

After a long moment, Mi An came back to his senses and stepped forward to grab Lin Beiya's arm, his eyes brimming with excitement.

He wasn't one of those clueless fools from some remote branch hall. Having received a good education in Spirit City, he knew that Lin Beiya's Martial Soul was definitely no ordinary thing. Though he still didn't know what use a stone carving could serve as a Martial Soul, the fact that innate Soul Power was tied to the strength of one's Martial Soul was beyond dispute.

Getting Lin Beiya into Spirit Academy for a better education was the most urgent thing he needed to do right now.

First, he would forge a good connection with a child whose talent was plain for all to see. Second, it would benefit his own performance record.

"Child, what's your name?"

"Lin Beiya."

Mi An's question brought Lin Beiya back to his thoughts. He smiled and introduced himself.

"A genius with Innate Full Soul Power only comes along once in a decade. After you return to the orphanage and pack your things, you can come with me to enroll at Spirit Academy."

"Thank you, Steward Mi. I'll be right back."

With Mi An's nod of approval, Lin Beiya returned to Shi Nuo, who was now even more excited than he was.

"That's amazing, Bei Ya! Innate Full Soul Power! Our North City Orphanage has never had a genius like this!"

"Haha, now we can enroll at Spirit Academy together."

"Great. We can look out for each other if we go together!"

Lin Beiya didn't refuse to join Spirit Academy just because the Spirit Hall would be destroyed by Tang San years from now. For one thing, he had indeed benefited from the Spirit Hall's kindness for the past six years. For another, after awakening Innate Full Soul Power right under their noses, if he turned around and refused to join the Spirit Hall, did he think Qian Xunji couldn't still swing a blade?

That's right. The current Pope of the Spirit Hall was still Qian Xunji. Lin Beiya had gleaned that from the dean through some subtle questioning. And the future Pope, Bibi Dong, was still the Saintess. Word was that she had been out of the public eye for years.

From this information, Lin Beiya could roughly deduce that the timeline was in the later stages of the secret chamber incident, while their God King Tang was probably still in Shu sneaking off to learn the Tang Sect Secret Arts.

Even if the incident of the Great Hammer beating the Pope to death broke out this very year, he could still be sure that he was six years older than Tang San.

Now that he had awakened the Athena Divine Cloth as the vessel for his Martial Soul, and had plenty of time to lay his plans, he had no reason to fear God King Tang.

While Lin Beiya was talking with Fatty, Dean He and Mi An finished their exchange and slowly came over to the two of them.

"Bei Ya, Shi Tou, starting tomorrow, you'll both report to Spirit Academy."

"Understood, Dean!"

Watching the two children he had raised step into a bright future, Dean He couldn't help a small smile from tugging at his lips.

"North City Orphanage will be proud of you. And once you make something of yourselves, don't forget the orphanage."

"Don't worry, we won't."

"That's right, Dean. We'll come visit you often."

Lin Beiya and Shi Nuo truly respected the orphanage dean who had raised them. The old man wasn't as self-serving as he claimed, focused on cultivating talent for the Spirit Hall. That was why he had treated every child with such care.

In fact, when he realized that Lin Beiya and Shi Nuo didn't fit in with the others, the old man had gone to considerable lengths to help them join the group. The two simply weren't interested, so in the end he gave up. He had never skimped on their food, clothes, or daily needs, either.

The two had seen all of this with their own eyes. So, once they were successful, they would do whatever they could to help the orphanage. They had no qualms about it.

"Mhm. You're both good children. I believe you'll become top-tier experts."

Just as Dean He was about to take the two back to the orphanage to pack their belongings, a golden figure suddenly appeared inside the side hall. His gaze fixed on the three of them—or, more precisely, the old man was staring straight at Lin Beiya.

The newcomer was Qian Daoliu, the former Pope of the Spirit Hall, who had vanished before the Angel Statue. Sensing that Lin Beiya's awakened Martial Soul could resonate with the Angel Statue, Qian Daoliu had hurried straight to the awakening site.

Since he had rarely shown his face in recent years, a low-ranking Spirit Hall steward like Mi An didn't recognize him. But judging by his clothes, he had to be a high-ranking figure in the Spirit Hall.

"Sir, may I ask what brings you here? This child awakened a stone-carving Martial Soul, but he has Innate Full Soul Power. I was planning to send him to Spirit Academy to study."

"A stone carving?"

At Mi An's words, Qian Daoliu furrowed his brow. He truly couldn't understand how a stone-carving Martial Soul could resonate with the Angel God.

After a long moment, Qian Daoliu decided to take Lin Beiya with him. It had been a long time since he'd felt the Angel God's calling. Now that there was finally some stir, he was determined to give it a try.

He took out the token unique to Douluo Hall and held it before Mi An. The Spirit Hall steward's pupils contracted, and his manner grew even more respectful.

"Greetings, Grand Pontiff. Do you want this child to join the Worship Hall?"

"Mhm. Leave this child to me. You can go take care of your other duties."

"Yes, sir!"

Lin Beiya had more or less figured it out, too. When Mi An addressed the man as Grand Pontiff, he understood who stood before him.

But Shi Nuo, standing to the side, saw a few words changing the course of his friend's life and grew anxious. He still wanted to go to school with Lin Beiya!

"Um... sir, does that mean Bei Ya can't go to school anymore?"

At Shi Nuo's words, both Mi An and Dean He shot him warning looks, signaling that he shouldn't offend this important man.

But children didn't worry about such things. Shi Nuo kept staring straight at the old man in front of him.

Fortunately, Qian Daoliu had no intention of taking offense at a child. He smiled kindly and ruffled the little chubby boy's head.

"Don't worry, child. Joining the Worship Hall doesn't mean he can't go to Spirit Academy anymore. He'll simply receive a better education. It's a good thing for your friend."

Hearing this, Shi Nuo breathed a sigh of relief and turned excitedly back to Lin Beiya.

"Bei Ya, did you hear? This sir's going to give you a proper education!"

"I know. Go home with the dean and pack your things. Pack my luggage, too. I'll go with this sir first."

"Okay! See you at Spirit Academy!"

After watching Dean He lead Shi Nuo away, Lin Beiya turned to meet Qian Daoliu's gaze.

"Your name is Lin Beiya, correct?"

"Yes. Bei Ya greets the Grand Pontiff!"

Seeing that the boy had the rare good manners to show respect, Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction before explaining why he had come.

"Your Martial Soul is quite unusual. Would you be willing to come with me to Douluo Hall?"

"I'm willing."

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Beiya immediately nodded and accepted Qian Daoliu's invitation. Staying at Douluo Hall was far better than being discovered by Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong in the future. After all, one of those two was doomed not to live long, while the other had nothing left in her heart but hatred.

By comparison, Qian Daoliu was much more normal.

"Mhm. Then come with me."

Qian Daoliu left the side hall, and the old man and the child made their way toward Douluo Hall on the Back Mountain.

I wonder how old that little blondie is now. Will I get to meet her this time?

Thinking of that angel investor, Lin Beiya felt his interest stirred—and began looking forward to his future.