Spirit Connection Realm, Millennium Soul Spirit!

The space inside the Spirit Pagoda was even grander than it looked from the outside.

Across the vaulted ceiling, countless intricate Soul Tool patterns flowed like a galaxy. Soft white light spilled over the mirror-smooth metal floor, casting reflections.

"Every inch of air in this place reeks of burning money." Mang Tian muttered under his breath as he followed the receptionist, though his hand instinctively remained protectively at Tang Linyuan's side.

The one receiving them was a staff member in a white robe, with a badge reading "Junior Spirit Transmitter" pinned to his chest.

Though it was merely routine procedure, his attitude carried the particular professional indifference of the Spirit Pagoda.

"We'll conduct the basic tests first, then proceed to the spirit-drawing room. I've reviewed Red Mountain Academy's special authorization file. Although this draw is free, any damage to the equipment must be compensated at full price."

The staff member led them into a room filled with sophisticated instruments and pointed at a metal chair in the center.

"Sit down and relax your whole body. We'll test your Soul Power first, then your spiritual power."

Tang Linyuan sat down as instructed.

A futuristic-looking metal helmet slowly descended over his head, and the machine began operating.

"Beep—"

The number on the screen flickered, then settled without suspense.

"Soul Power: Rank 10. Innate full Soul Power." The staff member recorded it blandly. "Not bad. Your foundation is solid. Next is the spiritual power test. Bear with it; there'll be a slight stinging sensation."

Spiritual power was the foundation for a soul master to control Soul Spirits and unleash soul skills.

For a six-year-old child, spiritual power normally ranged from 10 to 20. Reaching 30 already meant extraordinary talent.

The staff member casually pressed the start button and picked up the teacup beside him, ready to take a sip.

But the next second, a piercing alarm startled his hand, spilling scorching tea all over it.

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

The number on the screen did not slowly climb as usual. Instead, like a wild horse gone out of control, it skyrocketed madly!

30... 50... 80... 100!

The red warning light flashed frantically. This was not a malfunction—the value had exceeded the preset "basic testing range"!

At last, amid a teeth-gritting screech of electric current, the number froze on a value that made every adult present stop breathing:

118.

"Th-this is impossible!" The staff member did not even bother wiping the tea from his hand, his eyes nearly popping out. "Is the machine broken? Restart it! Restart it now!"

"There's no need to restart it."

Mang Tian, who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke. His voice was hoarse, but it carried barely restrained ecstasy.

He looked at the boy removing the helmet, whose expression remained as calm as ever, as though he were witnessing a miracle.

"Spirit Connection Realm."

Mang Tian uttered those words, his throat feeling dry.

"Just entering the Spirit Connection Realm, with spiritual power exceeding a hundred. Is that even spiritual power a six-year-old child can possess?"

By soul master standards, spiritual power from 0 to 100 belonged to the Spirit Origin Realm, while 101 to 499 belonged to the Spirit Connection Realm.

It meant that one's heart and mind were connected, and one's thoughts could commune with spirits.

This was a realm many two- or three-ringed Soul Grandmasters needed years of cultivation to reach!

Lin Ximeng was completely speechless by then.

She had originally thought she was bringing a genius here to broaden his horizons. Now, it seemed she was the teacher whose horizons were being broadened.

Tang Linyuan stood from the chair and rubbed his temples.

A transmigrator's soul was naturally powerful. After six years of round-the-clock tempering by the Dragon Swallowing Breathing Technique, along with the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear nourishing his divine soul, if he could not even achieve such a number, he would have no face to claim he wanted to overturn the God Realm.

"Can I draw a Soul Spirit now?" he asked calmly, as if he had not just shattered a record.

"Ah... oh, y-yes!" The staff member's attitude took a complete turn, even the way he addressed him changing. "This way, l-little genius."

The spirit-drawing room.

A massive spherical Soul Tool stood in the center of the room. Countless balls of light churned within it, each one sealing a Soul Spirit.

"According to the agreement, you may make one random draw." The staff member explained with extraordinary care. "Press that red button, and a ball of light will drop down. White represents ten years, while yellow represents a hundred years."

Tang Linyuan walked over to the machine.

He did not press it immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes.

At that moment, the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear within him released an intensely hungry hum.

It craved, craved a "sacrifice" worthy of it.

"Come."

Tang Linyuan abruptly opened his eyes and slammed his right hand onto the button.

The sphere began spinning wildly, countless balls of light colliding with one another.

Several seconds later, one ball of light emerged from the rest and slid down the tube.

It was not white.

Nor was it yellow.

When that deep, sinister purple, carrying even a dense aura of death, entered everyone's sight, the entire room fell deathly silent.

"A-a thousand years?!" Lin Ximeng shrieked. "How is that possible? How could the random pool contain a Millennium Soul Spirit?!"

"No! Stop it, quickly!" The staff member's expression changed drastically as he lunged toward the control panel. "That's an abandoned sample! It's a system error!"

But it was already too late.

That purple ball of light had landed on the tray before Tang Linyuan.

The glow faded, revealing its true form.

It was not a complete dragon. It could not even be considered a complete snake.

It was a python-like Soul Spirit, entirely black and covered in shattered scales.

It had only one eye. Where the other should have been was a savage hollow that leaked black mist.

Its tail was severed, as though some terrifying existence had forcibly torn it off.

Though it possessed the purple halo of a thousand-year Soul Spirit, that halo was terribly unstable, swelling at times and dimming at others, radiating a nauseating aura of violence and decay.

"This is the 'Incomplete Black Water Demon Python,' serial number D-013. It's an abandoned item classified as 'extremely dangerous and impossible to fuse'!" Cold sweat poured down the staff member's forehead.

"Its soul is filled with resentment. It has no sanity at all and will only backlash against its host! Hurry, return it! You can't take this!"

"Damn it, I knew the Spirit Pagoda was unreliable!" Mang Tian roared angrily, stepping forward to pull Tang Linyuan away.

"Linyuan, don't touch it! This thing is trash. I'll buy you another one! The best hundred-year Soul Spirit!"

"Wait."

A fair little hand blocked Mang Tian's rough, large one.

Tang Linyuan did not retreat.

He stood before the Soul Spirit that radiated stench and death, his dark eyes meeting its lone eye.

To others, it was a dying mad dog.

But in Tang Linyuan's perception, beneath the cover of the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear's Spear Intent, he heard an unyielding hiss.

It was not merely a Demon Python.

It was a mutated breed with an extremely faint yet incomparably pure trace of Dark Demon Dragon bloodline within it.

It had become this wretched because it had tried to forcibly transform into a dragon and failed.

It was unwilling to accept it. It hated the heavens, hated this fate.

That hatred, that viciousness which wanted to bite its enemy to death even with a crippled body, suited Tang Linyuan perfectly.

"I want it," Tang Linyuan said softly.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Lin Ximeng was so anxious she was nearly in tears.

"Linyuan, that's a Millennium Soul Spirit! And it's incomplete! Your body can't withstand it. Its resentment will crush your spiritual sea!"

"I have spiritual power at the Spirit Connection Realm." Tang Linyuan turned to her, his gaze so calm that it was frightening. "And an ordinary Soul Spirit is not worthy of my spear."

"Teacher Lin, Teacher Mang."

He looked at his two anxious elders, a confident and arrogant curve rising at the corner of his lips.

"Only the fiercest beast is worthy of becoming the most ruthless Spear Soul."

"It isn't incomplete. It's merely waiting for someone who can suppress it."

Before anyone could react, Tang Linyuan reached out and grabbed the purple ball of light.

"Don't—!"

Amid the staff member's alarmed cry, Tang Linyuan did not hesitate in the slightest. He directly activated his Soul Power and absorbed that violent purple radiance into his body.

Boom!

An icy chill instantly swept through his entire body.

Tang Linyuan's body shuddered violently. A layer of black frost instantly formed across his skin, while the phantom of that one-eyed Demon Python roared madly behind him, opening its bloodied maw in an attempt to devour this audacious host.

"Wretched beast, since you've followed me, get down!"

Within his sea of consciousness, the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear shone brilliantly. The supreme pressure of a god-level Martial Soul crashed down like a mountain, smashing fiercely onto the Demon Python's head.

In reality, Tang Linyuan's somewhat pale face instantly regained its color.

He abruptly opened his eyes, and a purple-black vertical pupil flashed through them before vanishing.

The Soul Spirit ball of light, which had been struggling frantically moments earlier, now obediently turned into a streak of light and completely fused into his right hand.

Beneath his feet, a deep purple soul ring slowly rose.

Though its color was somewhat mottled, it was undeniably a genuine—thousand-year first ring!

The room was utterly silent.

Tang Linyuan clenched his fist, feeling that power filled with destruction surge through his meridians.

"See?" He looked at the dumbstruck Mang Tian and said lightly, "Saved a million."

Mang Tian stood with his mouth open, unable to say a word for a long while.

At last, he slapped his forehead and let out a long sigh.

"You brat... you're really a damn monster."

"Let's go." The boy turned around, his back appearing especially solitary beneath the purple light. "It's time to go back and forge."