When they got downstairs, the young Spirit Master took out a helmet and slowly handed it to Li Ang.
"This is specially designed to test spiritual power. It can detect your true spiritual power level."
"Your current strength has already reached the first ring, so you're eligible to obtain a Soul Spirit."
"If your spiritual power is high enough, the Pagoda Master will most likely give you a Soul Spirit. He might even try to recruit you. When that happens, you'd better agree."
Xiao Zhou looked at Li Ang, speaking with great seriousness. A trace of envy showed on his face.
A genius with Innate Full Soul Power was a rare sight—even the entire Spirit Pagoda might not see one in a year.
He'd run into one this time, so his commission for the year was as good as secured.
Yet looking at Xiao Zhou, Li Ang wore a puzzled expression.
"Are you sure he'll recruit me, and not Li Junyue?"
As he spoke, Li Ang glanced at him. Then, perfectly calmly, he put on the helmet and lay down on the bed to begin the spiritual power test.
Xiao Zhou was left utterly bewildered by the question. But when he saw the boy lie down, he scratched his head and said nothing.
The spiritual power test was quick. As the readings began to appear on the display beside them, Li Ang's initial reading was already over 100 points.
Watching the spiritual power reading climb at a wild pace, Xiao Zhou first looked surprised. Then his pupils suddenly contracted.
An ordinary person's spiritual power started at a few dozen points, sometimes even just a dozen or so.
Even exceptionally gifted geniuses who awakened a spiritual power Martial Soul had initial readings that hovered around 100 points.
But this boy had just awakened, and his spiritual power had already reached 100 points—and it was still rising.
It finally slowed to a stop at a staggering 512 points.
Looking at the reading, Xiao Zhou fell silent for a moment. Calmly, he clicked cancel and started the test again.
Only after the second test was complete, when he saw the reading of 514 points, did Xiao Zhou sit there in silence.
He was already a three-ring Spirit Master. Reaching the third ring in his twenties didn't make him a genius, but neither did it make him a failure. He barely counted as an ordinary person.
Yet his spiritual power was only around 170 points. There was no comparison between him and this kid, whose innate spiritual power was over 500.
Xiao Zhou couldn't help feeling inferior.
But when he saw Li Ang sitting up as if he were already at home and taking off the helmet, Xiao Zhou fell silent.
"Student Li Ang, do you... want to join our Spirit Pagoda? You'd receive a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit for free."
Xiao Zhou's voice sounded numb.
To his surprise, Li Ang simply nodded, perfectly calm.
"You agree to join? Didn't you... say you wouldn't?"
"I was messing with you. I'm an orphan. If I don't join the Spirit Pagoda, where am I supposed to live?"
Li Ang stood up and brushed off dust that wasn't there.
As the powers continued to merge, he could feel the power of Geo Archon Rex Lapis within him beginning to awaken.
Or rather, his Douluo Planet was beginning to connect with the source of Geo Archon Rex Lapis.
Whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, Li Ang had no idea.
At any rate, according to his deductions, as his strength grew, the environment of Douluo Planet might change—especially the Rock Element.
This element, which was the equivalent of earth in this world, would grow tremendously stronger, perhaps even reaching a level people could hardly bear.
But that had nothing to do with him. This planet wasn't his, at least not yet.
When the two of them returned, Shen Ming looked at Li Ang's test report, his eyes gleaming faintly.
"Little Li Ang, would you be willing to become my disciple?"
"If you're willing, I can provide you with a Hundred-Year Soul Ring right away, and you can choose it yourself."
"I'll also give you an allowance of 10,000 Federal Credits each month and provide the cultivation resources you'll need going forward."
Shen Ming spoke earnestly. His offer was very enticing—it was practically the best deal Eastsea City could provide.
He genuinely wanted to take Li Ang as his disciple, even if there seemed to be something wrong with the boy's head.
But did that matter?
Not at all. In fact, it was the least important thing.
As long as his talent was good enough and his potential high enough, that was what mattered.
If his head wasn't right, they could fix that. They could all learn from him, and then his head would be normal.
Meeting Shen Ming's expectant gaze, Li Ang paused only briefly before nodding. He had no objection, but he did have one request.
"I can become your disciple, but I hope you'll help support our orphanage. I mean, send money every year."
Li Ang looked at Shen Ming, speaking with great seriousness. The confusion in his eyes seemed to vanish in an instant.
Under that calm gaze, even Shen Ming was taken aback.
Looking into the boy's serene eyes, he nodded instinctively. "Of course."
"I can provide the orphanage with around 50,000 Federal Credits each month on behalf of the Spirit Pagoda, and arrange to have it renovated."
"Any children at the orphanage with talent can also join the Spirit Pagoda."
"How does that sound?"
Shen Ming looked at Li Ang and spoke earnestly. This was already one of the best offers he could make.
Li Ang was quite satisfied with it. For the orphanage, this would be a major change, and it would also let him repay the kindness he owed them.
After all, he'd been lying in the snow when he was born. If the orphanage hadn't taken him in, he most likely would have died.
The director had saved his life. A life-saving kindness made her his parent all over again.
So he didn't think it was at all inappropriate to secure some benefits for the orphanage.
Shen Ming saw Li Ang nod. Li Ang immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed with a loud thud.
"Your disciple Li Ang pays his respects to Master."
"Get up, quickly. Xiao Zhou, put aside your other work for today. I'm leaving this child in your hands. Help him take care of the remaining paperwork, then bring him back to our Spirit Pagoda."
As he spoke, Shen Ming looked toward Xiao Zhou, who was standing nearby.
Xiao Zhou paused, then nodded seriously.
Shen Ming was very busy. Especially during the awakening period, he had to review and approve the records of everyone's awakened Martial Souls, so there was no way he could be away for long.
After saying that, Shen Ming was about to leave. But when he saw the boy standing there, looking around and already wearing that same foolish expression again, he fell silent for a moment. Then he led the other two outside.
In the line outside the orphanage, the director watched the room with a tense expression.
She could sense that the strange disturbance was coming from inside—the room the child had just entered.
The director was growing anxious. But before she could think any further, the door opened.
A handsome, middle-aged man and a young man walked out. Li Ang, the child from her orphanage, followed alongside them.
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