Spirit Hall Academy

At 8 p.m., the family returned to the same hotel where they had stayed before setting out.

After returning to the supply town, the Zhang family rested there for two full days, finally allowing their taut nerves to unwind.

Two days later, they set off by carriage. It was not until mid-December that they finally returned to Heding City.

Back home, before the servants could bring Zhang Lingyue his tea, the gatekeeper, Liu Shouzhuo, came in clutching a letter.

"My lord, two days ago, a steward from the Martial Soul Sub-Hall delivered this letter."

Zhang Lingyue opened the envelope and unfolded the letter. At a single glance, his calm expression turned to astonishment. "What? Spirit Hall Academy?"

Heding City Martial Soul Branch Hall, reception room.

There were only a few people in the reception room, but every one of them held a position of great importance in Heding City.

The sole exception was Zhang Yang, who was only six and a half years old and had eleven levels of Soul Power.

At that moment, Zhang Yang sat quietly in a corner of the reception room, dressed in a fine robe.

Before long, the reception room door opened, and a middle-aged man in a purple robe entered, guided by a maid.

When the purple-robed man arrived, everyone in the room rose to greet him.

"Archbishop Sanders, allow me to introduce..."

Also dressed in purple, Austin, the head of the Heding City Martial Soul Branch Hall, began introducing everyone to the visitor as the host.

Archbishop Sanders had short hair like steel bristles, thick eyebrows, and a naturally imposing expression.

After introducing everyone, Austin pointed to Zhang Yang, who stood at the end of the group, quiet as could be. "This is Zhang Yang, the only son of Vice Hall Master Zhang Lingyue."

Zhang Yang bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Archbishop Sanders."

Sanders nodded, then reached out and grasped Zhang Yang's hand, carefully feeling his bones.

"Six years old. Good. Release your Martial Soul."

"Yes."

Zhang Yang obediently raised his right hand. Soul Power surged in his palm, and the M14 appeared.

At the same time, a yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring appeared beneath Zhang Yang's feet, pulsing in a steady rhythm.

"If someone didn't know his background, they really wouldn't guess that Zhang Yang's Innate Soul Power was only one."

Archbishop Sanders nodded slightly. "He's only six, yet he's already obtained his first Soul Ring. Just as the confidential letter said, he's a genius and certainly qualified to enter Spirit Hall Academy."

Only then did Archbishop Sanders allow Zhang Yang to withdraw his Martial Soul.

After checking Zhang Yang's bone age and examining his Martial Soul, Archbishop Sanders cupped his hands toward Hall Master Austin and Zhang Lingyue. "Verifying his identity is part of my duty. I hope Archbishop Austin and Archbishop Zhang won't take offense."

Zhang Lingyue hurriedly waved his hands. "Oh, not at all! The rules are the rules, and you were only doing your duty, Archbishop Sanders. I understand."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone sat down again. The maid outside the door promptly refilled their tea.

Taking a sip, Archbishop Sanders said calmly, "All right, now that his identity has been verified, we can proceed with the formalities."

"I hereby announce that Zhang Yang will enter Spirit Hall Academy as a specially admitted student."

Special admission was one way Spirit Hall Academy recruited talent without sticking to convention.

It was mostly used for gifted young Soul Masters like Zhang Yang, who had already demonstrated their talent outside the academy.

Tang San, who had just obtained a Soul Ring, was one such example.

If he accepted Soul Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo's offer, then once the recommendation was submitted to Spirit Hall, Tang San would very likely become a specially admitted student and enter Spirit Hall Academy.

Compared with students admitted through the normal process, specially admitted students at Spirit Hall Academy received clearly superior treatment.

Perhaps it was to make up for the time these gifted Soul Masters had lost studying elsewhere, or perhaps it was to display Spirit Hall's sincerity in "paying a thousand gold for a horse's bones" and win people's hearts.

This time was no exception.

"Of course, this decision also takes into account that Zhang Yang is one of our own, a member of Spirit Hall, as well as the cultivation talent he has demonstrated."

"As a specially admitted student, the academy will assign a Black-robed Archbishop to teach you one-on-one during your initial period."

"Once Zhang Yang's cultivation talent has been further verified, a teacher of a higher rank will take over."

"A Black-robed Archbishop?" Everyone in the room was startled.

A Black-robed Archbishop was a Soul Emperor-level powerhouse. Only after earning a certain amount of merit could one be recommended to one of the two Martial Soul Sacred Halls and promoted from Purple-robed Archbishop.

An archbishop of this rank, when posted to a local area, would inevitably be the undisputed leader of an entire city. Yet at Spirit Hall Academy, one would merely be a teacher.

And only a teacher for the initial period.

The academy's faculty was so powerful that there was probably nowhere else on the continent that could match it.

"Mm." Archbishop Sanders nodded. "Archbishop Zhang Lingyue, as Zhang Yang's father, feel free to ask whatever's on your mind."

Zhang Lingyue stood and cupped his hands. "Sir Sanders, naturally, I'm delighted that Spirit Hall Academy has taken an interest in my son."

"Your academy holds an exceptional position within Spirit Hall's education system and has a wealth of talented teachers. It's a blessing for Zhang Yang to study there."

"But there's one thing I can't make head or tail of. I hope you can enlighten me, Sir Sanders."

Sanders nodded. "Archbishop Zhang Lingyue, please ask."

"How did Spirit Hall Academy learn the specifics of my son's situation?"

Zhang Lingyue asked earnestly, "Which colleague recommended my son to your academy? I can't pretend not to know about such a kindness."

"So that's what you're wondering." Sanders smiled and answered frankly. "There's no kindness to speak of. It's simply part of our duty."

"Information about Zhang Yang came from several sources."

"One of them was naturally Heaven Dou Academy."

"Spirit Hall Academy doesn't recruit students from outside. All of our students are recommended through internal channels."

"Among those sources, Heaven Dou Academy and Star Luo Academy account for the majority."

"Every six months, those two academies submit a report to us on the recent cultivation progress of their students, so that we can screen and recruit candidates."

"Archbishop Zhang Lingyue's letter reached Heaven Dou Academy at just the right time, coinciding with the key point in their second report of the year. So Heaven Dou Academy added information about Zhang Yang to the report and sent it along to Spirit Hall Academy."

Zhang Lingyue suddenly understood. "I see."

"Exactly." Archbishop Sanders nodded. "As for the second source, it was the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Sacred Hall."

"A few days ago, the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Sacred Hall received a report from your Heding City Martial Soul Sub-Hall. It included information about Zhang Yang."

"The Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Sacred Hall was eager to find talent, so it recommended Zhang Yang to Spirit Hall Academy."

"After comparing the two reports, the academy leadership decided to send me to Heding City to recruit Zhang Yang."

Zhang Lingyue finally understood. So that was what had happened.

No wonder he had sent Zhang Yang's information to the Martial Soul Hall Heaven Dou City Academy, yet Spirit Hall Academy was the one that had responded.

"I see. Thank you, Archbishop Sanders, for clearing that up. I have no further questions." Zhang Lingyue cupped his hands in gratitude.

Sanders nodded, and with a turn of his hand, a sheet of paper appeared in it.

"This is Spirit Hall Academy's admission notice. Please keep it safe, Archbishop Zhang Lingyue."

"According to the Education Committee's orders, Zhang Yang must report by December 31. Please make sure he isn't late."

"Understood."

"Good." Archbishop Sanders nodded, then rose and addressed Hall Master Austin beside him. "Archbishop Austin, my mission is complete, so I won't impose any longer. Please have someone prepare a horse. I must return to Spirit City at once."

"Ah, Archbishop Sanders, why the rush? Why not stay another couple of days and let us play the gracious hosts..."