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Twenty levels of Soul Power foundation showed their worth at a time like this.

Huang Fei closed his eyes and let his consciousness sink into his body. So this is what eight hundred and sixty years feels like...

He silently compared it to how Tang San had looked while absorbing his Soul Ring that afternoon.

Tang San's face had turned red, then pale. Sweat had beaded on his forehead, and he'd clenched his teeth. The process had lasted the better part of a quarter of an hour before he'd barely managed to finish.

As for Huang Fei, less than half that time had passed from when the Soul Ring began fusing with him to when it was done.

His face hadn't reddened. He hadn't broken a sweat. His breathing hadn't even changed.

A body with twenty levels of Soul Power could bear an eight-hundred-and-sixty-year Soul Ring with room to spare.

Plenty of room.

Huang Fei touched the place at his waist where the silver belt had fused into his body.

Even though the belt had merged with him, he still liked to feel for it through his clothes.

He had no idea how many treasures were stored in its forty-eight gemstones, but he wasn't ready to touch them yet.

He stood and walked over to the pool where the moonlight fell, then looked down at his reflection in the water.

A six-year-old boy, his features indistinct and his expression impossible to make out.

He raised his right hand and summoned his Martial Soul.

Blue Silver Grass appeared in his palm.

No, it shouldn't be called Blue Silver Grass anymore.

It still looked like a blade of grass, but it no longer resembled ordinary Blue Silver Grass.

Its stalk was a whole size thicker than before he'd absorbed the Soul Ring. Its color had changed from pale green to deep emerald, and its leaves shimmered faintly, as if someone had coated them with a thin layer of wax.

The entire plant radiated a vigorous life force, almost visible to the naked eye.

Set beside Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, one looked like a weed by the roadside, while the other looked like a carefully cultivated greenhouse variety.

But to the eye, it was still Blue Silver Grass. No one would suspect a thing.

Huang Fei willed his Soul Ring to rise from beneath his feet.

A yellow ring of light hovered above his ankles, slowly turning.

Its color was identical to an ordinary Hundred-Year Soul Ring. It was just a touch brighter, but under the moonlight, the difference was impossible to see.

Only when he deliberately fed Soul Power into it did the faintest trace of gold show through from beneath the yellow.

Even he had to lean in close and look carefully to notice that hint of gold.

As for the Soul Ring's exact age, not even Tang San or Yu Xiaogang could determine it. Even an ordinary Soul King could only sense a vague range.

For example, they might guess, "A Yellow Soul Ring, perhaps around seven or eight hundred years old," but they couldn't pinpoint its exact age.

An eight-hundred-and-sixty-year Soul Ring fell right into that range of "maybe a little high, but nothing outrageous." It wouldn't attract anyone's particular attention.

Huang Fei withdrew his Soul Ring, picked up the jacket he'd worn that afternoon from the bench, draped it over his shoulders, and headed for the door.

He'd been here long enough. It was time to go back.

When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped.

He looked down at his feet.

The one-hundred-and-twenty-year Green Vine Soul Ring he'd absorbed that afternoon was gone.

The system's reward, the eight-hundred-and-sixty-year Vine of Life Soul Ring, had directly overwritten that temporary one.

It had been completely erased, without leaving a trace, as if it had never existed.

In its place was this true First Soul Ring, the one that belonged to him.

Eight hundred and sixty years.

Vine of Life.

Enhanced Bind.

Huang Fei smiled faintly, pulled open the bathroom door, and slipped out.

The hallway was still empty. Moonlight lay across the floor just as it had when he came in.

He padded back barefoot, crossed the hallway, pushed open the door to Dorm Seven, and made his way silently past the rows of beds.

Tang San was still in the same spot, turned on his side, breathing evenly. He was in exactly the same position as when Huang Fei had left.

Huang Fei slipped back under his blanket, pulled it up to his chin, and closed his eyes.

A trace of warmth still lingered beneath the covers.

The silver belt at his waist lay quietly fused into his body, like a silent guardian.

And that true First Soul Ring slowly revolved within him, like a heart that had only just begun to beat.

Huang Fei smiled silently beneath the covers.

Starting tomorrow, Tang San would have his four-hundred-and-thirty-year Vine of Life Soul Ring. He would train hard, test his Soul Skill, spar with Xiao Wu using it, and push his limits again and again while hunting.

And Huang Fei would be stronger than him.

Not by much. Just twice as strong.

Always twice as strong.

Early the next morning, Yu Xiaogang was already standing at the entrance to Dorm Seven.

He wore a dark gray robe today, and his hair was neatly combed. He looked more energetic than usual.

The bronze Spirit Hall token at his waist reflected the morning light.

Tang San had just returned from washing up, still holding half a basin of water, and nearly bumped into him.

"Grandmaster?" Tang San stared at him in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm taking you to Spirit Hall to register."

Yu Xiaogang spoke in a businesslike tone. "You've both obtained your First Soul Rings, so you're officially One-Ring Soul Masters now. According to Spirit Hall regulations, all registered Soul Masters can collect a Gold Soul Coin allowance each month. That's no small sum for work-study students like you. Don't waste it."

One Gold Soul Coin.

Tang San's eyes lit up.

He'd learned the basics of Nuoding City's prices during his time there.

One Gold Soul Coin could pay for two months' worth of meals and still leave enough to buy materials for Hidden Weapons.

He certainly couldn't afford to waste that money.

"I'll go get Huang Fei." Tang San put down the washbasin and turned to head inside.

Huang Fei was already awake.

More precisely, Yu Xiaogang's voice had woken him.

He sat on the edge of his bed, his hair a bird's nest and his eyes half-lidded. His whole being radiated, "I'm not ready to face the world yet."

"Huang Fei, Grandmaster is taking us to Spirit Hall to register," Tang San said.

Huang Fei yawned and mumbled in reply, "Sure, let's go."

He put on his shoes at a leisurely pace, then his jacket, then ambled over to the door. The whole process took nearly two minutes.

Yu Xiaogang stood outside. His expression went from calm to patient, then from patient to furrowed brows. When Huang Fei finally came out, he drew a deep breath and swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

"Let's go."

Yu Xiaogang turned and headed toward the academy gate.

Tang San followed, with Huang Fei trailing behind them, hands tucked into his sleeves. His unhurried steps made it seem as if he were out for a stroll instead of running an errand.

They left Notting Academy and headed along the main street toward the city center.

The Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City stood in the busiest part of the city center. It was a three-story gray-and-white building, with four Roman columns at the front and the Spirit Hall insignia carved into the lintel.

It depicted an angel holding a holy sword.

It was also the symbol of the Angel Martial Soul of Spirit Hall.

The deacon Ma Xiunuo was already seated behind the reception desk.

He was a man in his fifties, with graying hair and a kind face. He wore a Spirit Hall uniform washed pale from use, and a bronze badge hung on his chest to mark his status as a deacon.

The Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City was small, so he handled most of its daily affairs himself.

It wasn't a busy day for registration. The hall was quiet, with only two young girls in line to register for Martial Soul Awakening.