Thousand Year Soul Spirit? The Most Compatible Soul Spirit Is!

"So, let's talk about my plans for you."

Leng Yaozhu sat down again, her slender fingers lightly tapping the armrest as she spoke in an unhurried tone:

"My first requirement is this: your first soul ring must be at the thousand-year level."

Bai Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.

A Thousand Year Soul Ring as his first ring?

For an ordinary person, that was no different from courting death.

But given the quality of his martial soul and the level of his spiritual power... it was indeed possible.

"Besides that," Leng Yaozhu continued, "you must also enter the Genius Youth Ranking."

"Before you turn thirteen—"

She paused, staring directly into Bai Yuan's eyes as she enunciated each word:

"Reach the top and take first place."

Bai Yuan froze for a moment.

"Huh?"

The Genius Youth Ranking?

That was no good ranking, Teacher.

In the original timeline, everyone who made the list later became a clown.

Whoever got on it was doomed. It was the most cursed ranking among all cursed rankings.

Leng Yaozhu raised a brow. "What, are you scared?"

"No, no."

Bai Yuan immediately dropped that expression, straightened his back, and put on a serious face.

"Understood, Teacher. I'll do it."

What was there to fear? That was other people.

He was not one of those unlucky fools from the original timeline.

Leng Yaozhu looked into his clear, resolute eyes. There was neither evasion nor reluctance.

She nodded in satisfaction.

This child was far more composed than she had imagined.

"Come with me." She rose to her feet, the hem of her dress fluttering lightly.

But Bai Yuan did not move at once.

After hesitating for a moment, he turned around. "Teacher, can I say goodbye to them first?"

Leng Yaozhu was slightly taken aback.

She had not expected this child... to be someone who valued his relationships so deeply.

She nodded. "Will ten minutes be enough?"

"Enough."

After saying that, Bai Yuan turned and headed outside.

In the orphanage hall, the children stood in little groups, some still discussing the martial soul awakening from earlier.

When they saw Bai Yuan enter, every gaze changed.

There was envy, jealousy, admiration, and distance.

Bai Yuan paid none of it any mind.

He walked straight toward the director and those who, over the past six years,

had truly cared for him.

"Director."

The old director looked at him, tears glimmering in her cloudy eyes. She patted his shoulder, her voice slightly choked:

"Kid, make something of yourself."

Bai Yuan nodded firmly. "I understand."

He then looked at several companions he usually got along well with and hugged them one by one.

"Take care."

"You too."

"Don't forget us once you make it big!"

"I won't."

They were simple words, without much sentimentality, but there was light in everyone's eyes.

Bai Yuan knew clearly that this place was merely a stopover for him.

Sooner or later, he would leave and head for a broader world.

But over these six years, some people had truly treated him well.

He would remember that kindness.

Ten minutes later, Bai Yuan walked out through the orphanage gates.

Leng Yaozhu was already waiting in the car.

He looked back at that familiar building and fell silent for several seconds.

To say he felt nothing would have been a lie.

After all, it had been six years.

From his first babbling words to awakening his martial soul today, the most bewildered and helpless years of his life had all been spent here.

Later... when he had the means, he would repay them properly.

Leng Yaozhu saw his expression through the car window, and her voice was unusually gentle:

"It's all right. Your teacher will take good care of you from now on."

Bai Yuan withdrew his gaze, grinned, and jumped into the car.

"Let's go, Teacher."

Outside the window, the orphanage gradually receded, growing smaller and smaller until it finally vanished from sight.

Bai Yuan leaned against the seat, watching the scenery flash past outside as he silently said to himself:

Goodbye.

Then,

he clenched his fist and felt the dormant Core Flame within his body.

Next, it was time to make his mark on this continent.

The car slowly drove into the East Sea Spirit Pagoda district.

Bai Yuan looked out through the window.

The towering pagoda pierced the clouds. Its entire structure had been forged from some special metal, gleaming with a cold silver-gray sheen beneath the sunlight.

This was the Spirit Pagoda.

One of the most powerful forces on the continent.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Bai Yuan saw a group of people already waiting outside.

At their head was a middle-aged man wearing an exquisite Spirit Pagoda uniform. His hair was meticulously combed, and a perfectly measured welcoming smile sat on his face.

Seven or eight others stood behind him, each with a straight posture and solemn expression.

Leng Yaozhu pushed open the door and stepped out.

The middle-aged man immediately came forward, bending lower than usual, unable to hide the excitement in his voice:

"Your Excellency Heavenly Phoenix, your personal visit truly brings honor to this humble place!"

Leng Yaozhu gave him a faint glance and nodded slightly.

"Not bad. The work you've done these past years has been very good. The Leng Family will not forget you."

The moment he heard that, the man's eyes lit up.

His voice trembled with excitement. "Understood! Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will devote myself fully!"

Leng Yaozhu swept her gaze over the surroundings, her tone still calm. "Prepare a lounge for us.

Then take him to select a Soul Spirit."

"Yes, yes, yes—"

The man nodded repeatedly before finally noticing Bai Yuan standing beside Leng Yaozhu.

His gaze lingered on Bai Yuan for a moment, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

This child... for Heavenly Phoenix to bring him here personally, he either possessed extraordinary talent or an astonishing background.

Still, he could not ask directly.

"Your Excellency, this young master is..." he asked tentatively.

Leng Yaozhu glanced at Bai Yuan. Her tone was casual, yet carried an unquestionable declaration:

"My disciple."

The man's pupils shrank, and the respect on his face deepened instantly.

Heavenly Phoenix's disciple??

That identity carried far more weight than "extraordinary talent" or "an astonishing background."

He immediately turned to Bai Yuan, his attitude even more attentive than it had been toward Leng Yaozhu:

"So you are Your Excellency's prized disciple! Please forgive my lack of courtesy!"

Bai Yuan nodded politely without saying much.

The man did not mind. He turned and instructed the people behind him:

"Hurry and prepare it! The best lounge!"

"Yes!"

Several staff members hurried away, moving with the efficiency of people carrying out an urgent mission.

"Your Excellency, Young Master Bai Yuan, this way, please." The man stepped aside to lead them onward, his posture respectful to the bone.

The group passed through the Spirit Pagoda's lobby. Along the way, every staff member they encountered stepped aside and lowered their heads in salute.

Bai Yuan followed behind Leng Yaozhu, sensing the gazes directed at him.

There was curiosity, envy, and speculation.

Six years ago, he had been an orphan no one cared about.

Now, as he walked through the Spirit Pagoda, everyone had to make way for him.

Bai Yuan lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips curving slightly.

Interesting.

Before long, they were led into a spacious, brightly lit lounge.

The room was lavishly furnished.

Soft sofas, expensive tea sets, and soul-conducting murals on the walls slowly displayed images of Mountains and Rivers.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire scenery of Eastsea City lay spread out before them.

"Your Excellency, Young Master Bai Yuan, please rest for now," the man said respectfully. "I'll make the arrangements at once. Once the staff are ready, they will take Young Master Bai Yuan to select a Soul Spirit."

"Mm. Thank you for your trouble." Leng Yaozhu nodded faintly.

"No trouble, no trouble.

Your Excellency's presence is this subordinate's honor!"

The man exchanged a few more pleasantries before carefully withdrawing and gently closing the door behind him.

The room fell quiet.

Leng Yaozhu sat on the sofa, casually crossing her long legs as she looked at Bai Yuan.

"Sit."

Bai Yuan sat down in response, but his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the window again.

The Spirit Pagoda... really was impressive.

"What, are you dazzled?" Leng Yaozhu looked at him with a faintly amused smile.

"No." Bai Yuan withdrew his gaze and answered honestly, "It's just... things changed too quickly.

Yesterday, I was still lining up for food at the orphanage. Today, I'm sitting in the best lounge of the Spirit Pagoda."

Leng Yaozhu chuckled softly, picked up a teacup from the table, and took a sip.

"This is nothing.

Once you stand somewhere higher in the future, you'll look back on today and find it not worth mentioning."

Bai Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

"Oh, right." Leng Yaozhu set down her teacup and looked at Bai Yuan. "Do you have any thoughts about selecting a Soul Spirit?"

Bai Yuan thought for a moment and said seriously, "Teacher said earlier that my first soul ring must be at the thousand-year level.

So when choosing a Soul Spirit, should I use the thousand-year standard?"

"Not just the thousand-year level." Leng Yaozhu shook her head. "The quality of the Soul Spirit is also very important.

An ordinary thousand-year Soul Spirit is not worthy of your martial soul."

She paused, her gaze sharpening slightly.

"I'll have the people here bring out the best ones.

Feel them out yourself. Choose whichever resonates most strongly with your martial soul."

Warmth rose in Bai Yuan's heart, and he nodded. "Understood. Thank you, Teacher."

"What are you thanking me for?" Leng Yaozhu waved a hand. "You are my disciple, so naturally I will give you the best."

She looked out the window, her tone calm but carrying a deeper meaning:

"But remember, what I can give you is only resources.

Whether you can turn those resources into strength depends on you."

Bai Yuan drew a deep breath and said earnestly:

"Rest assured, Teacher. I won't disappoint you."

Leng Yaozhu looked at him but said nothing more.