The Crystal Ball Shattered? Level 20 Innate Soul Power

Bishop Zhang opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.

If he were to actually report this to the Pope, would they not mobilize the army to march on King Frost Extreme's city by the very next day?

Shen Yinshuang's eyes reddened, and she pulled Luo Yun into her arms, hugging him tightly.

Luo Yun felt a bit breathless from his mother's embrace; his small face was buried in her soft clothes as he muttered in a muffled voice, "Mother, I haven't had breakfast yet."

Shen Yinshuang froze, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, tears streaming down her face as she did.

Luo Shang sighed and beckoned toward the door, "Someone, bring breakfast."

He turned his head to glance at Luo Yun again, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, "Add three bowls of rice."

Witnessing this scene, Bishop Zhang sighed softly and bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness, King Frost Extreme, I will not report this matter to the Spirit Hall. However, there are no airtight walls in this world; how this plays out will depend on you..."

Luo Shang nodded. For the other party to go this far was already giving him, the King Frost Extreme, plenty of face.

"I have troubled you, Bishop Zhang."

"You are too kind, Your Highness. Now, it is time to test the young master's innate soul power."

As he spoke, Bishop Zhang pulled a crystal-clear orb from his robes, about the size of a fist, emitting a gentle, warm luster.

"Young master, come, place both hands on it," Bishop Zhang said, forcing a smile.

"Try to channel the soul power within your body into it."

Luo Yun glanced at the crystal ball, then looked back at his father.

Luo Shang gave a slight nod.

Luo Yun walked over, stretched out his two small hands, and slapped them onto the crystal ball.

Hum!

The crystal ball flared to life instantly.

It didn't light up gradually; instead, it erupted with a blinding radiance, bathing the entire hall in a stark, snowy white.

Bishop Zhang's smile froze on his face.

Shen Yinshuang instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes.

Crack!

A crisp sound rang out.

A fissure appeared on the surface of the crystal ball.

Immediately after, more cracks followed, spreading across the surface like a spiderweb.

The next second, the entire crystal ball shattered into a pile of debris in Luo Yun's hands, the crystalline shards clattering onto the floor tiles and rolling everywhere.

The hall fell into sudden silence.

Luo Yun looked down at his empty little hands, blinked, then looked up at Bishop Zhang with an innocent expression.

"...It broke," Luo Yun whispered, his tone tinged with a hint of uncertain guilt.

Bishop Zhang's mouth hung open, his eyes wide as copper bells. He stared at the pile of shards on the floor for a full five seconds before suddenly drawing a sharp breath.

Bishop Zhang's voice trembled slightly.

"This, this..."

"The testing limit of this crystal ball is level nineteen! For it to shatter means... the young master's innate soul power exceeds level nineteen?!"

"Could it be... could it be innate level twenty?!"

The sound of the guards in the hall drawing sharp breaths rose one after another.

Innate full soul power was level ten.

Innate level twenty—what kind of concept was that?

In the understanding of ordinary soul masters, such a thing had never appeared before!

Luo Shang's fingers stilled on the armrest, his expression complex.

Gratification—of course, he felt gratification.

What father would not hope for his son to be a heaven-sent talent?

But more than that, there was worry.

He knew the Spirit Hall's style of conduct all too well.

That woman, Bibi Dong—if she could not possess something, she would destroy it.

A child who was innate level twenty at six years old, possessed twin martial souls, and was simultaneously receiving the inheritance of two deities...

Once this information leaked out, the entire continent would be shaken.

What would the Spirit Hall do?

Sending people to "protect" him? Or moving to strike directly?

Luo Shang slowly raised his head to look at Bishop Zhang.

Bishop Zhang was currently squatting on the ground, picking up shards. His hands were trembling, and he muttered to himself, "I have been awakening martial souls for thirty years, and this is the first time I've seen a crystal ball explode. The very first time..."

Just then, he felt a gaze fixed upon him.

Bishop Zhang's hands froze.

He slowly looked up, meeting Luo Shang's eyes, which were so calm they were almost devoid of emotion.

There was no killing intent in that gaze; it was even somewhat tranquil.

Yet, a chill ran down Bishop Zhang's spine, and every hair on his body stood on end.

Having spent most of his life in the Spirit Hall, he understood this look all too well.

If he were King Frost Extreme, he wouldn't let an outsider walk out of this great hall alive today either.

The corners of Bishop Zhang's mouth twitched into a bitter smile.

He carefully placed the shards in his hands onto the floor, stood up, and brushed the dust from his knees.

He had accepted his fate.

It was worth it, too.

To witness such a genius awaken in this lifetime—dying in Frost Ridge City wouldn't be a loss.

"Your Highness, King Frost Extreme." Bishop Zhang bowed deeply, his voice calming down. "This old man saw nothing today. The crystal ball was old and in disrepair; it shattered on its own."

Luo Shang looked at him, silent for a moment.

Then, he stood up, walked over to Bishop Zhang, and patted him on the shoulder.

"You've worked hard, Bishop Zhang." Luo Shang's tone was indifferent, as if he were discussing something mundane. "My estate is currently in need of a guest advisor. I wonder if Bishop Zhang would be willing to stay for a while?"

"I would be honored." Bishop Zhang smiled bitterly.

Luo Shang nodded and called out toward the door, "Someone, take Bishop Zhang to rest. Treat him well; do not show any neglect."

Two guards walked in and stood respectfully on either side of Bishop Zhang.

Bishop Zhang took one last look at Luo Yun.

At this moment, Luo Yun was squatting on the ground, poking at the crystal ball shards with his finger, his face full of curiosity.

"Young Master," Bishop Zhang suddenly spoke up, "this old man has a word of advice for you."

Luo Yun looked up.

Bishop Zhang looked at him earnestly, saying each word clearly: "If you become a god one day, do not forget that it was this old man who awakened your martial soul."

Luo Yun was stunned for a moment, then grinned. "Of course I won't forget."

Bishop Zhang smiled as well, his eyes turning red as he did so.

He turned and followed the guards out of the great hall.

The doors of the hall slowly closed behind him, shutting out the wind and snow.

Bishop Zhang walked down the corridor with light footsteps.

In this moment, he seemed to have aged many years.

He suddenly remembered his youth, when he too had been high-spirited, wanting to leave something behind on this continent.

Later, reality had worn down his edges, turning him into a slick and worldly middle-aged man, drifting through life in the Spirit Hall, awakening souls for others, writing reports, and collecting a salary.

He hadn't expected that today, the heavens would give him such a surprise.

"Worth it." Bishop Zhang muttered again, amused by himself.

Inside the great hall.

Luo Yun was still playing with the shards on the floor when Shen Yinshuang snatched him up.

"Is it dirty?" Shen Yinshuang glared at him while wiping his hands with a handkerchief.

"Mother, I really didn't break that crystal ball," Luo Yun insisted.

"I know, I know, it wanted to break itself," Shen Yinshuang said crossly.

Luo Shang stood to the side, watching the mother and son bicker. After a few moments of silence, he suddenly spoke, "Little Yun."

Luo Yun looked up at his father.

Luo Shang squatted down to be at eye level with his son and said earnestly, "Do not tell anyone about what happened today."