Although Wang Wei had said they were "just going through the motions," he already knew what to expect. If the unusual phenomenon in the awakening room wasn't Innate Full Soul Power, he wouldn't be going to find his wife in bed tonight.
The instant he saw Liu Lin put his hand on the crystal ball, it gave a low hum. Then it burst into dazzling white light, so bright that Wang Wei nearly went blind.
Even though he'd been prepared, Wang Wei couldn't help blurting out when he saw what was happening.
"Holy crap."
Knowing about it was one thing. Seeing Innate Full Soul Power with his own eyes was another.
After all, he hadn't seen a genius with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power in the Star Luo Empire for a long time.
"All right, take your hand away."
At Wang Wei's words, Liu Lin obediently lifted his hand from the crystal ball. Wang Wei then put it into his storage Soul Tool.
Wang Wei took a deep breath, his expression turning considerably more serious.
"Kid, would you like to study at Star Luo Royal Academy? Then, after you graduate, you can receive the title of viscount and live like a cut above the rest."
As soon as Liu Lin heard this, he understood what was going on. Wang Wei wanted to recruit him to serve the Star Luo royal family.
Liu Lin thought in silence for about two minutes, then gave a slight nod.
"Lord Wang, of course I'd like to study at Star Luo Royal Academy."
The reason Liu Lin agreed to Wang Wei's offer wasn't that he didn't want to join another faction. It was that, at this point in Peerless Tang Sect, he genuinely had nowhere else to go.
Go to Shrek Academy? He was afraid he'd turn into one of those heavenly dragons. And he was even more afraid that one day, with Xuan Zi of the Holy Spirit Cult leading the group, they'd suddenly spring into action and sacrifice him. Then he really wouldn't have anywhere to cry about it.
Go to the Sun Moon Empire? He'd pass. His parents had died at the hands of people from the Sun Moon Empire, so there was no way he could go there.
Other than those two places, where could he go? Heaven Soul or Dou Ling?
He was a native of the Star Luo Empire, and his parents had died as martyrs. Wasn't it better to make a life for himself in the Star Luo Empire with that distinction behind him?
When Wang Wei saw Liu Lin nod in agreement, his eyes lit up and he couldn't hold back the smile tugging at his lips.
"Haha, my little bonus is on its way. No, calm down."
Liu Lin saw Wang Wei's smile creep higher and higher until he was practically grinning like a fool. He could only cough twice to get his attention.
"Um, Lord Wang, now that I've agreed, what do I need to do?"
Liu Lin's voice pulled Wang Wei back from his thoughts. He quickly wiped the smile from his face, cleared his throat, and spoke.
"You don't need to do anything. Just wait here for a little while. I'll go report this."
"Of course. Go ahead, Lord Wang. I'll wait here."
Wang Wei nodded at Liu Lin's reply, then turned and hurried out of the orphanage.
Meanwhile, after Dean Zhang had taken all the frightened children back to their rooms, she returned and happened to see Wang Wei talking to Liu Lin. Wang Wei then left in a hurry.
She hurried over to Liu Lin, took his hand, and checked him over from head to toe before finally letting out a long breath.
"Dean Zhang, I'm fine. Didn't Lord Wang already tell you that?" When Dean Zhang came over and immediately checked him over, Liu Lin felt a warmth in his heart. He smiled at her as he spoke.
"Ah, Liu Lin, the dean was still worried about you. Even though Lord Wang told me you were fine, I wanted to check for myself." Dean Zhang's wrinkled face broke into a kind smile.
"Thank you, Dean Zhang." Hearing her words, Liu Lin bowed to her.
"Ah, Liu Lin, it's no big deal. You don't need to do that. I watched all of you grow up."
When Dean Zhang saw Liu Lin bow to her, she quickly helped him back up.
"Oh, right, Liu Lin. What were you talking about with Lord Wang?"
"Why did he hurry off just now?"
"Lord Wang saw that I have such great talent and wants to recommend me to study at Star Luo Royal Academy. He's probably gone to discuss the details." Liu Lin answered Dean Zhang's question.
Dean Zhang was stunned for a moment when she heard Liu Lin's reply. Then her wrinkled face filled with smiles, creases appearing at the corners of her eyes.
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Our Liu Lin has made it. Star Luo Royal Academy is the best academy in the Star Luo Empire."
At Dean Zhang's praise, Liu Lin scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
"I'll have the dining hall cook a few extra dishes for lunch to celebrate."
With that, Dean Zhang hurried off toward the dining hall. Liu Lin watched her beam like a child. The refusal that had been on the tip of his tongue slipped away, and he watched her go.
Meanwhile, outside the orphanage, Wang Wei stood holding a messaging Soul Tool and grinning like a fool. Remembering the task his superior had given him, he finally came back to his senses.
Just moments earlier, he'd gone outside and used the messaging Soul Tool to send his superior a report. His superior had told him to wait outside the orphanage and, no matter what, make sure no one else took Liu Lin away.
His task now was to protect Liu Lin until his superior arrived. Then he'd be rewarded with a generous supply of cultivation resources.
Once Wang Wei came to his senses, he ran back into the orphanage toward Liu Lin.
Star Luo City, the emperor's bedchamber.
A young man dressed in pale gold everyday robes sat at his desk, a pen in his right hand as he carefully reviewed memorials. His face still looked young, but his brows already held a hint of sharpness. He was about twenty-three or twenty-four.
On closer inspection, though, his eyes were bloodshot, his exhaustion impossible to hide.
This man was none other than the emperor of the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiawei.
A hurried set of footsteps sounded outside the hall, followed by the shrill voice of a eunuch.
"Your Majesty, Count Su requests an audience."
When Xu Jiawei heard that his subordinate had arrived, he set down the pen in his hand and looked up. He called to the eunuch outside the hall:
"Quickly, invite Count Su in."
About a minute later, the palace doors swung open, and a burly middle-aged man hurried inside.
After entering the hall, Count Su dropped to one knee and bowed to Xu Jiawei, speaking respectfully. "I pay my respects to Your Majesty. Your servant has an urgent matter to report."
Seeing how anxious Count Su looked, Xu Jiawei was curious.
"Oh, Minister Su, please rise."
"What has you hurrying here to report to me?"
Count Su rose as requested and reported what his subordinate had told him that day.
"Your Majesty, one of my subordinates went to awaken Martial Souls at an orphanage in the suburbs of Star Luo City today and discovered a genius." Count Su then recounted what Wang Wei had told him.
"Twin Martial Souls, Innate Full Soul Power, and a dragon-type Martial Soul."
After hearing Count Su's account, the fatigue in Xu Jiawei's eyes gave way to excitement. He knocked several books off the desk without even noticing.
"Your Majesty, after receiving word from my subordinate, I investigated Liu Lin's records."
Count Su then went over what he had learned about Liu Lin's background.
After hearing about Liu Lin's past, Xu Jiawei fell silent for a moment. Then he slowly closed his eyes and said in deep regret,
"This is my failure. How could I have let the child of a martyr who gave their life for the nation live in such poverty?"
He opened his eyes again, his gaze resolute.
"Minister Su, I'm going to leave the palace and recruit him in person. You'll accompany me."