Bishop Orleans's gaze passed over Lin Gang and landed directly on Lin Ze'an. The smile on his face grew even more kindly. "Young man, would you be willing to join Spirit Hall?"
He crouched down, doing his best to bring his eyes level with Lin Ze'an's. "If you join Spirit Hall, we'll take care of every Soul Ring you need."
"And with talent like yours, you'll certainly be valued within the Hall. All kinds of cultivation resources will be directed your way. You might even be personally taught by a Titled Douluo."
Orleans's tempting words were like a stone tossed into a tranquil lake, sending ripples through Lin Ze'an's heart.
It was true. This was exactly what he needed. If he didn't join Spirit Hall, there probably wasn't anyone who would work for him for free and help him obtain Soul Rings.
After all, his father could deal with century-old and thousand-year Soul Beasts, but not ten-thousand-year ones.
Still, he didn't answer Orleans immediately. Instead, he turned to his father, seeking his opinion. "Dad?"
At that moment, Lin Gang was still completely immersed in shock and disbelief. His mind hadn't yet managed to process this unbelievable news.
Only when Lin Ze'an called to him did he abruptly come back to his senses.
Seeing the questioning look in his son's eyes, Lin Gang hesitated.
Spirit Hall... Yes, Spirit Hall was good. His son would also have the chance to reunite with his maternal grandfather.
He was only a Soul Ancestor. Keeping his son by his side would ultimately only waste his talent.
Lin Gang ruffled Lin Ze'an's hair. "Son, this is your own path. Whatever you choose, Dad will support you."
With his father's support, a serious expression appeared on Lin Ze'an's little face.
He recalled the stories his father had told him about his mother—she had come from Spirit Hall, the place where she had grown up.
He turned back to face Orleans, whose gaze was full of anticipation, and said, "Yes, I'm willing to join Spirit Hall."
"Good! Good! Good!" At his words, an immensely bright, satisfied smile blossomed across Orleans's face, and he said "Good" three times in a row.
As soon as he finished speaking, the smile vanished from Orleans's face. He walked out of the room and ordered the middle-aged deacon outside:
"Seal off Spirit Branch Hall immediately! No one is allowed in or out! Without my personal order, don't let even a single fly through!"
Seeing the sternness in the bishop's eyes, the middle-aged deacon immediately realized how serious the matter was. He bowed and accepted the order. "Yes, Your Excellency!"
He turned and hurried away. Before long, hurried footsteps and deep shouts of command sounded outside.
Next, Orleans instructed his trusted subordinate, "Use the fastest channel in the Hall to send a confidential report about this matter to Spirit Hall..."
"No, send it directly to Pope Palace! The contents are as follows: Spirit Branch Hall has discovered a six-year-old child named Lin Ze'an with Innate Soul Power of level twenty."
"His Martial Soul is an unknown top-grade plant type, with immeasurable potential. He has now joined the Hall. His Holiness the Pope is requested to decide what should be done."
With talent like this, even setting aside the various forces that might come after him if it became known, his First Soul Ring had to be chosen with the utmost care. It wasn't a decision Orleans could make himself.
Only after doing all this did Orleans slowly let out a breath.
Listening to Bishop Orleans issue one stern order after another—even reporting directly to Pope Palace—
And seeing the hall turn instantly grim and become completely sealed off, Lin Gang and Lin Ze'an looked at each other. Both saw deep bewilderment and a hint of absurdity in the other's eyes.
Lin Gang opened his mouth, but in the end, he only let out a silent breath and instinctively pulled his son closer.
His son's talent was astonishing, sure, but wasn't this reaction a little too exaggerated?
Lin Ze'an blinked too and muttered under his breath, "Well, damn..."
Though it was both expected and reasonable, experiencing it firsthand really was something else.
If nothing unexpected happened, his First Soul Ring was out of the question for the next few days.
Sure enough, after Spirit Branch Hall had been sealed off for several days, several powerful presences descended outside its gates.
Orleans, who had been waiting for them for quite some time, sensed their arrival. An immensely excited and honored smile instantly blossomed across his face.
He straightened his purple bishop's robes and hurried out of the hall, bowing to greet them. "Elder Chrysanthemum! Elder Ghost!"
At the head of the group outside the hall were none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
Behind them, several red-robed bishops, each at least a Soul Douluo, spread out to guard every corner of Spirit Branch Hall.
For two Titled Douluo to come in person was an extraordinary display. Such a thing was rarely seen even at the Spirit Hall Main Hall, let alone at a small branch hall.
Chrysanthemum Douluo lightly brushed his slender fingers over his temple and looked at Orleans. "Orleans, where is the child you reported?"
"Take us to see him. If your report is accurate, you'll be rewarded greatly."
Orleans didn't dare show the slightest negligence. He quickly stepped aside to lead the way. "Elders, please follow me. The child and his father are resting in the side hall."
He bowed as he led the way, and the group soon reached the side hall's entrance.
Orleans was about to knock and announce them when Chrysanthemum Douluo gently raised a hand, signaling him to step aside.
Yue Guan stepped forward himself. He didn't immediately push open the door, but closed his eyes slightly as a powerful pressure silently seeped into the room.
Inside, Lin Gang, who had been sitting restlessly, suddenly felt an indescribable pressure. The hairs on his body stood on end, and he couldn't even summon his Martial Soul.
He hastily pulled his son behind him, shielding him completely. His face had gone pale as he stared at the door, his heart pounding wildly.
Lin Ze'an felt the invisible pressure too, but a warm aura of life instinctively flowed around him, dispelling the discomfort.
Unlike his father, he didn't feel the same way. He simply blinked in confusion.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes flew open, and he couldn't help exclaiming under his breath, "He's completely unaffected by my pressure?!"
A child so young couldn't possibly have a high Soul Power Level. The only possibility was...
His Martial Soul was of such high quality that it could even suppress Yue Guan's own Martial Soul!
He withdrew all the Soul Power pressure he had used to test them, then knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The sound of the knocking broke the tense stillness in the room.
"Lin Ze'an, may we come in?"
Lin Gang took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. "Son, it should be the Spirit Hall elders. Don't be afraid."
At that, Lin Ze'an looked toward the door and said softly, "Please come in."
Hearing the reply from inside, the eager smile on Chrysanthemum Douluo's face grew even brighter. He gently pushed open the door.
Orleans followed him in and introduced them to Lin Ze'an. "An'an, these are Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, elders of our Spirit Hall."
Lin Ze'an nodded and cupped his hands with the solemnity of an adult. "I'm Lin Ze'an. Greetings, Elder Chrysanthemum and Elder Ghost."
"You two elders have come a long way. Thank you for your efforts."
Before you continue