Martial Soul Branch Hall

After several days of travel, Lin Gang and his son, dusty and weary, finally arrived at the town on the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest.

The town was small, yet exceptionally bustling due to the nearby forest. Everywhere one looked, there were spirit masters with various equipment, merchants selling supplies, and teams recruiting temporary members.

Lin Gang did not lead his son directly toward the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest. Instead, he guided him toward the most magnificent building located in the center of the town.

It was a branch of the Spirit Hall.

At the peak of the hall stood a massive statue of a Six-Winged Angel, symbolizing the faith of the Spirit Hall.

Lin Ze'an looked up at the Six-Winged Angel with a hint of surprise.

As expected of a world of spirit masters, human labor is the cheapest commodity. Even a branch hall in such a small place has a Six-Winged Angel statue; they certainly don't mind the trouble.

Lin Gang whispered an explanation to him: "A place like the Star Dou Forest is far too dangerous; it is not somewhere we can go right now."

"We are heading to the Soul Hunting Forest, which is managed by the empire, but one cannot simply enter it whenever one wishes."

He pointed toward the Spirit Hall branch and said, "You must come to the Spirit Hall for a test to prove that your spirit power has indeed reached the bottleneck required to obtain a spirit ring."

"Furthermore, according to regulations, you need the joint guarantee of at least three nobles before the Spirit Hall will issue an entry permit."

At this, a look of helplessness appeared on Lin Gang's face.

A noble's guarantee? How could people from such remote towns or villages possibly know any nobles?

But as he looked at his son, his eyes lit up once more: "However, rules are rigid, but people are flexible."

"With your innate full spirit power talent, I imagine the people at the Spirit Hall will be willing to make an exception."

"After all, providing convenience to a genius is, for them, a form of investment."

Having said this, Lin Gang straightened his slightly wrinkled clothes, trying his best to look more presentable, and then, taking Lin Ze'an by the hand, he stepped through the gates of the Spirit Hall branch.

The interior of the hall was quite spacious, yet there were few people inside.

A middle-aged man wearing white robes with the Spirit Hall emblem pinned to his chest was busy flipping through some files.

At a single glance, Lin Gang recognized him as the deacon of this branch.

He led Lin Ze'an forward and spoke politely: "Lord Deacon, apologies for the intrusion."

Although the man's spirit power level was inferior to his own, given the status of the Spirit Hall, Lin Gang could not afford to put on any airs.

The middle-aged man looked up, his gaze sweeping over the plainly dressed Lin Gang and the young Lin Ze'an, and asked in a businesslike tone: "What is the matter?"

"Lord Deacon, this is my son, Lin Ze'an. He just turned six this year, and his spirit power has reached the bottleneck; he needs to obtain his first spirit ring."

"I would like to apply for a permit for him to enter the Soul Hunting Forest," Lin Gang said respectfully, handing over the two wooden plaques that identified them as villagers.

The middle-aged man took the plaques and examined them, his brows furrowing slightly: "According to the regulations, you need the guarantee of three nobles. Do you have any guarantors?"

As the words left his lips, he suddenly paused, then hurriedly asked: "Wait, what did you say?"

Just six years old? Meaning he had just awakened his spirit? And his spirit power had already reached the bottleneck?

He pulled out a thick register and began to scan it rapidly.

A moment later, he looked up at Lin Gang and asked in confusion: "Your son, Lin Ze'an, is not on the register."

"According to the records, this year's awakening ceremony has already concluded, and all children of age are registered. Did you awaken his spirit yourself?"

Lin Gang nodded: "Yes, Lord Deacon. Because when the deacon came to our village, my son had not yet turned six, so he missed it."

"A child's cultivation is a major matter, and I dared not delay it, so I used an awakening stone I had kept from before to awaken his spirit myself."

At this, a look of embarrassment crossed Lin Gang's face: "Lord Deacon, we are merely ordinary villagers and do not know any nobles."

Just then, a man dressed in purple robes with a graceful and dignified air walked out slowly.

His gaze swept over the astonished middle-aged deacon and finally landed on Lin Ze'an.

The middle-aged deacon hurriedly bowed in salute: "Bishop Orleans! This person..." He proceeded to recount everything he had just heard.

Orleans waved his hand, then looked at Lin Ze'an with eager eyes, a kind smile appearing on his face: "Little one, there is no need to be nervous. Come, follow me."

His attitude took Lin Gang by surprise, but given the man's noble status, he could only pull his son along and cautiously follow the purple-robed bishop.

Orleans led them through the hall to a quieter room in the inner sanctum.

In the center of the room, a massive, crystal-clear crystal, half the height of a person, was silently floating in mid-air, rotating slowly.

Lin Ze'an opened his eyes wide in surprise; it was his first time seeing such a huge crystal that could actually float.

Orleans explained with a smile: "This is the crystal used in the hall for precise spirit power testing. It is far more accurate than the ordinary crystal balls outside and can withstand much stronger spirit power."

"Come, child, place your hand on it and let me see your spirit power level."

Clearly, this child had piqued his great interest.

If he truly possessed innate full spirit power, and he could recruit him into the Spirit Hall, such a merit would surely elevate his own status within the organization.

Lin Ze'an nodded, and under Orleans's eager gaze, he stepped forward and pressed his small hand against the surface of the cold, massive crystal.

The moment his palm made contact and his spirit power was slightly released—

"Hum!"

A beam of emerald-green light, far more magnificent and pure than what had appeared at home, erupted from within the crystal like a rising green sun.

Light instantly flooded every corner of the room, bathing the faces and robes of the three in a translucent emerald glow, brimming with the aura of life.

Even the drooping ornamental plants in the corner of the room straightened up at a speed visible to the naked eye.

After all, the essence of testing soul power was the external release of soul energy, and since Lin Ze'an's martial soul possessed the ultimate attribute of life, such a phenomenon was hardly surprising.

The massive crystal hovered steadily, perfectly bearing the weight of this power.

The emerald light swirled slowly within it, eventually coalescing into an incredibly bright ring at the top of the crystal, its height firmly locked onto the mark representing "Level 20."

The smile on Bishop Orleans's face froze instantly, replaced by astonishment and disbelief.

He whipped his head around to look at Lin Ze'an, doubting whether something was wrong with his own eyes.

Beside him, Lin Gang was equally dumbstruck, his mouth slightly agape, completely unable to comprehend the current situation.

However, the Spirit Hall's soul-testing crystal had existed for a very long time and would never malfunction.

After a brief, deathly silence, the shock in Orleans's eyes rapidly transformed into a gaze that was almost scorching.

The way he looked at Lin Ze'an now was as if he were admiring a peerless treasure.