What Do You Think of Spirit Hall?

"Bulba! Bulba—!"

Bulbasaur understood its master's intentions and the deeper meaning behind them.

It was not particularly interested in knowledge, but the need for its own evolution, along with its instinctive need for safety and the intense conviction born from having been hunted, made it fully agree.

The little fellow excitedly used Vine Whip to lightly smack the ground.

"Then it's settled!"

Lin Xia looked at Star Luo City in the distance, its silhouette incomparably imposing beneath the sunset, then lowered his head and patted Bulbasaur's head.

"But Bulbasaur, I may have to make you suffer a little and return to the Martial Soul space. I'll definitely let you out again soon!"

Upon hearing this, a trace of disappointment flashed through Bulbasaur's red eyes, but it still nodded obediently.

Lin Xia sighed at the sight, yet he still recalled Bulbasaur into his body.

It was not that Lin Xia did not want to keep Bulbasaur outside. It was simply that what had happened with Yue Hongsheng forced him to become more cautious.

Not everyone was like Yue Hongsheng, but caution was still necessary.

Lin Xia also knew that the Martial Soul space was extremely unfriendly toward a living being like Bulbasaur, but there was no other choice.

Under normal circumstances, Bulbasaur itself was unwilling to return there. It was like a little dark room inside, where it had to endure confinement and darkness. That was one reason Lin Xia usually did not recall Bulbasaur into the Martial Soul space.

The lingering light of the setting sun coated Star Luo City's gray-black stone walls, dozens of meters high, in molten gold. Beneath the enormous arched gate, the crowds flowed endlessly, and waves of noise rushed toward him.

Standing at the city gate, Lin Xia gazed at the majestic city before him, unable to suppress the shock in his heart.

The broad stone-paved avenue could accommodate more than a dozen carriages abreast. Tall buildings stood in neat rows on either side, their style rugged and sturdy, while the pedestrians wore all manner of clothing.

Yet their bearing was clearly more capable and hardened than that of the people he had seen along the way. The air was filled with the scents of ironware, soul beast materials, spices, and a vitality unique to a vast empire.

"There is a difference even between the two great empires..."

Lin Xia murmured softly. The tension in his nerves after fleeing for his life all the way here instead allowed him to confirm his previous understanding from another angle as he faced this magnificent city.

"If Spirit Hall had not been there to keep the balance... perhaps Star Luo would have long become the sole ruler of this continent."

The thought flashed through his mind, and Lin Xia quickly composed himself.

His past experiences had taught him that sighing over such things was meaningless. Survival and growth were his foremost priorities.

Lin Xia did not wander around the city for long. Instead, he followed the map and headed purposefully toward a conspicuous cluster of buildings within the city.

At the heart of that complex stood a grand hall. On its roof was a massive statue of a scepter and longsword crossed together—the emblem of Spirit Hall.

Spirit Hall was larger and more solemn than any building at Plant Academy, carrying an authority that seemed to stand above the empire itself.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Xia stepped into Spirit Hall's spacious main hall.

The floor was polished like a mirror. Soul Masters hurried back and forth in standardized uniforms, the badges on their chests denoting their various ranks.

An invisible pressure hung in the air. This was a center of order and power.

Lin Xia walked to a reception desk and directly stated his identity and purpose.

"Hello, I am Lin Xia. I am seven years old, a level sixteen one-ring Battle Soul Master. I wish to apply to join Spirit Hall and serve as a deacon responsible for awakening the martial souls of commoner children."

His words were concise, without any embellishment.

The young Soul Master at the desk visibly froze upon hearing that he was seven years old and level sixteen. He carefully examined Lin Xia, seemingly trying to discern something from his obviously homemade, simple vine armor and his overly calm expression.

A moment later, he nodded, his attitude becoming somewhat more respectful.

"Please wait a moment. I need to report this to Master Salas. He is the deacon elder of our branch hall."

With that, he quickly turned and left.

Not long afterward, a middle-aged man around fifty years old arrived under the receptionist's guidance.

He wore a neat dark-blue deacon's uniform and had a medium build, tidy short gray hair, and eagle-sharp eyes. His face was stern but not harsh, and his steady, powerful stride naturally carried an air of authority.

This was Salas, the deacon elder responsible for grassroots personnel and daily affairs at the Star Luo City Spirit Hall branch.

Lin Xia had not expected him to come down personally.

Could he be another person like Yue Hongsheng?

But that can't be right. I haven't even mentioned my martial soul. He shouldn't know anything about me.

With that thought, Lin Xia calmed down slightly.

As for Salas, the moment he came down, his gaze fell upon Lin Xia. Those sharp eyes seemed capable of seeing through the vine armor and straight to his essence.

"You are Lin Xia? Seven years old, with level sixteen Soul Power?"

His voice was low and powerful, carrying a probing note.

"Yes, Elder Salas."

Lin Xia gave a slight bow, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Mm, not bad. You're promising!"

Salas looked Lin Xia up and down, paying particular attention to the strange vine armor covering his entire body as though it had grown from his skin.

"Come to my office and we'll talk."

Salas did not waste words and turned to lead the way.

Salas's office was located to one side of the hall. It was spacious and bright, with simple, practical furnishings, while one wall was covered entirely in built-in filing cabinets.

He closed the door, shutting out the noise outside.

Salas sat behind a broad desk and pointed to the chair opposite him.

"Sit, Lin Xia. Tell me why you want to join Spirit Hall—and specifically why you wish to become a low-level awakening deacon. With your age and Soul Power rank, you would have more than enough qualifications to ask for a better position.

"At your age, I could even recommend you to further your studies at Spirit Academy. Your future would be bright, so why settle for such tedious, time-consuming grassroots work?"

"What is your martial soul? And why are you wearing such... unusual armor?"

Salas's questions came one after another, each striking at the heart of the matter.

Lin Xia sat upright, the muscles beneath his vine armor tensing slightly.

Facing this shrewd elder, Lin Xia understood that evasions or lies would be difficult to make work. After a brief pause, he decided to be partially honest.

"My martial soul... is a mutated martial soul with an independent life. Its name is Bulbasaur. As for the reason..."

Lin Xia raised his head, his green-and-purple heterochromatic eyes calmly meeting Salas's scrutinizing gaze.

"Spirit Hall enlightened me on my path as a Soul Master, so I want to repay Spirit Hall. I do not have lofty ambitions. I would rather gain experience at the grassroots level."

Salas heard sincerity in Lin Xia's words, but he could also tell that the boy was concealing something. For a moment, he fell silent.

Seeing this, Lin Xia had wanted to bring up Yue Hongsheng. Everything Yue Hongsheng had displayed while hunting him down undoubtedly marked him as an evil Soul Master Spirit Hall would seek to eliminate, but Lin Xia was uncertain...

After all, Yue Hongsheng had managed to hide himself until reaching his current age, and had even become a Soul Sage!

Lin Xia did not believe Yue Hongsheng lacked even a few friends. Even if the chance was one in ten million, Lin Xia did not want to gamble on it, so he chose to remain silent.

Fortunately, after watching Lin Xia for a while, Salas did not press him for details.

"Then, Lin Xia..."

Salas's tone softened, carrying a hint of examination.

"What do you think of Spirit Hall, the force you wish to join?"

The question was unexpected, yet also reasonable.

His thoughts raced as some of his understanding from his previous life intertwined with the scenes he had witnessed in this world.

After considering it for a moment, Lin Xia decided to speak his truest thoughts. It never hurt to flatter others, and besides, regardless of what Spirit Hall's intentions might be, one judged a gentleman by his deeds, not his heart. To himself and the common people of the continent, Spirit Hall truly was an excellent organization!