Packed Up and Bound for the Capital

Faced with the olive branch Su Yuntao had extended, Mo Lin did not answer right away. Instead, he looked around, then circled the hall once, as though searching for something.

Su Yuntao and Tang San were both baffled. "What's this kid doing?"

"Seriously? There isn't even a stick?"

Mo Lin gave up on his obsession with recreating a famous scene and looked at Su Yuntao.

"I agree. When do we leave?"

"Huh?" Although Su Yuntao had great confidence in Spirit Hall's appeal, Mo Lin's casual agreement and his earlier strange behavior made him hesitate. Then he was overjoyed. He had unearthed a rare talent for Spirit Hall. "You agree! Good, good. Once you've said goodbye to your parents, we'll leave tomorrow morning. Oh, right, what's your name?"

Mo Lin lowered his head. "Mo Lin. I'm an orphan. I have no parents."

Su Yuntao felt that he had brought up an unpleasant memory for the child, so he said:

"Uh... then say goodbye to the people in the village you know. We'll leave this afternoon."

Then he walked out.

When Old Jack saw Su Yuntao emerge from Spirit Hall with the corners of his mouth raised and looking to be in a good mood, he asked:

"Master, is there a child who can become a Soul Master?"

Su Yuntao answered with a smile:

"That's right. Your village has produced two children with innately full soul power. Although one has the useless martial soul, Blue Silver Grass, the other is an absolute genius. He has agreed to go to Spirit Hall with me to train, and we'll be leaving this afternoon. There—the white-haired child named Mo Lin."

Old Jack was overjoyed and walked toward Mo Lin, who had just come out of the hall.

"Little Mo Lin, you've brought honor to our Holy Soul Village! This is the first time I've ever seen a child chosen directly by a master from Spirit Hall. You must work hard in the future and bring glory to Holy Soul Village!"

Over the past six years, Mo Lin had received no small amount of care from this kind and enthusiastic old village chief. Smiling, he spoke like an ordinary child:

"Grandpa Jack, don't worry. I'll definitely work hard!"

"But isn't leaving this afternoon a little too soon?"

Tang San walked over to Mo Lin and asked. Among all the children in the village, he could barely be considered the one most familiar with Mo Lin.

Old Jack had not expected Mo Lin to leave so soon.

"Little Mo Lin, isn't this too sudden? I was even thinking of having the village hold a proper celebration for you!"

Mo Lin sighed.

"Since we're talking about this, I'll say what's really on my mind. Grandpa Jack, Tang San, you both know that I don't have anyone here I'm particularly close to. To be honest, I'm the only one here with no family or relatives. Everyone feels more pity for me than anything else, so there's always been a sense of distance. But I know the people in the village have all treated me well. They let an orphan like me live properly for six years. If I said I had no feelings for this place at all, that would definitely be a lie. Now that I have a chance to survive on my own abilities, I really shouldn't make you do anything more for me."

After hearing Mo Lin's words, Old Jack patted him on the shoulder.

"I never expected you to be so sensible at such a young age. Then I won't force you to stay. Come back and visit when you have the time."

Mo Lin looked at Tang San. He had to admit that Tang San's character was truly noble. Whether he was familiar with someone or not, as long as he knew them and determined that they were not criminals, he would open his heart and communicate with them. This was completely opposite to Mo Lin's own approach. Although Tang San might become his greatest enemy in the future because of revenge and the innate chivalrous spirit of a martial artist, Mo Lin still decided to give him a push. Even though the final outcome would probably be the same either way.

"Grandpa Jack, Tang San is the other one with innately full soul power, but he doesn't have any prospects right now. You should help him more. I'm going to pack my things."

Mo Lin returned to his dilapidated little hut. He claimed he was packing, but faced with the bare walls and empty room, he truly could not think of anything to pack. That afternoon, he arrived at the entrance of Holy Soul Village empty-handed.

Su Yuntao was not surprised to see that Mo Lin had brought nothing. Holy Soul Village had never been particularly wealthy, and it was perfectly normal for an orphan to have no luggage. He took Mo Lin onto a carriage and headed for the largest Spirit Hall in the Balak Kingdom.

On the carriage, Su Yuntao gave Mo Lin a set of clothes he had prepared beforehand. What Mo Lin was wearing now was truly not fit to be seen in public.

After Mo Lin changed into the new clothes, Su Yuntao planned to properly explain the basics of Soul Masters, soul rings, and soul beasts. Mo Lin felt there was no need to make himself seem overly clever at this point, and it would be far too abnormal for an orphan from Holy Soul Village to know so much about these things. So he forced himself to listen as Su Yuntao spent half the day reciting a "Baidu Encyclopedia."

After the carriage had traveled for two days, it suddenly changed direction. According to Su Yuntao, they were heading straight for the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire to request an audience with Bishop Salas.

After thinking it over, Mo Lin understood what was going on. Su Yuntao originally had no right to directly request an audience with Salas, but having discovered a talent with a mutated martial soul and innately full soul power, a minor figure in Spirit Hall like Su Yuntao would never want to hand that credit over to someone else. So he had sent word directly to Salas over the heads of his superiors. Salas's prejudice had always been directed at those outside Spirit Hall, so he agreed to Su Yuntao's request to bring him straight to the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.

After three days on the road, Mo Lin and Su Yuntao arrived in the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. Looking at the architecture and road design, which were no less advanced than those of a modern city, Mo Lin said:

"I didn't expect it to be almost exactly like the anime."

"What did you say?" Su Yuntao asked.

"Nothing. I was just marveling at the grandeur of the imperial capital," Mo Lin brushed it off casually.

Su Yuntao snorted.

"That's only because you're young and have never had the chance to visit Spirit City. I was fortunate enough to go there once. Its grandeur is far beyond anything this place can compare to."

Mo Lin searched through his old memories. In the anime, didn't this guy host the final stage of the Soul Master Elite Tournament in Spirit City? Come to think of it, what exactly is his position?

Outside Spirit Hall, the guards stopped the two of them.

"Please present your token and state your purpose."

Su Yuntao took out his token.

"Five days ago, I applied to meet with His Excellency Platinum Bishop Salas today. Is His Excellency available now?"

After confirming that the token was valid, the guard said:

"Bishop Salas is currently in the main hall. Do not keep His Excellency waiting."

Inside the main hall, Salas sat in the central seat. His gaunt face and small goatee made it difficult for anyone to think he was a good person. No matter how one looked at him, he had the face of a born villain. It was truly unknown why Spirit Hall had assigned someone with not the slightest trace of kindness in his appearance to a position akin to that of a diplomat.

"You are Mo Lin, the genius with innately full soul power?" Salas asked.

Mo Lin placed his right hand over his left chest and bent slightly at the waist in salute:

"Just good luck. I wouldn't call myself a genius."

Salas chuckled a few times.

"I never expected that, at such a young age, you would not only understand proper etiquette but also be so modest. Very good, very good!"

He looked at Su Yuntao.

"You. I'll arrange a position for you in Spirit City. You may leave for now."

Su Yuntao bowed and withdrew from the main hall.

"Kid, show me your martial soul!" Salas said.

Mo Lin nodded and stirred his soul power. A golden vortex appeared in his right hand and slowly rose.