Is He Not Human?

"Sure enough, it's him."

Seeing Lin Bei, Qian Renxue, representing the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, had a flash of realization in her eyes.

Before coming here, she had already guessed it was Lin Bei. Now that she saw him, it was indeed him—the little fellow who had left a deep impression on her in Heaven Dou City.

Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes, a gentle smile remaining on her lips.

No one knew what she was thinking at that moment.

Beside Qian Renxue was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's seating area.

Ning Rongrong was held in Ning Fengzhi's arms.

When she saw Lin Bei walk up from below the steps, her gaze flickered—

Though she did not want to admit it, that guy suited those clothes quite well.

Hm, she was only praising the outfit for being beautiful. She definitely was not praising someone for being overwhelmingly handsome.

Ning Fengzhi had learned yesterday that Lin Bei would be the protagonist of today's event, so he was not particularly surprised. He merely glanced discreetly at Pope Bibi Dong, who stood in the middle of the procession—

He always felt that Spirit Hall had some sort of scheme behind this.

After all, this Pope was in the prime of her life and had no hidden ailment. There was absolutely no need for her to designate a Saint Child so early and find herself an heir.

In the original work, Hu Liena only became the Holy Maiden after completing Slaughter City, reaching level fifty-nine in Soul Power, and truly surpassing her elder brother, Xie Yue.

Bestowing the title of Saint Child upon Lin Bei so suddenly was simply far too abrupt and unreasonable—

No matter how he thought about it, it felt like there was some conspiracy involved.

As he pondered, a layer of unease settled over Ning Fengzhi's heart. Yet his outward expression did not change. He remained as warm as a spring breeze, appropriately joining the others in showing curiosity and surprise.

Bibi Dong wore a luxurious Pope Robe, held the Pope's Scepter in her hand, and wore the Amethyst Gold Nine-Bend Crown upon her head. Her gaze remained fixed straight ahead—

Even with Xue Qinghe, disguised by Qian Renxue, standing beside her, she remained unmoved. She only watched Lin Bei as he walked step by step toward the Angel Statue.

Lin Bei knelt before the Angel Statue.

The Master of Ceremonies beside him began reciting Lin Bei's bestowal proclamation in a special chanting cadence.

The proclamation broadly introduced Lin Bei's background—where he came from, how he was now the personal disciple of the current Pope, Bibi Dong, and how strong he was.

This was meant to tell all Soul Masters across the world—

We at Spirit Hall cherish talent this much.

We do not care about your origins. Whether you are born of nobility or commoners, as long as you possess sufficient talent, you can even become the Pope's disciple and be bestowed the title of Saint Child—

Look at Lin Bei. He was born a commoner, yet Spirit Hall does not care about his origins at all. He is now not only the Pope's disciple, but is also about to become our Saint Child!

Come join us!

Quite a few nobles and sect members attending the ceremony changed expression slightly upon hearing this.

Among these nobles and sect disciples, the people they usually despised most were Soul Masters of common birth. Such Soul Masters were merely expendable resources when they hunted Soul Rings.

They had not expected Spirit Hall's Saint Child to actually be of common birth.

Spirit Hall had already been trying to win over commoner Soul Masters before.

Were they now going to intensify their efforts and fight for even more commoner Soul Masters?

Those commoner Soul Masters did not have much talent at all. The occasional genius appeared only once in a hundred million cases. Trying to win over those commoner Soul Masters was simply thankless labor, so why was Spirit Hall doing this?

Some clear-minded nobles and sect disciples had already begun deeply considering the purpose of Spirit Hall's Bestowal Ceremony today, while other, more foolish nobles and sect disciples secretly mocked Spirit Hall's stupidity in their hearts.

By then, the Master of Ceremonies had finished introducing Lin Bei's background. At the end, he shouted grandly, "Saint Child Your Highness, please unleash your martial soul!"

This step was meant to let everyone know just how powerful Lin Bei's talent and strength were—to the point that he needed to be bestowed the title of Saint Child.

Hearing the Master of Ceremonies' shout, Ning Fengzhi, who was watching from the side, narrowed his eyes—

When he had encountered Lin Bei yesterday, Gu Rong beside him had sensed Lin Bei's strength. Gu Rong had told him that Lin Bei's Soul Power had already reached level twenty-nine or thirty.

Ning Fengzhi had been extremely shocked at the time.

This child was only a little over six years old. How could his Soul Power possibly have reached level thirty?

When they met in Heaven Dou City, the child had not even possessed his first Soul Ring. How had his Soul Power reached level thirty after such a short time?

A six-year-old Soul Elder? Impossible...

But Ning Fengzhi also knew that Gu Rong would never deceive him.

Therefore, Ning Fengzhi now desperately wanted to find out exactly what level Lin Bei's Soul Power had reached.

From his perspective, the youth dressed in ceremonial attire calmly extended his hand. Then, endless divine light erupted from the youth's hand, transforming into an enormous axe—

The next moment, a terrifying pressure and aura surged forth like overturning mountains and seas. Two black... wait, black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings!?

And there were two of them?!

Ning Fengzhi's eyes widened—

An expression of astonishment appeared on his refined, elegant face.

The others wore expressions much the same as Ning Fengzhi's.

Lin Bei only had to sweep his gaze around once to see basically the same expressions everywhere: surprise, shock, astonishment, surprise, calmness, dumbfounded disbelief, surprise...

The calm expression belonged to Bibi Dong.

Qian Renxue stared wide-eyed at Lin Bei, who stood in the arena gripping a massive axe. "T-two Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings?!"

Qian Renxue's heart was filled with questions.

She prided herself on having peerless talent. Not only did she possess the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, the one closest to a god, she also had an unprecedented innate soul power of level twenty.

Yet both her first and second soul rings had only been hundred-year level!

How had this guy done it?

How could anyone absorb Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings for their first and second soul rings?!

Wouldn't his body explode?

Apparently not...

Qian Renxue looked at Lin Bei, who stood there in high spirits like a divine son, her expression complicated. She secretly sighed. No wonder Mother... that woman had named him the Holy Son.

Beside her, Ning Rongrong, held in Ning Fengzhi's arms, had likewise widened her eyes. Her crystal-clear, amber-like eyes brimmed with surprise and curiosity.

Recently, under the guidance of the teachers in her clan, she had been learning about soul rings.

Her teacher had told her that a human Soul Master's first soul ring was usually at the hundred-year level and could not exceed five hundred years, or their body would explode and they would die.

She had taken that knowledge very seriously.

Because before long, she would be able to hunt for her own first soul ring.

However...

Ning Rongrong had never expected it.

The worldview her clan teacher had only just built for her was shattered here in an instant.

Teacher, didn't you say that a Soul Master's first soul ring couldn't exceed five hundred years?

Why did someone here have a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?

Could this guy not be human?

At that thought, Ning Rongrong's eyes widened even further—

Not human?!

Ning Fengzhi looked doubtfully at Ning Rongrong in his arms and asked, "Rongrong, are you all right?"

That shouldn't be possible. He had already blocked the aura Lin Bei had unleashed. Rongrong shouldn't have been affected.

"Daddy, he, he..."

Ning Rongrong pointed at Lin Bei in the arena, whose black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings made him appear mysterious and powerful, and shrank back. "He isn't human, is he?"

"Huh?"

Ning Fengzhi froze for a moment, then lectured her with a laugh, not knowing whether to cry or laugh. "Rongrong, although Lin Bei's talent is so strong that he hardly seems human, you can't say he isn't human. We must be polite children and not insult people."

Ning Rongrong pouted. When did I insult him?

When I said he wasn't human, I wasn't insulting him. I was genuinely asking whether he was human!

She opened her mouth, about to speak, when an unexpected change suddenly occurred in the arena.

Everyone's already astonished faces became even more astonished.

They all widened their eyes.

Even Bibi Dong could not help opening her mouth at that moment, her face full of disbelief.

At the edge of the arena, a handsome middle-aged man suddenly appeared. No one noticed his arrival; even those standing beside him failed to notice his existence.

Like everyone else, the suddenly appearing middle-aged man looked at the arena in surprise...