Spirit Hall

Shrek Academy's gate was still as dilapidated as ever, half the paint on its doors peeled away to reveal the blackened wood beneath. But today, the few people standing before that broken gate made the atmosphere across the entire courtyard so heavy it seemed water could be squeezed from it.

Flender stood at the front. The pipe he never let out of his hand was not in his mouth now, but clenched in his fist like a lifeline. Behind him, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing stood in a row, all looking grim.

Blocking their way were three people dressed in Spirit Hall uniforms.

The man at the lead was around forty, tall and powerfully built, wearing dark-gold Inquisitor armor. On his chest was a three-clawed wolf-head insignia—the mark of a chief inquisitor in the Spirit Hall Tribunal. His name was Yan Feng, chief inquisitor of Spirit Hall's Northwest Branch Hall, a level fifty-eight Assault-type Battle Spirit King. The blood of "heretics" on his hands numbered no fewer than a hundred.

"Headmaster Flender, step aside." Yan Feng's voice sounded like two pieces of raw iron grinding together. "We're merely acting according to regulations."

"What regulations?" Flender had barely opened his mouth when Yan Feng raised a hand to cut him off.

Yan Feng pulled an official document stamped with the seal of Spirit Hall's Papal Hall from his robes, unfolded it, and read in an utterly flat tone, "Following investigation, Tang San, a student of Shrek Academy, has illegally acquired an ancient heretical inheritance and privately cultivated a power system not registered with Spirit Hall. He is suspected of violating Articles Three and Seven of the Heretic Control Regulations of Spirit Hall. In addition, a one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast in human form has been concealed at his side, posing a suspected threat to public safety. The two are hereby summoned to Spirit Hall's Northwest Branch Hall for investigation in accordance with the law."

When the document had been read, the courtyard fell deathly silent.

Dai Mubai's fists clenched with a crackle. Oscar's face went pale. Ma Hongjun hid behind Zhu Zhuqing. Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had already lit up, while Zhu Zhuqing's hand rested on the hilt of her dagger.

Flender's face turned the color of pig liver. He stepped forward, pointing his pipe at Yan Feng. "Chief Inquisitor Yan, do you know what you're saying? This is Soto City, not Spirit Hall's private garden! A one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast? What evidence do you have?"

"Evidence?" Yan Feng sneered and removed a silver disk the size of his palm from his waist. Its surface was covered in intricate runes. It spun wildly, its needle swinging back and forth between Tang San and Xiao Wu, emitting a piercing buzz. "A soul power detector, an improved model, specially designed for unregistered abnormal energy fluctuations. Tell me—which of the auras on these two is normal?"

Flender glanced at the disk, and his expression changed instantly.

When the needle paused over Tang San, a dark-gold rune appeared on the display—a rune so ancient that even Flender, a well-traveled Soul Sage, did not recognize it. When the needle swept over Xiao Wu, the disk emitted a shrill alarm, and a line of blood-red text flashed across the display: Energy level: Beyond limit.

"That is... the mark of a one-hundred-thousand-year beast?" Flender's voice trembled.

"Headmaster Flender, do you understand now?" Yan Feng put away the disk, his gaze as cold as ice. "Concealing a one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast and privately cultivating a heretical inheritance. Those two crimes alone are enough to uproot all of Shrek Academy."

"I wasn't concealed!" Xiao Wu suddenly rushed out from behind the group and stood beside Tang San, raising her head to glare at Yan Feng. "I chose to follow Third Brother! And I've never harmed anyone!"

"Whether you have harmed anyone isn't for you to decide." Yan Feng did not even look at Xiao Wu. His gaze fell directly on Tang San. "Tang San, come with us. The Papal Hall is very interested in the inheritance you carry. As for this rabbit..."

His gaze swept over Xiao Wu with the cold indifference one would show an object rather than a living being. "By regulation, one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts must be handed over to Spirit Hall for unified control, to prevent them from going berserk and harming the populace."

"Control?" Tang San finally spoke.

His voice was calm, but Yu Xiaogang, standing behind him, could clearly sense that Tang San's aura had changed. It was no longer that tense state of being ready to fight for his life at any moment, but a kind of... composure. It was not feigned. It rose from his bones, like the certainty he had felt while standing at the center of the altar and gripping the fifth Light-Shadow Stone.

"Do your regulations extend to the inheritance of ancient gods?" Tang San stepped forward, standing beside Flender and shielding Xiao Wu behind him.

Yan Feng raised an eyebrow. "Rules are rules. The Heretic Control Regulations established by Spirit Hall apply to all Soul Masters across the continent. You have no special privileges."

"They apply to all Soul Masters, but do they apply to every power system?" Tang San raised his right hand. Five Light-Shadow Stones slowly emerged from his palm, glowing with soft, shifting five-colored light. The glow was gentle, but when it fell into Yan Feng's eyes, his pupils abruptly contracted.

Because he had never seen anything like it in any Spirit Martial encyclopedia.

"The Light-Shadow Path." Tang San's voice was not loud, but every word rang clear. "A method of cultivation that existed alongside the Soul Master system in ancient times, founded on faith and guided by rules. It is absent from Spirit Hall's registry not because it is 'heretical,' but because its inheritance was severed thirty thousand years ago. Now, I have brought it back into this world."

He paused and looked at Yan Feng. "What does Article Three of your Heretic Control Regulations say? 'Any power system not registered with Spirit Hall that may impact the current Soul Master system shall be classified as heretical and eradicated.' Correct?"

Yan Feng's expression shifted. He had not expected Tang San to know Spirit Hall's regulations so well.

"But the regulations also contain a supplementary clause." Tang San continued, his tone as calm as if reciting a textbook. "'If a power system classified as heretical is jointly certified by three or more elders of the Papal Hall as harmless and historically substantiated, it may apply to have its heretical classification revoked and be incorporated into the special power management system.' You did not read that part."

Cold sweat beaded on Yan Feng's forehead. He truly had not read it. That document had been sent down directly by his superiors, and he was only responsible for carrying it out. He had not carefully studied the details of the clauses at all.

"And," Tang San had not finished yet. He turned his head to look at Yu Xiaogang, who stood at the edge of the crowd. "My teacher can testify that the Light-Shadow Path indeed has historical grounds. Master Yu Xiaogang is an authority in Spirit Martial theory. His research notes contain records concerning ancient power systems."

Everyone's eyes focused on Yu Xiaogang.

The old man stood there with a stooped back, clutching the notebook in which he had recently written another half-page in Sunset Forest. His legs trembled, not from fear, but from excitement.

Thirty years. For the first time, he had the chance to prove his worth through his own research, rather than through the achievements of others.

"Yes." Yu Xiaogang stepped forward. His voice was hoarse, but exceptionally firm. "During my investigation of Sunset Forest, I did discover an energy system different from soul power. It does not rely on soul rings or Soul Beasts, and takes faith as its core driving force. There are scattered records of this system in ancient literature, where it is called the 'Light-Shadow Path.' The power Tang San possesses fully matches the characteristics I recorded."

He raised his notebook and opened it to that page. Written there in neat handwriting were Old Qin's deeds, the principles of symbiotic soul rings, and his analysis of the illusions created by the Light-Shadow Beasts.

"Furthermore," Yu Xiaogang looked at Yan Feng. For the first time, his eyes held none of their former lofty arrogance, only a scholar's rigor. "Regarding one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts taking human form. According to my research, after a Soul Beast takes human form, its energy fluctuations are no different from those of an ordinary human Soul Master. So long as it does not actively harm anyone, it should not be regarded as a threat. Article Two of Spirit Hall's Soul Beast Control Regulations clearly states: 'Soul Beasts that have taken human form may enjoy rights equal to those of humans if they pass Spirit Hall identity certification and have no record of harming others for three years.' This rabbit—Xiao Wu—has lived at Shrek Academy for six years and has never harmed anyone. On what grounds do you consider her a threat?"

Yan Feng's face darkened completely.

He had not expected an arrest mission he had thought would be effortless to leave him speechless after being refuted with legal provisions by a "useless master" and a few brats.

"Yu Xiaogang, are you certain you want to testify for heretics?" Yan Feng's voice turned cold, carrying a note of threat. "Sheltering heretics is punishable by more than three years in prison."

"I am not sheltering anyone." Yu Xiaogang straightened his stooped back. He was still thin, but at that moment he stood upright. "I am stating facts. As a researcher, I recognize only evidence, not labels. You say they are heretics, so present evidence that they have endangered public safety. If you cannot, then you are abusing your authority."

"You—!"

Yan Feng was about to explode when a lazy voice drifted over from the top of the wall beside the academy gate.

"That's enough. Stop putting on airs here."

Everyone looked up. Chen Xuan lay on the low eaves of the courtyard wall, chewing on a piece of hard flatbread with his mouth stuffed full, his speech muffled. He did not even look at Yan Feng, only stared at the silver detection disk.

"That piece of junk is Spirit Hall's improved model from three years ago, right? Its detection limit is ninety-five thousand years. Any reading above that triggers an alarm directly. Using it to test a one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast is like using a thermometer to measure lava. The margin of error is so huge that even your Pope wouldn't believe it."

He swallowed the bread in his mouth, jumped down, landed beside Chen Xuan, and brushed the crumbs from his hands.

"And the document you read just now—the seal was from the Northwest Branch Hall, right? A Papal Hall seal should have a hidden pattern in its lower-left corner. Yours doesn't. In other words, that document is at most an administrative order from a local branch hall, not a direct order from the Papal Hall. Using it to arrest people counts as exceeding your authority."

Yan Feng's face went completely black.

He stared fixedly at Chen Xuan, as though trying to remember something. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and spoke. "You're that stone Spirit Martial."

"Impressive that you still remember me." Chen Xuan smiled. "Last time at the Soto Great Spirit Arena, those gatekeepers under you spent half a month in the infirmary after I sent them there. Forgotten already?"

Yan Feng's pupils contracted. He remembered. Three months ago, the Soto Great Spirit Arena had indeed reported a case: a youth whose Spirit Martial was a stone had fought one against five in the arena and injured several Spirit Hall supervisors stationed there. At the time, Yan Feng had thought it was an ordinary brawl and had not given it much thought. Now it seemed...

"You are one of the Light-Shadow Path." A hint of wariness entered Yan Feng's voice.

"Not one of them. An inheritor," Chen Xuan corrected. "And I suggest you take your people and get lost right now. Not because you can't beat us, but because what you've done today has already exceeded the limits of your authority. You can't arrest Tang San, and you can't take that rabbit either. If you insist on forcing the issue, the consequences aren't something you can bear."

He paused, lowering his voice so only Yan Feng could hear.

"Do you know what the Papal Hall has been paying attention to lately? Do you know how ugly Her Holiness the Pope's expression was when that five-colored light appeared? Do you think a local document can mobilize the Papal Hall's resources? Dream on. If you dare touch a single hair on their heads today, someone will strip you of that Inquisitor armor tomorrow."

Cold sweat streamed down Yan Feng's forehead.

He had indeed received a hint from his superiors that the Papal Hall was closely watching the abnormal energy fluctuations appearing around Sunset Forest, and that he should "watch closely, but not act rashly." But he had been greedy for merit. He had thought that if he could capture Tang San and Xiao Wu, he might earn a great achievement and be transferred directly to the Papal Hall. Looking at it now, he had nearly dragged himself down with them.

"Tang San." Yan Feng took a step back and put away the document. His voice remained cold and stiff, but its earlier arrogance was gone. "You had better remember what you said today. If your inheritance is truly lawful as you claim, then go to Spirit Hall and apply for certification. But if you dare abuse your power to endanger public safety before that certification is approved, Spirit Hall will show no mercy."

He turned and glanced at Xiao Wu, his eyes sinister. "As for you, rabbit. Within three months, go to the nearest Spirit Hall branch to complete identity certification. Miss the deadline, and you will face the consequences."

With that, he waved a hand and led the other two inquisitors away, not even leaving behind a polite remark.

Only after the three figures vanished around the street corner did Flender let out a long breath. Like a deflated balloon, he collapsed onto the ground.

"Oh my god... that scared me to death..." Ma Hongjun dropped onto the ground and patted his chest as he gasped for breath.

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged glances, both seeing the relief of having survived a disaster in each other's eyes. Oscar slumped against Ning Rongrong's shoulder and did not recover for a long time.

Tang San stood where he was as the five Light-Shadow Stones slowly disappeared into his palm. He lowered his head to look at his hand, then raised it to look at Yu Xiaogang.

The old man was still standing there, clutching his notebook, his back straight. The confusion and despair from before were gone from his face, replaced by an unprecedented... clarity.

"Teacher," Tang San called softly.

"Mm." Yu Xiaogang responded. He looked down at his notebook, then up at Tang San. The corners of his mouth lifted into an extremely faint curve. "That speech just now... I've spent thirty years studying books, and that was the first time I've ever spoken so freely."

He spoke the truth. For thirty years, he had been accustomed to using theory to explain the accomplishments of others, using their success to prove that he was right. Today, for the first time, he had observed with his own eyes, analyzed with his own logic, and refuted others with his own voice. Even when facing a Spirit Hall inquisitor, he had not backed down.

Because he finally understood that true theory was not dogma meant to be recited. It was a tool for explaining the world. When the tool could not explain reality, it was the tool that needed to change, not reality.

"Brother..." Xiao Wu tugged on Tang San's sleeve, her voice still trembling. "Thank you for just now."

"Fool." Tang San rubbed her head. "I told you, I won't abandon you."

Leaning against the courtyard wall, Chen Xuan watched this scene, the curve of his lips deepening slightly.

A notification from the system panel rang out in his mind:

[Destined Rival Tang San · Strength of Conviction: 72% → 85%]

[Yu Xiaogang · Degree of Theoretical Collapse: 71% → 89%]

[Hidden Mission "Awakening of the Witness" Progress: 87%]

[Notice: Tang San has completed the introductory stage of the Light-Shadow Path. Yu Xiaogang has begun reconstructing his theoretical system. Next step: await the Papal Hall's formal intervention.]

Chen Xuan closed the panel and looked toward Spirit Hall.

"The show isn't over yet," he muttered. "That coward Yan Feng will definitely report this. Given Bibi Dong's personality, she won't be satisfied with letting a local branch hall handle this matter. She'll act personally."

"Then, the real test will begin."

Spirit Hall, Papal Hall.

Bibi Dong sat in a high-backed chair, holding a secret report that had just been delivered. It read: Ancient god-level energy fluctuations detected in the direction of Sunset Forest. Suspected revival of the Light-Shadow Path inheritance. Inheritor's identity confirmed as Tang San, a student of Shrek Academy and descendant of Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Sect.

Her fingertips lightly tapped the armrest, producing a steady tapping sound.

"The Light-Shadow Path..." Bibi Dong murmured the name, a complex emotion flashing through her eyes. "An inheritance severed thirty thousand years ago has actually reappeared in this era."

She raised her head and looked at the figure standing below the hall. It was someone completely shrouded in a black robe, their face unseen. Only a pair of scarlet eyes flickered beneath the hood.

"Go." Bibi Dong's voice carried unquestionable authority. "Bring that boy called Tang San back to me. Alive."

"What if he resists?"

"Then break his legs." A cold glint flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes. "The inheritance of the Light-Shadow Path is mine. As for that rabbit... dispose of her while you're at it."

"As you command, Your Holiness."

The black-robed figure bowed and withdrew, their body melting into the shadows beyond the hall.

Bibi Dong lowered her head again and looked at Tang San's name in the secret report. Her fingertip lingered over the two characters for Tang Chen for a long time.

"Tang Chen's descendant..." she murmured, a meaningful smile curling across her lips. "Interesting."