This Is the Place!

"F-Full Innate Soul Power!!!"

Those five words exploded through the cramped, dim earthen house like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, leaving everyone's ears ringing.

Su Yuntao's voice cracked completely with excitement. He clutched the crystal ball radiating brilliant blue light in both hands as if it were some priceless treasure, afraid it might fly away if he let go.

His eyes were wider than copper bells, bulging almost out of their sockets. His face was a mask of incredulous fervor and shock.

"My heavens! How is this possible? How is this possible?!"

Su Yuntao babbled to himself. Then he whipped around and looked at Ling Xuqing as though he were some peerless monster descended into the mortal world.

"A top-tier tool Martial Soul, and Full Innate Soul Power on top of that! This... what kind of terrifying talent is this?!"

The village chief and villagers standing to the side didn't understand what Full Innate Soul Power meant, but seeing Su Yuntao so excited he looked ready to faint, they could tell it was something momentous.

The village chief trembled with excitement, gripping his cane tightly. Tears welled up in his cloudy old eyes as he raised his head to the sky and sighed,

"Heavens have finally opened their eyes! After generations upon generations, our Wuxi Village is finally going to have a Soul Master! And a Soul Grandmaster, at that!"

Faced with the feverish, astonished gazes around him, Ling Xuqing remained unusually calm.

He slowly withdrew his hand from the crystal ball and forced the wisp of Golden Dragon King aura he had just released back into the depths of his marrow.

He knew all too well: a tree that stood out in the forest would be battered by the wind.

Especially during this era of Douluo I, when the gods of the Divine Realm were still maneuvering against one another in secret. Revealing too soon that he possessed power capable of destroying the heavens and the earth would be anything but wise.

Su Yuntao finally managed to calm his racing heart. He took several deep breaths, trying to make himself look solemn and dignified.

He straightened his white uniform and hurried over to Ling Xuqing. Even his tone had unconsciously turned exceptionally gentle, edged with a hint of ingratiation and caution.

"Y-young man—no, little genius! Uncle lost his composure just now. Your talent is simply too astonishing. May I ask what the golden spear you just manifested is called?"

Ling Xuqing looked up, a thoughtful glimmer crossing his clear eyes. Then he answered in a childish yet steady voice, "It's called the Golden Overlord Spear."

"The Golden Overlord Spear... What a fine name! A fine name indeed!" Su Yuntao nodded again and again, admiration filling his eyes. "Just hearing it, you can sense an aura of invincibility and absolute dominance! It really is a top-tier tool Martial Soul!"

Now that he knew the Martial Soul's name, Su Yuntao could no longer restrain his urge to recruit him.

He drew a deep breath, his expression turning utterly solemn. Fixing his blazing gaze on Ling Xuqing, he laid out the most important task of his visit.

"Little genius, with talent as astonishing as yours, letting it go to waste in this remote Wuxi Village would be a loss for the whole Douluo Continent! I formally invite you to join Spirit Hall on its behalf. If you agree, Spirit Hall will provide you with the best cultivation resources and the finest instructors. You'll even receive a generous Gold Soul Coin allowance every month! Your future achievements will be limitless!"

Su Yuntao's words were full of enticement and expectation. He believed that no child from a poor background could refuse Spirit Hall's offer.

However, Ling Xuqing didn't accept immediately.

He quickly weighed his options.

Join Spirit Hall? As if.

His body now contained the sealed essence of the Golden Dragon King, powerful enough to destroy the heavens and the earth. He still needed to slowly fuse his Dragon Wings, Dragon Claws, and Golden Overlord Spear in the hills behind the village.

What he needed was absolute freedom and a secluded place to cultivate.

If he joined Spirit Hall, every move he made would be under someone else's watchful eye. How could he explain those astonishing trump cards of his?

Besides, he knew Spirit Hall would eventually become Tang San's ultimate enemy. He didn't want to be dragged for no reason into the schemes of the bigwigs in the Divine Realm.

But he couldn't refuse outright, either. That would risk offending this Spirit Hall official and might even arouse unnecessary suspicion.

So Ling Xuqing tilted his head slightly, putting on the innocent, bewildered look of a six-year-old child. In a soft, sweet voice, he said,

"Uncle Su Yuntao, I'm still too young. I don't even know what the outside world is like. Mom says I'm too little to make promises to people so easily. When I'm a bit older and understand more, I'll give joining Spirit Hall some serious thought, okay?"

His answer was airtight. He hadn't refused outright, and had cleverly used his young age and his elders as a shield, leaving himself plenty of room to maneuver.

Hearing this, the fervor on Su Yuntao's face froze, replaced by deep disappointment and regret.

He opened his mouth as if to try persuading him again, but when he saw Ling Xuqing's refined, harmless-looking face, he swallowed the words before they could leave his mouth.

"Ah... that's true. He's still so young. He really should discuss something like this with his elders."

Su Yuntao sighed helplessly, but soon rallied his spirits again.

After all, even if a top-tier Martial Soul genius with Full Innate Soul Power didn't join Spirit Hall now, he was still an incredibly precious talent.

"Very well. If you don't want to join right now, I won't force you. But here's your Martial Soul Awakening certificate."

Su Yuntao took a piece of parchment stamped with Spirit Hall's seal from inside his clothes and solemnly handed it to Ling Xuqing. "With this certificate, you can go to the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City and get an official Soul Master certificate. The branch will arrange for someone to take you to hunt your First Soul Ring. You can also use this status to enroll at Nuoding City Junior Spirit Master Academy as a gifted student. You'll even be eligible for special allowances from Spirit Hall and the academy."

"Remember, Uncle will be waiting for you at Spirit Hall!"

"Thank you, Uncle Su Yuntao." Ling Xuqing obediently accepted the certificate and thanked him sweetly.

Su Yuntao exchanged a few more words with the overjoyed village chief, reminding him to take good care of this future big shot. Then he packed his things and hurriedly left Wuxi Village, full of regret and amazement, heading to neighboring Holy Soul Village to continue his awakening ceremony.

Night fell, and Wuxi Village sank into slumber.

Beneath the moonlight, the five streams shimmered with silver light. The occasional chirp of an insect made the village seem especially peaceful.

Ling Xuqing lay on his simple wooden bed, quietly listening to the breathing outside his window gradually settle.

He had been waiting for the villagers to fall completely asleep.

Only at midnight, when the whole village had fallen utterly silent, did Ling Xuqing rise from his bed like a ghost, without a sound.

He pushed open the wooden window and slipped into the thick night.

With the terrifying physical strength granted by the Golden Dragon King's essence, he raced through the mountains and woods without stirring a single leaf.

After running for who knew how long, he reached an empty valley encircled by dense woods.

The place was rarely visited by people and rich in spiritual energy, making it an excellent place to cultivate.

Ling Xuqing stopped and looked around. After confirming that no one was there, the corners of his mouth curved in satisfaction.

"This is the place!"

He murmured under his breath, then sat cross-legged in the middle of the clearing.

Ling Xuqing slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began to circulate the sealed source of the Golden Dragon King's power within him.

In an instant, a stream of dark golden energy surged and roared through his meridians...