This Is the Place!

"In... Innate full soul power!!!"

These five words exploded in the small, dim adobe house like a thunderclap on a clear day, making everyone's eardrums ring.

Su Yuntao's voice cracked from extreme agitation. He clutched the crystal ball emitting a brilliant blue light with both hands as if holding a rare treasure, terrified that it might fly away if he loosened his grip.

His eyes were wider than copper bells, his eyeballs nearly bulging from their sockets, his face a mask of incredulous fanaticism and shock.

"Heavens! How is this possible? How is this possible!"

Su Yuntao muttered incoherently. He whipped his head around, looking at Ling Xuqing as if he were staring at a peerless monster descended upon the mortal world.

"A top-tier tool spirit, combined with innate full soul power! This... what a terrifying talent!"

The village chief and the villagers standing to the side did not understand what innate full soul power meant, but seeing Su Yuntao so excited he looked ready to faint, they guessed this was an extraordinary event.

The village chief trembled with excitement, his hands gripping his cane tightly. His cloudy old eyes instantly filled with tears as he sighed toward the sky:

"The heavens have opened their eyes! After generations in Wuxi Village, we are finally going to have a spirit master! And a great spirit master at that!"

Facing the fanatical and shocked gazes of those around him, Ling Xuqing remained unusually calm.

He slowly withdrew his hand from the crystal ball, suppressing the trace of Golden Dragon King aura he had just released back deep into his bone marrow.

He knew well that the tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

Especially during this period of the first Douluo Continent, where the gods of the God Realm were still playing a secret game, exposing his world-destroying power too early was by no means a wise move.

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

He straightened his white martial outfit and walked quickly to Ling Xuqing. Even his tone became involuntarily gentle, carrying a hint of obsequiousness and caution:

"Little... little brother, oh no, little genius! Uncle lost his composure just now; your talent is simply too astonishing. Uncle dares to ask, what is the name of that golden spear you manifested just now?"

Ling Xuqing looked up, a hint of contemplation flashing in his clear eyes, before he replied in a youthful yet steady voice: "It is called the Golden Overlord Spear."

"Golden Overlord Spear... a good name! What a Golden Overlord Spear!" Su Yuntao nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of admiration. "Just hearing the name, it exudes an aura of invincibility and unparalleled dominance! It truly is a top-tier tool spirit!"

After confirming the name of the spirit, Su Yuntao could no longer suppress his desire to recruit him.

He took a deep breath, his expression becoming extremely solemn. He stared intently at Ling Xuqing and delivered the most important task of his trip:

"Little genius, with such astonishing talent, if you are buried in this remote Wuxi Village, it would be a loss for the entire Douluo Continent! I am now officially representing Spirit Hall to invite you to join us! As long as you nod, Spirit Hall will provide you with the best cultivation resources, the top-tier mentors, and even a generous monthly gold soul coin subsidy! Your future achievements will be limitless!"

Su Yuntao's words were filled with temptation and expectation. He believed that no child from a poor background could refuse the olive branch of Spirit Hall.

However, after hearing this, Ling Xuqing did not agree immediately.

He calculated rapidly in his heart.

Join Spirit Hall? What a joke.

As he was now, he had the source of the Golden Dragon King—capable of destroying the world—sealed within him, and he still needed to slowly fuse his Dragon Wings, Dragon Claws, and the Golden Overlord Spear in the back mountains.

What he needed was absolute freedom and a secret cultivation environment.

If he joined Spirit Hall, every move would be under someone else's nose. How would he explain his shocking trump cards?

Moreover, he knew that the future Spirit Hall would be the ultimate enemy of Tang San. He did not want to be inexplicably dragged into that game between the big shots of the God Realm.

But he could not refuse directly either; that would be too easy to offend this Spirit Hall deacon and might even arouse unnecessary suspicion.

Therefore, Ling Xuqing tilted his head slightly, revealing the innocence and ignorance of a six-year-old child, and said in a soft, milky voice:

"Uncle Su Yuntao, I am still too young. I don't even know what the outside world is like. Mom said I am still small and shouldn't agree to things for others easily. When I grow up a bit and become more sensible, I will carefully consider joining Spirit Hall, okay?"

These words were watertight. He neither refused directly nor failed to use his "young age" and "elders" as a shield, leaving himself plenty of buffer space.

Upon hearing this, the fanaticism on Su Yuntao's face instantly froze, replaced by deep disappointment and regret.

He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to persuade him further, but looking at Ling Xuqing's harmless and exquisite face, he finally swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

"Sigh... that's true. The child is still young, after all. Such matters do need to be discussed with elders."

Su Yuntao sighed helplessly, but soon, he regained his spirit.

After all, a genius with a top-tier spirit and innate full soul power was an extremely precious resource, even if he didn't join Spirit Hall right now.

"Fine, since you don't want to join now, Uncle won't force you. However, this is your spirit awakening certificate."

Su Yuntao took a piece of parchment stamped with the Spirit Hall seal from his bosom and solemnly handed it to Ling Xuqing. "With this certificate, you can go to the Spirit Hall branch in Nuoding City to issue an official spirit master certificate. The branch will arrange for someone to take you to hunt your first spirit ring. Additionally, you can use this status to enroll in the Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy as a gifted student. You can also receive exclusive subsidies from Spirit Hall and the academy."

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

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

Su Yuntao turned to communicate a few more words with the excited village chief, urging him to take good care of this future big shot. Then, he packed his bags and, carrying a heart full of regret and shock, hurried out of Wuxi Village to head to the neighboring Holy Soul Village to continue his awakening ceremony.

Night fell, and Wuxi Village fell into a deep sleep.

The five small streams shimmered with silver light under the moonlight, accompanied by the occasional chirping of insects, appearing exceptionally tranquil.

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

He had been waiting, waiting for the villagers to fall completely into their dreams.

It was not until midnight, when there was not a single sound left in the entire village, that Ling Xuqing climbed out of bed as silently as a ghost.

He pushed open the wooden window, his figure flashed, and he merged into the thick night.

Relying on the terrifying physical fitness brought by the Golden Dragon King source, he moved through the mountain forest like a bird, not disturbing a single leaf.

He did not know how far he had run before he arrived at an open valley surrounded by dense forest.

This place was rarely visited by humans and was rich in spiritual energy; it was an excellent place for cultivation.

Ling Xuqing stopped, looked around, and after confirming there were no signs of anyone, a satisfied arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

"This is the place!"

He whispered, then sat cross-legged in the center of the clearing.

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

In an instant, a stream of dark golden energy began to surge and roar through his meridians...