Notting City

Biodata

Background / History

Notting City is a small city with a comparatively small Spirit Hall branch. Li Long lived in the branch members’ dormitory after joining Spirit Hall, and was regarded as the branch’s most outstanding young Soul Master when he reached rank 10. 1

The city’s branch hall became the base of Li Long’s early advancement. Fanolan, then its white-robed chief deacon, personally approved and accompanied Li Long’s first soul hunt rather than assigning lower-ranked Soul Masters to the task. 1

After Li Long became Pope Qian Shengyuan’s personal disciple, he requested recognition for Fanolan’s support. Qian Shengyuan appointed Fanolan chief hall master of the Notting City branch and exceptionally promoted him to Purple-Robed Deacon. 26

Locations and Infrastructure

Spirit Hall Branch Hall

• Includes member dormitories, a deacon’s office, a rear training courtyard, a mission counter, and a plaza before the main hall. 1 4 7
• Formally registers Soul Masters, issues branch badges, distributes stipends, and manages mission completion and point records. 4 7
• Li Long’s first bronze registration badge carried the code Notting-037. 4
• The branch initially offered Li Long a monthly stipend of 12 Gold Soul Coins after his rank-10 breakthrough. 4
• Its mission system provided D-rank and C-rank assignments, with points exchangeable for cultivation-related resources through Spirit Hall channels. 5 7 9

City Districts and Businesses

• A main street connects the branch hall with the western part of the city, where Old Zhou operates a medicinal-herb shop. 5
• The western suburban woodland was troubled by a pack of ten-year Gale Wolves that raided nearby villages. 6
• A mining district west of the city later became the site of abnormal soul beast activity involving an injured century-old cave spider. 12
• A typical family of four in Notting City was said to spend about one and a half Gold Soul Coins per year. 4

Nearby Routes and Wilderness

• The Soul Hunting Forest lies near the city; Area Three is southeast of Notting City, roughly an hour and a half away on foot. 8
• The forest is a fenced area jointly patrolled by the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall, though powerful soul beasts can sometimes enter through overlooked gaps. 2
• Notting City maintains a trade route to Soto City, used for shipments of medicinal herbs, valuable goods, and ore. 5 6 8 12
• Li Long departed the city for Spirit City by official road; even Spirit Hall’s fastest horse required six days of travel. 12

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Li Long’s early cultivation base: The city is where Li Long spent three and a half years raising his innate rank-three soul power to rank 10, trained with his Iron Rod, and received his first 500-year soul ring. 1 3 4
• Probationary deacon missions: From the branch hall, Li Long chose the probationary deacon route over enrollment in Spirit City Intermediate Soul Master Academy. He completed escort, extermination, patrol, and C-rank assignments in and around the city. 5 6 7 8 12
• Advance to ordinary deacon: Li Long’s six C-rank missions and continued cultivation elevated him to ordinary deacon status, doubling his monthly salary from 22 to 44 Gold Soul Coins. 9 12
• Departure for the Youth Soul Master Tournament: Upon reaching rank 20 at age ten, Li Long left the Notting City branch for Spirit City with Fanolan’s letter of introduction. 12
• Fanolan’s promotion: Li Long’s later request for repayment of Fanolan’s kindness resulted in the Notting City branch receiving a newly appointed chief hall master and a Purple-Robed Deacon. 26