Holy Dragon Soul Suppression erupted head-on.
The Windshadow Cat Soul Grandmaster's mind went blank.
The Windshadow Cat Martial Soul was suppressed by the dragon's superior might, and his body abruptly locked up.
The lapse lasted only a breath.
In a real fight, that was more than enough.
Chu Jin turned.
His Double Pupils locked onto the other man's chest.
He thrust his three-hundred-jin Heavy Halberd forward.
The Windshadow Cat Soul Grandmaster had only just recovered from the mental shock when the icy halberd tip stopped against his chest.
Neither of them moved.
The training ground fell silent.
The level-twenty-six Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster lowered his head to look at the Heavy Halberd, then raised his eyes to Chu Jin.
Only a single breath had passed from the moment Holy Dragon Soul Suppression activated to the halberd reaching him.
If this had been a fight to the death, he would already be dead.
"I've lost."
He voluntarily withdrew his Martial Soul.
The onlookers from the Worship Hall wore varied expressions.
The gap in Soul Power still remained.
Chu Jin had won through the combination of his First Soul Skill's unexpected attack, the targeting of his Double Pupils, and the Heavy Halberd's strike.
Together, these had already formed a complete combat system.
As Xiao Jin continued to evolve, Holy Dragon Soul Suppression would grow even stronger.
Qian Daoliu announced before everyone:
"From today onward, Chu Jin will officially be counted among the Worship Hall's core disciples."
"Golden Crocodile will oversee his physical conditioning and heavy-weapon training."
"Guang Ling will teach him combat judgment, responses to speed, and long-range abilities."
"Yue Guan will teach him about Martial Soul growth materials and Soul Beast theory."
As soon as Xiao Jin heard that Yue Guan would handle the materials, it ran to his feet and clung to the hem of his robe.
Yue Guan glanced down.
"Back already, and you're looking for food."
He complained, but still took a Dragonblood Crystal out of his Soul Tool.
Xiao Jin opened its mouth and grabbed it.
After the test, Chu Jin prepared to follow Golden Crocodile to the new training ground.
But a youth wearing a gold-embroidered noble's robe entered through the Worship Hall's gates.
He looked a few years older than Chu Jin, with handsome features and gentle eyes. A natural air of nobility showed in his every gesture.
He walked up to Qian Daoliu and bowed respectfully.
"Grandpa."
Qian Daoliu nodded.
"Qinghe, you came at just the right time."
"Chu Jin has only just arrived in Spirit City and isn't familiar with the place. For the next few days, show him around."
The youth named Qinghe turned to Chu Jin and gave him a warm smile.
"Hello."
"My name is Qinghe."
Chu Jin looked at him.
His Double Pupils opened instinctively.
Golden Soul Power flowed slowly through the other man's body.
Its aura was sacred and pure, and the faint outline of six golden wings seemed to appear behind him.
The Disguise Soul Bone concealed his appearance and build, but it could not completely hide his bones and Soul Power.
Chu Jin's gaze slowly traveled down from Qinghe's face.
It paused at his chest for half a breath.
Qinghe's smile remained warm.
But a trace of wariness inexplicably stirred in his heart.
What had this new little fellow just been looking at?
The air before the Worship Hall grew quiet for a moment.
Qinghe kept his warm smile, his eyes resting on Chu Jin's face, but an indescribable unease rose in his heart.
That glance had been far too obvious.
This new little fellow had looked all the way down from his face, then paused at his chest. If it had been anyone else, Qinghe might have thought him ill-mannered. But Chu Jin's Second Martial Soul was a pair of Double Pupils capable of seeing through the flow of Soul Power.
Had he seen something?
Impossible.
This Disguise Soul Bone came from the Worship Hall's treasured collection. Even a Titled Douluo would have trouble spotting its flaws at close range. Chu Jin had only thirteen levels of Soul Power. Even if his Double Pupils were unusual, he shouldn't be able to see through the Soul Bone's disguise.
Qinghe quickly suppressed his doubts and extended a hand.
"I'll show you around Spirit City over the next few days."
Chu Jin shook his hand.
"Sorry for the trouble."
"No trouble."
Qinghe smiled naturally, but before letting go, his hand gave a light squeeze, as if testing him.
Chu Jin's expression did not change.
In the sight of his Double Pupils, Qinghe's Light Soul Power was far purer than an ordinary Soul Master's. Golden Soul Power flowed from his dantian toward six special points on his back, each faintly corresponding to one of the Angel's wings.
The Disguise Soul Bone had altered his appearance, voice, and body shape, but the nature of his Soul Power had not changed.
Chu Jin had confirmed his identity.
Qian Renxue.
The granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined of the Spirit Hall, and heir to the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.
As for why she was using the identity of Qian Qinghe, Chu Jin did not ask at once. Everyone had secrets they did not wish to share. Since she had not brought it up herself, he had no interest in exposing her in public.
Qian Daoliu watched their reactions but thought nothing of them.
Qian Renxue had been using Qian Qinghe's identity for some time. Even many Soul Masters in the Worship Hall did not know the truth. Even if Chu Jin's Double Pupils were unusual, he had only just awakened his Second Martial Soul. He couldn't possibly see through a high-quality Disguise Soul Bone so quickly.
"Qinghe."
Qian Daoliu said, "Take Chu Jin to his lodgings first, then show him around the city. He needs Martial Soul materials, so make sure you take him to the material market and the library."
"Understood."
Qian Qinghe bowed slightly.
Chu Jin followed him out of the Worship Hall.
Xiao Jin had just gotten a Dragonblood Crystal. It clung to Chu Jin's shoulder, holding the crystal and nibbling away at it with great seriousness. With every bite, specks of golden light traveled along its scales toward its two wings.
The two of them headed down from Consecration Mountain.
Qian Qinghe walked ahead, observing Chu Jin without letting it show.
Chu Jin did not keep looking at her. Most of his attention was on the buildings around them and the Soul Masters passing by.
This put Qian Qinghe somewhat at ease.
Perhaps that glance had only been a coincidence.
"Have you never left Bluestone Town before?"
"No."
"Spirit City is enormous. It's easy to get lost the first time you visit. Consecration Mountain, Pope Mountain, and Spirit Academy are in three different directions. Between them, there's also the Spirit Arena, the library, the material market, and the Soul Tool district."
Qian Qinghe pointed out several distant buildings and introduced each one in turn.
He spoke in an orderly fashion and knew every part of Spirit City well. When they encountered patrolling Soul Masters, they stopped and bowed respectfully to him.
Chu Jin watched for a while, then suddenly asked, "Why do they call you Young Master Qinghe?"
Qian Qinghe did not break stride.
"I'm from a collateral branch of the Qian Clan. Grandpa is very fond of me, so he often lets me train in the Worship Hall."
The explanation was clearly prepared in advance.
His tone, expression, and Soul Power showed no flaws.
Chu Jin nodded.
"I see."
Qian Qinghe glanced sideways at him.
"You're not suspicious?"
"What is there to suspect?"
"A member of a collateral branch of the Qian Clan receiving personal instruction from the Great Enshrined is hardly common in the Spirit Hall."
Chu Jin looked at him.
"Everyone has their own opportunities."
"If you don't want to say, asking won't help. If you want to say, you'll tell me even if I don't ask."
Qian Qinghe was momentarily stunned.
She had thought that a child Chu Jin's age, suddenly receiving the Worship Hall's attention, would at least be curious about other people's identities and privileges.
Instead, he did not press her at all.
Stranger still, coming from a six-year-old, those words didn't sound affectedly mature.
Before you continue