What kind of grandeur did a twenty-meter-high dome possess?
When Yang Ming and the others entered the Spirit Hall's main hall, they were immediately swept up by its majestic atmosphere.
The entire dome was covered in murals. Within each small square were depictions of various Martial Souls, set against a gleaming dark-gold background. It looked resplendent and magnificent without losing its ancient simplicity.
Huge crystal windows surrounded Spirit Hall. Sunlight refracted through the transparent crystals and scattered across the murals, making the glittering golden radiance even more dazzling.
There were not many people inside Spirit Hall. Only a few servants were cleaning nearby.
Just as Grandmaster led Yang Ming and the others to find Soul Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo and have their Soul Power assessed, whether by chance or fate, Yang Ming saw Cao Mengyun.
Originally, the conflict between the two was not all that severe.
Cao Mengyun had ridden his horse at full speed and nearly killed someone from the village. As long as he lowered his head and apologized to the villagers, the simple and honest people of Holy Soul Village would not have made things difficult for him.
Unfortunately, Cao Mengyun prided himself on being a city dweller and had always looked down on country folk. He was also somewhat arrogant by nature, so naturally, he would not lower himself to apologize to those mud-legged peasants.
The villagers had always treated Yang Ming well, practically regarding him as one of their own children. Yang Ming, too, regarded them as family.
If he did not seek justice for the villagers, Yang Ming could not swallow this anger!
Thus, the grudge between the two was forged.
What followed was Yang Ming awakening his Martial Soul and becoming a genius with Innate Full Soul Power.
Cao Mengyun feared that Yang Ming would grow strong and find an opportunity to take revenge, so he decided to strike first. He hired bandits to block the road and tampered with the Spirit Hall certificate, intending to cut off Yang Ming's path to advancement and leave him trapped in that shabby village for the rest of his life, obediently living as an ordinary person!
When enemies met, their eyes burned with hatred!
With a teasing look in his eyes, Cao Mengyun strolled over leisurely and said in a mocking tone:
"Oh, oh, oh, isn't this the little genius from Holy Soul Village? What wind blew you all the way to Spirit Hall today?"
A cold glint flashed through Yang Ming's eyes. His gaze was as sharp as his Mysterious Sword, giving Cao Mengyun the illusion of a chill running down his back.
"Cao Mengyun, you're despicable. You actually issued me a fake Spirit Hall certificate!"
"Kid," Cao Mengyun had long expected Yang Ming to come. His face darkened, and a cold smile curled across his lips. "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. We at Spirit Hall have always acted openly and honorably. How could we ever do something so filthy and shameful? Be careful, or I'll charge you with slander!"
Cao Mengyun spoke those words without blushing or even catching his breath.
Moreover, Cao Mengyun was rather handsome, with sword-like brows and starry eyes. His features were exceptionally striking, and his white fitted outfit, paired with the black cape behind him, gave an excellent first impression.
Someone unaware of the truth might actually have believed him.
Yang Ming pulled out the fake Spirit Hall certificate and casually flicked it forward, using the concealed weapon technique he had secretly learned from Tang San to send it flying at Cao Mengyun from a tricky angle.
A card-shaped shadow flashed past Cao Mengyun's eye, and surprise rose in his heart.
He had not expected Yang Ming to possess such a method!
But Cao Mengyun was indeed a Soul Grandmaster. His body moved with his will as he slightly tilted his head and raised his right hand at the same time, catching the incoming concealed weapon between his index and middle fingers. One corner of the Spirit Hall certificate nearly touched his cheek, just barely missing the chance to slash the face that drove young girls wild.
Cao Mengyun's gaze darkened. If he had not been keeping an eye on Yang Ming all along, his face might have been cut just now, leaving him disfigured in public.
Putting away the fake Spirit Hall certificate, Cao Mengyun gave a smile that did not reach his eyes and sneered:
"Kid, that's certainly a unique way of greeting someone."
Yang Ming's current strength was not enough to do anything to Cao Mengyun for the time being,
but he was not overly angered either. Yang Ming knew where his confidence lay. Given enough time, surpassing Cao Mengyun would only be a matter of time.
Seeing that Yang Ming ignored him and headed straight for Soul Grandmaster Ma Dingnuo, Cao Mengyun snorted coldly but did not stop him.
That was because he had already spoken to the people at Spirit Hall. No matter how gifted Yang Ming was, they were absolutely not to issue him a certificate!
There were very few people at Spirit Hall in Notting City. Since everyone would inevitably see one another again, they did not want to make their relationship with Cao Mengyun too tense, so most were willing to do him a small favor.
Besides, Cao Mengyun was already a Soul Grandmaster in his twenties, proving his potential and making him worth investing in. To ensure Yang Ming was thoroughly ruined, he had also spent heavily, handing out quite a few Gold Soul Coins to every person in order to win them over.
Cao Mengyun refused to believe that this still would not ruin Yang Ming!
Without a certificate issued by Spirit Hall, what could Yang Ming use to attend school?
Sure enough.
Before long, Yang Ming received terrible news from Soul Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo.
Soul Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo looked apologetically at the half-grown child. He truly could not bear to hurt him, but he had already accepted Cao Mengyun's benefits. Having taken another's gifts, he could only silently apologize in his heart, straighten his expression, and say:
"Child, I'm sorry, but I can't issue you a certificate."
"Why?" Yang Ming demanded.
"There is no why."
Seeing the apology in Soul Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo's eyes, Yang Ming turned to look at Cao Mengyun, who wore the smug expression of a petty villain. In an instant, he understood what had happened.
"Kid," Cao Mengyun approached arrogantly with the bearing of a victor. Using his height advantage, he looked down at Yang Ming and sneered, "Surprised? Didn't expect this, did you?"
Without a Spirit Hall certificate, Yang Ming could not attend the Junior Soul Master Academy. Without school, he could not access more Spirit Master knowledge, obtain Soul Rings, increase his Soul Power, or step into the realm of Spirit Masters. He could only waste away his life, spending the rest of his days in regret!
Cao Mengyun's plan was truly vicious!
He wanted to destroy Yang Ming's life!
If Yang Ming had merely been an ordinary person, a villager from the countryside, then perhaps his life would truly have been over!
But Yang Ming had the system!
Even without attending the academy, Yang Ming could obtain rewards suited to his Martial Soul through the system and thereby activate Soul Rings!
Facing the aggressively pressing Cao Mengyun, Yang Ming met him head-on without yielding an inch. He stared straight at him and said coldly:
"You think you've got me cornered?"
Cao Mengyun crossed his arms over his chest and said arrogantly:
"In Spirit Hall, even if you're a dragon, you must coil before me. Even if you're a tiger, you must crouch before me!"
Cao Mengyun had every right to say that!
At only twenty-something, he was already a level-twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster!
How could a mere country bumpkin possibly fight him?
How could he?
Before you continue