At Spirit Hall, Even Dragons Must Coil and Tigers Must Crouch!

What kind of grandeur did a twenty-meter-high dome possess?

The moment Yang Ming and the others entered Spirit Hall's main hall, they were immediately struck by its majestic atmosphere.

The entire dome was covered in murals. Each small square depicted a different Martial Soul, set against a gleaming golden background that looked resplendent yet ancient and dignified.

Huge crystal windows surrounded Spirit Hall. Sunlight refracted through the transparent crystal and spilled across the murals, making the glittering golden light even more dazzling.

There were not many people inside Spirit Hall, only a few servants cleaning the area.

Just as the master led Yang Ming and the others to find Great Spirit Master Ma Xiunuo to assess their soul power, whether by coincidence or fate, Yang Ming saw Cao Mengyun.

Originally, the conflict between the two of them had not been that serious.

Cao Mengyun had ridden his horse recklessly 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 considered himself a city man and had always looked down on country folk. He was also somewhat arrogant by nature, so naturally, he would never 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, saw the villagers as his family.

If he did not seek justice for the villagers, Yang Ming could not swallow this anger!

Thus, the conflict between them 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 stronger 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 sauntered over 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 gleam flashed through Yang Ming's eyes. His gaze was as sharp as his Mysterious Sword, making Cao Mengyun feel an illusory chill down his back.

"Cao Mengyun, you're despicable. You actually issued me a fake Spirit Hall certificate!"

"Little friend," Cao Mengyun had long expected Yang Ming to come. His face darkened, and a cold smile formed at the corners of his lips. "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't spout nonsense. We at Spirit Hall have always acted openly and honorably. How could we possibly do something so filthy and shameful? Be careful, or I'll accuse you of spreading rumors and slander!"

Cao Mengyun's face did not redden, nor did he lose his breath as he said this.

Moreover, Cao Mengyun was rather handsome. With sword-like brows, starry eyes, and striking features, dressed in a fitted white outfit with a black cloak behind him, he gave an excellent first impression.

Anyone unaware of the truth might actually have believed him.

Yang Ming pulled out the fake Spirit Hall certificate and flicked it casually, using the hidden weapon technique he had secretly learned from Tang San to send it flying toward Cao Mengyun from a tricky angle.

A shadow of the card flashed past Cao Mengyun's eyes, and he was slightly surprised.

He had not expected Yang Ming to possess such a skill!

However, Cao Mengyun was indeed a Great Spirit Master. His body moved with his thoughts. He tilted his head slightly while raising his right hand, catching the incoming hidden weapon between his index and middle fingers. One corner of the Spirit Hall certificate nearly brushed his cheek, just barely missing the chance to cut his face—a face that could enchant countless young girls.

Cao Mengyun's gaze darkened. If he had not been keeping an eye on Yang Ming all along, his face might have been scratched 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,

"Little friend, that's certainly a unique way of saying hello."

Yang Ming's current strength was temporarily insufficient to deal with Cao Mengyun,

but he was not overly angered. Yang Ming knew where his confidence lay. Given some time, surpassing Cao Mengyun would only be a matter of time.

Seeing that Yang Ming ignored him and walked directly toward where Great Spirit Master Ma Dingnuo was, Cao Mengyun snorted coldly but did not stop him.

That was because he had already informed the people at Spirit Hall that no matter how talented 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 see each other regularly, they did not want their relationship with Cao Mengyun to become too strained, so most were willing to do him this small favor.

Besides, Cao Mengyun was only in his twenties and was already a Great Spirit Master, proving his potential and making him worth investing in. To ruin Yang Ming, he had also paid a hefty price, handing out quite a few Golden Soul Coins to everyone in order to win them over.

Cao Mengyun refused to believe that this still would not destroy Yang Ming!

Without a certificate issued by Spirit Hall, how could Yang Ming attend school?

Sure enough.

Very soon, Yang Ming received terrible news from Great Spirit Master Ma Xiunuo.

Great Spirit Master 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. Once he had taken the money, he had no choice but to silently apologize in his heart. His expression turned solemn as he said,

"Child, I'm sorry, but I can't issue you a certificate."

"Why?" Yang Ming could not help questioning him.

"There is no why."

Seeing the apology in Great Spirit Master Ma Xiunuo's eyes, Yang Ming turned to look at Cao Mengyun, who wore the smug expression of a petty victor. He immediately understood what had happened.

"Little friend," Cao Mengyun approached arrogantly with the air of a victor. Using his height advantage, he looked down at Yang Ming and sneered, "Surprised? Was that unexpected?"

Without a Spirit Hall certificate, Yang Ming could not enter the Junior Soul Master Academy. Without attending school, he could not gain access to more Spirit Master knowledge, could not obtain Soul Rings, could not increase his soul power, and could not step into the realm of Spirit Masters. He would only waste away for the rest of his life, spending his remaining years in regret!

Cao Mengyun's plan was truly vicious!

He intended to destroy Yang Ming's life!

If Yang Ming had merely been an ordinary person, a villager from the countryside, his life might 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 Cao Mengyun's aggressive pressure, 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 folded his arms across his chest and said arrogantly,

"At Spirit Hall, even if you're a dragon, you must coil up for me. If you're a tiger, you must crouch for me!"

Cao Mengyun had the right to say such words!

At only twenty-something years old, he was already a level twenty-nine Great Spirit Master!

How could a mere country bumpkin possibly fight him?

How could he?