An Ungrateful Wretch!

Bishop Beska pulled Yang Ming over to sit beside him, warmly asking after his well-being.

Ma Xiunuo watched with immense envy at such a humble, talent-seeking attitude. If word got out, Yang Ming would become the envy of countless young talents.

Seeing that the atmosphere was good, Bishop Beska took a document from his robe and handed it to Yang Ming with a smile.

"What is this...?"

Yang Ming lowered his head and saw that it was a dismissal notice. The person being dismissed was Su Yuntao, charged with abusing his authority for personal gain and tarnishing Spirit Hall's reputation.

Yang Ming frowned slightly and looked at Bishop Beska in confusion.

"Your Excellency, what does this mean?"

"This is merely a small token of compensation from Spirit Hall." Bishop Beska's eyes curved into crescents, making it impossible to discern any change in his emotions. "At the same time, on behalf of Soto City's Spirit Hall Main Temple, I sincerely invite you to join Spirit Hall and become one of Spirit Hall's exclusive Spirit Masters."

Registering with Spirit Hall and becoming a Spirit Master was the path most Spirit Masters were supposed to take.

After registering and obtaining the title of Spirit Master, one would receive a subsidy issued by the state: one Golden Soul Coin per month.

If one became an exclusive Spirit Master of Spirit Hall, one's cultivation would proceed directly at a school specially established by Spirit Hall. All tuition and miscellaneous fees would be waived, and outstanding performers could even receive generous subsidies.

Yang Ming knew a little about these matters as well.

What Yang Ming had not expected was that Beska, as a bishop of Spirit Hall, would personally invite him to join. If Yang Ming entered Spirit Hall through this channel, his starting position would be extremely high.

It was easy enough to understand why. Although Spirit Hall was filled with experts, those whose very first Soul Ring as Spirit Masters was a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring were incredibly rare.

The most famous of them was none other than the Supreme Pontiff, Bibi Dong. The first Soul Ring of her second Martial Soul, the Soul-Eating Spider Emperor, was also a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

Then there was Bibi Dong's daughter, Qian Renxue, whose first Soul Ring was likewise a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

As for whether anyone besides those two possessed one, that was hard to say.

Beska's calculations were loud and clear. Even if he had to grovel, why was he so eager to respectfully invite Yang Ming into Spirit Hall?

Was it not for Yang Ming's potential and strength?

This was a promising talent whose future achievements were visibly bound to reach at least Titled Douluo level!

Seeing that Yang Ming remained silent, Bishop Beska grew anxious.

If bishops from other cities, or even higher-ranking members of Spirit Hall, caught even a hint of the news, Yang Ming might be snatched away by another city's Spirit Hall!

"Yang Ming, as long as you join the Spirit Hall Main Temple where I serve, you will receive a monthly subsidy of five hundred Golden Soul Coins. I will also find you the finest teachers in the surrounding region. Even Holy Soul Village, where you were born, will receive our full support. Not only will it be exempt from taxes for ten years, we will also bring in merchants to invest in your village and drive Holy Soul Village's economic development!"

Clearly, Bishop Beska had investigated Yang Ming thoroughly.

From Yang Ming's past deeds, Bishop Beska had keenly noticed that Yang Ming was someone who valued emotional bonds, especially family, friendship, and his relationship with the villagers of Holy Soul Village.

Bishop Beska spoke at length. The benefits he described not only helped Yang Ming personally, but offered even greater support to Holy Soul Village, from economic assistance to humanitarian care, to sending instructors into the village every year to train the villagers. In every regard, he displayed his sincerity.

If Yang Ming had truly been an ordinary genius, he might very well have been tempted.

All these benefits were simply too enticing.

Unfortunately, Yang Ming could not accept them!

Yang Ming possessed a system. He did not need to hunt Soul Beasts to advance; he only needed to obtain the corresponding system rewards to gain Soul Rings. But if he entered Spirit Hall, many people would surely keep watch over him. Everything he did would be clearly seen by others, and in the end, even the secret of his system might be exposed.

Joining Spirit Hall was not in Yang Ming's interests!

Taking a deep breath, Yang Ming slowly exhaled the stale air in his lungs. Meeting Bishop Beska's expectant gaze, he said,

"I'm sorry, Bishop Beska. I only came to Spirit Hall today to register as a Spirit Master. I had not thought that far ahead."

Yang Ming had already put it very tactfully, leaving room for maneuver.

Bishop Beska was stunned at first. He had not expected Yang Ming to remain completely unmoved even by such favorable terms. Then, with the smile on his face unchanged, he said,

"Of course, of course. My invitation today was too sudden. You were not mentally prepared, and I can understand that."

As he spoke, Bishop Beska put on a magnanimous air.

"However, Yang Ming, remember this: Spirit Hall's doors will always be open to you. Whenever you change your mind, we will welcome you with two hundred percent enthusiasm."

It had to be said that Bishop Beska was skilled at dealing with people, and his words were pleasant to hear. He made Yang Ming feel a little embarrassed.

Bishop Beska solemnly retrieved a round badge specially crafted by Spirit Hall. Yang Ming's name was engraved on the back, while the front bore two interwoven thorns, symbolizing a Spirit Master's rank.

Under Ma Xiunuo's envious gaze, Bishop Beska personally pinned the badge onto Yang Ming. He patted Yang Ming's shoulder kindly and said with a smile,

"Yang Ming, remember this. If you are unhappy at the academy, Spirit Hall, this big family of ours, will always welcome you back."

Yang Ming nodded slightly and left under Ma Xiunuo's guidance.

The moment Yang Ming stepped out of Spirit Hall, Bishop Beska, who had just been so kind and benevolent, seemed to become a different person. His face darkened with gloom as he furiously seized an expensive vase from the reception room and smashed it hard onto the floor.

Bang!

The vase shattered, fragments scattering everywhere. Flower petals drifted down, and water spread across the floor.

Staring at the tightly shut doors, Bishop Beska gritted his teeth and said,

"What an ungrateful wretch!"

When Ma Xiunuo returned to the reception room and pushed open the doors, he happened to witness this scene.

Ma Xiunuo stood at the doorway, completely bewildered. He could neither enter nor retreat. Having stumbled upon his superior's embarrassing behavior, his scalp went numb.

Bishop Beska shot Ma Xiunuo an irritated glare, immediately making him fall silent in fear.

"Are you going to keep standing there and make an even bigger fool of yourself? Get in here and clean this up!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Ma Xiunuo breathed a sigh of relief, quickly shut the doors, and knelt to clean up the mess.

Beska sat on the soft sofa, his expression dark and gloomy as he said,

"Later, prepare every piece of information you can find on Yang Ming."

"Are you planning to...?" Ma Xiunuo raised his head and cautiously glanced at him.

Bishop Beska suddenly clenched his fist, a trace of coldness in his voice.

"There has never been anyone Beska wanted whom I failed to obtain!"