Spirit Hall

Biodata

Organization & Hierarchy

Duties and Authority

• Martial Soul awakenings — Spirit Hall maintains local branches across the continent to conduct yearly awakenings for children. Holy Soul Village's branch is only a larger wooden house, while the ceremony there is administered by Patrol Deacons. 10 11
• Certification and registration — Its certificates verify a person's awakened Martial Soul and innate soul power for academy enrollment. Its rank badges identify registered Spirit Masters. 20 48
• Advancement appraisals — The Notting City branch operates a Martial Soul Laboratory for summoning Martial Souls, displaying Soul Rings, and measuring advancement. 46 47
• Hunting permits — Spirit Hall issues permits required to enter state-run Spirit Hunting Forests. A third-class permit may bear a sword, hammer, and beast emblem. 34
• Talent recruitment — Exclusive Spirit Masters may receive tuition-free training at Spirit Hall schools and additional subsidies. Bishop Beska offers Yang Ming 500 Golden Soul Coins per month, elite teachers, and support for Holy Soul Village in an attempt to recruit him. 48
• Disciplinary authority — The organization can investigate staff misconduct, issue demerits, and dismiss personnel for abusing authority. 26 48

Facilities and Insignia

Notting City Branch Hall

Notting City's Spirit Hall is the city's tallest building, surpassing even the City Lord's residence in grandeur. Its main hall has a twenty-meter-high dome, crystal windows, towering pillars, and golden murals depicting different Martial Souls. 20 21

• The first floor includes a reception hall where rank assessments can be arranged. 20
• The second floor contains offices and the Martial Soul Laboratory. 46 47
• The laboratory has five black stones set into its walls and a floor emblem resembling a token with a downward-pointing sword. 47

Uniforms and Badges

• Personnel directly affiliated with Spirit Hall wear fitted white clothing, black cloaks, and a chest emblem bearing the character for “Spirit.” 8
• A badge with three crossed longswords identifies a third-rank Great Spirit Master-level Battle Spirit Master. 8
• Yang Ming's Spirit Master badge bears his name on the reverse and two interwoven thorns on its face. 48

Documented Conduct and Internal Conflict

Cao Mengyun's Abuse of Authority

Patrol Deacon Cao Mengyun nearly tramples a pregnant villager while riding through Holy Soul Village, then refuses to apologize. He treats the villagers with open contempt and attacks Yang Ming when challenged. 8 9

After Yang Ming awakens the Mysterious Sword and demonstrates Innate Full Soul Power, Cao fears future retaliation. He hires bandits to intercept Yang Ming's journey and alters Yang Ming's Spirit Hall certificate to obstruct his admission to Notting Academy. 20 21

Cao then uses his influence and payments to persuade Notting City branch personnel not to issue Yang Ming a replacement certificate. Ma Xiunuo initially complies with this pressure despite being aware of Cao's conduct. 21

Yang Ming's Confrontation

Yang Ming, Tang San, Old Jack, and Master bring the forged certificate to the Notting City branch. Cao publicly denies responsibility, while the branch initially refuses to process Yang Ming's assessment. 20 21

When Cao injures Old Jack and attempts to prevent Yang Ming's advancement, Yang Ming reveals his Dual Martial Souls and battles the level 29 Great Spirit Master inside Spirit Hall. Yang Ming's combat ability forces Ma Xiunuo and other staff to recognize his exceptional talent. 22 23 24

Following Cao's defeat, Ma Xiunuo issues Yang Ming a new certificate, apologizes on behalf of the Notting City branch, promises an investigation, and states that Cao will receive a major demerit. Yang Ming instead prioritizes an apology to the pregnant villager Cao endangered. 26

Recruitment and Coercion

When Yang Ming later returns for an advancement appraisal, Ma Xiunuo treats him warmly and attempts to repair his impression of Spirit Hall. His first Soul Ring is revealed to be a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, drawing Bishop Beska's immediate interest. 46 47

Beska personally invites Yang Ming to become an exclusive Spirit Master, presenting Su Yuntao's dismissal notice as compensation and offering substantial financial and educational benefits. Yang Ming refuses, wishing to remain independent. 48

Spirit Hall later uses Tang San's medical condition as leverage: Doctor Xiao offers treatment only if Yang Ming joins Soto City's Main Temple. Yang Ming again refuses, and ultimately heals Tang San himself. 49 50

Known Personnel

• Cao Mengyun — Notting City Patrol Deacon and level 29 Great Spirit Master-level Battle Spirit Master. He forges Yang Ming's certificate, pressures branch staff, and is defeated by Yang Ming. 8 21 24 26
• Su Yuntao — Patrol Deacon present at Holy Soul Village's awakening ceremony. Bishop Beska later presents a notice dismissing him for abusing authority for personal gain and damaging Spirit Hall's reputation. 11 48
• Ma Xiunuo — Great Spirit Master of the Notting City branch who handles Yang Ming's appraisal, later apologizes for the branch's conduct, and attempts to mend relations with him. 21 26 46 47
• Bishop Beska — Bishop of Soto City's Spirit Hall Main Temple. He seeks to recruit Yang Ming after learning of his Dual Martial Souls and Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. 47 48
• Doctor Xiao — Auxiliary-type Great Spirit Master and a prominent physician in Notting City. He attempts to pressure Yang Ming into joining Spirit Hall by withholding Tang San's treatment. 49 50

Notable Quote

“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, invoking his influence within the Notting City branch 21