Spirit Hall Visitor

Fortunately, there were many people around, so Yu Xiaogang did not dare act recklessly in front of everyone. Xu Peinian thus avoided a bout of trouble.

However, his plans had been completely disrupted. Originally, Xu Peinian had intended to cultivate diligently at Notting Academy, spend a few peaceful years there, and then join Heaven Dou Royal Academy for further study.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was, after all, the Heaven Dou Empire's best advanced Soul Master Academy. Though it could not compare to Spirit Hall Academy, its resources were no worse than Shrek Academy's.

Most importantly, it came with far fewer problems. There was no need to even mention Shrek Academy. With Tang San, a natural magnet for hatred, at that academy, along with troublemakers like Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, trouble plagued it every single day.

As for Spirit Hall Academy, there was not much wrong with the academy itself. It had resources and backing alike, but the Spirit Hall behind it was trouble in itself.

Spirit Hall's internal affairs were already a complete mess. There was a lunatic traitor serving as Pope, a Grand Worshipper so obsessed with honor that someone could attack his doorstep and he would not even make a sound, and a number of corrupt, fallen embezzlers below them.

Still, no matter what, Spirit Hall's way of doing things was far better than that of the nobles from the two great empires.

If Xu Peinian had not possessed his cheat, he might have taken a chance on Spirit Hall. But since he had one now, he ought to lie low and develop first.

Yet now that the little brat and his master had their eyes on him, he feared it would be difficult to live peacefully.

He could only take things one step at a time... Xu Peinian shook his head. No longer in the mood to remain here, he turned and left to clear his mind elsewhere.

Xu Peinian walked along the academy's wooded paths, but he had no interest in admiring the scenery. He merely lowered his head and wandered aimlessly, his thoughts having long since drifted away.

Xu Peinian was so absorbed in thought that he failed to notice someone running toward him from ahead.

"Xu... Xu Peinian."

Only upon hearing the voice did Xu Peinian raise his head and look at the newcomer.

It was Wang Sheng, the former former boss of Dorm Seven, bent over with his hands on his knees and gasping for breath. He had clearly been running for quite a while.

Why was he here? Wasn't he Tang San and Xiao Wu's lackey? Could Tang San already be too impatient to wait before taking his anger out on me?

Question marks practically appeared over Xu Peinian's head as he formed a rough guess.

Yet Wang Sheng's next words completely overturned Xu Peinian's speculation:

"The headmaster and the dean want to see you. They said... said an important guest specifically asked to meet you."

"Me?"

Xu Peinian pointed at himself, his face full of disbelief.

Gangzi couldn't possibly have complained to the headmaster just to make things difficult for me, could he? No, he doesn't have that much influence. The academy wouldn't abandon a genius with Innate Full Soul Power for his sake.

Forget it. I'll go take a look. I'll find out what this is about soon enough... Xu Peinian signaled for Wang Sheng to lead the way, then followed him to meet the headmaster.

Notting Academy, headmaster's office.

A knock sounded outside the door. The academy headmaster breathed a sigh of relief, then called out toward the door:

"Come in."

The heavy solid-wood door slowly opened, and Xu Peinian was the only one who entered.

That boy Wang Sheng was timid. Once they reached the floor below, he had told Xu Peinian to go up by himself, then turned and ran back.

Xu Peinian closed the door, casually sweeping his gaze around the room. He found the academy headmaster and the dean standing before the tea table, their expressions slightly deferential.

On the leather sofa beside the tea table sat a tall, upright middle-aged man with an ancient, stern face and an air of righteous majesty between his brows.

He held a long staff, dark gold from end to end, with dragon-head carvings at both tips and a faint dragon-shaped phantom coiling around its shaft.

Though he had not deliberately released any pressure, simply sitting there made one feel immense oppression.

No wonder the headmaster and dean were standing there so respectfully. The man on the sofa appeared to possess both considerable strength and status.

"Xu Peinian?"

The headmaster asked softly first.

Xu Peinian nodded to indicate that he was the person being sought.

A smile immediately appeared on the old headmaster's face, and his tone became much kinder.

"Peinian, quickly, come pay your respects to this senior from Spirit Hall."

As he spoke, the headmaster beckoned Xu Peinian over.

Xu Peinian walked forward at an unhurried pace and stopped before the tea table.

Only then did the seated man lift his eyes to examine Xu Peinian, his calm voice sounding at the same time.

"Child, show me your martial soul."

His tone was even, yet it carried the unmistakable authority of one long in a position of power.

Xu Peinian frowned slightly and turned to look at the headmaster, only to find him wiping cold sweat from his brow and frantically blinking at him to comply.

What was going on today? Why did everyone want me to show my martial soul... Not wanting to make things difficult for the headmaster, Xu Peinian could only raise his right hand and summon his martial soul.

The aura of standing at an abyss's edge and plunging into an icy spring descended once more. A long blade wreathed in black mist appeared in Xu Peinian's hand.

A cold moon sank into the abyss, a ghostly blade claimed souls—the blade's name was Netherworld.

However, everyone present was far stronger than Xu Peinian. Though they sensed the Netherworld Blade's extraordinary nature, they felt no discomfort.

The man on the sofa finally stopped maintaining his stern expression. After studying the Netherworld Blade for a moment, a satisfied curve rose at the corner of his mouth.

"Not bad. Very good, indeed. Haha, it seems this old man has found himself a fine seedling."

After laughing twice, the man who called himself this old man looked at Xu Peinian and asked sternly:

"Child, this old man is Spirit Hall's Sixth Worshipper, a level ninety-six attack-type Peak Douluo. My title is Qian Jun, and my martial soul is the Panlong Staff. Your Netherworld Blade is also suited to the attack-type path. So, are you willing to take this old man as your master?"

The headmaster and dean beside them were even more shocked than Xu Peinian. They knew the visitor held a high position in Spirit Hall, but they had never expected it to be this high.

This was a great figure they would never have encountered in their entire lives. Today, thanks to Xu Peinian, they had been fortunate enough to see him in person. Even though he had come to poach their talent, their excitement outweighed their regret.

Xu Peinian knew something about this Sixth Worshipper of the Elder Hall from the original work, but he had not expected the man to travel all this way personally to take him as a disciple.

In truth, if it had merely been Innate Full Soul Power, Qian Jun Douluo would not have come in person. The main reason was that the people below had specifically emphasized in the report that this child's martial soul was of exceptionally high quality. This had piqued Grand Worshipper Qian Daoliu's interest, prompting him to send Qian Jun to recruit him.

Xu Peinian thought of how he had now offended Tang San and his master, and how he had no other means of joining a better academy. Rather than waste his time at Notting Academy, he might as well join Spirit Hall now.

Qian Daoliu might have been somewhat old-fashioned, but he was completely different from his son, Qian Xunji, the Chamber Douluo. He was honest and trustworthy, a true upright gentleman. Having him as a backer would indeed be good, though Xu Peinian would need to be wary of Bibi Dong later on.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Peinian met Qian Jun Douluo's gaze with bright eyes. His young voice nevertheless carried firm resolve.

"I can agree to take you as my master and join Spirit Hall, but I ask that you agree to one condition."