Spirit Hall's Invitation

"Put your hand on it."

Su Yuntao held the blue crystal ball out to Chu Heng.

With the Martial Soul test complete, the next step was to measure his Innate Soul Power.

Chu Heng set aside his questions about the Heart of Technology for now. He took a deep breath and placed his right hand on the ball.

The next moment, a pulling force came from within the crystal ball. The Soul Power he had just gained seemed to answer its call, rushing toward his palm.

A pale blue glow lit up. It was nowhere near as dazzling as it had been when Tang San took the test, but it still filled more than half the crystal ball.

Surprise flashed in Su Yuntao's eyes.

"Level seven Innate Soul Power!"

Level seven!

It fell short of Tang San's Innate Full Soul Power, but among ordinary people, it was still a rare gift.

And more than that...

Su Yuntao looked again at Chu Heng's right hand. The unusual tool-type Martial Soul was one even he could not identify. Paired with level seven Innate Soul Power, it made Chu Heng's prospects all the more intriguing.

"Not bad."

The smile on Su Yuntao's face grew distinctly warmer.

"With level seven Innate Soul Power, becoming a Soul Elder shouldn't be a problem as long as your Martial Soul has no major flaws. If fortune favors you, you might even become a Soul Ancestor or rise higher."

Old Jack stood to one side, his face glowing with excitement.

One child with Innate Full Soul Power.

Another with level seven.

When had Holy Soul Village ever produced two children like this at once?

Tang San's Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, but Chu Heng's was at least an unusual tool-type Martial Soul, even if no one recognized it.

By comparison, didn't Chu Heng seem to have the brighter future?

Su Yuntao apparently thought so too. He put away the blue crystal ball, but instead of leaving, he stood there watching Chu Heng for a while.

He seemed to be weighing something.

Chu Heng noticed, of course. His heart stirred.

No way. I was just wondering yesterday how to get into Spirit Hall, and today the chance has come straight to me?

Sure enough, Su Yuntao spoke a moment later.

"Chu Heng."

"Hm?"

Chu Heng looked up.

"Would you like to come with me to Spirit Hall?"

The room fell silent. Old Jack froze, and even Tang San, standing nearby, looked surprised.

Chu Heng's heart gave a leap.

Here it comes!

Outwardly, though, he put on a puzzled expression.

"Go to Spirit Hall?"

"Yes."

Su Yuntao nodded.

"Your Innate Soul Power is level seven, which is quite good. And your Martial Soul is unusual. I've never seen anything like it. If you stay in a small village like this, no one will be able to guide you properly."

He paused.

"If you come with me, I can take you to register at the Nott City Spirit Hall Branch Hall. Then I'll report your situation to my superiors. If someone takes an interest in your Martial Soul, they may even arrange to train you personally."

Chu Heng was tempted.

Talk about being handed a pillow just when I want to sleep.

He did not even have to ask. Su Yuntao had offered first.

And being brought in by a Spirit Hall official would surely mean different treatment from turning up on his own.

Chu Heng nearly agreed on the spot, but the words stopped at his lips.

Wait. I can't leave yet.

He glanced at Tang San from the corner of his eye.

The system had just shown him a new story prompt: accompany Jack to Tang San's house to persuade Tang Hao.

There was a reward for that.

He certainly wanted to go to Spirit Hall, but he did not want to miss the reward either.

Besides, if he was leaving Holy Soul Village, he needed to talk to his parents. They had raised him for six years, and he cared about them.

With that in mind, Chu Heng deliberately hesitated.

"Uncle Su Yuntao."

"I... still have some things to take care of at home."

Su Yuntao frowned slightly.

"Things at home?"

"Yes."

Chu Heng nodded.

"My parents don't know about my results yet. And if I really am leaving the village, I'd like to spend a few days with them first."

Su Yuntao's frown slowly eased.

Chu Heng was only six. Asking him to leave the village where he had spent his entire life with a stranger he had met for the first time today was rather sudden.

Besides, Chu Heng's family lived in Holy Soul Village. He was not going anywhere.

Su Yuntao nodded.

"That's fine. I still need to conduct Spirit Awakenings in a few nearby villages, so I won't be returning to Nott City just yet. Wait here for a while. Once I'm finished, I'll come back for you."

Chu Heng's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

Su Yuntao smiled.

"Of course. Take these next few days to talk it over with your parents."

"I will. Thank you, Uncle."

Chu Heng nodded obediently.

Perfect. I won't miss either opportunity.

After giving Old Jack a few brief instructions, Su Yuntao soon left Holy Soul Village.

Once Old Jack had taken the other children home, his first stop was Chu Heng's house. Chu Heng's parents were astonished and delighted to learn that their son had level seven Innate Soul Power and had even caught Spirit Hall's attention.

But the thought of their son leaving home so soon brought a trace of reluctance to their eyes.

"Dad, Mom."

Chu Heng smiled.

"I'm only going to Nott City. It's not as if I'll never come back."

His father was silent for a moment, then gave his shoulder a firm pat.

"Go. If it's good for you, go. Don't let us hold back your future."

Warmth spread through Chu Heng's chest, and he nodded earnestly.

When Chu Heng left the house, he saw Old Jack heading toward Tang House.

Here it comes. The next part of the story.

"Grandpa Jack, I'll go with you."

Old Jack thought for a moment and did not refuse.

They soon reached Tang House. Things unfolded exactly as expected. Even after Old Jack explained why he had come, Tang Hao barely lifted an eyelid.

"He's not going."

Old Jack flew into a rage.

"Tang Hao! Tang San has Innate Full Soul Power!"

"So what? His Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass," Tang Hao said flatly. "How far can he get cultivating with that?"

"You!"

Old Jack's beard trembled with anger. He argued a little longer, but Tang Hao would not budge. At last, he slammed his walking stick against the ground.

"There's no teaching a block of wood!"

Before following him out, Chu Heng glanced back and put his mind at ease.

He knew that once he and Old Jack left, Tang San would soon reveal the Clear Sky Hammer.

Sure enough.

They had barely walked away from Tang House when the system's voice sounded in his mind.

[Congratulations, host! You have completed the story mission: Jack's Persuasion!]

[Congratulations, host! You have received half a level of Soul Power!]

A warm current surged from his dantian, and his level seven Soul Power rose by another notch.

Chu Heng's eyes brightened.

Half a level of Soul Power. Not bad.

Who complained about a free reward?

Over the next two weeks,

Chu Heng remained in Holy Soul Village. Apart from spending time with his parents, he devoted most of his days to cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

The system had given him not only the complete technique but also a full year of cultivation experience, so he encountered almost no difficulty practicing it.

Two weeks later, his Soul Power finally crossed the threshold into level eight.

That same day, Old Jack prepared to take Tang San to Notting City Junior Spirit Master Academy.

At the village entrance,

Chu Heng came to see them off.

"Sure you don't want to come with us?" Tang San asked.

"No."

Chu Heng shook his head.

"Uncle Su Yuntao said he'd come back for me. If I go to Nott City now, I might miss him."

Tang San considered it and saw his point.

"Then I'll see you in Nott City."

"Sure."

Chu Heng smiled and bumped fists with him.

"See you in Nott City."

Old Jack and Tang San gradually disappeared into the distance.

The next day,

a familiar figure in white appeared in Holy Soul Village again. It was Su Yuntao.

"Chu Heng!"

"The gentleman from Spirit Hall is here!"

Hearing the call from outside the yard, Chu Heng picked up the bundle he had packed long ago.

His father stood at the door, while his mother's eyes were faintly red.

"Dad, Mom, I'm leaving."

His father patted his shoulder.

"Train hard while you're away."

"Come back when you can."

"I will."

Chu Heng nodded and turned to leave.

Su Yuntao was already waiting at the village entrance.

When he saw Chu Heng, he looked him up and down, then raised an eyebrow.

"Your Soul Power has grown again?"

Chu Heng paused.

"I've been training."

Su Yuntao looked even more pleased. Talent was one thing; knowing how to work hard made the boy rarer still.

"Not bad."

Su Yuntao nodded, then turned around.

"Let's go."

"First, you're coming with me to the Nott City Spirit Hall Branch Hall."