The Papal Hall's Openly Acknowledged Genius

The Papal Hall was quiet.

Yuan Yu stood in the center, his right hand wrapped up like a little dumpling.

Two God-given Spirit Rings, one water-blue and one red-gold, floated behind him.

He didn't dare move.

Bibi Dong sat above him.

Qian Daoliu was there too.

Azure Luan, Ling Yuan, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo stood on either side.

The gathering made him even more nervous than he had been on the day of his awakening.

Yuan Yu stared down at his shoes.

"Teacher, I think I made progress this time."

Bibi Dong said evenly, "You split your hand open. That counts as progress?"

"At least I didn't burn down a building."

Chrysanthemum Douluo nearly laughed aloud.

Ghost Douluo glanced at him.

Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately held it in.

Bibi Dong said, "Tell me about the move you used."

Yuan Yu answered honestly, "Flame Breathing: First Form—Unquenchable Fire."

"Who taught you?"

"The Sun Wheel Blade."

"How much did you remember yourself?"

"I remember the name clearly and a little of what it looks like. But to actually use it, I have to take a hit."

Ling Yuan frowned again at those last few words.

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"So you tested it with your own hand?"

Yuan Yu raised his head.

"Teacher, if I'd missed that half-step, the feeling would've slipped away."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Yan's half-step back hadn't been much.

But in a Soul Master's training, that half-step often made all the difference.

Bibi Dong didn't like him taking risks.

But she also knew a true Soul Master couldn't spend his whole life training somewhere safe.

After a moment, she said, "Three months' allowance. Deducted."

Yuan Yu's expression changed.

"Teacher."

"And your wine. Also deducted."

Now Yuan Yu really panicked.

"Teacher, I'm not allowed to drink yet."

"Then the ban starts when you are."

Ling Yuan added, "Make it another six months."

Yuan Yu shut his mouth at once.

Qian Daoliu studied the two God-given Spirit Rings behind him.

"What's your Soul Power level?"

Yuan Yu checked.

"Level twenty-four."

Several Red Cardinals in the hall froze with pens in hand.

Six years old.

A level twenty-four Soul Grandmaster.

Two God-given Spirit Rings.

This wasn't genius.

It was as though someone had ground the word genius into the floor and written it anew.

Bibi Dong said, "Starting tomorrow, you'll join Spirit Hall Academy and train with the Golden Generation."

Yuan Yu's eyes lit up.

"With Sister Nana and the others?"

"Yes."

"Will Yan take the chance to get even?"

Bibi Dong glanced at him.

"If he can beat you, he's earned it."

Yuan Yu thought for a moment.

"Then I'd better work hard."

Chrysanthemum Douluo laughed. "So you do know fear?"

"I'm afraid I can't afford to replace any more clothes."

This time, even Ling Yuan's lips twitched.

But Bibi Dong didn't smile.

She raised her hand and tapped the floor lightly with her Scepter.

"Yuan Yu, remember one thing."

Yuan Yu straightened.

"The more power you have, the more you must restrain yourself."

"You can force Yan back half a step. You can also burn someone weaker than you."

"The Sun Wheel Blade isn't a toy for showing off."

Yuan Yu's smile faded.

"I know."

Bibi Dong met his eyes.

"Tell me what you know."

Yuan Yu was silent for a moment.

"The Water Pattern teaches me to save people."

"The Flame Pattern teaches me to draw my blade."

"But before I draw it, I need to know who I should strike."

A flicker crossed Bibi Dong's eyes.

"Remember that."

"I will."

Qian Daoliu spoke. "There's no need to hide Yuan Yu's talent from the public."

Everyone in the hall looked up.

Qian Daoliu's voice remained steady.

"Spirit Hall has no shortage of geniuses, and we're not afraid of others knowing we have one."

Bibi Dong glanced at him.

This time, she didn't object.

"The details of the Ten Thousand Manifestations Nine Trials and the Elemental God System are top secret. Don't volunteer any explanation for the God-given Spirit Rings. As for how strong Yuan Yu is..."

She looked at Yuan Yu.

"Let them see for themselves."

Yuan Yu's eyes shone.

He liked that.

Hiding his strength wasn't in his nature.

He was strong. That was that.

He hadn't trained for his power just to pretend he was weak.

By the time the questioning ended, dawn had broken.

Yuan Yu had barely stepped out of the Papal Hall when he spotted a blond girl at the foot of the long stairs.

Qian Renxue had returned.

She wore a pale-gold coat, and the morning breeze lifted the ends of her hair.

The moment she saw his heavily bandaged right hand, she frowned.

"What happened to your hand?"

Yuan Yu instinctively hid it behind his back.

"Just a small injury."

Qian Renxue walked up to him.

"Show me."

Yuan Yu looked toward Azure Luan and Ling Yuan.

Both looked away at once.

He had no choice but to hold out his hand.

Qian Renxue took one look at the bandage, and her expression cooled.

"You call that small?"

Yuan Yu gave a dry laugh.

"Smaller than burning down a building."

Qian Renxue reached out and rapped him on the head.

"And you're proud of it?"

"Wouldn't dare."

"Come to my place tonight. I'll change your bandage."

Yuan Yu's eyes lit up.

"Will there be snacks?"

"No."

"Fruit wine?"

"Definitely not."

Yuan Yu sighed.

"Big Sister Renxue, you've changed."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"You must be feeling better."

Yuan Yu shut his mouth at once.

That day, news spread quickly through Spirit Hall Academy.

The little wine lover from the Worship Hall had officially enrolled.

Six years old. Level twenty-four.

Two God-given Spirit Rings.

A Sun Wheel Blade Martial Soul.

When Yan heard the last part, his face stayed dark for ages.

Hu Liena asked with a smile, "Didn't you say you wouldn't retreat even half a step?"

Yan muttered, "I wasn't taking it seriously."

Xie Yue glanced at him.

"You were."

Yan wanted to talk even less.

The next day at the Training Ground, Yuan Yu wore white, with the Black Jade Gourd at his waist and his right hand bandaged. The two Spirit Rings shining behind him left every student speechless.

He looked around and smiled. "I look forward to training with you all."

For the first group training session, the academy instructor had planned to let him watch.

After all, his right hand was still bandaged.

But Yuan Yu stepped into the arena himself.

"Watching's no fun."

The instructor looked to Ling Yuan.

"Don't draw your blade," Ling Yuan said.

Yuan Yu nodded.

"I'll use the sheath."

Xie Yue went first.

His Moon Blades were fast and struck from tricky angles. Unable to put strength into his right hand, Yuan Yu used only his left to hold the sheath. A Water Pattern flashed beneath his feet, and he slid past a Moon Blade.

The first time, he was forced back three steps.

The second time, his sheath was knocked aside.

The third time, Yuan Yu changed direction half a beat before Xie Yue struck. His scabbard tapped the side of Xie Yue's wrist.

Xie Yue pulled back his hand.

"You learn too fast."

Yuan Yu caught his breath.

"Getting hit teaches me fast."

Hu Liena stepped up second.

She did not rush to attack. She merely released her Demon Fox Martial Soul. As its bewitching aura spread, quite a few students at the edge of the Training Ground went dazed.

Yuan Yu's vision blurred for half a beat too.

The next instant, the Water Pattern flashed.

A drop of water burst in front of his brow.

The chill pierced through him, and his gaze cleared at once.

Hu Liena blinked.

"You broke free that quickly?"

Yuan Yu rubbed his temple.

"Sister Nana, that's a great way to sober someone up."

"It's Bewitchment."

"Same effect."

The students at the edge of the Training Ground stared.

It was the first time they had seen anyone use Hu Liena's Bewitchment to sober up.

Yan stepped up third.

He looked at Yuan Yu's bandaged right hand and snorted.

"I won't bully you with fire today."

Yuan Yu raised an eyebrow.

"Yan, you're sounding more and more like a decent guy."

"Enough talk."

Yan threw a punch.

Yuan Yu did not draw his blade. He blocked with the scabbard, and the Flame Pattern lit up for an instant.

A line of fire curled along the ground. It did not attack Yan; it only forced him to pause.

Yan looked down at the scorch mark.

"You've got that fire under much better control today."

Yuan Yu grinned. "And you've gotten better at giving compliments since yesterday."

Hu Liena laughed.

Xie Yue looked at the two of them and said flatly, "You've both gotten consistently louder."

After that day, everyone at Spirit Hall Academy understood one thing.

Yuan Yu was not some pretty prodigy the Worship Hall had propped up.

He could really fight.

And he got better with every fight.

Yan folded his arms.

"Let your hand heal first."

Yuan Yu looked at him.

"Worried about me, Yan?"

"I'm worried you'll make excuses when you lose."

"Don't worry."

Yuan Yu smiled, looking perfectly innocent.

"If I make excuses, I'll come up with new ones."

Hu Liena could not hold back her laughter.

From that day on, life at Spirit Hall Academy grew livelier.

And from that day on, the academy had a new rule.

Anyone sparring with Yuan Yu had to check that the Training Ground was sturdy enough first.

Otherwise, whoever broke the floor tiles would have to pay for them.