The supremely confident father and son

In the Spirit Hall Academy disciples' seating area.

Watching Hu Liena chatting and laughing with Shi Meng in the distance, Yan's expression darkened.

"Xie Yue, why's your sister so close to that kid?"

Xie Yue stood beside him, his crimson eyes studying Shi Meng with growing curiosity.

"I don't know either."

Yan curled his lip, his voice practically bubbling with sour jealousy.

"Since when can just anyone attend the awakening ceremony? When did Spirit Hall get so casual?"

Xie Yue shot Yan a glare.

"He's just a child. What are you getting jealous over?"

Yan choked, his face flushing bright red.

"Wh-who's jealous? Not me."

Xie Yue did not expose his little ulterior motives, merely continuing to watch Shi Meng.

Why did this little boy give him such an indescribable sense of incongruity, something that did not belong to a child his age?

As though sensing Xie Yue's gaze, Shi Meng sneaked a glance in their direction.

Well, damn. Was this... my future brother-in-law?

Everyone watched Bibi Dong lead Shi Meng onto the dais by the hand, then remain holding it even after taking her seat.

Whispers rose below the dais once again.

"She's still holding his hand after sitting down. Who exactly is this child?"

"Her Holiness has never been so close to anyone. Could he be..."

The speaker stopped there. Though the rest went unsaid, everyone understood perfectly.

This kid might really be the Supreme Pontiff's illegitimate son!

The speculation was so outrageous that no one dared actually voice it.

Shi Meng, however, knew nothing of these guesses that had veered wildly off course.

Had he known, he would certainly have given every one of them a thumbs-up.

Good eye. Bibi Dong really was a woman who could become Mommy.

Mom-my-

Here comes Meng~

Still, standing beside Bibi Dong, he felt a little uncomfortable.

So many people.

Wasn't this reception just a hundred million tiny bits too grand?

I was just an ordinary, unremarkable six-year-old, good for nothing apart from a hundred million teeny bits of Herrscher authority.

Making me stand up here under all these gazes... the pressure was mountain-sized~

"Woooo~"

A horn sounded at just the right moment.

Several Spirit Hall attendants began preparing the awakening platform.

The crowd below fell silent, watching intently with anticipation filling their eyes.

The martial soul awakening ceremony was about to begin. Whose child would awaken an explosively spectacular martial soul today?

My son, of course!

Watching the crowd's reaction, Miles felt a surge of pride.

He was supremely confident that his son Raine would win the Supreme Pontiff's favor today and become her disciple, then become the Holy Son in the future, with limitless prospects ahead.

At that thought, he could no longer restrain himself and stepped out of the crowd.

"Your Holiness, my son Raine possesses extraordinary talent. His awakening today will surely astonish everyone."

"I humbly ask that Your Holiness take my son Raine directly as your personal disciple."

Seeing his father speak up, Raine hurried forward as well, looking at Bibi Dong with a face full of arrogance.

"Yes, yes, Your Holiness! I'm super amazing. Hurry and take me as your disciple."

Shi Meng's eyes widened as he stared at Miles and Raine below, scarcely able to believe it.

Like Shi Meng, the spectators below were stunned by the father and son's antics.

Did they get their confidence through a Pinduoduo bargain slash? Nine hundred and ninety-nine in one cut?

Or did Aunt Liang give them their courage?

I knew they were something else, but I never imagined they could be this outrageous.

This was practically Varesa riding a rocket-that you-know-what had shot straight into the sky.

Asking the Supreme Pontiff to take you as a disciple before the awakening ceremony even started? You two were the first!

Everyone gave the father and son a thumbs-up.

Raine looked around from amid the crowd, so pleased with himself that his piggy snout was practically pointing skyward.

"Your Holiness, I'm certain to awaken an incredibly powerful martial soul, with innate soul power of at least rank nine. You won't lose out by taking me as your disciple."

That really took guts.

Others might not know, but Shi Meng did.

Bibi Dong absolutely would not take anyone else this time. He, Shi Meng, had already been selected as her disciple. Outsiders did not stand a chance.

Shi Meng shook his head.

This father and son's hopes were probably going down the drain.

"What do you mean by shaking your head? Do you think I'm not worthy?"

*???*

Seriously, dude?

Shi Meng looked at Raine in bewilderment.

Raine was glaring at him with a look that said, "Don't you dare look down on me."

Was there something seriously wrong with this guy?

Sure enough, the next moment, Shi Meng saw Raine raise his chin haughtily.

"Hmph! I'm not like certain people who crawled out of who knows what obscure corner and wormed their way onto the dais through Your Holiness's kindness. Aren't they afraid of awakening a laughingstock later?"

Shi Meng helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead.

This guy was beyond saving.

His mouth was tougher than his soul power, and his skin was thicker than a city wall.

Faced with this father and son, Bibi Dong remained remarkably composed. She gestured toward the now-prepared awakening platform.

"Since Bishop Miles is so confident, let everyone present see whether your son's talent qualifies him to become my disciple."

Hearing this, the attendant presiding over the ceremony immediately stepped onto the awakening platform, holding a fist-sized blue crystal ball.

"The martial soul awakening ceremony will now begin. Please come forward in order."

One child after another entered the Hexagram Array brimming with anticipation, only to leave with their heads hanging.

The watching disciples showed little interest, and Shi Meng was growing bored as well.

This awakening ceremony was just like a company morning meeting-long and boring.

Since most of those who came to Spirit Hall for their awakening were commoner Soul Masters, there were few promising talents.

Even among the handful with decent martial souls, their innate soul power was not particularly high.

Yet the more this happened, the more smug Miles became.

"Next, Raine."

Hearing that it was finally his turn, Raine strode into the Hexagram Array like a proud rooster.

The Hexagram Array lit up.

A mass of golden flames rose from his palm, the faint outline of a lion taking shape within them.

"It really is the Golden Flame Lion, a high-grade beast martial soul!"

"As expected of a cardinal's son."

The guests exclaimed in amazement.

Shi Meng merely curled his lip.

The Golden Flame Lion counted as impressive? It sounded more like the name of the barbecue stall downstairs from my home in my previous life.

Boss, ten Golden Flame Lion meatball skewers, extra spicy.

The attendant picked up the crystal ball and thrust it in front of Raine.

"Put your hand on it to test your soul power."

Raine nodded and pressed his hand against the crystal ball.

A dazzling golden light surged forth.

"Innate soul power: rank nine."

Miles immediately burst into laughter.

"Excellent, excellent! My son truly hasn't disappointed us."

Innate rank nine-higher than everyone who had awakened earlier!

Raine was equally smug and shot Shi Meng a provocative glance.

"See that? This is what talent looks like."

"Certain people should hurry back to wherever they came from."

Shi Meng felt rather speechless.

Only innate rank nine, and he was already this smug.

This kid was clearly a lost cause.

A frog at the bottom of a well, complete with his own flattering filter.

Once I finished my test, I hoped you'd still be able to stand.

Miles seized the opportunity to cup his hands toward Bibi Dong.

"Your Holiness, my son Raine has innate rank-nine soul power and the Golden Flame Lion martial soul. Surely that is enough to become your disciple?"

Bibi Dong did not answer. She merely watched Miles and his son quietly, the chill in her violet eyes gathering little by little.

Shi Meng silently lit a candle for the father and son in his heart.

Keep at it, you little death-courting experts. A father-and-son duo queue, feeding kills together.

Bibi Dong's little black book was almost full, and you were still piling up the prize pool. Truly one of a kind.

"Next, Shi Meng."