Upon hearing those words, Lin Hao had yet to speak.
Beside him, Ma Xiunuo could not help frowning.
He had lived more than half a lifetime. What hadn't he seen?
One glance told him that this boy named Lin Ao came from some noble or wealthy merchant's family.
With a little talent to lean on, he acted as though no one else mattered.
Innate rank seven soul power was certainly quite good!
But in Spirit City, it barely qualified him as a genius.
Little Hao, on the other hand, was an unparalleled genius with innate full soul power!
Still, Ma Xiunuo was a steady, seasoned man. He did not lose his temper on the spot, merely giving Lin Ao an indifferent glance.
Then he turned to Lin Hao and spoke gently.
"Little Hao, pay him no mind."
"Our Spirit Hall values talent and character, not family background."
"Just wait patiently. When our turn comes, all you need to do is show your martial soul and have your innate soul power tested."
Upon hearing Ma Xiunuo's words.
Lin Hao nodded. He was not angry, though he had a few sarcastic remarks running through his mind.
Someone who had only just met Spirit Hall's recruitment requirements was relying on a merely decent family background to look down on an unparalleled genius of common birth like him.
This scene was far too much of a classic!
Sure enough!
As a transmigrator, he might not have awakened a system or some other cheat like the protagonists in the novels from his previous life.
But he still had that knack for attracting hostility.
Lin Hao did not feel angry about it.
After all, he had innate full soul power!
He found the arrogance of someone with a mere innate rank seven soul power rather laughable!
The corners of Lin Hao's mouth lifted slightly. Rather than snapping back outright, he let just the right hint of confusion enter his eyes and asked.
"Hey, big brother, you said this is a place only geniuses can come to."
"Then may I ask... what is your martial soul? And what rank is your innate soul power?"
At that, Lin Ao raised his chin even higher and declared proudly.
"Listen carefully! My martial soul is the Gale Demon Wolf, and my innate soul power is rank seven!"
"Innate rank seven soul power?"
Hearing Lin Ao's answer, Lin Hao immediately feigned surprise.
Then, just as Lin Ao looked pleased with himself, Lin Hao changed tack, speaking as though something had occurred to him.
"That might indeed be pretty impressive elsewhere."
"But I heard Grandpa Ma Xiunuo say that at Spirit Hall's Genius Recommendation Office, the minimum innate soul power required to count as a genius seems to be rank seven."
"In other words, your innate rank seven soul power only just qualifies. Doesn't seem like there's much to be proud of, does it?"
"You-!"
Lin Ao's face instantly flushed red. The words caught in his throat, leaving him speechless.
Nearby, several boys and girls who had also been sizing Lin Hao up could not help showing a measure of agreement.
Although they, too, thought Lin Hao looked shabbily dressed, what he said made perfect sense.
Rank seven was only the threshold, not some earth-shaking talent.
Showing it off was downright embarrassing!
Just then, after finishing the registration of Lin Ao's information, the Cardinal behind the desk looked up and continued.
"Next!"
Lin Ao shot Lin Hao a vicious glare, snorted, and turned to sit on a nearby sofa, though his expression was decidedly unpleasant.
Seeing this, Ma Xiunuo nodded inwardly.
Little Hao was not only exceptionally talented but quick-witted as well.
Faced with provocation, he had been neither meek nor overbearing. A few words had left the other boy eating dust, yet he had not seemed aggressive.
Compared with those spoiled young scions who knew only how to flaunt their talent and swagger about.
His temperament was countless times better.
After Lin Ao.
The other boys and girls in line stepped forward one after another to have their martial souls and soul power tested.
For the most part, their innate soul power was either rank seven or rank eight.
At last, it was Lin Hao's turn.
"Come on, Little Hao! It's our turn."
Ma Xiunuo patted Lin Hao's shoulder and led him toward the desk.
Off to the side, seeing that it was Lin Hao's turn to have his martial soul and soul power tested, Lin Ao folded his arms and gave a disdainful snort.
This dirt-poor bumpkin, whether it was his martial soul or his innate soul power.
Neither could possibly amount to much!
He probably wouldn't even exceed innate rank five soul power. He might not qualify as a genius at all!
And even if he did, he would have innate rank seven soul power at most, just like me!
If he had the same innate rank seven soul power.
After daring to make those snide remarks at me earlier!
Just watch how I hit back!
After Ma Xiunuo led Lin Hao up to the desk.
The Cardinal glanced at Ma Xiunuo and nodded slightly in greeting, then turned his gaze to Lin Hao and asked in a routine tone.
"Name?"
"Lin Hao."
"Age?"
"Six."
"Summon your martial soul."
Lin Hao held out his right hand and willed it forth.
The next moment, brilliant gold-and-purple light suddenly bloomed in his palm!
An enormous singular velvet sky chrysanthemum quietly appeared above his hand.
Its purple petals overlapped in layers like the finest silk, while the golden center rose high, radiating a faint golden halo.
A delicate fragrance instantly spread through the air.
The entire hall fell silent in an instant.
The Cardinal's previously calm gaze abruptly sharpened the moment he saw this martial soul.
He sprang to his feet, staring fixedly at the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum in Lin Hao's palm. Even his voice changed as he cried out in shock.
"This is... the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum?!"
As a Cardinal of Spirit Hall, he naturally recognized this chrysanthemum.
It was the very same martial soul as that of their elder, Lord Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan-a top-tier plant martial soul!
"Quick! Let's test your soul power!"
Overcome with excitement, the Cardinal almost impatiently pushed the deep-blue crystal ball in front of Lin Hao.
After all, Elder Chrysanthemum Douluo's innate soul power had been rank nine!
If this Lin Ao's soul power was also rank nine!
That would surely be enough to stir Elder Ju!
Faced with the deep-blue crystal ball the Grand Cardinal had pushed toward him, Lin Hao placed his hand on it.
The next moment-
Dazzling deep-blue light burst forth, illuminating the hall.
"This is... innate full soul power!!"
At the sight, the Cardinal was stunned, scarcely able to believe it.
He had never imagined that Lin Hao's innate soul power would actually surpass that of their elder, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan!
On the sofa, Lin Ao, who had been so high and mighty just moments earlier, now sat utterly frozen, his mouth hanging open without a single word coming out.
The other boys and girls were also filled with shock and disbelief.
None of them had expected Lin Hao's martial soul to possess innate full soul power!
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the Pope Hall.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan had just finished reporting to Bibi Dong and was about to return to rest.
Suddenly, however, he sensed an extraordinarily familiar aura coming from the foot of the mountain.
"This is..."
As though something had suddenly occurred to him, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's expression changed, becoming wildly excited. He shot into the air, turning into a streak of golden light as he rushed toward the Genius Recommendation Office at the foot of the mountain.
"The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul with innate full soul power!"
"To think our Spirit Hall has finally welcomed another genius with innate full soul power this year!"
Upon discovering that Lin Hao possessed innate full soul power, the Grand Cardinal in charge of registration became tremendously excited and shouted with delight.
Although the Genius Recommendation Office welcomed many geniuses with innate soul power above rank seven every year.
Among them, unparalleled geniuses with innate full soul power were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
Usually, they might not see even one in several years.
This year, another had finally arrived.
This was a tremendous achievement to his credit!
Just then, a streak of golden light suddenly landed at the entrance to the Genius Recommendation Office. With a flash, it entered the hall and appeared not far from Lin Hao.
Before you continue