Before Lin Hao could react, a figure had already appeared before him.
The newcomer wore golden armor. He had a slender figure, delicate, feminine features, and fair skin, with an indescribable elegance in his every movement.
When he saw Lin Hao's hand resting on the deep-blue crystal ball, which was shining with a dazzling radiance that had reached the level of innate full soul power-
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan grew even more excited. He immediately turned to Lin Hao and asked.
"Little fellow, were you the one testing your martial soul and innate soul power just now? Is your martial soul a large golden chrysanthemum?"
"Yes!"
Although Lin Hao did not know Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan personally, he immediately guessed who the newcomer was from his delicate, handsome features and answered politely and respectfully.
"Summon your martial soul and let me see it!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo urged him excitedly.
At his words, Lin Hao willed his martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, to appear again.
Brilliant golden-purple light blossomed once more.
The breathtaking Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum quietly appeared above Lin Hao's palm. Its purple petals overlapped in layer upon layer, while its golden center rose high, radiating a faint golden halo.
A delicate fragrance instantly spread through the air.
"Excellent, excellent, excellent! It really is the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum! And you have innate full soul power, too!"
Seeing that Lin Hao's martial soul was indeed the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum Douluo was thrilled. He repeated "excellent" three times, his voice brimming with delight.
Then he looked Lin Hao up and down, growing more satisfied with every glance, as though admiring a piece of uncarved jade.
Only then did the Cardinal beside them find an opportunity to hurriedly bow to Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"Greetings, Elder Yue Guan!"
At those words, everyone in the hall drew a sharp breath.
Elder Yue Guan? Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan?!
That elder of the Spirit Hall, a Titled Douluo?!
Lin Ao's face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled, but he could not utter a word.
He had never imagined that this mud-legged peasant in ragged clothes would draw Chrysanthemum Douluo here in person!
Yue Guan waved a hand, indicating that the Cardinal need not stand on ceremony, then turned to Lin Hao and asked gently.
"Child, what is your name?"
"Lin Hao."
Lin Hao answered without servility or arrogance, though excitement surged within him.
Here it comes, here it comes! Finally!
As long as I latch onto this powerful backer, my future in the Spirit Hall is secure!
"Lin Hao..."
Yue Guan repeated the name once and nodded.
"Would you be willing to become my disciple?"
At those words, the entire hall fell silent once again.
Become Chrysanthemum Douluo's disciple?!
That meant becoming the personal disciple of a Titled Douluo!
An opportunity countless people would not dare imagine even in their dreams!
Beside them, Ma Xiunuo stroked the snow-white beard beneath his chin. He was immensely excited, but not surprised.
After discovering that Lin Hao's martial soul was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and that he also had innate full soul power-
He had guessed this would be the outcome.
Still, seeing everything unfold just as he had expected filled him with excitement.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Hao dropped to one knee and cupped his fist.
"Your disciple, Lin Hao, pays his respects, Teacher!"
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"
Yue Guan laughed heartily and reached out to help Lin Hao up, growing more pleased with this disciple by the moment.
"From this day forward, you are my personal disciple!"
After accepting Lin Hao as his disciple-
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan thought for a moment, then took a bracelet from inside his clothes and handed it to Lin Hao. It was gold all over, carved with five golden chrysanthemums and set with five gemstones, each nestled in the center of a flower.
"This is a Storage Soul Tool I used in the past. It is called the Golden Chrysanthemum Bracelet."
"It has a total of fifty cubic meters of storage space. Consider it my welcoming gift to you!"
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Lin Hao's eyes lit up at those words, and he immediately accepted it with delight.
The boys and girls beside them, including Lin Ao, all looked on with envy.
After all, this was a precious Storage Soul Tool!
Across the continent, even the lowest-grade Storage Soul Tool was something ten thousand gold coins could scarcely buy!
And the Storage Soul Tool Elder Chrysanthemum Douluo had given him was certainly a rather good one.
Even many Soul Saints might not own one. It was truly enviable!
Afterward, Chrysanthemum Douluo asked Lin Hao.
"Hao, who recommended you to come here?"
Lin Hao pointed to Ma Xiunuo and said.
"Teacher, it was Grandpa Ma Xiunuo!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded, then looked at Ma Xiunuo and said.
"Ma Xiunuo, is it? Well done. You have brought me a fine disciple!"
Then Chrysanthemum Douluo instructed the Grand Cardinal.
"Give this Ma Xiunuo the highest-tier reward for recommending a prodigy."
"Also, if there is a higher-ranking Martial Soul Sub-Hall near his Spirit Hall Branch with a vacant hall master position, promote him to it!"
"Yes!"
The Grand Cardinal immediately acknowledged the order respectfully.
Ma Xiunuo was so excited that his eyes reddened, and he nearly fainted.
He had never expected that, at his advanced age, he could still rise further!
The other Spirit Hall Branch masters in the hall also looked on with envy.
They envied not only Ma Xiunuo's generous reward, but also the connection he had forged with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Lin Hao, securing powerful backing for his future.
He was certain to soar straight into the clouds!
After bidding farewell to Ma Xiunuo-
Chrysanthemum Douluo eagerly took Lin Hao back to his residence in Spirit City.
It was an enormous mansion.
Throughout the courtyard, flower beds blazed with purples and reds.
Rare chrysanthemum varieties were especially abundant.
After returning home-
Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately urged Lin Hao to summon his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul again.
Once Lin Hao extended his hand and summoned his martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, once more-
Chrysanthemum Douluo cupped Lin Hao's Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul in his hands, brought his face close to its center, and drew a deep breath, carefully sensing it.
Then he sighed enviously.
"Hao! Your Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul is probably a cut above mine in quality. It has reached the immortal grade."
"In the future, you will certainly surpass me!"
"From now on, I will spare no effort in nurturing you, so you can become the continent's first Limit Douluo with an immortal-grade martial soul."
"We will show the world the might of an immortal-grade martial soul!"
As he spoke, Chrysanthemum Douluo seemed to envision that scene, his eyes filling with longing and rapture.
Lin Hao was deeply touched by his words, but pretended not to quite understand, speaking with earnest admiration.
"Teacher, your martial soul is also the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and you have already become a Titled Douluo."
"In the future, you will surely reach this Limit Douluo realm before I do!"
"Limit Douluo is a realm that only Soul Masters with top-tier martial souls and innate full soul power have any hope of reaching!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed and shook his head with a bitter smile, speaking in his soft, feminine voice.
"I have no hope of that in this lifetime!"
"Even becoming a Super Douluo would take an enormous stroke of luck!"
Then, as though something had occurred to him, Chrysanthemum Douluo brightened again and laughed in his soft, feminine voice.
"Hao, let's go!"
"I have a good friend here in Spirit City named Ghost Douluo. He is also an elder of our Spirit Hall."
"Now that I have taken such a fine disciple, I must bring you over and make him thoroughly envious. While we're there, let's see whether I can get a few gifts out of him for you!"
With that, Chrysanthemum Douluo took Lin Hao by the hand and rose, preparing to leave the Chrysanthemum Residence to visit his old friend, Ghost Douluo.
Before you continue