The appraisal room was completely empty except for a table in the center, with a crystal ball resting on it.
"Child, stand in front of the table and release your Martial Soul!"
Ma Xiunuo instructed Yu Tianling.
Hearing this, Yu Tianling nodded in understanding.
He hurried a few steps forward and, with a thought, activated his Soul Power. The Ancient Void Dragon instantly possessed him, dragon horns emerging atop his head and two enormous wings appearing behind his back.
Then a deep-yellow hundred-year Soul Ring emerged beneath Yu Tianling's feet and floated around him.
"This... a top-tier beast Martial Soul, and a hundred-year Soul Ring!"
Ma Xiunuo resisted the pressure of the superior Martial Soul while staring at Yu Tianling's first Soul Ring in astonishment.
"Of course! Xiao Ling is a top-tier genius!"
Watching the utterly stunned Ma Xiunuo, Han Qinhu could not help giving him a disdainful look.
"And I've already received word from Spirit City. The Pope has sent someone to take Xiao Ling there!"
His tone brimmed with pride, as though he were talking about himself.
After hearing Han Qinhu's words and learning that such a genius was willing to join Spirit Hall, Ma Xiunuo was delighted. He worked to calm his shock, picked up the crystal ball beside him, and handed it to Yu Tianling.
"Good, good, good. Child, pour your Soul Power into this, and let's see what level you've reached."
Yu Tianling nodded, withdrew his Ancient Void Dragon Martial Soul, and raised his hand to place it on the crystal ball. In an instant, the Soul Power within his body surged rapidly into it, and the crystal ball abruptly lit up.
"What! Level fourteen!!!"
Ma Xiunuo looked at Yu Tianling in astonishment once again. Under normal circumstances, an ordinary person's Soul Power level should reach eleven after absorbing their first Soul Ring.
Han Qinhu was also utterly shocked by Ma Xiunuo's words, before his shock turned to wild delight.
Yu Tianling's talent was even greater than he had imagined. As long as he did not die young, he would surely become one of Spirit Hall's higher-ups, and Han Qinhu would soon reach the pinnacle of his life too!!!
"Master Ma Xiunuo, my grandson has innate full Soul Power, and his first Soul Ring is an unprecedented seven hundred-plus years old. Level fourteen is perfectly normal!"
Lin Qingze explained to the two of them with a composed expression.
He was not surprised by level fourteen. After all, a seven hundred-plus-year Soul Ring would certainly provide more Soul Power than a four hundred-plus-year one.
"Seven hundred-plus years!!!"
This time, it was Han Qinhu's turn to be utterly astonished.
"How is that possible? The maximum age for absorbing a first Soul Ring is clearly four hundred and twenty-three years. How could..."
"For ordinary people, the limit is indeed four hundred-plus years, but my Martial Soul gave me a stronger body and greater spiritual power, so I could absorb a first Soul Ring beyond that age limit."
Yu Tianling did not conceal anything about this and answered truthfully.
"Oh, I see."
Ma Xiunuo nodded after hearing his explanation.
"Child, congratulations on becoming an outstanding One-Ring Soul Master. I'll give you your Soul Master registration certificate in a moment. From now on, you can use it to collect a One-Ring Soul Master's stipend from Spirit Hall every month-one Gold Soul Coin a month."
Ma Xiunuo took out a certificate, filled in Yu Tianling's basic information, stamped it with the seal of the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch, and handed it to him.
"All right. Thank you, Master Ma Xiunuo!"
Yu Tianling thanked him with a measure of respect.
"Haha, I hope you'll cultivate diligently and start contributing to Spirit Hall soon!"
Ma Xiunuo looked at the peerless genius before him, full of anticipation.
"Tiger, you've truly rendered a great service this time. I imagine the Pope will give you quite a reward."
Watching the grandfather and grandson leave, Ma Xiunuo could not help speaking to Han Qinhu with a hint of envy.
"Haha, old man, envy won't get you this. I certainly won't forget your kindness in the future."
Hearing Ma Xiunuo's words, Han Qinhu laughed without even turning his head, looking every bit like a petty man puffed up by success.
"Grandpa, Uncle Han said the Pope of Spirit Hall has already sent someone to fetch me. We'll have to leave here when they arrive."
Walking along the road back to the village, Yu Tianling made the suggestion to Lin Qingze beside him.
Hearing his grandson's words, Lin Qingze did not respond, but instead sank into careful thought.
After learning that his daughter and son-in-law had died at the hands of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, his greatest wish in life had been for his grandson to grow up safely. But now he had learned that his daughter and son-in-law might still be alive, and his grandson's astounding talent would surely earn Spirit Hall's attention once he arrived. That was why he felt there was little need to remain in Swift Village. He might as well follow him to Spirit Hall; perhaps he could even use his grandson's resources to break through to Titled Douluo someday.
"All of this is because of you, Xiao Ling."
Lin Qingze looked at Yu Tianling walking ahead, his eyes filled with gratification.
If not for his grandson's talent, even if he confirmed that his daughter and son-in-law were alive, he could probably only wait in anguish for news of them, rather than have a chance of finding news of them himself.
"Grandpa, let's eat here before we head back to the village!"
It was getting late, and Yu Tianling had just received a Gold Soul Coin. Considering that he probably would not have much opportunity to use it after arriving in Spirit City, and happening to spot a restaurant, he took it into his head and turned around.
With that, he took the lead into the restaurant and ordered several interesting dishes.
One was chicken feet with pickled peppers, made from the feet of a ten-year Soul Beast, the Blue Feather Chicken, through numerous preparation steps.
Another was cold rabbit, made with a ten-year Soul Beast, the Soft Bone Rabbit. Its preparation was extremely similar to the method used in Sichuan in Yu Tianling's previous life.
Another was cold-dressed Blue Vine, made from the roots of a ten-year Soul Beast, the Blue Vine, blanched several times in boiling water, then tossed with chili peppers, sesame oil, and other seasonings. It was refreshingly spicy and whetted the appetite.
Yu Tianling had also wanted to try the braised tiger paws, but unfortunately, the restaurant said they had sold out. He would have to wait a week if he wanted some, leaving him somewhat disappointed.
After eating, Yu Tianling eagerly activated Martial Soul Possession and followed his grandfather, flying back to Swift Village in fits and starts, eagerly awaiting the arrival of whoever Spirit Hall had sent to fetch him.
I wonder who Bibi Dong will send to fetch me. She doesn't have many trusted aides in Spirit Hall, though, so I suppose it'll be either Chrysanthemum Douluo or Ghost Douluo.
The next day.
Heaven Dou Empire, Nuoding City, Swift Village.
"Yu Tianling's grandfather is a Seven-Ring Soul Sage, so Yu Tianling is there, then."
A somewhat illusory figure abruptly appeared in the air above Swift Village. After pausing briefly, he flew toward Lin Qingze's location.
"Hm?"
At the same time, the grandfather and grandson, who were packing their belongings, both stopped what they were doing and hurried into the courtyard.
"Are you Yu Tianling?"
The illusory figure appeared before Yu Tianling and asked.
The newcomer wore a black cloak, his figure indistinct and his features blurred.
At the sight of the illusory figure, Yu Tianling instantly identified the man before him: one of Bibi Dong's trusted aides, Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei.
But to avoid arousing suspicion, Yu Tianling pretended not to recognize him and asked, "That's right. May I ask who you are?"
"I'm an elder of Spirit Hall, titled Ghost. You may call me Ghost Elder. By order of His Holiness the Pope, I've come to take you to Spirit City."
As he spoke, nine Soul Rings appeared around Gui Mei: two yellow, two purple, and five black.