"Deacon, sir."
The female attendant behind the counter hurriedly rose and bowed respectfully.
Su Yuntao waved his hand, his gaze fixed on Xiao Xuan's young face, his eyes full of uncertainty and suspicion.
For a deacon like Su Yuntao, who awakened the Martial Souls of hundreds of commoners every day, the names of most children went in one ear and out the other.
But this Xiao Xuan standing before him had left a particularly deep impression!
A month ago, dozens of children from the entire old street had suffered a total wipeout, their Martial Souls all ordinary farm tools, pots, bowls, ladles, and basins.
Yet this brat named Xiao Xuan, after awakening a mediocre plant-type Lone Bamboo, had unexpectedly produced a faint glimmer in the test.
A whole level of Innate Soul Power!
He had been the only lucky one there; even if Su Yuntao wanted to forget him, he couldn't!
Su Yuntao strode up to the counter and leaned in, scrutinizing Xiao Xuan from top to bottom and left to right as if sweeping for mines, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
"Wait... are you really Xiao Xuan?! That Lone Bamboo brat who tested at level one Innate Soul Power under my hands just a month ago?!"
Xiao Xuan blinked and gave him an utterly innocent, harmless smile.
"Deacon, sir, long time no see. Thanks to you, I really am a full-fledged Soul Master now."
"Pfft-cough, cough, cough!!"
Su Yuntao sprayed out the mouthful of strong tea he had just drunk, coughing so violently that his entire face turned red. He froze on the spot, completely dumbstruck!
A Soul Master?!
A full-fledged Soul Master?!
Su Yuntao's brain CPU instantly hit the redline. It was as if five bolts of lightning had struck him, and he began wildly questioning his life right then and there!
What the hell kind of magical realism was this?!
One month!
Only a month and a few days had passed!
He, Su Yuntao, had scraped and struggled at the bottom of Spirit Hall for so many years. What kind of genius hadn't he seen?
He had even seen a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power, but that only meant the kid was lucky.
And the kid in front of him?!
He had started with level one Innate Soul Power! The most trash-tier setup on the entire continent!
According to the ironclad rules recorded in Spirit Hall's generations of texts, someone with talent as slow as a turtle couldn't hope to touch the threshold of level ten in less than three to five years, even if he meditated every day without sleep or rest!
From level one to level ten in a month?!
"Fast" couldn't begin to describe that cultivation speed. This was downright freakish!
The female attendant behind the counter couldn't help timidly poking her head out when she saw Su Yuntao like this. "D-Deacon, sir, do you know this child?"
"I..."
The corners of Su Yuntao's mouth twitched violently. He took a deep breath and forced himself to regain his composure, his eyes full of suspicion.
"Little fellow, Spirit Hall's subsidy isn't so easy to claim under false pretenses. Your word alone is no proof. How are you going to prove you've broken through to become a Soul Master?!"
"Proof? That's simple."
Xiao Xuan smiled faintly and took half a step back. His expression grew slightly intent, and Soul Power suddenly surged through his body!
Hum-!
Xiao Xuan held out his right hand, palm up, and a stalk of Lone Bamboo, crimson-gold from end to end, appeared in his palm!
At the same time, a Yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath Xiao Xuan's feet.
A Soul Ring!
A genuine, hundred-year Yellow Soul Ring!
"A... a hundred-year First Soul Ring?!"
The female attendant behind the counter sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening into perfect circles!
Su Yuntao, standing close by, had eyes wider than bronze bells and a mouth open wide enough to fit an enormous bowl. His legs went weak, and he nearly landed flat on his backside on the tiled floor!
It was real!
Every damn bit of it was real!
This kid had not only crossed the level-ten chasm in a month, but had also fused with a hundred-year yellow ring from a Soul Beast that was far beyond a commoner's reach!
"This is impossible... this defies all common sense..."
Su Yuntao muttered to himself as if unhinged. He felt as though his understanding of Martial Souls, built up over thirty years, had been blasted to pieces in an instant, without a scrap left.
Damn it, was I, Su Yuntao, really blind?!
Just a month ago, I personally sent a little genius packing, treating him like a level-one good-for-nothing?!
Heavens, are you fucking with me?!
Seeing Su Yuntao's life-questioning expression, Xiao Xuan snickered inwardly, then briskly withdrew his Martial Soul and Soul Ring.
As the light faded, the female attendant was the first to recover.
"Soul Master Xiao Xuan, your certification is complete. This is your subsidy for this month. Please keep it safe!"
"Thank you, big sister."
Beaming, Xiao Xuan accepted the Gold Soul Coin and rubbed his fingers firmly over the pattern on its edge.
Tsk, it felt nice and heavy!
My start-up funds have finally arrived!
After safely tucking the Gold Soul Coin close to his body, Xiao Xuan turned to the still-dumbstruck Su Yuntao and bowed slightly in a very polite farewell.
"Deacon, sir, now that my certification is complete, I'll head back to the academy for class."
With that, Xiao Xuan started toward the main hall's entrance.
"Wait! Don't go yet!!"
Su Yuntao gave a violent start, finally snapping out of his petrified state!
He bounded down the steps three at a time and grabbed Xiao Xuan's little hand, his face covered in a fawning smile. His eyes were as eager as if he were looking at an unparalleled treasure.
"Xiao Xuan, would you be willing to join our Spirit Hall?!"
Su Yuntao's heart pounded wildly.
What an enormous achievement!
If I personally recommend a genius, a promotion and a raise will be just around the corner!
But Xiao Xuan shook his head.
Before he had the absolute strength to protect himself, he must never have anything to do with any major power.
Build high walls, stockpile grain, and bide your time before claiming the throne-that was the true essence of the art of lying low!
Xiao Xuan blinked his big, innocent eyes and scratched his head, pretending to be confused and troubled as he tactfully declined.
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Deacon, sir."
"But... my parents have taught me since I was little to keep my feet on the ground."
"I'm still young, and my grasp of basic theory is far from good enough. I'd like to study at Nuoding Academy for a few more years first and learn some real skills. As for what I do afterward, there'll be plenty of time to decide once I've graduated from the junior academy."
Hearing this, Su Yuntao's eyes flashed with deep disappointment and regret.
But on second thought, the child was only six. It was only natural for him to be attached to his parents and familiar teachers, and besides, he hadn't flatly refused.
If anything, it showed that the child was upright and valued his bonds, not the sort to forget his loyalties at the sight of profit.
"Good! You've got ambition! Neither arrogant nor impatient-Uncle was right about you after all!"
Su Yuntao gritted his teeth, gave Xiao Xuan's little shoulder a solemn pat, and promised:
"Since you want to stay at Nuoding Academy and build your foundation, Uncle respects your choice!"
"But remember, if you ever run into trouble in Nuoding City or at the academy, or if you need anything, come find me, Su Yuntao, at Spirit Hall anytime! Uncle's door will always be open to you!"
"Thank you, Deacon, sir. I'll remember that!"
Xiao Xuan bowed politely once more, then, without lingering, turned and strode out of Spirit Hall, hurrying home.