"Little Yan, you're awake?"
Seeing Xiao Yan stir, Grandmaster and Tang San gathered around him and asked curiously:
"Little Yan, how is your first Soul Skill?"
Hearing their questions, Xiao Yan smiled faintly. The cold white Bone Spirit Cold Flame appeared in his hand, then gradually condensed into several pale ice spikes under Grandmaster and Tang San's astonished gazes.
"Go!"
As soon as Xiao Yan spoke, the pale ice spikes whistled straight toward a boulder not far away and buried themselves deep inside it.
Streaks of white frost spread outward from where the pale ice spikes had struck.
"Both ice and fire damage!"
A flicker of surprise flashed through Grandmaster's eyes when he saw Xiao Yan's Soul Skill.
"Little Yan, your Martial Soul is extraordinarily uncanny. It clearly possesses powerful fire-attribute strength, yet it gives off an extremely icy chill. With both ice and fire damage, it's very difficult to counter."
A trace of excitement entered Grandmaster's voice. Such a powerful Martial Soul would not be the slightest bit inferior even when compared with the Martial Souls of those hereditary clans...
"Teacher, my first Soul Skill is Cold Flame · Soul-Concentrating Pierce!"
Xiao Yan displayed the pale ice spikes in his hand, a satisfied smile on his lips.
"I can condense my Martial Soul into several pale ice spikes or an ice-crystal spear. The attack carries an intense chill that can freeze wounds and slow the circulation of Soul Power;
"At the same time, it contains a faint soul impact that strikes directly at the target's mind, causing a brief stabbing pain and daze."
Xiao Yan's words left Grandmaster and Tang San rooted to the spot.
Tang San was especially dumbstruck. Ice and fire damage, with mental damage on top of that-a Soul Skill like this was simply terrifying!
The sun hung low as three figures emerged from the Soul Hunting Forest.
Xiao Yan and Tang San had returned with a plentiful harvest. On the way back, Grandmaster did not put them through any more training, instead spending a few Silver Soul Coins to rent a carriage outside the Soul Hunting Forest.
By noon the next day, they had returned to Nuoding City.
"You're both officially Soul Masters now. When you have time, you can register with Spirit Hall. After all, Soul Masters registered with Spirit Hall can collect one Gold Soul Coin every month."
After entering Nuoding City and returning the carriage, Grandmaster led the two back to Nuoding Academy. He was just about to leave when he remembered and said this to them.
"A Gold Soul Coin!"
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. If they could collect one Gold Soul Coin every month, they would not have to be work-study students anymore. He could even send some to Grandpa Jack each month.
"Little San, I'm going to Spirit Hall to register now. What about you?"
Xiao Yan turned to look at Tang San beside him. He had no particular attachment to the little brats at the academy, so this was a good time to register at Spirit Hall.
"Uh... senior brother, you go ahead. I want to find Xiao Wu first."
Tang San scratched his head sheepishly and explained, "After all, I made a promise to Xiao Wu before we set out."
Xiao Yan gave Tang San a curious look. After some hesitation, he said no more. He knew Tang San and Xiao Wu were quite close.
But perhaps Tang San's feelings for Xiao Wu were only those of a brother for his sister. After all, Xiao Yan had already realized that Tang San was most likely a transmigrator from another world too. Surely he would not harbor improper thoughts about a little girl who was only a few years old.
Besides, from the way the two usually behaved together, neither had done anything to overstep the bounds.
"All right, I'll go first, then. When I get back, I can tell you about the process."
Xiao Yan nodded, turned, and headed out of Nuoding Academy.
Walking through the streets of Nuoding City, Xiao Yan finally took a look at this other world, so different in style from his own.
Spirit Hall had different ranks in different cities. The one in Holy Soul Village, for example, could only be called an office of Spirit Hall.
The Spirit Hall in Nuoding City was a Spirit Hall Branch of the lowest rank.
Although Xiao Yan had long expected Spirit Hall to be grand, he was still somewhat spellbound when he arrived at the Spirit Hall Branch.
The towering building was faced with all manner of gleaming materials, glittering brilliantly in the sunlight.
Xiao Yan entered Spirit Hall. The first floor alone was several meters high, and the walls all around were studded with dazzling gemstones that shimmered in a riot of colors, giving the place a magnificent appearance.
A great cluster of crystal pendants also hung from the central dome, illuminating the entire hall.
As soon as Xiao Yan entered Spirit Hall, he spotted a familiar face.
"Lord Su Yuntao!"
Su Yuntao was following a beautiful woman. She wore a haughty expression, her head held high, while Su Yuntao smiled and continually fawned over her.
Hearing Xiao Yan call out, Su Yuntao turned around in some puzzlement and looked at him, his eyes full of confusion.
"Kid, do you know me?"
Su Yuntao looked at Xiao Yan with a puzzled expression.
"Lord Su Yuntao, I'm Xiao Yan. Some time ago in Holy Soul Village, you were the one who awakened my Martial Soul."
"Xiao Yan..."
The confusion on Su Yuntao's face deepened.
"Why can't I remember anyone by that name..."
Su Yuntao's words froze the smile on Xiao Yan's face. He lowered his head slightly to hide the shock in his eyes.
Su Yuntao's excitement back then had not seemed feigned. With Xiao Yan's Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, there was no way Su Yuntao could have forgotten him.
And back then, Su Yuntao had said he would report Xiao Yan's talent to Spirit Hall, but... there had never been the slightest response.
A chill ran through Xiao Yan's heart. He understood that someone else was watching him from the shadows.
"Hehe, it's only natural that you don't remember me, Lord Su Yuntao."
Xiao Yan scratched his head slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed, then asked Su Yuntao:
"Well, I wanted to ask, what should I do to be tested and registered as a Soul Master?"
Su Yuntao paid him no further attention. Noticing that his female companion was already growing impatient, he hurriedly pointed to the second floor and said, "Go upstairs and it's the first room on the right. Go on."
With that, Su Yuntao hurried after the woman.
Xiao Yan cupped his hands and thanked Su Yuntao. As he watched Su Yuntao leave, a glimmer flashed deep in his eyes, but he suppressed it again.
He dared not imagine what kind of expert it would take to make Su Yuntao forget him.
What exactly was the purpose of an expert hiding in the shadows like that?
Was it merely to prevent him from joining Spirit Hall?
If that was all, wouldn't making a move against a six-year-old child have been more reliable than making a move against a Spirit Hall deacon?
Suppressing the unease in his heart, Xiao Yan followed the direction Su Yuntao had indicated to the second floor and gently knocked on the closed door.
"Come in."
A kindly voice sounded. Xiao Yan pushed open the door and saw a kindly-looking old man with graying hair standing by the window, looking back at him.