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Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Meeting Salas

About two quarters of an hour later, at the gates of Spirit Hall.

"No wonder it's called the Holy Hall of Spirit Hall, it really is magnificent." Yang Yunhai lifted his head, staring at the towering, awe-inspiring building not far ahead. He couldn't help but sigh in admiration before striding forward.

"Halt!" Before he reached the entrance, a guard stepped forward and raised a hand to block him.

"Hello, I just had a breakthrough. I came this time to re-test my soul power rank." Yang Yunhai answered politely.

A boy? A flicker of surprise crossed the guard's eyes, though it vanished quickly. He gave a slight nod. "In that case, you may enter. There are signs posted at the entrance. Follow them, and you'll find your way."

'Seriously, my looks are just too eye-catching,' Yang Yunhai muttered inwardly. At his age, with a flat chest, it wasn't strange for people to assume his gender by facial features alone. His delicate appearance caused many to mistake him for a spirited young girl—an extraordinarily striking one at that.

He recalled the countless stares along the way. The only exception had been the hotel clerk, whose professional training kept her composure intact. She hadn't faltered under his appearance. With that thought, he cupped his hands lightly in thanks.

"Thank you, big brother."

Then he strode toward the grand gates.

"Good heavens, this place is huge! No wonder they need signs." Entering the main hall, Yang Yunhai glanced around, his eyes widening in surprise. It was massive—easily over a thousand square meters—luxuriously decorated. Near the right side stood a tall signpost inscribed with directional markings.

After a moment's thought, Yang Yunhai headed straight toward the hall designated for testing soul power.

The moment he stepped inside, he felt something stir. His soul power seemed to be gently tugged, pulsing in a special rhythm. His gaze swept the room. The walls were set with countless black gemstones, just like those in Nuoding City's Spirit Hall, except here they were more translucent, clearly of higher quality.

"Young lady, are you here to test your soul power?" A voice came from the right.

'Young lady?' Yang Yunhai's eyelids twitched. He turned his head and saw a woman in Spirit Hall uniform. Around 30 years old, she had alluring peach-blossom eyes, crimson lips with a small mole beneath, and a slender waist that flared into endlessly long legs.

'As expected of the Holy Hall,' Yang Yunhai thought, suddenly recognizing just how prestigious this branch was.

But her chest was flat—not enough to break his Dao heart. He gave a respectful smile. "Yes, beautiful elder sister."

"Oh? So you're actually a handsome little brother!" Surprise flickered briefly in her eyes before she covered her lips with a laugh. Picking up a purple crystal ball from the counter, she stepped out from behind it, her dainty steps leading her toward the patterned area in the center of the hall.

As she walked, she called back: "Come here, little brother. I'll help you test your soul power."

"Many thanks, beautiful sister." Yang Yunhai quickly followed.

When they stopped, the woman smiled warmly, her voice sultry and soft in a way only mature women could manage. "Little brother, please release your martial soul and soul rings."

"Alright." Yang Yunhai nodded, then released his martial soul and rings.

"A three-ring Soul Elder!?" Her expression shifted instantly. In her years of service, she had seen countless young soul masters, and her experience allowed her to gauge age almost instantly. For someone so young to already have reached Soul Elder rank—it was something she had barely ever encountered.

"Your martial soul, is it some kind of vine?" she asked aloud. What vine could possibly cultivate this quickly? She couldn't understand.

Yang Yunhai shook his head slightly. "No, it's Blue Silver Grass."

"Impossible! Since when has Blue Silver Grass cultivated this fast?" She gasped.

"It isn't ordinary Blue Silver Grass," Yang Yunhai explained with a smile.

"Indeed, it doesn't look like ordinary Blue Silver Grass. It resembles a vine more than grass, and those thorns look dangerous. A mutation then?" she guessed, smiling faintly while raising the crystal ball in her snow-white hand.

"Beautiful elder sister is so clever. One glance and you guessed it." Yang Yunhai nodded at once.

"You've got a sweet tongue for someone your age. I bet you've charmed more than a few young girls already." Her laughter deepened as she handed him the crystal ball. "Come, little brother, place your hand here and let's measure your soul power."

Yang Yunhai complied, resting his hand on the orb.

The next moment, her worldview shook once more. Her beautiful face was painted with disbelief.

"Level 32!?"

Wasn't it supposed to be level 31? From all her experience, even with the most suitable soul ring, advancement was usually just 1 rank.

Suppressing her urge to probe further into what beast had granted his third ring, she smiled instead. "Little brother, you truly are a genius. I've worked here for years, and this is my first time meeting someone so remarkable."

Her eyes glittered mischievously. "Would you like to join our Spirit Hall officially? The benefits are endless." She winked.

"Um, I already joined at age 6." Yang Yunhai scratched his head.

"Then why are you here instead of at one of our dedicated academies?" Her face shifted to doubt. By rights, a prodigy of this caliber should have been taken straight to Spirit Hall's special academies, perhaps even Spirit City, nurtured carefully by mentors.

"Because of certain special reasons," Yang Yunhai replied lightly, withdrawing his hand. "It's confidential. Elder sister, it's best you don't ask more, nor repeat anything we discussed today to anyone else.

"Also, I must trouble you to inform Archbishop Salas. Tell him I have important matters to report. I believe I now qualify to seek audience with him. By the way—I just turned 12 years old."

Her face blanched. Even a few months' difference in age meant a world of distinction. If he had reached rank 32 at the beginning of his age year versus the end, the implications were completely different.

With a solemn nod, she agreed. "Of course!"

After all, Spirit Hall thrived because it valued prodigies. Regardless of position, even a Platinum Archbishop had to abide by this principle. The discovery of talent was a core criterion for advancement within Spirit Hall.

"Little brother, wait here. I'll report at once." She hurried out.

Soon, at Salas's office—knock knock knock.

"Enter," came the casual reply of Salas, seated at his desk sipping red wine.

The door creaked open. The woman walked quickly inside, bowed respectfully, and said, "Reporting to Lord Archbishop, there is a young soul master outside who just broke through. His martial soul is a mutated Blue Silver Grass, his soul power has reached rank 32, and he has only just turned 12."

"What!?" Salas sat upright, eyes sharp. "Are you certain?"

"I am certain," she said firmly. "I tested him personally. He requested audience with you, claiming he has urgent matters to report. He also stated he joined Spirit Hall at age 6. He only mentioned that due to special reasons, he was never enrolled at Spirit Hall's academies."

Salas's expression grew cautious. Someone so young, already at rank 32, was nothing short of monstrous. Yet to be wandering outside rather than nurtured in Spirit Hall headquarters—that was highly unusual.

His eyes bore into her until she instinctively lowered her head.

"Bring him to me. From today onward, your position is promoted by one rank. Someone else will handle testing duties soon. Remember: officially, the boy's rank today is 31, not 32. He rejected Spirit Hall's invitation and left afterward. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" she bowed deeply before hastily retreating.

Before long, under her lead, Yang Yunhai arrived outside Salas's office.

"Come in," Salas's voice called out before he could knock.

"Thank you for today, elder sister," Yang Yunhai said with a smile before stepping in.

Inside, Salas had already risen from behind his desk. Being an old veteran, his face remained calm despite knowing Yang Yunhai's real age and gender. He simply gestured to the sofa.

"Sit." His hoarse voice carried no emotion.

"Thank you, Archbishop." Yang Yunhai cupped his hands, producing both a sealed packet of papers and his soul master's certificate. Sitting opposite Salas across the tea table, he placed them on the table.

"Your Excellency, please review these. They contain my story, as well as the information I wish to report. Everything is written clearly. The second item is my certificate."

He paused, then added, "To be honest, barely half a month ago, my soul power was only at rank 21, not even 22."

"What!?" Salas could no longer remain composed. His expression shifted, brows furrowed as he tore open the seal without hesitation and began to read.

'Struck by lightning, awakened with Blue Silver Grass martial soul, innate soul power rank 0.5…' His brows knit tighter. But when he read of Yang Yunhai training by drawing down lightning, his face froze.

'This child must be mad! Even I, a high-ranked Soul Douluo, wouldn't dare such a thing!'

As he continued reading—Yang Yunhai joining Nuoding Academy, diligently training, theorizing about absorbing higher-year soul rings—his face grew more serious.

When he reached the records of absorbing a 500-year first ring, then a 950-year second ring successfully, Salas's eyes widened. His heart surged with disbelief and even excitement.

If this theory of surpassing ring absorption limits could be perfected, Spirit Hall's future would soar. It would shift the balance of power entirely. And his descendants would also reap its benefits.

Soon, he reached the part describing the miraculous bamboo shoot water, the transformation of body and martial soul, and the awakening of a unique sensory ability.

"Astonishing… such treasures actually exist in this world?" Salas whispered, shaken.

Yet he could not doubt it.

The timeline matched perfectly: from rank 21 to 30 in just a handful of days—utterly impossible through normal cultivation or even devouring others' energy. This had to be the result of some miraculous item.

'Whether true or not, this must be reported to Spirit City. The Pope will decide. Chrysanthemum Douluo loves rare plants—if anyone could recognize this bamboo, it would be him.'

He kept reading until the final bold conjectures.

Salas exhaled slowly, his eyes still flickering with awe.

(End of Chapter)

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