Overnight, the Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire died suddenly, and not a single member of the royal household survived.
Within days, the news spread throughout Radiant City. Some claimed that a mistake in the palace kitchens had caused food poisoning, leading to the Emperor's untimely death.
Others whispered that assassins from the three great empires had infiltrated the capital, pointing to the strange lights seen above the palace that night—the glow of clashing Spirit Masters.
Still others suspected something even bolder when an unfamiliar army appeared in Radiant City that same night, but such rumors were swiftly silenced.
Regardless of the cause, the Emperor's death was now fact. The nation could not remain leaderless. With the support of nobles and officials, Prince Xu Jing—of royal blood—ascended the throne as the new Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire.
For the common people, it mattered little who sat upon the throne. Life went on as always. But for Lin Xiao, the changes were tangible.
He now stood on a vast plaza surrounded by people his age. Many were well-dressed, their bearing noble—clearly scions of powerful families. In front of them stood a group of middle-aged men, the foremost being a short, stout man who bore a faint resemblance to Jing Hongchen.
"Students, welcome to the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy," the man announced cheerfully. "I am your new Director of Education, Lin Jiayi. I've only recently taken this position, but I hope we'll get along well in the days to come."
As Jing Hongchen's trusted aide, Lin Jiayi's status had risen along with his master's. He knew full well who stood before him—not just noble heirs who had supported Xu Jing's rise, but others with less obvious yet equally deep connections to recent events.
His smile widened, all warmth and flattery. "The Academy will provide the finest environment for your studies. You'll each receive tailored instruction according to your aptitude. Some of you may have heard of the Illustrious Virtue Hall. With enough talent, you may one day earn the right to enter it."
He gestured for the assistants beside him. "Now then—these are your student handbooks and campus maps. Each map includes your dormitory location. You can find your assigned room by matching the number on your key."
He clapped his hands once more. "You'll have some time to settle in and change into your uniforms. Afterward, meet back here—I'll take you for a few basic tests. Though you all entered as special recruits, formal procedures must still be followed."
Lin Xiao accepted the documents and unfolded the map. The Academy was divided into three zones: teaching, dormitory, and experimental. At the very center of the massive experimental district—covering more than two-thirds of the campus—stood the Illustrious Virtue Hall itself.
Everyone around him was a Spirit Master, and most not weak. With a single glance, Lin Xiao committed the map's layout to memory. Before long, the group had reconvened, now clad in identical Sun and Moon Academy uniforms. The uniformity made them look almost disciplined.
Lin Xiao quietly observed his peers, wondering whether any of them—like him—were agents secretly placed by the Holy Spirit Church.
"Good, everyone's here. Follow me," Lin Jiayi said, interrupting his thoughts. The students trailed behind as he led them through the teaching district, eventually stopping at a room at the far end of the eastern first floor. The sign above the door read: Physical Test Room.
Turning back to face them, Lin Jiayi hesitated a moment, mindful of their distinguished backgrounds, then spoke again. "Please wait here. When your name is called, enter one at a time."
He produced a metallic badge and waved it before the door sensor. With a sharp beep, the heavy gate slid open.
Lin Xiao stole a glance inside. The room wasn't large, but filled with enormous soul-tools—testing instruments he vaguely recognized from his studies. These must be the Academy's standard machines for measuring a student's soul power, physique, and constitution.
Lin Jiayi clearly valued privacy; the tests would be conducted individually. Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel curious about what the instruments would reveal about him.
"Lin Xiao—"
Hearing his name, Lin Xiao stepped forward. The others watched him with mild curiosity; few had spoken to the quiet youth since their arrival.
After nearly ten years in the Holy Spirit Church, hearing his real name called aloud in public felt strange. For a moment he froze—but quickly steadied himself. He had gone to school before, just not in this world.
Inside the room stood Lin Jiayi and two older instructors, both about fifty. One recorded data while the other operated the machines.
"Don't be nervous," Lin Jiayi said with a pleasant smile. "These instruments won't harm you. The Academy simply wants to understand your physical and spiritual condition. Please hand over any soul-tools you're carrying before we begin."
His tone was unusually kind. After all, this boy had been personally recommended by Hall Master Jing Hongchen himself—a special recruit of no small significance.
Lin Xiao handed over his storage device and stepped before the testing apparatus. One of the instructors pressed a hand to a recessed panel, and a white beam of light scanned Lin Xiao from head to toe.
"Bone age—sixteen. Soul power fluctuation—rank fifty-two. Physical strength—rank fifty-nine. Body resilience—rank sixty-one…"
The instructor's eyes widened slightly. Strength and resilience comparable to a Spirit Emperor—at just rank fifty-two. He turned to Lin Jiayi, quietly exchanging a glance.
For most soul engineers, high soul power meant greater compatibility with advanced devices; physical ability was secondary. To have physique and durability far surpassing one's spirit rank was rare.
This young man's body was more suited to battle than engineering.
Lin Xiao himself was unsurprised. Though the Holy Spirit Church operated within the Sun and Moon Empire, its members trained like the three Empires' Spirit Masters—relying heavily on martial strength and unique spirits.
His teacher, a Titled Douluo, had never given him much, yet even a fraction of such a powerhouse's resources was priceless for ordinary Spirit Masters.
If his martial spirit had been a beast-type spirit with stronger physical augmentation, his numbers would have been even higher.
"Lin Xiao, have you studied soul-tool theory before?" Lin Jiayi asked cautiously.
He was beginning to realize something was off. Jing Hongchen's recommendation had been accepted without question—but now, faced with the results, it seemed he might have accidentally recruited not a soul engineer, but a Spirit Master.
(End of Chapter)