章 50: Chapter 51: The Shock of a 900-Year Soul Ring
After making their way to the second floor of the Spirit Hall branch, they reached the registration and soul master level grading area.
Knock, knock, knock…
Su Yuntao knocked on the door of an office.
"Who is it?" an elderly voice came from inside.
"It's me, Su Yuntao!" Su Yuntao replied.
"Oh, it's Yuntao! Come in. What brings you here today?" The old man's voice was filled with warmth.
Upon hearing this, Su Yuntao opened the door and led Lin Ye and Tang San inside.
The office was neat and tidy, with potted green plants placed on either side of the entrance and on the desk. Behind the desk sat an elderly man dressed in the Spirit Hall's uniform, his hair and beard white, with a kind expression.
"Master Matthew Nuo, I've brought these two children to register," Su Yuntao said, giving a slight bow as he spoke.
"Register? What for? Soul power?" Matthew Nuo asked curiously.
"Not for soul power, but to register their soul master ranks," Su Yuntao shook his head with a slight smile.
"Soul master ranks?" Matthew Nuo was stunned. "These two children have already become soul masters?"
"That's right. Do you remember the two kids I told you about a few months ago? The ones with innate full soul power despite having what were considered trash martial spirits? These are them."
Su Yuntao explained, his pride evident.
"Ah, I see!" Matthew Nuo stroked his long beard, chuckling as he shook his head in amazement. "Come along, then."
Under Matthew Nuo's guidance, Lin Ye and Tang San followed him out of the office and down the hall to a smaller area within the Spirit Hall.
"Alright, let's see your martial spirits and soul rings here," Matthew Nuo said, standing off to the side with Su Yuntao as they watched the boys.
Lin Ye nodded, stepping back to create some space. He stretched out his right hand, summoning his Nine-Spirit Begonia martial spirit. A radiant, sacred light flashed as a pure white begonia flower materialized in his hand, and at his feet, a deep yellow soul ring rose from the ground.
Tang San, on the other hand, summoned his Blue Silver Grass martial spirit. A yellow soul ring—his Mandala Snake soul ring—appeared beneath him.
"Hmm, both weapon-type martial spirits and both with hundred-year soul rings? Incredible!" Matthew Nuo stroked his beard in awe as he took in the sight.
Beside him, Su Yuntao was just as surprised. It wasn't unheard of for someone to acquire a soul ring, but a hundred-year soul ring at that age? That was extraordinary.
Hundred-year soul beasts were powerful, the kind only a grand soul master or stronger could handle. To hunt them down required strength far beyond what a typical soul master could manage. It was a feat few in the entirety of Notting City could accomplish!
"You must both be students from Notting Academy. Which teacher helped you hunt these soul beasts?" Matthew Nuo asked, curiosity piqued as he observed their soul rings.
"No, it wasn't a teacher from the academy. It was my teacher who helped us, though I don't know his real name. Everyone just calls him Master," Tang San explained, shaking his head.
"Master? You mean the Master, the one who proposed the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Spirits?" Matthew Nuo asked, clearly shocked at the mention of the renowned scholar.
"Master Matthew Nuo, do you know our teacher?" Tang San asked with interest.
"Don't call me Master, child. I'm not worthy of such a title. Just call me Grandpa Matthew. I'm old enough to be your grandfather anyway," Matthew Nuo laughed, waving off the formality.
"I do know your teacher, though. He has some history with the Spirit Hall, but most of the Spirit Hall members don't get along with him. It's best you don't mention your connection to him lightly."
"Master has a connection to the Spirit Hall?" Lin Ye furrowed his brow, contemplating the information. But soon, it made sense to him. With the level of research Master had done on martial spirits, it was impossible for him not to have crossed paths with a major power like the Spirit Hall. Perhaps the research relationship had soured, resulting in their current estrangement.
"Now then, let's test your soul power," Matthew Nuo said, handing a crystal ball to Tang San.
"Alright," Tang San nodded, taking the crystal ball and placing his hand on it. As he channeled his soul power into it, the ball lit up brightly.
"What?! Thirteen ranks of soul power?" Matthew Nuo's eyes widened in disbelief.
Typically, when a soul master absorbed their first soul ring, they would only increase their soul power by one rank, such as moving from rank 10 to 11. To jump three entire ranks was unheard of!
"What was the age of the soul beast that gave you your first soul ring?" Matthew Nuo asked, still trying to make sense of it.
"I think it was a Mandala Snake, close to 400 years old," Tang San replied after a moment of thought.
"A 400-year-old Mandala Snake? That explains it," Matthew Nuo sighed in realization.
But then, confusion crossed his face again. "Wait, your martial spirit is Blue Silver Grass. How could it absorb a soul ring from an animal-type soul beast?"
"According to my teacher's theory, plant-type martial spirits can also absorb animal-type soul rings," Tang San explained.
"Master… I see." Matthew Nuo nodded, though his tone carried a hint of resignation. He had heard of Master's unorthodox ideas before.
With a sigh, he took out a registration form and filled in Tang San's details.
"Your turn, child," Matthew Nuo said as he handed the crystal ball to Lin Ye.
Lin Ye hesitated for a moment. He had absorbed a 900-year soul ring. His soul power would likely be much higher than Tang San's. How would he explain this?
Deep in thought, Lin Ye placed his hand on the crystal ball. It immediately lit up with an even more dazzling light than before.
"This… Fifteen ranks of soul power! Unbelievable!" Both Matthew Nuo and Su Yuntao gasped in shock, completely taken aback.
"Child, what was the age of the soul beast you hunted for your first soul ring?" Matthew Nuo asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"I'm not entirely sure. I didn't really pay attention, but it should be around 400 years as well," Lin Ye replied after a brief pause, shaking his head.
"That's impossible! Tang San's soul ring was 400 years old and boosted his soul power by three ranks. For you to jump five ranks, your soul ring must be at least 700 years old!" Matthew Nuo insisted, clearly unconvinced.
"Summon your martial spirit again. Let me take a closer look at your soul ring. While it's not easy to judge a soul ring's exact age by its color, I can still estimate," Matthew Nuo requested, his gaze firm.
Lin Ye felt trapped. He had been trying to stay low-key, but there was no avoiding it now. He had no choice but to reveal the truth.
Sighing inwardly, Lin Ye summoned his Nine-Spirit Begonia once again. The pure white begonia flower materialized in his hand, and a deep yellow soul ring rose from beneath his feet.
Matthew Nuo immediately stepped forward, scrutinizing the soul ring closely. After a few moments, his eyes widened in shock. "The soul ring's color is deep yellow, tinged with purple. This soul ring is at least 700 years old, if not 900 years!"
"Nine hundred years?!" Su Yuntao and Tang San were both stunned at the revelation.
"A 900-year soul ring as a first ring? But didn't Master say the first ring's limit is 423 years, and the second ring's limit is 764 years? A 900-year soul ring should only be absorbable by a Soul Elder at the very least!" Tang San's mind raced with disbelief.
"Could Lin Ye's physical strength already be on par with a Soul Elder?" Tang San wondered in shock.
"Child, your name is Lin Ye, right? Would you be willing to join our Spirit Hall?" Matthew Nuo's eyes sparkled with excitement as he extended the offer.
Despite knowing Lin Ye's martial spirit was Begonia, the fact that his first soul ring could be a 900-year ring spoke volumes about his potential. He was someone worth recruiting.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa Matthew. I'm not ready to join the Spirit Hall just yet. While I appreciate the Spirit Hall and all it does for commoners like me, I want to travel and see more of the world. I'm not ready to settle down anywhere just yet. But I promise, when the time comes and I'm looking for stability, I'll consider the Spirit Hall."
Lin Ye's voice was calm as he politely declined.
"Sigh…" Matthew Nuo sighed, though he understood. "You're still young, after all. It's only right for you to experience more of the world. But remember, the Spirit Hall will always be the best place for someone like you. I hope you'll join us in the future."
"Thank you, Grandpa Matthew," Lin Ye nodded.
…
After receiving their soul master badges from Matthew Nuo, Lin Ye and Tang San left the Spirit Hall.
As he watched them walk away, Matthew Nuo couldn't help but think to himself, "Tang San's talent is good, but not remarkable. However, this Lin Ye… for a soul master at the Spirit Scholar level to absorb a 900-year soul ring… Such a genius must be reported to the Spirit Hall headquarters immediately!"
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