"I'll take you to see Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo," Su Yuntao said. "I happen to be on a mission these next couple of days—otherwise, I would've personally taken you to hunt a soul ring."
As he handed the Martial Soul Awakening certificate back to Yin Zhang, Su Yuntao felt a deep sense of regret.
He could tell that Yin Zhang was currently at his weakest point. If he could build a relationship with him now, would he still need to worry about his future once Yin Zhang truly grew up?
Just as Deacon Ou Yu had said—this child was willing to delay his own bright future for the sake of his grandfather alone. In terms of character, that already put him above more than ninety percent of the people on the Douluo Continent.
If Su Yuntao could establish a good rapport now, then when Yin Zhang became a powerhouse in the future, relying on this connection alone would be enough to let him live the rest of his life comfortably.
Yin Zhang put away the certificate and followed Su Yuntao deeper into the Spirit Hall branch, stopping in front of the office of the branch master, Ma Xiunuo.
Knock, knock—
"Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo, this is Su Yuntao," Su Yuntao said softly. "I've brought a child here. I'm currently assigned to a mission and can't handle this properly, so I'd like to ask for your guidance."
The voice carried clearly into the room.
"Hm?"
Inside, Ma Xiunuo raised his head, set down the pen in his hand, stretched slightly, and said,
"Come in."
Creak—
Su Yuntao pushed the door open and entered with Yin Zhang.
Seeing Yin Zhang, Ma Xiunuo looked mildly surprised. But recalling what Su Yuntao had just said, he asked curiously,
"Child, what's your name? And why have you come to Spirit Hall?"
Su Yuntao stepped forward and quietly explained the situation in Ma Xiunuo's ear.
After listening, Ma Xiunuo suddenly understood.
"So you're that child from Holy Spirit Village. No wonder. Ou Yu mentioned you to me before."
Yin Zhang smiled lightly, coughed once, then said,
"Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo, I originally came to find Grandmaster Ou Yu. Since he's already been transferred, I was hoping to ask if a grandmaster could take me to hunt a soul ring, so I can begin cultivating as soon as possible."
"After all, I'm already seven this year. Children my age are already pulling further and further ahead of me, so… well, that's the situation."
After hearing this, Ma Xiunuo's mouth twitched slightly.
This reason didn't sound very convincing at all.
It was true that Yin Zhang had delayed nearly a year—but he possessed Innate Full Soul Power and a top-tier Beast Martial Soul. Even if others of the same age had started earlier, the gap couldn't possibly be that large.
In fact, for most children, cultivation during the first year after awakening wasn't particularly fast.
First, it depended on innate talent. Children with seven or eight levels of innate soul power might, after nearly a year of cultivation, reach Rank 10—or at least come close.
Second, most children simply didn't know how to cultivate efficiently.
If there were Soul Masters in the family, parents could offer guidance and share their own experiences.
But for a child like Yin Zhang, from a completely ordinary background, mastering efficient cultivation methods instead of slowly relying on talent alone required studying under teachers at an Elementary Soul Master Academy.
On the Douluo Continent, there were no meditation-based cultivation manuals. However, through countless years of Martial Soul development, Soul Masters had discovered a key principle of cultivation—
Even with the same Martial Soul and the same innate talent, cultivation speed could differ dramatically.
So when Yin Zhang said he was worried about the gap widening, Ma Xiunuo was somewhat speechless.
Innate Full Soul Power alone was enough to ignore that missing year.
Still, he could understand it.
Children wanting to be better wasn't a crime.
On the contrary, Ma Xiunuo appreciated Yin Zhang's character even more—just as Su Yuntao had earlier.
A child with both talent and character, if cultivated from a young age, had an extremely high chance of becoming a powerhouse loyal to Spirit Hall in the future.
Even so, Ma Xiunuo didn't agree immediately. Instead, he asked a question.
"Well, Xiao Zhang—may I call you that?"
Yin Zhang nodded. "Of course, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo."
"Good." Ma Xiunuo smiled. "Before I agree, I want to ask you something. What is your view of Spirit Hall? How do you see us?"
His eyes were smiling, but a faint glimmer of sharpness flickered within them.
No one wanted to nurture an ungrateful ingrate. Asking in advance was necessary.
A week ago, after learning about Yin Zhang's situation, Ma Xiunuo had written a letter overnight and sent it to the Spirit Hall sanctuary of the Heaven Dou Empire.
After it was read there, Platinum Archbishop Salas personally wrote another letter and sent it to the Supreme Pontiff, Qian Xunji, at Spirit Hall headquarters in Spirit City.
By Ma Xiunuo's estimate, judging by the delivery speed—
The messenger should have already reached Spirit City by now.
Yin Zhang thought briefly, then chose to speak honestly.
"Although I'm young, I have a good impression of Spirit Hall."
"Oh?" Ma Xiunuo's expression brightened. "Go on."
"Of course," Yin Zhang said seriously.
"On the Douluo Continent, Spirit Hall is basically the only force that truly cares about the lives, deaths, and futures of ordinary people."
"Grandpa Jack once told me that if Spirit Hall hadn't insisted on providing free Martial Soul Awakening in remote villages year after year, our ancestors would never have had a chance to change their fate. We'd only be able to farm our whole lives, with no hope of ever turning things around."
"As for the nobles—they only care about their own kind. Occasionally, when they see commoners suffering, they might toss out some charity. Some even have twisted hearts and take pleasure in abusing ordinary people."
"This world… is very abnormal."
After saying that, Yin Zhang paused and looked at Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao.
Both of them were clearly surprised.
They hadn't expected such insight from a seven-year-old child.
After a moment of thought, Ma Xiunuo asked again,
"Then do you know why Spirit Hall provides free Martial Soul Awakening for commoners? Why do you think we do this?"
"You should understand—there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
"I do understand," Yin Zhang replied calmly.
"Spirit Hall is different from most sects and academies. It doesn't belong to either empire—it's an independent power."
"To ensure a constant flow of new blood, providing free Martial Soul Awakening to ordinary people is the most effective method."
"This is mutual benefit. Commoners awaken their Martial Souls and change their fate. Spirit Hall gains fresh blood and continues to grow, standing on equal footing with the two great empires—or even suppressing them."
"And as a beneficiary, my favorable impression of Spirit Hall naturally increases."
Ma Xiunuo nodded in satisfaction.
"Very good. I've seen far too many people who accepted Spirit Hall's benefits, only to later betray us. Those people are the most despicable."
"Alright. I happen to be free these next few days. Come back tomorrow, and I'll personally take you outside the city to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain your first soul ring."
After a pause, he added,
"Before you go, I'll ask one last thing—do you still plan to wait six years before joining Spirit Hall?"
"…Yes," Yin Zhang replied after a brief hesitation. "But if something happens in the meantime, I might join earlier."
Ma Xiunuo smiled faintly.
Yin Zhang left Spirit Hall.
It was only half past two in the afternoon—there was still plenty of time left in the day.