"Grandmaster Su Yuntao, what are you doing here?" Ling Xiao asked, a bit surprised. However, it didn't matter much; he actually had an important question of his own to ask.
Looking at Ling Xiao, Su Yuntao smiled and said, "You're Ling Xiao, right? I've already reported your situation to the Bishop. The Bishop was delighted and will personally escort you to Spirit City this afternoon. You need to start preparing now."
Ling Xiao was stunned.
"Leaving this afternoon?"
He hadn't expected such efficiency; they were truly decisive.
To have a Bishop personally escort him to Spirit City just to be safe—it seemed he had still underestimated just how rare Innate Full Soul Power was on the Douluo Continent.
Su Yuntao wasn't surprised by Ling Xiao's shock.
A genius with Innate Full Soul Power was simply too rare, and Spirit Hall placed extreme importance on such individuals. Moreover, the sooner he arrived at Spirit Hall, the sooner Ling Xiao could begin his true cultivation as a Soul Master.
"What do I need to prepare?" Ling Xiao asked, unsure.
After all, he literally owned nothing, so there shouldn't be much to pack.
"It's simple. Just take a bath, change into new clothes, and have some lunch. These two ladies will assist you."
So, they want me to look presentable to show that I'm being treated well, Ling Xiao thought, tilting his head.
Seeing Su Yuntao about to leave, Ling Xiao hurriedly called out, "Grandmaster Su Yuntao, please wait! I wanted to ask... have you discovered any other youths with Innate Full Soul Power recently?"
Su Yuntao turned back, looking confused.
"No. You are the first Innate Full Soul Power genius I've ever discovered."
"Really? Not even one? I mean... even if their Martial Soul wasn't very good, it wouldn't matter—you haven't seen a child like that?"
Su Yuntao felt the question was a bit bizarre.
"Ling Xiao, Innate Full Soul Power isn't something you find growing on trees. It's not that common. Before you, I truly have never seen it."
Hearing this answer, Ling Xiao finally felt completely at ease.
As long as Tang San hadn't undergone his Martial Soul Awakening yet, Ling Xiao would have a head start in cultivation.
This would make it much easier to change the eventual fate of Spirit Hall.
"It's nothing. Thank you, Grandmaster Su Yuntao."
Su Yuntao nodded and turned to leave the small room.
Left alone with the two women, Ling Xiao said awkwardly, "Um, big sisters... what are we doing next?"
"The Soul Grandmaster instructed us to serve you while you bathe and to prepare your clothes."
They looked at the boy, thinking he was quite cute.
Hearing this, Ling Xiao hurriedly said, "That... as for the bath, I can handle it myself. You can just help me prepare the clothes."
"Hehe."
Seeing Ling Xiao's embarrassed expression, the two women couldn't help but giggle. They didn't object, however, and instead asked, "What kind of clothes would you like? we will pick them out for you."
Ling Xiao thought for a moment, looking down at his coarse, faded hemp clothes and worn-out shoes.
"Clothes... as long as they're clean. I don't have special requirements, just one thing: keep it simple. Don't make it too flashy."
He didn't like dressing like a young noble.
Whether in his past life or this one, he came from a common background and was used to it; he felt nothing for extravagant attire.
The two women understood his request.
They didn't leave immediately, though; instead, they circled Ling Xiao, observing him closely and occasionally using tools to take measurements.
Ling Xiao felt helpless, feeling like a rare animal being put on display. Fortunately, it ended quickly, and he was led away to prepare for the journey to Spirit Hall.
Inside a study on the third floor of the Spirit Hall's Main Hall, Ralph was writing a letter. According to Spirit Hall regulations, when a child with Innate Soul Power of Rank 9 or higher appeared, the news had to be reported to the Pope Hall immediately.
A moment later, Ralph stood up, placed the letter into a tube, and tied it to a small bird-type Soul Beast beside him.
It was the size of an ordinary pigeon and looked very similar—pure white—except it radiated fluctuations of soul power. This was a low-level Soul Beast domesticated by Spirit Hall called a Snow Feather Pigeon.
Most had a cultivation of only about Ten Years.
While their attack power was weak, their flight and navigation skills were exceptional. They were used by most powerful Soul Master sects and clans for communication. Soon, the Snow Feather Pigeon flew out of Ralph's office window.
Watching it disappear into the distance, Ralph murmured, "I've done what needs to be done. It's time for me to set off as well."
Half day passed quickly.
The early summer sun wasn't too intense yet.
Ralph, still dressed in his white robes, slowly walked out of the cathedral's main gates.
Seeing the old man, the two guards immediately saluted.
"Greetings, Bishop."
Nodding slightly, Ralph asked, "Is the carriage I requested ready?"
"It is ready, Bishop," one of the guards replied.
"Deacon Su Yuntao came by again and said the carriage is prepared. We can leave immediately."
Just as the Soul Grandmaster finished speaking, a carriage approached from the distance. The "clop-clop" of hooves on the level ground echoed until it came to a halt before Ralph.
Seeing the driver, Ralph couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha, Su Yuntao, you are a Soul Grandmaster. Why are you acting as a coachman?"
Holding the whip, Su Yuntao didn't look embarrassed at all. He smiled and said, "Bishop, let me be the driver this time. It gives me a chance to go to Spirit City with you. I've never been there before!"
"Is the child inside? I sense someone else in the carriage," Ralph asked, pointing.
"Yes, I've already picked him up."
Su Yuntao climbed down from the carriage.
Before he could say more, the curtain was pulled back, and Ling Xiao hopped down. Facing the old man—who gave off an aura of immense power—Ling Xiao didn't let his talent make him arrogant.
He bowed respectfully.
"Ling Xiao greets the Bishop."
Ralph's eyes lit up.
Ling Xiao no longer looked like a common orphan.
His short black hair was soft and swayed slightly with his movements, tied up in a small topknot. He wore a simple small vest that left his chubby arms exposed at the shoulders, paired with brown trousers that were slightly baggy at the ends.
With simple cloth shoes and a red scarf tied around his neck, he looked both plain and adorable, with a hint of handsomeness that was only tempered by his youthful innocence.
"Your name is Ling Xiao?"
"Yes!"
Ling Xiao answered confidently, meeting Ralph's gaze without flinching.
Looking down at the confident child, Ralph suddenly had a flash of intuition.
Perhaps, many years from now, the boy standing before him would become a legendary existence in the world of Soul Masters—even across the entire continent—and he would often look back on this moment of their first meeting.