"The defenses around the Sun and Moon Royal Academy are tight. If not for Jing Hongchen's invitation, I wouldn't have been able to appear here so easily," said the Nightmare Douluo, his voice low and distant. After a few more warnings, he continued giving orders.
"Soon, our branch hall will be established in Radiant City. I'll inform you of its location when the time comes. If you need to report anything, contact them directly. There are plenty of nobles here, and with Lin Jiayi as your patron, no one will question your comings and goings."
Lin Xiao remained silent, but at those words, his heart stirred slightly.
The Nightmare Douluo was a spiritual-type Spirit Master whose martial spirit, the Nightmare Demon, could silently infiltrate a person's dreams. Ever since Lin Xiao had become his disciple, he had been roused from countless nightmares.
Though he had no proof, he was certain there was some hidden mark on his body—something that allowed the Nightmare Douluo to locate him with absolute precision.
Having spent years among the Holy Spirit Church, Lin Xiao understood the paranoia of evil Spirit Masters well. He did not believe the old man truly trusted him out of any so-called "teacher-student bond."
But within the Sun and Moon Academy, protected by its defensive barriers, the Nightmare Douluo could no longer peer freely into everything around him. Lin Xiao's movements were still traceable, yes—but at least he now had a small measure of freedom.
"Also," the Nightmare Douluo continued, "you've already reached the rank of Spirit King. With your talent, it won't be long before you advance to six rings. It's time to prepare for your Spirit Ascension Ceremony."
Lin Xiao's heart clenched tight.
Within the Holy Spirit Church, ordinary disciples were divided into Holy Spirits and Holy Servants. When a Holy Servant's cultivation reached a certain level, they would undergo the Spirit Ascension Ceremony to become a Holy Spirit—the Church's true core members.
As a Holy Envoy, Lin Xiao often acted as the elders and worships' representative, performing tasks they couldn't openly handle.
He had heard the term "Spirit Ascension Ceremony" many times before, but its true nature remained a mystery.
Yet through his martial spirit—the Other Shore Flower—he could faintly sense that every "Holy Spirit" he had encountered possessed an incomplete soul.
That ceremony… was no mere ritual. Once performed, it would leave irreversible consequences.
But with the Nightmare Douluo constantly watching over him, how could he possibly refuse?
The old man, unaware of Lin Xiao's inner turmoil—or perhaps indifferent to it—finished his instructions and vanished into the night.
"Excuse me, you're one of the new special admissions students too, right?"
A crisp, youthful voice interrupted his thoughts.
Lin Xiao looked up to see a young girl around his age standing a few steps away. She wore light makeup and had a hint of youthful freshness about her, yet something in her demeanor felt subtly off.
"I saw you earlier at the testing room," she said softly. "You were inside for such a long time—did the teachers tell you something special?"
When Lin Xiao didn't answer, she spoke again, her cheeks turning slightly pink as her gaze flickered shyly.
Something's wrong. Very wrong.
Students here were young, yes—but few would approach a stranger so forwardly, especially with such delicate expressions. If she were introverted, she wouldn't initiate conversation. If she were extroverted, she wouldn't blush like that.
Her flushed face seemed less like genuine embarrassment and more like a performance.
But Lin Xiao had learned to be suspicious. In the Holy Spirit Church, being careless often meant never getting the chance to think again. The Church trained many who disguised themselves as innocent women to lure unsuspecting targets.
As he continued to stare silently, the girl's eyes grew glassy, as if on the verge of tears. Yet her feet remained rooted in place.
"There you are."
The quiet was broken by Lin Jiayi's familiar voice.
"Teacher?" Lin Xiao turned just in time to see the girl stamp her foot and hurry off, vanishing down the path.
"What's this?" Lin Jiayi chuckled. "Barely joined the Academy, and already making a girl cry?"
"No, Teacher. I don't even know her," Lin Xiao replied truthfully, though his mind replayed the final glint in her eyes before she fled—something cold and deliberate.
"Right, Teacher, what brings you here?"
"Ah, your class schedule!" Lin Jiayi laughed. "I went to your dorm and you weren't there, so I figured you'd come to see the Illustrious Virtue Hall. Every new student does."
He turned to gaze at the magnificent structure ahead, pride gleaming in his eyes. "You must understand, Lin Xiao—the Illustrious Virtue Hall isn't just the Academy's pride. It is the heart of the entire Sun and Moon Empire—the highest institute of soul-engineering research in existence."
"Someday," he added, "I believe you'll have a chance to step inside."
Lin Xiao's expression was calm, but he listened closely.
"Before then, though," Lin Jiayi went on, "you must decide which branch of soul-engineering you wish to pursue. A soul engineer's energy is limited—you can't master everything."
"What would you recommend, Teacher?" Lin Xiao asked. Better to let an expert decide.
"Let me think…" Lin Jiayi rubbed his chin. "Lin Xiao, what type of martial spirit do you have?"
"By Spirit Master classification, it's an offensive-type tool soul—best suited for mid- to long-range combat."
"Then I suggest starting with mid- to long-range soul-tools," Lin Jiayi said immediately. "You already fight at range as a Spirit King, and those habits won't change easily.
"Moreover," he added, "though the Academy still lacks devices to measure spiritual power precisely, your earlier tests showed your control over soul energy far exceeds the norm. That indicates a powerful spiritual force—perfect for manipulating long-range soul-tools with precision."
"Of course," Lin Jiayi continued, smiling again, "that's just for offense. I'll also teach you to craft and use soul-tools that enhance defense, mobility, and support functions. You'll soon understand just how great the advantages of a soul engineer truly are compared to Spirit Masters."
(End of Chapter)