Matthew Nuo noticed Yun Feng standing still, lost in thought, as his eyes grew increasingly bright with excitement. A satisfied smile spread across Matthew Nuo's face as he muttered to himself, "My instincts were spot on!"
Unable to hide his enthusiasm, Matthew Nuo asked expectantly, "Yun Feng, what do you think of Spirit Hall?"
Yun Feng immediately understood Matthew Nuo's intention—he wanted him to join Spirit Hall. While Yun Feng held a favorable impression of the organization, which had selflessly helped him awaken his martial soul twice, he wasn't ready to commit. The reason was simple: joining Spirit Hall would mean sacrificing much of his freedom.
The Heaven-Suppressing Monument only activated when someone bore hostility toward him. If he joined Spirit Hall and acted recklessly, he'd essentially be courting death.
Yun Feng decided to refuse, but he couldn't be too blunt about it. Leaving a way out was always the wiser choice. With an earnest expression, he replied, "Spirit Hall is amazing! When I first arrived, I worried about the cost of awakening my martial soul, but the kind soldiers at the gate assured me it was free. And over the years, Spirit Hall soul masters have protected us all."
Hearing this, Matthew Nuo grew even more excited. A child with innate Level 9 soul power and a top-tier beast martial soul was a rare treasure. No faction would pass up such an opportunity.
"Then, Yun Feng, would you like to join Spirit Hall?"
Yun Feng smiled and blinked his large eyes, playing up his youthful charm. "Of course I want to join, but not just yet. I want to learn more first so that I can protect myself and avoid being bullied when I join Spirit Hall."
Matthew Nuo hesitated. As a sub-branch master, he understood the challenges ahead for someone like Yun Feng. Though Spirit Hall offered a wealth of resources, many of the children sent to the Holy City for training were either noble or wealthy. It wasn't uncommon for ordinary children to face discrimination.
After a moment of thought, Matthew Nuo asked, "If you don't join Spirit Hall immediately, what's your plan?"
Yun Feng already had his answer. "I want to go to school, but our village doesn't have any work-study slots left, so I don't know what to do." He spoke with a dejected tone, as if the world were collapsing around him.
Seeing Yun Feng's despondence, Matthew Nuo sighed. "Alright, if you promise me one thing, I'll help you go to school."
Yun Feng nodded eagerly. "Matthew Nuo Grandpa, just tell me! If it's something I can do, I'll definitely help!"
Relieved by Yun Feng's agreement, Matthew Nuo's stern expression softened. "It's nothing difficult. Just promise that when you eventually join Spirit Hall, you'll mention my name and say I recommended you."
Yun Feng chuckled. "Grandpa, even if you didn't say so, I'd still do that!"
Matthew Nuo beamed with joy. "Good, good! What a good child! Don't worry about school—I'll cover the costs and get you a slot."
---
One Week Later
Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy was located on the western side of Nuoding City. Matthew Nuo, having lived in the area for years, led Yun Feng to the academy with ease.
From a distance, Yun Feng spotted the academy's grand arched gate. The gate was 20 meters wide and over 10 meters tall, built from solid stone. Beneath it hung two imposing black iron gates, clearly crafted from high-quality refined iron.
Through the iron bars, Yun Feng saw a winding path lined with towering trees leading deeper into the academy grounds. Above the gate, four large characters were inscribed: "Nuoding Academy."
The sight of the academy filled Yun Feng with excitement. This was the place where his new journey would begin.
Even though the combat strength of Douluo Continent might not match the heights of his previous world, it held an irresistible allure—immortality was within reach. For someone like Yun Feng, that temptation was too great to resist.
Over the past week, Yun Feng hadn't stopped cultivating. The Heaven-Suppressing Monument, which had initially turned ethereal after his intense training, fully recovered by the second day. Yun Feng discovered a pattern—so long as he didn't exceed a certain amount of cultivation each day, there were no adverse effects.
Meanwhile, Tang San and Tang Hao had suffered immensely. Between bloodlust-driven outbursts and spontaneous internal explosions, both were left in a constant state of agony. Tang Hao, as a Title Douluo, could endure, but Tang San fared far worse. Without Yun Feng holding back, Tang San would likely have been bedridden.
By the end of the week, Yun Feng successfully cultivated to Level 10 soul power and, with Matthew Nuo's help, obtained his first soul ring. Yun Feng was strategic in his choice of soul skill, drawing on his extensive knowledge from both past and present worlds.
His first soul skill: Heavenly Flame Dragon Transformation.
This skill provided a 200% boost to all attributes and imbued his attacks with fire. Simple yet devastating, the sheer power left Matthew Nuo speechless. For a first soul skill, it was outrageously overpowered—especially for a mere hundred-year soul ring.
"Yun Feng, this is Nuoding Academy," Matthew Nuo said, his tone filled with pride. "Now that you're about to start school, have you decided on a name for your martial soul?"
Yun Feng smiled faintly, his eyes flickering with a trace of nostalgia as he recalled the totemic imagery of his martial soul. With unwaver
ing confidence, he declared, "Candle Dragon, Zhu Jiuyin."