When Ma Xiunuo asked about Yin Zhang's current soul power, Yin Zhang could only give a helpless smile.
"I'm not entirely sure myself," he said. "But judging by how it feels, it shouldn't be level eleven."
Deep down, he felt a bit regretful. If he had known this would happen, he should've waited and used up those three levels of stored soul power after absorbing the soul ring.
Absorbing a soul ring and directly jumping five levels in soul power—there was clearly something abnormal about that.
Fortunately, the current Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji, would meet his end in about a year.
After that, Bibi Dong would ascend to the position of Pope.
Once that happened, Spirit Hall's attention on him should ease somewhat.
Still, Yin Zhang could easily imagine that once he returned to Spirit Hall and revealed his level-15 soul power, even if they respected his personal wishes, they would definitely place him under close supervision.
That, however, didn't really bother him.
From the very beginning, Yin Zhang had planned to study at Notting Academy for six years—or perhaps less—and then officially join Spirit Hall to develop.
After all, when it came to the system prompts, Yin Zhang felt that the more he interacted with key figures from the original story, the greater the rewards he would receive.
But as things stood, Tang San hadn't even been born yet.
The best option was clearly Spirit Hall. Whether he became a disciple of Pope Bibi Dong later on, or was taken in by one of the Seven High Priests of the Hall of Worship, either path would be excellent.
With his Spirit Charizard's own growth potential, his prompt-based "golden finger," and the resources and influence of Spirit Hall behind him, Yin Zhang was extremely confident about his future—and already had a clear plan in mind.
---
The carriage ride back to Notting City ended at dusk.
The journey itself was remarkably smooth.
The carriage was fitted with mechanisms similar to spirit tools, allowing those inside to feel almost no jolting at all.
It was worth noting that although true spirit tools were exceedingly rare on the Douluo Continent during this era—mostly limited to storage tools unearthed from ancient ruins—many technologies inspired by spirit tools were already being applied in everyday life.
While resting with his eyes closed inside the carriage, Yin Zhang noticed something new within his spirit.
Charizard had awakened a special trait.
He could clearly feel it.
The more his physical stamina was depleted, the stronger his spirit ability became.
That realization immediately reminded Yin Zhang of Charizard's Blaze ability from the Pokémon system—it matched this state almost perfectly.
Still, for now, he couldn't be completely certain.
---
After returning to the Spirit Hall branch, Ma Xiunuo brought Yin Zhang in to test his soul power.
The result left him completely stunned.
Staring at the brilliant glow of the blue crystal beneath Yin Zhang's palm, Ma Xiunuo swallowed hard.
"Level fifteen?" he muttered in disbelief. "How is that even possible?"
It wasn't that Ma Xiunuo had never heard of soul masters gaining an extra level after absorbing a soul ring—especially when the ring's attributes matched their martial spirit, or when the ring was of higher age.
Yin Zhang's soul ring was close to a hundred years old. Gaining one extra level would've been perfectly reasonable.
But five levels at once?
That was absurd.
For an average soul master, raising soul power by five levels would require two or three years of arduous cultivation.
Yet Yin Zhang had achieved it in mere hours—the time it took to absorb a soul ring.
"Ahem… Xiao Zhang, there must be something wrong with this crystal. Let me check it," Ma Xiunuo said, still unconvinced.
He tested it himself.
The blue crystal lit up instantly.
"That's not right either…" Ma Xiunuo frowned.
"Xiao Zhang, test it again. The crystal must have malfunctioned earlier."
With no other choice, Yin Zhang stepped forward once more and placed his hand on the crystal.
The result didn't change.
Level fifteen.
Ma Xiunuo fell silent. After a long moment, he looked at Yin Zhang with a complicated expression.
"Xiao Zhang… it seems you really are extraordinarily gifted."
Yin Zhang scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.
"Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, this really was a surprise, wasn't it?"
Ma Xiunuo let out a sigh.
"A surprise, yes—but one that nearly gave me a heart attack."
"I originally thought that even with your Innate Full Soul Power, Spirit Hall's policies were flexible enough to allow you to remain in Notting City for a few years, to repay your upbringing."
"But given your current situation, I have no choice but to report this to the Holy Temple in Heaven Dou City. Once that happens, people from the main hall may forcibly take you away."
Yin Zhang kept smiling, but his heart sank slightly.
---
At the same time, in Spirit City, located at the junction of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, dusk had already fallen.
Inside the Pope's Palace, a man with long golden hair and handsome yet faintly sinister features sat atop the lofty papal throne, holding a letter in his hand.
A look of interest flickered across his face.
"Yin Zhang… a mutated top-tier Beast Spirit, Charizard. Innate level-ten soul power. Orphaned background, raised by a village chief from a small village. Clean family history."
"My deacon from Spirit Hall extended an olive branch, yet the boy politely declined—wishing to remain in his hometown for a few more years out of filial piety?"
"A child like this truly is worth cultivating."
"Although I'd like to bring him into Spirit Hall immediately, since he values filial piety so highly, I'll allow him to stay in that little place for another two years."
"Two years from now, I'll personally bring him back. He's about the same age as Xiao Xue—perhaps they could become friends… or even something more."
"Hahaha!"
With that thought, Qian Xunji crumpled the letter in his hand, crushing it into a ball before letting it fall.
Below the throne, the two titled Douluo—Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo—stood on either side, exchanging silent glances.
Just as Qian Xunji rose to his feet, a knight entered the hall.
"Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope," the knight said, kneeling on one knee and holding a letter with both hands, "this is the latest information regarding Tang Hao and the Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast, Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin."
"Oh?" Qian Xunji's eyes gleamed. "Tang Hao and the Blue Silver Emperor? I've been waiting long enough for news of those two."
He took the letter and read it carefully.
It detailed Tang Hao and Ah Yin's location at the time the report was written.
At the bottom was an added note:
> Tang Hao and the Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast Ah Yin are believed to be fleeing toward the southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire, within Fasinuo Province. We request that Your Holiness the Pope personally take action to capture this pair of adulterers and cleanse the atmosphere of the soul master world, restoring clarity to the Douluo Continent!
"Southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire… Fasinuo Province?" Qian Xunji murmured.
"That happens to be near Yin Zhang's hometown—Notting City. Once this matter is dealt with, I can stop by and have a look."
"Very well. That settles it."
"Where are Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo? Summon the elites of Spirit Hall and follow me!"
"We will capture this pair of adulterers, purify the soul master world, and restore clear skies to the Douluo Continent!"
Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped forward in unison.
"We are here," they declared.
"Willing to follow Your Holiness the Pope—capture the adulterers, purify the soul master world, and restore clear skies to the Douluo Continent!"