Chapter 61: The Beginning
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Because of Suotuo City's status, the Spirit Hall in Suotuo City is classified as a "Sub-Hall."
In contrast, the Spirit Hall in a small town like Wurto Town is considered a "Branch Hall."
The Sub-Hall is one level higher than the Branch Hall, and its personnel configuration is naturally more advanced. The minimum requirement for the bishop of a Sub-Hall is to be a Soul Emperor, with a Soul King as the deputy, and the captain of the guardian knights being a Soul Ancestor, among others.
However, Lin Yongming speculated that Suotuo City was quite important, known as the "Grain Capital," so the bishop here might even be at the initial level of a Soul Saint, with a Soul Saint-level expert overseeing the area.
After all, Suotuo City also housed a Great Spirit Arena, which further highlighted its significance.
"Spirit Hall Bishop? Alright, I understand. Let me freshen up first," Lin Yongming nodded in response.
"Alright, I'll wait for you at the hotel entrance," the young man nodded and left without further ado.
"Xiao Ming, who was looking for you?" Blue Silver Emperor, who had just finished washing up, stepped out of the bathroom and asked curiously.
"It's the bishop of the Spirit Hall Sub-Hall in Suotuo City," Lin Yongming replied.
"What do they want from you? It's not something dangerous, is it? Are they assigning you a risky mission?" Blue Silver Emperor asked with a hint of concern.
"Probably not. I think it might be because of my recent actions at the Great Spirit Arena. The bishop likely wants to invite me to join the Spirit Hall."
"You know, recently, many families have been offering me high rewards to join them," Lin Yongming explained after some thought.
"That's strange. Aren't you already a member of the Spirit Hall?" Blue Silver Emperor was puzzled.
"Sister A Yin, I've been using a fake name and age. Even if they were to verify with the headquarters, there's no record of someone named Asura. That's why the bishop sent someone to summon me," Lin Yongming whispered.
"That makes sense. Do you want me to come with you?" Blue Silver Emperor nodded and then asked.
"No need. Once I'm at the Spirit Hall, I'll directly reveal my identity to the bishop. I'll be back soon. You can just stay in the room," Lin Yongming quickly declined.
Having been in Suotuo City for a while, Lin Yongming felt it was necessary to establish some rapport with the local Spirit Hall. However, he hadn't expected it to take nearly three months for them to send someone to invite him.
"Alright then," Blue Silver Emperor replied with a hint of disappointment.
"Don't worry. I still need to stay at the Great Spirit Arena for a while. Yesterday, I obtained the Silver Spirit Badge, which allows me to challenge Soul Ancestors."
"Recently, I've been worried about being targeted, so I need to clarify my status with the Spirit Hall. If anything happens, we can seek refuge there," Lin Yongming reassured Blue Silver Emperor.
"I understand. Go ahead," Blue Silver Emperor nodded gently.
"Alright, wait for me to come back, and we'll have dinner together," Lin Yongming said before leaving the hotel.
The young man was still waiting at the entrance.
Seeing Lin Yongming come out, he said, "Please follow me."
The Spirit Hall in Suotuo City was located in the southern part of the city, just across the street from the city lord's mansion.
Lin Yongming followed the young man for over half an hour until they arrived at the Spirit Hall.
The Sub-Hall was much larger than a Branch Hall, with the main building being an additional story taller. Above the entrance was a two-meter-tall statue of the Angel God, the deity worshipped by the Spirit Hall, with six wings.
"Wang Ming, who is this?" the guard at the entrance asked, noticing Lin Yongming behind the young man.
"Oh, this is Asura, whom the bishop asked me to invite," Wang Ming introduced.
"The Asura who's been making waves at the Great Spirit Arena recently?" the four guards scrutinized Lin Yongming.
"Yes," Wang Ming nodded.
Seeing how cautious Wang Ming was around the guards, Lin Yongming guessed that Wang Ming didn't hold a high position in the Spirit Hall.
"It seems the bishop doesn't think much of me," Lin Yongming muttered to himself.
"Please come in," the guards said, noticing Lin Yongming's attire and recalling that Asura was blind.
Wang Ming then led Lin Yongming through the gates and toward the main hall.
After turning a couple of corners, they arrived at the spacious main hall. At the back of the hall was a platform about fifty centimeters high, with a chair in the center. Sitting on it was a somewhat overweight middle-aged man.
"Greetings, Bishop Torres. Asura has arrived," Wang Ming knelt on one knee and reported.
Out of courtesy, Lin Yongming smiled and gave a slight bow.
"So this is Asura! I've heard so much about you. Truly a remarkable young talent. Wang Ming, you may leave now."
Bishop Torres wore a silver-black Spirit Hall uniform. He had a round face, a receding hairline, and a beer belly.
"You flatter me, Bishop," Lin Yongming replied calmly.
Bishop Torres didn't respond immediately but instead observed Lin Yongming closely.
Only after Wang Ming left the hall did Bishop Torres stand up, descend from the platform, and approach Lin Yongming.
"Asura, I've heard that your spirit ring configuration is one yellow and two purple. You've been at the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena for nearly three months, undefeated in the Soul Elder tier, with no one able to match you. May I ask which sect or family you belong to?" Bishop Torres began probing Lin Yongming's background.
"I've just been fortunate in my spirit power cultivation. There's always someone stronger, so I wouldn't say I'm unmatched in the Soul Elder tier. I come from a small village under Suotuo City's jurisdiction, not from any prominent family or sect," Lin Yongming replied modestly.
"Oh! So your spirit awakening ceremony was conducted by someone from the Spirit Hall Branch Hall?" Bishop Torres asked with interest.
"Yes," Lin Yongming nodded.
"In that case, I'll get straight to the point. Have you officially joined the Spirit Hall?" Bishop Torres smiled slightly.
"Yes, I have. Here's my Spirit Hall token," Lin Yongming didn't beat around the bush and directly handed over his token.
"Lin Yongming! Your real name is Lin Yongming?" Bishop Torres took the token and saw the name engraved on it.
"Yes, Asura is a pseudonym I use outside to avoid being targeted during my training. It's easier to operate under a fake identity," Lin Yongming explained.
"Smart. If I'm not mistaken, some families have been trying to recruit you recently. If any of them give you trouble in the future, feel free to come to me. Show them your Spirit Hall token, and I guarantee they won't dare lay a finger on a talented Spirit Hall member," Bishop Torres said confidently as he returned the token.
"Thank you, Bishop. With your assurance, I feel much more at ease. I'll be staying in Suotuo City for a while longer to continue my training at the Great Spirit Arena," Lin Yongming replied.
"I had no idea that the famous Asura, the blind prodigy of Suotuo City, was one of our own. Had I known, I would've visited you sooner. With your talent, we'll likely be colleagues in the future. It's almost lunchtime; why don't you stay and join me for a meal?" Bishop Torres smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I couldn't possibly trouble you, Bishop. Besides, I have a friend waiting for me at the hotel. I should get going," Lin Yongming politely declined.
"Alright then. Feel free to visit anytime," Bishop Torres nodded, not pressing further since this was their first meeting.
"Wang Ming, see our guest out," Bishop Torres called out toward the door.
"Yes, Bishop," Wang Ming appeared at the door and responded.
"Bishop, I'll take my leave now," Lin Yongming clasped his hands in farewell.
Lin Yongming then followed Wang Ming out of the Spirit Hall.
"Thank you, but there's no need to escort me further. I can find my way back," Lin Yongming said with a smile.
"Then please take care," Wang Ming nodded.
When Lin Yongming returned to the hotel, Blue Silver Emperor was bringing food to their room.
"Xiao Ming, you're back! How did it go?" Blue Silver Emperor set the food down and approached him.
"This bishop isn't someone we should get too close to," Lin Yongming said thoughtfully.
Lin Yongming felt that something was off about Bishop Torres. The person sent to invite him was Wang Ming, who, from what Lin Yongming overheard, was essentially a low-ranking errand boy in the Spirit Hall.
Yet, Bishop Torres had been overly enthusiastic, especially after learning that Lin Yongming was a Spirit Hall member. His friendly demeanor felt forced.
Moreover, the atmosphere in the Spirit Hall was overly strict, as if no one dared to speak loudly in front of Bishop Torres.
"What do you mean?" Blue Silver Emperor asked curiously.
Lin Yongming recounted his experience at the Spirit Hall, including the details about Wang Ming and the bishop's behavior.
"Just be cautious. We're not staying in Suotuo City long-term anyway, so try to avoid him if possible," Blue Silver Emperor said seriously after listening.
"Right," Lin Yongming nodded.
In the following days, after Lin Yongming revealed his identity as a Spirit Hall member, things quieted down. Even the Great Spirit Arena's management stopped trying to recruit him.
Lin Yongming began participating in matches where Soul Elders faced off against Soul Ancestors.
Seven months later...
Lin Yongming, at level 37, defeated a level 48 Soul Ancestor, surpassing twelve levels.
"Third Spirit Skill, Unparalleled Thunder Strike!"
"Asura wins again! Congratulations on advancing to the Gold Spirit Badge!"
Over these seven months, Lin Yongming hadn't been able to find opponents every day. There were few Soul Ancestors participating in the arena in Suotuo City, and after seeing Lin Yongming defeat one, even fewer Soul Elders dared to challenge him.
"Doesn't this Asura look familiar?"
"It's him, no doubt. Let's hurry back and report to the family head," two middle-aged men in the crowd whispered to each other before quickly leaving the arena.
"Asura, congratulations! In less than a year, you've risen from the Iron Spirit Badge to the Gold Spirit Badge. This means you'll need a bigger stage, as the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena can no longer meet your needs," the host said, presenting Lin Yongming with a tray holding the Gold Spirit Badge.
"I understand. In the past two months, I've only fought twelve times. The number of matches has been decreasing. If I want to continue fighting, I'll have to move to a larger city," Lin Yongming nodded, accepting the badge.
"Since we've known each other for a while, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors," the host said with a hint of nostalgia. He had been the one commentating on Lin Yongming's matches for the past year.
"Thank you. I also wish you success in your career at the Spirit Arena," Lin Yongming reciprocated the sentiment.
With that, Lin Yongming left the arena, unsure if he would ever return.
"Xiao Ming, you've finally obtained the Gold Spirit Badge!" Blue Silver Emperor exclaimed joyfully, taking the badge.
Over the past year, Blue Silver Emperor hadn't fallen behind in her training either, reaching level 46 as a Soul Ancestor, surpassing Lin Yongming's progress.
This was mainly because Lin Yongming had been focusing on combat training and using part of his spirit power to nurture his external spirit bone, the Purple Lightning Wings.
However, this effort wasn't in vain, as the spirit bone was now almost fully integrated with his body.
"Thank you," Lin Yongming nodded.
Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor had agreed that once he obtained the Gold Spirit Badge at the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena, they would leave Suotuo City, return home for a break, and then seek new challenges elsewhere.
That night, at a late-night restaurant near the Spirit Arena hotel, Blue Silver Emperor celebrated Lin Yongming's achievement.
"Congratulations! This past year of training has been a great success."
"Thank you, Sister A Yin."
"Let's eat. The food smells amazing."
By the time they returned to the hotel, it was already past ten. That night, Lin Yongming didn't meditate but instead lay down to rest.
Meanwhile, the two middle-aged men returned to a large estate in another city.
"Family Head, we're back."
"Oh? That was quick. Did Asura refuse your offer to join us?" the family head, a middle-aged man with a commanding presence, asked.
"No, we found the blind man who killed the young master. Asura is that blind man," one of the men reported.
"What! Are you certain?" the family head roared, releasing a powerful aura as he stepped forward.
"Family Head, there's no mistake. Asura's spirit ring configuration is one yellow and two purple. The second ring is clearly from that spirit beast that evolved before dying," the man confirmed.
"Good. After two years, I've finally found him. To think he's already a Soul Elder. If we wait any longer, he'll become even stronger. This time, I'll capture him myself and make him pay for my son's death," the family head clenched his fist in anger.
"But Family Head, from what we've learned, he's already joined the Spirit Hall. If he seeks refuge there or if the Spirit Hall finds out we killed him, it could be trouble..."
"Don't worry. I know Bishop Torres of Suotuo City. Prepare 500,000 gold spirit coins."
"Understood."
"Family Head, what's going on?" a woman emerged from the back hall and asked.
"We've found the killer who murdered Milko."
"What? Make sure you bring him back alive."
"I know. I've sent Huang and the others to get the money. I'll head to Suotuo City tonight."
Half an hour later, the two men returned with the money.
The family head took the bag and stored it in his spirit tool, his eyes filled with hatred.
"Let's go," he said coldly.
The family head and eight guards left the estate under the cover of night.
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