Nuo Ding Academy, Main Square
Master Matthew Nuo, dressed in formal robes, once again stood at a familiar position on the podium.
The crowd looked up in anticipation. Every time Master Matthew Nuo stood there, it signaled the announcement of Scholar Lin Feng's latest cultivation theory.
With the success of the first three path systems already validated, virtually everyone present was eagerly waiting to hear what Matthew Nuo would announce next.
"Today, we gather not for any ceremony, but to witness the unveiling of Scholar Lin Feng's fourth path theory.
I believe by now everyone is well aware of the remarkable effects of his techniques. Proceed to collect your copies in an orderly fashion. No pushing, and don't cause yourself unnecessary harm."
In the bustling crowd, Yu Xiaogang lowered his head beneath his hat brim. Supporting himself on a cane, he slowly stepped forward.
Suddenly, a mocking voice rang out:
"Hey, isn't that the Master? Back again for another technique manual?
Judging by your sorry state, did you mess around again and almost lose your life this time?
Truly overestimating yourself."
Yu Xiaogang stammered, struggling to get his words out:
"Wha... what a theory scholar does can't be called reckless. It's research, it's research..."
"Hahaha..."
Laughter burst out in the square.
With his old face burning red, Yu Xiaogang grabbed a theory manual from the table and dashed away under the mocking gaze of Matthew Nuo—suddenly looking much more agile than before.
"Ah—!"
The crowd turned to look. Yu Xiaogang had run too fast, tripped, and fell hard to the ground. His injured leg twitched uncontrollably, looking like a stunned frog.
"Pfft... HAHAHA—"
The crowd roared again in laughter. Two guards shook their heads.
"That's the so-called Master? I still don't get why the Dean brought him here. Doesn't teach any classes, hasn't produced a single decent result."
One of the guards, with shifty eyes and a greedy look, sneered dismissively.
Yu Xiaogang struggled to get back up, his head lowered, eyes filled with gloom. That same guard, once terrified of him, now joined the ignorant masses to mock him?
The Dean of the Junior Soul Master Academy watched in silence.
Back then, it was out of admiration for Yu Xiaogang's supposed knowledge that he had invited him. Having flattered him so earnestly, he couldn't just turn hostile now—it would reflect poorly on his own character.
Forget it, he sighed internally. Let him be. I won't interfere anymore.
The Dean rubbed his temples in frustration. Why did I ever invite him?
Getting rid of him now would only make him look like the villain.
That's the burden of the morally upright—they're often bound by their own conscience. Of course, there's another kind of person—those being blackmailed—who end up overly cautious for a different reason.
Sss— Yu Xiaogang took a sharp breath. The pain from his injury constantly throbbed like a nerve under assault.
Huff— He opened the theory book, eager to analyze the fourth path.
"Still in the upper body? But the previous three paths already formed a complete loop. How can there be another route in the chest area? There's already one there!
Why not extend it downward? Why?!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice took on a hint of madness. For those without spiritual meridians connecting to the internal organs, there could only be one path.
But with Yu Xiaogang's limited understanding, he had no way of associating the routes with the five internal organs.
He summoned his spirit beast, Ro Sanpao, whose hind legs now spasmed from time to time, occasionally releasing foul-smelling gas.
Yu Xiaogang remained expressionless—he was used to it by now.
Ever since he recklessly experimented with his spirit power, trying to forcefully open new routes within his body...
Two months of chaotic, misguided cultivation eventually resulted in a faint pop!—a new meridian node opened in his right leg.
But something was off—it felt like a knot had formed in his meridian network. When spirit power passed through, his leg would twitch uncontrollably.
It could only be described as a cramp... or possibly a spasm.
Ro Sanpao also changed—the most obvious being...
Increased gas emissions and flatulence duration.
In a twisted way, Yu Xiaogang had become stronger... albeit embarrassingly so.
"No no no! I'm just ahead of Lin Feng! He's still focused on upper body pathways, while I've begun researching the lower body.
Once he publishes his theory and I combine it with my research, I'll have surpassed him by far!
When I complete the full map of the human soul path system, I will be the greatest theoretical master in the soul master world!"
His eyes gleamed with mania:
"I need a disciple... one who can validate my theory.
Lin Feng and I—no, my theory will shine most brilliantly on him. I will prove to the world that my theory reigns supreme!"
Had Lin Feng been present, he might have diagnosed Yu Xiaogang's condition as a classic case of cultivation deviation—his soul power pathways a total mess.
A bizarre situation akin to buggy code that somehow still runs—but is fundamentally flawed. It's just a matter of time before the system crashes.
Poor Tang San. After barely surviving the ordeal with Tang Hao, his training road ahead with this "master" would only grow darker.
Meanwhile, most people in the square hadn't yet left. They waited for Master Matthew Nuo to continue speaking.
And indeed—how could the Spirit Hall pass up the chance to make a major announcement during the release of such an influential new cultivation path?
"Everyone! In addition to the fourth soul path from Scholar Lin Feng being made public today, the Spirit Hall has one more important announcement:
Scholar Lin Feng has been officially named the Son of the Spirit Hall—and will command the Knight Corps!"
"Whaaa—?!"
The crowd erupted in a frenzy.
"Master Matthew Nuo, what level has Scholar Lin Feng reached in his cultivation?!
Can a Holy Son position be appointed so quickly?!"
"No no no—if he managed to overcome the limitations of his own spirit, his perception must be unmatched!
Even if you told me he became a Soul King at 12, I wouldn't be surprised!"
Slap!"You're insane! A 12-year-old Soul King? Not even a 12-year-old Soul Sect exists! Lin Feng started with only level 1 innate soul power!"
"Silence!"
Matthew Nuo clapped his hands.
"Scholar Lin Feng is now... a Soul Sect! And he's not even 15 yet!"
"What?! That's impossible!"
"Absolutely absurd!"
Matthew Nuo chuckled:
"Everyone, our great enshrinement of the Spirit Hall personally scoured the land for spiritual herbs and treasures to assist Lin Feng.
He even spent days channeling his power into Lin Feng to stabilize and build his foundation.
With talent like Lin Feng's, why is his current soul power level so unbelievable?"
"Ohhh~~"
A bald voice rang out from the crowd:
"Doesn't that mean his cultivation is unstable?"
The implication was clear—Lin Feng's cultivation had been artificially boosted.
Someone next to him looked at him like an idiot:
"You moron. The elder completed Lin Feng's innate deficiencies before helping him cultivate. If he ended up unstable after that, it'd be the biggest waste of talent ever."
The man fell silent, face red with shame, and slipped away into the crowd.
"Seriously, you haters can't even make a decent argument!"
With Lin Feng's rising fame, it was inevitable that naysayers would appear. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong time and place—trying to stir doubt in a gathering of die-hard supporters? Not the smartest move.
Matthew Nuo beamed with pride:
"Now you understand why he is worthy of the Holy Son title.
It's not just his unparalleled theoretical talent—
His cultivation talent is also peerless!"
"Lin Feng! Lin Feng!"
Mass psychology took over, and as people chanted in unison, Lin Feng's new status as Holy Son was quickly accepted and spread like wildfire.
Spirit Hall City – Pope's Hall
Qian Daoliu, Lin Feng, and Qian Renxue all turned to look at Bibi Dong.
Qian Daoliu frowned and asked bluntly:
"Why did you announce Lin Feng as the Holy Son without consulting me?"
Indeed, this announcement had been made without discussing it with Qian Daoliu.
But Bibi Dong had been smart—she relied only on trusted people to spread the news in a contained way, just enough to make it known in key regions.
There was no need to broadcast it across the entire continent. Word of mouth in the right places would suffice, and soon, everyone would know anyway.
A strategy much like an old southern folk rhyme subtly spreading nationwide.
Bibi Dong smiled:
"As far as I remember, the Holy Son is selected by the Pope's Hall. I didn't overstep."
Qian Daoliu's brows knitted:
"You know what the Holy Son and Holy Maiden titles represent.
You were once a Holy Maiden yourself—you should understand what that future entails."
Bibi Dong lounged casually on the throne, chin resting on her hand, eyes glinting with amusement:
"Of course I do. Lin Feng is the one I've chosen to inherit the Pope's mantle.
Is that a problem?"
Qian Daoliu looked increasingly perplexed. Was she really handing over power? Willingly?
Qian Renxue's gaze was complicated:
"But you didn't ask Xiao Feng. I don't think this is a good decision."
Lin Feng shook his head:
"Your Eminence, I don't really care about this Holy Son title.
Honestly, I'm not interested in wielding authority—I don't enjoy it."
Bibi Dong raised a brow, her tone teasing:
"Oh? That's a problem... I already made the announcement. Can't take it back now.
What shall we do about that?"
T/N: For twenty chapters ahead on all my fics become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle