ALL NOVEL Chapter 40: The Martial Soul Main Hall
Afterwards, he went to the waterroom on the third floor of Building 3 to draw some water and took a bath, changed out of his sweat-soaked undershirt from the morning, washed it, and hung it to dry. He returned to Dorm 304, exchanged a few casual words with the two remaining classmates, and then, surrounded by the fresh scent of Blue Silver Grass, fell into a deep slumber.
A one-hour nap was enough for him to recover his peak physical and mental state.
At one-thirty in the afternoon, when Ling Yi arrived at the main street of 'Wooden City,' he did not immediately head to the Silver Heart Blacksmith Shop to continue his forging practice under Wang Meng. Instead, he began to make his way towards the center of the city.
Having been in 'Wooden City' for more than ten days, it was time to visit Uncle Lu, whom he hadn't seen in a while, at the Main Hall of the Martial Soul.
Unlike the Golden Geng Blacksmith Shop, where he came knocking with a letter before the school term began, the threshold for this Main Hall of the Martial Soul was significantly higher. Not just anyone could walk up, claim to know a sub-deacon of a small town Martial Soul branch, and expect to easily meet the person they wished to see.
Of course, even now, Ling Yi was merely a student at the Green Leaf Junior Spirit Master Academy with the additional identity of an apprentice at the Golden Geng Blacksmith Shop — still quite a ways off from being noteworthy in front of this capital-class Main Hall of the Martial Soul.
But still, compared to the poor boy from the countryside previously trying to make connections, he was doing significantly better.
This isn't to say that Deacon Lu Yi, whom Ling Yi intended to visit, would be particularly pragmatic. Although there might be practical considerations, more likely, it might end up being one of those situations where he tries to find the person only to be told Lu Yi is busy. He'd then have to be told to come another time, without knowing when that other time would be.
A stranger trying to meet a department head at a large company might not have better odds than an employee from a neighboring company who works in the same building.
Employees from two companies in the same building, seeing each other often, might feel a familiar connection. They’d likely be more inclined to help pass along a message compared to dealing with a stranger.
Ling Yi walked through the bustling streets, continuously playing out the various scenarios he might encounter next, all while maintaining a radiant, sunny smile on his face. He gazed around with the innocent curiosity and awe of a child experiencing such a vibrant scene for the first time.
Despite still wearing his uniform from the Green Leaf Junior Spirit Master Academy, passersby responded with warm smiles to his handsome appearance. No one showed disdain for his naivety. On the contrary, many cast envious and hopeful glances at his uniform.
The heart of Mu Zhi City rose a grand dome structure. Surrounded by street-side shops, courtyards, and residences, it stood tall and conspicuous among the crowd.
Although the architecture style in the Heavenly Dou Empire, the ruling nation, was reminiscent of European influences from Ling Yi's past life, the eastern coastal Shui Mu Republic mirrored the southern Xing Luo Empire with a design closer to Chinese styles.
Nevertheless, due to some unfathomable reasons, the architecture style across the entire Douluo Continent was somewhat unconventional.
Much like in the original timeline, within the protagonist group is Dai Mubai, who hails from the Xingluo Imperial Family’s White Tiger Dai Clan. His brother's name is Davis. Then there's Xue Ye, the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, with a cousin named Kundera, who is the king of the Barak Kingdom. And there's the Haagen-Dazs Kingdom...
As he stood before the towering structure with its sharp, angular lines, Ling Yi raised his eyes to take it in.
Roughly speaking, the building was predominantly brown, sprawling across a vast area, with the front alone reaching over a hundred meters wide and thirty meters tall. Inside, it seemed divided into three or four levels.
The front door bore a central symbol of a long sword pointing downward, flanked on either side by a hammer and a creature resembling a dragon.
This emblem communicated to everyone passing by that this place was the Martial Soul Main Hall, superior to both branch and sub halls.
The two guards appeared to be in their twenties, exuding soul power fluctuations stronger than the fifth senior brother Wang Meng and comparable to Deacon Yan Bin of the Beikou River Town's Martial Soul Branch Hall, clearly both were two-ring Grand Soul Masters.
To have two Grand Soul Masters guarding the doors, apart from Duke Mu Feng's court in 'Mu Zhi City,' perhaps only some marquis' residences and this Martial Soul Hall could afford to be so lavishly extravagant.
Ling Yi tugged at the hem of his school uniform jacket, adopting a reserved demeanor as he approached, speaking politely under the watchful eyes of the gatekeepers, "Hello, uncles. I am a working student from Beikou River Town. Deacon Yan Bin from our town's Martial Soul Branch Hall sent me with a message to visit Deacon Lu Yi here..."
Hearing Ling Yi's words, the two guards' gazes shifted from his tidy school uniform to his fair and amiable face. Their stern expressions softened a bit. The guard on the left pondered for a moment and said, "Here to see Lu Yi? He's inside today, but he might be busy now. You should go in and ask at the reception hall first."
"The reception hall is on the first floor, just go straight and turn right after entering," the guard on the right added.
"Thank you! Thank you, uncles!" Ling Yi promptly bowed slightly to each guard, expressing his gratitude.
"No need for thanks~" / "Go on in~"
The guards, one on the left and one on the right, waved their hands toward the door, smiling as they indicated for Ling Yi to proceed.
"Alright~"
Ling Yi responded with a joyful smile, hurrying into the Martial Soul Hall.
Watching Ling Yi's departing figure, the two guards exchanged knowing smiles. The one on the left remarked, "Such a sensible little one~"
“Indeed, he seems like a polite young one,” nodded the guard on the right.
"Speaking of," the left guard showed a hint of curiosity, "wasn't Steward Lu Yi transferred from North Kou River Town? I haven't heard much about him—"
"I don't know either," the right guard shook his head, "he's been here for four or five years now. Aside from a few people who are close to him, he doesn't really communicate much with others. I heard he spends most of his time completing tasks for the hall or training..."
In the towering thirty-meter-high main dome hall, Ling Yi had just walked in about ten meters. His keen hearing caught the conversation by the entrance. Simultaneously, he lifted his head, observing the grand building's interior with his eyes darting left and right.
The layout was generally reminiscent of a Western cathedral from his previous life. The ceiling was adorned with murals, and in each small square area below, there were various Soul Martial illustrations.
Surrounding him were large crystal windows, which currently cast dazzling sunlight into the hall, reflecting off the golden background of the murals. The entire hall was bathed in mesmerizing golden light.
If other travelers or locals were to arrive here, they might focus on the magnificent decorations. But Ling Yi was different. Under the guise of being fascinated, part of his attention was actually on the Soul Martial illustrations within the small square sections.
The Martial Soul Hall truly lived up to its name; even the ceiling itself was an invaluable ‘treasure’!
In this chapter, the story continues to unfold as we delve deeper into the intricacies of the Martial Soul Main Hall. The imposing presence of the hall stands as a testament to the rich history and power it holds. Guards whisper of enigmatic figures like Steward Lu Yi, adding layers of mystery to the already imposing atmosphere. As Ling Yi navigates through the vast corridors adorned with ancient murals, the weight of history is palpable, bringing a sense of awe and reverence to his every step. What secrets await within these hallowed walls remain to be discovered.
(Chapter End)
(End of Chapter)
