The guest quarters of North River Spirit Hall were far more luxurious than anything Lin Yuan had experienced before.
The room alone was larger than the entire blacksmith workshop where he had spent most of his childhood.
A soft bed.
Clean furnishings.
A private cultivation chamber.
Even the windows were crafted from polished crystal rather than common glass.
Yet despite the comfort, Lin Yuan’s routine did not change.
The moment dawn arrived, he was already cultivating.
Pressure descended silently upon his body.
Three times.
Four times.
Five times normal gravity.
His muscles trembled beneath the force while spirit power circulated through every meridian.
Sweat covered his forehead.
Pain spread through his bones.
But Lin Yuan remained unmoving.
Cultivation was accumulation.
A single day of laziness could never be noticed.
A hundred days of laziness would become obvious.
A thousand days would decide destinies.
This principle had followed him since his previous life.
And it remained true here.
Hours later, he finally opened his eyes.
A faint crack echoed from within his body.
Spirit power surged slightly.
Lin Yuan’s gaze sharpened.
His cultivation had advanced again.
Slowly.
Steadily.
The foundation created through years of pressure refinement was beginning to reveal its value.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound interrupted his thoughts.
Lin Yuan rose and opened the door.
A young Spirit Hall attendant stood outside.
“Vice Hall Master Xu requests your presence.” Lin Yuan nodded.
“Lead the way.” Several minutes later, he arrived at a large training courtyard deep within Spirit Hall.
The moment he entered— His footsteps paused.
More than twenty young spirit masters stood inside.
Some appeared fourteen or fifteen.
Others were closer to eighteen.
Every single one wore Spirit Hall uniforms.
And every single one immediately looked toward him.
Curiosity filled the courtyard.
The news had already spread.
A civilian genius with innate full spirit power had arrived.
Naturally, everyone wanted to see him.
Xu Mingshan stood near the center of the training ground.
When he noticed Lin Yuan’s arrival, he nodded calmly.
“You’re here.” Lin Yuan approached quietly.
His gaze swept through the crowd.
Most of them were stronger than him.
Some significantly so.
One young man in particular immediately attracted his attention.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Sharp eyes.
His spirit power fluctuations were the strongest present.
Probably around rank twenty-five.
A Spirit Grandmaster.
And still under twenty years old.
A genuine genius.
Xu Mingshan noticed where Lin Yuan was looking.
“That is Han Feng.” The young man folded his arms.
His gaze remained fixed on Lin Yuan.
“So this is the famous innate full spirit power genius.” His tone wasn’t hostile.
But it wasn’t friendly either.
Lin Yuan simply nodded.
Han Feng frowned slightly.
Most people became nervous when speaking to him.
This child didn’t.
Interesting.
Xu Mingshan stepped forward.
“The Star Dou expedition leaves in four days.” Everyone became serious immediately.
The vice hall master continued.
“Until then, I want everyone preparing properly.” His eyes moved toward Lin Yuan.
“That includes you.” Several young spirit masters exchanged glances.
One girl raised an eyebrow.
“Vice Hall Master, he’s only a Spirit Scholar.” The statement was factual.
No mockery.
Just reality.
The expedition would involve spirit beasts.
Danger.
Actual combat.
A rank ten spirit master seemed somewhat out of place.
Xu Mingshan remained calm.
“His participation has already been approved.” The discussion ended instantly.
Nobody questioned further.
Still— Many gazes lingered upon Lin Yuan.
Doubt.
Curiosity.
Expectation.
A mixture of emotions.
Han Feng suddenly stepped forward.
“Vice Hall Master.” Xu Mingshan looked toward him.
“What is it?” The young Spirit Elder smiled faintly.
“May I test his strength?” The courtyard immediately became lively.
Several youths looked interested.
Others appeared amused.
Even Xu Mingshan seemed unsurprised.
Lin Yuan, however, simply remained calm.
Han Feng’s gaze met his.
“I don’t mean any disrespect.” The young man spoke honestly.
“But talent and strength aren’t the same thing.” Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
That was true.
Xu Mingshan looked toward him.
“Your decision.” The courtyard fell silent.
Everyone waited for Lin Yuan’s response.
A normal six-year-old would probably feel pressured.
Nervous.
Maybe even intimidated.
Instead— Lin Yuan calmly removed his coat.
The action surprised several observers.
Including Han Feng.
“I accept.” The courtyard instantly became excited.
Han Feng laughed.
“Good.” The two moved toward the center of the training ground.
Spirit Hall members quickly stepped aside.
Creating space.
Xu Mingshan folded his arms while observing quietly.
He had no intention of stopping this.
Sometimes experience taught lessons more effectively than words.
Han Feng stood opposite Lin Yuan.
The difference between them was obvious.
The older youth possessed superior size.
Superior cultivation.
Superior combat experience.
On paper— The outcome should be obvious.
Han Feng smiled slightly.
“Don’t worry.” His spirit power began circulating.
“I’ll hold back.” Lin Yuan simply looked at him.
Then— Boom.
The Asura Prison appeared.
Dark crimson halos emerged behind him while invisible pressure spread throughout the training ground.
Instantly— The smiles vanished.
Several spectators staggered slightly.
The atmosphere transformed completely.
Xu Mingshan narrowed his eyes.
Even though he had witnessed it before, the martial soul remained impressive.
Han Feng’s expression became serious immediately.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
His spirit power surged.
Yellow spirit rings rose around his body.
Two.
Spirit Grandmaster.
Powerful fluctuations spread outward.
Yet despite the difference in cultivation— The pressure remained.
Lin Yuan’s gaze stayed calm.
Han Feng felt his instincts warning him continuously.
Danger.
The sensation made no sense.
Yet it existed.
A six-year-old Spirit Scholar should not make him feel this way.
Slowly— Han Feng lowered his stance.
For the first time, he stopped viewing this as a friendly test.
Across from him, Lin Yuan quietly activated his pressure field.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
The air became heavier.
Silence settled across the courtyard.
Everyone watched.
Nobody spoke.
Because suddenly— This no longer looked like a simple spar.
And for the first time since arriving at North River Spirit Hall— Lin Yuan was about to show everyone exactly why Xu Mingshan had taken such interest in him.