Under Su Yuntao's lead.
Qian Renjue and the others ascended to the second floor of the Spirit Hall via the adjacent stairs.
They arrived on the second-floor corridor.
Surrounding them were offices, and from here, they could directly see the hall downstairs.
Su Yuntao strode quickly, somewhat anxiously.
He distanced himself slightly from Qian Renjue.
He swiftly arrived at a door, and without knocking, he pushed it open and entered.
"Who is this, so rash?"
An aged voice sounded from within the room.
It was a bright office, with an old man sitting behind a large desk.
He wore neat spirit master attire.
The standard three-sword emblem on his person indicated that he was a Great Spirit Master-level battle spirit master.
"It's Yuntao, you're always so reckless."
"Spirit master cultivation requires concentration; a steady personality is best. Be careful not to end up like me, unable to cross the thirtieth level no matter what."
Su Yuntao didn't have time to heed his complaints.
He hurriedly said, "Master Mashuno, stop nagging! The Holy Son, the Holy Son has come to our Spirit Hall branch!"
Although Su Yuntao lowered his voice.
The more than half-a-century-old Mashuno still heard him clearly.
"What did you say? I'm old, but don't spout nonsense and deceive me!"
"It's true, the Holy Son's presence is right outside the door."
Clang!
"Ouch! Hiss——"
"Quick, quick, help me up. We must not neglect the Holy Son."
"Notify everyone to put down everything they're doing."
Su Yuntao quickly stepped forward to help Mashuno up, but before the two could step out of the door.
Qian Renjue appeared at the office entrance.
"No need for so much trouble; I won't be staying here long."
As he spoke.
The golden halo within Qian Renjue's right palm lit up.
Xiao Wu suddenly appeared.
She was held in Qian Renjue's hand.
Her pink and tender appearance, petite and exquisite, blinked her big eyes with curiosity.
Clap!
Dugu Bo walked into the room and closed the door behind him.
Mashuno looked at the young man before him.
His eyes filled with amazement.
Golden hair and purple eyes, fair complexion, and handsome features.
Tall and slender, his entire being exuded an indescribable nobility.
And the appearance of that little girl just now.
It was simply miraculous.
At this moment, without needing verification, he completely believed the identity of the young man before him.
He immediately bowed and knelt on one knee.
"Mashuno of the Spirit Hall branch in Notting City greets Your Highness! Forgive me for not welcoming you properly!"
Su Yuntao followed closely behind.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
"Mm, rise."
Qian Renjue nodded slightly, and with a thought, an invisible force.
Lifted Mashuno and the other's bodies up.
Su Yuntao and Mashuno's eyes were filled with astonishment and reverence, and they said in unison:
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Your Highness, please take a seat."
Mashuno respectfully bent over, extended his hand, and led Qian Renjue to the main seat.
Qian Renjue sat in Mashuno's seat.
He picked up Xiao Wu and gently placed her on the table in front of him.
"Holy Son Your Highness~"
Xiao Wu blushed, sitting cross-legged on the table.
Ling Yuan and Dugu Bo stood behind Qian Renjue, to his left and right.
Mashuno respectfully inquired.
"I wonder if Your Highness's visit is for any important matter?"
"It's not a big deal; it's just that the opening of Notting College has passed."
Qian Renjue shook his head slightly, casually picked up a document on the table.
Looking at it, he continued:
"I would like to trouble you to arrange for her to be placed among the work-study students in Notting City."
"No trouble, no trouble at all."
Mashuno shook his head repeatedly.
For him, it could be said to be an effortless task.
He glanced at the little girl sitting cross-legged on the table, curious about everything.
Mashuno asked in confusion:
"Your Highness, wouldn't being a work-study student make this little girl feel wronged? Or else."
"You don't need to do anything more."
Qian Renjue frowned and put down the document in his hand.
He reminded:
"Xiao Wu already has a work-study certificate; it's just that she missed the reporting time. From now on, just pretend I never appeared. Do you understand?"
"Understood, this subordinate understands."
Mashuno and Su Yuntao nodded one after another.
Their faces were full of respect; they believed that His Highness definitely had his own profound meaning in doing so.
"Mm."
Qian Renjue nodded in satisfaction.
He instructed, "Give her a spirit master appraisal, and send her to Notting College now."
"Holy Son Your Highness~"
Xiao Wu stared at Qian Renjue with longing eyes, filled with reluctance and glistening with tears.
"I can only send you this far."
Qian Renjue picked up Xiao Wu and weighed her in his arms.
He smiled and said, "Believe me, I will pick you up and take you back to Spirit Hall City."
"Mm."
Xiao Wu bit her red lips.
She opened her arms and hugged Qian Renjue, finally placing a few moist spots on that handsome face.
"Goodbye, Holy Son Your Highness."
"Goodbye, stay in touch."
Qian Renjue smiled, wiped away the tears from the corners of Xiao Wu's eyes, and put her down.
He instructed Mashuno:
"Alright, take her over for the appraisal. The spirit master subsidy is as usual; she doesn't lack it."
"This subordinate understands."
Mashuno bowed in response.
At Mashuno's signal, Su Yuntao temporarily took over the task.
"Little girl, please come with me."
"Mm."
Xiao Wu nodded sweetly.
She walked towards the door, frequently turning her head to look at Qian Renjue until he was out of sight.
Qian Renjue watched Xiao Wu leave, retracting the thoughts in his heart.
He looked at Mashuno again.
"Tell me, how is the cooperation with Notting College progressing?"
"Your Highness, the progress is very smooth."
Mashuno's face was filled with joy; he also attached great importance to this matter.
"Using Notting College as a foundation, we will conduct preliminary assessments of interested graduating students, and if they pass, they can be directly recommended to the intermediate spirit master academies that cooperate with our Spirit Hall for enrollment."
"According to instructions, we are considerate of the difficulties faced by commoner spirit masters."
"We will entrust passing merchant guilds and caravans to provide them with free rides to the corresponding intermediate academies."
"…"
Qian Renjue nodded in satisfaction.
The entire process, within a small range, was already taking initial shape.
The growth process of those commoner spirit masters had traces to follow.
It could be considered a shortcut.
From primary academies, they were recommended to intermediate ones.
After graduation, they were directly recommended to the holy land of spirit masters on the continent—Spirit Hall City!
They would continue their studies and be evaluated at the Spirit Hall Academy.
After graduation, they could be assigned to various places.
Qian Renjue continued to ask, "What is the reaction from the nobles?"
Mashuno replied:
"They have not made any unusual movements; some noble children even participate in the assessment."
"Let them come if they want; there's no need to refuse."
Qian Renjue smiled.
When the system was more complete in the future.
The education starting from a young age would be enough to change the thinking of some noble children.
"Alright, you can go down first; there's no need to make it public."
"Yes."
Mashuno bowed and took his leave.
Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with shrewdness.
The old were wise.
Just through a few words, he could imagine the grand blueprint for the development of Spirit Hall.
Controlling spirit awakening and various grassroots academies.
It could be said that they were directly screening and intercepting from the source.
If it really developed like that.
In twenty or thirty years, the strength of Spirit Hall would become unparalleled.
Becoming the veritable overlord of the continent!
Dugu Bo's gaze towards Qian Renjue suddenly contained a bit more awe.
Ling Yuan already knew about this.
Only reverence remained in her heart, and she bowed and asked for instructions:
"Your Highness, should we go to the city to see if Tang Hao is nearby?"
"There's no need for that."
Qian Renjue pondered for a moment and shook his head.
When he first intended to track Tang San, he had already sent Ling Yuan and the others to check the surroundings.
No abnormalities were found.
It seemed that Tang Hao's body, without A Yin's sacrifice.
Should have become even more dilapidated.
He couldn't have so much energy to stay close to Tang San.
Perhaps he was hiding somewhere, using alcohol to numb the pain in his body.
Wishing everyone a happy life!
