Chapter 328 – Spirit Hall
Translated by: Berrrybunz
Edited by: XRCO and DeAndreR
Feng Chou entered without hesitation.
Bing stared at the bronze door in front of him, and was slightly entranced.
To call it a door was somewhat wrong: it was actually a confinement room, called the Spirit Hall. It’s whole body was created by the Southern Cross bronze, and the formulation in that generation had always been a secret.
The surrounding walls of the Spirit Hall were covered with patterns specific to mechanical techniques, numerous and all close together, it looked like the network of veins on tree leaves. The Spirit Hall originated from the Martial Technique Wall, and was one of the products of the Southern Cross Army’s mechanical techniques, Due to bitter fights, many officers had suffered heavy injuries, and an idea suddenly struck the Captain, using the Martial Technique Wall would give rise to spirit military leaders, bringing relief to the crisis.
After that, following the Martial Technique Wall, the more advanced Spirit Hall appeared, it’s efficiency and results were higher, with a shorter duration. The Martial Technique Wall was to groom spirit generals, and required a long period of time to devour, but the Spirit Hall quickly hastened the process. In times of war, the enemies would not give you more time.
In every army barracks, there was a Spirit Hall constructed, just in case for emergencies were manpower was insufficient. Although spirit generals are not as strong as military leaders, but in times of need, it was still a good substitution.
On the bronze door, the uniformed and strong lines formed pattern of squares, every row has 3 squares, with a total of 18 levels. The 18 levels, showed the 18 army ranks of the Southern Cross Army, and every level required 3 spirit cards.
Soldiers had 3 ranks, Sergeants had 4, Officers had 4, Majors had 3, and Generals had 3 ranks, with the highest rank being General.
(TN: Chinese wrote only 17 ranks here, not so sure if 18 is like the highest which is TT, or it was wrong. As the story goes further we will find out)
Tang Yi was a gold ranked Staff Sergeant, and was the 6th rank.
Bing’s military rank, which Tang Tian did not know, was the 15th rank, Major General.
Bing’s expression was solemn, he took out a briefcase and opened it. The inside was filled with spirit cards. He took all the cards out. He had used the Spirit Hall so many times in the past, it was reasonable to say that it was something he did routinely, and would not have any fluctuation of emotions. But why, did he actually feel slightly nervous?
Bing laughed at himself, and then his emotions vanished.
After using the Spirit Hall so many times, naturally he would be experienced. Feng Chou was an eighth level spirit general, and thus he would start from the eighth level. He chose 3 rank eight silver spirit cards, and placed them into the lowest row on the Spirit Hall door. Every square would have a spirit card, and the spirit card would be absorbed into it, and light up with a gentle silver light, and the silver light would quickly merge into the veins on the wall.
Bing’s eyes glowed, the silver light permeated in so quickly!
That was a good sign, Bing noticed that Feng Chou’s determination was much stronger than his. His fingers quickly acted, and another 3 silver cards entered the second row of squares.
The silver light of the three cards lit up at the same time, and quickly permeated into the surrounding walls.
Bing’s expression was solemn, his fingers acted quickly, and the cards all slotted into the squares on the door. All these cards were specially picked and prepared by him. One after another the cards lit up, and Bing’s expression congealed even more.
In a short span of 10 minutes, Bing had already thrown 15 cards, that meant that Feng Chou was now at the at the First Sergeant Rank, and was just one rank below Tang Yi.
At this time, the speed of the silver light that was permeating began to slow down, and only after 10 minutes did the next three cards started to light up. Feng Chou was displaying even stronger power, the Spirit Hall was even more perfect than the Martial Technique Wall, and the spirit cards in Bing’s hands were even more than the past, but most importantly, Feng Chou was a martial spirit, while Ghost Claw was left with just a sliver of Qi.
Feng Chou’s martial spirit was also not complete, but compared to Ghost Claw who left behind that sliver, he was much stronger.
At the 7th level, the surroundings of the Spirit Hall seemed to be wrapped in a silver net and was extremely beautiful, but that also meant the silver light was full. Bing did not find it weird, as he knew that the 7th to 8th level was extremely difficult.
The 7th level was the Master Sergeant, while the 8th level was Warrant Officer.
In terms of commanding power, the Master Sergeant could command 100, while a Warrant Officer could command 200. But the difference was not only just on the number of 100, but in terms of tactics accomplishment, the difference between the two was huge. Upon reaching the Lieutenant rank, military leaders start to transform, some of them would become individually stronger, or some would be experts with their control aura, and some of them would become experts in tactics.
When the silver light was full to the maximum, Bing had a gold card, a rank eight gold card.
Bing placed the gold card into the first box of the 8th level. Upon entering, the light aura was released, and an intense gold light began to quickly permeate through the silver veins. The silver veins that looked like spider webs had a thread of gold in them.
2 hours later, the gold light of the gold card gradually dimmed.
Bing then used a second gold card, it was also a rank eight gold card. Upon putting it in, the same gold light was released, but the absorption of the gold light in the silver veins was substantially slower.
After a full 7 hours, the gold light from the second spirit card was finally finished absorbing.
Bing knew, Feng Chou was reaching the max of his devouring, but he still placed a third gold card.
It took 24 hours for the gold card to be fully absorbed, and it was stable without any slip up. Bing heaved a sigh of relief, feeling extremely inspired.
Suddenly, the 24 spirit cards on the wall disappeared like smoke.
The bronze door slowly opened.
A skinny figure appeared. A gentle looking spirit general slowly walked out from the center, and bowed to Bing: “Warrant Officer Tang Chou, is here to report for duty!”
Tang Chou’s appearance did not look at all the same as when he was Feng Chou, not only was he not ugly anymore, but he was rather handsome, around the age of 40, he was skinny, his eyes were full of spirit, giving off the feeling of elegance, but his hands were empty, without any weapons.
Bing pondered for a while, and asked: “Warrant Officer, please introduce yourself.”
Tang Chou bowed: “Yes! Sir, Tang Chou, eighth level, fighting capability is bad, martial techniques are normal, tactics wise I’m good.”
Bing was surprised, he actually turned out to be a severe unbalanced person. This was actually a typical case of a Staff Warrant Officer, their biggest usage was in the planning room, rather than the battlefield.
Feng Chou who was full of battle hunger, actually became a planning Staff Warrant Officer, it really was unexpected.
“You did well, Warrant Officer, please step to the side and wait.” Bing nodded his head.
“Yes!” Tang Chou obeyed and stood to the side.
Bing wanted to remind Tang Yi something, but Tang Yi had already walked to the bronze door. Bing was clear, Tang Yi’s innate foundation was too inferior, if he was made before Ghost Claw disappeared, Bing reckoned that Ghost Claw’s determination would most probably be a Captain. But Ghost Claw became a strand of spirit and was too weak. But because a weak spirit was able to produce a gold grade Staff Sergeant, Bing was surprised.
That meant that Tang Yi’s potential, was almost squeezed out.
Although the Spirit Hall’s rate of success was higher than the Martial Technique Wall, but there was still the danger of failure. As long as it was a failure, then everything would turn to smoke, and nothing would be left behind. There were past experiences where they went through a second transformation like Tang YI, but the danger and risk of it was higher.
But Bing could feel Tang Yi’s determination, and so he did not reject it.
The bronze door was once again shut tight, and the 1st level to 7th level of squares were all dimmed grey.
Bing placed a silver card on the first square of the seventh level. The silver card released a light, and was extremely stable, allowing Bing to breathe.
When the silver light dimmed from the first card did Bing placed the second silver card.
A piercing silver light suddenly blossomed from the silver card, causing Bing to tense, not good!
As expected, the silver light began to become dim and close to extinguishment, one moment it was dazzling, another was dim to almost having no light, as though there was no more energy.
Bing nervously looked at the silver card, the light that was flickering, meant that Tang Yi was going through an intense battle with the martial spirit inside the card. The flickering lights, meant that the fight was extremely intense.
Devouring was an extremely cruel process.
Bing’s heart was at his throat. Was this the reason, because he too was a spirit general now? And that was why he was more melancholy and moody? When he used the Spirit Hall in the past, he did not have such a feeling… Rather, it felt like one of his subordinates was in a life or death juncture….
Alright, I guess I am not the cold hearted person I was in the past….
Bing laughed in ridicule at himself.
Time slowly crawled past, the flickering of the silver light gradually became more stable. After 3 hours, the light of the silver spirit card then began to dim. Tang Yi’s efficiency compared to Tang Chou was lacking by a lot.
But Bing still placed the third silver spirit card.
The blossoming silver light of the spirit card was extremely stable, allowing Bing to heave a sigh of relief, it was not the last time where the transformation was violent, but the absorption this time took a full 10 hours.
He was already a Master Sergeant.
But….
The spirit card on the door did not extinguish, that meant that the fight was not over.
Tang Yi still wished to continue!
Bing’s finger trembled, this asshole, his temper is exactly the same as Ghost Claw!
But just at that moment, he had no other choice, if Tang Yi did not wish for it to end, then it would not end, if not, it would be deemed a failure. Breathing deeply, the light in Bing’s eyes exploded, since you want to continue, then all the best!
A rank eight gold spirit card was placed into the first box of the eighth level.
The gold light from the card erupted out, and stabilized after the first hour. The glaring gold light was surprisingly stable, and the speed of absorption caused Bing to be dumbstruck.
What what what…..
Bing swore he had used the Spirit Hall for so many times, but it was the first time he was witnessing such a scene. The seventh level silver spirit card was dangerous and could fail, but the eighth level gold spirit card was actually so stable?
What logic was that?
The glaring gold light continued to permeate into the silver veins.
1 Hour!
He only used one hour, and the eighth level gold spirit card was actually completely absorbed in!
When Bing placed the second gold spirit card, his brain was already not functioning well.
2 Hours!
That was the time taken for the second gold spirit card to be absorbed, and the light finally dimmed.
Bing who was surprised for the full two hours, was already preparing to put the third gold spirit card!
He was extremely excited, Tang Yi could definitely be promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer!
Just at that moment, suddenly, the first gold card was destroyed, and became smoke that dissipated. The scene in front of BIng became weird, as the second gold card was still dim with a gold light, but the left and right of it was completely empty.
Bing’s eyes almost came out, his expression was as if he saw a ghost.
Like a clay model, he just stood there staring at the bronze door for three whole seconds.
That…. That was…..