Chapter 46
Tang Wu Lin was the first to charge in for an attack. Gu Yue released multi-directional wind blades which surrounded Wu Zhangkong. The attack made Xie Xie exclaim with surprise. The cold god shut his eyes and muttered that the attack was naïve. He then deflected the wind blades and Tang Wu Lin's blue-silver grass. Gu Yue was surprised by how easy he made it look.
Tang Wu Lin suddenly appeared at his blind spot and threw a punch, completely missing his mark because of Wu Zhangkong's swift evasion. Gu Yue intercepted the cold god mid-air with a barrage of fireballs, which he easily swatted away with his chalkboard pointer. Tang Wu Lin leaped through the smoke to attack again, eyes glowing with fighting spirit.
Gu Yue continued launching fireballs. Her idea was to corner the cold god in all directions while Tang Wu Lin attacked directly. Wu Zhangkong's eyes flashed as he raised his pointer. His aura surged, and he vanished from Tang Wu Lin's sight. He dashed toward his two opponents and knocked them down while extinguishing every last fireball.
He chided them for thinking the basic battle skills were useless. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were amazed that the fight was over before they knew what had happened. Wu Zhangkong continued to say that powerful spirit essence and spirit skills were important, but without battle skills, they would have no chance of using them. He spoke as his victims recovered. Tang Wu Lin nodded in agreement while Gu Yue remained speechless, still reeling from their sudden defeat.
Class Zero conducted special training on battle skills. Tang Wu Lin had become the teacher's favorite punching bag for live demonstrations. Because of this, his battle prowess improved and progressed the fastest. His spirit power also grew without his knowledge.
The class was later taken to a testing facility, and their mental power was evaluated. Xie Xie's mental power had risen to 31, two points higher than his last score. He smugly commented that the progress was nothing for someone as talented as himself. His broken arms had also recovered in a short period. Wang Jinxi's mental power was 18, and the cold god urged him to work hard and improve. Zhang Yangzi had a score of 41.
It was Tang Wu Lin's turn, and Zhang Yangzi watched keenly. He wanted to see the ability of the boy who beat him at his strongest. Tang Wu Lin's score was 66. Zhang Yangzi was surprised and asked how it was possible. Tang Wu Lin had risen to the high level of Spirit origin rank. Xie Xie seemed to have expected such a result and complimented him.
Zhang Yangzi was in denial and said the score was not much better than his own. As he spoke, Tang Wu Lin stood with his eyes fixed forward, and Zhang Yangzi followed his gaze. The result of Gu Yue's mental test was 153. Zhang Yangzi was dumbstruck. The result was beyond his imagination. Gu Yue was amazing at only 9 years old. In Zhang Yangzi's opinion, Gu Yue could reach the Spirit Sea realm before graduation and had already achieved the mental power required to be a top-notch mech master and spirit master. He wondered whom the trio was for having such exceptional results.
The class proceeded to the strength test. A force gauge tested the strength of each of their arms. Gu Yue's left punch was 115 kilograms, and her right was 143 kilograms. Zhang Yangzi was met with yet another surprising result. He exclaimed loudly that the power was so high and unscientific.
Xie Xie's left arm strength was 153 kilograms, and his right was 164. He was relieved that his score was slightly better than Gu Yue's. Zhang Yangzi's results, however, were surprisingly low. His left arm strength was 61 kilograms, and his right was 69. Xie Xie playfully called him weak because of the low numbers.
Up next was Wang Jinxi. As he stood before the force gauge, Xie Xie wondered whether his strength would be impressive, considering he specialized in close combat. Wang Jinxi threw his punches in quick succession. His left arm strength was 423 kilograms, and his right was 468. Xie Xie shouted in surprise and said it was almost 1 ton of attack power.
Wang Jinxi afterward glanced at Tang Wu Lin and wondered about his results. Tang Wu Lin's left punch was 1,156 kilograms, and his right was 1,348. Everyone was shocked. In their eyes, the results were exaggerated, nearly triple that of Wang Jinxi. Wu Zhangkong asked him to turn his right hand into the golden dragon claw and try again.
Tang Wu Lin did as he was asked and punched the machine again with incredible force. The result was 2,700 kilograms. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were shocked. Everyone in class zero found the result outrageous. Wu Zhangkong, however, seemed dissatisfied. With a serious tone, he asked Tang Wu Lin to try using the claw's skill. Tang Wu Lin complied as the aura surged from his golden dragon claw.
Chapter 47.
He clenched his fist and condensed the golden aura. Wu Zhangkong urged him to use all his strength, and he complied as his eyes glowed. He punched, and a wave of power flooded the entire room. The monitor indicated a force of nearly 4 tons. His classmates stood with mouths wide open. Tang Wu Lin put a hole in the force gauge. When he noticed the damage, he awkwardly asked whether he had to pay for it.
Wu Zhangkong said Director Long would take care of the mess. He asked Tang Wu Lin whether he was all right after expending so much spirit power. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi felt fortunate that Wu Zhang Kong intervened in their match; otherwise, they would have been completely pulverized.
That evening Wu Zhangkong asked to speak to Tang Wu Lin privately. He said Tang Wu Lin's improvement in mental power and control over his dragon scales and claw had gone beyond what was possible from a spirit essence mutation. He finally asked what had happened to the boy during the typhoon. A wave of anxiety washed over Tang Wu Lin. He remembered Old Tang's warning against disclosing the truth about the Golden Dragon King within his body.
Wu Zhangkong took the boy's silence as a lack of knowledge. He explained that after some research, he learned that another spirit essence might be hidden in Tang Wu Lin's body. Two possible scenarios would play out because of it. One was that Tang Wu Lin would become like Xie Xie with twin spirit essence, and the other was that both spirit essences would fuse and become even more powerful. Tang Wu Lin was surprised by his teacher's incredible insight.
Wu Zhangkong expressed concern that Tang Wu Lin's body would not be able to endure the energy fluctuations if the latter scenario occurred. He asked Tang Wu Lin to find him if he felt unwell. Wu Zhangkong promised to help him minimize the damage from the fusion of his spirit essence.
Tang Wu Lin thanked his teacher and turned to leave the room. Wu Zhangkong stopped him and asked whether he was interested in learning the footwork he had used while sparring. Tang Wu Lin beamed excitedly as he expressed interest and asked whether Wu Zhangkong would teach him. The cold god explained that the mysterious footwork belonged to a powerful organization. He said Tang Wu Lin had to join the organization to learn the technique.
Tang Wu Lin grew nervous when he heard a nondescript organization being mentioned. Wu Zhangkong noticed the change and asked whether something was wrong. Tang Wu Lin explained that he thought about his parents, who had gone into hiding because of a mysterious organization and were later taken by it, and he had yet to hear a word of their whereabouts.
The cold god assured that the organization he referred to differed from the one that took Tang Wu Lin's parents. He explained that he could help by recommending Tang Wu Lin, but whether he could join depended entirely on the boy. Wu Zhangkong also offered to help Tang Wu Lin find ways to locate his parents.
Tang Wu Lin continued his life of working and studying. He knew that his survival depended on his ability to break the second seal before his fifteenth birthday by obtaining the four items required. He needed to work hard to improve his rank as a blacksmith and earn enough money. While forging, he was deep in thought when he received a call from Mang Tian asking him to go to the blacksmith association immediately.
He was surprised to find Mang Tian with President Mu Chen on arrival. Mang Tian had a grave expression as he said he had something to tell Tang Wu Lin. The boy had never seen his master make such an expression and asked him to proceed. Mang Tian narrated his initial unwillingness to teach Tang Wu Lin but accepted him when he saw the boy's persistence and effort as a six-year-old.
He continued to say that because Tang Wu Lin had become a rank 3 blacksmith and had amazing talent, he was the most likely person at East Sea City's Blacksmith Association to become a Divine Blacksmith. Mang Tian said that his dream was to become a Divine Blacksmith. However, his cultivation had gone awry years ago, and his limit was the level of a rank 6 blacksmith. The limit made him unfit to become Tang Wu Lin's teacher.
He then recommended President Mu Chen as his replacement. Mu Chen was an outstanding Saint Blacksmith who had reached the level of spirit forging. Mu Chen asked Tang Wu Lin to continue his blacksmith training with the president.
Tang Wu Lin's heart was in chaos. His sister Na'er had left him. His parents also left him. And now, the only other person he could consider a relative was about to leave. He fell to his knees in sorrow as Mang Tian called to him with a concerned look. Tang Wu Lin cried out with his head bowed low to the ground. He quoted the saying, a teacher for a day, a father for life. He refused to accept another teacher. His words were like a knife to Mang Tian's heart.
Chapter 48.
Mang Tian understood the boy's words perfectly. An apprentice could only have one master. Those were the rules of the blacksmithing world. If Tang Wu Lin accepted Mu Chen as a master, he could no longer become Mang Tian's apprentice. Mang Tian wore a painful expression as he watched his apprentice sobbing on the floor.
They were interrupted by Mu Chen's bright smile. He happily said that there was nothing wrong with having two teachers. Tang Wu Lin could still have Mu Chen as a teacher while learning from Mang Tian. The latter was shocked by the president's words. Mu Chen's words meant that he considered Mang Tian an equal.
Mu Chen revealed his intention to raise a legendary generation in the blacksmithing world. Because Mang Tian had laid a solid foundation for Tang Wu Lin, there was no reason the boy could not have two teachers. Tang Wu Lin tearfully thanked the president along with Mang Tian. Mu Chen encouraged him to increase his spirit power to become a top-notch blacksmith. He promised that the association would fully support and train him.
Tang Wu Lin met Mu Xi on the way out of the association. She looked at him seriously and said that since he had become her father's apprentice, he should refer to her as his senior sister. Tang Wu Lin recalled their previous altercation but reluctantly paid her the courtesy. Mu Xi asked to walk with him back to school because they were both headed there. On the way, they chatted tirelessly about their forging experiences. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the entrance to the student dorms.
Tang Wu Lin described to her the qualities of heavy silver that made it ideal for thousand refinements. He said it was as if the metal liked to be thousand-refined. Mu Xi asked what he meant by that, and he explained that the metal could tell where more power needed to be applied to it. She remembered that her dad, Mu Chen, had said the same thing to her when she was younger. She was impressed by Tang Wu Lin's comprehension.
At that moment, Tang Wu Lin saw a dark silhouette at the dorm entrance. He grabbed Mu Xi's arm, shaking her from her thoughts and drawing her attention to the dark figure. He loudly demanded the identity of the figure in the dark. It turned out to be Wang Jinxi, who wore a gloomy expression and said he had been waiting and asked to speak with Tang Wu Lin privately.
Wang Jinxi led Tang Wu Lin to his room. Once they had settled down, he began explaining the subject of their discussion to Tang Wu Lin. His spirit essence was the bone dragon king, and he also had a darkness attribute. He explained that the bone dragon king was a rare and powerful spirit essence. If one found the right spirit soul, one could gain flight ability. After meeting Tang Wu Lin, Wang Jinxi's ambition was broken because his spirit essence was suppressed for the first time.
His hands trembled as he described his inner turmoil. Tang Wu Lin patted his shoulder and looked at him seriously. He then assured Wang Jinxi that he could understand his feelings. He shared his past struggle of awakening a weak spirit essence and getting discouraged by everyone around him. He described his persistence and his resolve to never give up on himself.
After the pep talk, Tang Wu Lin brought Wang Jinxi to speak with Wu Zhangkong. Tang Wu Lin described the strange phenomenon between them. When he activated his bloodline's power, Wang Jinxi's spirit power increased. Wang Jinxi completed the statement by saying his spirit essence was suppressed whenever he tried attacking Tang Wu Lin.
Wu Zhangkong performed a test and confirmed the phenomenon. When Wang Jinxi inquired about it, the cold god said it was caused by hostility. Regardless of the source, Tang Wu Lin's dragon bloodline would suppress whenever there was hostility between the two. Wu Zhangkong pondered for a moment and proposed another test for the boys. They were to meditate together starting that night.
Chapter 49.
The meditation between the two produced immediate results. Their spirit power improved to varying degrees. While meditating, Tang Wu Lin could feel extra energy pouring into his body, and he could tell that his spirit power had broken through to rank 14.
They reported the results from their meditation the following day in Wu Zhangkong's office. Tang Wu Lin's spirit power had increased by 5% and Wang Jinxi's by 10%. In the excitement, Wang Jinxi asked whether they should look for those with dragon-type spirit essence to meditate together. The cold god discouraged him by explaining that having more people meditating together would cause interference and have an overall bad effect.
Wu Zhangkong then asked them to shake hands. A brilliant light shone, and an intense power surged from them. Wang Jinxi was surprised to see dark dragon scales appearing on his forearm and felt his strength rising rapidly. Wu Zhangkong asked them to stop and explained that it was not just an ordinary buffing effect but something similar to a spirit fusion.
He said he would place the boys in adjacent rooms so that they could continue meditating together. He also suggested that Tang Wu Lin extend a strand of blue-silver grass to maintain their connection. They followed their teacher's advice and quickly increased their spirit power as the days passed.
It was an unusual day for class zero. For the first time, Wu Zhangkong did not teach or lecture. He instead asked them to prepare for a trip to the spirit ascension tower. Tang Wu Lin asked about the place, earning Xie Xie's exasperated outburst for his ignorance. Xie Xie explained that the spirit ascension tower was created by a dozen Titled Douluos through research to enable spirit masters to learn through experience. One could experience the charm of the spirit master world in ancient times.
The cultivation age limit for spirit souls could be increased within the tower. A ten-year spirit soul had a chance of upgrading, all because inside were entirely real battles with spirit beasts. Xie Xie explained how rare it was to have an opportunity to enter the spirit ascension towers.
One had to pay five hundred thousand Union coins to enter. While there were at least one million spirit masters, only a thousand could enter in a month. He then commented on how Wei Xiao Feng's intestines would be green with envy if he knew that class zero could enter the towers once a month.
The spirit pagoda's 18 spirit ascension towers were also called the '18 pillars supporting heaven.' The branch closest to the East Sea Academy stood majestic and imposing at several hundred meters high. The atmosphere in the building felt different for class zero. They encountered a wide hall and a high ceiling when they entered. Wu Zhangkong took the opportunity to explain the murals on the walls. The murals recorded the early days of the spirit pagoda's founder, a legendary generation spirit master. It was the story about how the spirit ice Douluo led humanity to resist the tide of spirit beasts.
The teacher explained that the murals next to them were incomplete and that other murals could be found in the 17 other towers on the continent. After the spirit ice Douluo's battle with the beast god, the gold-eyed black dragon King, Di Tian, they both disappeared.
Tang Wu Lin looked at the murals intently. Especially the one with the spirit ice Douluo, Huo Yuhao. He heard the stories when he was young. According to legends, the spirit ice Douluo was the son of Dai Hao, the white tiger duke of the Star Luo Empire. He had outstanding talent. He was only an ordinary youngster when he joined Shrek Academy 10,000 years ago. He later became a peak expert, ultimately having enough power to shake the continent. It was said that he could have already broken through humanity's limits and entered the realm of gods. After his disappearance, his wife also disappeared.
On the other mural, Tang Wu Lin saw an exceptionally radiant woman with butterfly wings on her back emitting a brilliant light. She was the Spirit Ice Douluo's wife. The Dragon Butterfly Douluo, Tang Wu Tong. It was said that she was very strong, and with Huo Yuhao, they had an enormous spirit fusion ability. They fused into one overwhelmingly powerful being. In those days, the two were the strongest.
Gu Yue stared at the mural as she sounded the name of the Dragon Butterfly Douluo. She remarked on how similar Tang Wu Lin's name was to the legendary Titled Douluo. She said, in addition, that Tang Wu Lin's eyes looked similar to Tang Wu Tong's. Xie Xie scoffed and asked how it was possible when the eye colors were different. Tang Wu Lin concurred, saying he couldn't be similar to the Dragon Butterfly Douluo. He asked how a mortal such as himself could look similar to her.
Class zero proceeded further into the building as Tang Wu Lin gave Tang Wu Tong's mural one last glance before catching up with everyone else. The class entered an elevator and descended for a long period. Wu Zhangkong reminded everyone to be careful of how they acted within the building. They had to avoid acting recklessly, pay attention to safety, and ask for help when needed.
Xie Xie wondered what the teacher meant by asking for help because the spirit ascension platform was a simulated environment. The cold god told him that he would understand once he entered. A hooded figure approached the students and informed them they would have distress signals on their wrists once they entered the platform. The class was asked to press the distress signal when in danger. The hooded figure then wished them luck. Xie Xie was perplexed by the information. He wondered why he felt danger the more he heard about the place.
Chapter 50.
Class 5 entered special simulation capsules. The spirit ascension technician instructed them to relax their bodies and prepare to enter the spirit ascension platform. At the same time, Director Long arrived to witness class 5's first experience.
The technician reminded them to use the distress signal when they encountered danger that they could not handle. Tang Wu Lin and his classmates were also informed that they would be separated when they entered the spirit ascension platform. The technician pressed a button and sent them off, wishing them luck.
Tang Wu Lin felt as if his body had become weightless. His consciousness traveled toward a white brilliance on the horizon, seemingly at the speed of light. His eyes were flooded with the brilliant white light, and when he blinked, he stood in a lush forest. He was surprised to discover that although the place was a simulated environment, it was indistinguishable from reality. He could feel the plant life around him, especially the blue-silver grass. He recalled that the forest cover on the continent was less than 1%. He was surprised by the beauty of the primitive forest and the freshness of the air.
Director Long saw his relaxed expression and wondered whether Tang Wu Lin was sleeping. Wu Zhangkong said that Tang Wu Lin seemed to comprehend and reminded the director that the boy's spirit essence was blue-silver grass. Director Long was amazed by the simulated Star Luo Forest's suitability for cultivating plant-type spirit essences and Tang Wu Lin's comprehension.
Zhang Yangzi took to the skies. He hovered midair and thought about taking revenge on Tang Wu Lin's group for his defeat in the class promotion competition. He then spotted a bird. It was a spirit beast. He decided to use it for practice and flew in to attack. The bird's eyes turned fierce. It intercepted him mid-flight and spread its large wings to claw at its attacker. Zhang Yangzi panicked and quickly pressed the distress button.
His eyes flew open as he sat up in his capsule, asking whether he had been sent back to the real world. Director Long looked at him with disappointment. Zhang Yangzi could only look away awkwardly. He looked up and saw Xie Xie on the big screen, realizing he was the first to exit the spirit ascension platform.
Xie Xie moved stealthily among bushes and kept low to the ground. He knew that his twin spirit essences were not perfect. His light and shadow dragon daggers had a shared origin but had opposite effects. His focus was on improving his spirit souls within the spirit ascension platform. His expectations were the highest. He peeked at a monkey-like spirit beast from behind a rock and retreated before it could sense his presence.
Zhang Yangzi spoke spitefully about Xie Xie's decision and said he could have stayed longer on the platform if he had relied on such cowardly tactics. The cold god commended Xie Xie's judgment. The spirit beast that Xie Xie encountered was the scarlet demon beast, known to live in packs and is very dangerous. Wu Zhangkong told Zhang Yangzi that if he wanted to stay in the spirit ascension platform, he needed to understand the traits of spirit beasts. Zhang Yangzi was asked to keep watching.
Xie Xie quietly observed his target from within another bush and launched a surprise attack on the spirit beast. The spirit beast dodged the incoming attack. Zhang Yangzi asked whether the sneak attack was a failure. Wu Zhangkong replied that Xie Xie had left a backhand and had planned for his target's escape.
Xie Xie tore the spirit beast to pieces with his spirit skill, 'light dragon storm.' Zhang Yangzi was surprised while the cold god nodded. Xie Xie then heard a loud bang. In the distance, the ground was littered with the corpses of spirit beasts. Wang Jinxi was out of breath as he crouched on the ground. He had just fought an arduous battle against the pack of spirit beasts and barely got away unscathed.
He had defeated a pack of Azure Wind Wolves. He had expended most of his spirit power and wanted to take time to recover. He heard a mournful sound from the bushes. When he went to investigate, he saw the weeping face of a young woman and thought it belonged to a spirit master. The face suddenly released a bone-chilling scream, and a gigantic spider appeared behind it. Wang Jinxi tripped and fell backward in shock.
The spirit pagoda's personnel panicked and rushed to prepare emergency treatment for Wang Jinxi. They considered him unlucky to have encountered the man-faced demon spider so early in his stay at the spirit ascension platform. Zhang Yangzi wondered what they meant as the screen displayed a grim sight. A large spider leg had impaled Wang Jinxi.
Chapter 51.
Wang Jinxi did not have enough time to press the distress signal. However, the man-faced demon spider's attack forcefully ejected him from the spirit ascension platform. He spat blood as his body convulsed from the shock. The spirit pagoda personnel worked to stabilize his condition. Zhang Yangzi watched in horror as his friend screamed in pain. He wondered why Wang Jinxi suffered real pain when the spirit ascension platform was a simulated world.
The staff corrected, saying the perception of those who entered the spirit ascension platform was the same as reality. Therefore, if one were hurt in the simulated world, the pain would travel through the nerves to the brain. The body would not be injured, but the mind would suffer the trauma. He told Zhang Yangzi that those new to the platform felt the sensations were real and their minds were affected. He, too, would have suffered excruciating pain if he had not pressed the distress signal in time.
Gu Yue was walking through the forest when a thousand-year crystal bear appeared before her. A spirit pagoda personnel asked if he should remind her to use the distress signal, but Wu Zhangkong asked him to wait. She sent a gust of wind toward the bear to obscure its vision and escape its line of sight. She had not, however, escaped its attack range. The thousand-year crystal bear roared as Gu Yue glanced back at it.
In another part of the forest, Xie Xie hid behind a rock to catch his breath. He was running low on spirit power and needed to rest. He suddenly heard an eerie sound, like a spirit beast running toward him. A hundred-year single-horned dragon suddenly appeared before him. Its strong offense and defense made it the natural enemy of agility-type spirit masters such as Xie Xie. When he thought he had successfully avoided it by climbing onto a tree branch, the single-horned dragon charged into Xie Xie's tree and forced him onto another.
As soon as he jumped to another tree, the single-horned dragon appeared above him with a wide-open mouth lined with jagged teeth, ready to clamp down on its prey. It was too late for Xie Xie to dodge, so he considered using his distress signal. The spirit beast was too fast for him and snapped its jaws. Xie Xie reflexively shut his eyes. He opened them and was surprised to find himself in Tang Wu Lin's arms.
Tang Wu Lin's eyes emitted a golden light as he told the spirit beast to get lost. He stood his ground as the beast reared at him and charged with its mouth open again. Xie Xie jumped to safety as Tang Wu Lin clenched his fist and swung it. The devastating punch toppled the enormous spirit beast and embedded it firmly into the ground.
Chapter 52.
Zhang Yangzi was shocked by the display of power. Wu Zhangkong remained silent as he watched the scene. As he looked at the slain beast, Tang Wu Lin explained that the single-horned dragon's defensive abilities would have been difficult to overcome without his bloodline's power. Xie Xie responded by saying he was too modest. Suddenly, a voice called to Tang Wu Lin, asking for help. Gu Yue ran toward them with the thousand-year crystal bear in hot pursuit.
Xie Xie panicked as he asked what she had done to provoke the creature. Gu Yue replied that it had just started chasing her. Tang Wu Lin asked her to get behind him as he threw one of his heavy silver hammers at the bear. The hammer struck the creature's head, and Xie Xie thought it was enough. He was surprised to see that the hammer only enraged the crystal bear. Xie Xie shouted for everyone to spread out.
The trio put some distance between themselves and the crystal bear. Tang Wu Lin asked if Xie Xie knew the weak points of the bear. Xie Xie replied that the crystal bear was weakest behind the neck. He also warned that if anyone were struck by it, they would be turned into a crystal. As he spoke, the bear swiped at Tang Wu Lin, who swiftly grabbed a vine and dodged the attack.
He awkwardly held on to the vine and asked for help when he realized the crystal bear's attention was still on himself. Xie Xie attacked, and Gu Yue sent icicles to distract the bear and help Tang Wu Lin escape. The trio regrouped and got into battle formation. Tang Wu Lin naturally took command and gave orders to everyone. Gu Yue was tasked with attacking the crystal bear's eyes and Xie Xie, the beast's abdomen, to give Tang Wu Lin a chance to attack the neck.
They flew into action to execute the plan. Gu Yue launched a barrage of fireballs at the bear's eyes, causing it to reel back in pain. Xie Xie followed with the 'light dragon storm' on its belly, causing it to bend. Tang Wu Lin made a fist with his golden dragon claw and prepared to deliver the final blow.
He delivered a powerful punch to the back of the bear's neck, surprising Wu Zhangkong. Xie Xie called it a perfect blow and cheerfully announced their victory. They had defeated a thousand-year spirit beast. Gu Yue let out a sigh of relief. The celebration was premature. Tang Wu Lin was enveloped by the surge of power released from the body of the dying beast and was instantly crystallized.
Gu Yue used her body to break his fall, to prevent Tang Wu Lin from shattering to pieces. She was injured and lost consciousness because Tang Wu Lin's crystalized body had greatly increased in weight. Xie Xie was the only one left standing and pressed her distress signal to send her back.
Tang Wu Lin was still crystalized, and his distress button could not be pressed. Xie Xie decided to guard Tang Wu Lin until he recovered. Regardless of the danger, he was determined to keep Tang Wu Lin safe. He would not press his distress signal no matter what. From childhood, his father had taught him to be a man of indomitable spirit. No matter the danger, one cannot abandon their friend. At that moment, he stood facing a horde of spirit beasts and was not timid. Rather, he was fired up!
Chapter 53.
The rain fell on the forest floor, littered with the corpses of spirit beasts. Xie Xie held his light dragon dagger as fresh blood dripped from his knuckles. He cursed the spirit beasts and said that they could not shake him. He prepared to receive the attack from a large spirit beast when suddenly, a hammer flew past him and struck the beast's head.
Tang Wu Lin was finally awake. He quickly asked what had happened. Xie Xie weakly replied that it was good that Tang Wu Lin was finally awake before collapsing from fatigue. Tang Wu Lin quickly activated their distress signals. He woke up in his capsule at the spirit ascension tower and immediately began calling to Xie Xie with concern.
Wu Zhangkong had a grave expression and began explaining what Xie Xie endured to save him. A feeling of dread washed over Tang Wu Lin. He did not wait for his teacher to finish speaking and ran past him toward Xie Xie's capsule. His eyes met an unexpected sight. Xie Xie was perfectly fine and unharmed. Wu Zhangkong completed his explanation with his back still turned. Xie Xie had only exhausted his spirit power and was lucky to have been sent back in time. Director Long asked why the cold god spoke in such a misleading manner.
Class Zero returned to the academy and received individual feedback based on their performance. Tang Wu Lin had killed two powerful spirit beasts. His golden dragon claw possessed greater power than the rest of his body. Had it not been for his lack of knowledge about the thousand-year crystal bear, he would have avoided getting crystalized, and his performance would have been perfect.
Gu Yue coordinated her attacks well with Tang Wu Lin. Her elemental control was excellent, but at the last moment, she tried to rescue Tang Wu Lin and got hurt instead. Xie Xie faced overwhelming odds and did not press his distress signal until Tang Wu Lin recovered to help him do it. His body had been severely wounded, but he stood his ground and pushed past the pain to protect Tang Wu Lin. The cold god said the five in class zero would form a mini battle squad with Tang Wu Lin as the captain from that day onward.
Zhang Yangzi was filled with resentment. Although he was unwilling, he also acknowledged Tang Wu Lin. He did so after realizing he was inferior in teamwork and personal strength. He reflected on his performance in the spirit ascension platform and felt ashamed.
Tang Wu Lin walked on the academy grounds with Gu Yue when he grew dizzy. Gu Yue noticed the change and asked whether he was okay. He remained silent and fainted. Wu Zhangkong arrived on the scene and said the spirit soul's evolution likely caused Tang Wu Lin's state. Xie Xie was surprised by the news and wondered how Tang Wu Lin's spirit soul could evolve after entering the spirit ascension platform once.
Wu Zhangkong explained that Tang Wu Lin's spirit soul was innately weak, making evolution naturally easier. Tang Wu Lin had killed a few high-level spirit beasts in the spirit ascension platform, so his spirit soul evolved immediately. The cold god asked the group to leave Tang Wu Lin to him so that he could ensure that the boy's spirit-soul evolution was safely completed.
Tang Wu Lin felt the vast difference between his spirit soul's evolution and the process of breaking the first seal of the golden dragon King. He felt as if he was soaking in a pool of warm water, free from worry. The exhaustion in his body gradually disappeared under the warmth.
Chapter 54.
He felt refreshed the following day. It was as if his spirit power was constantly improving. He finally looked up and could not recognize his surroundings. Wu Zhangkong snuck up to him and said the place was his room. He explained that he had stayed beside Tang Wu Lin and protected him since he fainted the previous day. Once Tang Wu Lin had thanked him, Wu Zhangkong asked him to release his spirit essence.
Tang Wu Lin complied and realized that most of the blue-silver grass had transformed into vines, becoming thick and tough. His spirit soul, Jinguang, had also become larger, and its scales had a pale golden shade. The golden scale on its head had also become more distinct. Wu Zhangkong said nothing was surprising about the change because Jinguang had evolved into the hundred-year level.
Tang Wu Lin released his spirit ring and was excited that it had turned yellow. Wu Zhangkong sleepily said Tang Wu Lin's spirit essence had become battle-ready. Tang Wu Lin expressed gratitude once more as his teacher fell asleep while still standing. He experienced the overwhelming joy that his spirit soul was no longer useless.
During class zero's next lecture, the cold god asked them to talk about their experiences at the spirit ascension platform in the order they exited. The first was Zhang Yangzi. He explained that the world inside the platform felt realistic, making him curious about everything. He climbed to the top of a tree to observe his surroundings and to enable him to fly in any direction. He concluded by saying he became a target because of his ignorance and arrogance. Wu Zhangkong cautioned him that he would have died if it had been the real world.
Wang Jinxi was next. He recalled his experience with the man-faced demon spider and admitted it had become a nightmare. He did not know how to deal with it the next time he encountered it. Wu Zhangkong advised him to relax, so his mental state would improve in a few days. He explained that the spider was stronger than a thousand-year spirit beast, so it was not shameful that Wang Jinxi lost to it. He advised Wang Jinxi to press the distress signal the next time he ran into the spider.
Gu Yue said that she enjoyed the experience of the spirit ascension platform, especially the realism of the environment and spirit beasts. Wu Zhangkong narrowed his eyes and asked her to explain how she could easily find Tang Wu Lin. He said it made sense that Xie Xie ran into Tang Wu Lin because they were relatively close, but the distance between Gu Yue and Tang Wu Lin was large. After she found the thousand-year crystal bear, she seemed to move directly toward Tang Wu Lin.
Gu Yue gave an excuse that it was a coincidence, but the cold god said that the path Gu Yue used was adjusted as Tang Wu Lin's position changed, which was impossible. He asked her to explain herself. Gu Yue reluctantly admitted that it was one of the small tricks she could pull off with her elemental control. She could place a mark on someone, which allowed her to find them. She felt safest with Tang Wu Lin, so she went to him.
Wu Zhangkong sighed and asked the rest to speak. Xie Xie said that he also liked the environment inside the spirit ascension platform, which was suitable for an agility-type spirit master such as himself. If his speed was greater, he could have greater survivability. He said that the trip made him realize the importance of utilizing vital points in a battle and allowed him to accumulate much practical experience.
Tang Wu Lin admitted they were lucky to kill the thousand-year crystal bear. The forest felt realistic, and he could also interact with the blue-silver grass in the environment. He said that the team would have to strengthen its cooperation in the future, and only with good coordination would they draw out their collective strength to fight powerful spirit beasts.
Wu Zhangkong asked the class to pay attention to their cultivation according to their summaries and conclusions about their experiences. He then assigned them scores. Zhang Yangzi, 0 points. Wang Jinxi, 1 point. Gu Yue, 5 points. Xie Xie, 5 points. And Tang Wu Lin, 4 points. Xie Xie asked with surprise why Tang Wu Lin only got 4 points despite having killed a few spirit beasts.
Wu Zhangkong passed the question to Tang Wu Lin. After pondering, Tang Wu Lin said Gu Yue scored high because her precise elemental control contributed to the crystal bear's defeat. Xie Xie also scored high because he risked his life to protect him.
Wu Zhangkong corrected and said that Gu Yue caught Tang Wu Lin and prevented him from shattering. And Xie Xie saved his life and was familiar with the spirit beasts. If Tang Wu Lin knew that crystal bears created a spirit power explosion at the moment of death, he would not have become crystallized. His ignorance caused Gu Yue and Xie Xie to sacrifice themselves. In other words, everyone was eliminated because of him.
The cold god asked the class to strengthen their understanding of spirit beasts for their future cultivation. He added that 90% of the skills used by spirit masters came from spirit beasts, and knowledge about them would aid them when facing future threats. Wu Zhangkong's words were like cold water to Tang Wu Lin. The joy he felt from his spirit soul's evolution was gone. The cold god understood that someone could not be complacent if they wanted to be strong.
Chapter 55.
After experiencing the spirit ascension platform, everyone spontaneously began working hard. Zhang Yangzi also let go of his hostility and joined everyone. They could enter the spirit ascension platform once a week, and the intense experience inside made them grow rapidly.
After continuous forging, Tang Wu Lin gradually understood the importance of a hammering foundation and learned how to avoid useless work. When a hammer descended, if the power and position were just right, it could save time and effort. Mu Chen continued to teach him diligently.
Through training, a year one class zero student could survive inside the spirit ascension platform for at least one hour. During that time, they all turned 10 years old and became geniuses in the real sense, not only in name.
The end-of-term exam was fast approaching, and Wu Zhangkong informed Class 0 that part of their exam was to survive in the spirit ascension platform for an hour. The Tang Trio took turns reminding the teacher they could stay for an hour. However, the cold god said they would go to the spirit ascension platform during its rebellion period. He explained that this was a special time because the beasts inside the spirit ascension platform would be most active, and their increased numbers would increase the level of danger. The rebellion would happen twice a year in the early days. However, with the advancement of technology, it was gradually controllable and became a suitable environment for cultivation.
He reiterated that Class Zero would have to survive for an hour in the spirit ascension platform during its rebellion. He cautioned them that apart from spirit beasts, they would encounter other spirit masters who would have entered the platform simultaneously. Zhang Yangzi asked whether the other spirit masters would be a threat. Wu Zhangkong replied affirmatively and explained that everyone had the goal of hunting spirit beasts and surviving. The spirit ascension platform reconstructed the Douluo continent that existed tens of millennia ago. It could be said that inside was a real battlefield.
Wu Zhangkong Said that the rebellion would begin in three days. And that class zero had three days as a holiday to prepare. Xie Xie was excited by the news and asked Tang Wu Lin if he wanted to eat stewed beef. Zhang Yangzi overheard the invitation and asked to join. Tang Wu Lin declined the invitation and said he wanted to use his free time to cultivate and complete some forging work.
During the three days, Tang Wu Lin stayed in the workshop forging. Mu Chen called him to the Blacksmith Association on the evening of the third day. He asked the boy to sit and presented him with an entry card for the rebelling spirit ascension platform. He said that the price was very high. Even with money, one may still need help to obtain it. He suggested that Tang Wu Lin could invite his friends to form a team and go to cultivate inside.
The offer surprised Tang Wu Lin, but the president asked him not to be embarrassed, and it was just a small gift from the association. The boy explained that the East Sea Academy had already arranged for his class to enter the spirit ascension platform for the rebellion experience. So, he naturally had a spot. The president was surprised by the good treatment Class 0 was receiving from the academy. However, he insisted that Tang Wu Lin take the entry card so that he could enter the platform more than once, which would benefit his cultivation. The boy bowed his head and thanked his teacher.
The spirit ascension platform's rebellion had begun, and the five from Class 0 arrived early at the Spirit Pagoda. Tang Wu Lin presented his classmates with sets of light body armor that he made from a rare metal called Cloud titanium. The metal was light and strong. The armor could be worn inside their clothes. He had made Wang Jinxi's armor slightly bigger because his body enlarged whenever he used his spirit essence. Everyone looked determined as they prepared to enter the spirit ascension platform.
Chapter 56.
The rebelling spirit ascension platform officially opened, and a big battle was about to begin. A large number of spirit master teams had arrived. Everyone's objective was clear. Defeat the spirit beasts and gain their power. The spirit pagoda did not provide viewing seats this time because of its good relationship with East Sea Academy. The teachers, however, were an exception. They were Wu Zhangkong and Director Long.
Class 0 jumped straight into the action inside the spirit ascension platform. Except for those in their small team, they considered everyone else an enemy. Director long commented on the brilliance of class zero's battle formation. He asked the cold god whether his training methods were strict.
Wu Zhangkong was deep in thought and completely ignored the director's question. He recalled Shrek Academy's motto, "only accepting monsters, not ordinary people." That was also the pride of every student at Shrek Academy. So, for class 0 to become monsters that were envied by others, they would have to walk the path of exceptional hardships.
Undoubtedly, the most talented was Gu Yue. Shrek Academy, or the Spirit Pagoda, recorded her ability to control the five elements. Her mental power was unprecedented among her peers, reaching the spirit connection realm at a young age. She had a limitless future. Xie Xie had the next best natural talent. No matter the era, twin spirit essences were very rare. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi's talents could only be called decent because their spirit essences were not top-tier. However, once they could perfectly control their spirit fusion ability, their combat strength would not be inferior to anyone.
As for Tang Wu Lin, his strength lay in his tenacious disposition. Despite having a weak spirit essence, he was not discouraged and continued cultivating, and his physical strength was the best in the class. More importantly, his spirit essence was still mutating. At the same time, he possessed a strange golden dragon claw. If his spirit essence could continue mutating well, he could become a genius like Gu Yue.
The more talented someone was, the harder they had to train. If someone wanted to be a monster, they must experience being a monster. The team encountered a hundred-year Iron Arm ape and quickly defeated it. Director Long was impressed by their good coordination. Zhang Yangzi kept a lookout from a tree branch, encouraging his teammates below to recover their spirit power. A spirit pagoda technician was also impressed by the well-executed tactics of the 10-year-olds.
Zhang Yangzi reported a group of three approaching their location. There were two men and one woman. One had three spirit rings, and the others had two spirit rings. He finished reporting when a fireball exploded at his branch. He was quick to react and had already shot into the sky. He reported that his attacker's control of the fire element was stronger than Gu Yue's.
Tang Wu Lin quickly commanded his team to prepare for battle as their assailant stepped into view. She had 3 spirit rings and wielded a bright orange flame. She demanded they hand over all the spirit power they had collected and afterward press the distress signal to exit the spirit ascension platform. Zhang Yangzi panicked when he saw the girl's 3 spirit rings and asked what they should do.
Tang Wu Lin called to the girl, addressing her as 'elder sister.' The girl was indeed his senior sister, Mu Xi. She recognized him immediately. Tang Wu Lin was surprised to see her in the rebelling spirit ascension platform and asked if she wanted to team up. Mu Xi declined because his team was too weak.
She expressed her surprise that he only had one spirit ring. She said that despite his strength and early progress in blacksmithing, he would require sufficient spirit power in the future to perform spirit forging. Mu Xi said that she would catch up to him. Gu Yue overheard the conversation and formed a fireball out of irritation as Xie Xie nervously tried to calm her.
Once Mu Xi's team had left, Tang Wu Lin reminded everyone to stay alert and keep watch while they recovered their spiritual power. Gu Yue Alerted everyone to their strange silence. Zhang Yangzi was shocked when his shadow scout was destroyed. A gigantic spider's web spread out from above.
Tang Wu Lin and Gu Yue attempted to counter the dark spider web. However, they were unsuccessful and were forced to retreat. Xie Xie was shocked that the Web had corroded Tang Wu Lin's blue-silver grass. He warned that the web was highly toxic. They would have been eliminated if they did not have the shadow scout.
Wang Jinxi began trembling. His eyes gazed at a familiar and terrifying existence. It was a foe that haunted his dreams. It was the second advent of the man-faced demon spider.
Chapter 57.
The staff at the Spirit Pagoda were shocked to see the spider. Xie Xie was quick to identify the spirit beast and its cultivation. He, too, asked what they should do. Wang Jinxi mentioned that it seemed to be the same creature that had previously attacked him. The spider's body was coated with a thick poisonous miasma. Its entire body was a deadly weapon. Although it was only a hundred-year spirit beast, it could kill stronger spirit beasts because of its amazing power. Defeating it would only give them the energy of a hundred-year spirit beast. It was a huge risk, so Xie Xie asked what they should do.
Tang Wu Lin confidently said they would fight and kill it. His resolve filled Xie Xie with confidence. His timidity was turned into a thirst for battle. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were uncertain and questioned the order. In response to their apprehension, Gu Yue said their captain's decision was never to be questioned. Once the decision was made, they only had to execute it without hesitation. Director long remarked that the decision to fight the man-faced demon spider was right because they might attract more spirit beasts to attack them if they tried to run away.
Tang Wu Lin cautioned his team to be careful and avoid getting close to the spider. He noticed that wherever the spider stood was corroded by the poison. As soon as he spoke, the spider revealed its face and shot its web at them. They dodged and noticed the spider's web corroded whatever it touched. Gu Yue provided cover by releasing a continuous barrage of fireballs. However, the spider swatted them away with its legs and shot its corrosive web again. Zhang Yangzi dodged into the air and asked Tang Wu Lin whether they had to fight. Director Long tried to shout instructions to them from outside but was discouraged by Wu Zhangkong.
Wang Jinxi mustered the courage to confront his nemesis. He told Tang Wu Lin that he did not want the spider to continue being his nightmare. He had truly overcome his fear. The captain acknowledged his words. And said that he needed Wang Jinxi's participation for their plan to work. The team continued to dodge when they realized the poisonous net had surrounded them. They started their counterattack once the spider shot another of its webs.
Gu Yue raised a boulder from the earth to block the corrosive web. Zhang Yangzi Used his spirit skill, 'dark ray curtain,' to obscure the demon spider's vision. Tang Wu Lin used his blue-silver grass vines to bind the legs of the spider. Wang Jinxi leaped to attack with his 'giant bone dragon claw.' At that moment, a blue-silver grass vine corroded. The spider raised its freed leg, bringing it down like a reaper's scythe over Wang Jinxi's head. Wang Jinxi Was suddenly pulled back into the dark ray curtain by a blue-silver grass vine. He had only served as bait, much to Director Long's surprise.
The vines of the blue-silver grass further tangled the Spider's legs, but they did not corrode this time. The blue-silver grass vines released a faint golden glow, and the corrosion effect of the demon spider was lost. Xie Xie attacked the spider's back with his spirit skill, 'light dragon storm.' Director Long and Zhang Yangzi quickly celebrated the direct hit, but Gu Yue noticed it was not a fatal strike.
Tang Wu Lin appeared close to the spider. He was right under its abdomen as his right fist shone with golden brilliance. His teammates warned him to get away, but he asked Xie Xie to replace him as captain in case anything happened to him. Xie Xie shouted for him to stop. But his figure flashed, and he plunged his right fist into the demon spider's abdomen.
Chapter 58.
Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi stared at the pool of the demon spider's blood on the ground. They were surprised that even its blood was corrosive. Tang Wu Lin would have withdrawn from the spirit ascension platform if Gu Yue had not shielded him.
The corpse of the hundred-year man-faced demon spider lay before them. They savored their victory until they realized they could not leave the site. The demon spider's poisonous webs had formed a gigantic cocoon around them. They decided to remain inside to absorb the spider's power. Once again, the staff at the Spirit Pagoda were surprised by their performance. They had defeated the demon spider without suffering any casualties.
One said there were only two choices when encountering the man-faced demon spider during the spirit ascension platform's rebellion. The first was to escape before being discovered by it. And the other was to sacrifice a team member to stall the creature once they were discovered so that the rest could escape. They praised the cold god's teaching ability. Wu Zhangkong, however, maintained an indifferent expression. The Spirit Pagoda staff said they would add the recorded battle to their database as a reference for battle tactics. Wu Zhangkong ignored him when asked whether the children wanted to join the Spirit Pagoda.
While Tang Wu Lin's party absorbed the spirit power of the demon spider, something unprecedented happened. Because of the rebellion of the spirit ascension platform, the spirit beasts had heightened perception. The spirit power released after the demon spider's death immediately attracted many spirit beasts. They frantically pounced on the cocoon. The corrosive power of the demon spider's webs was very powerful. Even Tang Wu Lin's heavy silver hammers were almost corroded. The fate of the spirit beasts that attacked the cocoon was obvious.
The exterior of the toxic cocoon was instantly littered with corpses. All the spirit beasts that were attracted to it died mercilessly. The spirit power from the beasts was also absorbed by class zero. After killing a hundred-year man-faced demon spider, which exceeded the power of a thousand-year spirit beast, they unknowingly absorbed the power from a few more hundred-year spirit beasts.
The situation alarmed the staff at the Spirit Pagoda, and they rushed to report it. Wu Zhangkong's figure blurred and blocked the doorway. The air around him changed, and he looked stern as he asked about the problem. He stated that he did not feel his students had done anything wrong. They faced a powerful enemy in combat and did not break the rules. They were meditating to recover their spirit power, and all that took place happened naturally.
He intimidated them into silence. However, one of them still expressed concern that the children were absorbing too much spirit power while only having two spirit rings at most. The cold god turned away and ignored him. When Director Long expressed a similar concern, Wu Zhangkong assured him that everything would be all right because the mental power of his students was not to be underestimated.
Inside the cocoon, Xie Xie was pleasantly surprised by the amount of spirit power that flowed toward them. Tang Wu Lin asked whether the man-faced demon spider had that much energy. Gu Yue explained that the poisonous spider web had killed many ten-year and hundred-year spirit beasts outside, and they had been absorbing their energy.
Just as the group left the area covered with spider webs, they encountered another spirit master. He loudly demanded that they surrender their spirit power and leave using their distress signals. The stranger spoke as he released his spirit rings. He had an ice staff hovering beside him. He had three rings, making him a Spirit Elder. Beside him was a young timid-looking girl.
Chapter 59.
Wang Jinxi panicked at the sight of the 3 spirit rings. Especially the purple ring. Xie Xie made a witty remark about how interesting the rebelling spirit ascension platform was for having a spirit beast that could take human form. He acted impressed that it had the power of speech and commended it for its extraordinary evolution.
The spirit elder was visibly annoyed by the insult and wondered whether to test his power on Xie Xie. He used his spirit skill, 'piercing icicle,' and sent a large icicle hurtling toward Xie Xie. A loud, crisp sound was heard before he could react. An ice wall had blocked the icicle. It was Gu Yue's doing. She calmly asked Xie Xie to leave the battle to her. The spirit elder was impressed by her reaction speed. Xie Xie was stunned by how close he had gotten to being impaled by the icicle.
Tang Wu Lin asked Gu Yue If she needed the team's support. However, she declined the offer. She said she wanted to test her power as she released 2 yellow spirit rings. She had become a spirit grandmaster. Xie Xie could not hide his surprise and wondered when she had gotten the upgrade. He and Zhang Yangzi shivered when they recalled the trauma of being beaten by her when she still had a single spirit ring.
The spirit elder asked her not to try showing off with her two spirit rings. And because they were both ice attribute spirit Masters, he did not want to hurt her. Gu Yue Shut her eyes as she retorted, telling him not to speak nonsense and that he should get lost if he did not want to fight. The 4 boys could only smile nervously.
In response, the spirit elder released another skill, 'Ice fury.' He raised his hand, and numerous towering icicles appeared out of thin air and plummeted toward Class Zero. He gave them a final warning to press the distress signal. Otherwise, they would be pierced. Gu Yue's eyes flashed with determination as she said the ones to be pierced were yet to be determined. Her spirit ring shone brilliantly as she flew up the cliff where the spirit elder stood. Gu Yue's body released a dazzling light, making the spirit elder instinctively shield his little sister.
He was shocked that the Icicles from his 'ice fury' had vanished. Gu Yue appeared behind the ice-staff siblings and hovered mid-air. With a chilling voice, she said she would give the spirit master 3 seconds to save his sister by pressing her distress signal. The siblings turned their heads and vaguely saw Gu Yue amid an elemental storm that combined Wind, Water, Earth, and Fire. It was a truly unbelievable sight. She was bending the four elements!
Gu Yue looked at them disdainfully and sent the storm toward them. Everyone was shocked by what they had just witnessed. Right before the storm hit, the three-ringed spirit elder pressed his sister's distress signal and accepted the baptism of the storm.
The explosion rocked the cliff and scattered stone debris in all directions. Tang Wu Lin was impressed with her display of power. In contrast, the rest of the team shuddered in fear. Gu Yue casually dusted her hands. She made it look easy.
Chapter 60.
Xie Xie praised Gu Yue's power. She had effortlessly beaten a 3-ringed spirit elder. He said her power was unfathomable and bowed to her respectfully, saying she was his sister and he would refrain from bickering with her in the future. His actions made Tang Wu Lin, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi look at him awkwardly. Gu Yue shut him down by saying she did not care for him.
Tang Wu Lin was deep in thought. The spirit elder had not been weak. That much was clear from his first attack. But he was flustered after Gu Yue neutralized his thousand-year spirit skill. Additionally, Gu Yue wielded multiple elements strangely. Therefore, the spirit elder lost against her because he did not understand her abilities. Otherwise, he would not have easily lost. For Gu Yue, being able to control 6 elements meant she already had countless abilities and strong mental power. She was already the strongest of her peers.
A low rumbling sound was heard. Tang Wu Lin felt the temperature rise suddenly and asked Zhang Yangzi to check what was happening. Zhang Yangzi sent his shadow scout to check the surroundings as the temperature rose sharply. He reported a large group of spirit beasts approaching their location in a pack. It was a pride of blazing demon lions. They were some of the strongest spirit beast races and could sense the spirit power fluctuations of the students.
The head lion of the pride seemed to be a thousand-year spirit beast. Class zero stood no chance against them. Perhaps if they all possessed three spirit rings, they would have had a glimmer of hope. On a previous trip to the spirit ascension platform, they had been unlucky enough to encounter a pride of Blazing Demon Lions and were met with a deadly fate. That horrific slaughter was still fresh in their minds.
Tang Wu Lin shouted for everyone to split up and retreat. Everyone had to run far away and absorb as much spirit power as possible. They all split up, and the Lions gave chase. Generally, the more powerful an individual spirit beast was, the higher tendency to act alone because it would get more food. However, blazing demon lions were a special case. They were powerful but chose to live in groups.
Wang Jinxi Ran with all of his might. But soon, a lion caught up. He gave up some of his spirit power and left using his distress signal. Gu Yue and Xie Xie absorbed his energy as they ran. The blazing demon lions kept gaining ground on them.
Finally, Gu Yue stood her ground and held back the demon lions as everyone continued running. Her hands glowed as she released an elemental attack to slow their progress. She withdrew from the spirit ascension platform, and her spirit power flowed directly into Tang Wu Lin's body.
Zhang Yangzi had an idea and asked whether the captain wanted to hear it. Tang Wu Lin told him to stop wasting time with the suspense and speak. His idea was simple. There were spirit beasts in the sky, and he wanted to lead them to interfere with a group of blazing demon lions. A pair of dark wings shot from his back, and he immediately took to the skies.
He could not see any Spirit Beasts in the air. However, there was a nest with large eggs nearby. He flew to it and took one. A loud, angry screech echoed in the sky as a large bird flew toward him, bearing its talons. Sure enough, the same bird had attacked him the first time he entered the spirit ascension platform. He turned his back to the bird and threw the egg toward the blazing demon lions.
His spirit power flowed into Xie Xie and Tang Wu Lin, signaling his withdrawal. As they ran, Tang Wu Lin noticed the noise behind them had gotten farther away. He thought perhaps they were out of danger. However, he remained clear ahead and remembered it was not the time to be optimistic. Xie Xie laughed and said they had survived the spirit ascension platform for over an hour and had already passed the exam.
Instantly, he was struck by a dark golden radiance and launched high into the air. Tang Wu Lin called to him When he suddenly felt a strong aura. An enormous bear with dark-gold fur stood before him. It was over three meters tall and had thick arms. Its majestic shoulders were like a great wall. The beast was a top powerhouse among Spirit Beasts. It was the Dusk-gold Dread-claw bear.
Chapter 61.
Xie Xie's limp body fell against the bark of a tree and vanished in a flash of light. Tang Wu Lin knew that this creature had top-notch power in the world of spirit beasts. An adult Dusk-gold dread-claw bear had no opponent. Even a huge dragon would not have the least bit of an advantage. The bear before him was not an adult but had at least 100 years of cultivation.
If it was said a hundred-year man-faced demon spider could fight a thousand-year spirit beast, then a hundred-year dusk-gold dread-claw bear may be able to fight a ten-thousand-year spirit beast. That was its most fearsome trait. Tang Wu Lin never imagined the primary spirit ascension platform could have such a terrible beast from legends.
The bear towered above him and prepared to attack. He took one of his thousand-refined heavy silver hammers and flung it at the creature to interfere with it, allowing him to run. However, the bear swatted the hammer aside and shattered it to pieces. Tang Wu Lin was quickly shaken from the shock of an incoming attack, which he quickly dodged. He turned and ran, focusing on absorbing as much spirit power as possible.
He saw the pride of blazing demon lions quickly approaching. He quickly latched his blue-silver grass vine onto an overhead branch and used his momentum to lift himself off the ground. The Lions were surprised by his move and continued their charge until they faced the dusk-gold dread-claw bear.
The bear's eyes flashed menacingly with crimson light as it bore its fangs at the blazing demon Lions. The Lions trembled in fear. Tang Wu Lin took a glance as he retreated. The lions were too scared to run away, and the bear savagely tore through their ranks. The blazing demon lions were as weak as kittens to the tyrannical bear. Not only was it extremely strong, but it had the speed to match. Tang Wu Lin thought he could get away if he sprinted with all his might. He had barely finished the thought when a dark blur crashed before him. The bear had caught up in an instant.
He panicked and considered pressing the distress signal. Outside the spirit ascension platform, Director Long shouted for him to use the distress signal. Tang Wu Lin paused momentarily before looking at his opponent with a strange light in his eyes. He stood his ground and activated his golden dragon claw as the bear attacked.
His eyes shone with the same golden light as his right arm. He wanted to see how his golden dragon claw measured up to the might of the dusk-gold dread-claw bear. He shouted as he mobilized all his spirit power and poured it into the punch. Compared to the bear, his dragon claw was tiny. At the collision, he felt his spirit power drawn out. His vision was painted with a deep crimson hue.
The next thing he saw was the bright overhead light of the spirit pagoda. He had woken up in his capsule and heard a voice calling to him. He wondered how he had already been knocked out of the spirit ascension platform as the spirit pagoda staff rushed to begin emergency treatment.
Chapter 62.
The staff used a special low-temperature popsicle on Tang Wu Lin's belly. It was made to awaken unconscious people. Tang Wu Lin jumped from the extremely cold sensation, shocking the staff with his quick response. Unlike Xie Xie, whom the Dusk-gold dread-claw bear also hit, his condition was stable. Xie Xie's body, however, was violently convulsing with his mouth foaming.
Wu Zhangkong approached to confirm Tang Wu Lin's condition. The boy said he only felt a slight numbness in his right hand from the impact of his punch. The cold god said they would return to the academy when Xie Xie's condition improved. Tang Wu Lin raised a hand out of habit and said he had a question. Wu Zhangkong replied with a warning tone that he should ask all questions concerning the Spirit Pagoda once they returned.
On the way back to the academy, the cold god said that everyone but Tang Wu Lin had scored full points for the exam because he cheated. Tang Wu Lin asked where he cheated, and Wu Zhangkong mentioned the thousand-refined cloud titanium vests he had forged.
Xie Xie was carried on Tang Wu Lin's back and thanked him for the armor. He said that without it, he could have suffered lasting trauma. Tang Wu Lin then said he would make better armor for everyone. Xie Xie was curious and asked why Tang Wu Lin's reaction to the bear's attack was not as strong as his. Tang Wu Lin speculated that it may have been because of his strong body. He then suggested that Xie Xie join him for daily runs. Xie Xie playfully teased that he did not want to bother Tang Wu Lin and his senior sister on their date. Tang Wu Lin protested that they only met once in a while. Gu Yue overheard their conversation, and her aura flared as she demanded information about the senior sister.
Wu Zhangkong asked Tang Wu Lin to find him later that night. When he arrived, Wu Zhangkong asked with a serious look what he was doing there when it was so late. Tang Wu Lin awkwardly reminded him of the earlier invitation. The cold god then casually invited him into the room. Tang Wu Lin was cautioned that in the future, any questions concerning the Spirit Pagoda were only to be asked once they had returned to the academy. He asked why the questions could not be used as feedback to the organization. Wu Zhangkong explained that the Spirit Pagoda was such a powerful organization that the federation feared it. Moreover, the Spirit Pagoda was on other continents.
Tang Wu Lin's curiosity was piqued at that point. He began asking about other continents. However, the cold god brought him back on track. He had a question. Tang Wu Lin proceeded to mention some observations he had made. He discovered that Xie Xie had gained two spirit rings, and it became more difficult for his spirit soul to evolve into the thousand-year level because the absorption of spirit power was spread over the two rings. Even if his spirit soul could evolve, his cultivation could not support more than a thousand-year spirit ring. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi's mental power could not withstand a thousand-year spirit soul.
Wu Zhangkong praised him for the careful analysis and said there was a limit to what the boy's body could handle, even if he had enough resources to regularly enter the spirit ascension platform. Tang Wu Lin was asked whether he had more to say. He replied affirmatively and said his situation was different. The amount of spirit power his body could endure was more than that of ordinary spirit masters.
He explained that although he had one spirit ring, he felt he would have little problems with a thousand-year spirit ring. Moreover, his mental power had already reached the spirit connection realm. There wasn't another one-ringed spirit master whose limit could endure four yellow, hundred-year spirit rings. Therefore, as long as he absorbed enough spirit power, his spirit soul could reach the thousand-year level.
When Tang Wu Lin completed his hypothesis, Wu Zhangkong said it was theoretically possible. However, the assumption was that Tang Wu Lin could absorb enough spirit power before gaining a second spirit ring. He added that Tang Wu Lin's body would have to bear the burden of two purple, thousand-year spirit rings. He explained that if Tang Wu Lin's spirit soul reached the thousand-year level, his second spirit ring would also be purple.
Tang Wu Lin beamed with excitement at the prospect. He asked if he could withstand two purple spirit rings if he became a spirit grandmaster. The cold god said he would be certain once he conducted a series of tests. And if Tang Wu Lin could have two purple spirit rings as a spirit grandmaster, he would become a special case.
Once Tang Wu Lin left, Wu Zhangkong sat on his couch, deep in thought. Even with the boy's weak spirit essence, he would have an advantage if his first spirit soul could evolve to the thousand-year level. Perhaps afterward, his spirit essence would mutate again. The matter had to be hidden from the Spirit Pagoda.
Wu Zhangkong reflected on his students' gains inside the spirit ascension platform. He did not expect it to happen within such a short time. According to his original plan, they should have reached their current level in their third year at the academy. It was clear that he had to adjust his teaching plan.
Tang Wu Lin went back to his room and began meditating. He gradually entered a deep state, and his consciousness entered the space where the golden dragon king was sealed. He called Old Tang and said he had a few questions.
Chapter 63.
A Golden humanoid silhouette appeared. It was Old Tang. He said he already knew what happened in the spirit ascension platform and that Tang Wu Lin was worried that he had absorbed too much spirit power and his body could not handle it. Tang Wu Lin agreed. Old Tang told him not to worry because his mental power could withstand 1,200 years of spirit energy. When he absorbed the Golden Dragon King's power from the first seal, his body was capable of withstanding two purple, thousand-year spirit rings.
Once Tang Wu Lin had thanked him, Old Tang asked him to return with any questions because no one knew the boy's body better than he did. He said that Tang Wu Lin's mental power had been quietly rising. But its speed was not fast enough. The boy needed to find a way to cultivate his mental power to increase the elevation rate. Tang Wu Lin asked where he could find such a method. But Old Tang said it was up to him to find it.
Tang Wu Lin asked if he could break the second seal before attaining a second spirit ring. He also asked how his body's endurance would change after releasing the second seal. Old Tang strongly agreed with the boy about releasing the second seal before attaining a second spirit ring. At that time, he would give advice based on the boy's physical condition. He reminded Tang Wu Lin that the sooner he released the second seal, the more time he would have to release the seals on his own and the safer it would become.
Tang Wu Lin noticed Old Tang's choice of words. He asked whether there was a situation in which he would not release a seal intentionally. Old Tang explained that if the boy accidentally encountered an item that could stir up the aura of the Golden Dragon King, the seals could be forcibly released at any time. And that would be the most dangerous situation. If it were bad, it would take his life. Old Tang explained that he would be safer the more seals he released because the remaining ones would be less likely to break accidentally.
The following day, Wu Jang Kong encountered a quiet class 0. He asked why no one spoke, yet they had been immeasurably self-satisfied previously. He said if what happened had not occurred in the spirit ascension platform, they would not have had a chance to sit in the classroom that day. There was no distress signal to press in real life. Tang Wu Lin asked what they should do if they encountered the dusk-gold dread-claw bear in real life. The teacher replied that they ought to do everything possible to run away.
Wang Jinxi expressed relief that those kinds of spirit beasts were extinct. Zhang Yangzi concurred and said the spirit beasts were too dangerous, so humans eliminated them. Wu Zhangkong corrected and said the main reason spirit beasts were killed was that they had things in their bodies that humans wanted. Because the dusk-gold dread-claw bear's body had a high probability of having spirit bones, many humans hunted them. He explained that humans were greedy. The spirit beasts weren't nearly extinct because they threatened humans but rather because they could benefit humans. Once more, the room fell silent.
In a pale majestic castle, a little girl comforted her elder brother, who was in a foul mood. He scowled as he silently gritted his teeth. They were the ice-staff siblings. The same ones who confronted Class Zero at the spirit ascension platform. The Xu family was second to none in East Sea City. It had two children, an older brother, Xu Xiaoyu, and a little sister, Xu Xiaoyan. Their father was the minister of financial affairs at East Sea City.
Although Xu Xiaoyu was the only son, he was not liked by the head of the family because of his arrogance and stubbornness. Xu Xiaoyan, on the other hand, had a gentle personality that made her a beloved person. The siblings were unusually talented and naturally filled with spirit power. However, Xu Xiaoyan did not like cultivating. The family did not force her to cultivate because they had her elder brother, who had excellent cultivation talent.
The Xu family used its connections to get the siblings into the rebelling spirit ascension platform, hoping Xu Xiaoyan would grow quickly. However, she was kind-hearted and unwilling to kill the spirit beasts, so she did not absorb much spirit power. After much persuasion from her brother, she finally agreed to attack the spirit beasts. Unfortunately, they encountered Gu Yue, who had become a spirit grandmaster.
When they returned home, Xu Xiaoyu endured the lingering pain from Gu Yue's attack and a tongue-lashing from his father. It was no mystery why he was upset. He finally shouted that he would not let class zero off if he knew their identities.
At the academy, the cold god summoned class zero and asked that they begin. When the students asked what he was referring to, a dense cold aura was released from his body, and six spirit rings appeared, to their surprise. Wu Zhangkong asked them to fight, all five against him. He said they were not in the spirit ascension platform, and there was no distress signal.
Chapter 64.
The cold god promised to suppress his spirit power to their level. However, he would use his spirit essence this time for the special training. He reminded them that they were no longer in the spirit ascension platform and would not have the opportunity to resurrect. With that, he released a powerful cold aura, intimidating his students.
He appeared with white robes and a blue sword. His spirit essence was the Sky Frost Sword. The last time Tang Wu Lin saw his teacher use it was when Guang Biao came to the academy to cause trouble. Seeing it up close right now, he felt a threatening chill.
Tang Wu Lin immediately took command of the team and ordered everyone into formation, entering the highest level of battle preparation. He said he would control the opponent, and Gu Yue would assist in containing him. Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi were in charge of the main attack. He then sent his blue-silver grass to bind their opponent. Gu Yue released a barrage of fireballs, and the rest of the team attacked according to their assigned roles. Wu Zhangkong stated his observations that they were using a set of attacks to force him to dodge while the other three came to block his escape route. As the fireballs flew toward him, Xie Xie appeared behind him with his light dragon dagger. Suddenly, Wu Zhangkong's body became illusory as he dodged all the attacks. The blue-silver grass, and the fireballs, all seemed to pass through him. Tang Wu Lin was surprised that their teacher had avoided all their attacks while staying put.
The boy wondered how it was possible. Zhang Yangzi could not believe his eyes. Tang Wu Lin immediately retracted his blue-silver grass. Wu Zhangkong commented that they had made a fair attempt. They knew their timing was wrong and when to cancel their plan of attack. If they had been half a second slower, the three responsible for the main attack would have been defeated by him.
Every member of Class Zero was shocked. In that atmosphere, their teacher was serious. They knew things would be terrible if they did not give everything they had to their attacks. Tang Wu Lin equipped his golden dragon claw, Gu Yue prepared to release a multi-elemental storm, and Xie Xie wielded his twin spirit essences on each hand. The light dragon dagger and the shadow dragon dagger.
Tang Wu Lin asked Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi to lead the attack. They began performing their spirit fusion skill at his command while the cold god asked whether they were finally getting serious. A familiar light shone from their joined hands. However, the unexpected happened. There was a loud bang, and the two were forced apart. Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi were shocked. Xie Xie was disappointed by their failed attempt.
Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi wondered what had happened. Wu Zhangkong halted the battle and asked them to attempt the spirit fusion again. He explained that non-combat situations were ideal for concentrating energy. They did as he said and tried to synchronize their spirit power. They shouted in frustration when their spirit fusion skill failed to activate.
Suddenly they experienced another backlash and were forced apart. Tang Wu Lin was surprised that it had failed once more. Wu Zhangkong remained silent. Finally, Zhang Yangzi tearfully said that Wang Jinxi's spirit essence was rejecting his. Wu Zhangkong asked him to explain. He started wailing and said Wang Jinxi's spirit essence was rejecting the fusion.
Wang Jinxi said he did not do it intentionally and had no idea what was happening. The cold god asked Zhang Yangzi to calm down. A moment later, he said that perhaps Wang Jinxi's spirit essence had mutated. This came as a surprise. Tang Wu Lin then looked at the two with concern. Finally, Zhang Yangzi asked whether the spirit fusion failed because Wang Jinxi and Tang Wu Lin cultivated together every night. Wang Jinxi replied that other than that, he could not think of another cause.
Chapter 65.
Wu Zhangkong announced the end of the battle class and asked to speak with Tang Wu Lin and Wang Jinxi in his room. Zhang Yangzi had a gloomy expression. Wu Zhangkong gathered the boys after scanning their bodies with a spirit power scanner. He reported that Wang Jinxi's spirit mutation was causing his and Zhang Yangzi's spirit fusion to fail. Moreover, the mutation was caused by the influence of Tang Wu Lin's bloodline. He said it was a good thing from Wang Jinxi's perspective.
Under the influence of Tang Wu Lin's bloodline, his spirit essence was quietly changing. In addition, the mutation was advancing toward a higher level. But he was uncertain about how high it would get in the future. What he was certain about, however, was that if Wang Jinxi continued to cultivate with Tang Wu Lin, he would no longer be able to use spirit fusion with Zhang Yangzi.
Wang Jinxi asked whether the spirit fusion would be restored if he stopped cultivating with Tang Wu Lin. Wu Zhangkong said it was possible because they had not cultivated together for long. He explained that Tang Wu Lin's spirit power was weaker than Wang Jinxi's, so his bloodline's influence was not too great. Wu Zhangkong asked them to stop cultivating together to ensure the spirit fusion was restored.
He added that Tang Wu Lin's bloodline would still affect similar spirit essences within a certain range. If Wang Jinxi decided to quit cultivating with him, Wu Zhang Kong would adjust their rooms to be far from each other. Tang Wu Lin had a sad expression and apologized to Wang Jinxi. He knew what a spirit fusion meant to two Spirit Masters. Wang Jinxi said he did not blame him.
After that day, the atmosphere in Class Zero became strange. Zhang Yangzi became silent, and Wang Jinxi, who was originally silent, spoke even less. He had stopped cultivating with Tang Wu Lin. It was the day of the second phase of their end-of-term exam, and Wu Zhangkong asked them to proceed with it.
Wang Jinxi stood and said he had decided not to continue cultivating with Tang Wu Lin. Zhang Yangzi was surprised by his words. The cold god said that he respected the decision. Wang Jinxi explained that although cultivating with Tang Wu Lin would have more benefits for him, he did not want to ignore Zhang Yangzi. They had grown up together and were practically inseparable, just like brothers.
He then announced that he and Zhang Yangzi would depart and transfer schools because if he stayed at the academy, he would always be influenced by the power of Tang Wu Lin's bloodline. In the two days they had not cultivated together, Wang Jinxi realized that his spirit essence had been oppressed. Hence his decision to leave.
Tang Wu Lin had a worried look and suggested that he could try keeping his distance from Wang Jinxi so they would not need to leave. Wang Jinxi asked him not to blame himself because the matter had nothing to do with him. Rather, it was his problem. Tang Wu Lin could not decide the changes in his blood. Wang Jinxi said the transfer would not affect their friendship. He then thanked Tang Wu Lin for the benefits of their days of cultivating together. Next, he thanked Wu Zhangkong for the time he had instructed them at class zero.
He said his family would settle the expenses they incurred at the academy. Wu Zhangkong said his decision may have been the best and asked him not to worry. Because he had already made the decision, he and the academy would take care of the rest.
Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi faced Tang Wu Lin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie. They said their departure would not affect their friendship with the trio and hoped to meet one day. Wang Jinxi reminisced about their time together in Class Zero. They had undergone many changes and faced rigorous trials. They also made miracles happen.
They experienced much together, from the crushing defeat on their first trip to the spirit ascension platform to killing the hundred-year man-faced demon spider during the rebelling spirit ascension platform. Those memories were still fresh in his mind like they had happened yesterday. He was grateful for Class Zero because it made him more cheerful. He cried and said their time together in Class Zero made him very happy. The four boys, Tang Wu Lin, Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi, did one last team huddle as Wang Jinxi promised they would all meet one day. In honor of the emotional farewell, Wu Zhangkong postponed the exam to the next day.