Setting Off for Eastsea, Overbearing Angel Falls in Love with Me, Rampage-Phase Spirit Ascension Platform

"Zhao Xuanzhen, let's go!"

Early in the morning, when the sky had only just begun to brighten, Zhao Xuanzhen's door was hammered on with a loud thud-thud-thud. The girl's clear, spirited voice showed just how happy she was.

"Coming, coming."

Zhao Xuanzhen opened the door. Na'er's pretty figure was reflected in his clear black eyes, along with a trace of helplessness.

"We're going on vacation! How are you not excited at all?" Na'er stood with her hands on her hips, looking like she hated that he couldn't live up to expectations.

"The two of us cultivated diligently for four years. We got up early and stayed up late every day, had classes six and a half days a week, studied a Second Profession, trained in the Spirit Ascension Platform, and got tortured by the True Illusion... Aunt Leng only just rewarded us with a vacation in Eastsea City. You need to be more enthusiastic!

I spent half the night looking up travel guides on the Soul Network. Eastsea City truly lives up to its reputation as a coastal tourist city—it has sunshine, beaches, waves, and all sorts of local delicacies!"

Na'er still had not changed her nature as a little foodie. At the mention of delicious food, she could not help swallowing before looking at Zhao Xuanzhen with sparkling Silver Big Eyes, anticipation evident in them.

"Oh, right. Look at me—what's different about me today?"

"Oh?"

Zhao Xuanzhen sized Na'er up and easily noticed the changes in her. Probably because they were going on a trip, Na'er had specially dressed up.

She wore a pure white fitted short dress and platinum crystal shoes. Delicate ornaments hung from her long silver hair. Even Zhao Xuanzhen, who had grown accustomed to Na'er's appearance, had to admit that she looked outrageously beautiful today.

The Silver Dragon King's Half-Self possessed an innate beauty beyond anything mortals could compare to. Any intelligent lifeform who saw this girl would sigh at the unfairness of the heavens. Only such favoritism could create this beauty that came from the depths of one's bloodline.

"Do I look good?"

Na'er caught the surprise in Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes and became even more smug.

"Not bad-looking."

"Hmph! o(´^｀)o"

Na'er gave a light snort and pretended to be aloof, but a comedian was destined never to pull off an icy persona. She failed to hold it in, and the upward curve of her lips betrayed the delight in her heart.

"Charge! Our destination is Eastsea City!"

Giving up on the act altogether, Na'er wrapped both hands around Zhao Xuanzhen's arm and dragged him downstairs to meet up with Leng Yaozhu.

Leng Yaozhu had sent them a Soul Guide Communication message, telling them to meet in an open area today. Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er took the elevator down and exited the one-hundred-and-eight-story Spirit Pagoda, spotting a graceful, mature figure in the distance.

The Heavenly Phoenix Douluo had changed into a black dress. Time never defeated beauty; her snowy, smooth skin looked soft enough to break at a touch, while her bearing was elegant and dignified. Her full, slender figure seemed exquisitely sculpted—any more or any less would ruin its perfect proportions.

"Teacher!" "Aunt Leng!"

The two waved at Leng Yaozhu, and her Crimson Phoenix Eyes immediately filled with smiles.

"Aunt Leng, how are we getting to Eastsea City? By Soul Guide train?" Na'er asked impatiently.

"Of course not." Leng Yaozhu's voice was gentle. "There are too many people on a Soul Guide train, and it's slow as well. We have a better option."

As soon as she finished speaking, she clapped her hands. A black streak of light descended from the sky.

It was a black, phoenix-shaped metal construct with a wingspan exceeding thirty meters. Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er looked up at the towering modern Soul Guide Technology creation. Having both reached the fourth rank in their Second Profession, they spoke in unison.

"A Black-grade Mecha!?"

"A Black-grade Mecha: Skyfire Phoenix." Leng Yaozhu smiled faintly. "Get on. A mecha is much faster than a Soul Guide train."

Skyfire Phoenix was a Black-grade Mecha that Leng Yaozhu had personally built in her youth. As her own strength soared, the Black-grade Mecha had gradually been unable to keep up with her progress.

Leng Yaozhu had never considered upgrading Skyfire Phoenix. After all, even the most advanced Red-tier Mecha was only comparable to Three-character Battle Armor and could not take part in the battles of a Four-word Armor Master Limit Douluo.

Thus, Leng Yaozhu had simply converted Skyfire Phoenix into a flying vehicle. With two huge Soul Forging Metal turbines and its eye-catching phoenix shell, this black mecha had once been considered a symbol of the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo.

The three boarded the Black-grade Mecha. Leng Yaozhu sat alone in the front cabin, acting as a driver for the two juniors, while Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er enjoyed Skyfire Phoenix's luxurious interior.

Skyfire Phoenix was enormous, a super large-scale mecha. Its interior was even more spacious than a living room. The sofas and tea table were piled with snacks and drinks, while the metal floor was covered with a golden-red Blazing Lion King carpet. It made no sound beneath their feet, and warmth surged up from below straight to their heads.

Skyfire Phoenix tore through the sky. Crimson flames burst from its exhaust ports, plowing a ravine through the sea of clouds that lingered for a long while. Its takeoff shriek sounded just like the cry of a phoenix reborn from flames.

"This is amazing! I love vacations so much!"

Na'er lay on the sofa and casually grabbed a soft pillow into her arms.

It would take several hours to fly from Spirit Pagoda Headquarters to Eastsea City. Since this was a rare vacation, neither of them planned to cultivate during the journey. They each opened their Soul Guide Communicators and logged onto the Soul Network.

Zhao Xuanzhen generally only used the Soul Network to browse the news, while Na'er dabbled in everything. She spotted a wildly popular recommendation and said excitedly, "Zhao Xuanzhen, I found a new novel. Come take a look!"

"You've started a new book?"

Zhao Xuanzhen had long since put away all the emotional turmoil from last night. He sat beside Na'er, his emotions as placid as a lake. "I remember the last one you read was called The Rise of Useless Luo Sanpao: Holy Dragon Awakening.

In my previous life, I was Luo Sanpao, doomed never to break through to Soul Elder. My family and friends despised me, my enemies looked down on me, and even the fiancée I was engaged to abandoned me.

I was reborn. In this life, Luo Sanpao awakened as the Holy Dragon of Light. I will reclaim everything I lost!"

It felt embarrassingly like having someone read her personal bio aloud. Na'er shot Zhao Xuanzhen an annoyed glare and argued, "The useless rebirth-and-rise genre is outdated. This one is a sweet romance about two powerful leads!"

Holding up her Soul Guide Communicator with one hand, Na'er delivered the lines with great emotion. "He was the Angel God King, who could cover the heavens with one hand, yet he fell in love at first sight with her, the Imperial Auspicious Beast!

That night, beneath a dark and windy sky, he pressed her against the wall, gave a wicked smile, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, 'Be with me. I'll give you my life.'"

"Overbearing Angel Falls in Love with Me..."

Zhao Xuanzhen suddenly choked. Unlike Na'er, he could not endure such earth-shattering, ghost-weeping plotlines!

He might look like an elementary school student, but mentally, he was a seventeen-year-old genius high schooler!

"Don't insult my taste!"

Na'er sensed intense malice in those seven words. She angrily bumped Zhao Xuanzhen lightly, then said with a dreamy expression, "Love is so wonderful. Once I have someone I like, I'll give him my life too!"

"Huh? Is your life that valuable?"

"...No, Zhao Xuanzhen, your attack power is way too strong. You broke through my defenses."

Na'er fell silent for a long time, looking at Zhao Xuanzhen with a complicated expression. This Guy opened his eyes every day and immediately started being cutting. She still did not dare purse her lips, afraid she might poison herself.

Na'er was not the only one whose defenses had been shattered. Upon hearing Zhao Xuanzhen's words, Leng Yaozhu, who was piloting the mecha in the front cabin, suffered a spiritual blow. She quietly reflected on the bittersweet first half of her life and decisively resolved to multiply Zhao Xuanzhen's training tasks several times over once the vacation ended!

Zhao Xuanzhen had no idea he had stabbed two people right in the heart and continued talking eloquently. "I think you should keep your life and give him a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone instead. Its attribute Doesn't Matter. Soul Masters nowadays aren't picky."

"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!?" Na'er leaned back. "Forget it. I only get three thousand Federal Coin a month—I can't afford that.

Hey, I found the prettiest beach in Eastsea City. How about we go swimming tomorrow morning?"

"Sure."

"Aunt Leng, come play with us too!"

The two enthusiastically discussed how to spend their vacation throughout the trip. Then Na'er begged Leng Yaozhu to go to the beach with them. Leng Yaozhu initially politely declined, but after Zhao Xuanzhen urged her, she ultimately could not bear to refuse them again and agreed to accompany them.

Skyfire Phoenix passed through the clouds and flew directly toward Eastsea City. Because Leng Yaozhu possessed extremely high-level special permissions within the Sun Moon Federation, the city defense detection systems along the way let them pass without question. Their group encountered no obstacles, much less an Evil Soul Master ambush.

"Xuanzhen, Na'er, we've entered Eastsea City airspace," Leng Yaozhu reminded them.

The two looked out the window. Light rain was falling over Eastsea City, leaving winding streaks of water across the glass as water mist gathered over Skyfire Phoenix's Metal Wings.

Eastsea City was one of the locations of the Eighteen Sky Pillars. Though its prosperity was far inferior to Shrek City's, it was still one of the Sun Moon Federation's important eastern cities. Its streets extended like veins into every corner of the city.

"Look below. It seems Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda rolled out a red carpet for us." Zhao Xuanzhen laughed softly.

Skyfire Phoenix descended through the air toward an open space beside Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda. The Spirit Pagoda staff appeared to have received advance notice. Elite stewards stood in orderly lines on both sides, while a stern-looking middle-aged man stood at the front, welcoming the distinguished figures aboard the black phoenix.

Like a real phoenix stretching its body, Skyfire Phoenix's plume-shaped tail thrusters spewed fire, violently tearing apart the rain clouds. The shadow cast by its wings blanketed the earth.

"The Heavenly Phoenix Douluo has arrived. Stay sharp and don't embarrass yourselves!"

The middle-aged man barked in a low voice. He was the Pagoda Master of Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda, an old subordinate Leng Yaozhu had personally promoted. He was leading the Spirit Pagoda's senior stewards in formation to welcome her.

The moment Skyfire Phoenix landed, its reverse engines blasted searing light downward, drawing the eyes of everyone from the Spirit Pagoda. Given Leng Yaozhu's status and wealth, even this Black-grade Mecha used for transportation was nearly the most expensive beneath Red-tier Mechas. The hatch spun open, steam and mist billowing out as three figures slowly emerged.

The middle-aged man drew a deep breath and bowed deeply. "Your subordinate, Lu Ming of Eastsea Spirit Pagoda, greets the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo!"

"Long time no see, Lu Ming." Leng Yaozhu nodded slightly.

The masters of the Eighteen Sky Pillars could be considered regional magnates within the Spirit Pagoda system. As the Eastsea Pagoda Master personally appointed by Leng Yaozhu, Lu Ming was one of the Phoenix family's key supporters.

Under Lu Ming's leadership, Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda not only provided standard services such as soul spirits and the Spirit Ascension Platform, but also recruited talent for the Spirit Pagoda—or rather, the Phoenix family. The elemental wielder Gu Yue had been recommended by him.

"I brought my disciples to Eastsea City for a vacation and will also inspect that girl called Gu Yue." Leng Yaozhu went straight to the point. "Where is Gu Yue now?"

"Reporting to the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, Gu Yue is a student in Eastsea Academy's Class Zero. Today, Eastsea City's Spirit Ascension Platform entered its rampage phase, so the academy teachers sent Gu Yue and the other students into the Spirit Ascension Platform for training."

What the hell, Gu Yue?

Na'er was startled. Leng Yaozhu had only messaged them about bringing the two of them on vacation. She had never mentioned Gu Yue at all.

The world could not be this small, could it? They had barely left Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, and they were already running into Old Gu on the same day?

Upon hearing about the rampage-phase Spirit Ascension Platform, a glint flashed through Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes. He pinpointed the exact point in the timeline: half a year after Tang Wulin enrolled, three months after Class Zero was established, the Final Exam, and the East Sea F4's first meeting.

"Rampage-phase Spirit Ascension Platform..." Leng Yaozhu pondered.

The Spirit Ascension Platform entered its rampage phase twice a year. At first, this was caused by unstable energy. But as technology improved and the Spirit Ascension Platform came under control, the rampage phase became a special mechanism.

Once the Spirit Ascension Platform entered its rampage phase, the number of soul beasts greatly increased and they became extremely active. The danger within rose sharply, but Soul Masters could also kill more soul beasts to elevate their soul rings.

"Xuanzhen, Na'er, enter the rampage-phase Spirit Ascension Platform and test Gu Yue's abilities for me. I'll watch your actions from the observation room," Leng Yaozhu said.

"Aunt Leng, we came here on vacation this time... Can't we skip it?"

Na'er's little face twisted with conflict.

It was not fear. After spending four years in the Human World, Na'er had developed absolute humanity.

Back then, Myriad Monster King had failed because Shrek City had too many powerful figures, missing Gu Yue's only chance to forcibly fuse with Na'er. Now, as long as Na'er resisted, Gu Yue would never be able to perfectly merge with that thirty percent of power.

Na'er was not afraid of Gu Yue, but she did not want to see her again either. Humanity and beastliness were naturally at odds.

"No."

Leng Yaozhu's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. "Testing Gu Yue is only one of your tasks. You have a more important second task: kill the guardian of Eastsea City's Beginner Spirit Ascension Platform.

If you fail, I'll arrange deep-sea training for you tomorrow."

Na'er immediately behaved herself and obediently entered Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda. Zhao Xuanzhen remained silent the entire time. Based on his understanding of Leng Yaozhu, he faintly sensed that his teacher had another objective.

Killing the Beginner Spirit Ascension Platform guardian was more important... that Hundred-Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?

Zhao Xuanzhen carefully considered it. Then, under the personal guidance of Eastsea Pagoda Master Lu Ming, the two lay down inside metal pods.

Before they officially entered, Lu Ming said in a grave voice, "Unlike during normal periods, the rampage-phase Spirit Ascension Platform allows teams to enter, and the two of you will be directly teleported together.

Please be careful of the agitated soul beasts and stay alert for other Soul Masters who enter the Spirit Ascension Platform. When you hunt rampage-phase soul beasts, the duration for absorbing spirit energy is extended by a hundredfold. After leaving the Spirit Ascension Platform, any remaining spirit energy will be absorbed by nearby Soul Masters.

At times like this, humans are even more dangerous than soul beasts. To put it bluntly, other than each other, every other Soul Master is an enemy."

The light gradually vanished, and the instruments began their scan. Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er were transmitted into the Spirit Ascension Platform, leaving only Leng Yaozhu and Lu Ming in the room.

"Lu Ming," Leng Yaozhu said indifferently.

"Your subordinate is here."

"Have you completed the matter I entrusted to you?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ming felt as though his heart was trembling. Those treasures were rare in the world, and taking out several at once meant that even the Spirit Pagoda's Vice Tower Master, the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, had to use indirect methods. He hurriedly replied with utmost respect, "Your subordinate followed your orders. Those two soul beasts were successfully placed and have replaced the Hundred-Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear as the new guardians of Eastsea City's Beginner Spirit Ascension Platform..."