Final Exam

After listening to them speak, Wu Changkong said, "If I were to grade your Spirit Ascension Platform training this time: Zhang Yangzi, Zero Points. Wang Jinxi, One Point. An Ping, Four Points. Gu Yuena, Three Points. Tang Wulin, Five Points. Xie Xie, Five Points."

"Do you know why? There is nothing more to say about Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi. Gu Yuena had the ability to find the others, yet she did not do so. She lacked team awareness. An Ping could avoid danger, but he did not try to look for his teammates. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie displayed excellent team awareness. Even when faced with large groups of Soul Beasts, they supported each other and did not abandon their teammates."

"Next, you need to strengthen your understanding and study of Soul Beasts. Do not think that such learning is useless just because Soul Beasts are rare now. Most Soul Master soul skills once belonged to Soul Beasts. Through studying them, you can learn more ways to deal with various soul skills. Moreover, the Spirit Ascension Platform is an extremely important part of your growth. The more you understand Soul Beasts, the longer you can survive in the Spirit Ascension Platform."

Then Wu Changkong stared at them and said, "One more thing. From now on, you are a squad. Tang Wulin will be the captain, and Xie Xie will be the vice-captain."

Gu Yuena asked, "A squad? What is the point?"

Wu Changkong glanced at Gu Yuena and said coldly, "Looking throughout history, whether it was the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils or the Shrek Seven Devils of later generations, they all proved that a complete team could display strength far beyond that of individual combat. I hope you will also aim to become an outstanding team, rather than blindly pursuing personal strength."

He swept his gaze over An Ping again. "Especially you two. I know you are both highly talented, but you need to learn how to integrate into a team. A complete team can better bring out your strengths."

"Your weekly Spirit Ascension Platform training will be your chance to build teamwork."

Without giving them more time to overthink, Wu Changkong said, "All right, that concludes the summary of the Spirit Ascension Platform. We will continue practical combat training today. This afternoon, I will explain Soul Beast knowledge."

"You will still fight me in the order you appeared in the Spirit Ascension Platform. From now on, basic combat training will begin according to that week's elimination order in the Spirit Ascension Platform. Zhang Yangzi, you are first."

The others consciously moved their desks against the walls. Wu Changkong began training them one by one, and Class Zero once again rang with a tragic symphony.

When Gu Yuena finished, Wu Changkong first pointed out the shortcomings in her training. Then he stopped her as she prepared to return to the edge of the classroom. "Gu Yuena, you are only nine years old. This is the critical period for improving your strength. Do not waste your attention on meaningless things."

Gu Yuena froze. "Teacher Wu, I do not understand what you mean."

Wu Changkong's tone was icy. "I know girls like to look pretty, but as a Soul Master, wearing those useless accessories will only interfere with your movements in battle."

"Teacher Wu means this?" As she spoke, she shook the bracelet on her wrist. "They can enhance my perception of the elements. They are not useless, are they?"

Wu Changkong asked suspiciously, "A Soul Tool? But I did not sense any Soul Power fluctuations from it."

"I do not know about that either. Perhaps it has some sort of concealment rune on it." Gu Yuena shook her head.

Wu Changkong waved a hand and said no more. Only Tang Wulin, standing to one side, muttered softly when he saw it, "Mithril?"

Xie Xie was close to Tang Wulin. Hearing him mutter, he asked, "Wulin, what did you say?"

Tang Wulin said quietly, "Gu Yuena's bracelet is made of Mithril."

"Mithril? What about it? Maybe she is just rich." Xie Xie did not care.

Tang Wulin said, "Do you remember when we moved into the dormitory, An Ping was carrying a Mithril Box?"

"You mean An Ping gave it to her?"

Tang Wulin shook his head. "I do not know either. It just seems too much of a coincidence."

"You do not really like Gu Yuena, do you? Why else would you pay so much attention to her? Did you not mention meeting a Senior Student before? Which one do you actually like?" Xie Xie wore a gossipy expression.

"How could that be?" Tang Wulin's face reddened as he shook his head.

Xie Xie whispered, "I do not know about that Senior Student you mentioned, but you probably have no chance with Gu Yuena. There is only An Ping in her eyes."

Tang Wulin shook his head and did not respond. But when he remembered Old Tang saying that Gu Yuena might be of great help to him, he did not know what to do either.

After that, in addition to basic combat training, they began studying Soul Beast knowledge and practicing team combat coordination every day. Their team combat coordination training consisted of all six of them fighting Wu Changkong.

During their weekly Spirit Ascension Platform training, Wu Changkong required An Ping and Gu Yuena to act together. Once An Ping and Gu Yuena began working together, the entire squad moved through the Spirit Ascension Platform like fish in water. Not only could they gather quickly, they rarely encountered trouble they could not handle.

Still, it was not always smooth sailing. More often, the random distance between their entry points in the Spirit Ascension Platform was too great, and the others could not hold out until An Ping and Gu Yuena arrived. Even so, it was already much better than the first week.

An Ping felt that he had become even busier. Not only did he need to study more spells, he also had to make time to practice Alchemy. What comforted him was that he had made considerable progress with Spell Models and Alchemy Runes, so his progress was not slow.

In the blink of an eye, the Final Exam for the first semester of first grade was approaching. That day, Wu Changkong entered the classroom but did not begin teaching immediately. Instead, he announced, "The end of the term is almost here. Your Final Exam has two parts. The first is the Spirit Ascension Platform."

Xie Xie asked, "What is the second part?"

Wu Changkong said, "The second part will be announced after you complete the first assessment. What I need to remind you is that this time, you will be entering the Spirit Ascension Platform during its Riot Period."

Tang Wulin asked with a puzzled expression, "The Spirit Ascension Platform during its Riot Period? How is it different from the one we entered before?"

"The Spirit Ascension Platform has two Riot Periods every year. At first, they were caused by the unstable energy used to construct the Spirit Ascension Platform. Later, as technology advanced, the Riot Periods were brought under control and became a special feature. During the Riot Period, the Soul Beasts within the Spirit Ascension Platform become more active, their numbers increase, and the level of danger rises sharply."

"During each Riot Period, each of the Eighteen Pillars has three hundred slots. This time, the school paid a considerable price to persuade the East Sea Spirit Receiving Pagoda to secure this opportunity for you. You must cherish it."

"The Spirit Ascension Platform during the Riot Period allows teams to enter together, but no more than seven people can enter. There are exactly six of you, so you are just right. Once inside, you will be transported together. Because the Soul Beasts are more active and their numbers have increased greatly, An Ping's Soul Perception may not be very effective in there either. Therefore, this time will test your team coordination even more."

"Most importantly, you will not only encounter Soul Beasts inside. You will also encounter other Soul Masters. Other Soul Masters are equally dangerous. Unlike usual, during the Riot Period, the speed at which spiritual energy is absorbed in the Spirit Ascension Platform becomes one hundred times slower. In other words, if you leave the Spirit Ascension Platform during this process, the remaining spiritual energy will be absorbed by the nearest Soul Master."

Zhang Yangzi said, "So others can steal our spiritual energy, and we can steal theirs."

Wu Changkong glanced at the eager Zhang Yangzi. "If you are confident, then of course you can do that. But what I need to remind you of is that the entry limit for the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform is the Three Ring Peak. Because the number of Soul Beasts has greatly increased, many people choose to enter once when they reach the Three Ring Peak. That means the enemies you encounter will most likely be very powerful."

Tang Wulin said, "Teacher Wu, please rest assured. We will rely on the strength of the team."