Encountering an Enemy

Wu Changkong, who had been watching the screen outside, also let out a soft breath of relief. He had watched the group's growth all along, and he had been startled when they encountered such a powerful Soul Beast as the Man Faced Demon Spider. But as they successfully killed it, Wu Changkong revealed a faint, gratified smile.

Seeing them successfully kill the Man Faced Demon Spider, the Spirit Receiver beside him was equally surprised. He had never expected these first-year cadets from Eastsea Academy to improve so quickly. He had watched every one of their Spirit Ascension Platform training sessions, and aside from Wu Changkong, he was the one most deeply impressed.

The Spirit Receiver said, "Teacher Wu, your cadets are truly talented. Have you considered having them join the Spirit Pagoda?"

Hearing the Spirit Receiver's words, Wu Changkong wore a thoughtful expression. Talented Soul Masters were welcome anywhere. It seemed recruiting them into the Tang Sect was imperative.

Wu Changkong glanced at him and said coldly, "That isn't for me to decide. I can't make that decision for them. Besides, they're still children. Their studies are what matter most right now."

The Spirit Receiver nodded. "Since Teacher Wu says so, if they agree to join the Spirit Pagoda later, Teacher Wu, please don't stop them."

Wu Changkong nodded and said nothing further. He believed they would all make the right choice, and that right choice could only be the Tang Sect. Whether it was the Tang Sect's Cultivation Method or its treatment, the Spirit Pagoda could not compare. Wu Changkong was extremely confident in that.

The two chatted casually for a few more sentences before falling silent and turning their attention seriously toward the screen, wanting to see whether these youngsters would create another miracle.

Naturally, the people inside the Spirit Ascension Platform knew nothing of the little incident outside. The happiest one after defeating the Man Faced Demon Spider was, of course, Wang Jinxi. "We won!"

Xie Xie said irritably, "What are you so excited about? You only used one Soul Skill."

Wang Jinxi looked at Xie Xie smugly. "I used another Soul Skill too. You didn't even get a chance to use one."

The Man Faced Demon Spider was covered in deadly poison, so it was naturally unsuitable for close combat. Wang Jinxi knew that too; he merely wanted to tease him.

Tang Wulin patted Xie Xie on the shoulder, stopping him before he could retort. "All right, stop arguing. Hurry and recover your Soul Power. Zhang Yangzi and Xie Xie, you two barely used any energy, so keep watch around us."

The group sat down and began recovering what they had expended. Over the next stretch of time, some Soul Beasts occasionally came to this area, but after sensing the Man Faced Demon Spider's aura, most of them did not dare approach.

Just like that, three hours quickly passed. Tang Wulin looked at the others. "The survival time Teacher Wu required should be enough by now. Should we leave now, or continue exploring and search for more Soul Beasts?"

Xie Xie spoke excitedly like a Battle Maniac. "We can finally go look for more Soul Beasts. My daggers have been hungry for a fight for ages."

Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi nodded as well. They could both feel how the Spirit Ascension Platform had improved their strength and combat skills, so they naturally supported continuing.

Tang Wulin was not at all surprised that Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi agreed to continue searching for more Soul Beasts to train against. What worried him most were An Ping and Gu Yuena. If those two chose to leave, things would no longer be so easy for them afterward.

Seeing everyone looking at them eagerly, An Ping and Gu Yuena nodded as well, indicating their agreement to continue.

"Good, then we'll keep going." Tang Wulin relaxed inwardly. He also wanted to gain greater improvement in the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Picking a direction at random, they began searching for Soul Beasts. With the double vigilance of An Ping and Wang Jinxi, the initial exploration went extremely smoothly. Unless they encountered a particularly fast Soul Beast, few Soul Beasts could cause them much trouble.

"Two Soul Masters are approaching. They aren't moving very fast, so they probably discovered us," An Ping said as he sensed the feedback from his spell.

Tang Wulin said, "We've been discovered? Prepare for battle."

Very soon, they saw the two approaching figures. In front was a young man around seventeen or eighteen years old, with three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—circling around him, displaying his formidable cultivation. He held a white long-handled Staff topped with an ice-blue gem in his right hand.

Behind him followed a Little Girl who looked about the same age as them. Her light-blue hair was braided into two small pigtails, and her large eyes blinked adorably. She also held an ice Staff, though hers was much smaller than the young man's. A Yellow Soul Ring circled around her as well.

An Ping muttered, "After all this time, we still ran into them?"

Gu Yuena asked softly, "What?"

"Nothing." An Ping shook his head.

Perhaps to accommodate the Little Girl, the two were not moving especially quickly. As the distance narrowed, the young man noticed that although the group were only First Ring or Second Ring Soul Masters, the spiritual radiance around them was extremely dense. There was no need to think about it—they had to be students of Eastsea Academy.

He strode up to them and said as if it were only natural, "Leave the Spirit Ascension Platform yourselves and leave behind your Spirit Power Halos. Then I won't make you suffer."

Hearing his presumptuous words, Xie Xie sneered. "Is this a humanoid Soul Beast? I never thought Soul Beasts could speak human language now. Their evolution is really impressive."

Little did he know that when he had first entered the academy, he had been much the same as this person—arrogant and looking down on everyone.

Hearing Xie Xie's words, the young man raised his eyebrows. He had not expected this mere Second Ring child to dare provoke him like that. He pointed his ice Staff at Xie Xie, and with a surge of Ice Element, a light-blue Ice Wheel shot toward him.

Xie Xie refused to be outdone, slashing his Light Dragon Dagger toward the Ice Wheel. Yet when the spinning Ice Wheel neared Xie Xie, it did not collide with his Light Dragon Dagger. Instead, it traced an arc through the air, curved around the dagger, and arrived before Xie Xie in an instant.

Fortunately, Xie Xie's reactions were quick enough. He ducked low and avoided the rapidly flying wheel. Tang Wulin immediately flung out his Forging Hammer wrapped in Blue Silver Grass. With a crack, the Ice Wheel shattered into fragments of ice crystals upon impact.

The young man was slightly stunned. He had not expected the hammer thrown by this First Ring Blue Silver Grass Soul Master to contain such tremendous force. Seeing him momentarily distracted, Tang Wulin controlled Blue Silver Grass as it surged toward him while recalling his thrown Forging Hammer and charging at him.

Watching the Blue Silver Grass fly toward him and his younger sister to bind them, along with Tang Wulin rushing forward, the young man had not expected this First Ring Soul Master to be so bold.

Seeing Tang Wulin's movements, Xie Xie also dashed rapidly toward the two.