Unmatched Rampage

"Sorry for making you misunderstand. We really had been here all along, but we arrived before you. As for why we hid, it was because we recognized you, so we chose to avoid you for the time being."

"Oh? So you were avoiding my edge? You know me?"

Lin Chen raised his eyes toward the person speaking with him.

He found that she was merely an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl, perhaps even younger.

She had a slender figure, straight legs, creamy white skin, delicate features, large watery eyes, and curled lashes.

Her long blue hair was usually tied into a neat ponytail, making her look particularly dashing in her fitted outfit.

A bitter smile immediately appeared on the girl's face. "There probably aren't many people in Eastsea City who don't know you, right? After all, just a few days ago, you did something as major as surrounding Eastsea Academy."

Hearing that, Lin Chen immediately looked over their clothing. He had thought it looked familiar before, and now it all made sense—these people were actually students from Eastsea Academy, a team of seven.

That made sense. In all of Eastsea City, there were only a few forces capable of sending so many people into the Spirit Ascension Platform as a group to level up. After all, it could only accommodate a little over thirty people a day, and the slots were quite precious.

He should have realized they were from Eastsea Academy sooner.

"So you're students of Eastsea Academy. Why hide from me? Am I really that scary?"

Isn't that scary enough?

Ouyang Zixin silently grumbled. They had originally wanted to avoid him—better to have less trouble than more. They couldn't fight him, and they couldn't afford to provoke him, so it was better to pretend they had never seen him.

Yet unexpectedly, they had been discovered by someone who had only recently awakened his Martial Soul. Director Long, who was surely watching the battle right now, was probably quite disappointed in their performance.

"Do you need anything else? The misunderstanding should have been cleared up already, right?" Ouyang Zixin asked.

Lin Chen looked at her, a wicked smile curling at the corners of his lips. "Of course I do. Right now, I only want to beat you to death, or be beaten to death by you."

"Since there's nothing else, then we'll...?"

???

"Y-you, what did you say?" A look of astonishment appeared on Ouyang Zixin's face. The other six members of her team were the same, staring at Lin Chen in disbelief as though they had misheard him.

Mu Xi, who stood beside Ouyang Zixin, looked at Lin Chen as if he were an idiot. She truly could not imagine how someone's thoughts could leap to such an extent: Are you okay?

"This is the Spirit Ascension Platform. We came here to make the best possible use of our time and obtain more spiritual energy. No one would waste a precious slot fighting and killing inside the Spirit Ascension Platform."

"Sigh, well, you've met one today. Like I said, back then, I stood with my hands in my pockets and didn't know what an opponent was. Besides, I have childhood trauma. I can't stand people hiding in the dark to ambush me. So, consider yourselves unlucky for running into me."

As he spoke, Lin Chen summoned the Heavenly Eye Hand he had just withdrawn. It took on the Black Dragon Claw form, and the sharp dragon claws radiated a powerful, razor-sharp aura.

"Wait, Lin Chen, we don't want to fight you!"

"Enough nonsense. Take this!"

With that, Lin Chen flashed to their side, especially Ouyang Zixin's, and slashed at her with a claw.

He might not have a speed soul skill, but he had Soul Tools.

In this era, Soul Tools had not been eliminated. On the contrary, they were among the most cost-effective weapons available. They were substitutes for mechas and battle armor, especially suitable for low-level soul masters like them, practically granting them divine assistance.

A speed-type Soul Tool was directly comparable to a soul skill, moving so fast it dazzled the eye.

However, the instant Lin Chen approached them, Ouyang Zixin immediately used Martial Soul Possession. After her Windchaser Bird Martial Soul appeared, her body became a streak of azure light, swiftly evading Lin Chen's attack.

Two yellow soul rings abruptly appeared around her. At the same time, the other six also released their Martial Souls and began fighting Lin Chen.

Although they found it rather baffling, since someone had taken the initiative to provoke them, they could not simply refuse to fight. Lin Chen only had one skill and was merely a soul master, while they were mostly Soul Grand Masters. Any one of them could easily crush Lin Chen.

However, Lin Chen was clearly not interested in them. After Ouyang Zixin revealed her speed-type Martial Soul, he lost interest in her as well and turned toward Mu Xi nearby.

Her Martial Soul was rather interesting. It was actually a variant of the Sun Martial Soul, and her entire body radiated scorching heat like a furnace.

Lin Chen controlled the Black Dragon Claw and reached for Mu Xi.

"First soul skill, Fireball! Second soul skill, Repulsion Fire Ring!"

Ouyang Zixin could not afford to provoke Lin Chen, but Mu Xi was not afraid of him.

They had hidden together earlier purely to fit in. After all, if she acted too independently, Ouyang Zixin would have trouble leading the team. She still had to show her best friend some consideration.

But there was clearly something wrong with Lin Chen's head. Had the deaths of his parents traumatized him or something?

Why did he want to fight and kill the moment he saw someone?

She was not going to indulge Lin Chen's bad habits. Who wasn't a young lady of status?

Mu Xi released both soul rings at once. The Fireballs, radiating terrifying heat, became even hotter the instant they passed through the Repulsion Fire Ring, and four or five of them smashed directly into Lin Chen.

Then there was no then.

The instant Lin Chen was struck by those Fireballs, the protection mechanism activated. His virtual body instantly shattered, and his consciousness returned to his real body.

The metal pod immediately opened. Lin Chen abruptly opened his eyes, his face pale as he felt pain throughout his body. Yet he was not dissatisfied in the slightest. Instead, he found it oddly exhilarating: So this is what death feels like.

He had experienced everything there was to experience at the Spirit Pagoda today!

The Spirit Ascension Platform, virtual bodies, virtual soul beasts, virtual people, their attacks, and even the experience of death...

That was right—Lin Chen had deliberately gotten himself killed just now.

He was not some lunatic. Why would he randomly pick a fight with people for no reason?

He had happened to see that they had some strength, so they were perfect for sending him on his way. After all, suicide could not trigger the protection mechanism. If you committed suicide in the Spirit Ascension Platform, you would truly be done for.

Since there were several ready-made tools around, it was best to make use of them.

The reason Lin Chen wanted to be killed was, first, to experience what death felt like. Second, he wanted to know whether Di Tian could remain inside after he died and exited.

Now, he knew the answer—it was possible.

It seemed that after summoning Di Tian inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, as long as Di Tian did not leave on his own, even if Lin Chen was forcibly ejected, it would not affect Di Tian's activities inside. This would completely remove Lin Chen from the equation. It was simply perfect.

In the future, he could enter the Spirit Ascension Platform, release Di Tian, and leave, allowing Di Tian to mow down everything in an unmatched rampage. Meanwhile, Lin Chen could directly descend with his soul and use Di Tian as his virtual body.

Just like now, Lin Chen had suffered severe injuries. With his face pale, he directly fainted.

The Spirit Pagoda staff member immediately contacted the butler to pick him up, while also informing Qiangu Yunling of Lin Chen's miserable condition.

And while Lin Chen pretended to be unconscious, his soul directly entered Di Tian's body. The two shared one body with two souls. "Hey, bro. I'm already dead, but I won the revival round. Now, round two begins."