Setting Off for Eastsea, Overbearing Angel Falls in Love with Me, Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform

"Zhao Xuanzhen, let's go!"

Early morning, when the sky had only just begun to brighten, Zhao Xuanzhen's door was pounded on with a series of knocks. The young girl's clear, spirited voice revealed her cheerful mood.

"Coming, coming."

Zhao Xuanzhen opened the door. His clear black eyes reflected the pretty Na'er, with a hint of helplessness blooming within them.

"It's a trip! Why aren't you excited at all?" Na'er planted her hands on her hips, looking as though she hated to see him fail to live up to expectations.

"We trained diligently for four years, getting up early and staying up late every day. We had classes six and a half days a week, studied a Second Profession, honed ourselves in the Spirit Ascension Platform, and got tortured by the Real Illusion... Aunt Leng finally rewarded us with a vacation in Eastsea City, so you need to be more enthusiastic!

I spent half the night looking up guides on the Soul Net. Eastsea City truly deserves to be called a coastal tourist city. It has sunshine, beaches, sea waves, everything—and tons of local delicacies!"

Na'er had not changed her nature as a foodie. At the mention of food, she could not help swallowing, then looked at Zhao Xuanzhen expectantly with her large silver eyes sparkling.

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

"Oh?"

Zhao Xuanzhen sized Na'er up and easily noticed the changes in the young girl. Probably because she was going on a trip, Na'er had specially dressed up.

She wore a pure white fitted short dress and platinum gold crystal shoes. Her silver long hair was adorned with delicate accessories. Even Zhao Xuanzhen, who had grown used to Na'er, had to admit that she was outrageously beautiful today.

The Silver Dragon King Half Body possessed an unparalleled beauty that mortals simply could not compare with. Any intelligent lifeform that saw this young girl would lament God's favoritism. Only favoritism could create such beauty, one that came from the depths of her bloodline.

"Do I look good?"

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

"Not bad-looking."

"Tch! o(^｀)o"

Na'er gave a soft snort and pretended to be aloof, but a comic character was destined never to maintain an icy persona. She failed to keep it up for even a moment, and the upward curve of her lips betrayed the delight in her heart.

"Charge! Destination: Eastsea City!"

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

Leng Yaozhu had sent the two of them a Soul Guidance Communication message, telling them to meet in an open area today. Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er took the elevator down and walked out of the One Hundred and Eighth Floor of the Spirit Transmission Tower Headquarters, spotting a mature, graceful figure in the distance.

Sky Phoenix Douluo had changed into a black dress. Time never defeated a beauty; her snow-white skin was smooth and delicate, her bearing elegant and dignified, and her lush yet slender figure seemed sculpted with exquisite care. Even the slightest addition or reduction would have ruined those perfectly balanced 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 and soft. "There are too many people on a Soul Guide Train, and it is too slow. We have a better option."

After 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 stared up at the towering modern product of Soul Guidance Technology. Having both advanced their Second Profession to Level Four, they spoke in unison.

"A Black-Grade Mecha!?"

"A Black-Grade Mecha, Skyfire Phoenix." Leng Yaozhu smiled faintly. "Come aboard. A mecha is much faster than a Soul Guide Train."

Skyfire Phoenix was a Black-Grade Mecha personally built by Leng Yaozhu in her youth. As her own strength soared, the Black-Grade Mecha had gradually failed to keep pace with her growth.

All along, Leng Yaozhu had never considered upgrading Skyfire Phoenix. After all, even the highest-grade red-grade mecha was only equivalent to Three-Word Battle Armor and could not participate in the battles of a Four-Word Battle Armor Master Extreme Douluo.

Thus, Leng Yaozhu had simply modified Skyfire Phoenix into a flying vehicle. With two enormous Soul Forged Metal turbines and its eye-catching phoenix shell, this black mecha had once been considered a symbol of Sky 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 mecha. Its interior was wider than a living room, with sofas and coffee tables piled with snacks and drinks. The metal ground was covered by a gold-red Blazing Lion King fur carpet. Walking on it made no sound, while warmth surged from beneath their feet straight to the tops of their heads.

Skyfire Phoenix tore through the sky. Crimson tail flames burst from its exhaust ports, plowing a ravine through the sea of clouds that lingered for a long time. Its shriek at takeoff sounded exactly like Phoenix Chirping from a phoenix reborn in flames.

"So comfortable~ I love vacations!"

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

It would take several hours to fly from the Spirit Transmission Tower Headquarters to Eastsea City. Since this was a rare vacation, neither of them intended to cultivate during the journey. They each took out their Soul Guide Communicators and logged onto the Soul Net.

Zhao Xuanzhen generally only used the Soul Net to browse the news, while Na'er explored all sorts of things. She saw an extremely popular recommendation and excitedly said, "Zhao Xuanzhen, I found a new novel. Come take a look!"

"You switched books?"

Zhao Xuanzhen had already put away all the emotional turbulence from last night. He sat beside Na'er, his mood as steady as a still lake. "I remember the last one you read was Waste Material Sanpao's Counterattack: Holy Dragon Awakening.

In my previous life, I was Luo Sanpao, forever unable to break through to Soul Elder. My family and friends despised me, my enemies looked down on me, and even my fiancée, who had entered into a Marriage Contract with me, abandoned me.

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

It felt like someone was reading her profile signature right to her face. Na'er shot Zhao Xuanzhen an irritated glare and argued, "The useless-trash-reborn-for-revenge genre is outdated. This one is a sweet romance between two powerful leads!"

Holding up her Soul Guide Communicator in one hand, Na'er declaimed 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 Emperor Auspicious Beast!

That night, beneath dark skies and fierce winds, he pinned her against a wall. With an evil smirk, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, 'Stay with me, and even my life will be yours!'"

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

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

Though he looked like an elementary school student, he had the mental age of a seventeen-year-old genius high school student!

"Don't insult my taste!"

Na'er sensed intense malice in those seven words. Annoyed, she lightly bumped Zhao Xuanzhen with her shoulder, then looked dreamy again. "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 too strong. My defenses have been breached."

Na'er fell silent for a long while, staring at Zhao Xuanzhen with a complicated expression. This guy opened his eyes every day and immediately started being cutting. Up until now, she dared not purse her lips, afraid of poisoning herself.

Na'er was not the only one whose defenses had been breached. Upon hearing Zhao Xuanzhen's words, Leng Yaozhu, who was piloting the mecha in the front cabin, suffered a blow to the heart. She secretly reflected on the bitter first half of her life, then decisively resolved to double Zhao Xuanzhen's training tasks after the vacation!

Zhao Xuanzhen had no idea that he had stabbed two people in the heart. He kept talking freely. "I think you should keep your life and give him a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone instead. Any attribute is fine. Soul Masters these days are not picky."

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

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

"Sounds good."

"Aunt Leng, come have fun with us!"

The two enthusiastically discussed how to spend their vacation along the way. Then Na'er begged Leng Yaozhu to join them at the beach. Leng Yaozhu initially declined tactfully, but after Zhao Xuanzhen persuaded her, she ultimately could not bear to refuse them again and agreed to accompany them.

Skyfire Phoenix passed through the clouds and flew straight toward Eastsea City. Because Leng Yaozhu held exceptionally high special authority in the Sun Moon Federation, every city-defense detection system along the way allowed them through directly. 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. A light rain was falling over Eastsea City, the streams of rain leaving winding water trails as mist gathered over Skyfire Phoenix's metal wings.

Eastsea City was one of the locations of the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars. Though its prosperity paled in comparison to Shrek City, it was still one of the Sun Moon Federation's important eastern cities. Its streets stretched like veins toward every corner of the city.

"Look below. It seems Eastsea City's Spirit Pagoda has rolled out a red carpet for us." Zhao Xuanzhen chuckled.

Skyfire Phoenix descended through the air and headed for the open ground beside Eastsea City's Spirit Pagoda. The Spirit Pagoda personnel appeared to have received advance notice. Elite stewards stood in two orderly lines, while a stern-looking middle-aged man stood at the front, welcoming the distinguished guests aboard the black phoenix.

Like a true phoenix spreading its body, Skyfire Phoenix's feather-shaped tail thrusters spewed flames, violently tearing through the rain clouds as the shadow cast by its wings blanketed the ground.

"Sky Phoenix has arrived. Stay sharp, and don't embarrass yourselves!"

The middle-aged man spoke in a low, cold voice. He was the East Sea Tower Master, an old subordinate personally promoted by Leng Yaozhu, and he was leading the Spirit Pagoda's high-ranking stewards in formation to welcome her.

The instant Skyfire Phoenix landed, its reverse engines sprayed scorching radiance downward, drawing the attention of everyone from the Spirit Pagoda. Given Leng Yaozhu's status and wealth, even though it was merely a Black-Grade Mecha for transportation, it was nearly the most expensive Black-Grade Mecha beneath red-grade mechas. The hatch rotated open, steam and mist billowed forth, and three figures slowly emerged.

The middle-aged man drew a deep breath and bowed deeply. "Your subordinate, Lu Ming of the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda, pays respects to Sky Phoenix!"

"It has been a long time, Lu Ming." Leng Yaozhu nodded slightly.

The tower masters of the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars could be considered Regional Governors within the Spirit Pagoda system. As the East Sea Tower Master personally appointed by her, Lu Ming was one of the Phoenix Family's important supporters.

Under Lu Ming's leadership, Eastsea City's Spirit Pagoda normally provided services such as Soul Spirits and the Spirit Ascension Platform, while also recruiting talent for the Spirit Pagoda—or rather, for the Phoenix Family. The Elementalist Gu Yue had been recommended by him.

"I brought my disciples to Eastsea City for a vacation and, incidentally, to assess that girl named Gu Yue." Leng Yaozhu got straight to the point. "Where is Gu Yue now?"

"Reporting to Sky Phoenix, Gu Yue is a Zero Class student at Eastsea Academy. Today, Eastsea City's Spirit Ascension Platform entered a Riot Period, so the academy's 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 taking the two of them on vacation. She had never mentioned Gu Yue.

The world could not possibly be this small, could it? They had barely left the Spirit Transmission Tower Headquarters, and they were running into that old Gu Yue on the same day?

Upon hearing about the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform, a gleam flashed through Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes. He pinpointed the exact day on the Timeline: Tang Wulin had enrolled for half a year, Zero Class had been established for three months, it was the Final exam, and the East Sea F4 were meeting for the first time.

"Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform..." Leng Yaozhu pondered.

The Spirit Ascension Platform experienced two Riot Periods every year. Initially, they were caused by unstable energy, but with technological advancements, the Spirit Ascension Platform became controllable, and the Riot Period transformed into a special mechanism.

Once the Spirit Ascension Platform entered a Riot Period, the number of soul beasts greatly increased, and they became extraordinarily active. The danger inside soared, but Soul Masters could also kill more soul beasts and complete the ascension of their Soul Rings.

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

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

Na'er's little face scrunched up.

It was not fear. After spending four years in the human world, Na'er had already developed absolute humanity.

Back then, Ten Thousand Demon King had failed due to the many powerful figures in Shrek City, missing Gu Yue's only chance to forcibly merge 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 did not fear Gu Yue, but she did not want to see her again either. Humanity and beast nature were naturally incompatible.

"No."

Leng Yaozhu's tone was resolute, 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 Primary Spirit Ascension Platform.

"If you fail to kill it, I will arrange a Deep Sea Training session for you tomorrow."

Na'er immediately behaved herself and obediently entered Eastsea City's Spirit Pagoda. Zhao Xuanzhen remained silent throughout. Based on his understanding of Leng Yaozhu, he vaguely felt that his teacher had another purpose.

Killing the guardian of the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform was more important... That hundred-year Darkgold Fearclaw Bear?

Zhao Xuanzhen carefully considered it in his heart. Then, under the personal guidance of East Sea Tower Master Lu Ming, the two lay down inside metal chambers.

Before they officially entered, Lu Ming said solemnly, "Unlike normal times, the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform permits teams to enter. You two will be directly teleported together.

"Please be careful of the agitated soul beasts and remain wary of the other Soul Masters entering the Spirit Ascension Platform. When you hunt Riot Period soul beasts, the duration of spiritual power absorption is extended one hundredfold. Once you leave the Spirit Ascension Platform, any remaining spiritual power will be absorbed by nearby Soul Masters.

"At such times, humans are even more dangerous than soul beasts. To put it bluntly, aside from each other, every other Soul Master is your enemy."

The light gradually faded, and the instruments began scanning. Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er were teleported into the Spirit Ascension Platform, leaving only Leng Yaozhu and Lu Ming in the room.

"Lu Ming," Leng Yaozhu said lightly.

"Your subordinate is here."

"Have you finished what I entrusted to you?"

At those words, Lu Ming's heart seemed to tremble. Those treasures were rare in this world. To produce several of them at once, even Sky Phoenix Douluo, the Spirit Pagoda Deputy Tower Master, had to use indirect means. He hurriedly replied with utmost respect, "Your subordinate obeyed your orders. Those two soul beasts have been successfully deployed, replacing the hundred-year Darkgold Fearclaw Bear as the new guardians of Eastsea City's Primary Spirit Ascension Platform..."