First Entry into the Spirit Ascension Platform

"How on earth did he do it?" Zhang Yangzi clutched his chest, his face pale.

Wu Zhangkong's gaze shifted toward Situ Xuan, who had already reached the training ground entrance.

"This is the reason I wanted you to spar with him."

There was a hint of profound meaning in Wu Zhangkong's voice. "At Eastsea Academy, you are indeed geniuses. But in front of a true powerhouse, you are still far from enough."

Situ Xuan stopped at the doorway but did not turn back.

"Teacher Wu, I'll be heading off now." His voice remained lazy, yet carried an unquestionable sense of finality.

The doors to the training ground slowly closed, leaving the five of them staring at one another.

Tang Wulin looked down at his trembling hands; the radiance of his Golden Dragon Body had completely dissipated, but the sensation of being utterly suppressed remained deeply branded in his heart.

"Are we... really that weak?" There was unprecedented confusion in Xie Xie's voice.

Gu Yue shook her head gently: "It's not that we are weak; it's that he is too strong."

The physical enhancement and superior bodily constitution represented by his Body Martial Soul, combined with his bizarre fist techniques and combat skills that felt like life-or-death struggles...

In an era of peace, how could a ten-year-old boy possess such a will to kill?

Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi exchanged a glance, both seeing the same shock in each other's eyes.

Their martial soul fusion skill hadn't even managed to withstand a single move from Situ Xuan.

Wu Zhangkong watched his five students quietly, a flicker of complexity crossing his cold eyes.

"That's all for today's practical combat class."

He finally said, "Go back and reflect on today's battle. If you cannot even accept failure, then you will never be able to surpass him."

The five nodded silently and left the training ground, each dragging their exhausted bodies.

After the last person had left, Wu Zhangkong stood alone in the empty training ground, his gaze fixed in the direction Situ Xuan had departed.

"To possess such a level of combat skill at this age..."

He muttered to himself, "Situ Xuan, just how much strength are you still hiding?"

The lights in the training ground dimmed gradually, leaving only the wreckage scattered across the floor as a testament to the brief yet heart-shaking battle that had just occurred.

In a corner outside the training ground, Situ Xuan stood leaning against a wall, the bruise on his right eye appearing particularly striking under the moonlight.

His fingertips brushed lightly over the bruise, and a cold, sharp light flashed in his eyes.

"Not enough..."

He whispered, "Still far from enough..."

The Spirit Pagoda in Eastsea City was far from comparable to the one in Aolai City.

As one of the eighteen major branch towers of the Spirit Pagoda organization, these eighteen large-scale towers were also known as the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars.

This was the resource allocation provided by Eastsea Academy to the Zero Class of the first year.

The Spirit Ascension Platform!

In a sub-world like the Spirit Ascension Platform, Soul Masters who entered could kill the soul beasts within and absorb the spiritual light halos released by the dying beasts, which could be used to raise the soul limit of their soul spirits.

It was one of the pillars that allowed the Spirit Pagoda to stand tall across the entire Douluo Planet.

Likewise, the sub-world of the Spirit Ascension Platform contained abundant heaven and earth spiritual energy, making it the best environment for mimetic cultivation—though, of course, no one would pay the exorbitant price to cultivate inside the Spirit Ascension Platform.

When the six members of the Zero Class arrived at the main entrance of the Donghai Spirit Pagoda, it was clear the academy had made arrangements in advance.

As they walked up the steps toward the entrance, Dean Long Hengxu was already waiting there.

Seeing Wu Zhangkong arrive with them, Long Hengxu hurried forward: "Teacher Wu."

"Dean Long."

Exchanging a simple greeting, Wu Zhangkong remained expressionless.

Long Hengxu said: "Follow me."

Situ Xuan followed behind the group, bored and listless, appearing clearly out of place.

But it was obvious that Situ Xuan didn't care about that at all.

Exiting the elevator, they found themselves in a vast hall with over a dozen staff members.

Behind the hall were rows of metal-structured corridors.

Long Hengxu took out a uniquely styled card and handed it to one of the staff members.

The staff member didn't say a word, simply gesturing for them to follow as he led them toward one of the corridors.

After walking dozens of meters down the corridor, they entered another elevator.

They continued to descend; this time, the elevator stopped after only a dozen seconds.

When they emerged, they found themselves in a circular room.

The room was entirely made of metal structures, but a ring of massive soul guidance screens hung on the walls, flickering with various images that appeared to be a green world, resembling a jungle.

After simply listening to the staff's safety briefing, the first Spirit Ascension Platform journey for the six members of the Year One Zero Class officially began!

Taking the first step into this primeval forest felt like crossing an invisible barrier.

The suddenly dimming light, accompanied by a damp breeze carrying the scent of billions of lives, rushed toward them.

The air was so thick it was almost drinkable, a rich, mellow blend of humus, wildflowers, resin, and soil brewed repeatedly by the passage of time.

Looking up, the sky appeared fragmented and shattered.

Those giant trees, having grown for who knows how many centuries, stood like a group of silent giants, using their gnarled branches and lush canopies to collectively prop up a deep, green firmament.

Situ Xuan had only just opened his eyes, yet he was completely stunned by such a sight.

Such a natural landscape truly lived up to its reputation as a pocket world!

Situ Xuan had only just opened his eyes, yet he was completely stunned by such a sight.

The branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees were layered one upon another, cutting the sky into tiny, fragmented blue shards.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled light and shadows onto the ground covered in decaying leaves.

The air was filled with the scent of damp earth, mixed with the faint fragrance of some unknown wildflower, and the subtle, lingering aura of danger belonging to a primeval jungle.

He took a deep breath, feeling the abundant heaven and earth spiritual energy within this primeval forest.

The concentration of spiritual energy here far exceeded the outside world; it was no wonder the Spirit Pagoda used this place as the ultimate simulated cultivation ground.

Just as he was immersed in this primitive beauty, his right ear twitched slightly.

From the bushes three meters to his left came an extremely faint sound—the rustling of leaves being stepped on, mixed with the suppressed breathing of some creature.

Situ Xuan did not turn around, nor did his gaze shift even a fraction. He maintained his posture of looking up at the canopy, yet the muscles throughout his body had already quietly tensed.

Soul power circulated silently through his meridians, like a dormant viper.

It's here.

A black shadow lunged fiercely from the bushes!

It was a panther-type soul beast with a body entirely black, nearly two meters long, its streamlined frame brimming with explosive power. Its eyes glowed with a ghostly green light, and its sharp claws glinted with a cold sheen in the dim light.

A century-level soul beast, the Shadow Leopard.

Known for its speed, it was one of the most excellent hunters in this jungle.

At this moment, its blood-red maw was wide open, with viscous saliva hanging from its sharp fangs.

The angle of the Shadow Leopard's pounce was extremely tricky, targeting the exact blind spot of Situ Xuan's vision.

Its front claws aimed straight for the back of Situ Xuan's neck, the gust of wind it stirred already ruffling the bangs on the boy's forehead.

However, at the very instant the sharp claws were about to touch his skin, Situ Xuan moved.