The Wise Seek Strength Within, the Unwise Seek Strength Without

Three days of vacation!

Ever since joining the Zero Class, there had been almost no time off, so Zhang Yangzi and Xie Xie, the two slightly more restless youths, immediately jumped up in excitement.

"Awesome! We can finally relax a bit!"

Xie Xie couldn't help but cheer, giving Zhang Yangzi an excited high-five.

"Yeah! The training was making me go numb. We have to go to the commercial district and look around; I heard a new soul guidance game experience hall just opened..."

Zhang Yangzi chimed in with a beaming face, already beginning to fantasize about the wonderful time they would have on their break.

However, before the excitement of the two could even fade, they felt a cold gaze land on them like a physical weight, making the temperature of the surrounding air seem to drop by several degrees.

They turned their heads stiffly, meeting Wu Zhangkong's indifferent blue eyes.

Teacher Wu said nothing, just watched them quietly. His gaze was calm and rippleless, yet it made Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi fall silent instantly. Their previously jubilant expressions froze on their faces, like ducks whose necks had been pinched.

"Uh..."

Xie Xie gave a dry laugh, trying to salvage the situation, "Teacher Wu, what I meant was... during the vacation, I will also practice diligently and never slack off!"

Zhang Yangzi also quickly stood at attention and added with a straight face, "Yes, yes! We were just planning to go and conduct some... um... beneficial practical observation! Like going to the Great Soul Arena to watch matches!"

Wu Zhangkong's gaze lingered on them for two seconds, making their scalps tingle, before he slowly shifted it away and tossed out a cold remark: "After the vacation ends, physical training will be doubled."

"Ah?!"

Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi were instantly devastated, their faces collapsing.

Tang Wulin couldn't help but snicker on the side, only to be glared at resentfully by Xie Xie.

Gu Yue's lips also twitched slightly, as if she found it somewhat amusing.

Even Situ Xuan, who usually lacked expression, had a fleeting, almost imperceptible trace of amusement flash in his eyes when he saw the comical sight of these two falling from heaven to hell in an instant.

However, his thoughts quickly drifted away again, returning to his plans for the Rioting Spirit Ascension Platform.

Soul power level nineteen, still too slow...

He mused to himself, Three days isn't enough to break through the bottleneck, but it's enough to adjust my state to its peak and polish those few lethal moves once more.

"Dismissed."

Wu Zhangkong said no more, turned, and left, leaving behind a cold and aloof silhouette.

Once Teacher Wu left, the atmosphere in the classroom immediately became much more relaxed.

"It's all your fault!"

Xie Xie punched Zhang Yangzi, his face mournful, "Why did you have to mention the soul guidance game hall..."

"You were clearly the one who shouted it out first!" Zhang Yangzi retorted, unconvinced.

Tang Wulin smiled and smoothed things over: "Alright, alright. Anyway, we still have the vacation, so focusing on rest and cultivation is the right thing to do. Teacher Wu is right; the Rioting Spirit Ascension Platform will definitely be very dangerous."

Wang Jinxi nodded silently, indicating his agreement.

Gu Yue had already picked up her school bag, ready to leave.

Situ Xuan had risen even earlier, walking out of the classroom first without the slightest hesitation.

His vacation had ended from this very moment. He needed to use these precious three days to make perfect preparations for his "hunt" in the Rioting Spirit Ascension Platform.

Watching his departing back, Tang Wulin was lost in thought.

He always felt that Situ Xuan's attitude toward this Rioting Spirit Ascension Platform was different from everyone else's.

It didn't look like an exam; it looked more like a... long-awaited feast.

And in Situ Xuan's eyes, perhaps his teammates were just insignificant decorations on the dining table, or perhaps... bait used to draw fire?

Tang Wulin shook his head, suppressing this somewhat absurd thought.

Regardless, as a teammate, he would do his best to protect everyone.

Yet, at the mere thought of Situ Xuan's cold and focused gaze, a chill rose involuntarily in Tang Wulin's heart, along with a hint of indescribable anticipation.

This trip to the Spirit Ascension Platform would likely be far more... thrilling than he imagined.

Early in the morning, Eastsea City was shrouded in a veil of mist, the air damp and fresh.

The youths of the Zero Class were all awake, gathering in the dormitory hallway to prepare to head to the Spirit Pagoda.

Tang Wulin was the first to wake up. He held a cloth bag containing five vests that shimmered with a dull metallic luster, neatly folded.

This was the result of much effort, using his vacation time to forge them with thousand-refinement techniques. The cloud-titanium vests were thin and tough, providing decent defensive capabilities.

However, his gaze drifted from time to time toward the tightly shut door at the end of the hallway—Situ Xuan's room.

He had tried knocking and contacting him via the soul communicator, but it was like a stone sinking into the ocean; there was no response at all.

Finally, just before everyone was about to depart, the door creaked open.

Situ Xuan walked out, still in his simple training gear, with no extra items on him, as if he were just heading out for a routine training session.

His eyes were clear and cold, clearly having adjusted himself to his optimal state long ago.

"Situ."

Tang Wulin immediately walked up to him with a gentle smile on his face, opening the cloth bundle in his hands to reveal the Thousand-Refined Cloud Titanium Vests inside. "These are the Thousand-Refined Cloud Titanium Vests I prepared for everyone. The Spirit Ascension Platform scans us with instruments, creating a complete imprint of everything we have. By wearing these, everyone will have an extra layer of protection inside the Spirit Ascension Platform."

He picked up one of them and handed it toward Situ Xuan. "This one is yours."

His actions were sincere and natural, stemming entirely from his concern for his teammates.

However, Situ Xuan's gaze merely swept over the well-crafted vests before he shook his head.

"No need."

His voice was calm and ripple-free. There was no disdain for the gesture, nor was there any excessive explanation for his decision; it was as if he were stating the simplest of facts.

Tang Wulin's hand, still holding the vest, froze in mid-air. The smile on his face stiffened slightly as he asked with some confusion, "Why? Situ, the riot period is very dangerous. An extra layer of protection is always a good thing."

At this moment, Xie Xie, Gu Yue, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi, having heard the commotion, walked out of their respective rooms and happened to witness this scene.

Situ Xuan looked at the sincere confusion in Tang Wulin's eyes and, for once, said a few extra words, though the content remained concise: "External force is, in the end, an external object."

He paused, his gaze seeming to pierce through the vest in front of him to look toward something much further away. "The wise seek power from within; the unwise seek power from without. True security has always come only from oneself."

His meaning was clear: he believed only in the power, reflexes, and combat instincts he had honed himself.

Relying on external objects for defense might block a blow at a critical moment, but it could also lead to complacency, causing one to neglect the breakthrough of one's own limits and the instinctive perception of danger.

In Situ Xuan's view, this was nothing short of a weakness. Especially in the "real" simulated environment of the Spirit Ascension Platform, he needed to face the pressure head-on to gain the most effective tempering.

Having said that, he said no more, walking straight past Tang Wulin and heading down the dormitory building.

"Hey! Situ Xuan! What is that supposed to mean!"

Xie Xie couldn't stand it any longer. He stepped forward, feeling somewhat indignant on Tang Wulin's behalf. "Wulin stayed up all night out of the kindness of his heart to forge these vests for everyone. If you don't appreciate it, fine, but don't go spouting off sarcastic remarks!"