The Wise Seek Strength Within; the Unwise Seek It Without

Three days of vacation!

Ever since entering Zero Class, they had rarely had any time off. Zhang Yangzi and Xie Xie, the two more restless boys, immediately jumped up in excitement.

"This is great! We can finally relax!"

Xie Xie could not help cheering as he eagerly high-fived Zhang Yangzi.

"Yeah! Training has nearly driven us stupid. We have to take a proper look around the shopping district. I heard a new Soul Guidance Game Experience Center just opened..."

Zhang Yangzi chimed in animatedly, already imagining the wonderful holiday ahead.

However, before their excitement could fade, they felt an icy gaze fall upon them with almost tangible force, as though the temperature of the surrounding air had dropped several degrees.

They stiffly turned their heads and met Wu Zhangkong's indifferent blue eyes.

Teacher Wu said nothing. He merely looked at them quietly. His gaze was calm and unruffled, yet Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi fell silent at once. Their previously exuberant expressions froze on their faces like ducks with their throats clamped shut.

"Uh..."

Xie Xie gave an awkward laugh and tried to salvage the situation. "Teacher Wu, what I meant was... during the holiday, I'll train diligently too. I definitely won't slack off!"

Zhang Yangzi hurriedly stood at attention and added solemnly, "R-Right! We were only planning to do some... um... practical observation that would benefit both body and mind! Like watching matches at the Great Soul Arena!"

Wu Zhangkong's gaze lingered on them for two seconds, making their scalps prickle, before he finally looked away and calmly tossed out a sentence. "After the holiday, physical training will be doubled."

"Ah?!"

Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi were instantly crestfallen, their faces collapsing in despair.

Tang Wulin could not help chuckling from the side, earning a resentful glare from Xie Xie.

The corners of Gu Yue's lips also twitched slightly, as though she found it amusing.

Even Situ Xuan, who usually showed little expression, had a faint, nearly imperceptible trace of amusement flash through his eyes at the comical sight of the two falling from heaven into hell in an instant.

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

Soul Power Rank 19 is still too slow...

He mused inwardly, Three days may not be enough to break through the bottleneck, but they are enough to adjust myself to peak condition and hone those killing moves a little further.

"Dismissed."

Wu Zhangkong said no more and turned to leave, leaving behind only a cool and aloof silhouette.

As soon as Teacher Wu left, the atmosphere in the classroom immediately relaxed considerably.

"This is all your fault!"

Xie Xie punched Zhang Yangzi, his face full of misery. "Why did you have to mention that Soul Guidance Game Center..."

"You were clearly the one who shouted first!" Zhang Yangzi retorted indignantly.

Tang Wulin smiled as he tried to mediate. "All right, all right. We still have a holiday to enjoy. Resting and cultivating properly is what matters. Teacher Wu is right—the Rioting Spirit Ascension Platform will definitely be very dangerous."

Wang Jinxi silently nodded in agreement.

Gu Yue had already picked up her backpack and was preparing to leave.

Situ Xuan had risen even earlier and was the first to leave the classroom without pausing in the slightest.

His holiday had already ended at that moment. He needed to use these precious three days to make thorough preparations for his "hunt" in the Rioting Spirit Ascension Platform.

Tang Wulin watched his departing figure thoughtfully.

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

It did not seem like an exam. It was more like a... long-awaited feast.

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

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

No matter what, as a teammate, he would do his best to protect everyone.

Still, whenever he thought of Situ Xuan's cold, focused gaze, Tang Wulin could not help but feel a chill rise within him, along with an indescribable hint of anticipation.

This trip to the Spirit Ascension Platform would probably be far more... thrilling than they imagined.

In the early morning, Eastsea City was shrouded in a veil-like mist, the air damp and fresh.

Yet the boys and girls of Zero Class had already risen and gathered in the dormitory corridor, ready to head for the Spirit Pagoda.

Tang Wulin had gotten up the earliest. He held a cloth bundle containing five vests, neatly folded and gleaming with a dull metallic luster.

These were Cloud Titanium Vests that he had forged through thousand-refinement during the holiday, after expending no small amount of effort. They were light yet durable and could provide considerable defensive power.

However, his gaze kept drifting toward the tightly shut door at the end of the corridor—Situ Xuan's room.

He had tried knocking and contacting him through Soul Guidance Communication, but both attempts had vanished without a trace, receiving no response whatsoever.

Finally, just before everyone was about to depart, the door opened with a creak.

Situ Xuan walked out, still dressed in simple fitted training clothes, carrying nothing extra, as though he were merely heading out for an ordinary training session.

His eyes were clear and cold. He had obviously adjusted himself to his best condition long ago.

"Situ."

Tang Wulin immediately walked over with a gentle smile. He opened the cloth bundle in his hands, revealing the Cloud Titanium Vests inside. "These are the Thousand-Refined Cloud Titanium Vests I prepared for everyone. When we enter the Spirit Ascension Platform, the equipment will scan us and copy everything about us perfectly. If we wear these, everyone will have an extra layer of protection inside the Spirit Ascension Platform."

He picked up one of them and held it out to Situ Xuan. "This one is yours."

His gesture was sincere and natural, entirely born from concern for his teammate.

However, Situ Xuan merely swept his gaze over the exquisitely crafted vests and shook his head.

"No need."

His voice was calm and without ripples. There was neither disdain for Tang Wulin's goodwill nor much explanation for his own decision, as though he were simply stating an undeniable fact.

Tang Wulin's hand, which held out the vest, froze in midair. The smile on his face stiffened slightly as he asked in confusion, "Why? Situ, the rioting period is dangerous. An extra layer of protection is always a good thing."

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

Seeing the sincere confusion in Tang Wulin's eyes, Situ Xuan unusually said a few more words, though his answer remained concise. "External strength is ultimately external."

He paused, his gaze seeming to pass through the vest before him and toward somewhere farther away. "The wise seek strength within; the unwise seek it without. True protection has always come only from oneself."

His meaning was clear. The only things he trusted were the strength, reactions, and battle instincts he had forged himself.

Relying on external defensive equipment might block an attack at a critical moment, but it could also breed complacency, causing one to overlook the need to break through one's own limits and dull one's instinctive awareness of danger.

In Situ Xuan's view, that was no different from weakness. Especially within a simulated "real" environment like the Spirit Ascension Platform, he needed to face pressure bare-handed in order to receive the most effective tempering.

After saying that, he spoke no more. He walked straight past Tang Wulin and headed downstairs.

"Hey! Situ Xuan! What do you mean by that?!"

Xie Xie could not stand it any longer. He stepped forward, angrily speaking up for Tang Wulin. "Wulin stayed up late forging vests for everyone out of the goodness of his heart. Fine if you don't appreciate it, but why make such snide remarks?!"