Before Entering the Spirit Ascension Platform, There Are Even Little Gifts?

Elsewhere, Shen Yi clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention to herself.

Looking at the vibrant young boys and girls before her, a gentle smile curved her lips.

"All right, now that the class officer positions have been decided, and no one has any objections."

Shen Yi's voice was crisp and pleasant.

"Then, as your homeroom teacher, I will honor our previous agreement."

"I'll take you to experience the Spirit Ascension Platform!"

"Yeah—!!!"

Cheers immediately erupted from the students.

Anticipation glimmered in Huo Yu Hao's eyes as well.

He had only watched the previous virtual-space battle from outside and had never experienced such high-tech equipment. With this Spirit Ascension Platform, he should finally be able to experience it properly, right?

Following Shen Yi, the group passed through a corridor filled with a metallic feel and arrived at a silver building in the academy's core district.

The hall here was exceptionally spacious. Light simulating a starry sky shimmered across the domed ceiling, while rows of Virtual Pods stood neatly arranged, emitting a faint blue glow. They looked somewhat different from the Virtual Pods in the virtual space, but both had a distinctly technological feel.

"This is the Spirit Ascension Platform."

Shen Yi stopped and turned to face the group, beginning her introduction.

"It is divided into three levels."

"The Primary Spirit Ascension Platform, the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform, and the Advanced Spirit Ascension Platform."

Shen Yi raised three fingers.

"The Primary Spirit Ascension Platform is where we'll be going today. Only soul masters below four rings are permitted to enter it."

"As for the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform and the Advanced Spirit Ascension Platform, it isn't time for you to learn about them yet. When the time comes, I'll explain them to you."

Huo Yu Hao was extremely excited.

"Raising soul ring age..."

He silently repeated those words in his heart. He just did not know whether it would have much effect now that he already possessed a million-year soul ring from Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

"It definitely won't be much. I'm a million-year soul ring, after all."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said narcissistically.

"All right, do you understand the rules?"

Shen Yi swept her gaze around the room.

"We understand!"

Everyone answered in unison, rubbing their hands together as though they could not wait to jump into those silver pods.

"What's the rush?"

Shen Yi could not help smiling at these impatient students.

"Before you go in, as your homeroom teacher, and also to celebrate the official establishment of our class."

"I have a welcome gift to give you."

"A welcome gift?"

At those words, everyone froze for a moment.

They looked at one another, hardly believing their ears.

Had they not already received the Enrollment Gift Pack when they enrolled?

They had been incredibly satisfied with that gift, especially the Black Steamed Bun. Many of them had not even finished digesting it yet. It was definitely something good.

And now she intended to give them more good things?

Was this really an academy? It kept handing good things to its students. This was simply too wonderful, wasn't it?

Huo Yu Hao felt the same way. Back at the White Tiger Duke Mansion, he had not even known where his next meal would come from. Yet after arriving here, favor after favor had come his way. It felt like a dream. This was simply too wonderful, wasn't it?

"This is also a gift from Dean Lin. Please make sure to cherish it."

With that, Shen Yi flipped her wrist. A flash of light appeared in her palm, and a handful of glittering golden beads appeared.

Each bead was the size of a longan fruit, entirely a soft pale gold, with a faint halo flowing across its surface.

The instant these beads appeared, a pure, gentle spiritual ripple carrying the scent of the sea spread throughout the entire hall.

Merely breathing in that aura made the students present feel their Brains clear. The fatigue brought on by battle and tension vanished at once.

"These are..."

Everyone craned their necks curiously.

Shen Yi did not explain right away, merely smiling faintly.

She gently tossed the handful of Golden Pearls into the air.

"Rise."

As she softly uttered that word.

The pearls, which should have scattered across the floor, hovered steadily in midair!

Immediately afterward.

Shen Yi flicked her finger.

"Go."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The golden pearls transformed into streaks of golden light and flew with perfect precision toward every student present.

When they reached the students, they instantly slowed down, hovering steadily an inch above each outstretched palm before gently descending.

This extraordinarily delicate control of Soul Power astonished the students once again.

"This is also one way Soul Power can be used."

Seeing their astonished expressions, Shen Yi took the opportunity to teach them on the spot.

"Don't think Soul Power can only be used to release soul skills."

"Martial souls and soul skills certainly make soul masters powerful, but how they are used is what truly determines the extent of that power."

"You will need to learn these things later as well."

Everyone nodded thoughtfully, their gazes toward Shen Yi carrying even more admiration.

So this was what a teacher from the real Shrek Academy was like?

With a casual gesture, she gave a textbook-level demonstration.

"Spiritual attribute... such pure spiritual energy!"

Huo Yu Hao's attention quickly settled on the warm golden pearl in his hand.

Intense curiosity flickered in his azure Spirit Eyes.

As a spiritual-type soul master, he was especially sensitive to this kind of energy.

The spiritual power contained in this pearl was unbelievably pure! There were no impurities whatsoever, and it was remarkably gentle.

"Yu Hao! Yu Hao!"

At that moment, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's excited voice suddenly rang out in Huo Yu Hao's Sea of Consciousness.

The giant worm, usually so lazy, was now rolling around excitedly in the Sea of Consciousness.

"This thing will be an enormous tonic for your Spirit Eyes! A super tonic!"

Hearing Sky Dream Ice Silkworm say that, Huo Yu Hao's heart began pounding wildly.

Something even Brother Sky Dream called an enormous tonic?

Just how precious was it?

Although the other students did not have a cheat-like advantage such as Sky Dream Ice Silkworm to remind them, they could all sense that this item was extraordinary. Each of them cradled it in their palms, afraid of dropping it.

"Teacher Shen, wh-what exactly is this?"

Xiao Xiao could not help asking.

Seeing how worldly inexperienced they looked, Shen Yi smiled and explained.

"These are Golden Pearls."

"They also have a more beautiful name—Mermaid's Tears."

"Golden Pearls? Mermaid's Tears?"

Everyone looked at one another. Clearly, they had never heard of them.

Shen Yi nodded and continued her explanation.

"Golden Pearls are formed from the tears shed by a Sea Princess when she is overwhelmed with grief. Every one of them contains a portion of a Sea Princess's spiritual essence."

At this point, Shen Yi's tone became slightly more serious as she emphasized her next words.

"Their value is immeasurable."

"If an ordinary person, even a mortal without Soul Power, obtained a Golden Pearl..."

"They could not only awaken their intelligence and become exceptionally clever."

"They could also nourish their spirit, extend their lifespan, and live to a hundred!"

"Whoa—!!!"

The moment they heard phrases like "live to a hundred" and "awaken intelligence," cries of astonishment erupted from the crowd.

This was practically a legendary immortal pill!

For soul masters, extending one's lifespan might not be much. But for ordinary people, this was a divine treasure capable of defying fate!

And Shen Yi had given every one of them a pearl?

"Th-this is far too precious, isn't it?"

Wang Dong'er looked at the pearl in her hand, her hands trembling slightly.

She was really just giving them something this valuable?

Seeing their stunned expressions and reluctance to accept it, Shen Yi's smile grew even brighter.

"You already think this is precious?"

Shen Yi shook her head with a smile, her tone carrying a touch of nonchalant extravagance.

"Just take it."

"As long as you enter Shrek Academy and become one of us."

"The academy has both the obligation and the ability to provide you with the best resources and train you into powerful individuals capable of standing on your own."

"Here, resources... are the last thing you need to worry about."

Shen Yi pointed to the technologically advanced hall around them and declared grandly.

"We lack neither money nor treasures."

"As long as you perform well in your future cultivation and bring honor to the academy, forget Golden Pearls. Even higher-grade heavenly treasures and earthly materials are things the academy can afford to give you!"

Her words set everyone's blood boiling.

What did it mean to be absurdly wealthy? This was it!

Here, even students from less fortunate families did not need to worry about living expenses at all. They could devote themselves completely to cultivation and growing stronger.

Some people possessed decent talent, but because their families were poor, they spent most of their time earning money instead, wasting much of the time they should have spent cultivating and ultimately living ordinary lives.

The Huo Yu Hao of the original story had been the same. After school, he had spent time grilling fish to sell, losing a great deal of cultivation time. If he had not possessed enough cheat-like advantages, an ordinary person would probably have exhausted their talent long ago.

Huo Yu Hao tightly gripped the Golden Pearl in his hand, warmth welling up in his heart.

Mother... if you were still alive, would using a pearl like this have allowed you to live to a hundred?

Though he felt some regret, his gratitude toward this academy had reached its peak.

Shen Yi clapped her hands, signaling everyone to come back to their senses.

"Although these Golden Pearls are precious, they are very simple to use."

"They can directly and purely strengthen and nourish your spiritual power, without causing any side effects."

Shen Yi pointed to her forehead.

"Now, everyone, sit cross-legged."

"Place the Golden Pearl against the center of your forehead."

"Calm your minds and focus your spirits. Use your Soul Power to guide the energy within it."

"I will guard you from the side."

"Begin!"

At Shen Yi's command.

All thirty-two students sat down cross-legged on the smooth metal floor without the slightest hesitation.

Huo Yu Hao took a deep breath, calming his excited emotions.

He slowly closed his eyes and gently pressed the warm Golden Pearl against his forehead.

The next second, a vast, cool energy gently entered his Sea of Consciousness.