Entering the Spirit Ascension Platform

Leng Yaozhu chatted with Juggler for a while, handed him a Spirit Soul ball, and then turned her gaze toward Lan Kai, her eyes revealing a keen interest.

"Is this your personal disciple? He truly possesses an extraordinary power of light, and he seems quite adaptable to fire-attribute energy as well. No wonder you applied for this Spirit Soul on his behalf."

"It's nothing, his Martial Soul is just a bit formidable. Your personal disciple is the truly outstanding one; to be able to develop an elemental Martial Soul to such a degree, my own good-for-nothing student can hardly compare."

As Juggler spoke, he patted Lan Kai on the shoulder.

Faced with this mutual flattery, Leng Yaozhu merely smiled faintly without further comment, then shifted the topic:

"By the way, since you are bringing your personal disciple into the Spirit Ascension Platform today, why not kill two birds with one stone? How about we have them enter the Spirit Ascension Platform together?"

"No problem. Right, Lan Kai?"

Juggler agreed immediately, without bothering to seek Lan Kai's opinion.

Lan Kai could feel that if he dared to refuse, the Butt Grabber would surely make a comeback.

Beside Leng Yaozhu, Gu Yue, who had been somewhat disheartened by the failure of her plan to report him, immediately wore a look of astonishment.

She had to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform with this guy?

What a joke!

She instinctively wanted to object, but upon second thought, it didn't seem like such a bad idea.

Working behind closed doors, her research into the Ultra Slash had only yielded a knock-off that was fundamentally inferior to the original, and she hadn't even the slightest clue regarding the Specium Ray.

If she acted alongside Lan Kai in the Spirit Ascension Platform, she would have a way to further understand him, observe his movements and actions when he attacked, and thereby imitate all of his skills.

This even included the special light shield Lan Kai had used during the class advancement matches a few days ago.

As for Lan Kai's transformation, Gu Yue simply dismissed it as a rather peculiar Martial Soul True Body, ignoring it quite magnificently.

Thus, she immediately put on a polite smile and agreed.

"Teacher Juggler, how exactly do you and Deputy Pavilion Master Leng know each other? It feels like you are like-minded comrades-in-arms. Does she also know about the Dark Ring?"

As the group walked toward the room containing the simulation pods required to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform, Lan Kai couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"That's a long story; I'll tell you slowly when there's an opportunity later."

"Besides, it's not just Deputy Pavilion Master Leng; I've dealt with Pavilion Master Yun of Shrek Academy, those two Hall Masters of the Tang Sect, several generals of the Federation, and those fellows from the War God Temple as well."

Juggler didn't seem to want to talk about it right now, but he did reveal to Lan Kai that his connections were even broader than Lan Kai had imagined.

Lan Kai became even more curious. Since Juggler had already met so many people, why did he ultimately choose the Spirit Pagoda? Could it be that Leng Yaozhu had some wish she wanted to fulfill but couldn't, which happened to suit Juggler's tastes?

Soon, the group arrived at a room filled with a metallic atmosphere, which housed a clearly custom-made simulation pod.

This simulation pod looked more refined and complex than the other pods that resembled metal coffins; it featured many more pipes and circuits, giving it a more sci-fi appearance.

"Lan Kai, that is the dedicated simulation pod prepared for you. Remember, in the Spirit Ascension Platform, do not transform unless absolutely necessary."

Juggler pushed Lan Kai toward the specialized pod and reminded him.

Lan Kai immediately understood that this must have been specially designed by Juggler to allow him to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Although the spatial stability of the Spirit Ascension Platform itself was important, if the simulation pod—the "only way" to enter—could not withstand Lan Kai's Light of Orb, then Lan Kai would be unable to enter.

Presumably, crafting such a dedicated simulation pod must have consumed quite a bit of Juggler's energy.

Meanwhile, Gu Yue also lay down in a standard simulation pod nearby, casting a complex look at Lan Kai.

In her mind, two diametrically opposed thoughts were battling for dominance.

One was, "To go through such lengths to prepare a flashy, impractical simulation pod—this Lan Kai is likely just a hollow shell with no real substance."

The other was, "Lan Kai's light power must have some hidden mystery; it isn't just pure light elements, otherwise the people from the Spirit Pagoda wouldn't have needed to make such a big fuss preparing a dedicated pod and reinforcing the internal space of the Spirit Ascension Platform."

With Gu Yue's world-class intelligence, she couldn't decide which thought to believe, so she could only let them fight it out in her mind.

Perhaps she could consider developing her ability to multitask; since she could split her excess emotions and a portion of her power into Na'er, she might be able to train the Hell War God from Sea Tiger.

It was just that her Hell War God would likely be like that Evil Bai Wunan—the moment there was an opportunity, it would engage in infighting and take out her original self first.

Soon, both lay flat in their respective simulation pods. As a sense of weightlessness washed over them, they closed their eyes.

When they opened their eyes again, they had already appeared within the Spirit Ascension Platform. The location where they stood was a relatively clean patch of grass, with the nearest trees over ten meters away, forming a rare clearing in the woods.

In the Star Dou Forest mimicked by the Spirit Ascension Platform, such places were hard to come by, and this spot was clearly a relatively safe spawn point provided by the Spirit Pagoda for the Spirit Masters entering the platform.

After all, if a Spirit Master were ambushed and killed by waiting spirit beasts immediately upon entering, they would have no experience at all, and the reputation of the Spirit Pagoda would be ruined.

"...I didn't expect the technology of the Spirit Pagoda to be so advanced. My Light of Orb can also exert its power quite smoothly. It seems that even if I don't transform, I should be able to clear the entire primary Spirit Ascension Platform."

Lan Kai tried to condense an Ultra Slash in his hand, threw it upward to sever a few branches, controlled it to dissipate, and then fired an Arrow-shaped Beam at a nearby tree. Feeling the flow of his own energy during the process, he couldn't help but praise it.

Then, his arm was grabbed by Gu Yue with both hands.

"What was that move just now? A new Self-Created Soul Skill? How did you do it? How did you exert such great power using so few light elements?"

Gu Yue held Lan Kai's hand, staring at him with a curious expression.

The whole scene looked somewhat heartwarming, but Lan Kai only felt awkward.

Immediately, Lan Kai raised his other hand and fired another Arrow-shaped Beam.

The Arrow-shaped Beam flew over Gu Yue's shoulder and precisely blew up the head of a hundred-year Green Wolf not far away.

"Enough talk, let's deal with these spirit beasts first."