Chen Zhou calmly accepted the access card Su Xin handed him.
He planned to take Na'er with him. Na'er's strength hadn't improved as dramatically as Chen Zhou's, but she had now reached Level 20, with Soul Power around Level 25 or 26.
Given her strength, the two of them would have no problem entering the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform together.
However, after thinking it over, Chen Zhou decided to ask for a third spot for Xie Xie.
Xie Xie had a good personality, and after spending so much time together, the two of them had become good friends.
Chen Zhou didn't think there was anything wrong with giving him a spot and helping him raise his Soul Ring's age to a thousand years.
"Could you get me one more spot? I have another classmate who wants to go."
Chen Zhou spoke casually, and Su Xin nodded just as calmly.
The Spirit Pagoda had organized the whole thing, so a few spots were nothing to them.
Su Xin didn't hesitate. She took another card from her pocket and handed it to Chen Zhou.
"Of course, Young Tower Master. If you need anything else in the future, just let me know."
"I'll take my leave now and won't disturb you two while you eat."
After speaking, Su Xin smiled at them both, then turned and left, her expression calm.
After the meal, Chen Zhou took Na'er out for a stroll.
The two of them hadn't been under much training pressure lately. At Chen Zhou's current level, he only needed to improve gradually, so he wasn't under much pressure.
The Riot Spirit Ascension Platform would open in four days, and Chen Zhou spent those four days making some preparations.
After all, he had been to the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform several times, while Na'er had no experience with it at all.
Na'er was currently a two-ring Soul Master, and her combat strength was no weaker than that of a three-ring Soul Master.
However, by this stage, Na'er had recovered most of her memories.
So although the little girl still looked as obedient as ever, a trace of sorrow could now occasionally be seen in her eyes.
Chen Zhou knew Na'er would be leaving soon, but he didn't understand Gu Yuena's intentions.
He didn't know whether Gu Yue would come to find him after the two of them separated, or whether she would still go looking for Tang Wulin.
Chen Zhou didn't know what to say about it, let alone how to bring it up with Na'er, so the matter was left unresolved.
The four days flew by. Early one morning, Chen Zhou was sitting and eating breakfast when the door opened. Su Xin respectfully gestured for someone to come in, and Xie Xie walked inside, scratching his head.
Xie Xie didn't seem fazed by the enormous living room. He plopped down nearby.
He hadn't been to the Spirit Pagoda often, since Chen Zhou didn't like inviting people into his territory.
But Xie Xie did come by once or twice when he had time, so the place wasn't entirely unfamiliar to him.
Looking at the food Chen Zhou was eating, he glanced awkwardly at Su Xin, then asked for a serving of his own.
Su Xin was very courteous to the Young Tower Master's only friend. She nodded, then went to prepare the food.
As the three of them ate, Xie Xie glanced around between bites.
"Brother Chen, we're going to that Riot Spirit Ascension Platform this time, right?"
"My mom told me to stick close to you and do as you say."
Xie Xie sounded a little bewildered. He couldn't figure out what his mother meant.
He already listened to Chen Zhou, but this time his mother had told him to stay right by Chen Zhou, not to get any other ideas, and not to act recklessly.
It had left Xie Xie confused.
Since he'd been spending time with Chen Zhou lately, Xie Xie had made it to the two-ring level, even though Chen Zhou hadn't gone out of his way to share any resources with him.
His mother had survived, and he'd kept up with his cultivation, so he had reached the two-ring level as well.
He had only just barely broken through, but he was still a proper two-ring Soul Master.
It was only natural for him to feel a little proud under the circumstances, but Chen Zhou didn't mind.
After finishing his meal, Chen Zhou gently wiped his mouth, then reached over and patted Na'er on the head.
"Don't rush. Take your time."
"We still have a while before the Spirit Ascension Platform opens. We can go in a little later."
Chen Zhou's voice was gentle, but Na'er shook her head. She immediately began eating at top speed, polished off the rest of her food, then patted her little belly and looked at Chen Zhou with innocent eyes.
Seeing Na'er's adorable expression, Chen Zhou wore a rare trace of helplessness. He stood up.
"If you're done eating, let's get going."
Chen Zhou led the way out, with Na'er and Xie Xie following behind him.
Their luxurious Hibernation Pods were on the twentieth floor. By the time they arrived, another Hibernation Pod had been added, prepared especially for Xie Xie.
"This one's been prepared for you. You'll be in there for two months. All you have to do is raise your current Soul Ring to a thousand years."
Chen Zhou pointed at the Cultivation Pod. Xie Xie's face fell, but there was nothing he could do about Chen Zhou.
Over the past two years, Chen Zhou had grown more and more stern. Sometimes, Xie Xie was even a little afraid to talk to him.
"Okay, Brother Chen. Let's get started. I've never seen a Riot Spirit Ascension Platform before."
"Don't rush. I'll explain what the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform is like."
As he spoke, Chen Zhou pointed at the other two Hibernation Pods, then sat down inside his own.
"You've both been inside the Spirit Ascension Platform before. The biggest difference between the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform and the regular one is that the riot version is home to many powerful creatures, and the Soul Beasts already there will mutate as well."
"In that state, the Soul Beasts won't care whether they live or die. They're much harder to deal with and far more challenging."
As he spoke, Chen Zhou pointed at the distress button on his hand. "Also, the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform requires at least 20% damage simulation. Otherwise, if you run into certain special creatures, the system might judge you dead on the spot."
"If you die with the damage simulation set to 20%, it will have a serious effect on you."
"And the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform is different from the regular one. The regular platform is mostly populated by Ten-Year Soul Beasts, while the riot version has many Hundred-Year Soul Beasts, and those Hundred-Year Soul Beasts are terrifyingly strong."
Chen Zhou's eyes held a trace of gravity. Xie Xie scratched his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"Brother Chen, if it's like that, why are we going into the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform?"
"It sounds so dangerous. What's the point of going in?"
Xie Xie knew a little about the regular Spirit Ascension Platform, but this was his first time hearing about the riot version. He was curious, but even more confused.
At Xie Xie's question, Chen Zhou looked at him calmly. His usually indifferent eyes held a rare trace of greed.
"Because the Soul Ring age increases much faster in there. You can raise your Soul Ring's age in a short amount of time."
"The spiritual energy is absorbed many times faster in there than it is outside, which can save you a great deal of time."
After finishing, Chen Zhou's eyes flickered slightly.
Before, because he didn't dare reveal the full extent of his strength, he'd been somewhat constrained when facing groups of three or four three-ring Soul Masters.
But now that he had reached the three-ring level, being invincible among his peers was no longer a problem.
Under these circumstances, he stood to gain far more by entering the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform.