Mu Ye, What Are You Doing? Get Back to Work!

Hearing this, Leng Yaozhu picked up her teacup, her fingertips brushing against the rim. Her red hair slid from her shoulder, hanging over her off-white qipao like a cluster of burning flames.

Crimson feather patterns shimmered faintly at the collar and hem, trembling gently with her movements.

"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't beat around the bush; I have other things to attend to."

Her voice was gentle. She glanced at Phantom Brain Douluo; this fellow must have also set his sights on someone and was likely planning to notify the Body Sect.

Qiangu Dongfeng stopped tapping his fingers and looked up at the two. "So, what are your thoughts on the issue of allowing weapons into the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform?"

"I think it should be permitted," Phantom Brain Douluo said. "You can't ban soul guidance devices just because of one loss. These things aren't something an average soul master can possess."

"I agree." Leng Yaozhu set down her teacup, the base clinking crisply against the tabletop. "That child's identity is special. It's better not to forbid it; offending people is never good."

Qiangu Dongfeng fell silent for a moment, feeling that these two just wanted to see him suffer. Still, at most, it was only a hundred-year soul bone; even if absorbed, it couldn't possibly nurture anything outrageous.

"Then let's do this: replace the guardian of the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform with a thousand-year soul beast. A hundred-year soul beast won't be able to stop soul guidance devices. And don't give out a soul bone; give a cluster of spiritual energy instead."

"A thousand-year one? What about the others?"

"That's their problem! Let them win first! Put a ten-thousand-year soul beast in the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform to block the way as well."

Leng Yaozhu smiled, a hint of playfulness flashing in her red eyes. "Just say it if you don't want to give away a soul bone."

"And if I don't?" Qiangu Dongfeng's voice was cold. "This is, after all, a resource of my Spirit Pagoda; it's not something to be handed out so casually."

He spoke with high-minded arrogance at the moment. He wouldn't give the soul bone; after being hit by Xiao Mu's technological sanctions, he understood what it meant to suffer.

From now on, he would obediently use direct current and stay off the network, perhaps even dreaming back twenty thousand years for external communication.

The losses were too great.

After the meeting, Phantom Brain Douluo returned to his room.

He picked up his communication soul device, his fingers pausing on the buttons for a moment before he dialed a number.

"Mu Ye, take a trip to East Sea City."

"Uncle-Master, I don't do sea fishing."

"Who asked you to go fishing!"

"I've found a promising seedling with a Body Martial Soul. Go find him quickly. It would be best if you could help him with a second awakening of his martial soul. If you can use the acquired secret techniques, his combat power will definitely skyrocket."

The other end of the communicator fell silent again, followed by a soft chuckle.

"A Body Martial Soul? Then he's one of our own. I'll head over as soon as the Divine Craftsman finishes adjusting my condition."

"It will take that long?"

"Do you think the Spirit Pagoda will make a move so quickly?"

"No. Qiangu Dongfeng is watching his subordinates closely; how could he let other families poach people so easily?"

"Exactly."

Time flew by. At the academy, the eight students attended classes as usual. One morning, Xiao Mu watched as Tang Wulin finished his run and parted ways with the senior he had a crush on.

Ouyang Zixin walked toward the teaching building, her ponytail lifting gently in the morning breeze. Tang Wulin stood where he was, his gaze following her back until she disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Xiao Mu leaned against a plane tree by the playground, taking it all in.

He watched Tang Wulin walk over and teased, "Just can't bring yourself to speak~ to let her know in those simple few words~ I can't do it, my heart hanging in mid-air, I can only watch from afar..."

Tang Wulin turned his head abruptly, his earlobes turning red at a visible speed.

"Xiao Mu, I don't have those kinds of feelings for the senior..."

"If you like her, go confess. Don't be a coward. You're both soul masters; age isn't an issue," Xiao Mu couldn't help but say.

"But I..."

"You come to run every morning at six. This can't be a coincidence. You need to have confidence in yourself."

Tang Wulin lowered his head, the red from his ears spreading to his neck.

"Yo, isn't this our unrequited lover?" Xie Xie walked over from the other side of the playground. He reached Tang Wulin and hooked his arm around his neck, his face still wearing that signature, punchable grin.

"Xie Xie, don't mess around..." Wulin's voice was strained.

"Don't what?" Xie Xie interrupted him. "Xiao Mu is right. If you like her, go confess. You're in the Zero Class. If you like her, go chase her; don't be a coward."

He leaned in, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.

"I've already helped you scout it out; your senior likes..."

Xie Xie was truly a good brother, telling Tang Wulin most of the information about Senior Ouyang directly.

"How do you know?" Tang Wulin was stunned.

Xie Xie straightened up and looked left and right. "Didn't I help you go ask the upperclassmen?"

Xiao Mu raised an eyebrow, looking at Xie Xie and Tang Wulin. "Be more confident. Right now, you're quite the genius in Tianhai City."

As he spoke, he headed toward the teaching building. After a moment of thought, he stopped and added, "If you want, in the future, I'll bring a Barrett and accompany you to blow out someone's axle and snatch her for you."

Tang Wulin was full of question marks. That was illegal, right? Was the sky in East Sea City really this dark?

At this moment, Xu Xiaoyu was sneezing incessantly, feeling as if someone was coming to snatch his sister away.

Xiao Mu received a message from Xu Xiaoyan while on his way to the classroom.

The communicator vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a line of text pop up on the screen: "Xiao Mu, my brother and I are going to participate in the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform. Do you want to join us?"

Xiao Mu's footsteps faltered. His fingertip hovered over the screen for a moment before he typed out three words: "No team-ups."

Send.

He tucked the communicator back into his pocket and continued on his way.

On the other side, Xu Xiaoyan was fuming.

She sat on the edge of her dormitory bed, her pale blue hair sliding off her shoulder, clutching the communicator tightly in her hand.

On the screen, the three words "No team-ups" were like three cold nails driven into her line of sight.

"Xiao Mu, he actually rejected me!"

Xu Xiaoyu walked in from the door, his brows slightly furrowed, his long hair obscuring half of his cold and arrogant face.

"He actually dared to refuse. How dare he."

He walked to the window, his expression remaining icy. Even if Xiao Mu had agreed, he wouldn't have given him a pleasant look anyway.

If there was an opportunity, he would definitely beat him up.

By this time, Xiao Mu had already arrived in the classroom.

As expected, Wu Zhangkong announced the final exams today. "Your final exams will consist of two subjects. The first subject is the Spirit Ascension Platform."

"However, this time it will be different. You must persist for one hour within the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform."

"The Spirit Ascension Platform has two riot periods every year. Initially, this was caused by internal instability in the energy used to build the platform. Later, with the advancement of technology, the riot periods were brought under control and became a special feature. During the riot period, the soul beasts inside the Spirit Ascension Platform become exceptionally active, and their numbers increase. The danger level rises significantly."

"During the riot period, you may enter the Spirit Ascension Platform as a team, but no more than seven people. Therefore, you must split into two teams; whether or not you can regroup depends entirely on yourselves."

"Remember, inside, you may not only encounter soul beasts, but also other soul masters who have entered. To you, they are equally dangerous."

"This is because after a soul beast is hunted during the riot period, the time required to absorb the resulting spiritual power increases by a hundredfold. During this period, anyone can snatch it."

Xiao Mu listened quietly, pondering how to quickly eliminate his opponents. Setting the mountain on fire would be the fastest way, but it would be easy to accidentally injure his teammates.