The next day.
The morning light was faint. Soft rays filtered through the curtains and slowly spilled into the room, bathing everything in peace.
Jiang Xiu finished meditating and slowly opened his eyes. A glimmer of gold flickered in his purple irises, lending him an almost otherworldly air.
"Master, this Body Meditation Method really is efficient. In at most two and a half weeks, I'll break through to level fourteen."
Feeling the abundant Soul Power within him, Jiang Xiu thought with renewed energy. After he returned from the Abyss Plane yesterday, his master Mu Ye had taught him the Body Sect's exclusive meditation method. Jiang Xiu had also begun meditating instead of sleeping.
Compared to ordinary meditation methods, the Body Sect's was clearly much more efficient. After all, this was the foundation of a sect, just like the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill.
"But I should establish a legion commander over in the Abyss as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'll be wasting too much time."
Jiang Xiu got out of bed and stretched as he pondered.
He spent the day in the Douluo Plane and still had to meditate and cultivate at night. While he was away from the Abyss, his Shadow Legion couldn't expand, and he still couldn't split his mind three ways.
So having an intelligent legion commander was essential. That way, even while he cultivated in the Douluo Plane, his Shadow Legion could keep growing.
After all, the Shadow Legion didn't need rest. He could squeeze them dry... become the first person to exploit the Abyss.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just then, a crisp knock sounded outside the room, followed by Mu Ye's voice.
"Xiao Xiu, hurry up and get up and wash. We're going to the Spirit Ascension Platform this morning. Tower Master Leng has already sent someone to remind us."
"Coming, Master!"
Jiang Xiu called back loudly. After washing up, he took some clothes from his Storage Soul Tool and changed into a white outfit embroidered with a crane.
Mu Ye had bought the Soul Tool and clothes for him yesterday and brought them over along with the meditation method. After all, Jiang Xiu's entire fortune had been wiped out in that Abyssal Tide, and he hadn't yet gotten a replacement Federation card.
"Hmm, not bad. You look sharp. You're dressed for the occasion."
Looking at himself in the mirror, Jiang Xiu nodded in satisfaction. The outfit, paired with his handsome face, gave him the air of a spirited young man ready to take on the world.
Once he was ready, Jiang Xiu followed Xiao Ling to the Spirit Pagoda for a meal. The Spirit Pagoda had already prepared them a lavish breakfast, every dish expensive.
"Tsk, this Earth Dragon Tendon isn't done right. It's overcooked. What a waste of ingredients."
"Hmm, these Purple Jade Shrimp are pretty good. Eat plenty, disciple. They're rich in Bloodline Power."
Mu Ye sampled the dishes and commented on them, fully transformed into a master chef.
"Hey, disciple, you should sip this Purple Ginseng Porridge around the edges. That's how you get the most flavor."
"All right, the deputy tower master is already waiting for us at the Spirit Ascension Platform."
Watching him, Han Tianyi rolled his eyes in exasperation. His martial nephew was excellent in every way, except that he was utterly obsessed with cooking and mechas.
Soon, the three of them finished breakfast and, led by Han Tianyi, headed to the Spirit Ascension Platform at the Spirit Pagoda's headquarters.
As they passed through the Spirit Pagoda's lobby, Jiang Xiu noticed an enormous mural on the wall. It depicted a man and a woman—the Spirit Pagoda's founders, Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao and his wife, Tang Wutong.
"The Spirit Pagoda was founded to reduce conflict between Soul Beasts and humanity. Hmm... to some extent, it's succeeded."
Jiang Xiu's eyes flickered as he thought to himself.
After all, the Soul Beast Clan was nearly extinct, so naturally there was less conflict. Perfectly reasonable.
He wondered what Huo Yuhao would think if he saw the state of the Soul Beast Clan now.
They crossed the lobby and entered an elevator. Han Tianyi took out a black-and-gold card and lightly touched it to the sensor. The elevator automatically descended. When its doors opened again, Jiang Xiu found that they had entered a circular metal chamber.
The room was still entirely made of metal, and a ring of enormous Soul Guidance Screens hung on the walls, displaying a variety of images. They all showed a green world, seemingly a jungle.
"Tower Master Leng, sorry for the wait."
Mu Ye waved to Leng Yaozhu, who had been waiting there, and greeted her.
"So that's how it is."
Seeing Na'er beside Leng Yaozhu, Jiang Xiu thought it over. He hadn't been mistaken last night; Leng Yaozhu clearly had something else in mind.
"We just got here ourselves. Na'er absorbed her Soul Spirit yesterday and also needs to increase her Soul Ring's age. How about letting her enter the Spirit Ascension Platform with Xiao Xiu?"
Leng Yaozhu's red lips curved into a faint smile. Amusement glimmered in her phoenix eyes as she spoke to Mu Ye, though her gaze casually swept over Jiang Xiu.
"No problem. That way, they can look out for each other. After all, it's the first time either of them has entered the Spirit Ascension Platform."
Mu Ye saw no issue with it and readily agreed. Besides, they were eating the Spirit Pagoda's food and using its facilities. Refusing outright would be too discourteous.
A hint of surprise flashed in Na'er's beautiful eyes as she looked at Jiang Xiu. Why did it feel as if, after just one night, there was something about him she couldn't quite put into words?
"Good. Let's begin."
Leng Yaozhu gave a slight wave of her hand. The metal wall split open, and two silver-white metal pods slowly slid out, stopping in front of Na'er and Jiang Xiu.
Jiang Xiu and Na'er stepped inside and lay down as instructed. One by one, suction-cup instruments emerged from around them, swiftly attaching to various parts of their bodies and fitting tightly into place.
The previous night, Mu Ye had told Jiang Xiu all the important things to know about the Spirit Ascension Platform.
The Spirit Ascension Platform was a semi-virtual, semi-real world that the Spirit Pagoda had spent immense resources constructing. It contained countless Soul Beasts for human Soul Masters to absorb and spar against.
These Soul Beasts weren't real, but were made entirely of energy. After a Soul Master killed one, it would dissolve into the purest energy, increasing the age of the Soul Master's Soul Ring.
Jiang Xiu and Na'er were both One-Ring Soul Masters, so they would enter the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform. It was intended for Soul Masters below the Soul Ancestor level. Most of the Soul Beasts inside were ten- or hundred-year Soul Beasts, though a few thousand-year ones occasionally appeared.
"Remember, if you encounter danger, press the emergency signal on your arm immediately."
As Leng Yaozhu spoke, the pod lids above Jiang Xiu and Na'er slowly closed and retracted into the metal walls. Darkness instantly swallowed the room around them.
Once the two had entered the metal walls, only Leng Yaozhu and the other two remained in the spacious, circular metal chamber.
"His Excellency Body, Xiao Xiu's Martial Soul shouldn't be only a Body Martial Soul, right? I wonder whether his other Martial Soul is the Sun, the Silver Moon, or perhaps the nearly extinct Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon?"
After seeing Jiang Xiu and Na'er enter the Spirit Ascension Platform safely, Leng Yaozhu turned her graceful head and looked at Mu Ye, asking softly with a pointed tone.
"Hmm? What do you mean by that, Tower Master Leng?"
Mu Ye's eyes narrowed as he asked coolly. He wasn't surprised that Leng Yaozhu had uncovered Jiang Xiu's identity.
"Don't worry. I mean no harm. I'm only guessing that Xiao Xiu, as a descendant of the Sun-Moon Imperial Family from ten thousand years ago, would inherit one of its three great Martial Souls. It seems I guessed right."
Leng Yaozhu's red lips curled into a slight smile.
"I'm sure His Excellency Body knows about the imperial upheaval ten thousand years ago."
"Of course. After all, that event was closely connected to the Spirit Pagoda's founder, Spirit Ice Douluo."
Mu Ye glanced at his martial aunt beside him, then nodded slightly.
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