The Approaching Extinction of Soul Beasts

The next day.

The morning light was faint, and soft rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, scattering slowly across the room in a scene of total peace.

Jiang Xiu finished his meditation and slowly opened his eyes. A glimmer of gold flickered within his purple pupils, looking quite extraordinary.

Master's Body Meditation Method is truly efficient. In two and a half weeks at most, I'll be able to break through to level fourteen.

Feeling the surging soul power within his body, Jiang Xiu thought with a refreshed spirit. After he returned from the Abyss Plane yesterday, his master, Mu Ye, had taught him the Body Sect's unique meditation technique, and he had since replaced sleep with meditation.

Compared to ordinary meditation methods, the Body Sect's technique was clearly more efficient. After all, it was the foundation of a sect, much like the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Technique.

Still, I need to establish a Legion Commander in the Abyss as soon as possible, or I'll be wasting too much time.

Jiang Xiu rose from the bed, stretching his limbs as he pondered.

Currently, he spent his days in the Douluo Plane and his nights in meditation. When he wasn't in the Abyss, his Shadow Legion couldn't expand, and he wasn't yet capable of multitasking.

Therefore, having an intelligent Legion Commander was essential. That way, even while he was cultivating in the Douluo Plane, his Shadow Legion could continue to grow.

After all, the Shadow Legion didn't need to rest. He could exploit them ruthlessly... becoming the number one exploiter of the Abyss.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Just then, a crisp knocking sound came from outside the room, followed immediately by Mu Ye's voice.

"Xiao Xiu, hurry up and get washed. We're heading to the Spirit Ascension Platform this morning; Tower Master Leng has already sent someone to remind us."

"Coming, Master."

Jiang Xiu replied loudly. After washing up, he took a set of clothes from his storage soul device and changed into a white martial outfit embroidered with cranes.

The soul device and the clothes inside had been purchased for him by Mu Ye yesterday and delivered along with the meditation method. After all, Jiang Xiu's assets had all vanished into ash during that Abyssal Tide, and his Federation card had yet to be replaced.

"Hmm, not bad. Very spirited, no loss of dignity."

Looking at himself in the mirror, Jiang Xiu nodded with satisfaction. The martial outfit paired with his handsome face gave him the air of a high-spirited youth.

After tidying up, Jiang Xiu followed Xiao Ling to the Spirit Pagoda for a meal. The Spirit Pagoda had already prepared a sumptuous breakfast for them, with every item being quite expensive.

"Tsk, this Earth Dragon Tendon isn't prepared properly. The heat was too high; it's a real waste of ingredients."

"Hmm, this Purple Jade Shrimp isn't bad, though. Disciple, eat more of this; it contains the power of vitality."

Mu Ye commented as he tasted the food, having already transformed into a veteran chef.

"Hey! Disciple, you have to sip the Purple Ginseng Porridge from the edge of the bowl; that's how you get the real flavor."

"Alright, the Vice Tower Master is already waiting for us at the Spirit Ascension Platform."

Han Tianyi, standing to the side, glared at Mu Ye with annoyance. His grand-nephew was good at everything, but he was obsessed with cooking and mecha.

Soon, the three finished breakfast and, led by Han Tianyi, headed toward the Spirit Ascension Platform at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters.

While passing through the main hall of the Spirit Pagoda, Jiang Xiu noticed a massive mural on the surrounding wall. It depicted a man and a woman—the founders of the Spirit Pagoda, Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao and his wife, Tang Wutong.

The original intention of the Spirit Pagoda was to reduce the conflict between soul beasts and humanity. Hmm... in a way, they've succeeded.

Jiang Xiu's eyes flickered as he thought to himself.

After all, the soul beast race was nearly extinct, so the conflict had naturally decreased. It was logical and sound.

He just wondered what Huo Yuhao would think if he saw the current state of the soul beast race.

Crossing the hall and entering the elevator, Han Tianyi took out a black-gold card and tapped it gently against the sensor area. The elevator descended automatically. When the doors opened again, Jiang Xiu found they had entered a circular metal room.

The room was entirely metallic, and a ring of massive soul guidance screens hung on the walls, flashing with various images. It looked like a world of green, resembling a jungle.

"Tower Master Leng, sorry to keep you waiting."

Mu Ye waved to greet Leng Yaozhu, who was already waiting there.

So it is as I thought.

Seeing Na'er beside Leng Yaozhu, Jiang Xiu thought contemplatively. He hadn't been wrong last night; Leng Yaozhu likely had other ideas.

"We only just arrived. Na'er also finished absorbing her spirit soul yesterday and needs to increase her soul ring age. How about she enters the Spirit Ascension Platform with Xiao Xiu?"

Leng Yaozhu's red lips curled slightly, her phoenix eyes filled with a smile as she spoke to Mu Ye, though her gaze swept over Jiang Xiu inadvertently.

"No problem. That way, the two can look out for each other, especially since it's the first time for both of them."

Mu Ye didn't see anything wrong with it and agreed heartily. Besides, they were currently eating the Spirit Pagoda's food and using their facilities; refusing outright would be too disrespectful.

Na'er looked at Jiang Xiu, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of surprise. Why did she feel that after just one night, there was an indescribable quality about him?

"Alright, then let's begin."

Leng Yaozhu waved her slender hand, and the metal wall split open. Two silver-white metal pods slid out slowly, stopping in front of Na'er and Jiang Xiu.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiu and Na'er walked inside and lay down as instructed. Immediately, instrument suction cups emerged from the surroundings, quickly attaching themselves to various parts of their bodies, fitting perfectly.

Last night, Mu Ye had already told Jiang Xiu about the various precautions for the Spirit Ascension Platform.

The Spirit Ascension Platform was a semi-virtual, semi-realistic world built by the Spirit Pagoda at great cost, containing countless soul beasts for human soul masters to absorb and spar with.

Furthermore, these soul beasts were not real; they were composed entirely of energy. Once a soul master killed them, they would turn into pure energy, increasing the soul master's soul ring age.

Since Jiang Xiu and Na'er were both one-ring soul masters, they were entering the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform. It was suitable for soul masters below the Soul Ancestor level, containing mostly ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts, with the occasional thousand-year soul beast appearing.

"Remember, if you encounter danger, press the distress signal on your arm immediately."

As Leng Yaozhu's voice rang out, the hatch above Jiang Xiu and Na'er slowly closed, retracting back into the metal walls, and the surroundings instantly plunged into darkness.

Once the two had entered the metal walls, only Leng Yaozhu and the other two remained in the spacious, circular metal room.

"Your Excellency Body, Jiang Xiu's martial soul shouldn't just be a body martial soul, right? I just wonder if his other martial soul is the Sun, the Silver Moon, or perhaps the nearly extinct Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon?"

Seeing that Jiang Xiu and Na'er had successfully entered the Spirit Ascension Platform, Leng Yaozhu turned her head, her gaze shifting toward Mu Ye as she asked softly with a hint of implication.

"Hm? What does Tower Master Leng mean by this?"

Mu Ye's eyes narrowed as he asked in a flat tone; he was not surprised that Leng Yaozhu had been able to investigate Jiang Xiu's identity.

"Do not worry, this Tower Master bears no ill will. I merely guessed that as a descendant of the Sun-Moon Imperial Family from ten thousand years ago, Jiang Xiu would likely inherit one of their three great martial souls. It seems my guess was correct."

Leng Yaozhu's red lips curled into a faint smile.

"I trust Your Excellency Body is also aware of that royal upheaval from ten thousand years ago."

"Of course. After all, that event is closely linked to the founder of your Spirit Pagoda, the Spirit Ice Douluo."

Mu Ye glanced at the senior uncle beside him, then gave a slight nod.