"They're the two geniuses Teacher Wu mentioned? Gu Yue, how did you know?"
Xie Xie was taken aback. Then he looked toward the two approaching them, fixing his gaze on Jiang Xiu. His eyes narrowed as he slowly uttered four words.
"Overwhelmingly imposing!"
"Oh? You can tell that just by looking?"
Tang Wulin raised an eyebrow and asked curiously.
"No, I can't see through either of their cultivation. If I can't see through them, they must be strong.
"They're here to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform too. Maybe we'll run into them inside. Then we'll find out whether they really are the strongest of their generation, as Teacher Wu said—or whether they're worthy of that title."
With his hands clasped behind his back, Xie Xie solemnly offered his assessment.
"I see. Still, we should focus on doing our best. True strength isn't about what comes first."
Tang Wulin spoke softly, but didn't take it too seriously. He hadn't even broken through to Soul Grandmaster yet, so there was no point in thinking too much about it.
Besides, Old Tang in his Sea of Consciousness had once told him that a fallen genius wasn't a genius—it was a corpse.
"Gu Yue, you're here too."
As the two talked, Jiang Xiu arrived with Na'er. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar faces before him, Jiang Xiu's gaze shifted slightly.
He hadn't expected to run into the members of Class Zero from Eastsea Academy today. The determined-looking boy, his Bloodline Power surging within him, had to be Tang Wulin.
"Mm, long time no see."
Gu Yue rose to her feet and smiled at Jiang Xiu.
"We just saw each other yesterday."
Na'er pouted and moved slightly in front of Jiang Xiu, her bright purple eyes fixed on Gu Yue.
Great King Na'er absolutely couldn't let Gu Yue get the slightest opening!
Steal her man? Not a chance.
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were both dumbfounded. When had Gu Yue gotten to know the genius Teacher Wu had mentioned? And from the looks of it, Gu Yue and the silver-haired girl were practically radiating hostility.
The two exchanged a glance, ready to enjoy the show.
"Xie Xie, didn't you say you wanted to challenge them? Well, they're here now."
Gu Yue chuckled at his words. She shifted her gaze from Na'er without a trace of reluctance, then spoke softly to Xie Xie, who was eagerly watching the drama unfold.
After returning last time, she had understood. She and Na'er hadn't seen each other for years, so Na'er, who had come thoroughly prepared, had caught her completely off guard. But that wouldn't happen again.
She would show Na'er through her actions that she couldn't protect anything.
"Huh? No, no! A friend asked me to ask them, that's all. Yeah, it was a friend of mine..."
Xie Xie realized he'd somehow become the target of the spectacle. Seeing Jiang Xiu glance his way, he hurriedly waved his hands and tried to explain.
Jiang Xiu didn't mind. His gaze merely brushed over Tang Wulin.
So he's already broken through the first seal on the Golden Dragon King Origin. Looks like I'll have to speed up my plans.
Thoughts roiled through Jiang Xiu's mind as he mused to himself. Tang Wulin would break through the second seal before the Shrek Academy assessment. Jiang Xiu had to extract the Golden Dragon King Origin from him as soon as possible.
He had already figured out how to extract it. But before that, he had to completely wear away the divine consciousness Tang San had left in Tang Wulin's Sea of Consciousness.
Only then would he be free to act.
It's time to make use of the Soul Beast Group. And I have to take full advantage of the Evil Soul Master incident aboard the Soul Guidance Train in the future.
Jiang Xiu went over his plans once more, methodically considering every detail.
But Tang God King, you don't seem willing to act. Then again, with Gu Yue, the Silver Dragon King, always by Tang Wulin's side, you must treasure your chances to make a move.
Seeing that nothing unusual had happened to Tang Wulin, Jiang Xiu's lips curved slightly. He slowly let his first and second Soul Skills, already poised to strike, settle back down.
That was within his expectations. Besides, Tang San had to save his last chance to trap the future Abyssal Sage King, giving Tang Hao the opportunity to destroy him. Otherwise, not only would the Ten Thousand Year Plan fail, the entire Douluo Plane would disappear, devoured by the Abyss Plane.
At that moment, standing off to one side, Gu Yue's dark eyes flashed with a cold glint. But after weighing things for a moment, she quietly concealed the Seven-Colored Dragon Scale in her hand.
Just then, she had sensed the divine consciousness inside Tang Wulin stir again. But this time, it hadn't made a move.
Xiong Jun was gravely injured, but you must have suffered too after being struck by Di Tian's Dragon God Claw.
Gu Yue sneered inwardly. The last time they'd fought, Xiong Jun had nearly perished, but Di Tian had struck back as well.
The Dragon God Claw was a supreme weapon bestowed upon the Black Dragon clan by the Dragon God long ago. It could even injure the divine consciousness of a god.
But what stirred you just now? Was it Jiang Xiu? This is getting more and more interesting. Looks like you're hiding a secret too.
Gu Yue's red lips curled. She was just about to look toward Jiang Xiu when she saw Na'er standing guard in front of him like a sentry.
"Gu Yue, I never thought you'd be the one to teach me the second lesson of my life."
Noticing that Jiang Xiu had looked away, Xie Xie went over to Gu Yue and spoke with indignation.
"What second lesson?"
Gu Yue raised an elegant brow, puzzled.
"Getting stabbed in the back!"
Xie Xie looked crestfallen.
"Kids, come over here. The Spirit Ascension Platform's riot period has begun. You'd better hurry."
The silvery metal doors opened, and Vice Pagoda Master Liu, whom Jiang Xiu had seen the day before, stepped out with a kind smile.
Normally, there was no need for him to personally oversee an ordinary visit to the Spirit Ascension Platform. But with Jiang Xiu and Na'er here this time, he had come of his own accord.
There was only one reason: he was desperate to advance further!
Soon, the group followed instructions and climbed into their Soul Guidance Pods. None of them was entering the Spirit Ascension Platform for the first time, so they were all familiar with the process.
Jiang Xiu closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was in the Spirit Ascension Platform's semi-virtual world.
"The energy in the Spirit Ascension Platform really is twice as strong during the riot period."
Looking at the lush, green world around him, Jiang Xiu carefully sensed his surroundings. From the forest ahead came the occasional roar of Soul Beasts and the sounds of fighting.
Since the Spirit Ascension Platform was in its riot period, many Soul Masters chose to enter at this time and gamble on increasing their Soul Ring's age.
Jiang Xiu didn't rush into the forest. Instead, he released the Dark Night Raven and sent it circling above the trees to scout out where the Soul Beasts were most concentrated, so he could sweep them all up at once.
He also had to wait for Na'er. The Spirit Ascension Platform in Eastsea differed somewhat from the one at the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters. When Soul Masters entered, they were sent to different locations.
But Na'er had said she had a way to find him, so he wasn't in a hurry.
"Jiang Xiu, I'm heeere!"
Before long, a voice like silver bells rang out. Na'er's petite figure appeared, riding atop a giant silver-white dragon.
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