They Set a Trap for Me! Testing Mental Power

The sun and moon rotated, night turned to day, and half a day passed quietly within the Spirit Ascension Platform.

"Boom!"

With a thunderous crash, a thousand-year Earth Bear collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust before slowly dissolving into earthy-yellow energy that drifted in mid-air.

"After absorbing this energy, the age of my first two soul rings has finally broken through the nine-thousand-year mark."

Na'er put away the Silver Dragon Spear, which still shimmered with a cold glint. She beckoned with her small hand, and as the energy fully integrated into her soul rings, a look of delight appeared on her fair, pretty face.

After a night of hunting, her first two soul rings had successfully increased from six thousand years to nine thousand years.

"The efficiency is high. In just one night, my soul ring age has reached the upper limit that my mental power can withstand."

Gu Yue, standing to the side, chuckled. Her own yellow, hundred-year soul rings had already transformed into a noble purple, reaching the five-thousand-year mark.

Throughout the night, they had specifically targeted thousand-year Soul Beasts. With the strength of the three of them, dealing with the thousand-year Soul Beasts in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform was as easy as turning over one's hand.

"Sigh, there are still too few thousand-year Soul Beasts in this Primary Spirit Ascension Platform. I feel like we can go to the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform next time."

Na'er sighed with regret. The East Sea's Primary Spirit Ascension Platform could not compare to the headquarters; the thousand-year Soul Beasts had been hunted almost to extinction by them. Furthermore, it would take time for the Spirit Ascension Platform to gestate a new batch of thousand-year Soul Beasts, so it would likely be difficult for her first two soul rings to break through the ten-thousand-year mark this time.

"It's fine. When we return to headquarters, I'll accompany you for spirit ascension."

Jiang Xiu looked at Na'er and smiled faintly. During this session, they had all pooled their efforts to help him ascend; it was only natural for him to help Na'er when they returned, and it wouldn't take much effort.

Most importantly, with Leng Yaozhu there, their entry into the Spirit Pagoda for spirit ascension was entirely free.

The exorbitant cost of entering the Spirit Ascension Platform simply did not apply to them.

"Alright, it's a deal then."

Upon hearing this, Na'er's beautiful eyes brightened slightly, and she cast a proud glance at Gu Yue.

"Childish. Let's go."

Gu Yue's black eyes remained calm. After saying this, she pressed the red button on her right arm, and her figure vanished in an instant.

"Don't keep the Pagoda Master waiting too long. Let's go, too."

Jiang Xiu nodded slightly, and a moment later, his figure also disappeared from the spot.

"Childish~~~"

Na'er mimicked Gu Yue's expression, but immediately lifted her chin, looking like a general who had just won a battle.

Because she knew that the more someone pretended not to care about something, the more they actually cared.

After the three of them left, the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform returned to silence.

However, the others who had entered the platform were wailing, because they discovered that in just one night, the thousand-year Soul Beasts in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform seemed to have vanished, with almost none left.

"Brother, is your tracking really reliable? We've been searching for so long and only encountered one thousand-year Soul Beast."

Xu Xiaoyan looked at the empty Soul Beast nest before her, casting a suspicious glance at Xu Xiaoyu beside her.

"This... I clearly remember it being right. How could they all be gone?"

Xu Xiaoyu was also filled with disbelief. He had scouted the locations beforehand; even if one or two had been killed by others, it shouldn't have been wiped clean.

But then, as if realizing something, Xu Xiaoyu said with a grave expression.

"Little sister, I feel like we've been set up. There is an invisible hand manipulating all of this from the shadows."

He had studied social maneuvering and the art of reading people extensively.

"Silly brother, these Soul Beasts were obviously cleared out by someone along the way. Stop dawdling; if we can't find thousand-year ones, let's just hunt hundred-year ones."

Watching her brother pontificate, Xu Xiaoyan shook her head and covered her forehead.

In truth, she had sensed it through her own martial soul: the aura left behind by the battles here was almost identical to the aura left at the lake back then. The person who hunted these Soul Beasts was quite obvious.

"Jiang Xiu... we will meet again if fate allows."

Xu Xiaoyan's beautiful eyes flickered as she whispered to herself.

From the previous Flame Demon Lion pack to the slaying of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, and even the resonance of her martial soul, she couldn't help but be deeply impressed by Jiang Xiu. Thus, like her brother, she was very curious about which faction Jiang Xiu belonged to.

She followed her brother's footsteps while lost in thought, but Xu Xiaoyu was still muttering to himself.

"I'm going to tell Dad when I get back—no, I'm going to report this to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters at my own expense. This was definitely a setup!"

"Creak!"

The silver-white walls opened, and three Soul Guidance Pods popped out. The hatches opened, and Jiang Xiu and the others slowly opened their eyes and rose from within.

"Congratulations to you young friends on your soul ring improvements."

At this moment, a kind voice rang out; it was Vice Pagoda Master Liu, who had been guarding outside.

"Many thanks for the gift, Vice Pagoda Master Liu."

Jiang Xiu smiled slightly and cupped his hands in a salute.

Although he knew it was because of Leng Yaozhu that the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's soul bone had fallen into his hands, there was no need to be cold when Vice Pagoda Master Liu was showing such goodwill.

In this world, it wasn't just strength that was respected; social graces and human connections were just as important.

Before coming here, his master, Dong Zi'an, had hinted that he would pave the way for him in the Sun Moon Federation, and that making more connections would certainly do no harm.

"Eh! It is all thanks to Young Friend Jiang's own formidable strength; a genius paired with a spirit bone is truly a perfect match."

Vice Pagoda Master Liu looked at Jiang Xiu with great interest, then waved his hand and continued.

"Pagoda Master Leng asked me to test the spiritual power of you young friends. Since the others haven't come out yet, shall we start the test now?"

As he spoke, Vice Pagoda Master Liu took out three brand-new spiritual power testing soul guidance helmets.

"No problem."

Jiang Xiu nodded slightly. The last time he tested his spiritual power was half a year ago, and he had been busy ever since.

Now that his cultivation had reached level thirty, testing his spiritual power could also be considered preparation for his upcoming third spirit ring.

"I'll go first!"

Na'er said, eager to try. She reached out, took a soul guidance helmet, and placed it steadily on her head.

Soon, the numbers on the display jumped rapidly, only slowing down after breaking through five hundred, finally settling at: 531.

"For Miss Na'er to have broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm at such a young age, she is truly gifted."

Vice Pagoda Master Liu's pupils constricted, and he praised her sincerely.

The Spirit Sea Realm meant that the mind was like the sea, vast and boundless, capable of accommodating three thousand-year spirit souls or one ten-thousand-year spirit soul.

Even at Shrek Academy, which only accepted monsters, none of the previous generation of Shrek Seven Devils could have reached this level of spiritual power at such an age.

"Just so-so. Boss, hurry up and test yours."

Na'er had expected this. After taking off the helmet, she urged Jiang Xiu.

Vice Pagoda Master Liu was also filled with anticipation. If even Na'er was this impressive, just how strong would Jiang Xiu be, having already broken through the ten-thousand-year limit with his first two spirit rings?