Final Assessment

He absorbed it without the slightest resistance.

Although having a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring as his third Soul Ring was incredibly exaggerated.

Generally speaking...

A Soul Master's third Soul Ring was usually around a thousand years. Reaching several thousand years already marked someone as exceptionally gifted.

Yet Han Li had skipped the thousand-year stage entirely and stepped straight into the ten-thousand-year level...

That was unimaginable in any era.

But his body had undergone two rounds of strengthening from the Golden Dragon King's seals, giving him extremely high physical qualities.

Any ordinary nine-year-old child facing the energy impact of a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring would have long since suffered shattered meridians and uncontrollable Soul Power.

His third Soul Ring had granted him a time-attribute Soul Skill—Time Manipulation.

The effect of this Soul Skill was straightforward.

It controlled the flow of time within a certain range.

Although its duration was short and its area of effect limited.

At a crucial moment...

The value of this Soul Skill was immeasurable.

Not to mention that as Han Li's cultivation increased, this Soul Skill's duration and range would also improve.

This also reminded Han Li that the Heavenly Bottle was, in essence, time-attributed.

Its life attribute and ability to ripen plants were merely external manifestations of its time attribute.

Now that his third Soul Ring had awakened the Soul Skill Time Manipulation, it completely confirmed that speculation.

Today was the academy's final assessment.

Ye Yingluo stood at the front of the classroom, holding a folder as her gaze swept across the four students seated before her.

Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue sat in their respective seats, while Han Li leaned against the window in a relaxed posture.

"Teacher Ye, do we have to take final exams too?"

Tang Wulin asked in surprise.

The other two also revealed surprised expressions.

Only Han Li remained leisurely, as though final exams had nothing to do with him.

Of course, the reason they were surprised...

Was that, to them, a first-year academy final exam held no real meaning at all.

Students in ordinary classes needed to be assessed on fundamentals of Martial Soul theory, Soul Power application, practical combat techniques, and many other areas.

But for the monsters of Zero Class...

They had long since mastered those standard examination subjects through battle after battle.

This was not arrogance.

Although Zero Class had only existed for three months.

All three of them could feel that they had undergone a complete transformation.

Whether it was the growth of their Soul Power or the improvement of their combat abilities, neither could be compared with what they had been three months ago.

Gu Yue had already reached Level Nineteen, just one step away from entering Level Twenty.

Tang Wulin had also reached Level Twenty-Two, and the strength he could display in combat...

Had increased by several times compared with three months ago.

After all, their training in the Spirit Ascension Platform had not been for nothing. With the pressure of the Spirit Ascension Platform...

They all trained exceptionally hard in their daily lives.

Every injury, every battle, and every experience of hovering on the edge of death within the Spirit Ascension Platform constantly honed their combat instincts and ability to adapt.

After all, the academy had invested enormously in Zero Class.

All of their teaching facilities were the most advanced available, and with the massive investment in the Spirit Ascension Platform...

That was how these little monsters had come to be.

A class of four students consumed the teaching resources of an entire grade. Both Ye Yingluo and Yu Zhen had poured their own efforts into Zero Class.

"Yes."

Ye Yingluo spoke, then explained.

"However, your final assessment only requires you to take one subject."

"The Spirit Ascension Platform."

The Spirit Ascension Platform?

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes.

They had visited the Spirit Ascension Platform many times over the past three months, but every visit had been independent training. They had never associated it with an exam.

In three months...

They had entered the Spirit Ascension Platform eleven times already, changing from their initial confusion to their current familiarity.

Therefore, every time they entered now.

As long as their luck was not particularly bad, they could survive inside for at least over an hour.

An hour was already quite a good result in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform. Ordinary Soul Masters might be eliminated in just over ten minutes.

Of course...

That was also because Han Li could not be bothered to go.

With his current strength, the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform held no meaning for him. Entering it would merely waste time.

"You need to hold out in the Spirit Ascension Platform for one hour to pass the final assessment."

"However, I need to remind you that this time, you will be entering the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform."

Xie Xie asked in surprise.

"Teacher Ye, what does Riot Spirit Ascension Platform mean?"

He had never heard of the term before, but it sounded as though it was a special state of the Spirit Ascension Platform.

He instinctively sat up straighter, and his expression became serious.

Ye Yingluo explained.

"The Spirit Ascension Platform has two Riot Periods every year."

"At first, these riots were caused by instability in the energy used to construct the Spirit Ascension Platform."

"Later, with the advancement of technology, the Riot Periods of the Spirit Ascension Platform were brought under control and became a special feature."

"During a Riot Period, the Soul Beasts inside the Spirit Ascension Platform become especially active, and their numbers increase as well."

"The Soul Beasts become more aggressive, roam over wider areas, and the entire Spirit Ascension Platform enters a state of excitement, greatly increasing its danger."

She paused, looked at the students' expressions, and continued.

"Whenever it enters a Riot Period, the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars have three hundred entry slots."

"These slots are usually allocated to major organizations and academies, and each place can obtain only a limited number."

"For this, the academy paid no small price to persuade the East Sea Spirit Pagoda to give us four slots."

"Therefore, you must cherish this opportunity."

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie's expressions also grew more solemn.

The Riot Spirit Ascension Platform...

That did not sound like an easy place.

The Soul Beasts were more active, more numerous, and far more dangerous...

This also meant that the experience they had accumulated in the Spirit Ascension Platform might no longer be enough.

"During the Riot Period, teams may enter the Spirit Ascension Platform together, but no team may exceed seven people."

"You four are just right. You can be teleported in together directly."

"This is also the time to test your teamwork."

Ye Yingluo's voice became more serious.

"Remember, inside, you may encounter not only Soul Beasts, but also other Soul Masters who have entered."

"They are equally dangerous to you."

"Because when Soul Beasts are killed during the Riot Period, the time needed to absorb the spiritual energy they produce becomes one hundred times longer."

"In other words, if you kill a Soul Beast, it will take one hundred seconds to absorb its spiritual energy."

"If you leave the Spirit Ascension Platform during that process, the remaining spiritual energy will be absorbed by the nearest Soul Master."

"This is a special situation that only occurs when the Spirit Ascension Platform is in a Riot Period."