Riot-Period Spirit Ascension Platform

The successful refinement of the Thousand-Refined Blue Pregnant Copper put Xiao Cheng in a great mood. But he did not indulge in that joy for long, because he knew he had something even more important to do—break through the level-thirty bottleneck and become a Soul Elder!

Xiao Cheng's Soul Power had now reached the peak of level twenty-nine, just one step away from level thirty. Yet that step was not so easy to take. The level-thirty bottleneck was the first major hurdle on a Soul Master's path of cultivation. Cross it, and the world opened wide; fail to cross it, and one could be trapped for months, years, or even a lifetime.

However, Xiao Cheng did not intend to directly challenge the bottleneck. He had a more important plan—before breaking through, he would first elevate his existing Soul Spirit.

His Azure Sky Snake Soul Spirit had initially been merely a hundred-year Soul Spirit. Now, it had not only evolved into an Azure Python, but its cultivation had also reached over eight thousand years.

If I elevate it after breaking through to Soul Elder, it'll require much more spiritual power. Xiao Cheng calculated inwardly. So it's best to raise the Soul Spirit to the ten-thousand-year level before I break through.

A ten-thousand-year Soul Spirit and a thousand-year Soul Spirit differed greatly in the power of the Soul Skills they granted and the boost they provided to Soul Power. If he could possess a ten-thousand-year Soul Spirit while still at the Soul Elder stage, it would give his combat strength a considerable boost.

But elevating a Soul Spirit from the thousand-year level to the ten-thousand-year level required an enormous amount of spiritual power. Hunting Soul Beasts alone to obtain it was too inefficient and too dangerous. Therefore, Xiao Cheng decided to find companions and form a team.

The first people who came to mind were the Leng sisters, Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai.

Although the members of the Seven Luminaries Team had been scattered across different places to cultivate over the past six months, Xiao Cheng still occasionally met with the Leng sisters in private. Most of Xiao Cheng's rare moments of leisure were spent accompanying them around Shrek City, eating, sightseeing, and shopping. Through their many encounters, the three of them had grown increasingly close.

Thus, Xiao Cheng contacted Leng Yaozhu through the Spirit Pagoda communicator and arranged to meet at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters in Shrek City.

The next morning, when Xiao Cheng arrived at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai were already there.

After half a year apart, Leng Yaozhu had changed quite a bit. She had grown taller, and her long fiery-red hair looked like burning flames beneath the sunlight. Her entire body radiated a confident, flamboyant air. Her cultivation had reached level thirty-three, firmly placing her within the Soul Elder realm.

Leng Yulai had also grown considerably. Her once slightly childish face had softened into more delicate lines, giving her an elegant and serene temperament. She had broken through only a few days earlier and had also reached level twenty-nine.

"Xiao Cheng! Over here!" Leng Yaozhu waved at him from afar, her face blooming with a brilliant smile.

Xiao Cheng hurried over and smiled. "Sister Yao Zhu, Yu Lai, long time no see."

"Long time no see," Leng Yulai replied softly, a faint smile on her lips.

"Oh, enough with the pleasantries." Leng Yaozhu waved a hand and got straight to the point. "You called us here because you wanted to visit the Spirit Ascension Platform together? What, do you want to elevate your Soul Spirit?"

"That's right." Xiao Cheng nodded. "I'm at the peak of level twenty-nine now. Before breaking through to Soul Elder, I want to raise my Soul Spirit to the ten-thousand-year level. Otherwise, if I elevate it after breaking through, I'll need much more spiritual power."

"That makes sense." Leng Yaozhu nodded in agreement. "Once you have three Soul Rings, elevating it requires three times as much spiritual power instead of double."

"Then are you willing to come with me?" Xiao Cheng asked.

"Of course!" Leng Yaozhu answered without hesitation. "I've been bored out of my mind lately and was just looking for something to do. Besides, with our current strength, we can already have some fun in the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform. There are plenty of ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts in there, and I want to test my new Soul Skill too."

Leng Yulai nodded as well. "I'll go too."

"Good, then it's settled." Xiao Cheng smiled. "We'll prepare today and set out early tomorrow morning."

Early the next morning, the three arrived at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters in Shrek City and completed the procedures to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform.

The Spirit Ascension Platform was an important facility of the Spirit Pagoda. It was a virtual spiritual world that Soul Masters could enter in spiritual form, hunting virtual Soul Beasts to obtain spiritual power and use it to increase their Soul Spirits' cultivation years. The Spirit Ascension Platform was divided into three levels—Junior, Intermediate, and Advanced—corresponding to Soul Masters of different cultivation levels.

With the strength Xiao Cheng and the others currently possessed, they could easily kill ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts when working together. The Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform had originally been the most suitable option. The Soul Beasts inside ranged from thousand-year to ten-thousand-year levels, making it ideal for them.

However, when the three arrived at the entrance to the Spirit Ascension Platform, the staff informed them that it was about to enter one of its twice-yearly riot periods. During a riot period, the Soul Beasts within the Spirit Ascension Platform became exceptionally active, their numbers increased, and the danger rose sharply. Moreover, during the Riot-Period Spirit Ascension Platform, Soul Beasts were no longer the only enemies—they also had to contend with other Soul Masters who entered.

This was because after Soul Beasts were killed during the riot period, the time required to absorb the spiritual power they produced became one hundred times longer. In other words, after killing a Soul Beast, one needed one hundred seconds to absorb its spiritual power. If someone left the Spirit Ascension Platform during that process, the remaining spiritual power would be absorbed by the nearest Soul Master.

However, risks and rewards went hand in hand. The riot-period Spirit Ascension Platform was often a more convenient place for the strong to acquire spiritual power, because they could rob the spiritual power of other Soul Masters who entered.

In the past, Xiao Cheng and the others had entered the riot-period Spirit Ascension Platform before, and each of them had gained quite a lot.

"Riot period?" Leng Yaozhu's eyes lit up when she saw those words. "What a coincidence, we came at just the right time! Since the Spirit Ascension Platform is entering a riot period, let's go into the Junior Spirit Ascension Platform instead."

Xiao Cheng nodded as well. Under normal circumstances, there would have been no problem with the three of them entering the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform. But during the riot period, the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform was still somewhat dangerous for them. Thus, they chose the Junior Spirit Ascension Platform instead. Though the riot period was dangerous, the rewards were indeed greater. With the three of them working together, they had enough strength to run wild in the Junior Spirit Ascension Platform.

After completing the procedures, the three lay down inside the Spirit Ascension Platform's nutrient pods.

With a slight wave of dizziness, their consciousnesses were sent into the spiritual world of the Spirit Ascension Platform.

When they opened their eyes, they found themselves standing in a vast forest.

Having entered the Spirit Ascension Platform many times before, the three were thoroughly familiar with the process. They quickly chose a direction and set off into the distance.

Before long, they encountered their first group of Soul Beasts—a pack of around a dozen hundred-year Swift Wind Wolves, led by a thousand-year Swift Wind Wolf King.

These Swift Wind Wolves were as large as cattle, their bodies covered in blue-gray fur. Their fangs were razor-sharp, and bloodthirsty light gleamed in their eyes. The instant they saw Xiao Cheng's group, they let out low growls and pounced like a gust of wind!

"Perfect!" Leng Yaozhu shouted. Her Heavenly Phoenix Martial Soul Possession activated instantly, Phoenix Feather appearing in her hand as a crimson flaming slash swept outward!

Ssssh—!

The flaming slash swept through several Swift Wind Wolves at the front, instantly cutting them in half! They did not even have time to cry out before turning into clusters of light and dispersing into the air.

At the same time, Xiao Cheng moved. His figure flashed, and the Azure Sky Divine Spear shot out like a venomous snake, piercing straight through a Swift Wind Wolf's skull. Then he flicked his wrist, sweeping the spear sideways and sending another Swift Wind Wolf flying into the companions behind it, knocking them all senseless together.

Leng Yulai stood in the rear, her Dark Phoenix Flowing Fire transforming into streaks of black flame that precisely struck the Swift Wind Wolves trying to circle around them. The wolves wailed as the black flames consumed their lives.

The three worked together seamlessly. In less than three minutes, all the Swift Wind Wolves had been eliminated, becoming clusters of light that scattered through the air. Strands of pale white spiritual power drifted out from those light clusters and slowly flowed toward the three of them.

"Absorb the spiritual power!" Xiao Cheng reminded them.

The three quickly circulated their cultivation methods and began absorbing the spiritual power. However, just as the notice had stated, the absorption speed during the riot period was far slower than usual. It took a full hundred seconds to absorb it completely.

While they were absorbing the spiritual power, the sound of footsteps came from the distance.

Xiao Cheng frowned and turned toward the sound. A team of five was walking in their direction. They appeared to be young people around fifteen or sixteen years old. All of them were Soul Elders, with cultivation above level thirty-five, and they wore Shrek Academy uniforms.

"People from Shrek Academy?" Leng Yaozhu noticed the five as well, her brows tightening slightly.

When the five saw Xiao Cheng's group absorbing spiritual power, greed flashed through their eyes.

"Well, well, three little brats. You're pretty lucky, killing a pack of Swift Wind Wolves as soon as you came in." The young man in the lead smiled, but there was an unfriendly edge in his tone. "But there are only three of you. Can you really digest that much spiritual power? Why not share some with us?"

"You want to steal our spiritual power?" Leng Yaozhu sneered. "Then come take it if you have the ability!"

The young man's expression darkened. "You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Brothers, get them! Kill them, and the spiritual power is ours!"

Before he had even finished speaking, all five activated Martial Soul Possession and charged fiercely at Xiao Cheng's group!

"Sister Yao Zhu, Yu Lai, time is limited in the Riot-Period Spirit Ascension Platform. Don't waste too much time on these idiots. End this quickly." Xiao Cheng gave a cold shout, shook the Azure Sky Divine Spear, and was the first to charge forward!

His target was the young man in the lead. That young man's cultivation was around level thirty-eight, and his Martial Soul was a longsword. He followed the assault-type path.

"Brat, you're courting death!" Seeing Xiao Cheng rush toward him, the young man sneered and brought his longsword down toward Xiao Cheng's head, blade aura flashing fiercely.

Xiao Cheng neither dodged nor retreated. Blue light blazed from the Azure Sky Divine Spear as he thrust it forward to meet the attack!

Clang—!!!

A deafening crash rang out!

The young man felt a mountain-crushing force surge through the spear, jolting his hand numb with pain. His longsword nearly flew from his grasp! He was blasted backward, tumbling through the air several times before he barely managed to stabilize himself!

"How is that possible?!" The young man's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief. He was a level-thirty-eight Soul Elder, yet a Soul Grandmaster had sent him flying with a single strike?!

"Wait, he looks a little like Xiao Cheng from the Spirit Pagoda Seven Luminaries Team!" In that lightning-fast instant, the young man recalled the Spirit Pagoda Seven Luminaries Team that had recently been the talk of Shrek Academy.

But Xiao Cheng gave him no chance to think further. Pressing his advantage without mercy, Xiao Cheng flashed forward, and the Azure Sky Divine Spear attacked in a relentless storm!

The young man hurriedly swung his blade to block, but Xiao Cheng's spear technique was too sharp and his strength astonishingly great. He managed to block only three strikes before Xiao Cheng's spear pierced through his chest!

"Urgh..." The young man looked down at the transparent hole in his chest, disbelief filling his eyes. Then he turned into a cluster of light and dispersed into the air.

Everything had happened in merely a few breaths. After dealing with the young man, the man's companions had already arrived to support him, and Xiao Cheng immediately moved to meet his next opponent.

At the same time, Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai also confronted their respective opponents. Leng Yaozhu's Phoenix Feather Sword Technique was incomparably fierce, and combined with her Heavenly Phoenix True Fire, her two Soul Elder-level opponents were no match for her. She dispatched them in no time at all. Leng Yulai used her Soul Bone skill, Dark Abyss, to trap an agility-type Soul Elder, then easily finished him with a strike of Dark Phoenix Flowing Fire.

In less than three minutes, Shrek's five-person team had been completely wiped out. They became five clusters of light and dispersed into the air. The spiritual power on their bodies transformed into five pale white streams of light that flowed toward Xiao Cheng's group.

"Seriously, people from Shrek Academy are arrogant wherever they go." Leng Yaozhu curled her lip, then looked toward Xiao Cheng.

"Well, their school motto is, 'Those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities,'" Xiao Cheng said blandly, then began absorbing the newly acquired spiritual power.

With the spiritual power from those five replenishing them, Xiao Cheng's reserves increased considerably. He estimated that at this rate, killing a few dozen more thousand-year Soul Beasts would provide enough spiritual power for the elevation.

The three continued deeper into the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Over the next several hours, they encountered several more groups of Soul Beasts and several Soul Master teams attempting to steal their spiritual power. Without exception, all were easily dealt with.

After completing the first round of Bone Tempering and cultivating Dragon Aura, Xiao Cheng's strength had undergone a qualitative leap. He could even brutally overpower ordinary strength-type Soul Beasts that were two or three thousand years old head-on, sending them flying with a single spear strike. As for the Soul Masters who tried to ambush them, he killed them swiftly with thunderous methods.

During one battle, they encountered an eight-thousand-year Diamond Ape. The Diamond Ape stood nearly three zhang tall, its body packed with knotted muscles. Whenever one of its fists struck the ground, it smashed out a huge crater.

Xiao Cheng took a deep breath. Blue light flared from the Azure Sky Divine Spear as he charged at the Diamond Ape from the front!

When the Diamond Ape saw Xiao Cheng charging at it, it let out an earth-shaking roar. Its enormous fist descended toward Xiao Cheng's head with overwhelming force!

Xiao Cheng did not dodge. With a shake of the Azure Sky Divine Spear, he unleashed Flood Dragon Exits the Sea, thrusting directly at the Diamond Ape's fist!

Boom—!!!

With a loud crash, Xiao Cheng was forced back several steps, while a small bloody hole appeared on the Diamond Ape's fist!

Roar—! The Diamond Ape howled in pain and rage, then smashed its other fist toward Xiao Cheng again!

Just then, Leng Yaozhu attacked from the side. Flames surged from Phoenix Feather as she slashed her sword into the bend of the Diamond Ape's knee!

Ssssh—!

With a soft sound, a deep wound opened at the bend of the Diamond Ape's knee, and golden blood sprayed out! The Diamond Ape let out a miserable cry and dropped to one knee, its movements slowing considerably.

At the same time, Leng Yulai's Dark Phoenix Flowing Fire arrived, transforming into a streak of black flame that slammed into the Diamond Ape's legs. She also unleashed her Soul Bone skill, Dark Abyss, making its mind feel as though it had fallen into a dark abyss and further restricting its movement.

"Now's our chance!" Xiao Cheng's eyes lit up. Blue light blazed from the Azure Sky Divine Spear, Dragon Aura covering its shaft as he thrust toward the Diamond Ape's heart!

Pfft—!

The spear tip pierced through the Diamond Ape's thick fur and muscle, accurately stabbing into its heart!

The Diamond Ape let out an unwilling roar. Its massive body crashed to the ground, turning into an enormous cluster of light and dispersing into the air. A huge surge of spiritual power flowed toward Xiao Cheng.

"Nicely done!" Leng Yaozhu excitedly pumped her fist. "An eight-thousand-year Diamond Ape—that's a huge haul!"

Xiao Cheng smiled and nodded. Eight hundred years' worth of spiritual power would amount to four hundred years even when split in two, directly satisfying one-quarter of the spiritual power he needed.

Just then, a shrill dragon's roar spread through the air, drawing the attention of Xiao Cheng and the two sisters.