Ascension Platform

Led by Wu Changkong's stern yet dependable figure, they passed through a special passage and entered a spacious internal elevator. After the doors closed, it did not rise but began descending smoothly. A faint sense of weightlessness persisted, telling them that they were continuously going deeper underground. As for exactly how deep, there was no floor display inside the elevator to tell them.

The descent lasted a full three minutes before the elevator gave a slight jolt and stopped.

The doors slid open to either side, revealing a broad hall brimming with a sense of modern technology. Faint data-like light patterns flowed across the silvery-white walls. More than a dozen staff members in matching uniforms bustled around various control stations. At the back of the hall stretched several sealed, metallic passageways leading in different directions.

Wu Changkong walked over to one of the staff members and handed over an identification card with unusual patterns that shimmered faintly. After taking it and quickly verifying it with an instrument, the staff member said nothing. He merely made a gesture of invitation before turning to lead them toward one of the passageways.

The corridor ran straight ahead for several dozen meters, ending at another small elevator. They continued downward, this time for far less time. Roughly ten seconds later, it stopped again. When the doors opened, they found themselves in a completely enclosed circular room. Several large soul tool devices, their standby lights blinking, stood arranged in the center.

The staff member who had led them there turned to face the group and began explaining in a clear, level voice. "Welcome to the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda Junior Ascension Platform access area. There is no time limit for your exploration within the Junior Ascension Platform. However, if you feel that you can no longer endure the dangers posed by the simulated environment, or if you encounter an emergency, press the distress signal device issued to each of you, and you will immediately return here safely. Now, please listen carefully to the following precautions."

His gaze swept over the seven boys and girls, including Tang Wulin. "The Ascension Platform is an epoch-making miracle, finally constructed by the Spirit Pagoda after more than a thousand years of effort, gathering the blood, sweat, wisdom, and vast resources of countless generations of Soul Masters and pioneers of soul tool technology. It is not a purely virtual illusion, but a unique world that is 'half virtual, half real,' created using cutting-edge spatial folding and real data projection technology. Many environmental responses and soul beast behavioral patterns are based on the physical laws and biological data of the real world. The Junior Ascension Platform is the safest area within it. Its entirely virtual damage system ensures your safety, but sensations such as pain and fatigue strive to remain realistic, providing an experience as close to real combat training as possible..."

The staff member's orderly explanation made the eyes of the Eastsea Academy students shine even brighter. They exchanged excited looks, clearly full of anticipation for this high-tech combat simulation. Tang Wulin, hearing about all this for the first time, was somewhat lost. When he heard the words "brainwave access," his little face turned slightly pale as a frightening image of tubes being stuck into his head uncontrollably surfaced in his mind. He instinctively shrank his neck.

At that moment, another staff member walked over and exchanged a few quiet words with Wu Changkong. Wu Changkong nodded, then beckoned to Tang Wulin. "Tang Wulin, come here."

Tang Wulin hurriedly trotted over. The gentler-looking staff member crouched down until he was at eye level with him and took out a silver metal band resembling a wristwatch. "Don't be nervous, kid. In a moment, follow me to a separate access pod over there. Come, put this on first."

He carefully fastened the metal band around Tang Wulin's slender wrist and adjusted it to fit. "See? This is the distress signal device that uncle mentioned earlier. Remember, if you get scared, if your injuries hurt too much, or if you encounter danger you can't handle, press this red button hard." He pointed to a conspicuous raised button on the side of its face. "You'll immediately be sent back out safely. Also, the remaining time you have inside will be displayed on the dial. When the time is up, you'll be automatically transported out as well."

"Okay, okay, I remember. Red button, check the time." Tang Wulin nodded vigorously and curiously touched the cold metal band.

"Good boy." The staff member smiled and ruffled his hair. "Normally, the junior area is very safe, so don't worry. Once you go in, don't just focus on being afraid. Calm down and carefully feel your surroundings. Choosing a Soul Spirit works both ways. When you meet a little one that feels especially familiar to you, one that resonates with your Soul Power, that means fate has arrived. The contract process is simple. As long as both sides are willing, the soul beast will guide it to completion. You don't need to worry about it."

He led Tang Wulin to a wall at one side of the circular room and pressed several hidden buttons. With a soft sound of machinery, the wall slid smoothly aside, revealing a horizontal metal cabinet with a human-shaped groove inside. It was made from a special material with a soft matte sheen.

"Whoa! This is amazing!" Tang Wulin's eyes widened. He forgot his earlier nervousness, leaving only a child's curiosity toward something new.

"Lie down inside. Relax your body and treat it like taking an afternoon nap," the staff member encouraged.

Tang Wulin obediently climbed into the groove and lay flat. Almost the instant he settled down, more than a dozen soft, slightly cool circular suction pads silently extended from the inner walls of the groove. They precisely adhered to his forehead, temples, wrists, ankles, and other areas. The sensation was not uncomfortable at all; instead, it gave him a reassuring feeling of being firmly secured.

"The access process is about to begin. You may feel a little strange dizziness or floating sensation, but it will pass quickly. Everyone is like this their first time. Relax, kid." The staff member's voice came through the cabinet, somewhat muffled.

"Okay!" Tang Wulin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The discomfort he had expected did not come strongly. He only felt as if his consciousness gently rippled, like briefly sinking into warm water before quickly floating back up. When he "opened his eyes" again, he was already standing in a lush forest filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, scattering patches of light. The air was fresh and moist, and beneath his feet were soft earth and grass. Everything was unbelievably real.

Outside the access pod.

Wu Changkong watched as the indicator light on Tang Wulin's metal cabinet steadily turned green, signifying "normal access." Yet the cabinet itself produced almost none of the faint energy hum or vibration that usually accompanied a standard connection. He could not help raising an eyebrow in surprise as he asked the staff member beside him, who had yet to leave, "His access process... was unusually smooth. Has this access pod been upgraded?"

The staff member wore a proud smile and lowered his voice. "Teacher Wu, you have a sharp eye. That's right, this is the newest experimental model. Thanks to the Dark-Gold Heavy Peak workshop, they recently developed a special material with properties completely different from previous strength-type alloys. It is extremely flexible and has nearly perfect affinity with spiritual power. Rumor has it that the inspiration for this material came from another 'friendly exchange' and burst of inspiration between Masters Bi Ji and Zi Ji in the field of forging. We used this new material to improve the brainwave connection and stabilization systems, almost completely canceling out all mental discomfort during access and allowing users to enter the Ascension Platform with virtually no sensation at all. Of course, the material is too rare. So far, only this one experimental machine has been successfully made."

Wu Changkong nodded in understanding, his gaze sweeping over the quiet metal cabinet. "So today is an exception?"

"Exactly." The staff member smiled. "After all, he is a friend personally brought by Mr. Huo, and such a young child experiencing this for the first time. Our supervisor specially approved the use of the best one for him, hoping he would have a perfect first experience. I'll leave this side to you, Teacher Wu." Having completed the handover, the staff member turned to attend to other matters.

Inside the Ascension Platform, Tang Wulin's exploration.

After the initial shock faded, Tang Wulin began carefully making his way through the vast forest. He remembered the staff member's advice and tried his best to calm down and feel everything around him.

He encountered a Ten-Year Wind Spirit Monkey lightly leaping across the branches and casting him a curious glance. His Soul Power stirred for an instant, but that nimble aura did not seem to suit his Blue Silver Grass martial soul very well. He found a Ten-Year Moonlight Mushroom that glowed faintly under the moonlight. When he tried to approach it, he could sense a gentle life aura, yet he always felt that something was missing. He even spotted a pack of Ten-Year Gale Wolves racing past in the distance, but the restless aura emanating from them made him hesitate.

"Phew... I'm so tired." As time passed bit by bit, Tang Wulin ran until he was drenched in sweat and leaned against a large tree to rest. There were still about two hours before the designated end time, and he felt both exhausted and anxious. Could it be that he truly could not find a suitable one? He did not want to waste this precious opportunity Uncle Huo had secured for him, nor did he want to disappoint his father, mother, and Na'er.

After resting for a while, he pulled himself together and chose another direction to explore. Along the way, he encountered several small-scale "attacks" from ten-year soul beasts. Relying on the agile movements and calm judgment he had honed at Mang Tian Studio, he managed to get through them without much danger. Yet the "feeling" he had been waiting for never appeared.

Just as he was about to give up and sprawl flat on a patch of soft grass, staring blankly at the sky broken into fragments by the canopy, an unexpected change occurred.

A cold, slick sensation brushed against his arm.

"Ah!" Tang Wulin jolted in fright, abruptly sitting up and flinging his arm hard.

Yet the thing did not come off. Looking closely, he saw a little snake the color of heavy yellow earth, its scales fine and smooth. It slowly slithered up his forearm before gently coiling around his wrist. Its triangular head lifted slightly, and a pair of golden vertical pupils quietly "watched" him. Its forked tongue flickered lightly, but it showed no intent to attack.

After the fright passed, Tang Wulin strangely calmed down. Not only did he not feel afraid, he sensed an indescribable steadiness and solidity from the little snake's cold body, along with a faint feeling of familiarity. It was as though the Soul Power flowing within him was producing a subtle resonance with the snake's aura.

He tentatively extended a finger and lightly touched the little snake's head. Rather than avoiding him, it rubbed against his fingertip.

"You..." A thought suddenly came to Tang Wulin, and he asked softly, "Would you... be willing to become my Soul Spirit?"

The earth-yellow snake quietly looked at him for two seconds, then slowly nodded. It released its coil and slithered up Tang Wulin's arm, finally pressing its cold forehead gently against the space between his brows.

In an instant, a warm, heavy stream of energy surged into Tang Wulin's mind through the point of contact. It was not overbearing, but carried a sense of acceptance and fusion. At the same time, a clear message seemed to appear directly in his heart—Contract established.

A tremendous joy welled up in Tang Wulin's heart. He closed his eyes and wholeheartedly guided this newly born power. He could "see" the earth-yellow snake transform into a solid beam of light, slowly sinking down and merging with the vortex of Soul Power at his dantian. A faint yellow ring emerged beneath him. As energy was continuously absorbed and transformed, its color grew brighter and its outline clearer.

The process lasted for about an hour. When the last trace of energy was fully absorbed, the yellow hundred-year soul ring finally solidified completely. It hovered steadily beneath his feet, radiating a soft yet sturdy glow. The little snake's phantom coiled affectionately around his right arm like a unique tattoo, yet it possessed its own independent spirit.

"Yeah! I did it! I succeeded!" Tang Wulin jumped and danced in the forest clearing, waving his arms, unable to put his excitement into words.

Just then, the signal device on his wrist gave a soft series of beeps, reminding him that his time was up. The forest before his eyes began to ripple and blur like water.

Spirit Pagoda, access hall.

Tang Wulin sat up from the special metal cabinet and rubbed his eyes. After a brief daze, overwhelming joy flooded over him. He impatiently rushed out of the access pod, not even waiting for the staff to fully remove the suction pads.

"I—I have a soul ring!" His little face was flushed red with excitement. With a thought, he raised his right hand, and his Blue Silver Grass martial soul appeared. Beneath his feet, a bright yellow soul ring rose steadily and pulsed slowly. At the same time, the earth-yellow snake's phantom coiled around the Blue Silver Grass vines, head raised and tongue flickering, lifelike and vivid.

"Congratulations, little brother!"

"Not bad! A hundred-year Soul Spirit with such high compatibility, too!"

"Looks like Eastsea Academy is getting another little genius in the future!"

Several Eastsea Academy students who had completed their trials before Tang Wulin immediately gathered around him, congratulating him all at once with sincere enthusiasm. The tall girl who had earlier said she would "look after him" gave his shoulder a hard pat. "Not bad, kid! You found such a good one on your own! Big sister was right about you!"

Wu Changkong stood a short distance away, watching Tang Wulin surrounded by students and so excited that he could barely speak coherently. A nearly imperceptible softness crossed his stern face. He stepped forward, and the students automatically made way for him.

"The Soul Spirit is called a Thick Earth Snake. Its traits are steadiness and toughness, with a certain affinity for the earth element and enhanced defense. It has high compatibility with your Blue Silver Grass martial soul, making it a good choice." Wu Changkong's voice remained calm, but his assessment made Tang Wulin's eyes shine even brighter. "For your first entry into the Ascension Platform, you independently found and successfully absorbed a hundred-year Soul Spirit. Your performance was satisfactory. Let's go. Your family should be waiting."

Outside the Spirit Pagoda, parking lot.

Huo Yuhao had received the news long ago and was waiting by the car with Tang Ziran, Lang Yue, and Na'er. From afar, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue saw Wu Changkong leading a group of students, along with that blue figure racing toward them, and immediately stepped forward anxiously.

"Dad! Mom! Na'er! Uncle Huo! Look! I have a Soul Spirit! A hundred-year Soul Spirit!" Tang Wulin rushed over like a gust of wind. Without even catching his breath, he immediately summoned his martial soul and soul ring, while the Thick Earth Snake's phantom raised its head as if showing itself off.

The bright yellow soul ring, the solid snake-shaped phantom, and the pure, uncontrollable joy and pride on Tang Wulin's face instantly brought tears to Tang Ziran and Lang Yue's eyes.

"Good! Good! Good child!" Tang Ziran said "good" three times in a row as he tightly hugged his son. Then he immediately turned to Wu Changkong, who was approaching, and bowed deeply. "Teacher Wu! Thank you so much! Without your permission and care, Wulin would never have had such an opportunity! Our family will remember this kindness forever!"

Lang Yue hurriedly bowed as well, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Teacher Wu! The child has caused you trouble!"

Wu Changkong lightly supported them, his tone calm but serious. "Mr. Tang, Mrs. Tang, there is no need for such formality. The child seized the opportunity himself. His temperament and foundation are not bad, and he remained fairly composed within the Ascension Platform. If he has the opportunity to enter a Soul Master Academy in the future, I hope he will continue working hard."

"Certainly! Certainly!" Tang Ziran promised repeatedly.

At that moment, the Eastsea Academy students also cheerfully said goodbye to Huo Yuhao. "Boss Huo, we're heading back with Teacher Wu to write our reports! As promised, in a few days our group will come to your shop. Make sure to save us seats and serve the best grilled fish!"

"No problem. There'll be plenty." Huo Yuhao smiled in reply, then nodded to Wu Changkong. "Teacher Wu, thank you for your hard work."

After watching Wu Changkong drive away with the students, Huo Yuhao turned to the still-excited Tang family of four and asked, "The Soul Spirit matter is settled, and that calls for celebration. What would you like to do next? Walk around Eastsea City and see the sights, or eat and rest first? Your choice."

Tang Ziran exchanged a glance with his wife. Suppressing their excitement, he thought for a moment before saying, "Mr. Huo, we truly owe you so much this time. We... would like to stroll around as a family, see what Eastsea City is like, and find somewhere outside for a simple meal. We won't take up more of your time. Do you have other matters to attend to?" He could tell that Huo Yuhao seemed to have other plans.

Huo Yuhao did not stand on ceremony and nodded. "Yes, I do need to pick up a friend tonight. The event she attended should be ending around now. How about this? I'll take you to Eastsea Pearl Plaza, the largest shopping district in the city center. There's plenty to eat and see there, so you can wander around as you please. I've already arranged a place for you to stay, above my grilled fish shop. I gave you the address and keys earlier. When you're tired from walking around, just go there and rest. It's convenient."

"This... how can we accept that? You've even spent money arranging lodging for us..." Lang Yue said apologetically.

"It's no trouble, and it's close to the academy, so it's convenient." Huo Yuhao opened the car door. "Get in. I'll take you there. I need to go pick someone up too. That girl is probably getting impatient waiting."

The car carried Tang Wulin, full of rewards, along with his deeply grateful parents and Na'er toward the bustling shopping district. Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao wondered how Demon Spirit's event was going. Turning the steering wheel, he headed in another direction, toward the convention center hosting a grand event in the gaming world. The city's neon lights gradually lit up, illuminating everyone's different journeys home and expectations.