The Spirit Ascension Platform's Riot Period

Morning sunlight spilled over Eastsea Academy's field. The six students of Class Zero stood in neat formation, their expressions solemn. Dressed in fitted black clothes, Wu Changkong stood before them without expression, radiating a suffocating chill.

"From my observations over this period, your strength has shown some initial improvement." Wu Changkong's voice was cold and clear, reaching every student's ears. "To determine your specific roles in the class and allocate your resources going forward, you will undergo a special assessment today."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over them before finally settling on Tang Wulin. "Assessment location—the Spirit Ascension Platform. Assessment content—the Spirit Ascension Platform during its riot period."

"The riot period?!" Xie Xie was the first to cry out, his face instantly turning deathly pale. "Teacher Wu, you're joking, right? Is that something we can handle?"

The other students looked just as grim, their bodies trembling involuntarily. During the Spirit Ascension Platform's riot period, not only would the number of soul beasts increase exponentially, but they would also become extremely violent. Some mutated, high-ranking soul beasts might even appear. For soul masters like them, who had only just begun their journey, this was no different from marching to their deaths.

Only Gu Yue remained calm, as though she had not heard Wu Changkong at all. She merely gave Tang Wulin a quiet glance.

Wu Changkong was not at all surprised by their reactions. He said coldly, "The Spirit Ascension Platform's riot period is more than a frenzy for soul beasts. It is a test of your willpower and coordination."

He raised a hand and pointed toward the distant Spirit Ascension Platform, his voice abruptly turning stern. "Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform during its riot period, you will face not only rampaging soul beasts, but also other soul masters who have entered. Resources are limited. Hunting soul beasts earns you points, and defeating other soul masters earns you points as well."

"What? There'll be other soul masters?" Xie Xie exclaimed. "Won't that be chaos?"

"Chaos?" Wu Changkong gave a cold laugh. "A real battlefield is a hundred times more chaotic than this. You must learn to find opportunities amid chaos and protect yourselves and your teammates amid danger."

He turned his back to them, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority. "There is no time limit for this assessment. It will continue until you can no longer hold on. The longer you last, the more points you earn. Those points will directly determine your resource allocation in Class Zero."

Wu Changkong looked back, his gaze flashing like lightning as it swept across every face. "Remember, everything in the Spirit Ascension Platform is real, including death. If you don't want to die, bring out every ounce of your strength. Now, move out!"

The students exchanged glances, their eyes holding both fear and excitement. Tang Wulin clenched his fists, looked at Gu Yue and Wang Jinxi beside him, and said quietly, "Everyone, be careful. Once we're inside, try not to get separated."

Gu Yue nodded, a silver gleam flashing through her eyes. "Mm. I'll take care of myself."

Wang Jinxi also clenched his fists and said firmly, "Wulin, don't worry. I'll stay close to you."

The group headed toward the Spirit Ascension Platform, every step feeling unusually heavy. They knew this was more than an assessment. It was a trial of life and death.

Wu Changkong remained where he was, watching their retreating figures as a complicated glint passed through his eyes. He murmured to himself, "I hope you make it out alive."

The Spirit Ascension Platform's doors slowly opened. A violent, chaotic aura rushed out to meet them, like a colossal beast opening its bloody maw and waiting for its prey to enter.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath and stepped inside first. Gu Yue, Wang Jinxi, and the others followed closely, their figures vanishing into the light.

Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, the air was thick and stiflingly hot. The surrounding trees looked twisted and sinister under the corrosive influence of the riot period.

Faced with unknown dangers, Tang Wulin quickly made his decision. He did not charge recklessly simply because he possessed the powerful golden dragon king bloodline. Instead, he calmly issued orders. "Jinxi, take the front. You're responsible for defense and clearing our path! Gu Yue, Xie Xie, take the left and right flanks. Handle ranged suppression and surprise attacks! Zhang Yangzi, take the rear and provide backup and support! I'll stay in the center to provide assistance and keep watch!"

Without the slightest hesitation, everyone immediately moved into the positions Tang Wulin had assigned.

Wang Jinxi shouted and activated Martial Soul Possession. An Ancient Dragon King phantom appeared, and he planted himself firmly at the front like a towering mountain. Dense soul power flowed around him, forming a solid defensive line.

Gu Yue and Xie Xie took the left and right flanks respectively. Wind elements surged around Gu Yue, forming little blue-green birds that flew in every direction to scout their surroundings. Xie Xie held the Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger, his movements swift as lightning, ready to unleash a thunderous strike at any moment.

Zhang Yangzi stood at the rear, his sharp gaze scanning their surroundings, the soul tool in his hand ready to activate at any moment to support his teammates.

Tang Wulin stood at the center of the team. He took a deep breath and circulated the soul power within his body, instantly activating his First Soul Skill—[Life Domain]!

Soft golden light spread outward from him. This was not an offensive soul skill, but a means of perception and support. Within the Life Domain's reach, Tang Wulin could clearly sense every fluctuation of life around him. Neither rampaging soul beasts nor enemies lurking in the shadows could escape his senses.

"Left side, fifty meters. There's a pack of wind wolves," Tang Wulin calmly reported.

"Right side, thirty meters. Soul master fluctuations," Gu Yue said, her wind-element birds also bringing back information.

Tang Wulin swiftly analyzed the information and said firmly, "Jinxi, prepare to defend! Gu Yue, Xie Xie, prepare ranged attacks! Zhang Yangzi, keep watch on the rear!"

Under his command, the team operated like a precision machine, moving in perfect order. Everyone carried out their own duties without the slightest panic.

Outside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Long Hengxu watched everything through a monitoring crystal, too stunned to speak.

As he watched the five nine-year-olds on the screen, their coordination seamless and their formation disciplined, his eyes filled with disbelief. How was this a group of students who had only just started learning? This was clearly a well-trained elite squad!

"Wu Changkong..." Long Hengxu murmured, his admiration for that perpetually icy young teacher deepening further.

He knew perfectly well that such combat awareness and teamwork could not be developed overnight. Wu Changkong had taught them not only how to fight, but also how to think and find a chance of survival in desperate circumstances.

"These children..." A pleased smile appeared at the corners of Long Hengxu's mouth. "They really are remarkable."

He watched Tang Wulin standing at the center of the team on the screen, calmly directing them, and a glimmer of anticipation crossed his eyes. This child would likely reach heights that others could only gaze up at.

Deep within the Spirit Ascension Platform, the light grew increasingly dim, and a nauseating, sickly sweet smell of blood filled the air. Their advance, which had been fairly smooth, was forced to a halt by a huge black shape that suddenly appeared ahead.

It was a terrifyingly large Man Faced Demon Spider. Its pitch-black carapace gleamed with an eerie, cold sheen, and its eight sharp legs resembled spears planted in the ground. Most chilling of all was its hideous, humanlike face, drooling as it stared fixedly at the prey before it.

"It's that thing..." Wang Jinxi's voice trembled, and he could barely keep hold of his weapon. His face instantly went as white as paper, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

Everyone immediately understood why. During Wang Jinxi's first visit to the Spirit Ascension Platform, an ordinary Man Faced Demon Spider had driven him into a desperate corner, forcing him to trigger the life-saving mechanism and be teleported out in disgrace. Now, with an even stronger demon spider before him, the shadow that experience had left on his mind swelled beyond measure.

"Jinxi, stay calm!" Tang Wulin barked, but he knew this fear ran deep into Wang Jinxi's bones and could not be overcome in an instant.

The Man Faced Demon Spider clearly had no intention of giving them time to compose themselves. With a piercing screech, it pushed off with all eight legs. Its massive body shot up like a black cannonball, lunging straight for the center of their team.

"Defend!" Tang Wulin's gaze sharpened, and he activated his Second Soul Skill without hesitation.

"Second Soul Skill, Blue Silver Redemption!"

In an instant, rich blue-silver light erupted from Tang Wulin's body. It was not dazzling, yet it carried a sacred and powerful aura. The light immediately enveloped everyone present.

Humm—

Five suits of translucent armor woven from blue silver grass instantly formed around them. The armor fitted their bodies perfectly, with strange patterns flowing across its surface.

The instant the armor took shape, the Man Faced Demon Spider's sharp claws came slashing down.

Boom!

With a tremendous crash, Wang Jinxi bore the brunt of the attack, yet he was not sent flying. His Blue Silver Armor blazed with light, forcibly withstanding the strike. Then the light flowed, distributing the immense impact throughout the entire team.

"Our defense has doubled!" Xie Xie exclaimed. He could feel that the armor covering him was far tougher than he had imagined.

More miraculous still, Wang Jinxi's arm had suffered a slight scrape while blocking. The moment blood seeped out, tiny blue silver grass vines extended from the armor and wrapped around the wound. A cool sensation flowed into it, and the injury healed before their eyes, leaving not even a scar.

"It heals injuries instantly!" Zhang Yangzi cried, overjoyed.

Tang Wulin stood at the center of their formation, his face slightly pale. Maintaining such a powerful, wide-ranging soul skill clearly consumed considerable energy, but his gaze remained resolute as he shouted, "Don't be afraid! With me here, as long as we're not Undying, we can hold on! Jinxi, you're our shield. Get up there and hold the line! Let our lives buy you the courage!"

Hearing Tang Wulin's words and seeing the softly glowing armor covering him, Wang Jinxi finally felt the fear in his eyes begin to recede. He looked at the wound on his arm that had vanished in an instant and felt the power surging through his body. Hot blood rushed to his head.

"Aah—!"

Wang Jinxi roared, the Ancient Dragon King phantom manifesting behind him with a bellow. This time, he did not retreat. Instead, he charged straight into the Man Faced Demon Spider's terrifying claws.

Blue Silver Armor collided with pitch-black carapace once again. This time, Class Zero's formation held as firm as a rock.

Outside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Long Hengxu watched the strange Blue Silver Armor in the monitoring crystal and could not help rising to his feet. "That soul skill... offense and defense in one, with continuous healing too? Tang Wulin, just how many more surprises are you hiding?"