"And besides..."
The young woman drove the knife in deeper.
"Access to the Spirit Ascension Platform isn't something just anyone can get."
"The entire Eastsea City branch only has a thousand places each month. You have to apply in advance and pass a review before you can go in."
"For a first-timer like you, the queue alone would last until next month."
Tang Wulin let out another "ah," and his shoulders slumped.
A thousand places a month, with so many Soul Masters in Eastsea City competing for them-
How could he possibly get a place?
Even if he did, with such a low conversion rate, how long would it take to raise his Soul Spirit to a Thousand-Year Soul Spirit?
He'd probably be at rank thirty himself by then.
"It's that difficult?" He sighed. "Looks like I don't have a chance."
He gave the young woman a strained smile. "Thank you, miss."
With that, he turned toward the entrance, walking much more slowly than he had on his way in. He looked utterly downcast.
He had just reached the Spirit Pagoda's main entrance when his soul communicator rang.
He pulled it out and glanced at it. It was Mu Chen's number.
"President?"
"How did it go? Are you out of the Spirit Pagoda?"
Mu Chen's voice came through the receiver, touched with amusement.
"Did you get access to the Spirit Ascension Platform?"
The corner of Tang Wulin's mouth twitched.
"President, did you know all along that I definitely couldn't get in?"
"Were you just waiting to laugh at me?"
Mu Chen chuckled on the other end of the communicator.
"How could that be? I'm a grown man. Would I laugh at a child like you?"
"I was going to tell you, but you ran off too fast. You were gone before I could finish."
"I thought so." Tang Wulin sighed.
"I'm an eight-year-old from Aolai City. Even if I queued until my next life, my turn wouldn't come."
"It really isn't easy for ordinary people," Mu Chen said.
"Then I guess I'm an ordinary person."
Tang Wulin kicked at a pebble beneath his feet.
"You?" Mu Chen chuckled on the other end of the communicator.
"How could you be an ordinary person?"
Tang Wulin stopped in his tracks.
"What do you mean?"
"I've already made arrangements with the Spirit Pagoda."
"Go back to the front desk and give them your name. You don't need to worry about getting access."
Tang Wulin stood on the steps outside the Spirit Pagoda, stunned for two seconds.
"President, are you serious?"
"When have I ever lied to you? Not only do you have access this time, but you'll also have access once a week from now on to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform and improve your Soul Spirit."
Mu Chen paused.
"But there's one thing I need to make clear: I've taken care of your access, but you'll have to pay the fees yourself."
"Each visit to the Spirit Ascension Platform costs five hundred thousand federation coins. The association won't reimburse you."