Enter: Xu Xiaoyan!
After a few minutes, an extremely thick coat of a yellow-like light covered the entirety of the students.
This coat was actually just huge amounts of pure energy which was nourishing their martial souls.
"If we continue like this, won't our spirit souls…" Tang Wulin said in shock.
A bitter smile forced it's way onto Xie Xie's face, "Not really. There's only so much our spiritual energy can bear right now. At the very least, I know I can't get more than 1000 years on my spirit rings for now. Only a monster like Gloxinia could do it at our age.."
Nodding internally, Gloxinia agreed with Xie Xie's conjucture, their bodies would really be unable to support another spirit soul evolution, even Gloxinia's, he wasn't at the spiritual energy needed for three ten-thousand year spirit rings yet.
Tang Wulin immediately made an awkward expression. Considering their current situation, if their spirit souls grew saturated with spirit energy, then they wouldn't be able to enter the spirit ascension platform anymore and battle soul beasts. There was also the potential danger of their spirit souls exploding due to their insufficient spiritual power.
"You guys don't need to look so confused. All we have to do is get ready to depart while absorbing the energy." Gu Yue's voice cut in.
Tang Wulin asked, "How much spirit energy do you all think we've absorbed?"
Gu Yue frowned. "We all should have absorbed four to five hundred years worth of spirit energy. You and I have it all concentrated in our single soul ring, Xie Xie probably has around 200 more in each soul ring while Gloxinia would have 160 more in each soul ring."
"We'll need to be especially careful of other Soul Masters after we depart. They're a much greater threat to us now than soul beasts."
Gu Yue's deduction was correct. A thick air of spirit energy currently hung around their bodies, and if another party of Soul Masters saw them, they might immediately be targeted. After all, there were no true deaths in the spirit ascension platform, and who wouldn't want to absorb such rich spirit energy?
Gloxinia responded with a calm smile, "Take it easy. In one move, we've already passed our final exam and absorbed far more spirit energy than usual. Even if we encounter a powerful foe and get ejected from the spirit ascension platform, that's okay, too. Everyone's recovered now, right? Let's go then."
"En, Gloxinia is right, lets go." added Tang Wulin while also not forgetting to remind his comrades, "Everyone, pay attention to how much your spirit soul can bear. If you feel like you're approaching the limits of how much it can absorb, then immediately press the button to exit the spirit ascension platform. Don't be greedy, or else your body or your spiritual power might collapse, and then you'll really be in trouble."
Tang Wulin led the students out, carefully avoiding the toxic webs. They left their miraculous, safe heaven and once again returned to the dangers of the forest.
The chaos of an assortment of noises soon entered their ears. There were the sounds of collisions, the roars of soul beasts, and occasionally, some wretched screams from Soul Masters.
It truly was a rebel period!
Tang Wulin mulled over their choices for a moment before he decided to have everyone absorb the remaining spirit energy in the area. Normally, they would have to kill countless soul beasts before earning this much spirit energy. Though it would take awhile to absorb all of this energy, it was a rare opportunity for them. Wu Zhangkong could help them out in the matter of combat experience, but not in evolving their spirit soul. This was the most important goal in entering the spirit ascension platform after all!
"Careful!" Xie Xie's warning jolted Tang Wulin who had suddenly fallen into deep thought.
Tang Wulin responded immediately after hearing Xie Xie's warning and used his Blue Silver Grass to block a soul beast coming toward him.
Taking advantage of the trapped soul beast, Basquias pierced it and it turned into motes of light.
Sorry everyone, my mind was wandering just now," Tang Wulin bluntly apologized while a cold shiver ran down his spine. This is still the spirit ascension platform. Instead of being preoccupied by my ideas, I must focus on absorbing the remaining energy here. That should be my main goal for now.
Xie Xie gently chuckled. "My mind was wandering just now, too. After all, the events just now changed the way we think about the spirit ascension platform. In any case, our harvest this time is already quite good. Even if we're to be eliminated, it'll still be fine."
Tang Wulin sternly said, "Don't think like that. Since we've been blessed with luck this time, we have to do our best to secure the opportunity and not let it slip away! Otherwise, we'd be letting down the expectations of the Heavens. Everyone, let's all do our best."
He'd prepared these words to say at the moment of their departure. With their distracting thoughts dispelled, Tang Wulin took the lead once again, ready to intercept any potential dangers.
Soon, a roar announced the presence of a monstrous, six-armed python ahead of them.
"A hundred-year Six-armed Fire Snake. Everyone, be careful," Tang Wulin grimly ordered.
Suddenly, a bright, white light flashed from far ahead of them and heavily wounded the Six-armed Fire Snake. A bizarre ice wheel fluttered in the breeze, its points dripping with the blood of the soul beast. Although the Six-armed Fire Snake couldn't be considered a powerful soul beast, especially with regards to its defense, it was still shocking that it had been cut up so easily and quickly by that ice wheel.
A figure with three soul rings underfoot appeared before them, quickly absorbing the spirit energy of the fallen Six-armed Fire Snake.
It was a youth, about seventeen or eighteen years old. Two yellow soul rings and one purple soul ring coiled around his body, identifying him as a Soul Elder. In his right hand, he held a snow white staff which was topped by an icy, blue crystal. His expression was cold and arrogant, and the yellow aura around him was similar to that of the four students of class zero.
'It's the brother of Xu Xiaoyan!' Recognizing this situation at a glance, Gloxinia already knew what was going to happen.
A girl seemingly around the same age as Gloxinia's group popped her head out from behind the youth. Her blue hair was styled in twintails, and she looked as if cut from jade. Her beauty was stunning and far exceeded that of Gu Yue's. In her hand was a staff nearly identical to the youth's, only hers being a bit smaller. A single yellow soul ring flickered beneath her, illuminating her frightened expression in the face of such killing.
The male youth's gaze immediately fell upon the students of class zero. When he saw the rich aura of spirit energy surrounding them, his eyes brightened a bit and he started taking large, decisive strides towards them.
Tang Wulin's eyes narrowed as he signaled with his left hand to those behind him.
"Withdraw from the spirit ascension platform voluntarily and leave behind your spirit energy. Then you'll be spared from some pain," the youth with the ice staff stated, as if it was only natural.
The corner of Xie Xie's lips curled in disdain. "Is he some sort of soul beast in human form? Apparently, this human-shaped soul beast can even speak now. It's done a good job evolving."
The youth's eyes sharpened as a cold light flashed through them. He pointed his ice staff at Xie Xie, and immediately, an ice wheel shot straight toward him.
Gloxinia immediately intercepted the attack, as even if he didn't like Xie Xie too much, they were still classmates!
As a golden trail was left behind in the void, Basquias hit the ice wheel head on and shattered it like glass.
As a stunned expression showed up on Xu Xiaoyan and her brothers' face, Basquias kept going and directly cut off the youth's arm, causing him to scream in pain as his martial soul was unsummoned forcefully.
"Brother!" As a concerning shout sounded out, Xu Xiaoyan ran to her brother and worriedly asked, "Are you okay?"
Pushing her away, he responded, "Tsk, quickly press the emergency button before you get hit too!"
"E, En!" nodding her pretty head, Xu Xiaoyan pressed the button on the back of her hand while looking resentfully at Gloxinia and his classmates.
Following her lead, the youth presumed to be her brother also pressed the button with his chin, as he had only one arm.
Glaring at Gloxinia, the youth mouthed, "I'll get revenge!" as he turned into particles of light, disappearing into the sky.
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Words: 1537
Author's Note: In my opinion, this chapter was mid.
Also, I've been getting a lot of people asking me who the love interest is.. if you want me to spoil it lmk and I'll give you 3 love interests, of which only 1 will end up with the MC.
Thank you for so many collections and powerstones!