Joining Spirit Pagoda

In the quiet confines of the office, the spiritual master ushered Anping and Gu Yuena, detailing the astonishing feat they had achieved in defeating the formidable guardian beasts of the primary Spirit Ascension Platform. The Spiritual Masters present were visibly taken aback, their expressions betraying surprise at the prowess exhibited by the two young individuals before them.

Recognizing the extraordinary potential residing in these youngsters, the Spiritual Master swiftly decided that they were prime candidates for recruitment into the esteemed Spirit Tower. Pulling out a form, he requested the duo to document their basic information, a formality that marked the beginning of a promising journey.

Having completed the paperwork, the Spiritual Master peered at them, admiration evident in his gaze. "Your talents surpass any I've encountered. Have you ever considered joining the Spirit Pagoda and becoming Spiritual Masters?"

Inquisitive, Gu Yuena sought clarification, "Join the Spirit Pagoda and become Spiritual Masters? Is it even feasible at our current age?"

Assuring them, the Spiritual Master clarified, "I don't expect you to become Spiritual Masters immediately. Your primary focus should be on honing your skills. Joining the Spirit Pagoda will provide you with unparalleled training resources, superior instructors, and the possibility of esteemed mentors taking you under their wing."

Contemplating this proposition, Gu Yuena turned to Anping, questioning, "Anping, should we join?"

The Spiritual Master, sensing the girl's intrigue, patiently elucidated, "Don't worry about your age affecting your studies. At your current stage, you'll be considered reserves, enjoying a considerable degree of freedom. Only upon reaching adulthood and graduating from the senior academy will you delve into the responsibilities of a full-fledged spiritual master."

As Anping weighed the potential advantages, his thoughts delved into the realm of knowledge and the advancements in soul and space technology offered by the Spirit Pagoda. The allure of what an organization could provide in terms of understanding the intricacies of the soul intrigued him.

Pondering the decision, Anping queried, "What do you think, should we join?"

Eying Anping intently, Gu Yuena simply declared, "If you join, I join."

With a nod from Anping, the Spiritual Master beamed with a gentle smile, assuring them, "Trust me, you won't regret this decision. Just sign this, and you'll officially become reserve members of the Spirit Tower."

The Spiritual Master handed Anping and Gu Yuena two contracts, urging them to peruse the contents before signing. Anping casually flipped through the terms, finding them in line with the Spiritual Master's earlier assurances—no undue obligations or excessive clauses. Nonchalantly, he penned his signature. Following suit, Gu Yuena also affixed her name to the document.

Observing their signatures, the Spiritual Master nodded approvingly and spoke with gentleness, "Alright, your instructor is waiting outside. You may head back now. The contracts and your details will be relayed to the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters. Once confirmed, specialized personnel will reach out to you using the communication number you provided."

With a nod of understanding, the two followed the spiritual master out of the office. In the hall, Wu Zhangkong and the Class Zero students awaited their return. Wu Zhangkong maintained his usual stoic demeanor, while hushed conversations unfolded among the students.

As the duo approached, curious gazes fixated on them. Wu Zhangkong, however, addressed the entire group, "Impressive performance in the first part of the final exam. If I were grading, all of you would receive full marks, except for Anping and Gu Yuena."

His gaze shifted to the two, a chill entering his tone, "I believed you to be the most composed members of the team, yet you willingly confronted the Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear. It's a perilous act, and I can only grant you eighty points."

Xie Xie, overhearing Wu Zhangkong's words, murmured, "They outperformed us and emerged victorious."

Wu Zhangkong shot Xie Xie a cold glance and continued, "Victory is acknowledged, but remember, while death isn't a genuine risk on the primary spiritual ascension platform, severe damage can still harm your mind. In extreme cases, it may lead to dire consequences. Refrain from such recklessness, be responsible for yourselves."

"I understand," Anping and Gu Yuena concurred without offering further explanations.

Accepting their acknowledgment, Wu Zhangkong concluded, "That concludes today's matters. Once you complete the second exam, the final assessment will be concluded. Return to the academy now, any other discussions can wait."

Back at the academy, Wu Zhangkong singled out Tang Wulin, expressing his desire to discuss the matter of Tang Wulin's soul. Simultaneously, Gu Yuena took Anping aside, leading them back to the dormitory where they entered Anping's room for a private conversation.

Seated on a chair, Gu Yuena fixed her gaze on Anping and inquired, "What transpired at the Ascension Platform? It seemed like you didn't absorb the soul bone, right?"

Anping nodded, retrieving the dark golden soul bone from his storage soul guide and handing it to Gu Yuena. "Indeed, I didn't absorb it. When I attempted to, you must have noticed my martial spirit suddenly manifesting."

Gu Yuena nodded in understanding, "I see. What does this have to do with that?"

After contemplating for a moment, Anping explained, "I didn't actively summon it. As the connection between my soul power and the soul bone was about to establish, it spontaneously appeared and disrupted the connection. It seemed strongly averse to such interactions."

"Fascinating. The world is truly vast and filled with mysteries. I never expected there could be a phenomenon where martial souls repel soul bones," mused Gu Yuena. Then, with a hint of curiosity, she added, "You didn't mention this, but I'm curious about how you managed to bring it out."

Anping nodded and clarified, "We're aware that when entering the Spiritual Ascension Platform, it's a projection formed by spiritual power. It's not the actual soul leaving the body. However, spiritual power and soul share a connection. Leveraging this link, I used a bit of space elements to establish a brief passage, connecting the storage soul guide and bringing it out. After all, obtaining it required considerable effort, and it felt wasteful to leave it behind."

"Smart move. Please keep it. In this era where soul bones are scarce, especially an external soul bone, it's a rare find. But, because of its uniqueness, it's best to keep it under wraps," advised Gu Yuena, returning the soul bone to Anping.

Anping, puzzled, questioned, "If it's a scarce item, don't you want it?"

Smiling, Gu Yuena responded, "Just keep it as I suggest. Besides, you're fond of soul guidance technology, aren't you? I recall that soul bones are also used in crafting soul guidance tools. If you manage to create something, I'd like to see the finished product."

"Alright, I'll accept it then. I'll see if I can split it. If successful, maybe I can make more than one piece. If there's an abundance, I'll share one with you," Anping agreed with a nod.

"Then I'll eagerly await the result," Gu Yuena said, concluding the conversation with a smile.

A sudden realization struck Gu Yuena, prompting her to say, "Oh, one more thing. The Spiritual Pagoda master or Teacher Wu might inquire about your soul bone skills later. How do you plan to handle that?"

"Regarding the soul bone skill? That's indeed a consideration. Since the Spirit Pagoda placed this soul bone in the Spirit Ascension Platform, they likely have some knowledge about it." Anping pondered, suggesting, "Do you think claiming bad luck is sufficient? Perhaps an excuse like a power-boosting skill would work?"

Gu Yuena contemplated for a moment and replied, "Sounds plausible. After all, the Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear is a formidable soul beast. Having a power-enhancing soul skill wouldn't be considered unfortunate."

"Agreed," Anping nodded.

The following day, Wu Zhangkong addressed the students, expressing overall satisfaction with the previous day's exams. Standing at the podium, his tone remained impassive, making it challenging to discern any underlying sentiments.

"Firstly, Tang Wulin's control has shown significant improvement. He's no longer solely relying on brute strength, acknowledging the role of martial spirit. Keep up the effort. You absorbed substantial spiritual power yesterday. After the final exam, I'll conduct a physical test to determine the limits of your body's capacity for absorbing spiritual power. Until then, refrain from pushing beyond the red line."

Proceeding with a review of each battle on the Shengling Platform, Wu Zhangkong addressed Anping and Gu Yuena's exceptional performance during the training expedition amid the chaos.

Concluding the summaries, Wu Zhangkong remarked, "Anping and Gu Yuena's success underscores their profound understanding of martial spirit and adept control over soul power for desired effects. I encourage you all to dedicate more time not only to daily training but also to comprehend your martial spirit. This way, you can unleash your full potential more effectively."

"Yes," echoed several voices in unison.

Wu Zhangkong's gaze settled on Tang Wulin. "Tang Wulin, the primary reason I appointed you as captain is your proficiency as a control soul master. For a control soul master, composure on the battlefield is paramount, regardless of its brutality. A calm mind allows for superior control over the entire scenario."

Tang Wulin responded respectfully, "Yes, Teacher Wu. I've been focusing on improving in this aspect."

Wu Zhangkong acknowledged his efforts, "You've indeed made strides in battlefield control, but there's room for improvement in maintaining composure. Pay attention to that."

"Understood," Tang Wulin affirmed with determination.

Turning his attention to Xie Xie, Tang Wulin continued, "Now, Xie Xie, as an agility attack soul master, you've excelled in supporting teammates and seizing opportunities. Moving forward, aside from reinforcing training in these areas, delve deeper into understanding your martial soul. With twin martial souls, you might unlock the potential for developing your own martial soul fusion skills."

The mention of self-martial spirit fusion technique intrigued the group, and eyes turned to Wu Zhangkong, particularly Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, and Xie Xie, who already possessed the martial soul fusion technique.

Wu Zhangkong confirmed their curiosity, stating, "The self-martial spirit fusion skill involves the fusion of martial souls possessed by an individual with twin martial souls. In your case, both martial souls are daggers, presenting a promising avenue for developing self-martial arts fusion techniques."

"Thank you, Teacher Wu. I'll give it my best effort," Xie Xie responded with a nod.

Addressing Wang Jinxi next, Wu Zhangkong acknowledged his resilience, saying, "Wang Jinxi, facing the Man-Faced Spider again without hesitation indicates you've conquered your psychological hurdles. Keep up the good work. The same goes for you, Zhang Yangzi. Stay diligent."

Gratefully, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi expressed, "Thank you, Teacher Wu."