Chapter 50: Riot Phase in the Spirit Ascension Platform

Three days passed quickly. The members of Class Zero gathered in their classroom and followed Wu Zhangkong to the Spirit Pagoda.

Today, the East Sea Spirit Pagoda was unusually lively, with spirit masters gathering for the Riot Phase in the Spirit Ascension Platform. Excitement, anticipation, tension, and a mix of emotions were etched on the faces of nearly everyone present.

"Remember," Wu Zhangkong said, "during the Riot Phase, this will be the most crowded the Spirit Ascension Platform ever gets. Inside, everyone except your own team members is an enemy. Your goal is simple: survive. Anyone who fails the exam will face a penalty."

"What kind of penalty, Teacher Wu?" Xie Xie asked with a raised hand.

"Your vacation will be canceled," Wu Zhangkong replied coldly.

Hearing this, everyone's expressions grew serious. That penalty was too severe. For the sake of their vacation, they had to last at least one hour in the Spirit Ascension Platform!

They arrived at a control room in the Spirit Pagoda prepared specifically for them, and the seven students climbed into the login pods.

After a brief moment of disorientation, they regained consciousness in a vast, verdant forest. The air was fresh, and the plants were lush green, much like the normal Spirit Ascension Platform, but Jing Shaoyu immediately noticed something different—a strange energy permeated the air.

"Form up!" Jing Shaoyu commanded.

The Class Zero members quickly arranged themselves. Wang Jinxi, a power attack type, took the front. Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi, as agility attack types, moved to the flanks. Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue, the control and long-range attack types, stayed in the center, with Jing Shaoyu behind them. Bringing up the rear was Tang Wulin, ostensibly a control-type but actually quite capable of strong attacks. They had set up a standard diamond formation.

Everyone released their martial souls. Gu Yue activated her wind element, creating a faint green glow around them to reduce their weight and increase their speed—a small advantage but one that made a difference. Jing Shaoyu and Zhang Yangzi summoned their spirit souls, Red Jade and Little Black Eagle, both ideal for reconnaissance in the dense forest.

"Our main objective is to survive for an hour and pass the exam," Jing Shaoyu reminded. "Hunting spirit beasts comes second, so let's take it steady and stay alert."

"Got it!" the others responded in unison.

They moved forward cautiously. Based on feedback from Red Jade and Little Black Eagle, they were clear from any spirit beasts behind or to the sides, though signs of activity lay ahead.

Soon, a large, muscular ape—a hundred-year Iron-Arm Ape—jumped out in front of them.

Seeing it, the team didn't hesitate. Wang Jinxi, closest to the ape, took a step forward, raising his thick bone dragon claw to strike. Almost simultaneously, Xie Xie dashed behind the ape, his Light Dragon Dagger glinting coldly as he aimed for the back of its head.

The Iron-Arm Ape raised its strong arms to clash with Wang Jinxi's bone dragon claw. With a loud crash, it stumbled back, grimacing in pain. Meanwhile, its exposed back became an easy target for Xie Xie, who plunged his dagger into the back of its head, delivering a clean, swift kill.

Just like that, the hundred-year Iron-Arm Ape was defeated within thirty seconds by Wang Jinxi and Xie Xie's coordinated attack.

"Alright, let's move on!" Once Xie Xie had absorbed the ape's spirit energy and Wang Jinxi had finished recuperating, Jing Shaoyu gave the order to proceed.

As they moved forward, they encountered several more spirit beasts, all at the hundred-year level, ranging from a hundred to seven hundred years in strength. Half an hour passed, and as long as they continued this way, they'd pass their exam without trouble.

Everyone's spirits remained high. So far, none of the spirit beasts had posed a significant threat.

"There's someone coming!" Zhang Yangzi, perched in a tree, suddenly warned. "Two boys and two girls, around twelve or thirteen years old. Looks like they're from East Sea Academy."

"How can you tell they're from East Sea Academy?" Wang Jinxi asked, confused. "Are they wearing our school uniforms?"

"No," Zhang Yangzi shook his head. "I just happen to know one of the girls."

Zhang Yangzi's expression turned teasing as he glanced at Tang Wulin, who returned the look with a puzzled frown.

"Why are you looking at me, Yangzi?" Tang Wulin asked.

"Oh!" Xie Xie exclaimed, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Could it be Ouyang Zixin?"

At the mention of her name, Tang Wulin blushed, which made Zhang Yangzi and Xie Xie laugh even more. While they were teasing him, the four people Zhang Yangzi had spotted approached. Soon enough, the two groups came face to face.

It was indeed East Sea Academy students, with Ouyang Zixin and Mu Xi among them.

"Shaoyu, Xiaoyan! What a coincidence!" Ouyang Zixin greeted them happily, lowering her sword, the Xuan Kong Sword, her martial soul.

"Zixin," Jing Shaoyu greeted politely.

"Zixin!" Xu Xiaoyan added with a cheerful call.

Tang Wulin was nervously looking at Ouyang Zixin, unsure whether to greet her, when a sharp voice snapped him out of his daze. He turned, surprised to see Mu Xi.

"Senior," he stammered.

"Hmph," Mu Xi barely nodded, maintaining her usual cold attitude toward him. She immediately turned to Ouyang Zixin. "Zixin, let's go."

With that, she led her companions away without a second glance.

Ouyang Zixin sighed, waved to Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan. "I'll treat you two to a meal over the break! Gotta go for now!"

As she left to catch up with Mu Xi, she gave Tang Wulin a small wave, making his heart race with excitement.

"Senior?" Zhang Yangzi asked curiously. "Wulin, is that senior girl your mentor? What's the story there?"

Tang Wulin shook his head with a wry smile. "She's my teacher's daughter. She doesn't seem to like me very much, so we hardly interact."

"True," Wang Jinxi agreed. "It shows."

"By the way, Shaoyu, Xiaoyan, you two know Ouyang Zixin too?" Zhang Yangzi turned to them, his curiosity growing.

"Just friends," Jing Shaoyu said with a casual smile.

"Our families are close, so I've known her since I was young," Xu Xiaoyan added thoughtfully. "In fact, my family's considering a marriage arrangement between her and my brother."

Tang Wulin's hopeful smile vanished, leaving him stunned.

"Seriously?" Zhang Yangzi looked equally surprised, and he, Wang Jinxi, and Xie Xie all threw sympathetic glances at Tang Wulin. Poor kid—his first love hadn't even begun, and it might already be over.

"Don't overthink it, Wulin!" Xu Xiaoyan quickly waved her hands. "I just heard it from the household staff, so it's not set in stone. Besides, my brother doesn't seem interested in her, so you might still have a chance!"

"Oh," Tang Wulin managed a faint smile, though there was a hint of sadness that only someone who'd experienced it would understand.

"Alright, don't let it get to you," Jing Shaoyu reassured him, clapping him on the shoulder. "You're talented; finding a girlfriend won't be a problem someday."

"Thanks, Shaoyu," Tang Wulin said, regaining a bit of confidence.

With that, the team reformed their formation and set out once more, determined to meet the challenges of the Riot Phase.

-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there 

patreon.com/GodofTL236

Thanks!