I really can't relax at all! Nan Fusheng muttered with a touch of exasperation. Forget it. Once they wake up, take them to register for identification, and then arrange for them to sit the entrance exams for Tianhai Academy.
"They're already ready to come out? And… entrance exams?" Qian Gu Bubai looked at Nan Fusheng with confusion.
"Of course." Nan Fusheng nodded. "The entrance exams will help them integrate better into the Federation's upper ranks in the future. After all, most of the federal elites graduated from those advanced soul master academies."
"There's still quite some time before the Abyss Invasion begins. While keeping up the act, I don't mind playing around a little either." Nan Fusheng could only admit—he was getting bolder by the day.
Three years later.
Donghai City, Donghai Academy.
Ever since that battle three years ago, Wu Zhangkong's reputation had skyrocketed. In contrast, the five students of Class Zero seemed far less eye-catching under his brilliance.
A Battle Armor Master! A teacher of such caliber in a mid-level academy—it shook the entire Tianhai Alliance. Even though Donghai Academy hadn't achieved dazzling results in competitions, its enrollment rate soared.
As for Class Zero, their lives hadn't changed much. They still trained as before, their days steady and disciplined.
"Final exam: Riot Phase of the Spirit Ascension Platform. Duration—twenty-four hours. Anyone who comes out early won't be allowed to go to Shrek City." Wu Zhangkong's voice was cold as ever.
Xie Xie grinned cheekily. "Teacher Wu, if we last longer than twenty-four hours, do we get a reward?"
Wu Zhangkong nodded slightly. "Yes. The reward will be a one-on-one duel with me. Or, if you prefer, you can let the other four gang up on you. Your choice."
"Uh…"
"Teacher Wu, you don't have to be that cruel!" Xie Xie wailed.
Nan Fusheng and the others couldn't help but laugh.
Gu Yue sat next to Tang Wulin. Her short hair was still neat and crisp, but compared to three years ago, she had grown taller, now standing over 1.7 meters. Though her youth left her a bit immature, her tall, slender figure was nearly perfect, brimming with vitality.
Yet her gaze was calm, rarely showing emotion. Just sitting quietly gave her a composed, steady air. As she grew older, Gu Yue quarreled less and less with Xie Xie.
Xu Xiaoyan, on the other hand, remained much more lively. She was half a head shorter than Gu Yue, but had grown into a pretty young lady, always smiling like a mischievous child.
In Class Zero, she often clung to Nan Fusheng. Watching him get flustered and helpless around her was her favorite amusement.
"Let's move out." Wu Zhangkong was as succinct as ever.
The Riot Phase Spirit Ascension Platform was, of course, the primary-level version. For Nan Fusheng's group, it no longer posed any real threat.
Everything felt familiar. They headed straight to the Donghai Spirit Pagoda.
By now, they have come here at least once a month. The murals inside the pagoda were so familiar that they could almost recite them.
"Gu Yue, this is your turf now!" Xie Xie teased.
Since joining the Spirit Pagoda, Gu Yue spent most of her rest days there, though she never explained what she did.
Naturally, no one pressed her for answers. Both Gu Yue and Nan Fusheng were the strongest among them, though no one knew who would win in a direct clash. Gu Yue's mastery of elemental control was formidable, but Nan Fusheng's second soul skill—vanishing unpredictably and redirecting energy attacks—made him equally hard to pin down.
On the other hand, Nan Fusheng couldn't easily deal with Gu Yue either. Her space abilities meant that if he got too close, she could freeze him instantly with ice element power.
This body of his was only a clone, and its spiritual power couldn't compare to his true self. Plus, these were training matches, not life-and-death battles. The two of them were almost evenly matched.
For some reason, though, the other three felt a subtle distance between themselves and both Gu Yue and Nan Fusheng.
Three years ago, when Tang Wulin was gravely injured, Gu Yue had burned her life force to save him with light-element power. But when he awoke, her attitude toward him had shifted. She became distant, no longer as close as before.
Since then, aside from classes and training, Gu Yue rarely joined them in leisure or outings.
Nan Fusheng's situation was oddly similar. Once good friends with everyone, somehow an invisible wall had formed between him and the others.
Gu Yue shot Xie Xie a glance. "Yes, this is my turf. What do you want to say?"
Xie Xie chuckled. "Well, maybe we could get a little preferential treatment? Oh, right—Xiaoyan is about to break through her third ring. Could you pull some strings and help her get a stronger second spirit soul? Her spiritual power can handle it."
Gu Yue looked at Xu Xiaoyan, raising a questioning brow.
Xu Xiaoyan's face flushed slightly. "Gu Yue-jie… if it's not too much trouble…"
Gu Yue smiled. "It's no trouble at all. I'll bring you when the time comes. We'll make sure you get the most suitable one."
"Thank you, Gu Yue-jie!" Xu Xiaoyan beamed.
Inside the Spirit Pagoda, the staff who saw Gu Yue all greeted her warmly, and she returned their greetings one by one. Clearly, she was highly regarded within the Pagoda.
After swiping their cards into the machines, the five each lay in their respective metal chambers, ready to enter.
They were long accustomed to this process; there was no need for preparation.
Space twisted lightly. Darkness fell, then light returned. Fresh air rushed into their lungs as they arrived in a familiar place— the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform, Riot Phase.
"Stay sharp." Tang Wulin's voice was steady and commanding.
"Yes, Captain!" the others responded in unison.
Over the past three years, their teamwork had matured to a fine edge.
Tang Wulin's leadership had won everyone's approval. His tactical planning and battlefield adjustments had been tempered through constant experience, becoming second nature.
As Xie Xie often said, "The captain can handle all the thinking for us."
Tang Wulin walked at the front. His Blue Silver Grass spread across the ground, extending fifteen meters in every direction. Any movement nearby would be sensed instantly.
Gu Yue followed a step behind, positioned where she could both observe the surroundings and remain within Tang Wulin's protection.
Nan Fusheng and Xu Xiaoyan moved side by side behind them, while Xie Xie took the rear guard—walking backwards, eyes fixed behind, yet keeping pace effortlessly.
But soon, unease settled over them.
"It's too quiet," Tang Wulin frowned. The Riot Phase Spirit Ascension Platform was usually buzzing with activity. Their landing point being this silent could mean only one thing—
A particularly powerful soul beast was entrenched in this area, driving all the lesser ones away.