After forcefully suppressing the wicked thoughts that had sprouted in his mind, Nan Fusheng headed straight to the cafeteria.
As a member of Class Zero, he enjoyed free access to Grade A meals, which had saved him a considerable amount of money recently.
Eat. Class. Repeat.
"Today, we're going to the Spirit Pagoda."
Wu Zhangkong announced in his usual terse tone, only ever speaking more during actual lessons.
Going to the Spirit Pagoda? For what?
None of them had reached the point where they needed a new spirit soul yet, right?
Everyone, except for Nan Fusheng, was puzzled by the announcement, but Wu Zhangkong didn't offer any explanation—he was simply informing them.
Leaving school during class time always carried a kind of thrill, a strange yet privileged feeling. Each of the six members of Class Zero felt it to some degree.
While they walked, Wu Zhangkong added:
"Starting today, you'll be given one opportunity per week to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform for cultivation.
Treasure this chance—it's funded directly by the Academy."
Hearing this, Tang Wulin and Gu Yue both looked confused, until Nan Fusheng took it upon himself to explain:
"In the Spirit Pagoda system of our Douluo Continent, only large cities are equipped with Spirit Ascension Platforms.
There are eighteen across the entire continent—and they're among the best places for Soul Masters to train."
"The Spirit Ascension Platform was created by the Spirit Pagoda. It's a place where Soul Masters can train and hone their abilities while experiencing the charm of the ancient Soul Master era.
I don't fully understand the science behind it, but rumor has it that more than ten Title Douluo were involved in its construction,
along with a massive team of top scientists. The Spirit Pagoda paid a steep price to complete it."
Originally, it was built to further their research into artificial spirit souls—the goal being to elevate the quality of artificial spirits.
And while some success was achieved, the process of enhancing spirit souls in the Ascension Platform remained inconsistent and unpredictable."
"Since they couldn't let such a massive investment go to waste, the platform was repurposed.
Today, it's a unique space, created from the combined efforts of the best Soul Engineers, Soul Masters, and researchers in the world."
"Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, you enter a separate dimension. It's protected, so it's not too dangerous—
But you'll be able to fight soul beasts there and improve your real combat experience.
Some lucky Soul Masters can even evolve their spirit souls while inside."
"How does a spirit soul evolve?" Tang Wulin asked.
"Simple," Nan Fusheng replied. "Whether it's a spirit soul or a traditional soul ring, their strength is tied to the years of cultivation they possess.
To evolve a spirit soul is to increase its age. Since our current spirit souls are only at a ten-year level, the chances of upgrading them are decent—
Assuming we get to train on the platform regularly. But the higher the spirit soul's rank, the harder it is to evolve inside."
Even as he explained it to the others, Nan Fusheng was getting a little excited himself.
After all, entering the Spirit Ascension Platform wasn't just a matter of money—it cost 500,000 federation coins per entry and required status to access.
And money wasn't even the hardest part: the entry slots were limited. For the basic Spirit Ascension Platform, only 1,000 people per month could enter—
And most of those slots were locked up by large clans and powerful organizations. Without significant backing, you wouldn't even have a chance to compete for a spot.
"So the Academy's being pretty generous, huh?" said Xie Xie.
"If Wei Xiaofeng finds out we're getting into the Spirit Ascension Platform, he'll probably regret quitting until his guts turn green!"
The Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda far surpassed the one in Ao Lai City, where Nan Fusheng had originally lived.
As one of the eighteen major branches, these towers were also known as the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars.
You could see the Spirit Pagoda from a great distance away—over a hundred stories tall, more than 400 meters high,
making it one of Eastsea City's most iconic buildings despite the surrounding skyscrapers.
Its octagonal base covered a vast area, and every ten floors, the structure narrowed, rising until it reached a pointed spire at the top.
Just looking at it filled them with awe.
The Academy had prepared in advance. When they reached the grand staircase at the front entrance, Dean Long Hengxu was already waiting.
Seeing Wu Zhangkong arrive with the students, Long Hengxu greeted them warmly:
"Teacher Wu."
"Director Long."
A brief, expressionless exchange—Wu Zhangkong as stoic as ever.
"Follow me," Long Hengxu said, and they entered.
As soon as they stepped inside the first floor of the Spirit Pagoda, they were struck by the luxurious interior.
The ground was paved with dark golden stone, etched with stunning natural patterns.
Massive stone columns rose high into the air, supporting a towering ceiling, which was adorned with magnificent, full-color murals.
These murals were breathtaking, depicting scenery, characters, and seemingly telling a grand story.
"These murals record the life of the first Pagoda Master, a legendary Soul Master and inventor of spirit souls—Spirit Ice Douluo."
Wu Zhangkong explained. "They depict how he led humanity against the great soul beast tide."
"What you see here is just part of the story. It's spread across all eighteen towers.
Only the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters contains the final chapter—his battle against the strongest soul beast in history: Beast God Di Tian."
"After that battle, the Spirit Ice Douluo vanished and was never seen again.
But it's said that he won, because Di Tian—the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King—also disappeared forever."
As Wu Zhangkong explained, Nan Fusheng studied the murals.
The soul beast horde, massive and terrifying, loomed over a vast city.
And above that city, a glowing figure hovered in the sky, surrounded by several powerful-looking companions:
—A white-robed beauty.
—A green-dressed goddess.
—A blossom of ice on his shoulder.
—A towering bear.
—A massive white insect.
Each of them guarded this radiant young man, whose body was encircled by a halo of dazzling soul rings.
Spirit Ice Douluo—Huo Yuhao!
No... wait, by now he should be called Dai Yuhao.
Nan Fusheng knew the full story—far better than most of his peers in this era.
After all, he'd finished reading Legend of the Divine Seal Master back in his previous life, and it had disgusted him to no end.
He bore so much hatred, and yet in the end, he bowed down for "love" and became a dog for the Tang Sect?
Sure, they brought his mother back to life, but still—what a trash ending.
I still wonder if he ever got free from that moral chastity belt his father-in-law put on him…
Just then, Nan Fusheng noticed that Tang Wulin had been staring quietly at the figure beside Dai Yuhao.
"That's Dragon Butterfly Douluo Tang Wutong, Spirit Ice Douluo's wife."
Xie Xie said in awe. "Isn't she beautiful?
They had an incredibly powerful martial soul fusion technique. The two of them were completely in sync—one of the strongest pairings of their time."
"Tang Wutong… sounds a bit like Tang Wulin, doesn't it?" Gu Yue added, her voice a bit strange.
"Also... have you noticed? Wulin looks kind of like her. Especially the eyes."
"Nah," said Xie Xie. "Tang Wutong had pink-blue eyes and hair. Wulin's are black. Not even close."
Listening to their conversation, Nan Fusheng couldn't help but feel amused.
If they only knew… that Tang Wulin is Tang Wutong's little brother.
The son of the Sea God Tang San himself.
Gu Yue would probably go berserk on the spot.
After all, if soul beasts ended up like this, Tang San played no small role in their downfall.