The darkness faded, replaced by blinding light. Nan Fusheng slowly sat up inside a metallic capsule, just as a loud voice rang out:
"Xie Xie!"
The brightness made him instinctively squint. He turned his head, scanning the surroundings.
He saw Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, whose bodies were lightly twitching. Gu Yue sat pale-faced a short distance away, clearly still recovering. Beside her, two other metallic capsules were open.
He then watched as Tang Wulin shot out of one capsule like a spring and rushed to another.
"Xie Xie! Xie Xie!"
Tang Wulin's voice was filled with panic and urgency.
"I… I'm okay. Just hurts like hell."
Xie Xie's hoarse voice responded as he slowly sat up, emerging from the capsule.
Thanks to Nan Fusheng's support, he hadn't sustained any serious injuries. Still, the massive physical exertion inside the Spirit Ascension Platform had left deep impressions on his brain, so much so that his entire body felt like it had been through a real, grueling war.
Seeing Xie Xie open his eyes, Tang Wulin finally let out a sigh of relief. But the overwhelming fatigue, combined with the suffocating feeling from being crystallized earlier, suddenly surged back. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.
Long Hengxu and Wu Zhangkong stood nearby. Wu Zhangkong's expression remained cold and unreadable, but Long Hengxu's eyes were filled with shock.
The Spirit Pagoda staff member present couldn't help but exclaim in genuine admiration:
"Remarkable talents… truly exceptional! Are you certain these children are only nine years old?"
His gaze was intense, especially when it landed on Nan Fusheng, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue.
He had watched their performance from start to finish.
Of all of them, Nan Fusheng and Tang Wulin had been the most impressive.
Nan Fusheng's bizarre and powerful soul skill played a decisive role. With it, he completely controlled a hundred-year Bipedal Unihorned Dragon, rendering it helpless even in its final moments. He had even managed to temporarily suppress a thousand-year Crystal Bear, creating opportunities for his teammates to strike.
And in the final moments, surrounded by wolves, he remained calm under pressure, executing precise mental control over distant wolves to prevent their Wind Blades from hitting his team. His unwavering trust in his teammates was evident every step of the way.
As for Tang Wulin, his golden dragon claw possessed offensive strength far beyond what a two-ring Soul Master should have.
Taking down a hundred-year soul beast with one blow was impressive enough, but the thousand-year Crystal Bear was on a completely different level.
Even targeting its known weak spot, the defensive strength there wasn't something most Assault-type Soul Exalts would dare to take head-on. But Tang Wulin had done it decisively and cleanly.
Gu Yue had also left a deep impression. Her flawless coordination with the other three, her ability to control multiple elements simultaneously, and her precision in timing were all remarkable.
But what stood out the most was her decision in the final moment—to shield Tang Wulin with her own body, bearing the crushing weight of a nearly thousand-jin impact.
The staff member knew full well: in that kind of situation, the human brain doesn't have time to distinguish reality from illusion.
For Gu Yue to react that quickly meant that—even in the real world—she would have made the same choice.
And these kids… are only nine?
Their deep bond and trust made their teamwork flow effortlessly. No wonder Eastsea Academy had invested heavily to send them here. Their stay in the Spirit Ascension Platform hadn't been long, but the value of their experience was immeasurable.
Even the last one—Xie Xie—had shown great heart. Fighting fiercely for his friends even when he knew he was outmatched, staying calm under pressure, choosing the best spot to break through the encirclement, and exposing his back without hesitation—not out of recklessness, but out of faith that his teammates would cover him.
He had done exceedingly well, among all first-timers on the platform, the staff member had rarely seen anyone this competent. And none of them had more than two soul rings.
Wu Zhangkong stepped forward, his cold voice cutting through the quiet.
"From this day forward, the six of you will operate as a single combat squad.
Squad Leader: Tang Wulin.
Vice Leader: Nan Fusheng.
Move out."
With that, he turned and walked toward the elevator.
The six of them exchanged stunned glances.
A squad?
Zhang Yangzi looked especially sour—but more than that, he was ashamed.
Before entering the Spirit Ascension Platform, he had wanted to compete and prove himself. But after witnessing everything that happened… that desire was completely gone.
It wasn't just about individual strength. In terms of composure, strategy, and teamwork, he paled in comparison.
Nan Fusheng's cool command and soul skill control, Tang Wulin's overwhelming power, Gu Yue's selfless sacrifice, and Xie Xie's relentless loyalty—every one of them had something he lacked.
Even Wang Jinxi's retreat could be understood—after all, he had faced an impossibly strong soul beast.
But Zhang Yangzi? His performance had been reckless and useless.
On the way back, the group of six was still deep in thought. Some, like Zhang Yangzi, were regretful, while others, like Nan Fusheng, were quietly replaying the battle in their minds.
There was no doubt: their first time inside the Spirit Ascension Platform had left a deep impact.
Nan Fusheng, in particular, felt a profound shift.
So this is what a real battle with soul beasts feels like.
Despite being a Sequence 5 Beyonder, he'd never actually been in real combat. Aolai City was a peaceful place.
But this—this was different. The training they received in school didn't compare to the visceral, unpredictable nature of fighting soul beasts.
It was the perfect opportunity to gain true battle experience.
The return trip was uneventful.
Tang Wulin, still dizzy from his soul spirit's evolution, had to be personally escorted back to his dorm by Wu Zhangkong.
After that, Wu Zhangkong gave no extra instructions—just told the rest of them to return to their dorms and train.
Nan Fusheng didn't waste any time. The moment he got back, he began meditating.
To the outside world, it might seem like Tang Wulin had gained the most—he had fought powerful soul beasts and even upgraded his soul spirit.
But Nan Fusheng knew he had gained something just as valuable: combat experience.
More importantly, he had made a discovery—something crucial.
The Time Worm's ability to parasitize soul beasts.
Unlike humans, parasitizing soul beasts—especially in the platform—was vastly different.
He wasn't sure if it was because the soul beasts were digital constructs, simulated, or spirit-based…
But what he did discover was this:
To deeply parasitize a human, he had to use multiple Time Worms.
But to deeply parasitize a soul beast?
He only needed one.