Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!!
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In the setting of Legend of the Dragon King era, wanting to increase the age of a Spirit Ring in the Spirit Ascension Platform had a hard prerequisite—one must possess a 'Spirit Soul.'
This was because the Spirit Ascension Platform essentially increases the cultivation of the Spirit Soul, which then feeds back into the Spirit Ring.
However, for the natives of this current Unrivaled Tang Sect era, whether it be Huo Yuhao or Wang Dong'er, the concept of a 'Spirit Soul' did not exist within them.
Even the million-year-old Skydream Ice Worm inside Huo Yuhao's body could only, in a strict sense, be called an 'Intelligent Spirit Ring' right now; it didn't count as a true 'Spirit Soul' that could fight independently and evolve by absorbing spiritual power.
But since Lin Feng dared to bring this thing out and even open it as a teaching facility, it had naturally undergone a system compatibility patch.
Here, the spiritual power generated by killing Spirit Beasts would be directly infused into a student's Spirit Ring in the form of a special energy to increase the Spirit Ring's age.
"Alright."
In mid-air, Teacher Shen Yi looked down at the excited, flushed little faces below and timely poured a bucket of cold water on them to calm them down.
"Although this is a virtual World, I must remind you."
"Here, you can move freely and seek out Spirit Beasts to hunt."
"But!"
"Do not think that just because this is a game, you can recklessly throw your lives away."
"While dying here won't result in your actual death,"
"all senses here are one hundred percent real."
"That is to say..."
Teacher Shen Yi narrowed her eyes, her tone eerie:
"Pain is also real."
"The pain of your body being torn apart by a Spirit Beast, the pain of bones breaking... however much pain you would feel in reality is how much you will feel here."
"Furthermore..."
"You won't immediately exit the Spirit Ascension Platform after taking ordinary damage."
"Only when your body receives an attack judged as a 'fatal wound' will the system activate the forced protection program and kick you out."
"However..."
"If you are forced out due to a fatal wound, that fear of death and instantaneous agony will cause a massive shock to one's brain and Spirit."
"It might even leave a psychological shadow, affecting your future cultivation."
"So please, act with caution."
"Act within your capabilities; if you can't win, run. It's not a disgrace."
"Do you all understand?"
"We understand!"
Everyone responded in unison.
"Dismissed! Begin the operation!"
With Teacher Shen Yi's command, the thirty-two students quickly dispersed in various directions into the forest according to their previously assigned groups.
...
On the east side of the forest, within a dense thicket of shrubs.
Wang Dong'er's group was advancing cautiously.
Wang walked at the very front, followed by Xiao Xiao, then Seele, and finally that seemingly frail new teammate—Xu Xiaoyan.
After confirming the surroundings were temporarily safe, Wang Dong'er slowed her pace and turned her head to look at Xu Xiaoyan, who was at the back of the line.
"Um... Xiaoyan."
Wang Dong'er slowed down to walk side-by-side with Xu Xiaoyan and asked:
"The grouping earlier was too rushed, I haven't had a chance to ask yet."
"What is your Martial Soul?"
"Since we're a team, understanding each other's abilities will help us cooperate better when a fight starts later."
Hearing Wang Dong'er's inquiry, Xiao Xiao and Seele also curiously leaned in.
Upon hearing this, a flash of light appeared in Xu Xiaoyan's hand, and a translucent, ice-blue staff emitting a faint cold aura appeared in her grasp.
"My Spirit is the Ice Staff."
Xu Xiaoyan said.
"However... my Martial Soul is a bit special."
"It changes with the passage of time."
"What do you mean?" Xiao Xiao blinked her large eyes.
"It's like..."
Xu Xiaoyan pointed at the sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead:
"During the day, it looks like this, an ordinary ice staff, good at ice-attribute control and attacks."
"But..."
"When night falls, it transforms into another form: the Starwheel Ice Staff."
"Starwheel Ice Staff?"
Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Seele looked at each other, all wearing expressions of surprise.
"A Martial Soul that's actually different between day and night?"
It was the first time Wang Dong'er had ever heard of such a thing.
"It's true."
Xu Xiaoyan nodded seriously:
"At night, in its star wheel form, my control abilities become even stronger."
"But don't worry, everyone!"
"Even though it's daytime, I am still a Level 29 control system Battle Spirit Master!"
"I won't hold the team back!"
Hearing this, Wang Dong'er was stunned. Because Xu Xiaoyan looked like a small and cute girl just like Xiao Xiao, and while one shouldn't judge by appearances, she really looked like she had no combat power. However... she didn't expect her to actually be Level 29, which was even higher than her own Spirit Power level.
Wang Dong'er considered her own talent to be quite good, but it seemed there was always someone better. As for the other Shrek Academy, where the minimum entrance standard was Level 15, it wasn't strange for monsters to appear. But this 'authentic' Shrek Academy had no prescribed standards; for example, Seele was currently a Level 12 Spirit Master.
This Xu Xiaoyan, who was designated as one of the Class officers by Teacher Shen Yi, was quite formidable. She wondered if the other students designated as Class officers were also equally powerful.
"No way!"
"I can't lose to them!"
"In this Spirit Ascension Platform trial, I must perform well, raise my Spirit Ring age, and catch up in level!"
Wang Dong'er clenched her fists, her eyes burning with intense fighting spirit.
Just as they were talking...
"Shhh—shhh—shhh—"
A sudden, rapid rustling sound came from the bushes ahead.
"Careful! Something's happening!"
Wang Dong'er reacted extremely quickly, instantly entering a combat state.
The gorgeous light wings on her back unfolded instantly, and two Spirit Rings, one yellow and one purple, rose from beneath her feet as she took to the air, staring warily ahead.
Xiao Xiao also immediately summoned the Nine Phoenix Auspicious Flute.
"Roar—!"
Accompanied by a low roar, the dense bushes were violently pushed aside.
Three tall and burly black shadows, carrying a sickening stench, lunged out!
They were three giant apes over two meters tall.
Their bodies were covered in black bristles, except for their arms, which were longer than their knees and displayed a metallic iron-gray color, reflecting a cold luster in the sunlight.
The muscles on their arms were knotted like granite, giving off a powerful sense of pressure just by looking at them.
"It's the Iron Wall Ape!"
Wang Dong'er recognized this Spirit Beast at a glance, her expression changing slightly:
"Everyone be careful!"
"This Spirit Beast has extremely high defense, especially those iron arms which are comparable to refined steel!"
"And..."
Wang Dong'er's gaze swept over the Spirit Power fluctuations emanating from the three giant apes.
"Looking at their size and Spirit Power fluctuations..."
"All three of these are hundred-year-level Spirit Beasts!"
"And at least over three hundred years old!"
Three Iron Wall Apes with three hundred years of cultivation!
For this four-person team that averaged only two rings, or even less than two, this was definitely quite a challenge!
"Prepare for battle!"
Wang Dong'er shouted softly, the wing guillotines behind her lighting up instantly.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.