The essence of the Spirit Ascension Platform is a fragment of the Divine Realm.
It is a fragment of the Divine Realm that broke off during the great war of the Dragon God era and fell near the Douluo Star.
Gradually, it formed a special plane under the planet's gravitational pull.
The Spirit Pagoda conducted research on this fragment and subsequently created the Spirit Ascension Platform.
The spiritual energy within it is derived from the immortal energy of the Divine Realm fragment, absorbing the external world's natural energy to form a unique power that carries a trace of immortal energy's essence.
This is why it can assist spirit souls in evolving.
However, this is not true immortal energy.
Only the core of the Spirit Ascension Platform contains genuine immortal energy, a power that only deities can absorb and refine.
But if the immortal energy were to be absorbed, the Spirit Ascension Platform would collapse.
Even if Huo Yuhao had the ability to absorb it in the future, he would never do such a thing.
The Little Dragon God could recklessly absorb the immortal energy, walk away without a care, leaving behind a mess for the Spirit Pagoda to deal with.
But as the founder of the Spirit Pagoda, could he do that?
These are the assets of the Spirit Pagoda, not his personal property. At most, he could study it.
...
The strongest spirit beasts in the lower-tier Spirit Ascension Platform are the restricted zone guardian spirit souls, all of which are ten-thousand-year spirit beasts.
However, these true spirit souls have coexisted with humans for millennia.
Aside from oddities like the Evil Eye Tyrant that enjoy teasing people, as long as you don't enter the restricted zone, you won't provoke them.
As for the simulated spirit beasts, the most powerful ones in the lower-tier Spirit Ascension Platform are only at the thousand-year level.
Thus, the lower-tier Spirit Ascension Platform poses no threat to Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena.
After absorbing a portion of the spiritual energy, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena exited the Spirit Ascension Platform.
The others also left the Spirit Ascension Platform after reaching their respective limits, encountering no unexpected incidents.
Like the original work, the Hundred-Year Dark Terrorclaw Bear did not appear in the Spirit Ascension Platform simulation because there was no corresponding spirit bone, sparing it from forced participation, a cause for celebration.
Luoyang Lu looked at the spiritual energy lingering on their bodies and nodded with a smile. "Go back and rest for a day to digest your gains. Tomorrow, you'll enter the Virtual Battlefield."
"Virtual Battlefield?"
Seeing their confusion, Luoyang Lu explained:
"It's a special space modeled after the Spirit Ascension Platform. It can simulate historical powerhouses or battle scenarios, allowing you to duel against these simulated experts or assist virtual teammates in combat."
"If you perform well in the Virtual Battlefield, there will be rewards. However, only one reward can be obtained per tier."
As he spoke, Luoyang Lu took out four soul tool screens and handed them to the four members other than Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao, and Tang Wulin.
"I've already granted you access permissions. Wulin's is also included. You can check the details on the soul tool screens."
When Wu Zhangkong saw the soul tool screens bearing the Spirit Pagoda's emblem, his eyes twitched.
No wonder they weren't worried about him poaching talent, these kids had all joined the Spirit Pagoda already? When did this happen?
Tang Wulin curiously took out his soul tool screen, followed Luoyang Lu's instructions, and tapped into the Virtual Battlefield option.
Instantly, his mouth fell open, his little heart shocked.
The others reacted similarly.
Their eyes were all fixed on the rewards section.
Pills: Clear Spirit Pill, Soul Ascension Pill, Spirit Ascension Pill…
Rare Treasures: Thousand-Year Ice Dragon Fruit, Ten-Thousand-Year Purple Ganoderma… Hundred-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus.
Spirit Bones: Thousand-Year Demon Spirit Great White Shark Right Arm Bone, Ten-Thousand-Year Evil Demon Tiger Whale Left Leg Bone, Hundred-Thousand-Year…
The rewards for rare treasures and spirit bones started at the thousand-year level. Tang Wulin even spotted hundred-thousand-year-level rewards at the end and couldn't help but swallow hard.
Beyond these, there were also opportunities to enter various cultivation holy lands, contracts with ten-thousand-year or hundred-thousand-year spirit souls, and a slew of other rewards.
However, obtaining these rewards required defeating opponents of corresponding tiers in the Virtual Battlefield.
Just glancing at the rewards made it clear that the difficulty would be anything but low.
The Virtual Battlefield was likely extremely challenging.
As they stared greedily at the rewards on the screen, Xie Xie suddenly let out a puzzled sound. "Teacher, why are so many of these spirit bones from sea spirit beasts…?"
Halfway through his sentence, Xie Xie suddenly realized something and shut his mouth.
He really was being foolish, the answer was obvious. Why even ask?
If there was one place in the world that produced the most spirit bones nowadays, it was undoubtedly from sea spirit beasts!
"..."
Wu Zhangkong quietly walked over to Wang Jinxi's side, subtly glancing at the contents on the soul tool screen before falling into silence.
Was the difference in treatment between their Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda… a bit too stark?
Even if these challenges were difficult to complete, since they were listed there, aside from the highest difficulty corresponding to the hundred-thousand-year rewards, Xie Xie and the others definitely had a chance at the others.
As for the highest difficulty...
Wu Zhangkong glanced at Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena.
Those two could probably clear it.
Looking at it this way, aside from the immortal herbs in the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, their academy didn't seem to have many advantages… The Spirit Pagoda really was getting richer by the day.
Gu Yuena also took out her soul tool screen and skimmed through the rewards before leaning closer to Huo Yuhao and whispering, "Yuhao, you've been in there before, right?"
She hadn't visited the Virtual Battlefield in recent years, after all, she didn't need those rewards.
Huo Yuhao's eyelids twitched slightly as he nodded. "Yeah, once. The opponents inside are… a bit special. You can experience it for yourself tomorrow."
Gu Yuena studied his expression, curiosity stirring in her heart.
Just who were the simulated powerhouses inside?
...
Once the day's lessons ended, Luoyang Lu didn't send the students back to the academy.
Instead, he arranged rooms for them within the Spirit Pagoda before seeking out Hua Yichen.
"That's the situation. Do you think we should inform Her Excellency Heavenly Phoenix?"
After hearing Luoyang Lu recount Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena's interactions, Hua Yichen's expression turned somewhat odd.
Was this… an unexpected blessing?
Gu Yuena's background, appearance, and abilities were all outstanding.
From what he'd heard from her teacher, her personality was quite endearing as well.
If Yuhao and she could develop a relationship and support each other within the headquarters, it might not be a bad thing.
But after some thought, Hua Yichen shook his head lightly. "They're still young. We might be overthinking this."
Being a "love brain" was unacceptable, this was ancestral wisdom.
Besides, why should their elders meddle so much in the affairs of the younger generation?
Let things take their natural course. It was best to pretend they hadn't noticed.
…Well, mostly because they were worried that if Heavenly Phoenix Douluo found out, there'd be trouble.
...
Gu Yuena lay comfortably on the bed, holding an exquisite soul communicator in her hand. After a moment's consideration, she dialed Leng Yaozhu's number.
Before long, Leng Yaozhu's gentle voice came through the communicator.
"Na'er, what have you been up to lately?"
"Recently, Eastsea Academy established a special class called 'Zero Class.' I'm in it now, along with Yuhao..."
At the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, inside an office,
Leng Yaozhu's hands were elegantly folded, her fair and slender fingers lightly supporting her flawless, jade-like chin. Her demeanor was refined and noble, every movement exuding grace and composure.
But as she listened to the words coming from the other end of the communicator, Leng Yaozhu's poised and elegant aura gradually faded, and the smile on her lips vanished.
Na'er… the frequency with which you're saying "Yuhao", isn't it a bit too much?
Leng Yaozhu took a deep breath and tapped a few times on the soul screen on her desk, pulling up Huo Yuhao's information.
Innate full soul power, a spiritual-attributed body soul with an innate domain.
Currently nine years old, with a soul power of rank 35. His spiritual power was measured in the late Spirit Sea realm half a year ago.
A terrifyingly monstrous talent.
Leng Yaozhu even saw traces of Yun Ming's younger self in him.
"Should I make a trip to the Eastsea to see for myself?" Leng Yaozhu mused silently.
If she didn't go, she was afraid her precious disciple might be whisked away.