SNOW EMPRESS CITY

Seeing everyone perk up because of Luoyang Lu's words, Huo Yuhao smiled wryly.

Juechen's talent in certain aspects far surpassed ordinary people. Judging him solely by his initial level three soul power was actually incorrect.

But compared to his special situation, Ji Juechen was clearly more suitable to be the goal for civilian soul masters to pursue.

Thinking this, Huo Yuhao looked at Gu Yuena, "Did you pass?"

He hadn't seen the end, but he could tell Gu Yuena had held back. The result was probably...

Gu Yuena's expression looked somewhat strange as she transmitted her voice, "I was defeated by the soul tool you used to strip elements."

Huo Yuhao: "..."

There were soul tools specifically designed to counter elemental soul masters... Although he had indeed researched them ten thousand years ago.

Speaking of which, what was Su Tong thinking back then? Didn't he ask her to delete all the traces he left behind?

Both the admonitions and the combat abilities, what did Su Tong delete, and what didn't she delete?

A strange sense of foreboding suddenly arose...

Luoyang Lu, standing to the side, watched the two of them communicate via voice transmission as if no one else was around.

While uploading everyone's results to the Spirit Pagoda's internal network, he secretly wondered: Is it possible that Joyful Douluo is overthinking things?

...At the edge of the Extreme North, Snow Empress City.

As the relationship between land-dwelling spirit beasts and humans gradually improved, the edge of the Extreme North also gathered many residents, eventually becoming a major city of the Federation.

Named after the ruler of the Extreme North, it represented the Federation's respect for the Snow Empress and the Extreme North.

Pedestrians came and went through this ice-cast city, and occasionally, the figures of spirit beasts could be seen. The snow beneath their feet crunched with every step.

Most of the buildings in the city were adorned with ice and snow, refracting sunlight to emit a dazzling array of colors, making the city resemble a dream-like crystal metropolis.

Shops lined the streets, selling various goods unique to the polar regions. In the central square stood a massive tower-like structure, its body constructed from pure ice crystals, radiating a brilliant glow under the sunlight.

This was one of the Spirit Pagoda's eighteen pillars, the Extreme North Branch!

Inside the tower, a woman dressed in a black bodysuit that accentuated her graceful figure stood. Her skin was as pale and cold as snow, as if it had never been touched by sunlight.

"Hmm? Someone actually passed the red-level assessment?"

Using her authority, Leng Yulai frowned in surprise as she checked a message on the soul tool screen.

Was that assessment even passable by a human?

The first-generation Pagoda Master only used Ultimate Ice, which was manageable. Since the first-generation Pagoda Master didn't fight often, the data wasn't comprehensive, so the designed difficulty, while high, wasn't too outrageous.

The key was the soul tools. It was as if the designer of the virtual battlefield had lost their mind, the soul tools used by the first-generation Pagoda Master would increase in level by three based on the examinee's strength.

When someone complained that the red-level assessment was too difficult and should be lowered by at least one level, some researchers would retort, "If you think the first-generation Pagoda Master's soul tools aren't strong, try forging a mecha prototype, become a Limit Douluo while also being a level ten soul engineer, and crack the spirit soul contract!"

After that, what else could anyone say?

They could only comply.

But Leng Yulai always thought it was too exaggerated.

Leaving aside everything else, just the spirit soul contract... A contract that remained unbroken for ten thousand years indeed demonstrated the first-generation Pagoda Master's dominance in certain areas, but did that have anything to do with the strength of soul tools?

Could the spirit soul contract really be connected to soul tools?

No matter how powerful the first-generation Pagoda Master was, he was still a person of the past.

After ten thousand years of development, in terms of strength, those top-tier quasi-gods were definitely above the Spirit Ice Douluo.

Their abilities might not compare to the first-generation Pagoda Master, but what they sought to surpass wasn't talent, but the standards of the past.

After ten thousand years of development, if they didn't even dare to mention surpassing the Spirit Ice Douluo of ten thousand years ago, even the deceased would likely feel disappointed.

So, in Leng Yulai's view, those researchers had gone insane.

But now, someone had actually passed an assessment designed by those insane people?

Leng Yulai frowned slightly, put away the soul tool screen, and looked toward the upper levels.

Currently, the Spirit Pagoda was known to have only seven Limit Douluo-level powerers.

The Snow Empress of the Extreme North, the Beast God Di Tian, Lord Xiong, Myriad Demon King, Bi Ji, Spirit Douluo Qiangu Dongfeng, and Heaven War Douluo Qiangu Dieting.

Leng Yulai also knew this couldn't be the real number.

Only a fool would reveal all their cards. But she was only at the quasi-senior level and didn't have the right to know certain things.

Now, the few in the Star Dou Forest rarely took disciples unless they encountered someone exceptionally suited to their teachings.

The descendants of the Qiangu family were also quite good, and they might not be willing to take on a prodigy who would compete with their own family's geniuses.

She just didn't know what the Snow Empress was thinking. It seemed she had never taken a disciple.

As she thought this, a stunning figure suddenly appeared in her vision.

"After I arrange matters in the Extreme North, accompany me to Heaven Dou City."

A clear, melodious voice sounded in Leng Yulai's ear.

---------

...Life for Class Zero after joining the Spirit Pagoda gradually settled into a routine.

Cultural classes, combat training, virtual battlefield battles, the Spirit Ascension Platform... Everyone lived a particularly fulfilling life.

In the blink of an eye, several months passed, and it was already the end of the semester.

In the virtual battlefield, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi stood together, their expressions extremely solemn as they faced two enemies.

The virtual battlefield had a cooperative combat option, specifically designed for soul masters who excelled in support or possessed martial soul fusion skills.

However, the difficulty would also double.

"Jinxi, let's try using our martial soul fusion skill again!"

Zhang Yangzi said in a low voice.

"Alright." Wang Jinxi nodded tersely.

The two were very in sync, almost immediately grasping each other's hands as black light flashed on their bodies.

Shadow Phantasm Eagle, Bone Dragon King, Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Dark Eagle Dragon!

...

Tang Wulin had just returned home and was about to head back to the Class Zero dormitory when he suddenly saw a figure.

The girl's appearance was exceptionally striking, with delicate features and large, clear eyes that sparkled with a captivating light. Under the setting sun, her entire body seemed enveloped in a golden halo.

Senior Ouyang Zixin?

"What? Eyeing that senior sister?" Xie Xie's teasing voice came from the side.

He had somehow circled around to Tang Wulin's side and slung an arm over his shoulder, "That's the famous school belle of East Sea Academy. She has quite a few suitors. Want to give it a try?"

"Y-you're talking nonsense!" Tang Wlin's face turned red, and he tried to shake off Xie Xie's arm to leave, "I-I was just admiring her from an appreciative perspective!"

Xie Xie smirked, "Come on, you were staring at her so intently, and you still won't admit it?"

Seeing Tang Wulin's face grow even redder, with a hint of anger and shame, Xie Xie wisely backed off.

"Alright, I won't say anymore. Teacher Luo sent me to find you. Something's wrong with Jinxi. Come with me to the Spirit Pagoda."

"What happened to Jinxi?" Tang Wulin's heart skipped a beat.

Over the past few months, the seven of them had grown quite close, and he now considered Wang Jinxi an important companion. He didn't want anything to happen to his friend.

"It's related to you." Xie Xie gave Tang Wulin a strange look, "You've been training with Jinxi a lot lately, right?"

"Yeah." Tang Wulin nodded.

During one of their combat training sessions, Wang Jinxi discovered that Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King aura enhanced his own strength.

After experimenting, they found that not only did this apply in combat, but their cultivation speeds also improved when they trained together.

According to their teachers, Tang Wulin's bloodline was likely of a very high grade among dragon clans, beneficial to the cultivation of dragon-type martial souls.

So after that, whenever they had time, he and Wang Jinxi would train together.

Was this why Jinxi had encountered trouble?

Xie Xie interrupted Tang Wulin's thoughts, "Come with me, and you'll find out."