After the group entered, the heavy doors of the Soul Beast Tower slowly closed. A soft, cold, silvery-white radiance emanated from the walls inside, and the environment shifted to night—perfect for Xu Xiaoyan to display her abilities.
"Is this... the inside of the Soul Beast Tower?"
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath. Although he had experienced various battles in the virtual simulation pods before, those were ultimately virtual. This was reality; if one got injured, one would truly bleed, and a single mistake could result in a painful price.
Of course, these were the school's safety measures, so death would not occur.
Teacher Wang Jin, who was monitoring from outside, was not Xuan Zi after all.
The expressions of Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and the others also became serious, and the originally relaxed atmosphere vanished completely.
"Everyone, be careful."
Huo Yuhao whispered a warning, a flash of golden light gleaming in his eyes.
"Spiritual Detection Sharing, activate!"
Huo Yuhao chose the most powerful members of the team who were also the main attackers: Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Wang Dong'er.
"They're here!"
Xie Xie suddenly shouted in a low voice.
The space ahead suddenly twisted, and immediately after, over a dozen figures radiating brilliant light slowly emerged.
They were over a dozen Spirit Beasts, wolf-like in build but covered in pure white glowing fur, with a single horn growing from the top of their heads—Light-Horned Wolves.
"Awoooo—!!!"
Accompanied by a synchronized howl, the dozen Light-Horned Wolves turned into white bolts of lightning, pouncing toward the group.
"They all have cultivation close to a thousand years!"
Huo Yuhao made a quick assessment.
"Wang Dong'er, are these what you need?" Tang Wulin asked.
"No." Wang Dong'er shook her head.
These Spirit Beasts were only close to a thousand years old, and they were wolf-type Spirit Beasts, which were not suitable for her.
Even if they could increase the age of the Spirit Ring after becoming a Spirit Soul, the Spirit Ascension Platform required Contribution Points, and since her second Spirit Ring was already a thousand-year one, she naturally could not settle for less.
"In that case, let's take them all out."
Tang Wulin commanded in a low voice."No problem!"
Wang Dong'er gave a clear shout, her magnificent Light Goddess Butterfly wings instantly spreading out behind her. She soared out, her wings acting like blades as she headed straight for the wolf pack on the right.
On the other side, Xie Xie flashed into motion, his Light Dragon Dagger already spinning in his hand, creating streaks of cold light as he cut into the battlefield on the left.
As for the front...
"Roar!"
A low dragon roar resonated.
Tang Wulin took a step forward. Facing the five menacingly pouncing Light-Horned Wolves, golden blood energy surged through his fist. His right fist was covered in golden dragon scales as he threw a punch!
"Bang—!!!"
A muffled sound echoed.
The Light-Horned Wolf at the very front didn't even have time to wail before it was sent flying by this punch, smashing heavily against the wall and disappearing into points of light on the spot.
Immediately after, Tang Wulin moved as if no one was there, taking them out one by one with a single punch each. It was truly a case of 'injured upon contact, dead upon touch.'
"Isn't this... too fierce?"
Wang Dong'er, who was entangled with two Light-Horned Wolves, took a moment to glance at the central battlefield, her eye twitching uncontrollably.
On her side, she still had to rely on her flight advantage and Spirit Ability to kite them, requiring quite a bit of effort to resolve.
Yet over on Tang Wulin's side, it was as simple as playing whack-a-mole!
"Is this what it feels like to be carried?"
"So good!"
Wang Dong'er felt secretly thrilled, and her movements accelerated.
With Huo Yuhao's map hack and Tang Wulin acting as a powerful tank and damage dealer, the dozen Light-Horned Wolves in the first level were quickly wiped out.
"First level passed. Rest for one minute."
A prompt sounded inside the tower.
"That was too easy!"
Xiao Xiao waved her small fist excitedly.
Soon, the second level began.
Light flickered. This time, the number of Spirit Beasts that appeared was reduced to only six.
However, their size was more than double that of the previous Light-Horned Wolves!
They were six lions with bodies entirely of gold, as if cast from gold—Light Lions.
"Six of them, all with thousand-year cultivation!"
Huo Yuhao's expression became slightly more serious.
"Thousand-year Spirit Beasts..."
Wang Dong'er glanced at the Light Lions and shook her head.
"Although the attributes are compatible, they are only just over a thousand years old. Not what I want."
"Then kill them!"
Tang Wulin was concise and to the point, charging up again.
Although they were thousand-year Spirit Beasts, they were still no match for Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Claw.
However, this time, the others had to bring out their real skills.
Xu Xiaoyan raised the Starwheel Ice Staff in her hand, and streaks of starlight chains precisely controlled the Light Lions attempting to ambush them. Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron crashed down to provide auxiliary control, while Xie Xie was responsible for finishing them off.
The seven worked with tacit understanding. Although it took a bit more time than the first level, they still cleared it without any real danger.
The third level. This time, there were only two Spirit Beasts.
Two giant light eagles with wingspans exceeding five meters circled at the top of the tower, their sharp gazes locked tightly onto the group.
"Two-thousand-year cultivation!"
"Two thousand years..."
Wang Dong'er bit her lip, a trace of hesitation flashing in her eyes.
"No, it's still not enough."
Wang Dong'er thought of the golden pearls issued by the academy, the top-tier ingredients she ate every day, and her current physical constitution and Mental Force, which far exceeded what they had been before.
"I want a three-thousand-year one."
Wang Dong'er had, after all, entered this Monster Academy; with such good Spirit Rings, how could she not choose to push herself?
"I don't want these two either! Kill them!"
This battle was much more difficult.
Flying Spirit Beasts were naturally tricky to deal with, especially ones with two-thousand-year cultivation.
Fortunately, Xu Xiaoyan's Star Wheel Chain played a key role, forcibly dragging one light eagle down from the sky, after which it was pressed to the ground and beaten by Tang Wulin.
The other was killed by the combined efforts of Wang Dong'er and Xie Xie.
"Hoo... hoo..."
After resolving the third level, everyone's Spirit Power was significantly depleted.
Fortunately, the rest period this time was relatively long, and combined with the Spirit Power recovery methods taught by the academy, it allowed the group to recover almost fully.
Just at this moment, a terrifying pressure, several times stronger than before, surged out from the light gate!
The entire space of the fourth floor of the Soul Spirit Pagoda was dyed a magnificent gold.
Amidst the sky full of golden light, a breathtakingly beautiful creature slowly emerged.
It was a giant butterfly.
Its wingspan was over ten meters, and its wings appeared as a translucent gold, marked with silver patterns resembling crescent moons. Every time it flapped its wings, it scattered specks of golden radiance.
"This is..."
The moment she saw this Spirit Beast, Wang Dong'er's eyes widened instantly, and her breathing became rapid:
"Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly!"
"It's actually a Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly!"
She had learned about this type of Spirit Beast in the Spirit Beast encyclopedia class at the academy.
This was an extremely rare light-attribute Spirit Beast, possessing immense control over light elements and mental attack capabilities. Furthermore, its wings were extremely sharp, making them a natural cutting weapon.
"This size, this number of moon patterns on its wings..."
Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted slightly:
"At least four thousand years!"
"This is a four-thousand-year Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly!"
"I want it!" Wang Dong'er said.
Although it was a thousand years higher than the three-thousand-year Spirit Ring limit she had estimated, she still chose to give it a try. After all, it wasn't easy to encounter such a Spirit Beast that was so highly compatible with her Spirit.
"Okay!"
Tang Wulin nodded, took a step forward, and blocked in front of the group:
"Prepare for battle!"
"Hum—!"
The Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly seemed to sense the group's hostility. Its wings shook violently, and countless golden light blades resembling curved sabers shot down, covering the sky and earth!
"Be careful!"
With Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing, it was much easier for the group to dodge these light blades.
Tang Wulin let out a roar. His right arm was instantly covered in golden dragon scales. The Golden Dragon Claw forcibly tore through the storm of light blades in front of him, and he charged toward the Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly.
"First Spirit Skill, Binding!"
Dozens of thick Blue Silver Grass vines shot up into the sky, attempting to bind the Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly.
But the Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly was extremely fast. With a flap of its wings, it nimbly dodged the Binding, and at the same time, it spat out a beam of golden light from its mouth, heading straight for Tang Wulin's face.
"Star Wheel Chain!"
At the critical moment, Xu Xiaoyan took action.
That absolute control skill exerted its power once again, and the Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly's form suddenly stalled in mid-air.
"Now!"
"First Spirit Skill, Cauldron Quake!"
Xiao Xiao's cauldron descended from the sky, slamming heavily onto the Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly's back, smashing it downward. Tang Wulin also threw a heavy punch, forcing the Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly's body directly down toward the ground.
"Third Spirit Skill, Butterfly God Slash!"
Wang Dong'er, who had been ready and waiting, transformed into a streak of light. In her hand, she condensed a massive light cutting blade and slashed fiercely at the root of the Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly's wings!
Xie Xie also assisted in the finishing move.
Under the coordination of the group, this powerful four-thousand-year Spirit Beast finally let out a sorrowful cry, crashed heavily onto the ground, and lost its ability to fight.
"Quick! Absorb it!"
Wang Dong'er did not dare to delay. She quickly rushed forward, sat cross-legged, and began to guide the Spirit Soul.
Purple light rose from the Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly and poured into Wang Dong'er's body.
Originally, everyone thought that absorbing a four-thousand-year Spirit Ring would be extremely painful, but to everyone's surprise.
Wang Dong'er's expression did not show much pain; on the contrary, she appeared very calm.
"This..."
Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned, then suddenly realized.
"It's the Golden Pearl!"
"Plus the reinforcement from the academy's other resources, her physical constitution has long since exceeded the standard!"
Half an hour later.
"Hum—"
A deep purple Spirit Ring slowly rose from beneath Wang Dong'er's feet. The depth of its radiance even faintly revealed a trace of black.
Wang Dong'er opened her eyes abruptly, and the pair of massive Light Goddess Butterfly wings behind her shone brilliantly!
And on her shoulder, a palm-sized, entirely golden little butterfly with crescent moon patterns on its wings was fluttering about.
It was exactly the Spirit Soul of that Golden Splendor Moon Butterfly!
"Success!"
Wang Dong'er jumped up excitedly, feeling the surging power within her, and couldn't help but let out a long cry toward the sky.
"This is my Third Soul Skill—Moon Splendor Butterfly Slash!"
As her thoughts moved, the little butterfly on her shoulder flapped its wings.
A crescent-shaped golden light blade slashed out instantly, its speed as fast as a startled swan!
"Boom!"
The light blade slashed against the distant wall, and it instantly caused a violent explosion, leaving a deep scorched mark on the wall.
"A long-range slash, with added light-elemental explosion damage!"
Wang Dong'er introduced excitedly:
"And, once it hits an enemy, it also causes a brief physical paralysis effect!"
"Especially against Spirit Masters with dark attributes, its power is doubled!"
Wang Dong'er had already decided she would go back and show off to Da Ming and Er Ming.
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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.