Just like the headquarters of the Spirit Pagoda, the base of this Spirit Pagoda branch was octagonal, covering a vast area. Every five floors, the structure narrowed inward until it reached the top.
The journey was long. Gu You and his companions first arrived at the central square of Tianhai City.
The central square was located in the heart of Tianhai City, flanked by two residential districts that stood opposite each other. The square served as the connection between these districts. The area was bustling with activity—various small shops, barbecue stalls, and vendors lined every corner. Purchasing property here required an enormous fortune, not to mention its proximity to East Sea Academy, making it a prime school district. This desirability drove some people to buy property here at any cost, even if it meant financial ruin. As long as East Sea City continued to develop, property prices would keep rising, and the potential profits from reselling were unimaginable.
Wu Zhangkong called for two soul-guided taxis, as one vehicle wasn't enough for their group.
Gu You, Gu Yue, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie squeezed into one car. At that moment, Xie Xie smirked and joked, "Gu You, both you and Gu Yue have the surname 'Gu.' Are you two related?"
The atmosphere froze.
Gu Yue clenched her fists. "Xie Xie! Haven't beaten you up in a few days—are you itching for it again?"
"Sis! I take it back! I swear I won't say it again!" Xie Xie immediately covered his head, fearing that Gu Yue would lash out.
Gu You simply chuckled. This dynamic was so fitting for the early days of the protagonist's group. His dislike for Tang Wulin… perhaps it really stemmed from that bit of innocence. Right now, it might not be obvious—he might even like him a little—but as time passed, his true feelings would surface.
Thinking back, the Douluo Plane suffered an invasion from the Abyssal Plane. The plane's master was Tang Hao. In the future, the Tree of Life would be A Yin. So many events had yet to unfold… That Tang military advisor was truly selfless! The classic millennia-long scheme was playing out once again.
Perhaps for now, it didn't affect Gu You much, but the Dragon God's inheritance within him could never escape fate. He had no choice but to grow stronger—strong enough to change everything. Knowing the future's upheavals only deepened his hunger for power.
After all, who would want to be controlled by Tang Shenwang? That man slaughtered without hesitation. One sentence—"You have brought about your own demise"—could burn entire worlds to ashes.
They had arrived. Time to get off.
The academy had clearly made arrangements. As they ascended the steps to the entrance, Director Long Hengxu was already waiting for them.
Seeing Wu Zhangkong arriving with the students, Long Hengxu quickly stepped forward. "Teacher Wu."
"Director Long," Wu Zhangkong responded with his usual stoic expression.
Long Hengxu glanced at the extra student, Gu You, and felt more at ease. "Follow me."
As they entered the first floor of the Spirit Pagoda, the grandeur of the interior immediately stunned them. Massive stone pillars supported the towering ceiling, which was adorned with breathtaking murals.
These murals were dazzling, covered in gold and vibrant colors. They depicted landscapes, people, and what seemed to be a grand story unfolding.
Wu Zhangkong explained, "These murals illustrate the history of the first Spirit Pagoda Master, a legendary Soul Master and the inventor of Soul Spirits—Spirit Ice Douluo. They depict how he led humanity's Soul Masters in resisting the Beast Tide. These murals here are only a part of the story, spread across eighteen branch towers of the Spirit Pagoda. The complete tale is recorded at the headquarters, where murals depict Spirit Ice Douluo's battle against the most powerful Soul Beast, the Beast God Di Tian.
"After that battle, Spirit Ice Douluo vanished and was never seen again. However, according to legend, he was victorious—because from that moment on, the Beast God, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian, also disappeared."
Even just listening to Wu Zhangkong's account, Tang Wulin was entranced. He could almost feel the murals' overwhelming grandeur—the colossal Soul Beasts of the Beast Tide, their terrifying auras, and the massive city standing in their path.
Gu You only paused briefly before moving on.
Above the city, a figure hovered. His eyes gleamed with an extraordinary light. Surrounding him were several other figures—a stunning woman in white, another in green, a delicate ice flower on his shoulder, a massive bear, and an enormous white insect. Encircled by these companions, the young man was shrouded in radiant Soul Rings of various colors.
So this was Spirit Ice Douluo.
From a young age, Tang Wulin had heard the legends of Spirit Ice Douluo—Huo Yuhao. Some tales claimed he was actually the son of the White Tiger Duke of the Star Luo Empire, meaning his real name should have been Dai Yuhao.
He was a prodigy of his era. From an ordinary youth, he joined the legendary Shrek Academy, rising step by step to become a top-tier powerhouse and a figure feared across the continent. According to legend, he most likely broke through humanity's limits and ascended to the Divine Realm, ultimately becoming a god.
After all, following his disappearance, his wife also vanished.
Tang Wulin's gaze naturally shifted toward the figure standing beside Spirit Ice Douluo in the mural. At a single glance, his attention was drawn to the dazzling presence.
She had magnificent butterfly wings, glowing with radiant colors. Her stunning beauty stood out even amongst the group. Though she was surrounded by other companions, every onlooker's focus was instinctively drawn to her and Spirit Ice Douluo.
"Dragon Butterfly Douluo—Tang Wutong, Spirit Ice Douluo's wife. Wulin, look! Isn't she beautiful? It's said she was incredibly powerful, and she and Spirit Ice Douluo possessed a powerful Martial Soul Fusion Technique that allowed them to merge into an even stronger entity. Back in their era, they were the strongest duo," Xie Xie said, his face full of admiration.
"Tang Wutong… That name is really similar to Wulin's," Gu Yue mused, her tone carrying a strange emotion. "And… don't you all think Wulin actually looks a little like her? Especially his eyes."
Xie Xie frowned. "I don't see it? Dragon Butterfly Douluo had pink-blue eyes and hair, but Wulin's are both black. How are they similar?"
Hearing their conversation, Tang Wulin himself felt something strange stirring in his heart. As he looked at Tang Wutong, he felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.
He shook his head and chuckled bitterly. Compared to Dragon Butterfly Douluo, what was he? It was probably just because their names sounded similar that he felt this way.
Gu You sneered. More than just a resemblance—he's exactly the same.
"All right, let's go," Long Hengxu's voice snapped the six students out of their thoughts. He smiled and said, "The first time I came to the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars, I had the same curiosity as you. But after seeing them many times, the feeling fades. Still, each of these murals is worth appreciating."
Wu Zhangkong instructed, "Focus your minds. Once you enter the Ascension Platform, you'll have only yourselves to rely on."
Tang Wulin was surprised. "Teacher, you're not going in with us?"
Wu Zhangkong replied, "The Primary Ascension Platform is only accessible to Soul Masters below four rings."
Long Hengxu nodded. "But don't worry. We'll be monitoring you from outside. If you encounter danger, you must retreat on your own. We'll explain the precautions shortly."
Under Long Hengxu and Wu Zhangkong's guidance, the group stepped into an elevator.
Instead of ascending, it descended.
Gu You, experiencing this for the first time, found it intriguing. Last time, Leng Yaozhu had taken him to the Ascension Platform through spatial teleportation, arriving instantly. He had never known its exact location.
This experience indirectly confirmed something to him—it was underground.
(End of Chapter)