169 Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform

Wu Zhangkong said, “There are unnatural existences too. Some large clans orsects use heavenly treasures or unique methods to stimulate their disciples’bodies. With stronger bodies, they are able to contain more powerful soul ringsand spirit souls, but this isn’t done normally. Only in rare situations wherethe disciple far excels in one aspect will such a method be considered. Take GuYue for example. With her high spiritual power, she only needs to strengthenher body before she’d be able to upgrade her spirit soul as you did.Unfortunately, with two soul rings, it would be too difficult for her tostrengthen her body to the necessary level now. This is the key point thatallows one to possess a pair of thousand-year soul rings and a thousand-yearspirit soul. Though Gu Yue’s physique has strengthened with the addition ofanother soul ring, it only serves to amplify the areas she already excels inand widens the gap between her existing weaknesses. It truly is a pity. If hersituation was better, I would help her regardless of whether or not she joinedthe Tang Sect.

“Currently, your current greatest advantage is in your soul power, which has,by nature grown inversely proportional to your physique and spiritual power. Insuch a situation you are able to evolve your spirit soul further than yourpeers without resorting to unnatural methods, which will free you from anyfuture side effects. That’s not all though; through this, you’ll be able to laya firmer foundation, so it is absolutely crucial to your future that you do notwaste this opportunity.

“To aid you in evolving your spirit soul as quickly and as safely as possible,I’ll enter the spirit ascension platform together with you. Before we can dothis, I’ll need to obtain two intermediate spirit ascension entry cards sinceonly those with seven rings and under can enter. The soul beasts will be morevicious and harder to deal with in the intermediate level, but that also meanstheir year levels will be higher—about the same as the ones in the Great StarDou Forest. With my help, it shouldn’t take too long to gather enough spiritualenergy.”

Intermediate spirit ascension platform?

Puzzled, Tang Wulin asked, “But Teacher Wu, can I really enter theintermediate level with only one soul ring?”

Wu Zhangkong assured, “There are no minimum rank requirements. As long as youhave the necessary entry card, you’ll be able to enter even an advanced spiritascension platform. In fact, the Spirit Pagoda actually wishes to see weakerentrants—quicker deaths mean fewer resources expended. And it’s actually verycommon for large clans to escort the younger generation in like I am. Thedifference, however, is that their charges usually lack the necessary physiqueor spiritual power to fully take advantage of it, quickly reaching their limitsat the hundred-year level.

“Since the advent of spirit souls, it wasn’t body strength that perplexed mostSoul Masters, but rather their spiritual power. In order to grow stronger, morespirit soul fusions are necessary, yet this increases the spiritual powerrequirements. Sadly, eighty percent of Soul Masters are just barely able toreach the Spirit Sea realm and host three spirit souls. Because they’re unableto break their limits, a few are spurred into using daring methods thatforcibly raise their first spirit soul to a higher level.

“Ten-thousand-year spirit souls are the hardest to obtain since they can’t beartificially manufactured. Luckily, my fifth soul ring is at theten-thousand-year level despite my spiritual power, which is only at the peakof the Spirit Sea realm. Normally, this only allows me to support three spiritsouls, but with a ten-thousand-year spirit soul, I’m able to have four soulrings, allowing me to cultivate to eight rings. That’s my limit though. If Iwant to make any more progress and fuse four spirit souls, my spiritual powerwill need to break through to the next realm, but that is a dream that I willlikely never achieve in my lifetime.

“As long as your first spirit soul evolves to the thousand-year level, youwon’t have to worry about your first three soul rings. Then if you obtainanother thousand-year spirit soul for your second and somehow obtain aten-thousand-year spirit soul for the third, you will have opened the path topotentially becoming a Titled Douluo. These are my hopes for you, and I hopeyou’ll make it your goal.”

An epiphany struck Tang Wulin. This entire explanation had been from theperspective of a high-level Soul Master, a viewpoint so far above his young ageand inadequate experience.

“Entry cards for the intermediate spirit ascension platform are hard to obtainand practically impossible to buy with money. Any cards that a city possessesis completely monopolized for internal use, which leaves us with two options:either trade for them or buy them at an auction. Tomorrow night we’ll try ourluck at the auction house and if that fails, we’ll have to arrange a trade. Youshould be able to trade your rebellion spirit ascension platform entry card fortwo intermediate level ones.”

A new question occurred to Tang Wulin. “Teacher Wu, why aren’t we doing thisin Eastsea City? Wouldn’t it be easier since we’re more familiar with the area?”

Wu Zhangkong shook his head. “The three of you are too outstanding and caughtthe attention of Eastsea City’s Spirit Pagoda. I doubt Gu Yue would have joinedthem otherwise. With their growing influence, it would be troublesome to drawmore attention to yourself when you evolve your spirit soul to thethousand-year level. The situation in Heaven Dou City is more favorable for ourgoals. There are many more geniuses and large clans here, with no clanexplicitly dominant. The chances of drawing unwanted attention will be far lessif your talent only shines for a moment amongst the rest.”

Tang Wulin finally understood how much deliberate planning and considerationsWu Zhangkong had put into this endeavor. “Okay. I understand.”

It wasn’t Tang Wulin’s first time visiting an auction house; he had been tothe one in Eastsea City before. The moment he walked through the great doors ofthe Heaven Dou Imperial Auction, however, he finally understood how lackingEastsea City’s auction house truly was.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Auction hosted their weekly events in an enormousimperial hotel. Beautiful paintings lined the brightly lit hall and amagnificent crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.

Each seat was a comfortable leather sofa, while tables to one side of the hallheld a variety of refreshments, including pastries, fruits, drinks, and alcohol.

This was to be expected of course. Wu Zhangkong had paid a deposit of1,000,000 federal coins to gain entry for the two of them. It was only thischeap because  Wu Zhangkong had presented themselves as father and son again,meaning they only had to pay one deposit.

They donned the masks that every guest received with a numbered sign uponentry.

The auction house’s splendor dazzled Tang Wulin, his heart trembling at such alavish scene.

“It’s so big!” Over three hundred people were present on the ground floor;this didn’t include the occupants of the second floor’s private rooms.

Wu Zhangkong was unfazed by the atmosphere of luxury, his icy expressionremaining steadfast.

“Teacher Wu, here, take my savings card,” said Tang Wulin as he presented itto Wu Zhangkong. “There’s a little over three million federal coins inside.Please manage it for me.”

The intermediate entry card would definitely be expensive and Wu Zhangkong wasonce again acting for his sake, so Tang Wulin felt that it was only naturalthat he contributed his own money.

“Where did all this money come from?” Wu Zhangkong faced Tang Wulin with afrown.

“I earned it from blacksmithing,” Tang Wulin replied frankly.

Wu Zhangkong was left speechless for a moment. He soon composed himself andasked Tang Wulin, “What is your blacksmith rank now?”

Tang Wulin brightly answered, “Third rank!”

“I should have known. I originally thought those Thousand Refined vests hadbeen partially forged by you, but they were actually all your handiwork,weren’t they?”

“Mn.” Tang Wulin nodded.

Only ten years old and he’s already at the third rank of his secondaryoccupation…Even with his limited knowledge about blacksmithing, he understoodthe significance of reaching the third rank.

But, he chose not to comment on it or pursue the topic further.

A half hour later, the lighting dimmed and the clamoring crowds quietened.

“Welcome, honoured guests, to the Heaven Dou Imperial Auction. Our weeklyauction is about to start, and I am pleased to tell you that we have many greatitems to offer you. We have spirit fruits, rare metals, battle armor, mechasand other unique items. We will now be handing out tonight’s program. Pleaselook through it in the twenty minutes before the official start of the auction.”

The backs of the sofas lit up with gentle lights while several scantily cladyoung ladies arrived, smiling seductively as they handed out the programs.

Different auctions had different rules. Some auctions revealed the catalog inadvance, but Heaven Dou Imperial Auction did not do so. This prestigiousauction was highly reputed throughout the continent, and though it could not bedeemed one of the best, it had its own distinguishing features. The goal ofthis auction was to always give its guests a pleasant surprise.

Wu Zhangkong accepted the booklet and flipped through pages of illustrations,searching for intermediate spirit ascension platform entry cards.

Tang Wulin wiggled close to Wu Zhangkong, curious about what items were beingsold today.

The items in the catalog were separated into several categories.