Raziel Phoenix seized the opening without hesitation, his figure darting in as his Light Dragon Dagger plunged down.

"Hou—!"

The Ironarm Ape roared, its crimson eyes flaring violently as it tried to sweep an arm backward toward its attacker.

But its arm never reached halfway.

The light in its eyes vanished, and its massive, two-meter-tall body crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Raziel Phoenix's first soul ring pulsed softly. A gentle sphere of light floated out from the ape's corpse and circled around him. It was the spirit energy left behind by the hundred-year Ironarm Ape.

Just as they had been warned, absorption during the rebellion period was noticeably slower. Fortunately, it was only a hundred-year soul beast, so the process wouldn't take too long.

In truth, Raziel Phoenix's initial stab hadn't killed the ape outright. Its skull was simply too hard. However, while his dagger was still embedded, he immediately activated his first soul skill, forcing the blade to surge forward and pierce directly into the ape's brain, ending the fight cleanly.

Ray gave him a thumbs-up while retracting his Silverfalls Vine.

At that moment, Barbara called out from behind them, "Left side is clear for now!"

Ray nodded without hesitation and led the team toward the left. After killing a soul beast, lingering in one spot was never a good idea.

From the Ironarm Ape's sudden appearance to its death, the entire battle had lasted barely a dozen seconds. Lily hadn't launched a direct attack at all, yet her interference had been crucial, allowing them to secure such a clean and efficient victory despite their low cultivation.

This was the result of three months of relentless combat training in the spirit ascension platform.

Strength was never determined by cultivation and soul skills alone. Application, judgment, and technique mattered just as much.

Countless Soul Masters possessed talent, yet without real combat experience, they could never unleash their full potential. This was precisely why Alfred had pushed class zero so hard. With experience came the ability to display not just 100%, but 120% of one's strength.

Combat Soul Masters existed to fight, not to look impressive on paper.

Raziel Phoenix's decision to activate his soul skill mid-stab was a perfect example. Such instinctive judgment could only be forged in real battle.

After retreating several hundred meters to the left without encountering any new threats, Ray raised his hand.

"Stop. We'll rest here for a bit. Barbara, scouting duty."

"Yes!" Barbara replied immediately, leaping up into a nearby tree. From his vantage point, he watched one direction while his black eagle spirit soul monitored another, effectively covering all angles.

Ray and Raziel Phoenix sat down cross-legged, quietly recovering the soul power spent earlier.

Even though the battle had consumed little energy, maintaining peak condition inside the rebellion spirit ascension platform was critical. Only by doing so could they survive longer.

A short while later, Barbara's voice dropped, urgent but controlled.

"Three people approaching. Two males, one female. They look about fifteen or sixteen. One has three soul rings, the other two have two rings. One of the two-ringed ones is currently absorbing spirit energy."

Before he could say more, a streak of red light tore across the sky, shooting straight toward the branch he stood on.

I've been discovered!

Barbara leapt off instantly, spreading his wings as Ray and Raziel Phoenix sprang forward at the same time.

Raziel Phoenix blurred and vanished into the shadow of a tree. The remaining four regrouped, waiting for his signal.

Soon, three figures emerged from the forest.

Ray froze the moment he saw them.

At the center stood a girl, flanked by two boys. He didn't recognize the boys, but the girl was unmistakable.

Rachel.

A blazing fireball hovered above her head, radiant like a miniature sun. Clearly, she had been the one who launched the earlier attack.

Her Shining Sun martial soul was renowned for overwhelming long-range firepower, far beyond what Lily could currently match. But what truly shocked Ray was this—

Rachel had three soul rings.

Three.

"It's you?" Rachel was equally surprised when she saw Ray. The brilliance of her martial soul dimmed slightly.

"Senior sister!" Ray quickly stepped forward and greeted her.

"Mhm." Rachel gave a brief nod. "We're leaving."

Without another word, she turned and strode away with the two boys.

Ray had long since grown used to her cold attitude. What he didn't see was the faint trace of pride in her eyes as she turned away.

Only one ring… she thought.

So you're still lagging behind in cultivation.

Forging talent alone wouldn't be enough once Spirit Forging came into play. At that stage, soul power mattered more than anything. She was confident she would surpass him then.

"Senior sister?" Barbara glanced at Ray with a knowing grin. "Oh? So that's how it is. She's really pretty. Why haven't you ever introduced us? Senior sister, why don't we go together?"

His last words echoed loudly through the forest.

Rachel didn't even turn her head.

She disappeared among the trees moments later.

Ray smiled helplessly. "She's my teacher's daughter. I don't think she likes me much."

Raziel Phoenix chuckled mischievously. "That senior sister of yours is ruthless. Barbara, you can try your luck if you're interested. We'll back you up."

Barbara shook his head seriously. "Forget it. I don't like being suppressed. Besides, we're too young. Studying and cultivating comes first."

Raziel Phoenix raised a brow. "I only said get to know her. Don't overthink it. You're still just a kid in her eyes."

"Hmph!" Barbara lifted his chin. "Just wait until fifth grade. I'll have three rings too."

Lily turned to Ray. "What's next?"

"Wait," Ray replied calmly. "This area doesn't have many soul beasts. We'll hold here until we pass the exam time requirement. After that, we can hunt more actively."

The team quickly reformed their defensive positions, using the dense trees as cover.

During the rebellion period, soul beasts were far more numerous and aggressive than usual. In just twenty minutes, they encountered more than ten. Most were ten-year soul beasts and were dispatched easily. A few were hundred-year ones, requiring more effort but nothing overwhelming.

They shared the spirit energy not out of fairness, but efficiency.

Raziel Phoenix finished absorbing the Ironarm Ape's energy in about ten minutes, gaining roughly five years of cultivation for each of his two soul rings.

Spirit soul evolution was a slow, cumulative process. Reaching the thousand-year level would still take time.

Half an hour had passed. They were already halfway to meeting the exam's survival requirement, and so far, everything had gone smoothly.

"The rebellion period doesn't seem that scary after all," Barbara said, finally relaxing.

Their greatest danger would be encountering a powerful soul beast they couldn't handle. Panic could lead them straight from one deadly encounter into another.

Their current defensive strategy limited how many soul beasts they could hunt, but it maximized survival.

And survival was everything.

"Captain, should we take the initiative?" Barbara asked in a low voice, eyes constantly sweeping the surroundings.

Ray answered calmly, "No need to rush. Once an hour passes, we'll decide. For now, survival comes first."

Before his words had even settled, Barbara suddenly stiffened. His face drained of color, and his body swayed.

"Not good… Little Black!"

Everyone looked up at the same time.

A yellow-green net descended silently from above.

In the next instant, they saw Little Black pierced through by countless sharp limbs. The small eagle didn't even have time to struggle before it shattered into particles of light.

Barbara groaned. The backlash from his spirit soul's destruction surged through him, and his aura visibly weakened. In just a breath, his cultivation plummeted by nearly a third.

A violent gust of wind erupted within the group. Lily reacted instantly, her spiritual power flaring as she tried to blow the net away.

To her shock, the yellow-green net didn't even tremble. It sliced straight through the gale as if it were nothing.

"Retreat!" Ray shouted.

Dozens of strands of Silverfalls Vine shot upward to block the net. The moment they touched it, thick smoke rose as the grass rapidly corroded.

Ray's heart lurched.

If Little Black hadn't been scouting from above, that net would have trapped them completely. Their exam might have ended right there.

A massive shadow dropped from the sky.

Eight spear-like legs slammed into the ground, surrounding the five of them in an instant.

They used the few precious seconds bought by the Silverfalls Vine to scramble out of the net's range, but in doing so, their formation shattered.

Barbara's face was deathly pale.

Volt was trembling uncontrollably.

Before them stood a monstrous spider, its body as large as a millstone. Black and white patterns crawled across its carapace, and each of its legs stretched over two meters long. A strange, eerie luster emanated from its body.

Worst of all, on its abdomen was a beautiful human face.

"Man-Faced Demon Spider!" the five shouted almost simultaneously.

It was the same nightmare.

Volt felt his scalp go numb. He was certain of it—this was the very spider that had ambushed him before.

Even with Little Black's enhanced vision, they hadn't sensed it at all. The Man-Faced Demon Spider was a born assassin among soul beasts.

Lily fired a blazing fireball that exploded against its body. The others hurriedly regrouped.

Ray's heart sank.

A hundred-year Man-Faced Demon Spider.

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