Around the arena, countless eyes focused on the two youths facing off head-to-head, filled with anticipation, for these two were the strongest in the Earth Division of the two branches.
"That Mu Chen has finally stepped onto the stage. I'm really curious to see if he's any match for Liu Yang."
In a corner of the West Branch's spectator stands, the youths from the West Branch's Heaven Division looked at the two boys in the arena and couldn't help but smile. They paid quite a bit of attention to Mu Chen; after all, he was the only one in the entire Northern Spiritual Realm who had been qualified to enter the Spiritual Road.
Had he not been suddenly expelled from the Spiritual Road, Mu Chen would not be someone they could casually gossip about now. Even a genius like Liu Mubai would have been a step behind him.
Thinking of this, they stole glances at Liu Mubai's face, but none of them had the courage to say it out loud.
Hearing their chatter, the handsome youth merely smiled faintly. His eyes were also fixed on the slender boy in the center of the arena, a very faint glint of sharpness flickering in his gaze.
"The Spiritual Road's selection is random to begin with, so mistakes are bound to happen sometimes. Who knows, maybe the spot originally belonged to Brother Liu, but somehow ended up falling onto that Mu Chen's head by mistake. Otherwise, why would he have been kicked out?"
A guy who was clearly close to Liu Mubai curled his lip, speaking in a flattering tone.
Hearing this, the other Heaven Division disciples of the West Branch smiled and nodded. Although they didn't entirely agree in their hearts, offending someone as prominent as Liu Mubai—who was currently like the midday sun—for the sake of someone who had been expelled from the Spiritual Road was certainly not a wise move.
"Hong Ling, who do you think has a higher chance of winning?"
Liu Mubai asked with a smile, turning to the beautiful girl in red beside him.
Hong Ling looked into the arena, her beautiful eyes carefully sizing up Mu Chen. He was somewhat tall, standing as straight as a spear. The laziness he used to carry had gradually vanished, replaced by a sharp, imposing aura.
The boy of the past had changed quite a bit.
"Both of them are at the Initial Stage of the Spiritual Movement Stage. Liu Yang practices the Blazing Sun Art, a low-grade Spiritual Tier Spiritual Art. However, Mu Chen's father is also a Territory Lord, so the Spiritual Art given to him can't be ordinary either. In this aspect, they are probably evenly matched..."
Hong Ling's eyes rippled with light, her lovely appearance deeply moving.
"However, Liu Yang possesses a Human-grade Spiritual Pulse. If he utilizes it, his strength will be comparable to the Middle Stage of the Spiritual Movement Stage. Mu Chen might have a very difficult time."
Liu Mubai smiled upon hearing this. Looking at Mu Chen in the arena, he said,
"Liu Yang's abilities are indeed not bad. It wouldn't be unfair for Mu Chen to lose to him. Actually, I'm also quite curious as to why he was qualified to enter the Spiritual Road in the first place."
Hong Ling glanced at him. It seemed Liu Mubai still held a grudge regarding Mu Chen. Proud as he was, he probably still believed that he was the most outstanding genius among the younger generation of the Northern Spiritual Realm. The spot for the Spiritual Road in this realm should have belonged to him, yet the outcome had defied everyone's expectations.
"If he can't even overcome Liu Yang, then the Spiritual Road's selection process would truly disappoint me,"
Liu Mubai said softly. His hand slowly clenched, leaving a deep handprint on the refined iron railing, a trace of coldness flickering in his eyes.
He could not accept that an incompetent fool had snatched away a spot that should have been his.
"Brother Mu, go for it!"
"Brother Mu, bring the title of number one of the Earth Division back to the East Branch!"
...
Around the arena, the disciples of the East Branch cheered and shouted, their eyes filled with excitement. For the past few years, the East Branch had always been suppressed by the West Branch, whether in the Heaven Division or the Earth Division, to the point where they couldn't even lift their heads. Now was the best opportunity for the East Branch to rise.
"A bunch of childish fools."
Hearing the cheers, Liu Yang's lips curled into a smile filled with hostility. Staring intently at Mu Chen, he sneered, "I really can't wait to see how excited their faces will be when you are defeated."
Faced with the mockery, Mu Chen did not get angry at all. He stretched out his hand and smiled faintly. "I'm afraid you don't have that ability."
"Overestimating yourself!"
A flash of anger crossed Liu Yang's face. He clenched his fists as fiery red spiritual energy enveloped his hands. He stepped forward with heavy, thudding footsteps, his body lunging forward like a leopard.
*Boom!*
A fist wrapped in fiery red spiritual energy instantly closed in, the air pressure emitting strange, sizzling sounds.
Mu Chen sidestepped, instantly dodging the wind of Liu Yang's fist. He chopped his right hand downward, spiritual energy coating his fingers like a sharp blade as he ruthlessly struck at Liu Yang's wrist.
Mu Chen showed no mercy, but as the current number one of the Earth Branch, Liu Yang naturally possessed real capability. He instantly transformed his fist into a palm, blocking Mu Chen's razor-sharp chop.
*Crack!*
As the sound echoed, the two streams of spiritual energy clashed, forcing both of them half a step back.
"Do you dare to fight head-on to see whose spiritual energy is more abundant?"
Liu Yang sneered. He swept his leg out, fiery red spiritual energy wrapping around it as well. The intensity of this spiritual energy was far superior to Tan Qingshan's.
*Thud!*
With spiritual energy poured into his legs, Liu Yang's speed instantly surged. His moving figure became a blur, making it hard for others to see clearly as he unleashed an extremely fierce offensive.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Liu Yang's blurry figure was like a fiery whirlwind surrounding Mu Chen. Fists, kicks, elbows... a continuous, overwhelming torrent of fierce and violent attacks rained down upon Mu Chen.
Below the stage, many students gasped in shock at the explosive intensity of the offensive. The defeated Tan Qingshan looked even more solemn. Liu Yang's spiritual energy was so dense that it was already approaching the Middle Stage of the Spiritual Movement Stage. Furthermore, the Spiritual Art he practiced was extraordinary; this level of combat power was truly startling.
Su Ling was no longer excited. With a worried look, he finally snapped out of it, remembering that Liu Yang was indeed a highly formidable opponent.
"Don't worry, Mu Chen won't be dealt with that easily."
Tang Qian'er stared intently at the field and smiled faintly. With her strength at the Middle Stage of the Spiritual Movement Stage, she could naturally see Liu Yang's speed clearly. His current offensive was like a torrential downpour, yet it had met an immovable, massive boulder.
A figure stood in the center of the fiery vortex. Whether dodging or blocking, he suppressed all of Liu Yang's fierce attacks, appearing to see through every single one of his hidden moves.
"As expected of someone who has undergone the trials of the Spiritual Road..."
On the main platform, Principal Xiao watched the spectacular battle, a trace of admiration flickering in his eyes.
"Mu Chen has exceptional perception and remains calm in the face of an enemy. This temperament is no different from that of a battle-hardened veteran."
Instructor Mo nodded, his words filled with praise. Weak spiritual energy could be gradually cultivated, but such a temperament was not easily forged.
"His perception is indeed excellent, knowing how to strike when Liu Yang's offensive is at its weakest to gain an advantage. However, there is also a saying: absolute strength overcomes all skills. The fact that he is dodging like this is clearly because his spiritual energy is not as abundant as Liu Yang's. Once Liu Yang gathers his strength for a decisive strike, Mu Chen will find it hard to fare well."
On the other side, Instructor Xi spoke. As instructors, they not only possessed great strength but also excellent judgment.
Principal Xiao and Instructor Mo nodded upon hearing this. That was indeed the truth, but... was Mu Chen really only capable of avoiding the brunt of the force?
From within the fiery vortex, a muffled thud suddenly rang out. Mu Chen struck abruptly, his two fingers as sharp as daggers. Wrapped in dark spiritual energy, they pierced through the vortex and struck the agile figure like a bolt of lightning.
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, the fiery vortex suddenly dispersed. A figure stumbled back more than ten steps, the sleeve on his shoulder shredded to pieces—clearly the work of Mu Chen's finger strike just now.
Around the arena, gasps rang out once more. Regardless of whether they were disciples of the East or West Academies, shock was written all over their faces. No one had expected that Liu Yang's fierce offensive would be so abruptly repelled by Mu Chen.
"You!"
Liu Yang's face darkened as he glared intently at Mu Chen. Taking a deep breath, crimson spiritual energy surged violently from his right hand.
The crimson spiritual energy rose like condensing flames in Liu Yang's palm, then rapidly shrank, faintly transforming into a miniature, brilliant sun hovering in his hand.
A violent fluctuation slowly radiated outward.
The noisy clamor quickly died down as quite a few disciples stared in shock at this scene. Liu Yang had clearly pushed the spiritual energy in his body to its absolute limit.
Mu Chen watched Liu Yang gathering his strength, his lips curling into a slight sneer, his eyes cold.
Rotating his palms, he circulated the spiritual energy of the Great Pagoda Art. The spiritual sea within his body vibrated rapidly, and dark spiritual energy fluctuations billowed out.
First level... fifth level... tenth level... thirteenth level...
The dark spiritual energy coiled around Mu Chen's hands, releasing a domineering aura that faintly surpassed even Liu Yang's violent spiritual energy.
Even after the spiritual energy fluctuations reached the thirteenth level, Mu Chen did not stop. Now that he was becoming increasingly proficient with the Great Pagoda Art, its ultimate limit was definitely not just this!
Mu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, a sharpness like a blade's edge emanating from them.
"Boom!"
A low buzzing sounded within his spiritual sea, and Mu Chen's body shook violently.
Eighteenth level!
Dark spiritual energy surged furiously from Mu Chen's body, and the powerful spiritual pressure it generated instantly and completely suppressed Liu Yang's spiritual energy.
"Impressive, such powerful spiritual energy!"
Principal Xiao looked astonished. Spiritual energy of this level must have broken through to the mid-stage of the Spiritual Movement Stage. The dark spiritual energy surging from his body was filled with a domineering battle intent, which was certainly not something a Common-grade Spiritual Art could possess.
"Mu Chen, you are courting death!"
Finding his spiritual energy unexpectedly suppressed, Liu Yang was equally shocked, but he immediately roared in anger. Everyone watched as spots of fire broke out across his body, forming a strange meridian pattern that resembled a great serpent taking flight.
"Spiritual Meridian?!"
Around the arena, gasps of shock rang out once more. No one had expected Liu Yang to be pushed to the point of releasing his Spiritual Meridian. The tide of the battle had turned once again!