“Those guys from the West Courtyard are truly detestable.”
Beneath the sprawling shade of the dense forest, Tang Qian’er’s face was flushed with anger. Those people had repeatedly provoked Mu Chen; even a clay statue would lose its temper.
“Only the mediocre go unenvied.”
Mu Chen smiled faintly, his gaze briefly drifting to a distant spot behind them. “Still, I think Liu Mubai is indeed quite jealous of me. How often have I even interacted with him before?”
“Liu Mubai?”
Tang Qian’er knit her willow-like brows. “Is he going to target you?”
“Otherwise, why would someone like Liu Yang, who just promoted to the Heaven Branch, have Chen Tong step forward to back him up? Liu Mubai’s hand must be pulling the strings from behind the scenes. That guy… he’s actually quite similar to those geniuses from the Spiritual Road, though he’s still a level below them.”
Mu Chen spoke nonchalantly.
“He is indeed detestable.”
Tang Qian’er’s voice was cold, but a trace of worry soon crossed her face. “Liu Mubai won’t be easy to deal with. Liu Yang isn’t even in the same league. Ever since he entered the Northern Spiritual Academy, Liu Mubai has held the title of the academy’s number one. It seems he hasn’t lost a single match in years.”
“That’s right, Mu Chen, you should be careful. I’ve never been able to see through Liu Mubai. I once fought him and suffered a crushing defeat. And back then, he didn’t even use his full strength.”
Mo Ling, standing nearby, added with a grave expression.
“Senior Mo Ling is already at the late stage of the Spiritual Movement Realm. If he defeated you so easily, then…” Tan Qingshan analyzed, a look of surprise on his face.
Mo Ling nodded slowly. “Liu Mubai might very well have already broken through to the Spiritual Wheel Realm. That guy… is truly formidable.”
Tang Qian’er’s expression grew even more serious. If that was true, it would be highly problematic. The gap between the Spiritual Wheel Realm and the Spiritual Movement Realm was simply too vast.
At this thought, she looked over at Mu Chen, but the youth remained completely calm, as if nothing was amiss. A gentle smile still played at the corners of his lips. This calm and composed demeanor unconsciously put Tang Qian’er, Mo Ling, and Tan Qingshan at ease.
His unhurried composure seemed to possess a magical charm, making others instinctively believe he could achieve things beyond normal comprehension.
“While the Spiritual Wheel Realm is powerful, it isn’t untouchable. It would indeed be troublesome, but if Liu Mubai really intends to make a move, I doubt he’ll come out of it unscathed.”
Mu Chen spoke in a low, calm voice, his tone entirely indifferent. Yet, whether on the Spiritual Road or in the Great Thousand World, anyone who sought to cross him had always paid a heavy price, regardless of the outcome.
“Anyway, let’s not talk about that. The Northern Spiritual Field training has begun, so let’s get to work. You two are our rivals now, aren’t you?”
Mu Chen grinned, casting a glance at Mo Ling and Tan Qingshan.
“So… we should strike first to gain the upper hand!”
Expecting the other two to launch a sudden ambush, Mo Ling and Tan Qingshan merely exchanged glances before taking off like startled rabbits, sprinting ahead. Currently, they were still on the outskirts of the Northern Spiritual Field, where spiritual beasts were scarce; they had to venture deeper to find them.
Mu Chen watched the two of them flee in panic and couldn't help but laugh. He gently rubbed his hands together, a wave of irrepressible excitement surging in his deep, dark eyes.
It had been a long time since he last felt like a hunter. If he didn't move around a bit, his limbs might get rusty.
“Let’s go too.”
Mu Chen waved his hand, calling Tang Qian'er, and the two of them quickened their pace. Mu Chen didn't deliberately choose a route for the team, simply moving straight ahead. With his training experience in the Spiritual Road, he was naturally extremely skilled at tracking spiritual beasts.
The two speeded up, and ten minutes later, they gradually entered the Northern Spiritual Realm. From time to time, various roars of spiritual beasts echoed from the distant surroundings.
Tang Qian'er followed closely behind Mu Chen, her pretty face showing a hint of nervousness. She knew very well what the consequences would be if they recklessly barged into a spiritual beast's territory and got surrounded in such a dangerous place.
While she was still anxiously looking around, Mu Chen, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped. Unable to react in time, she bumped straight into him, her soft, slender body pressing against his back. That soft contact made Mu Chen involuntarily widen his eyes, while Tang Qian'er behind him lowered her head with a flushed face, hastily trying to step back, only to have her hand firmly grabbed by Mu Chen.
“Shh.”
Before the startled Tang Qian'er could struggle, Mu Chen gently placed his index finger against his lips. His gaze pierced through the bushes, looking straight ahead. Tang Qian'er followed his gaze and saw, in a clearing ahead, two creatures that were deep red all over with a single black horn on their foreheads. Looking like a cross between a tiger and a wild boar, they were leisurely pacing back and forth, emitting low, deep growls.
“They are low-grade spiritual beasts, Blood Boar Tigers.”
Mu Chen said softly. These two Blood Boar Tigers seemed to have the strength of the mid-stage Spiritual Movement Stage. However, this type of spiritual beast had thick skin and tough flesh, and their bodies were robust enough to withstand a full-strength strike from a late-stage Spiritual Movement Stage expert. Moreover, once they went berserk, they became exceptionally ferocious.
“One each. Any problem?”
Mu Chen turned to ask for Tang Qian'er's opinion. The young girl's face turned slightly pale, but she stubbornly nodded. Perhaps this was her first time truly facing such a ferocious spiritual beast.
“Don't be afraid, I'm here.”
Mu Chen smiled comfortingly.
“Mm.”
Tang Qian'er lightly bit her red lips and clenched her hands as a short sword appeared. She didn't want to drag Mu Chen down; for the sake of their results, she had to do her best.
“Charge!”
Mu Chen gave a low shout, his figure rushing out first.
“Roar!”
The moment Mu Chen revealed himself, the two Blood Boar Tigers spotted him immediately. With bloodshot eyes, they roared and charged forward, dense dark-red spiritual energy surging from their bodies.
*Thud, thud, thud, thud...*
One of them rushed over, its heavy steps causing the forest floor to shake slightly, hurtling toward Mu Chen like a streak of bloody light. The other was about to follow, but a shower of sharp stone fragments infused with spiritual energy fiercely bombarded its snout. The pain forced it to halt, and it turned its bloodshot eyes toward the seemingly fragile figure of the young girl, letting out a ferocious roar as it pounced to attack.
Mu Chen intently watched the Blood Boar Tiger focusing its attack on him, his eyes devoid of agitation, yet brimming with excitement. He stomped his foot on the ground and charged straight ahead.
Man and beast hurtled towards each other, a fierce wind sweeping dry leaves across the ground. Just as the two were about to collide, Mu Chen powerfully leaned and stepped aside, his right hand gripping a dagger, dark spiritual energy coiling around it.
His right hand traced a precise arc, moving across the Blood Boar Tiger's body. Darkness manifested, and a cold gleam pierced through the spiritual beast's two eyes, splattering fresh blood.
"Thud!"
The Blood Boar Tiger's body slammed violently into a large tree behind it, causing the trunk to snap and the tree to crash down with a resounding thud, shaking the ground for a moment. The Blood Boar Tiger also let out a frantic, pained roar, its bloodshot eyes now blinded by Mu Chen.
"HoooRoooaarar!"
The searing pain drove the Blood Boar Tiger into a frenzy. Sniffing the air to orient itself, it furiously attacked Mu Chen once more, its fur, stiff as sharp quills, standing on end as it charged like a steel fortress.
Facing the frenzied Blood Boar Tiger, Mu Chen, however, appeared relaxed, bouncing lightly on the spot, allowing the beast to sweep past him again and again. And each time, the sharp blade of his dagger was stained with another streak of dark crimson blood.
With fresh blood spilling, the Blood Boar Tiger's speed grew slower and slower, and it began to tire. Mu Chen seized the moment it was still stumbling, darting in like a flash. A cold glint flashed from his dagger, which, enveloped in spiritual energy, was so sharp it sent shivers down one's spine just by looking at it. Swift as lightning, it pierced the Blood Boar Tiger's throat.
Hot, fresh blood gushed out along the dagger. The Blood Boar Tiger let out a small, mournful roar, its body twitched faintly for a moment, then lay still and unmoving.
Mu Chen calmly pulled out his dagger, then pushed the massive Blood Boar Tiger carcass aside. His movements were so practiced and skilled that even seasoned adventurers who risked life and limb hunting spirit beasts couldn't compare. Such prowess was not something an inexperienced youth could possess.
Having swiftly dealt with the first Blood Boar Tiger, Mu Chen glanced towards Tang Qian'er, who seemed to be struggling. Although there were quite a few bloodstains on the Blood Boar Tiger's body, for a creature as thick-skinned and fleshy as it was, those minor injuries had little effect.
"Hooo... Roooaarar!"
While locked in a struggle with Tang Qian'er, the Blood Boar Tiger likely realized its companion was dead. It let out a mournful roar, its eyes growing even redder, and its already massive body swelled even larger.
"Going berserk?"
Seeing this, Mu Chen frowned.
"Ah!"
Tang Qian'er shrieked in alarm. Her short sword, which she had used to slash at the berserk Blood Boar Tiger, was knocked from her hand by the recoil, and she quickly leaped back several steps. Then she felt a massive shadow engulf her body, a foul, bloody stench assaulting her nostrils. The Blood Boar Tiger leaped high into the air, descending like a giant boulder, pressing down menacingly.
Staring at the immensely heavy dark shadow, Tang Qian'er's face turned ashen, her body frozen in fear, unable to move.
"Whoosh."
A figure shot past, his arm wrapped around her slender, delicate waist. The dagger in his hand pointed skyward, dark spiritual energy surging upwards like a dark spearhead, piercing the drum-like belly of the Blood Boar Tiger above.
“Splurt.”
Fresh blood immediately poured down, bringing with it foul-smelling internal organs that spilled out.
Mu Chen, still holding Tang Qian'er, rolled several times, avoiding the several hundred *jin* weight of the Blood Boar Tiger. After hitting the ground and bouncing once, it finally lay motionless, clearly having lost all signs of life.
“Phew.”
Mu Chen, seeing that both Blood Boar Tigers had been neatly dealt with, let out a breath. He then felt the girl in his arms stir slightly, so he released her and, with a smile, asked:
“Are you alright?”
Tang Qian'er blushed and shook her head. Her gaze fell upon the two motionless Blood Boar Tigers, her beautiful eyes clearly showing fear. She understood clearly that the swift defeat of these two low-level spirit beasts was entirely due to Mu Chen.
“How can you be so formidable? I struggled with it for so long and couldn't even seriously injure it.”
Tang Qian'er exclaimed in admiration.
“Just aim for its weak points and strike once,” he replied. “You'll get used to it as you hunt more.”
Mu Chen smiled, stood up, and walked over to the corpses of the two Blood Boar Tigers. He used his dagger to cut open their heads, and two fist-sized, blood-red glows slowly floated out. Within the glows, the ethereal forms of the Blood Boar Tigers were clearly visible, emanating violent spiritual energy fluctuations.
Those were spirit beast essences.
Mu Chen took the two spirit beast essences and handed them to Tang Qian'er. She accepted them curiously, turning them over and examining them. She seemed quite pleased with her first spoils of war.
Seeing this, Mu Chen couldn't help but smile. He wiped the blood from his dagger, his gaze piercing deep into the forest, and subtly licked his lips. It seemed the recent bloodlust had reawakened a desire he had suppressed for a long time.
“Let's go. This is only the beginning...”
Mu Chen gestured with his head to Tang Qian'er, and the two of them set off. Spirit beasts of this caliber were still not challenging enough...