Mu Chen looked at the secret chamber before him. His father was the Territory Lord of the Mu Territory, and also a renowned expert in the Northern Spiritual Realm, so the wealth he had accumulated over the years was by no means small.
Without standing on ceremony, Mu Chen quickly stepped into the secret chamber. He picked up a jade slip, and with a glance, several faintly glowing characters appeared on its surface.
Middle-grade Common Rank Spiritual Art: Fire Cloud Formula.
Mu Chen blinked. Generally, Spiritual Arts were divided into various types such as cultivation arts, offensive arts, defensive arts, and so on. These types were further divided into three different ranks, from highest to lowest: Divine Rank, Spiritual Rank, and Common Rank. Each rank was then subdivided into three grades: High, Middle, and Low. The Fire Cloud Formula before him belonged to the cultivation-type Spiritual Arts of the Middle-grade Common Rank.
Mu Chen put down the jade slip, clearly having no interest in it. He then walked slowly deeper into the stone chamber, occasionally picking up another jade slip only to put it back down.
Mu Feng followed slowly behind Mu Chen, casually watching his son choose a Spiritual Art.
Hundred Swords Spiritual Art, High-grade Common Rank.
Mountain Splitting Scripture, High-grade Common Rank.
A myriad of Spiritual Arts flooded Mu Chen's vision. Although most of them were only of the Common Rank, Mu Chen knew that if these Spiritual Arts were to appear in the outside world, they would trigger fierce struggles among countless people. Mu Feng's collection was definitely not something ordinary in the Northern Spiritual Realm.
After walking for a while, Mu Chen's footsteps finally stopped at the deepest part of the secret chamber, but even now, he still had not found the Spiritual Art he needed. He raised his head and looked toward three open jade boxes resting on the final shelves.
“Your ambition isn't small, is it? Those are three Spiritual Arts that your father had to risk his life to obtain,” Mu Feng could not help but chuckle when he saw Mu Chen looking at the three jade boxes.
Hearing this, Mu Chen curiously stepped forward and took out a jade slip from one of the boxes. This jade slip was completely translucent and felt slightly warm to the touch, clearly no ordinary object.
“Flame Dragon Art.” Mu Chen scanned the jade slip, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. “A Low-grade Spiritual Rank Spiritual Art?”
He knew very well the true value of a Spiritual Rank Spiritual Art. If it were to be auctioned off, it would easily fetch over a million Spiritual Coins.
“Yes, the Spiritual Art I cultivate is also this Flame Dragon Art. Back then, I obtained it along with the beast soul of the Flame Dragon Eagle,” Mu Feng nodded slightly and said.
Mu Chen examined the jade slip for a moment, then took out two more. Of these two Spiritual Arts, one was the Heaven Shaking Art, and the other was the Blue Gathering Manual, both of which were Low-grade Spiritual Rank Spiritual Arts.
Mu Chen liked these three jade slips immensely. He pondered for a long time, hesitating over which one to choose.
“Have you made your choice? These three Spiritual Arts are of similar quality, so you can choose one to cultivate. If you find a more suitable Spiritual Art in the future, you can easily switch,” Mu Feng smiled faintly from the side.
Mu Chen hesitated, hovering his hand over the three jade slips, before finally stopping on the Blue Gathering Manual. Although this Spiritual Art was not particularly strong in terms of offense, it played a significant role in laying a solid foundation.
Mu Chen's hand hovered over the Spirit Gathering Manual, but just as he was about to make his choice, a strange sensation suddenly welled up in his heart for some unknown reason, causing his gaze to drift away involuntarily. In the shadow behind the three jade boxes, he spotted a dust-covered black jade slip.
"What is that?"
Mu Chen was taken aback. He reached out to pick up the black jade slip, and upon a quick glance, he noticed some faint characters on its rough surface.
"Great Pagoda Art?"
Mu Chen stared at these four faint characters, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes. For some reason, there was no rank indicated for this Spiritual Art.
Mu Chen looked at Mu Feng in confusion, only to freeze. At this moment, his father's expression was incredibly complex, staring at the black jade slip in his son's hand with deep nostalgia.
"Father?" Mu Chen called out, raising the jade slip in his hand. "What kind of Spiritual Art is this? Why isn't its rank clearly marked, Father?"
"It's just an ordinary Spiritual Art. Choose something else," Mu Feng said slowly, withdrawing his gaze.
Mu Chen frowned, caressing the black jade slip. After a brief silence, he smiled and said, "I want this one."
Mu Feng was stunned. He stared at Mu Chen, and as their eyes met, the youth's immature face showed a touch of stubbornness.
"Are you really choosing this?" Mu Feng asked after a moment of silence.
Mu Chen nodded slightly and said, "I don't know why, but I have a feeling that if I don't choose it, I will regret it. Father, what is the origin of this Spiritual Art?"
Mu Feng's gaze upon the jade slip was filled with complexity. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh and gave a bitter smile, murmuring in a voice only he could hear, "Jing, he truly is your son."
"This jade slip was left behind by your mother—or rather, it was reserved for you. But she also said that if you didn't choose it, then just let it remain covered in dust," Mu Feng said softly.
"Mother?"
Mu Chen's body couldn't help but tremble slightly. He repeated that warm yet somewhat unfamiliar word under his breath, a name that stirred his heart. He had never seen his mother, yet deep within his soul, a gentle, hazy figure seemed to have been etched forever.
Ever since he was old enough to understand things, he had never once asked Mu Feng about his mother. Similarly, his father had never brought her up. At times, it seemed as though both father and son intentionally avoided speaking of that highly important person.
"Is Mother still alive? Where is she?"
Mu Chen caressed the jade slip. After a moment of hesitation, he finally couldn't help but ask the question he wanted to know the answer to most. When he was a child, he had carved many wooden figurines. Those figurines were all the same, without distinct facial features, because their prototype was that gentle, fleeting figure hidden deep within his heart.
Into each and every wooden figurine, he had poured his endless longing.
"Your mother's situation is very complicated; there is no use in me telling you right now. But if you truly want to know, then cultivate this. Once you have cultivated it to a certain level, you will naturally learn everything." Mu Feng remained silent for a long time before slowly clenching his fists, his eyes shining as he stared intently at Mu Chen.
"Did Mother's departure have something to do with me, Father?" Mu Chen suddenly asked.
"You have always been the one she cherishes most. For your sake, she could let go of everything."
Mu Feng did not answer the question directly. He merely reached out to gently pat Mu Chen's head, laughing self-deprecatingly. "It is because of my uselessness that I couldn't keep the two of you together."
"I tried so hard to achieve that, but in the end, I was still a failure. I have truly failed both you and your mother."
Mu Chen nodded silently, a bright smile appearing on his youthful face. "Father, do you ever want to see Mother again?"
"I do, so very much... I want nothing more than for our family to be reunited..." Mu Feng looked up, his voice thick with a deep, aching longing.
Mu Chen clenched his hand, the rough black jade slip in his palm radiating a gentle warmth. After a moment, he looked up and smiled at Mu Feng. "I choose this one, Father. Rest assured, what you could not do, I will help you accomplish. If you believe me, then one day, I will let no one stand in the way of our family's reunion."
Mu Feng stared in astonishment at his son's youthful face and resolute gaze. A sudden wave of emotion welled up in his chest, stinging his eyes, and he finally nodded firmly.
*Jing, our son will surely be extraordinary.*