"You don't know anything?"
Wen Ling stared at Mu Chen's bewildered face.
Mu Chen frowned slightly. He vaguely recalled a strange sensation from earlier, but he wasn't entirely sure what it was.
"You just entered the Heart Array state." Wen Ling said softly.
"Heart Array state?" Mu Chen was startled.
"It's a mysterious state that only Level 3 Spirit Array Masters and above can achieve. In this state, the array setter is freed from the constraints of their eyes, directly controlling the array with their mind. The trajectory of the spirit array is all within their heart, moving as their will dictates." Wen Ling looked at Mu Chen and said, "Just now, the Spirit Gathering Array encountered an anomaly, and we thought it was going to fail. But you unconsciously stepped in and provided timely assistance."
Mu Chen was surprised. He seemed to remember that the Spirit Gathering Array had indeed appeared completely within his mind. At the very end, the spirit array showed a few missing spirit seals, and he instinctively thought of doing something to compensate.
"So that's called the Heart Array state." Mu Chen looked quite curious. Thanks to that state, he felt that setting up spirit arrays became much easier and more comfortable. The streams of spiritual energy moved as his will dictated, and the feeling of smooth sailing was incredibly exhilarating.
"But looking at your expression, you must have entered that mysterious state unintentionally. If you are lucky enough to comprehend that feeling more often, I think you can consciously enter the Heart Array state, which will bring great benefits to your spirit array cultivation." Wen Ling clicked his tongue, his voice now barely able to conceal his admiration and envy. The Heart Array state—how many Spirit Array Masters yearned for it but couldn't achieve it! Even he himself had never experienced it.
Chen Ling and the others nearby also cast complex glances at Mu Chen. At this moment, they truly couldn't act like elders towards him. They knew clearly that they were not on the same level as that guy. Perhaps soon, they would have to look up to him, humbly asking that naive young man for guidance.
"Haha, thank you all. The successful construction of this Level 2 Spirit Gathering Array is truly a great favor to our Mu Territory!"
Just then, Mu Feng, with a joyful expression and a radiant, ecstatic smile, walked in. He clasped his hands respectfully and thanked Wen Ling and Chen Ling.
Wen Ling merely smiled faintly, while two of the other three blushed. They had almost ruined everything. If Mu Chen hadn't fortunately entered the Heart Array state, perhaps all the blame would have fallen on them this time.
"Territory Lord Mu, the great credit for this still goes to Elder Brother Wen and the Young Master..." Chen Ling said, looking ashamed.
"Mr. Chen Ling is joking. How can credit be measured as great or small? Without the three of you, I'm sure this Spirit Gathering Array could not have been set up!" Mu Feng replied with a serious and magnanimous expression.
Upon hearing this, Chen Ling was involuntarily moved. He clasped his hands and bowed, his eyes completely devoid of their previous arrogance. Mu Feng's ability to lead the Mu Territory truly attracted others. In the future, they could indeed rely more on the Mu Territory. Moreover, with Mu Chen's terrifying talent in spirit array cultivation, what level would he reach? If he could just get a little guidance from him then, perhaps his own progress would not be small at all.
Mu Chen saw Mu Feng's method of winning people's hearts and quietly smiled. "Father, you truly are a cunning old fox. Spirit Array Masters are already rare in the Northern Spirit Realm, and now you can borrow the strength of three Level 1 Spirit Array Masters at once. That's no small help, and it conveniently earns their gratitude."
Wen Ling and the other three had exhausted themselves greatly by setting up the Level 2 Spirit Gathering Array. Mu Feng only spoke with them for a short while before sending people to carefully escort them to rest. He turned back to look at Mu Chen, exhaling with a smile, "You're a good boy, you must be tired this time too."
"You're my father, of course I have to help. Otherwise, how would I eat?" Mu Chen chuckled slyly.
"You stinky brat." Mu Feng laughed and scolded, grabbing his head and ruffling his hair. He said, "If you want to help me, then get a spot in the Five Great Academies. The Northern Spirit Realm looks vast, but in reality, it's just a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well, blind and incompetent. Only by receiving the resources and knowledge of the Five Great Academies will you be qualified to continue on the path of a true powerhouse."
"Your talent surpasses your father's by who knows how much. Therefore, you must go much further. You must do things that your father was not qualified to do."
Then he whispered to himself, "Because you are all of your father's hope!"
Mu Chen saw Mu Feng's kind face, his eyes filled with joy and hope, and he smiled, "Father, rest assured, I've said it before, there will be a day when I bring Mother back here for you."
Mu Feng chuckled, feeling his eyelids about to give way, and suddenly nodded vigorously. He believed his precious son would not disappoint him.
"Tomorrow I'll return to the Northern Spirit Academy. Calculating the time, perhaps the spots for the Five Great Academies have already been distributed. I wonder how many spots our Northern Spirit Academy will be allocated this year..."
Mu Chen stretched, his dark eyes looking at the red clouds on the distant horizon. His eyes lingered on the image of a beautiful, gentle, soft, and delicate girl, her long hair like a silver stream, her blue eyes like lapis lazuli, her pretty face a beauty that could topple kingdoms, often rejecting others from a thousand miles away. However, he knew clearly how gentle she was beneath that cold exterior.
"The Five Great Academies... I truly cannot not go."
The next day, Mu Chen bid farewell to Mu Feng and Zhou Ye, entered the teleportation array in Mu City to transfer to Northern Spirit City, and then quickly returned directly to the Northern Spirit Academy without any delay.
...
In a study at the Northern Spirit Academy, three people sat upright. The main seat was occupied by the Headmaster of the Northern Spirit Academy, Xiao Mu. To his left and right were the two Master Mo and Master Xi, the chief instructors of the East and West Academies.
"The spots for the Five Great Academies have arrived in our hands."
Headmaster Xiao held a yellow scroll in his hand. On the scroll were five different emblems, each one exuding immense pressure when looked upon. These five emblems represented the Five Great Academies.
"How many spots does our Northern Spirit Academy have this year?" Master Mo asked excitedly.
Headmaster Xiao gently tapped his withered finger on the yellow scroll, his eyes looking somewhat peculiar. "Five spots."
"Five?" Master Mo thought for a moment and said, "The East Academy has five disciples who are likely to break through to the Spirit Wheel Realm in the near future, and the West Academy should have seven disciples. It seems the competition will be quite fierce this time."
Dean Xiao nodded. The conditions for joining the Five Great Academies were originally stringent; not just anyone who wanted to could enter.
"On another note, besides these five slots, there's also a special slot."
Dean Xiao's gaze grew increasingly peculiar as he looked at the two instructors.
"A special slot?"
Both stared in confusion.
"It's a seed-level slot."
Dean Xiao slowly replied, letting go of the yellow scroll in his hand.
"A seed-level slot?"
Instructor Mo and Instructor Xi finally became serious, unable to stop themselves from standing up to ask, "Why would a slot of this caliber be sent to our Northern Spirit Academy?"
The Five Great Academy slots were divided into three levels. The lowest was the normal slot, the second was the seed slot, and now Northern Spirit Academy had obtained this special one. However, normally, slots of that level were only granted by the Five Great Academies to a few renowned and powerful spirit academies. Given the scale of their Northern Spirit Academy, they had never received such a slot until now.
The highest level was the core slot, which was extremely rare. Anyone who obtained it was undoubtedly a monstrous genius. Only those who shone brilliantly in the Spirit Road were qualified to receive it.
These high-level slots were not just names; they also determined the student's status after entering the Five Great Academies, along with accompanying resources. Therefore, countless people fought tooth and nail for these precious slots.
"There are only 20 seed-level slots in all the spirit academies in the Hundred Spirits Continent combined. I never expected us to get one this year."
Dean Xiao gave a strange smile; he found it truly unbelievable.
The Hundred Spirits Continent was a vast region that encompassed the Northern Spirit Realm. Within the Hundred Spirits Continent, there were about 10 realms of varying sizes. The Northern Spirit Realm was merely a weak realm among them. Therefore, compared to other spirit academies in the Hundred Spirits Continent, Northern Spirit Academy had no advantages whatsoever. From ancient times until now, these second-level slots had always been snatched up by those other spirit academies and had never reached their hands.
"I've heard some news; this seed slot was allocated to us, in fact, directly decided by the Five Great Academies themselves."
Dean Xiao continued to speak calmly.
"What? Directly decided by the Five Great Academies?"
The two instructors grew increasingly astonished. What were the Five Great Academies? How could they show such favor to their small Northern Spirit Academy? They fundamentally didn't know any powerful figures or influential individuals in the Five Great Academies.
"The reason for this isn't because of us..."
Dean Xiao narrowed his eyes. "I think... perhaps our Northern Spirit Academy has a student who caught the attention of the Five Great Academies this year."
"A student?"
The two instructors were again dumbfounded. Suddenly, Instructor Mo's eyes lit up. "Is it Mu Chen?"
In the entire Northern Spirit Realm, only Mu Chen was the sole person who had participated in the Spirit Road, yet he was strangely expelled halfway through—an unprecedented event in the Spirit Road, leaving everyone puzzled and uncertain, not knowing what earth-shattering deed Mu Chen had committed in the Spirit Road.
Dean Xiao slowly nodded. "Of course, it's him. Ho ho, the Five Great Academies expelled him from the Spirit Road, yet granted us a seed slot. What does this mean? A small compensation for him? Or are they reluctant to lose a talent?"
"Reluctant? What monstrous geniuses haven't the Five Great Academies seen? A young brat like Mu Chen doesn't even have a place among them."
Instructor Xi said with a frown.
Instructor Mo gave a faint smile.
"And don't underestimate a late-stage Spirit Movement Realm brat who can toy with and kill a ruthless villain at the peak of the late-stage Spirit Wheel Realm..."
Dean Xiao just smiled and waved his hand. "For now, we don't need to know what the Five Great Academies are planning. Since they've given us this quota, we'll just make use of it."
"Is that quota directly given to Mu Chen?" Instructor Mo inquired.
Dean Xiao shook his head. "Doing so would cause dissatisfaction among other disciples. Moreover, once those young masters from the various domains of the Northern Spirit Realm know we have this quota, I don't believe any of them wouldn't be green with envy and go crazy. If we give it to Mu Chen, they will certainly resent us and accuse us of unfairness."
"Then..." Dean Xiao stood up and chuckled, "The old rule: strength is paramount. Whoever is the strongest takes it. Even if this quota is here because of Mu Chen, if he doesn't have enough strength to claim it, he can only blame himself."
Having said that, he waved his hand and walked out.
"Go announce this news. I think this 'seed' will drive those little brats a bit crazy... Hahaha, a seed quota. The Northern Spirit Academy has its first recipient."