The training ground's atmosphere became strange due to the sudden news. Eyes filled with shock, surprise, and admiration shot towards the owner of the earth-shattering news.
Spirit Wheel Realm?
Currently, there were quite a few outstanding disciples in the Northern Spirit Academy who had reached the threshold of breakthrough, but everyone knew that the only one who had truly surpassed that level was Liu Mubai from the Western Courtyard, who was acclaimed and fully deserving of being called the strongest disciple in the Northern Spirit Academy.
And now, what about them? A second person had appeared in their Eastern Courtyard?
Mo Ling, standing beside Mu Chen, looked at him with a slight self-deprecating smile. Just a moment ago, he had been boasting, but he didn't expect Mu Chen to have already surpassed him long ago.
"He's truly a freak."
Mo Ling and Tan Qingshan whispered to each other, their heads clearly showing admiration and envy for that guy. Especially Qingshan, who had ascended to the Heavenly Realm with Mu Chen just two or three months ago, and thanks to that guy giving him a Jade Spirit Fruit, he had now reached the mid-stage of the Spirit Movement Realm. Yet, he couldn't believe that Mu Chen had surpassed him by so much.
"He's indeed a tough nut to crack."
Chen Fan and Huo Yun also became serious. Although they both showed signs of condensing a wheel in their Qi Sea, they were still just signs. Compared to a true Spirit Wheel Realm, there was still a huge difference.
Seeing the calm expression on that guy's face, they also pursed their lips. It seemed this competitor was quite annoying.
Elder Mo raised his hand, and the noisy chatter in the courtyard quieted down. He looked at Mu Chen and said,
"Although you already possess the strength of the Spirit Wheel Realm, you should still stay in the Northern Spirit Academy for the next month. There are some good things for you."
Mu Chen's heart stirred upon hearing this. He looked back at Elder Mo and, without refuting, nodded lightly.
"Alright, you all go and cultivate. Mu Chen, you come with me for a moment."
Elder Mo waved his hand and walked out of the training ground. Mu Chen quickly followed.
As the two left, the courtyard became noisy again, naturally because Mu Chen's entry into the Spirit Wheel Realm had provided a lively topic of gossip for the idle students.
Mu Chen had followed Elder Mo outside, completely unaware of what was happening inside.
"Mu Chen, I think you probably guessed why the Northern Spirit Academy received a seed quota?"
Elder Mo smiled at him, his face still as innocent as a youth, but beneath it was the cautious maturity of someone who had experienced countless battles.
"Because of me?"
Mu Chen smiled and ventured a guess. Let alone the Northern Spirit Realm, even the entire Hundred Spirit Heaven had very few such quotas. Therefore, if there wasn't a special reason, that quota simply couldn't have fallen from the sky into the Northern Spirit Academy.
Elder Mo nodded in confirmation:
"It is indeed related to you, but the Headmaster didn't intend to give it to you directly."
"I understand. That thing has too much allure. Giving it to me would bring a lot of trouble to the Northern Spirit Academy."
Mu Chen showed no surprise. The Northern Spirit Academy had always been neutral. The number of cities whose eyes were red with envy over that quota was countless. If it were given to him directly, it would likely cause an uproar.
"Moreover..."
His smile suddenly became arrogant and conceited.
"If something originally belongs to me, I will take it myself. I don't need others to give it to me."
Elder Mo was stunned, then burst into laughter, his eyes full of admiration:
"You little rascal, you're so confident... If that's the case, you must know who your direct competitor is, right?"
"Liu Mubai!"
Mu Chen shrugged. He didn't even need to think about it to know. Although that guy was cunning and despicable, Mu Chen had to admit that he had considerable ability.
"Do you know Liu Mubai's true strength?" Instructor Mo asked.
"He must have already entered the Spirit Wheel Stage. Although there are rumors in the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy that he is in the early Spirit Wheel Stage, I feel he is much stronger." Mu Chen assessed. He had briefly fought Liu Mubai in the Dark Abyss and knew that the guy still had hidden killing moves.
"Yes, Liu Mubai is probably in the middle Spirit Wheel Stage now." Instructor Mo nodded.
"As expected." He frowned. A difficult opponent, but now that he himself was in the early Spirit Wheel Stage, if they fought again, it was hard to say who would be afraid of whom.
"Moreover, today, after Liu Mubai heard that the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy had a seed quota, he immediately abandoned Instructor Xi's guidance, rushed back to the Liu Territory, and even requested a month's leave." Instructor Mo said with a smile.
"Not accepting Instructor Xi's guidance?" Mu Chen was also surprised. Instructor Xi was also a Spirit Soul Stage powerhouse. Having such an instructor guide one's cultivation was a much greater advantage than other disciples had, yet Liu Mubai treated it as nothing?
"I think it's understandable why he did that. Perhaps he is very confident that the Liu Territory has the ability to greatly increase his strength in a short period of time." Instructor Mo said softly.
Mu Chen nodded gravely. Even though Liu Qingtian was a late Spirit Soul Stage powerhouse, in terms of guiding cultivation, he could not compare to Instructor Xi.
Liu Mubai was so confident, what was the reason?
Mu Chen mumbled to himself, unconsciously feeling a sense of danger. Unknown things easily made people apprehensive.
"For the next month, I will also guide your cultivation. Of course, if you feel that returning to the Mu Territory can strengthen you more, I will not stop you." Instructor Mo said with a smile.
"Instructor Mo, you're joking. Although my father is also a Spirit Soul Stage powerhouse, he actually has never known how to teach others cultivation methods. Education is not his specialty." Mu Chen replied. Mu Feng's strength was indeed much greater than Instructor Mo's, but being strong didn't necessarily make one suitable to be an instructor.
Instructor Mo smiled, "In that case, you must follow me closely for the next month. However, the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy will also compensate you a little now."
"Compensation?" Mu Chen was slightly surprised, then shook his head. "Is it because of that seed quota? Instructor Mo, what the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy did is not blameworthy, and I don't think I suffered any harm."
"Haha, this was Principal Xiao's idea. After all, it is thanks to you that the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy has obtained a seed quota for the first time. If you find 'compensation' unpleasant to hear, then let's call it a reward."
"Then... alright." Mu Chen scratched his head, no longer refusing. If the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy wanted to give him preferential treatment, then there was no need to be arrogant and pretend to be humble.
"Follow me to the Spiritual Arts Chamber." Instructor Mo said with a smile.
"Spiritual Arts Chamber?" Mu Chen was stunned.
"Aren't you very curious about the third floor? Today, go take a look." Instructor Mo chuckled, turning his back and walking away.
"The third floor of the Spiritual Arts Chamber?" Mu Chen licked his lips, his eyes suddenly becoming eager. The most powerful spiritual arts in the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy were stored there, surely much richer than his father's collection.
It seemed that the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy really intended to invest some capital this time. Only a few special disciples occasionally entered the third floor, and the spiritual arts there were at least of the Spiritual Grade!
Mu Chen excitedly followed.
Passing straight through the Northern Spiritual Academy, the two entered the Spiritual Arts Chamber and went directly to the second floor. On the second floor, several Heavenly Realm disciples were flipping through spiritual arts. Seeing Elder Mo lead Mu Chen up, they also showed surprise.
"Mu Chen?"
A clear voice rang out. Mu Chen looked over and saw a rather charming girl in red clothes; it was Hong Ling who had just called out to him.
"Senior Sister Hong Ling."
Mu Chen bowed to Hong Ling with a smile but said nothing more, still following Elder Mo to a spot at the end of the second floor. There, an oval light emitted gentle fluctuations of powerful spiritual energy.
The two stopped, causing many disciples still on the second floor to look over in surprise. They all knew that was the entrance to the third floor of the Spiritual Arts Chamber, but they had never seen any disciple qualified to enter it.
"What... what is Elder Mo going to do?"
Several Heavenly Realm disciples looked at Elder Mo and Mu Chen behind him in astonishment, their eyes flashing as if they understood something, and they exclaimed in surprise.
"Impossible..."
Their surprised shouts did not interrupt Elder Mo at all. He waved his hand, opening a crack in the oval light. However, just as he was about to lead Mu Chen in, a disciple suddenly showed dissatisfaction and doubt:
"Elder Mo, why can he enter the third floor?"
Elder Mo suddenly stopped with a heavy stomp, turned his head to look at the Heavenly Realm disciple who was glaring with dissatisfaction, his eyes full of unwillingness and jealousy. They had long coveted the spiritual arts on the third floor, but for the entire year, they hadn't found a way to gain the qualification to enter. Yet, Mu Chen, after only a few months in the Heavenly Realm, was being led in by Elder Mo, which made many people feel uncomfortable.
Elder Mo swept his gaze over the surrounding disciples and said indifferently:
"Because of his performance on the Spiritual Road, the Northern Spiritual Academy has been granted the first seed quota in its history. Is that reason enough?"
The others heard this and fell silent, looking at him with disbelief. It was indeed shocking news. But wasn't he expelled? And the Five Great Academies even granted the Northern Spiritual Academy a seed quota because of him?
Hong Ling was also covering her small mouth with her delicate hand, her eyes complex as she looked at the handsome young man behind Elder Mo. He was very calm, but in her eyes, he suddenly shone brightly.
Elder Mo glanced around, sneering contemptuously at the students who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, then stepped into the light. Mu Chen immediately followed.
When the two disappeared inside, the second floor remained silent, clearly still immersed in astonishment.