The third level of the Seven-Layer Spirit Art was not as luxurious and magnificent as Mu Chen had imagined. Instead, it was very simple and plain, just an ordinary floor. However, the floor was completely free of dust, indicating that the Northern Spirit Academy took extremely meticulous care of this place.
Mu Chen stepped into this treasure land, coveted by countless Northern Spirit Academy disciples, for the first time. He constantly looked around with curious eyes, examining the overall layout.
Teacher Mo walked to the center of the floor, where there was a stone table. On the table were neatly arranged exquisite jade boxes. He waved his hand, opening all the jade boxes. Streams of brilliant light illuminated the entire floor, and within each stream of light were jade slips of different colors.
"All of these are Spirit-grade Spirit Arts. You may choose."
Teacher Mo smiled as he looked at Mu Chen.
"All Spirit-grade Spirit Arts?"
Mu Chen stared at the dozen or so streams of light, unconsciously swallowing. As expected of the Northern Spirit Academy, this collection was at least ten times greater than his father's at home.
Mu Chen quickly stepped forward, his eyes burning with eagerness. Currently, the number of Spirit Arts he had cultivated was not actually many, and the only truly substantial one was the Forest of Death Seal. However, although its potential was high, it was only considered Mortal-grade. As for the Great Pagoda Art, it was too profound and currently did not offer much assistance to Mu Chen.
Therefore, presented with the opportunity to acquire Spirit-grade Spirit Arts to enhance his combat power, he naturally would not let it pass. Otherwise, if he were to compete for a spot a month later, he might not be confident enough to defeat Liu Mubai.
Mu Chen reached out and grasped a stream of light. The brilliant light dissipated, revealing a brown jade slip. He read softly:
"Earth Spirit Wave, Spirit-grade Low-tier."
It seemed to be an offensive Spirit Art. Mu Chen pondered for a moment, then shook his head. This Spirit Art was not bad, but it did not seem suitable for him.
Mu Chen let go and looked at the other jade slips. Teacher Mo simply stood by, silently observing.
Mu Chen spent about ten minutes choosing a Spirit Art. Suddenly, his eyes brightened slightly, and he looked at the jade slip in his hand with excitement. The light green jade slip was not an offensive Spirit Art, but a movement Spirit Art, and its grade was quite good.
Spirit Shadow Steps, Spirit-grade Mid-tier. Upon grand completion, the body moves like a spirit, residual images deceive the naked eye, leaving no trace.
Mu Chen had also cultivated a few movement Spirit Arts, but they were all ordinary. This was the first time he had seen one reach this level.
"Have you chosen? Not a bad eye."
Teacher Mo, still watching him from the side, spoke with a faint smile.
Mu Chen gave an embarrassed smile, then hesitated for a moment, looking at another jade slip. In fact, he was also quite fond of another offensive Spirit Art, but taking both would truly be greedy.
"Still want another one?"
However, his expression did not escape Teacher Mo's eyes.
Mu Chen smiled awkwardly.
"Originally, I was only compensating you with one Spirit Art..."
Teacher Mo pretended to be angry as he looked at Mu Chen, then smiled and said, "However, I can make an exception and let you take one more, but there's a condition."
"What condition?"
Mu Chen hastily asked.
"Guarantee that you will defeat Liu Mubai and secure the seed spot for the East Courtyard!"
Teacher Mo said.
"Huh?"
Mu Chen was stunned. That was his original goal anyway. He stared at Teacher Mo, full of hidden meaning, and seemed to understand. He nodded:
"Teacher Mo, rest assured, I will never let what is mine fall into someone else's hands!"
Teacher Mo smiled:
"In that case, I'll wait to see your performance. Go ahead and choose."
Mu Chen nodded gratefully, and without hesitation, he grabbed a jade slip. On it was a line of ancient script.
"Spirit Emperor Finger, low-grade spirit-level, follows the path of rigidity and power, fingers like metal, shattering tendons and cracking bones."
Mu Chen was very interested in this set of finger-technique spirit arts. In the past, he had cultivated several sets of mortal-level finger techniques, and he was very satisfied with this type of spirit art that didn't require weapons yet could deliver sharp, damaging attacks.
"Oh? I didn't expect it to be a finger-technique spirit art?"
Teacher Mo was also slightly surprised when he saw the words on the jade slip in Mu Chen's hand. This type of spirit art was quite painful to cultivate because one needed to train their fingers to become hard. But before they could become hard, the fingers had to endure pain that ordinary people would find difficult to bear. After all, fingers are one of the most sensitive areas of the body.
"I'll get used to it."
Mu Chen smiled. Nothing in this world comes for free; to succeed, one naturally has to pay a price.
Teacher Mo nodded, becoming even more satisfied with this disciple. He had talent, was neither arrogant nor impetuous, and could endure what ordinary people found difficult to bear. A disciple like this was truly the most outstanding in the Northern Spirit Academy during all the years he had taught.
"I will focus on training these two sets of spirit arts to help you quickly cultivate them successfully within a month."
After Teacher Mo finished speaking, he turned and walked out.
"I won't disappoint Teacher Mo."
Mu Chen looked at Teacher Mo's back and smiled. He wasn't the kind of person who only expressed gratitude with his mouth. Teacher Mo had shown him great favor, so he couldn't let him down. He absolutely had to seize that seed quota!
Liu Mubai, let's have a good fight in this match!
...
Liu Territory, Liu Mansion.
"Seed quota?"
In the great hall, Liu Territory Lord Liu Qing Tian heard those words and shot up, standing straight. His eyes, filled with surprise, uncertainty, and excitement, looked at Liu Mubai:
"How did the Northern Spirit Academy get a seed quota?"
"I'm not sure either."
Liu Mubai shook his head and said, "But it's true."
"A seed quota... this is the first time the Northern Spirit Academy has received one since ancient times! If Mubai can obtain the seed quota, he will naturally receive many benefits after entering the Five Great Academies, and his achievements will surely surpass those of ordinary disciples in the Five Great Academies!"
Liu Zong was also excited by this astonishing news, exclaiming in pleasant surprise.
They knew very well how different disciples with a seed quota would be from those who obtained a regular quota.
"Haha, if Mubai becomes a seed disciple of the Five Great Academies, perhaps he will enter the Three Thousand Realms when he graduates. At that time, our Liu Territory will not only become the overlord of the Northern Spirit Realm, but will even achieve a not-insignificant position in the Hundred Spirit Heavens!"
Liu Ming laughed loudly.
Liu Qing Tian licked his lips, his eyes burning as he stared at Liu Mubai, saying, "Mubai, you must obtain that seed quota, no matter the cost!"
"By the way, who in the Northern Spirit Academy currently poses a threat to you?"
Liu Mubai narrowed his eyes, recalling the brief exchange with Mu Chen in the Black Underworld Abyss. Although he had still hidden quite a bit of his strength at that time, his intuition told him that Mu Chen also seemed to have not fully unleashed his abilities.
If there was any disciple in the Northern Spirit Academy who could make him feel uneasy, it could only be Mu Chen. He slowly replied, "It's Mu Chen. Father, that Mu Chen is, after all, someone who obtained the qualification for the Spirit Road; he cannot be underestimated."
"Mu Chen? That kid?"
Hearing that name, Liu Qingtian's eyes also turned cold, filled with killing intent. He clearly remembered the events in the Black Underworld Abyss, unable to comprehend how that Mu Chen could have led the Spirit-Devouring Bees to rescue Mu Feng.
"Big Brother, that brat is indeed suspicious. On that day, Blood Butcher was chasing him, but for some unknown reason, that fellow ended up dead. At that time, he only had the cultivation of the late-stage Spirit Movement Realm."
Liu Ming also spoke, the events of that day still weighing heavily on his mind.
Liu Qingtian nodded, then a cruel expression appeared on his face:
"The seed quota must remain in the hands of our Liu Territory. This matter must be kept absolutely secret, without any flaws! Mu Bai, starting today, you will enter the forbidden area behind the mountain. Your grandfather will assist you in your cultivation!"
"Grandfather? Grandfather is in the forbidden area? Didn't he go missing three years ago?"
Liu Mu Bai was shocked, his voice filled with doubt.
"Haha, that was merely a cover-up for outsiders. Your grandfather went into seclusion three years ago to break through the bottleneck of the Three Thousand Realm. If the old man succeeds, won't this Northern Spirit Realm be in the hands of our Liu Territory?"
Liu Qingtian said with a sinister laugh:
"Those idiotic Mu Territory people think that by successfully preventing our Liu Territory from capturing the Nine Nether Sparrow, they can be carefree. Just wait and see. When your grandfather comes out of seclusion, I will stomp on that Mu Feng like a dog and make him kneel before me!"
"A newly risen power dares to compare itself to my Liu Territory? Dreaming in broad daylight!"
"Yes!"
Liu Mu Bai's eyes lit up with excitement upon hearing this. If he received guidance from his grandfather, his strength would surely advance rapidly. At that time, what would Mu Chen be?
Recalling the humiliation he suffered at Mu Chen's hands in the Black Underworld Abyss, Liu Mu Bai gritted his teeth, a cruel look on his face.
By then, in front of everyone, I will trample you underfoot. The most outstanding person of this generation in the Northern Spirit Realm must be me, Liu Mu Bai, not that little bastard!