"I'm the one who gave them that confidence. Do you have a problem with that?"
When Mu Yuan's group of three looked over at the smiling youth, their expressions shifted, and the smugness in their eyes turned solemn. Clearly, they were wary of Mu Chen.
"Hmph, you certainly talk big."
Mu Yuan quickly recovered his composure. He glared at Mu Chen and snorted coldly. Seven days ago, he had reached the early stage of the Spiritual Movement Stage, and Xue Dong and Xiao Kun behind him were also on the verge of breaking through to that level. With such a powerful lineup, did Mu Chen really dare to do anything?
Beside him, Xue Dong and Xiao Kun quickly came to the same realization. A fierce light gleamed in their eyes, and the fear in their hearts dissipated significantly.
"Today was just a small lesson. In this Northern Spiritual Academy, when we of the West Branch speak, it's not the place of you East Branch people to butt in." Mu Yuan brushed his hands and looked coldly at Mu Chen. "As for you, I think after tomorrow, you won't even have the face to say those words."
The surrounding students were as quiet as cicadas in winter, silently watching Mu Yuan put on airs without daring to speak. Although some East Branch students were furious, they did not dare to voice their anger.
Having said his piece, Mu Yuan waved his hand slightly, signaling Xue Dong and Xiao Kun to leave. Today, they had only wanted to show off their strength to suppress the arrogance of the East Branch.
Su Ling and his group looked furious, their fists clenched tightly. However, the opponent's momentum was overwhelming right now, so even with Mu Chen's arrival, they had no choice but to back down.
"I say..."
Suddenly, a voice drifted from behind. Mu Yuan's group of three stopped and turned around, looking at the youth standing in front of Su Ling. At this moment, he was wearing a very bright smile.
"Aren't you going to apologize before you leave?"
The surrounding area suddenly fell into a dead silence. Many young boys and girls looked in surprise at the smiling youth. At this moment, although he was smiling, there seemed to be a trace of fierce coldness in his expression.
Su Ling and his group were also stunned, their faces flushing with emotion. Naturally, they had never expected that Mu Chen would still stand up for them under these circumstances.
"Apologize?"
Mu Yuan's face darkened, and he sneered, "What makes you think you can?"
He had always been arrogant in the Northern Spiritual Academy. To ask him to apologize now—was this guy stupid?
"It seems we can't settle this peacefully."
Mu Chen nodded and said no more, taking step after step toward Mu Yuan's group of three.
Mu Yuan's group of three looked coldly at the approaching Mu Chen. They exchanged glances, a cold light flashing in their eyes.
Within the Northern Spiritual Academy, Mu Chen was not particularly famous. Aside from defeating Xue Dong, he had no other outstanding achievements. However, none of the students in the academy dared to underestimate him. Even arrogant people like Mu Yuan were very wary of him. How could someone qualified to enter the Spiritual Road be simple?
Therefore...
"Attack!"
Mu Yuan gave a low shout, and the spiritual energy in his hands immediately surged. He stomped his foot hard on the ground and rushed straight at Mu Chen. Behind him, Xue Dong and Xiao Kun quickly followed on his left and right with perfect coordination.
The surroundings erupted into a clamor. Clearly, no one expected Mu Yuan's group of three to team up so decisively. After all, all three of them were ranked among the top ten strongest in the West Branch.
Among the three, Mu Yuan was the strongest. Having already reached the early Spiritual Movement Stage, his attacks were the sharpest. Spiritual energy enveloped his hands as his palm wind, sharp as a blade, swept straight toward Mu Chen.
Yet, just as that terrifying palm wind was about to strike, Mu Chen suddenly took a half-step to the side, closing the distance between himself and Mu Yuan. On his delicate face, his eyebrows knit together like sharp swords unsheathing. His usually gentle countenance instantly turned cold, radiating an incredibly fierce offensive aura.
Instead of clashing directly with Mu Yuan, Mu Chen targeted Xue Dong and Xiao Kun, who were following closely behind. Black spiritual energy swirled around his fingertips as he spread his hand wide, striking toward the duo with the whistling sound of wind.
Behind Mu Yuan, Xue Dong and Xiao Kun were startled by Mu Chen's sudden maneuver. Lacking the time to dodge, they could only grit their teeth, channel all their strength, and throw out a punch.
As long as they could tie Mu Chen down for a split second, Mu Yuan would have enough time to turn back and assist. When that happened, the three of them could easily surround and overwhelm him.
Xue Dong and Xiao Kun held relatively high rankings in the West Branch, so they were clearly no ordinary opponents. However, they had misjudged the strength of the youth before them, never expecting his combat experience to be so terrifyingly refined.
Just as their fists were about to collide, Mu Chen's hand suddenly slipped past, striking hard against their wrists.
With their momentum directed forward, their weak points were easily exploited, causing them to stumble forward. Before they could regain their footing, Mu Chen's palms slithered past their arms like a spirit serpent emerging from its cave, ruthlessly striking them square in the chest.
"Bam!"
A muffled thud echoed. To the astonishment of the onlookers, Xue Dong and Xiao Kun were sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground. The two wailed in agony, the clothes over their chests completely shredded.
In just a single exchange, both Xue Dong and Xiao Kun had been utterly defeated.
Only when the agonizing cries of the two echoed did the surrounding disciples finally snap out of it, realizing what had just transpired. They couldn't help but wonder: wasn't that way too fast?
"Mu Chen!"
An enraged roar erupted from behind. Witnessing the scene, Mu Yuan was furious, his face flushed red with anger. He had never expected Mu Chen to bypass him entirely to target the other two first.
"Flame Palm!"
Crimson spiritual energy erupted from Mu Yuan's hands like a blazing fire, causing the surrounding temperature to rise significantly.
The surrounding disciples fell into a commotion at the sight. Was this the true strength of the second-ranked figure in the Earth Division of the West Branch?
At this moment, Mu Chen turned to face the furiously charging Mu Yuan. Clenching his hand into a fist, he showed no intention of dodging. Black spiritual energy surged violently as he threw a punch straight ahead.
"Boom!"
Fist and palm collided violently, the red and black spiritual energies clashing and causing the very air to tremble. Mu Yuan's face turned crimson as his body shook violently. With a sharp cough, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staggered backward, and finally collapsed onto the ground.
A single exchange had decided the victor.
Although both were at the early Spiritual Movement Stage, it was clear that Mu Chen's spiritual energy refinement far surpassed Mu Yuan's.
Watching from the ground, the defeated Xue Dong and Xiao Kun stared in dumbfounded shock. Mu Yuan was clearly at the early Spiritual Movement Stage as well, yet he couldn't even withstand a single punch from Mu Chen?
"Impossible!" Mu Yuan, sitting disheveled on the ground, also wore a look of utter disbelief, forgetting even to wipe the blood from his mouth.
"Brother Mu is incredible!"
Su Ling and the others nearby stood dazed for a moment before their faces lit up with joy. They had never expected that in a one-against-three fight, Mu Chen would hold such an absolute upper hand.
Mu Chen's expression remained as calm as ever. Staring down at the disheveled Mu Yuan on the ground, he smiled and said, "Still not planning to apologize?"
Mu Yuan's expression shifted slightly. Gritting his teeth, he spat, "In your dreams!"
Mu Chen seemed to have anticipated this response. He nodded, his smile widening as he stepped toward Mu Yuan, black spiritual energy gradually swirling around his hands.
Seeing Mu Chen approach with that bright smile, Mu Yuan felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
Mu Chen closed the distance, the black spiritual energy on his hands growing denser. But just as he stood right beside Mu Yuan, the sound of clapping suddenly rang out.
"Haha, as expected of someone who once entered the Spiritual Road. But aren't you looking down on our West Branch a bit too much by doing this?"
Mu Chen tilted his head toward the parting crowd. A smiling figure was slowly walking through. Seeing him, the surrounding students automatically backed away, a trace of fear flashing in their eyes.
Under the fearful gazes of the crowd, the youth stopped in front of Mu Chen. He had a handsome face, and the slight smirk at the corner of his mouth exuded arrogance. With his arms crossed over his chest, he stared at Mu Chen as if looking at prey.
This was the strongest person in the West Branch's Earth Class, Liu Yang.