"Liu Yang..."
Mu Chen looked at the youth standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. Not a single hint of surprise showed on his face as he said calmly, "You've been standing there watching the show for half the day, and you're finally willing to come out?"
Mu Yuan and his group were overjoyed to see Liu Yang. They called out "Brother Liu" in unison, then turned to look at Mu Chen with smug, fierce glints in their eyes.
Although Mu Chen was currently quite famous in the Northern Spiritual Academy, and had just easily defeated the three-man alliance of Mu Yuan's group, he was still far from being a match for Liu Yang, who was considered the strongest in the academy's Earth Division. Now that they had Liu Yang to back them up, they no longer feared Mu Chen.
Liu Yang frowned when he caught sight of Mu Yuan and his group in such a disheveled state. He then stared coldly at Mu Chen. "Mu Chen, I'm afraid you owe our West Branch a proper explanation for today's matter."
"An explanation?"
Mu Chen looked at the youth before him, who was considered the most famous figure in the West Branch's Earth Division, and smiled. "They injured the people of our East Branch for no reason, and you're asking for an explanation? I think you guys are the ones who should be giving one."
Seeing the two of them facing off, the surrounding students chuckled inwardly. Currently, these two were clearly the strongest individuals in the Earth Division of the Northern Spiritual Academy. The crowd of students had thought they would have to wait until tomorrow to see them compete, but they never expected to witness their confrontation right here and now.
Liu Yang narrowed his eyes, a trace of chilliness flickering within them. In this Earth Division of the Northern Spiritual Academy, who would dare to speak to him so disrespectfully? Although he had heard rumors about Mu Chen, he was still the strongest person here.
"You are far too arrogant..."
Liu Yang sneered, staring intently at Mu Chen. "I'm truly curious. What right does someone like you—who only managed to secure a spot in the Spiritual Road by pure luck, only to be kicked out afterward—have to act so arrogant?"
Hearing these harsh words from Liu Yang, Su Ling and his group were furious. However, they also understood that Liu Yang was not someone they could deal with, so they could only grit their teeth and remain silent.
"Whether it was luck or not, you can find out for yourself if you try." In contrast to everyone else's anger, Mu Chen merely smiled in response.
Liu Yang's pupils contracted slightly. Clearly, he had not expected Mu Chen to dare to speak to him like this. He said coldly, "I originally planned to wait until tomorrow morning's competition between the two branches to beat you, but since you are so ungrateful, I might as well teach you a lesson right now. It'll save some time tomorrow."
As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Yang took a slow step forward. Spiritual energy instantly enveloped his hands, its density far surpassing that of Mu Yuan.
Seeing Liu Yang's imposing aura, Su Ling and his group were startled and alarmed. Was this Liu Yang really going to fight right now?
They looked at Mu Chen anxiously, only to find that not a single trace of fear showed on his youthful face, which was of a similar age to theirs. In fact, a faint, indiscernible light flickered deep within his pitch-black eyes.
Seeing Mu Chen's demeanor, the anxious Su Ling and his group suddenly felt their spirits lift. Even if Liu Yang was the strongest in the Earth Division of the Northern Spiritual Academy, Mu Chen was no pushover either. Defeating Brother Mu would not be that easy.
"This guy really... is pushing his luck."
Mu Chen shook his head, the corners of his mouth curving upward. His boyish face, which was usually smiling, suddenly turned cold. He lightly turned his palm, and black spiritual energy quietly flared up at his fingertips once more.
Several disciples nearby widened their eyes as they watched the two draw their swords, on the verge of a fight. The two before them were clearly the strongest in the Earth Branch of the Northern Spiritual Academy. In the end, between the two of them, who was superior?
"Stop!"
But just as the two were clashing with their auras, a loud shout suddenly rang out from afar. Immediately after, a figure accompanied by the whistling of the wind appeared between them.
"Teacher Mo."
Seeing his arrival, the surrounding disciples were instantly startled and hurriedly called out in unison.
The middle-aged man known as Teacher Mo had a stern face. A terrifying spiritual energy seemed to faintly ripple around him, exerting a heavy pressure on everyone present.
When he clearly saw who had arrived, even someone as arrogant as Liu Yang had to bow his head. The man before him was a genuine powerhouse of the Spirit Stage. Not only in the Northern Spiritual Academy, but even in the entire Northern Spiritual Realm, he was considered a top-tier expert. Liu Yang naturally did not dare to offend him.
"If you want to compete in the academy, go to the sparring arena. Why are you fighting out here? Do you all want to be punished?" Teacher Mo looked around and said in a deep voice.
"Haha, how could you say that, Teacher Mo? We were just joking around."
Liu Yang smiled faintly. Knowing he could no longer make a move, he turned to point at Mu Chen and raised his voice, "Tomorrow is the competition between the two branches. I'll be waiting for you."
Having said that, Liu Yang led his group away. A faint whisper could be heard in the distance: "Just a loser kicked out of the Spiritual Road..."
Su Ling and his group also heard the whisper that Liu Yang had intentionally let slip, and their faces turned pale. Su Ling gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Mu, he's too arrogant! You actually earned the qualification to enter the Spiritual Road, but what the hell is he?"
Seeing Su Ling's indignation, Mu Chen lightly patted his shoulder and smiled. "Why are you so angry? If a dog bites you, are you going to bite it back?"
"But it's so frustrating..."
"It's natural to feel frustrated." Mu Chen smiled, his gentle face gradually turning cold. "Although I can't bite it back, I want to beat it with a stick—beat it until it doesn't dare to bite again."
"That kid from the Liu family is truly just like his father."
Teacher Mo looked in the direction Liu Yang had left, his brows furrowing slightly. Clearly, he was quite displeased with the boy. Then, he turned to look at Mu Chen with a smile and said, "Well said. That suits my taste."
"But I heard that Liu Yang has already reached the Initial Stage of the Spiritual Movement Stage, and he even possesses a Human-level Spiritual Pulse, which makes him comparable to the Middle Stage of the Spiritual Movement Stage. Are you sure you won't lose in tomorrow's competition between the two branches?"
"Don't worry, Teacher Mo. I won't embarrass you," Mu Chen said with a smile. Teacher Mo was the head of their East Branch. If the East Branch suffered a crushing defeat in tomorrow's competition, it would be highly embarrassing for him.
"Teacher Mo, we will take our leave first."
Teacher Mo waved his hand slightly as he watched Mu Chen lead Su Ling and the others away. He clicked his tongue in amazement. Despite his young age, this kid always managed to surprise people. The impetuous arrogance typical of teenagers seemed entirely absent in him, yet one could faintly sense a sharp edge hidden behind that gentle face. This kid...
"As expected of someone who could cause such an earth-shattering commotion on the Spiritual Road. If he had actually managed to smoothly complete his trials there, he would probably have become a highly sought-after prize in the eyes of the Five Great Academies by now, rather than staying here..."
Instructor Mo sighed. He seemed to be looking forward to tomorrow, the day of the competition between the two academies. Word had it that the kid from the Liu family was quite well-prepared. He truly wondered who would have the last laugh in tomorrow's grand competition, the greatest event in the territory.
...
Night gradually fell. Inside the room, Mu Chen sat quietly cross-legged, his hands forming seals, clearly in a state of cultivation. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth swirled gently around him, then merged into his body along with his breathing.
As more and more spiritual energy merged into Mu Chen's body, a faint, dark glow flickered around him.
Within his Aura Sea, black spiritual energy was surging, several times more robust than when he had first started cultivating. Clearly, Mu Chen had been practicing very diligently lately.
Wisps of spiritual energy moved along the pathways of the Great Pagoda Art, eventually transforming into black spiritual energy and entering his Aura Sea, making this feeling of robustness gradually more pronounced.
Currently, although Mu Chen was quite familiar with the Great Pagoda Art, he had not yet successfully reached the Foundation stage. However, he could faintly feel that he was very close to that realm.
Mu Chen was in no hurry, quietly restraining the spiritual energy entering his Aura Sea. Just as he absorbed the final wisp of spiritual energy into his Aura Sea, he suddenly felt it tremble slightly. The black spiritual energy circulating within his Aura Sea abruptly expanded at a rapid pace, and a sensation of overflowing power spread throughout his entire body.
Mu Chen was slightly startled to feel the change occurring within his Aura Sea. A moment later, he couldn't help but smile faintly. He hadn't expected to make a breakthrough so inexplicably.