After Mu Chen successfully broke through to the late stage of the Spirit Wheel Realm, he gradually reduced the intensity of his cultivation. This breakthrough was not a steady, gradual process like before, but rather a sudden, explosive leap. Although Mu Chen had made thorough preparations for this leap, it still caused his spiritual power to become unstable. Therefore, he needed to calm his mind and refine his spiritual power, otherwise, it would be difficult for him to achieve higher progress in the future.
To refine his spiritual power, Mu Chen chose a good method: condensing spiritual seals. Before his breakthrough, Mu Chen could only barely condense 19 spiritual seals with his own ability. When he killed Yang Gui previously, he was able to set up the Nine Heavens Thunder Formation by borrowing external power from the Jade Spirit Fruit; his own ability at that time had not yet reached the required level.
However, with his current increased strength, condensing 20 spiritual seals was now easy, no longer requiring external assistance. This made Mu Chen very happy; he was now fully capable of deploying the Nine Heavens Thunder Formation at any time. With such a powerful spiritual formation as a hidden trump card, even if he encountered a strong practitioner in the early stage of the Divine Soul Realm, he would not be utterly helpless.
Unfortunately, his plan to capitalize on his success and immediately condense the 21st spiritual seal proved quite difficult and could not yet take shape.
This phenomenon made him puzzled. Logically, with such a significant increase in strength, he should definitely be able to condense more than 20 spiritual seals. Why was it so slow and difficult to succeed?
Lost in thought with no results, Mu Chen had no choice but to seek out Wen Ling. Only with the elder's guidance did he learn that this 21st spiritual seal was the key point for a Spirit Array Master to advance from Level 1 to Level 2.
Even though it was only a difference of one spiritual seal, it was the barrier separating two completely different levels.
Wen Ling had spent many years and only recently broke through, successfully condensing this 21st spiritual seal, truly becoming a Level 2 Spirit Array Master. Mu Chen, of course, could not achieve the same feat as Wen Ling in such a short time, even though he was indeed a prodigy in the aspect of cultivating spiritual arrays.
After Wen Ling's explanation, Mu Chen understood why it was so difficult to condense. Nevertheless, it did not discourage him; instead, it made him even more excited and eager. If he could condense the 21st spiritual seal, he would be on par with his teacher Wen Ling, becoming a Level 2 Spirit Array Master. And perhaps, with an astonishing growth rate at that time, he might even condense more than 21 spiritual seals.
Just like Wen Ling, before becoming a Level 2 Spirit Array Master, the elder could only condense 20 spiritual seals. However, as soon as he broke through the bottleneck, just half a month later, he could control up to 29 spiritual seals, a remarkable increase in number, and there was no sign of stopping yet...
Thus, it was easy to see the difference in ability between a Level 2 and a Level 1 Spirit Array Master.
Since condensing spiritual seals could not progress immediately, Mu Chen decided to reduce the time spent on it and allocate more time to other matters.
Leisurely time passed, and another ten days flew by.
During this period, Mu Chen's schedule was divided into four main tasks: condensing spirit seals, cultivating spiritual power, studying the profound mysteries of the complex formation diagram, the Demonic Lotus Formation Diagram, and spending the remaining time communicating intimately with the Nine Netherbird within his body. The Nine Netherbird was still a transcendent being; although it was currently imprisoned within his body, Mu Chen was still very worried about its power and did not want to push it too hard and incur its hatred. However, despite his friendly attempts at conversation, the Nine Netherbird completely ignored him, its gaze still fierce and undiminished, even showing contempt as if looking at an idiot.
"That stupid chicken, I wonder how I can make it a little more obedient..."
Although his conversations had no effect, Mu Chen seemed tireless, entering its body every day to talk about everything under the sun, annoying the Nine Netherbird so much that as soon as it heard him enter, it would quickly spread its wings to cover its entire body, not daring to peek at him even once.
The tedious work with the Nine Netherbird was ineffective, but his research into the Demonic Lotus Formation Diagram yielded a discovery. However, this discovery only gave him a bigger headache. He found that the Demonic Lotus Formation Diagram he held was not complete; to be precise, it was only a part of it.
Strangely, even though it was only a part, it could still be considered a complete spirit formation, capable of being arranged and deployed as a spirit formation. This particular discovery both astonished and troubled him; it was the first time he had ever heard of, seen, or touched such a profoundly mysterious spirit formation.
The whereabouts of the other parts of the Demonic Lotus Formation Diagram were still hidden somewhere within the black scroll, but Mu Chen, even by urging his Formation Heart state, could not investigate their location, perhaps due to insufficient strength.
Nevertheless, he was not discouraged, because even if he had the complete Demonic Lotus Formation Diagram now, he would not have enough strength to study it. This partial formation diagram alone roughly required 100 spirit seals, a quantity that Mu Chen was still far, far from achieving. He feared that only when he could become an excellent Tier 3 Spirit Formation Master would he barely be able to meet that requirement.
Currently, on the path of a Spirit Formation Master, he had only taken his first few tentative steps.
While Mu Chen cultivated in peace, nothing major happened in Mu Territory, and even the Northern Spirit Realm was calm and tranquil. However, contrary to this peace, Mu Feng felt increasingly uneasy.
"Is there no movement from Liu Territory?"
In Mu Manor, Mu Feng held a teacup, frowning as he softly asked Zhou Ye.
Zhou Ye shook his head:
"Those guys seem to have changed their ways; they've been honestly silent. They haven't even said a word about the recent matter where the Nine Dragons Stockade, with our support, took over several dark forces on their side."
Hearing Zhou Ye's report, Mu Feng's face became even more contorted and unpleasant. Given Liu Qing Tian's character, he was clearly very sinister and vicious, absolutely not benevolent. Having suffered a loss to Mu Territory once, why would he so easily abandon his intentions?
"Instruct those below to send people to closely monitor Liu Territory. Any small movement must be reported immediately."
Mu Feng put down the teacup in his hand and ordered in a deep voice.
"Yes."
Zhou Ye nodded and immediately left to carry out the task.
Mu Feng watched Zhou Ye leave, his hand stroking the polished armrest of the chair, looking out at the sky. He couldn't understand why an indescribable unease, an unimaginable pressure, was enveloping his heart.
This feeling was like a bloody storm preparing to descend.
An ominous and terrifying premonition.
…
Liu Region.
Recently, the Liu Region had been extremely quiet, but those who paid a little attention would notice that the patrol defense system within Liu City was much more stringent, as if guarding against something.
This made people suspicious. Thinking back to the Liu Region’s previous defeat against the Mu Region at Mang Yin Mountain, were they perhaps guarding against an attack from the Mu Region? But they were the Liu Region, the number one power in the Northern Spirit Realm! They had always flaunted their power and feared no one. Why, after just one defeat, had they suddenly become so timid and wary of the Mu Region?
A hundred tangled thoughts offered no answers, so rumors simply spread that the Liu Region feared the Mu Region and gradually dared not contend with them. For a time, this caused the Liu Region’s reputation to decline somewhat.
Liu Manor.
“Bang!”
In the council hall, a table was smashed by a furious, pale-faced Liu Ming, who roared:
“You fools! Does my Liu Region fear the Mu Region?”
From the main seat, Liu Qing Tian calmly looked at him and said:
“Just some worthless rumors. Why do you pay them any mind?”
“Big Brother is right.”
Liu Zong nodded and said:
“The most important thing now is to wait for Father to emerge from seclusion. There’s no need to worry about anything else. As long as the old man successfully breaks through to the Three Thousand Realm, all rumors will naturally be dispelled.”
Liu Ming gritted his teeth:
“How much longer do we have to wait? Recently, the Mu Region and the Nine Dragon Fortress have taken over quite a few of our subordinate forces. Those dog-eating scoundrels even dare to bully us and climb over our heads. Have they eaten the guts of a leopard?”
“That Mu Feng truly is in a hurry to die.”
Liu Zong’s eyes also blazed with anger.
Liu Qing Tian merely smiled, his smile exceedingly cold:
“No hurry, no hurry. For now, let him gloat for a while. Soon, he will have to kneel and beg us.”
“The Mu Region… merely a newly risen power. Can it compare in foundation to our Liu Region? It truly doesn’t know its own limits.”
Liu Qing Tian stood up and waved his hand:
“Do what needs to be done. I will continue to wait.”
Having said that, he was about to leave when his expression suddenly changed. Startled, he looked up at the sky above the Liu Region. The sky, which had been bright and cloudless, suddenly became unpredictably gloomy.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
A fierce wind suddenly rose in the sky, and the entire Liu City clearly felt the spiritual energy in heaven and earth violently surging. Moreover, the spiritual energy was wildly rushing in one direction with the fierce wind.
Those who followed the direction of the wind saw that it was the back mountain of Liu Manor.
“What’s going on?”
Liu Ming rushed out, looking at the sky with a shocked exclamation.
Liu Qing Tian also looked at the sky in surprise, then took a deep breath. His gaze shifted to the back mountain, where the fierce wind howled, dark clouds gathered, and a terrifying pressure, like a tsunami, slowly spread.
“Father is about to emerge from seclusion!”
Liu Qing Tian grinned gleefully, though his smile, in the gloomy sky, appeared even more ferocious and cold.
Liu Ming and Liu Zong heard this and were instantly overjoyed as if they had unearthed a treasure.
“Liu Ming, immediately send out the news: the Liu Region is preparing to host the Nine Regions Grand Assembly. All forces, big and small, in the Northern Spirit Realm must present themselves. Anyone who fails to come will be killed without mercy!”
Liu Qing Tian chuckled ferociously.
“Yes!”
Liu Ming laughed loudly in response.
Liu Qing Tian faced the fierce wind, slowly spreading his arms. From today onwards, the Liu Region would be the overlord of this Northern Spirit Realm…
Mu Feng, just wait to die.