Chapter 2

Su Ling and the others looked at the senior students from the West Courtyard on the platform, their momentum weakening for a moment, especially when they saw the girl named Hong Ling. Their eyes first lit up with passion, then they shrank back. She was a true celebrity in the Northern Spirit Academy, with many admirers, even in the East Courtyard.

"Hey, Brother Mu, that's Senior Hong Ling from the West Courtyard. I heard you liked her when you were a kid..." Su Ling leaned closer to Mu Chen, whispering with a grin.

Mu Chen couldn't help but give him a glare. When he was young, he did indeed have some interaction with Hong Ling, but at that age, how could he understand what it meant to like someone? He just wanted a playmate. Over the years, as the relationship between his father and Hong Ling's father deteriorated, their interactions became increasingly distant. This rumor, he had no idea when it started.

Mu Chen shook his head helplessly, then looked at Liu Che, who was challenging him, a faint spiritual energy glow emanating from his body as he slowly clenched his fists.

"Just get to the point."

Mu Chen glanced at the few people on the platform, his gaze pausing briefly on a slender figure before he looked away. "Even with them here, if I want to beat you, even if they stop me, you'll still suffer."

He also disliked the arrogance of these West Courtyard guys.

"You!"

Liu Che's eyes flared with anger at Mu Chen's words. Just as he was about to scold him, he saw Mu Chen's lips tighten, and the gentle, radiant face of the young man suddenly exuded a cold and stern aura, like a sharp blade, icy and piercing.

That feeling was like the sudden stirring of the first thunder in the lazy clouds, revealing a sharp and rugged edge.

That kind of aura was not something a young man of his age could possess.

Liu Che swallowed his scolding, looking at Mu Chen with surprise, his face changing. He was clearly wary of Mu Chen's strength, especially after witnessing Mu Chen defeat Xue Dong from the West Courtyard's Earth Class.

"Heh, quite arrogant, aren't you?"

The senior students from the West Courtyard's Heaven Class on the platform also heard this and raised their eyebrows, feeling their faces lose some color, especially with Hong Ling present.

Hong Ling looked at Mu Chen with some surprise, not expecting the seemingly gentle young man to have such a strong and masculine side. He seemed different from the ordinary boy he used to be.

Several senior students from the West Courtyard's Heaven Class couldn't resist jumping down from the platform and walking over. Seeing them approach, Su Ling and the others took a step back, their expressions filled with caution.

Hong Ling didn't stop them. She was, after all, from the West Courtyard, and she also wanted to see if this boy, who once seemed ordinary to her, had truly grown into someone with a shining light.

"Brother Tong."

Liu Che was delighted to see these people approach, and his gaze toward Mu Chen and the others became more smug.

Mu Chen frowned slightly but didn't show much fear. Although they were senior students from the Heaven Class, their strength was only at the initial stage of the Spirit Movement Realm. If it came to a fight, they might not have the upper hand.

The senior student called Brother Tong nodded, looking at Mu Chen with a playful expression, just as he was about to speak, a cold voice came from nearby.

"Brother Tong, for the senior students from the West Courtyard's Heaven Class to come to our East Courtyard and bully the Earth Class students, isn't that a bit too disrespectful to our East Courtyard?"

Everyone was startled by the sudden voice and turned to see a group of figures approaching quickly. At the front was a tall girl, dressed in dark clothes that accentuated her graceful and well-proportioned figure. Her face was beautiful, her long black hair tied in a ponytail, and her long, slender legs were straight and elegant. Her beauty was no less than that of Hong Ling.

The girl looked at Brother Tong and the others with a slightly cold expression, and the people behind her also had unfriendly looks.

"It's Senior Qian'er."

When Su Ling and the others saw the girl in dark clothes, they immediately became excited, some of the young faces turning red. She and Hong Ling were known as the two flowers of the Northern Spirit Academy, with countless admirers. They didn't expect to meet her here today.

"Heh, it's Qian'er."

Brother Tong was also taken aback by the girl in dark clothes, then his expression became a bit awkward. Tang Qian'er not only had many admirers in the Northern Spirit Academy but also had reached the middle stage of the Spirit Movement Realm, making her quite outstanding among the senior students.

Tang Qian'er came to Mu Chen's side, frowning as she sized up Brother Tong, then looked at Hong Ling on the platform. The two women stared at each other without backing down, their eyes flashing with sparks.

"What are you doing here?" Tang Qian'er asked coldly.

"What's the problem? We're from the West Courtyard, but the West Courtyard is part of the Northern Spirit Academy, so coming here shouldn't be a violation, right?" Brother Tong shrugged and smiled.

Tang Qian'er snorted, then extended her slender hand and patted Mu Chen's shoulder, her chin raised. "Mu Chen is from our East Courtyard. If you dare to cause him trouble again, don't blame me for being unfriendly."

As she spoke, her black ponytail bounced, and she looked quite heroic, with a bit of a big sister's demeanor.

"It seems you have quite a good relationship with the opposite sex."

Brother Tong smiled at Mu Chen, his smile tinged with mockery and jealousy. He had some feelings for Tang Qian'er but had never received any good treatment from her.

"Having a good relationship with the opposite sex is also a kind of strength."

Mu Chen smiled, seemingly not noticing the mockery in Brother Tong's words. Compared to the guys in the Spirit Path, Brother Tong was still quite naive.

Hong Ling on the platform glanced at Mu Chen, feeling a bit disappointed, and slowly looked away. Still as timid and lazy as before?

"Alright, we're not here to cause trouble today, just to tell you something."

Seeing that he couldn't provoke Mu Chen's anger, Brother Tong felt quite bored, then waved at Liu Che, who sneered and said, "Mu Chen, I'm here to pass a message from Brother Liu Yang. In ten days, there will be a competition between the two courtyards, and he has chosen you as his opponent."

"Liu Yang?"

Hearing this name, Su Ling and the others' faces changed. Liu Yang was the true first in the West Courtyard's Earth Class and had recently broken through to the Spirit Movement Realm.

"Oh, right, I should also tell you this. Three days ago, during the test, it was discovered that Liu Yang has a Spirit Vein, although it's only at the Human Level..." Liu Che looked at Mu Chen with a smug smile.

"Human Level Spirit Vein?!"

This statement not only made Su Ling and the others' faces change dramatically but also made Tang Qian'er slightly moved. In the entire Northern Spirit Academy, the number of students with Spirit Veins could be counted on one hand. They didn't expect Liu Yang to have one.

"Human Level Spirit Vein..."

Brother Tong clicked his tongue, then looked at Mu Chen with pity. Liu Yang was also at the initial stage of the Spirit Movement Realm, but with a Human Level Spirit Vein, even someone at the middle stage of the Spirit Movement Realm might find it difficult to defeat him. Mu Chen was in for some trouble.

"Brother Liu Yang said that if you don't dare to accept, it's fine. Just don't show up on that day, and he won't make things difficult for you." Liu Che grinned, if Mu Chen didn't show up on that day, his reputation in the East Courtyard would be shattered.

"You're too bullying!"

Tang Qian'er's eyebrows furrowed, and she shouted.

"Senior Qian'er, it's not our fault. One should be modest. Don't think that just because you got lucky and qualified for the Spirit Path, you can be arrogant." Liu Che pouted.

"You!"

Tang Qian'er, angry, was about to step forward but was held back by a hand. She turned to see Mu Chen's young face smiling brightly. "Tell Liu Yang, I'll wait for him."

"Courageous! We'll look forward to your excellent performance then."

Liu Che gave Mu Chen a thumbs up, grinned, and then laughed as he turned to leave, clearly eager for the competition in ten days.

As Liu Che, Brother Tong, and the others left, Hong Ling on the platform glanced at them indifferently and then turned to leave.

"Brother Mu, are you really going to accept Liu Yang's challenge? If he has a Spirit Vein, he won't be easy to deal with." Su Ling looked at the departing Brother Tong and the others, worried.

"Just do my best."

Mu Chen said casually.

"Hey, you're stupid. They're clearly provoking you. You don't have to accept this challenge now!" Tang Qian'er scolded.

"Don't worry, Senior Qian'er, I know what I'm doing." Mu Chen smiled.

Tang Qian'er frowned, her bright eyes staring at the young face of the boy, who was smiling brightly. For some reason, she always felt that there was something hidden in those dark eyes.

"Hmph, it's not me who will be embarrassed anyway." Tang Qian'er huffed, displeased.

"Senior Qian'er seems to care a lot about me?"

Mu Chen looked at the slightly angry but beautiful face in front of him and couldn't help but smile.

"Go to hell."

Tang Qian'er's face turned slightly red, then she glared at Mu Chen. "I'm worried that you'll be beaten to a pulp and embarrass our East Courtyard."

Mu Chen smiled. Tang Qian'er's father was also one of the Northern Spirit Domain's lords and had a very good relationship with his father. The two families often interacted, so he and Tang Qian'er had a good relationship.

"By the way, I just heard some news."

Tang Qian'er waved away Su Ling and the others, then looked at Mu Chen. "I got this from the dean. It seems the Spirit Path has officially ended."

Mu Chen's body tensed slightly, he raised his head, and let out a light breath. Finally, it's over...

"Apparently, there were quite a few extremely talented people in this Spirit Path, and one of them is even more terrifying, with a Ten Thousand Year Rare Heavenly Level Spirit Vein. The five major academies fought over him fiercely."

Spirit Veins are divided into three levels: Heavenly, Earthly, and Human, and they have a significant impact on cultivation. Generally, people with Spirit Veins cultivate much faster than ordinary people. In the Northern Spirit Academy, there had never been an Earthly Level Spirit Vein, let alone a Heavenly Level Spirit Vein, showing how rare it was.

Tang Qian'er stuck out her red tongue, looking extremely cute. "A Heavenly Level Spirit Vein, I've never seen one. The participants in the Spirit Path are indeed all geniuses. By the way, you also participated in the Spirit Path, do you know who that person is?"

"His name is... Ji Xuan, I think."

Mu Chen said calmly, a name that was deeply etched in his memory.

"You know him?"

Tang Qian'er was surprised.

"Yes, I know him. He's a very, very strong person." Mu Chen smiled, his eyes lowering. "I almost killed him."

Tang Qian'er's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the suddenly cold and stern young face in front of her. "Really?"

"Of course not, do you believe that? I was kicked out halfway, how can I compare to someone who made the five major academies fight over him?" Mu Chen's coldness vanished instantly, and he laughed at Tang Qian'er's shocked expression.

Tang Qian'er gritted her teeth in frustration, looking like she wanted to bite him, but she finally held back, huffing, "You just entered the Spirit Movement Realm, haven't you started cultivating a Spirit Technique yet? I heard Liu Yang has already started."

"Spirit Technique, I can start cultivating it when I return. My father said I should go back once I reach the Spirit Movement Realm." Mu Chen smiled.

"Alright, I'll leave then."

Tang Qian'er nodded. Mu Chen's father was one of the Northern Spirit Domain's lords and would likely prepare a good Spirit Technique for him. She didn't say more, waved her hand, and walked away with a light sway of her waist and a flick of her black ponytail.

"By the way."

Tang Qian'er paused, looked at Mu Chen, thought for a moment, and said, "If you don't have much confidence, I can help you beat Liu Yang. Although his brother Liu Mu Bai is a bit troublesome..."

"Do you have some confidence in me?"

Mu Chen was helpless. She could come up with such a solution.

"Hmph, you don't appreciate my kindness."

Tang Qian'er scolded. She wouldn't help others in the Northern Spirit Academy, but this guy always had this annoying attitude. Thinking of this, she stormed off in anger.

Mu Chen watched Tang Qian'er's beautiful figure as she left and smiled, then muttered to himself, "Since the Spirit Path has ended, she should have entered one of the five major academies, I wonder which one?"

He thought of the last time he left, in the lush forest, the girl with long silver hair looking at him with deep, unfathomable green eyes.

"I'll wait for you in the five major academies. If you don't come..."

The girl's slender hand held a black long sword, slowly stopping in front of his chest, lightly stabbing at his heart. "I'll kill him for you, but..."

The girl gazed at him, her eyes like clear crystal.

"I don't like people who easily admit defeat. And this time, you didn't lose. At least, I really liked it."

A gentle breeze blew, lifting the girl's proud and radiant silver hair. Her usually cold, pale face showed a faint blush, though light, it was breathtakingly beautiful.

So, you must come!