Chapter 24

The Northern Spirit Plain, located in the northwest of the Northern Spirit Realm, is about a day's journey from the Northern Spirit Academy. This vast expanse is one of the most popular places in the Northern Spirit Realm. Although the Northern Spirit Plain is filled with numerous dangers, these dangers often come with opportunities. Many people enter the Northern Spirit Plain one after another for these opportunities. Some gain fortune, while others are buried under the decaying leaves.

Going to the Northern Spirit Plain for cultivation is considered a significant event at the Northern Spirit Academy. Nearly half of the students participate, as they all know that their usual quiet cultivation in the academy is in dire need of real combat experience. Only through actual combat can one's character be honed to become even more resilient, which is an indispensable quality on the path to becoming a powerful figure.

The Northern Spirit Plain is not only filled with various spirit beasts but also with people from all walks of life, including some notorious individuals. Compared to these bloodthirsty and ruthless characters, the students of the Northern Spirit Academy are like lambs. Even though they are not weak individually, they would likely be no match for these ruthless characters in a real confrontation.

Therefore, to protect the students, the Northern Spirit Academy has dispatched a formidable guard force. Master Mo from the East Courtyard and Master Xi from the West Courtyard will also accompany them. These two are genuine Spirit Core Realm powerhouses, and it is unlikely that anyone would dare to have ulterior motives in front of two Spirit Core Realm powerhouses.

...

In the early morning, the Northern Spirit Academy's cultivation team set off. By late evening, they gradually reached the outskirts of the Northern Spirit Plain. As night fell, they set up camp on the spot.

The night enveloped the area, and campfires rose in the camp. The students of the Northern Spirit Academy, who rarely come to such places, were quite excited. The entire camp was filled with a lively atmosphere. This liveliness attracted the attention of some adventurers in the darkness. They knew these greenhorns from the Northern Spirit Academy and, with a sneer, gradually moved away.

In their eyes, these well-behaved babies from the academy would likely tremble with fear when faced with those ferocious spirit beasts.

Muchen sat by the campfire, gazing at the darkness beyond the camp. In the distant depths, it seemed as if various bloodcurdling roars echoed.

This scene was somewhat familiar.

However, the atmosphere here was far less cruel and bloody compared to the Spirit Road in his memories.

As Muchen was slightly dazed, a slender and delicate hand suddenly reached out from behind and patted his shoulder.

The moment the hand landed on Muchen's shoulder, his black eyes instantly turned cold, and his body tensed like a leopard about to pounce. His hand shot out like lightning, firmly gripping the delicate hand.

"Ouch."

A cry of pain came, and Muchen finally came to his senses. He turned his head to look at Tang Qian'er behind him, the coldness in his eyes quickly dissipating. He scratched his head awkwardly and quickly released his hand.

"What are you doing? That hurt." Tang Qian'er sat down beside Muchen, rubbing her wrist, and complained.

"Sorry." Muchen chuckled bitterly. The training on the Spirit Road had made him highly alert, almost instinctively. Although he had suppressed this instinct after returning to the Northern Spirit Realm, the familiar environment had reawakened it.

"What's wrong with you?"

Tang Qian'er pouted, but her beautiful eyes were fixed on Muchen. She was a perceptive girl, and when Muchen gripped her wrist, she felt a chill in her heart. She thought that if it weren't for her cry of pain, Muchen might have crushed her wrist.

Muchen looked at the campfire in front of him, paused for a moment, and said, "On the Spirit Road, if someone did what you just did, they might be killed... because if I didn't, I would be the one to die."

Tang Qian'er was taken aback. She looked at the calm young man, and when he mentioned killing, his expression didn't change much, as if he were used to it.

"The Spirit Road... sounds quite terrifying," Tang Qian'er muttered. The Spirit Road seemed mysterious to them. It was said that many who returned from the Spirit Road never spoke about their experiences, but because those who returned were mostly very powerful, young people like Tang Qian'er were quite eager to go there.

However, they didn't know that to become extremely powerful, one must come from an extremely harsh place.

Muchen smiled lightly and murmured, "There, everyone is a competitor, and it's a very cruel kind of competition. The people there are all crazy. They might smile at you one moment and stab you in the chest the next."

"So, there, trust is a very rare thing. But if you can truly find it, it will be something you will cherish for life."

Muchen took a deep breath, his expression softening. He thought of the girl with silver hair, a crazy person even he found troublesome. During the six months of pursuit, Muchen fought her three times, winning twice. However, in the last battle, the girl turned the tide, and her black longsword hovered at his throat.

This time, she clearly won, and quite thoroughly. If she had just pushed the sword a little, Muchen would have been left in the Spirit Road forever.

But in the end, she didn't push the sword. Her eyes, like glass, stared at him for a long time before she slowly sheathed her sword and said softly, "I won't kill you. Come with me."

Muchen was clearly stunned for a while before he asked, somewhat dejectedly, "Why did you chase me for so long? If I hadn't saved you, you would have died long ago."

The first time he saw her, she was in a dire situation, almost killed by five other crazy people. Muchen didn't intend to help at first because those people were also troublesome. However, perhaps because of the sorrow in her glass-like eyes, he softened his heart.

He saved her but also attracted those five troubles. For the next week, Muchen fled with her, who was injured. Ten days later, he defeated and killed three of them, and the other two gave up.

After dealing with those five, before he could relax, the girl, who had never spoken to him, began to draw her sword. Then, a six-month chase and confrontation began.

When the girl heard Muchen's question, she seemed to think for a moment and hesitantly gave an answer that made Muchen want to bleed from his nose: "I don't want to like you. I just want to cultivate. Liking you would distract me."

"You're crazy."

At that moment, even Muchen, who was usually calm, couldn't help but blurt out this sentence.

"Then what are you doing now?" Muchen asked, somewhat helplessly.

"I was going to kill you, but... I couldn't bring myself to do it."

The girl considered seriously, the pale moonlight illuminating her face, which would one day bring disaster. Then, she frowned and said, "I think I might have developed some feelings for you over the past six months."

Muchen looked up at the sky, speechless. We chased and killed each other for six months, and you developed feelings...

"You didn't kill me, so you owe me a life. You have to team up with me. When I no longer like you, I'll kill you."

"Are you raising a puppy?"

"Then... when I don't like you, I'll let you go."

"..." Muchen shook his head helplessly and turned to leave, "Not interested."

"I can protect you from all the cold arrows from behind, as long as you don't hurt me. I will protect you, whether in the Spirit Road or in the vast world." The girl, who had always been calm and emotionless, hesitated for a moment and said softly.

Muchen's steps stopped. The girl's soft voice seemed to pierce through the space and hit his heart, making his eyes soften.

"You usually don't talk, but when you do, it's quite touching."

Muchen turned around, smiled, sighed, and walked back, extending his hand to her.

"Then, let's work together."

The girl's usually emotionless face showed a faint smile, a beauty that made the moonlight pale in comparison.

Then, she extended her cool, jade-like hand and lightly shook Muchen's.

This is my promise to you.

(A brand new day, I hope everyone can vote for the new book after reading the update!

A new book needs our joint efforts to make it shine.

I put a lot of effort into writing "The Great Ruler," and I believe it will be a great book, so please continue to read it with me.

Thank you.)