Chapter 73

"Didn't you know what happened?" Wen Ling looked at Mu Chen's slightly bewildered face and couldn't help but ask.

Mu Chen frowned slightly. He vaguely remembered that he seemed to have entered some kind of state before, but as for what he specifically did, he wasn't particularly clear.

"You just entered the 'Heart Array' state," Wen Ling said softly.

"The Heart Array state?" Mu Chen was taken aback.

"This is a mysterious state that can only be reached after becoming a Third Rank Spirit Array Master. At that time, the array user will break free from the constraints of the physical eyes and directly observe the array with the heart. The trajectory of the spirit array will move according to the user's will," Wen Ling looked at Mu Chen and said, "The Spirit Gathering Array had some issues earlier, and it was about to fail, but you subconsciously intervened and saved it."

Mu Chen was a bit surprised. He seemed to remember that the Spirit Gathering Array was indeed fully projected in his mind earlier, and at the last moment, the originally complete spirit seal had some defects. Out of reflex, he seemed to have done something.

"So that was the so-called Heart Array state," Mu Chen's eyes showed some curiosity. In that state, he felt that setting up the spirit array had become much easier, and the spiritual energy beams moved according to his will, giving him a sense of smoothness and comfort.

"However, from your appearance, it seems you entered that mysterious state subconsciously. You need to experience that feeling more. If you can control yourself to enter the Heart Array state at any time, it will greatly benefit your spirit array cultivation," Wen Ling smacked his lips. This time, even his tone contained some envy. The Heart Array state was something many spirit array masters dreamed of, and even he had never touched it.

The three spirit array masters, Chen Ling and others, looked at Mu Chen with complex expressions. Now they no longer had any attitude of relying on their seniority. They clearly knew that they and the young man in front of them were not on the same level. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before they would look up to this once humble and earnest young man.

"Haha, thank you all. Successfully constructing a Second Rank Spirit Gathering Array is a great favor to the Mu Domain!" At this moment, Mu Feng walked in with a joyful expression and bowed to Wen Ling, Chen Ling, and the other three.

Wen Ling just smiled faintly, while Chen Ling and the other three had somewhat flushed faces. They almost messed things up, and if Mu Chen hadn't entered the Heart Array state, they might have caused the Mu Domain to suffer a significant loss.

"Lord Mu, the main credit for this success goes to Elder Wen and Young Master," Chen Ling said apologetically.

"Mr. Chen Ling, what are you saying? Credit is not about size. Without the three of you, how could this Spirit Gathering Array have been set up?" Mu Feng said seriously.

Hearing this, Chen Ling and the other three were moved and bowed, their eyes no longer filled with arrogance. Mu Feng's demeanor as the Lord of the Mu Domain was indeed impressive. In the future, they could visit the Mu Domain more often. Moreover, Mu Chen's talent in spirit array cultivation was terrifying, and he would surely reach a remarkable height in this field. If they could receive some guidance from him, it would be very beneficial to them.

Seeing Mu Feng's skill in winning people's hearts, Mu Chen smiled secretly. His old man was indeed very cunning. Spirit array masters were rare in the Northern Spirit Region, and being able to recruit three First Rank Spirit Array Masters would be a significant help.

Wen Ling and the other four were greatly exhausted from setting up the Second Rank Spirit Gathering Array. After a brief conversation with them, Mu Feng quickly sent people to take them to rest. Then he sighed, looked at Mu Chen, and smiled, "Good boy, this time it was also thanks to you."

"You're my dad, so of course, I have to help you," Mu Chen said with a grin.

"Brat," Mu Feng scolded with a smile, then rubbed Mu Chen's head and sighed, "To help me, you need to get into the 'Five Great Academies.' Our Northern Spirit Region may seem large, but in the end, it's just a group of toads sitting at the bottom of a well, a bunch of people with no ability and no vision. Only by obtaining the resources and guidance from the 'Five Great Academies' can you have the qualifications to become a true powerhouse."

"Your talent is far greater than mine, so you can go further. You can do what I don't have the qualifications to do."

Mu Feng muttered, "You are my only hope."

Seeing the gentle and hopeful look in Mu Feng's eyes, Mu Chen smiled and said, "Dad, don't worry. I said that one day, I will bring Mother back."

Mu Feng laughed, but his eyes felt a bit sore. Then he nodded heavily, believing that his son would never let him down.

"Tomorrow, I'll head back to the Northern Spirit Academy. Calculating the time, the quotas for the Five Great Academies should be issued soon. Let's see how many quotas our Northern Spirit Academy will get this time."

Mu Chen stretched and looked at the red sky on the horizon. In the depths of his black eyes, a slender and soft figure was reflected. She had silver hair like the Milky Way and clear eyes like crystal. Her delicate face, which would surely become a beauty, was often filled with a coldness that kept people at a distance. But he knew that beneath that coldness was a softness.

"I really have to go to the Five Great Academies."

The next day, after bidding farewell to Mu Feng, Mu Chen rushed to the Northern Spirit City through the transmission spirit array in Mu City. He didn't linger in the city and headed straight for the Northern Spirit Academy.

At this time, in a study within the Northern Spirit Academy, three figures were seated. The one at the head of the table was the academy's principal, Xiao Mu. On his left and right were the highest-level mentors, Mo Shi and Xi Shi.

"The quotas for the Five Great Academies have been issued."

In Xiao Mu's hand was a golden scroll. On the scroll were five different but extremely intimidating emblems, representing the Five Great Academies.

"How many quotas did our Northern Spirit Academy get this time?" Mo Shi asked with interest.

Xiao Mu's withered fingers lightly tapped the golden scroll, his eyes somewhat strange, "Five quotas."

"Five?" Mo Shi thought for a moment and said, "In our Eastern Academy, five students have the potential to reach the Spirit Wheel Realm in the short term. In the Western Academy, there should be seven. It seems the competition will be intense."

Xiao Mu nodded. The conditions for the Five Great Academies were strict, and it wasn't easy to get in.

"Additionally, there is a special quota besides these five."

Xiao Mu's eyes became even stranger as he looked at Mo Shi and Xi Shi.

"A special quota?" Mo Shi and Xi Shi looked at Xiao Mu with some confusion.

"It's a seed-level quota," Xiao Mu put down the golden scroll and said.

"A seed-level quota?" Mo Shi and Xi Shi's faces finally became serious. They couldn't help but ask, "How could a quota of this level be given to our Northern Spirit Academy?"

The quotas for the Five Great Academies were divided into three levels. The lowest level was the ordinary quota. The second level was the seed quota, which the Northern Spirit Academy had just received. However, generally, only some powerful spirit academies had the qualifications to receive such quotas. Academies of the Northern Spirit Academy's scale had never received such a high-level quota.

The first-level quota, known as the core quota, was extremely rare. Each recipient was a prodigy, and only the most outstanding individuals in the spirit path could obtain it.

Moreover, this quota was not just a title; it also determined the identity, status, and resources one would have after entering the Five Great Academies. Therefore, countless people fought to the death for such high-level quotas.

"A seed-level quota, all the spirit academies in the Hundred Spirit Heaven combined have only twenty. I never thought one would fall to our Northern Spirit Academy," Xiao Mu smiled strangely, feeling a bit incredulous.

The Hundred Spirit Heaven was the vast land outside the Northern Spirit Region. In the Hundred Spirit Heaven, there were over a dozen regions, and the Northern Spirit Region was just one of the weaker ones. Therefore, compared to other spirit academies in the Hundred Spirit Heaven, the Northern Spirit Academy had no advantage. In the past, such seed-level quotas would have been divided among the powerful spirit academies in the Hundred Spirit Heaven. How could it fall to them?

"I heard some news. The seed quota being given to our Northern Spirit Academy was a direct decision by the Five Great Academies," Xiao Mu said calmly.

"Oh? A direct decision by the Five Great Academies?" Mo Shi and Xi Shi looked at each other. What kind of existence were the Five Great Academies? How could they care about a small academy like the Northern Spirit Academy? And they had no powerful figures in the Five Great Academies.

"This wasn't something we did," Xiao Mu's cloudy eyes narrowed slightly. "I think it might be because a student in this year's class caught the attention of the Five Great Academies."

"A student?"

Mo Shi and Xi Shi were stunned, then their eyes lit up, "Is it Mu Chen?!"

In the entire Northern Spirit Region, only Mu Chen had participated in the spirit path, and the strangest thing was that he was expelled halfway through, which was very puzzling and left people to speculate. What did Mu Chen do in the spirit path?

Xiao Mu nodded slowly, "It's probably this little guy. Huh, the Five Great Academies expelled him from the spirit path and then deliberately gave us a seed quota. What does this mean? Compensation? Or a bit of reluctance?"

"Reluctance? The Five Great Academies have seen countless geniuses and prodigies. One Mu Chen isn't enough to make them hesitate," Xi Shi frowned.

Mo Shi smiled faintly, "Don't underestimate a little guy who can kill a ruthless and powerful enemy at the late-stage Spirit Movement Realm with his late-stage Spirit Movement Realm strength."

Xiao Mu smiled and waved his hand, "Let's not worry about what the Five Great Academies are thinking. Since they gave us the quota, we'll take it."

"Then, this quota? Is it directly given to Mu Chen?" Mo Shi asked.

Xiao Mu shook his head, "That would cause dissatisfaction among other students. And if the domain lords of the Northern Spirit Region find out we have a seed quota, they'll all be red-eyed. If we give it to Mu Chen, they'll resent us for being unfair."

"Then what?"

Xiao Mu stood up and smiled faintly, "The old rule: strength is paramount. Whoever is the strongest gets the seed quota. Although it's likely prepared for Mu Chen, if he doesn't have the strength, he can only blame himself."

Saying this, he waved his hand.

"Spread the news. I think the young ones will go crazy. Haha, this is the first seed quota in the history of the Northern Spirit Academy."

(To be continued)