Chapter 1, Beiling Academy

It is said that he seemed to have liked you back then

However, when he was forced to leave in the end, she was the first person to unsheathe her sword without hesitation and stand in front of him

Haha

I must say, this is quite an intriguing young man

You also know that your father is fierce. Within three months, if you are still unable to advance to the Spirit Movement Realm, you can expect to be beaten. The boy known as Mu Chen shook his head and replied irritably

Regardless of appearance, strength, or background, this is a name that can easily attract the admiration of young girls in the Northern Spirit Academy.

A young man hesitated for a moment and quietly said, but he quickly added: "We all know Brother Mu's abilities. Even if the 'Spirit Road' is filled with geniuses and prodigies from all over the Great World, Brother Mu would never be inferior. Being expelled like this must be due to unfair treatment!"

How nostalgic it is

Hehe, the East Courtyard is becoming increasingly arrogant now, thinking that just because they have a Mu Chen, they can truly challenge us in the West Courtyard

Just as Mu Chen was immersed in his complex emotions, a somewhat jarring voice suddenly reached his ears. He calmly raised his head, only to see a dozen figures slowly approaching not far away. The one leading them was a defiant-looking young man, who was currently chewing on a blade of grass and smiling at Mu Chen.

The gray-clad youth curled his lip and said dismissively: "Hmph, it must be that someone in the 'Spirit Path' is jealous of Brother Mu, which is why they resorted to underhanded means to drive him away. However, it doesn't matter; with Brother Mu's abilities, he will eventually be able to enter the 'Five Great Academies', and at that time, everyone will understand."

Many young boys and girls raised their heads, only to see the young man cultivating on the stone platform had already opened his eyes. His pitch-black eyes resembled the night sky, filled with spiritual energy. A hint of a smile lingered at the corner of his mouth, a smile that was both sunny and gentle, like the finishing touch that made the young man's appearance somewhat handsome.

As soon as the name Liu Mubai was mentioned, even the senior students present seemed momentarily taken aback, clearly feeling a significant amount of pressure

Among this group of people, there is a girl in a red dress. She has a slender figure, skin as white as snow, and a beautiful oval face that appears somewhat alluring in contrast to the books. She lazily leans against the railing, her narrow, beautiful eyes gazing at the confrontation on the ground, and then her gaze lingers on the young man named Mu Chen, seemingly quite intrigued

Hehe, isn't this the only Xiao Mu from Beilingjing who participated in the 'Linglu'? Are you training people again? Master Mo really values you.

In this way, anyone who compares the two together will undoubtedly only provoke a smile from the onlookers

However, just as they were speaking, a piece of broken wood suddenly flew down from the stone platform and struck the forehead of the boy in gray. A light, mocking voice followed: "Su Ling, do you really think I am just a decoration? Do you believe I will inform Master Mo and have you spend the rest of your vacation in the East Courtyard for remedial training?"

Ha, of course, let alone the East Courtyard, I believe that among the same age group in the entire North Spirit Courtyard, there are probably very few who can compare to Brother Mu

The seniors of the Western Courtyard are ... ...

The numerous young boys and girls exchanged glances, as this matter was not considered a secret in Beiling Academy or even the entire Beiling Realm. While they felt a sense of regret, they were also quite curious. They were eager to know the reason why this outstanding individual, who had earned the respect of those equally proud, was actively expelled from the "Spirit Path".

Thinking of that face, which had always shown little emotion and possessed the potential to become a source of disaster, revealing a trace of cold killing intent at that moment, Mu Chen couldn't help but feel a bit dazed

The scorching sun blazed down from the sky, causing the entire land to be enveloped in a haze of heat. The willows drooped slightly, their branches and leaves drawn in, appearing listless and dispirited

When Liu Che saw that the people from the Eastern Courtyard were numerous and powerful, he showed not the slightest hint of fear. Instead, he curled his lips, pointed to a high platform not far away, and grinned, saying: "Why don't you try making a move?"

"Things from childhood, how can they be considered as liking?" Hong Ling seemed unconcerned as she smiled, but her bright eyes did linger on Mu Chen for a moment. Nowadays, the latter, having entered the North Spirit Academy, has begun to stand out. Although he has not yet become the top student of the North Spirit Academy, the fact that someone as outstanding as him is rumored to like her still brings her a sense of pride. Even though she is well aware that this matter is largely based on rumors, at her age, a girl is inevitably a bit vain. Although he has not yet become the top student of the North Spirit Academy, the fact that someone as outstanding as him is rumored to like her still brings her a sense of pride. Even though she is well aware that this matter is largely based on rumors, at her age, a girl is inevitably a bit vain.

Beneath the stone platform, several youths suddenly opened their eyes quietly. They gazed at the radiance surrounding the young man on the platform, unable to resist licking their lips, their faces revealing expressions of envy and admiration. Soon, the tranquility was disrupted by their whispers.

It was this mysterious indifference, the girl whose cultivation drove people to madness, who inexplicably pursued him for over half a year along that spiritual path, and the reason that made Mu Chen grit his teeth in frustration was that he had saved her once

In a clearing illuminated by bright patches of light filtered through the branches and leaves of willow trees, hundreds of figures sat quietly in meditation. This group of somewhat youthful boys and girls, at this moment, all wore serious expressions with their eyes gently closed. The rhythm of their breathing was palpable, and as they inhaled and exhaled, a subtle glow, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, seemed to emanate from their bodies.

The slender, beautiful eyes of Hong Ling blinked as she gazed at the figure sitting cross-legged not far away. At that moment, a beam of light pierced through the branches and leaves of the willow tree, landing perfectly on the youthful, handsome face of the boy, forming a faint arc of light that was both comfortable and pleasing to the eye. This made her momentarily stunned, and she vaguely recalled the little boy who used to follow her around when they were young. Back then, he had nothing particularly noteworthy about him, and she had not paid him much attention. Yet, who would have thought that this boy, with whom she had grown somewhat distant, would become the only one in the 'Northern Spirit Realm' to qualify for participation in the 'Spirit Path'? At that time, Mu Chen was indeed in the limelight in the Northern Spirit Realm, and that prominence only began to fade after he was suddenly expelled from the 'Spirit Path'.

Furthermore, she ... ...

As Su Ling and the others' expressions changed, the senior students on the high platform looked down at them with smiles, engaging in conversation with one another

In the eyes of the students in the Western Courtyard, it is well known that Liu Mubai and Hong Ling have grown quite close. Although he has yet to pluck this proud flower of the Western Courtyard, it is likely just a matter of time.

In front of these hundreds of figures, there is a stone platform, on which another figure sits quietly in meditation. His hands are clasped in front of him, fingers interlocked, and his eyes are tightly closed, as if he has entered a state of cultivation.

Many young people have expressed their thoughts, and although they are aware that this Brother Mu possesses exceptional talent, entering the five major academies is not an easy feat. After all, he has only spent a year cultivating in the "Spirit Path" and cannot yet be considered to have successfully completed his training. Compared to those true geniuses who have emerged from the "Spirit Path," he is still somewhat lacking.

At this moment, these fellows from the Western Courtyard have actually come over to provoke Mu Chen, which has made Su Ling and the others unable to tolerate it.

The "Five Great Academies"—for many young individuals, this name is extraordinarily dazzling, causing them to involuntarily swallow their saliva, their eyes filled with longing and fervor. This place represents the ultimate dream in the hearts of all youths. However, the selection process for the "Five Great Academies" is extremely rigorous; only those with exceptional talent can gain entry. Anyone who manages to enter truly has a boundless future ahead of them.

The surrounding young boys and girls also burst into laughter, creating a lively atmosphere

Haha, Hong Ling's standards are quite high. Although Mu Chen is decent, he has yet to reach the level that would move Hong Ling's heart. Haven't you seen that even Lin Xiu has failed? He is a remarkable talent, ranked seventh on our North Spirit Academy's overall leaderboard, and has now advanced to the mid-stage of the Spirit Movement Realm. Mu Chen still falls a bit short in comparison to him

If Mu Chen successfully passed the trials of the "Spirit Road" and obtained the qualification to enter the "Five Great Academies," his reputation would naturally overshadow that of Liu Mubai. However, unfortunately, he did not know why he was expelled.

Liu Che, what are you people from the West Courtyard doing in our East Courtyard? Are you looking for a fight?" The youth, previously referred to as Su Ling by Mu Chen, darkened his expression upon seeing this group, stood up, and coldly laughed.

It seems that in our Northern Spirit Academy, the only one who can make Hong Ling take a second glance is Brother Liu Mu Bai

In this Northern Spirit Academy, it is divided into the East Courtyard and the West Courtyard. Various competitions often arise between the two courtyards; however, overall, the West Courtyard has historically been stronger than the East Courtyard. In the presence of the West Courtyard, most students from the East Courtyard tend to avoid confrontation. Yet, over the past year, the situation has changed significantly, and the reason for this change is the existence of Mu Chen, who is associated with the library.

The boy named Mu Chen smiled upon hearing this, his expression showing little fluctuation. He merely raised his head slightly, gazing at the branches that fragmented the light, his eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgia and complexity

A gentle breeze quietly blows in, causing the garments to flutter, which appears somewhat spectacular

Could it be that the wrong person was chosen, which led to his being cast out

Is that Mu Chen from the East Courtyard? He is now a celebrity in our North Spirit Academy and even in the North Spirit Realm. I didn't expect someone of such a young age to have entered the Spirit Movement Realm. Although he is only at the initial stage of the Spirit Movement Realm, he is already qualified to advance to the Heavenly Realm. Quite impressive indeed

A prominent youth in gray seemed quite familiar with the boy on the stone platform. Hearing the whispers of the crowd, he couldn't help but smile with pride and lowered his voice to say: "Brother Mu is someone who has been selected to participate in 'Ling Road'. In our entire Northern Spirit Realm, Brother Mu is the only one with a quota. You should know what kind of freaks participate in 'Ling Road', right? Back then, our Northern Spirit Realm was quite stirred up over this matter, and almost everyone who came out of there was basically reserved by the 'Five Great Academies'."

In the Northern Spirit Academy, it is not only divided into the East and West campuses, but also into the Heavenly and Earthly divisions. Mu Chen and his companions belong to the Earthly division, while the individuals on the high platform are the seniors of the Heavenly division from the West campus, whose strength is naturally much greater than theirs

The hundreds of students from the East Courtyard standing on the open ground also rose at this moment, casting unfriendly glances at the group of newcomers. The gathering of their numbers indeed created quite an imposing presence

"Well, his father is one of the domain lords of the Northern Spirit Realm, and he has some connection with my father; they played together when they were young," said the girl referred to as Hong Ling, in a nonchalant manner.

How could the Lingdong Realm be so easily accessed? I am not like Mu Ge, who can casually participate in the 'Ling Road' madness. Su Ling curled her lips, then quickly stopped herself. Although this matter is not considered a secret throughout the Northern Ling Realm, and Mu Chen himself does not shy away from it, such expulsion is ultimately not a matter of glory.

"It is quite good; the East Courtyard has indeed produced a talent. Once he rises to the Heavenly Rank of the East Courtyard, we in the West Courtyard may have to face some pressure."

Mu Chen pressed his lips together, and a fleeting image crossed his mind: a girl in a black dress, bearing a dark long sword at all times, possessing a graceful figure and a cold yet beautiful countenance.

In a competition held before March among the students of the two academies, Xue Dong, who ranked third in the current cohort of the West Academy, was defeated by Mu Chen. This not only allowed many students from the East Academy to vent their frustrations but also somewhat diminished the arrogance of the West Academy.

As the graceful figure dances, the dazzling silver hair, radiant like the Milky Way, also sways in the air

At this moment, a visible radiance was emanating from the young man, and within that light, it seemed as if a mysterious energy was surging into his body.

Swish

Brother Mu is quite impressive... However, it seems that Brother Mu only participated for one year... I heard from others that Brother Mu is the first person to be expelled from the 'Spirit Path' before his time was completed...

Bang!

The Path of the Spirit

The top of the overall ranking at Beiling Academy is Liu Mubai, whose father is the domain lord of the first major domain in the Beiling realm, renowned for his formidable reputation

"Hehe, Brother Mu Chen, please don't! It's not easy to get some time off, and I was looking forward to going back and having some fun. If my father finds out that I did something so embarrassing, he would definitely beat me to death." The boy in gray covered his forehead and laughed heartily.

I wonder how those few fellows are doing now; they should have finished their training by now, right? If that is the case, perhaps they will soon be able to enter the "Five Great Institutes".

This fellow is said to have been selected to participate in 'Spirit Road', but for some reason, he was expelled, which is rather amusing; it's the first time I've heard of such a thing

"Hehe, Hong Ling, it seems you know this Mu Chen, right?" A senior from the Heavenly Realm said with a smile. From the positioning of the crowd, it was evident that she was the center of this small circle

This figure also resembles a young boy, with a head of soft and slightly disheveled black hair. His still youthful face appears somewhat slender, giving off a rather pleasant impression.

Brother Mu is truly impressive; while we are still sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, he has already successfully advanced to the Spirit Movement Realm. He truly deserves to be the first among us in the Eastern Courtyard.

Su Ling and the others turned their gazes towards the high platform, where several figures were smiling and looking in their direction. Upon seeing those somewhat familiar faces, Su Ling and the others' expressions changed.