After speaking, Liu Yang, along with Mu Yuan and the other two, departed proudly, not bothering to utter another word.
"Brother Yuan, those guys from the West Courtyard are more arrogant than the last, especially that Liu Yang. He thinks he's so special, arrogant and conceited. If he was truly outstanding, he would have been chosen by the Mirror of Judgment and gained the qualification for the Spiritual Path."
Su Ling's face was ashen, and he gritted his teeth as he spoke.
"He's just a dog that barks and bites randomly. Why bother lowering yourself to his level?"
Seeing Su Ling's indignation, Mu Yuan smiled slightly.
"That's just how the people from the Liu family are."
Teacher Mo frowned as he looked in the direction Liu Yang had gone, clearly somewhat displeased with him. Then, he turned to Mu Yuan and smiled, saying:
"I heard you can sense the spiritual energy of the world. Have you reached the mid-stage of the Sensing Realm?"
"Teacher Mo, I've already entered the Spirit Moving Realm."
Mu Yuan nodded seriously.
Teacher Mo: "…"
Can we not have a pleasant conversation?
Clearly, he didn't believe Mu Yuan at all.
Teacher Mo smiled helplessly, then said to Mu Chen:
"Tomorrow is the competition between the two courtyards. Although Liu Yang's character isn't the best, his strength as the number one in the West Courtyard's Earth Rank is undeniable."
"After unleashing their Spiritual Vein, they possess strength comparable to the mid-Spiritual Movement stage. Mu Chen, do you think you have a chance tomorrow?"
He managed the East Courtyard of North Spiritual Academy. If the East Courtyard lost too badly tomorrow, it wouldn't look good for him.
Clearly, he placed more hope in Mu Chen.
"Teacher Mo, you overestimate me. If Yuan-ge loses to Liu Yang tomorrow, it won't matter even if I compete."
Mu Chen spoke the truth, but Teacher Mo sighed and left.
If Mu Yuan had entered the Sensing Stage a year ago, Teacher Mo believed he had a seventy to eighty percent chance of defeating Liu Yang.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
However, that kid from the Liu family had made very thorough preparations to defeat Mu Chen in the academy trials.
He was looking forward to seeing who, between Liu Yang and Mu Chen, would take the title of first in the Earth Rank tomorrow.
"Why doesn't anyone believe the truth?"
Mu Yuan was feeling a little down at the moment, and he said this to Mu Chen.
Mu Chen gave him a speechless look. A week, from the Sensing Stage to the Spirit Moving Stage, who would believe it?
Thinking about what Liu Yang had said earlier, Mu Chen asked:
"Brother Yuan, what did Liu Yang mean by his last sentence, 'Stay away from Senior Sister Hong Ling in the future'? Should we go ask Hong Ling who told him to say that?"
"No need."
Mu Yuan gave a wry smile.
He'd seen similar scenes countless times in novels in his previous life.
Those idle gossips wouldn't have dared to spread if Hong Ling hadn't tacitly approved it, given her status in the West Courtyard's Heaven Rank.
Hong Ling had really grown up, hadn't she?
Mu Chen understood his brother, Mu Yuan, better than anyone else.
Beneath Mu Yuan's seemingly calm and worldly mask was actually a passionate heart.
Seeing this, he silently made a decision.
The twilight gathered the long strings of sorrow, and its black pupils gazed at the earth.
Mu Chen found where Hong Ling lived and walked towards it.
However, a figure blocked him outside the room.
It was Liu Mubai's lackey, Tong Guan.
"Mu Chen, what is it?"
Tong Guan asked coldly.
"I'm looking for Senior Sister Hong Ling."
Mu Chen smiled.
"I know. Tell me what it is, and I'll pass it on to Hong Ling."
Tong Guan said again.
Mu Chen raised his head, ignoring Tong Guan, and looked towards the house where Hong Ling was.
"There are some things I need to say to Senior Sister Hong Ling in person."
"Brother Mu Bai is currently explaining cultivation issues to Hong Ling and cannot be disturbed."
Tong Guan once again rejected Mu Chen's request.
"What do you mean?"
Mu Chen asked, puzzled.
"Are you really that clueless, or does Mu Yuan still have some illusions about Hong Ling? Hong Ling has already had Liu Yang convey her message to Mu Yuan, which means she doesn't want to get too close to him. Pay attention to your boundaries."
Tong Guan said coldly.
Mu Chen's pupils constricted slightly, and his gaze instantly sharpened.
"A man who doesn't even dare to show his face after being rejected and instead sends someone else to ask, he has no backbone. Does he deserve to be with Hong Ling?"
Tong Guan looked at Mu Chen.
Mu Chen still ignored her words, continuing to look at Hong Ling's room, and said:
"Senior Sister Hong Ling, could you come out for a moment? I want to know your thoughts."
There was no movement in the room. It was only after a long time that Hong Ling's voice, both familiar and unfamiliar, came out:
"Mu Chen, go back and tell Mu Yuan that we are both adults now, let's keep some distance."
When Hong Ling said this, she exhaled deeply, as if she had shed a burden, and suddenly felt much more relaxed.
But she also understood that she would lose something.
Hong Ling's residence also housed other students.
Seeing Mu Chen, they knew he had come on Mu Yuan's behalf.
Hearing Hong Ling's expected answer, they couldn't help but gloat, as if they were watching a good show.
Mu Yuan, with his persistent desires, still dared to pursue Hong Ling, truly showing a lack of self-awareness.
These two shared a friendship that spanned many years, and while they had a good relationship, that didn't mean they could overstep boundaries.
As the saying goes, dragons don't live with snakes!
The two of them wouldn't be in the same world in the future.
Hong Ling's words also made her stance clear.
Seeing the expressions on those students' faces, how could Mu Chen not understand what they were thinking?
"So, Yuan-ge already saw through everything. I've made a fool of myself."
Mu Chen sighed.
The night deepened.
Mu Chen returned to his room and saw that Mu Yuan was already waiting for him.
"Yuan-ge, I'm sorry."
Mu Chen lowered his head, his expression filled with deep apology.
Not long after he left, more rumors that damaged Mu Yuan's reputation had spread throughout the academy.
"You don't even know me, and I don't care about those rumors, so why are you blaming yourself?"
Mu Yuan comforted him instead.
Hearing this, Mu Chen raised his head and looked at Mu Yuan. Seeing his usual calm expression, he nodded immediately:
"Yes."
"Brother Yuan, you must make everyone surprised tomorrow."
Mu Yuan flicked Mu Chen's forehead, laughing and scolding.
"Don't worry about these trivial matters so much in the future. Focusing on cultivation is your main priority. I don't want a younger brother who's too weak."
"Understood, Yuan-ge. I'll catch up to you."
Mu Chen covered his forehead and chuckled.
After Mu Yuan left, Mu Chen entered a state of cultivation. The spiritual energy of the heavens and earth subtly fluctuated around him, then flowed into his body through his breath.
Strands of spiritual energy circulated along the path of the Great Floating Tower Art, eventually transforming into dark-black spiritual power and entering the Sea of Qi.
The dark-black spiritual power surging within the Sea of Qi was now even more abundant.
Mu Chen also felt that his cultivation of the Great Floating Tower Art was not far from the Foundation Establishment stage.
Suddenly, his Sea of Qi trembled slightly.
Mu Chen discovered that the dark black spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi was rapidly expanding at an astonishing speed.
Then, he was stunned to find that he had actually broken through.
Besides the surprise of this unexpected breakthrough, Mu Chen was also a little bit amused.
(End of Chapter)