Mu Chen opened his eyes, a look of pleasant surprise on his face. Amon had brought him a unique innate divine ability called "Time Zero."
Its effect was to accelerate his own time flow, making others appear almost static relative to him.
Although he could only barely use it for a very short time due to the massive consumption, it was enough. In battles between experts, it was often a matter of a hair's breadth; even a slight increase in speed could mean the difference between life and death.
Besides the high consumption, there was another restriction. It only accelerated his own time. Many Spiritual Arts required the mobilization of spiritual energy between heaven and earth to be effective.
"Time Zero" could help him activate Spiritual Arts faster, but it would not affect the speed at which the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered. Therefore, in the "Time Zero" state, the effectiveness of the Spiritual Arts used was often greatly reduced.
But this did not diminish the terror of this divine ability, because some Spiritual Arts did not rely on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, such as body-refining Spiritual Arts.
Moreover, Mu Chen was also a Spiritual Array Master! What a Spiritual Array Master lacked most in actual combat was the time to set up arrays. The drawback of "Time Zero" did not affect his array setup!
"How was it? What kind of divine ability did you obtain?" Jiu You asked with some curiosity.
It was also her first time seeing someone refine a spirit beast essence of this level, and her first time encountering a divine ability of this level.
Mu Chen did not hide it from her and told her about the effect of Time Zero. The latter couldn't help but gasp.
"How can there be such a divine ability? Who among those of the same rank can defeat you?
"Even if you encounter someone with a higher cultivation than you, as long as their defense isn't so strong that you can't harm them, or they don't possess an immortal-like regeneration ability, they will only face death if they are caught off guard in the first encounter!
"The realm of Heavenly Sovereign is not something I can fathom, but I have encountered Earth Supreme.
"I can guarantee that at the Earth Supreme stage, this is also a trump card ability."
After Mu Chen refined Amon, the biggest point of conflict between Jiu You and Mu Chen also disappeared. Her vigilance almost vanished, and she began to talk more.
"Wait, where is Amon?" Mu Chen looked around his Qi Sea but couldn't find Amon.
Just now, under his refinement, Amon gradually became transparent until she disappeared, and she had not reappeared since.
Mu Chen grew nervous. Amon had repeatedly assured him that she would not die or have her intelligence erased, which was why he was willing to refine her. If Amon were to die because of this, he would likely feel guilty and uneasy for the rest of his life.
"Don't be so nervous, I'm still alive."
A blurry shadow appeared on the petals of the mandala flower. Mu Chen focused his attention, but could only see faint outlines.
"Are you alright?"
"No big problem, I'll recover in a while."
A somewhat cheerful voice indicated that she was in a good mood, which made Mu Chen breathe a sigh of relief.
Mu Chen's consciousness exited his Qi Sea, and he opened his eyes, looking at Hun Hunsheng not far away. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Hun Guniang, for protecting me."
"It seems your breakthrough was very smooth. Congratulations."
The two continued to walk towards the center of the North Cang Realm.
On the way, they encountered a spontaneously formed trading point.
Although everyone was a competitor due to the mark levels, this competition was not too intense.
One could also improve their mark level by killing spirit beasts and excavating natural treasures; it wasn't necessarily true that many people would be eliminated. If they were lucky, it was possible for everyone to pass the assessment, which gave the students more opportunities for cooperation.
"It's him, the Blood Calamity Bringer, Mu Chen."
"The Blood Calamity Bringer is here!"
"Heh heh, there's a good show to watch."
As soon as Mu Chen entered the market, he was recognized. Some passersby watched him from afar, and many of them showed expressions of anticipation for a good show.
"You're quite famous, aren't you? Tsk tsk, this nickname is quite cool too," Hun Hunsheng said with a hint of envy.
Mu Chen rubbed his nose. "In the Spiritual Road, there was no choice. The competition back then was much fiercer than here; it was either you kill me or I kill you."
"I understand, I understand. So you are actually a compassionate person," Hun Hunsheng said, nodding with a serious expression.
Mu Chen wasn't sure if she was teasing him or genuinely thought so.
Walking on the road and looking at the simple stalls on both sides, Mu Chen's interest gradually waned. There wasn't much that caught his attention.
A shout attracted his attention.
"Array diagrams, array diagrams! Anyone want to see array diagrams? Tier Two array diagrams that require at least forty spiritual seals!"
Mu Chen's ears twitched. He saw a gray-clothed youth standing behind a stone platform, on which some scattered items were placed.
He walked over and asked, "How much for your array diagram?"
The gray-clothed youth glanced at the Tier Five mark on Mu Chen's forehead, looking slightly disappointed.
"This is something I painstakingly stole from my father. It requires the spiritual energy of a Tier Six mark, and the price is non-negotiable."
Mu Chen touched his forehead, feeling a bit helpless. He hadn't deliberately tried to raise his mark level, only killing spirit beasts when he occasionally encountered them.
"Are you also a Spiritual Array Master?"
The gray-clothed youth chuckled awkwardly. "I'm only Tier One. I don't know when I'll be able to condense forty spiritual seals… It's hard to say if I can even reach a Tier Four mark if things continue like this."
"It's better to exchange for a mark and pass the assessment. After entering the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, why would I be afraid of not getting high-tier array diagrams?"
Mu Chen thought for a moment and said, "I have a scroll here, the 'Golden Wheel Splitting Spirit Array' diagram. It's also a Tier Two spiritual array, but its power is weaker, only requiring thirty spiritual seals to form.
"Can I exchange this 'Golden Wheel Splitting Spirit Array' diagram, plus the spiritual energy of a Tier Five mark, for your array diagram?
"Tier Five spiritual energy is already enough for you to pass the assessment… While a Tier Six mark would give you a higher evaluation, it would also make you more susceptible to others' greed. Without some strength, you might not be able to protect it."
The gray-clothed youth's eyes lit up. "Deal!"
"Let's verify the goods first," Mu Chen said, tossing the "Golden Wheel Splitting Spirit Array" diagram to the gray-clothed youth, while he picked up the other party's spiritual array diagram.
After confirming everything was correct, both parties completed the transaction.
After the transaction was completed, as Mu Chen was about to leave, a group of people suddenly appeared in front, blocking his path.
Seeing that there was a show to watch, more and more passersby gathered, and the surroundings became packed.
However, the passersby were very perceptive and left enough space for the main characters in the middle.
"Isn't that the leader of the Chu Gang?"
"Why is he here?"
"It looks like he isn't getting along well with that Blood Calamity Bringer."
Mu Chen looked at the person blocking his way, who was half a head taller than him, and raised an eyebrow. "Something the matter?"
"My name is Chu Lin. I hope you won't appear in front of Luo Li again."
Mu Chen's lips curved into an arc. "Luo Li's suitor? Judging by your appearance, you also came out of the Spiritual Road…"
"You need to face reality. This isn't the Spiritual Road, and you're just someone who has just entered the Divine Soul Realm… You are not worthy of her," Chu Lin said with a serious expression.
"What are you, then? Luo Li probably ignored you, didn't she?"
Chu Lin's expression stiffened, then he said, "So I will defeat you and let her know that I am better than you… That way, I can enter her eyes.
"Fight me. If you lose, don't appear in front of her again. She is too outstanding, and such things will continue to happen in the future. You cannot escape it.
"If you are defeated in front of her, it will make her sad. It's better to take this opportunity now and let me eliminate that possibility."
Mu Chen smiled. "Do you think you'll have a chance that way?"
"No…" Chu Lin shook his head.
"Even if I can defeat you, the chance is very small, but I don't want to see the person she likes being trampled on in front of her, making her cry."
He looked at Mu Chen, his gaze sharpening. "So, let's fight. The weak are not worthy of her!"
"Fight, fight!" Hun Hunsheng raised her hands high above her head, clapping and egging them on.
"Fight, fight!"
The passersby, enjoying the spectacle, followed suit one by one.
Mu Chen's mouth twitched, then he said, "Then let's fight!"
The people around silently moved back, creating more space.
Chu Lin took a step forward, his powerful spiritual energy seeming to make the earth tremble. His robes fluttered, and he was about to make a move, but then he stopped abruptly as if a pause button had been pressed.
A faint, melodious bell sound echoed, seemingly real yet illusory, mysterious and ethereal.
Chu Lin's aura weakened, and he dared not move, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
Because a hand had already gripped his neck from behind, the dark spiritual energy felt somewhat cold, causing him sharp pangs of pain.
"You lost," Mu Chen's calm voice came.
Chu Lin swallowed hard before he managed to say with difficulty, "I lost."
He couldn't resist at all. With just a slight release of spiritual energy from Mu Chen's hand, he could easily break his neck.
The surroundings were dead silent. No one spoke, their eyes wide, looking at this scene in astonishment.
They had expected a fierce battle, but the result was so unexpected. The somewhat renowned Chu Lin was defeated in an instant. What was even more terrifying was that no one knew how Mu Chen had done it!
Time seemed to have been cut off for a segment. In just a blink of an eye, Mu Chen had already appeared behind Chu Lin, gripping his neck.
They all gasped in unison.
The Blood Calamity Bringer of the Spiritual Road, truly terrifying!
Hun Hunsheng touched her own neck, looking at Mu Chen, a hint of apprehension appearing in her blood-red eyes.
She hadn't clearly seen what had happened either.
I thought no one in the North Cang Realm could threaten me. It seems I was a bit overconfident… she thought to herself.
Mu Chen released Chu Lin and said with a smile, "The thing you worry about won't happen, and I certainly won't let Luo Li shed tears in front of me."
Chu Lin was still a bit dazed and only came to his senses after a long while.
"As expected, your reputation is well-deserved. Only someone like you could win Luo Li's heart."
He was able to pick up and let go, readily admitting that he was inferior to Mu Chen, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.
Then, Chu Lin lightly tapped his brow, extracting the spiritual energy from his mark.
"Take it. This is the price of my failed challenge."
He unhesitatingly sent the purple-gold spiritual energy light cluster towards Mu Chen.
"A Tier Seven mark…" Many gazes around converged on the small light cluster, and someone couldn't help but exclaim.
Mu Chen flicked his finger, sending the mark's spiritual energy back where it came from.
"No need. I have no grudge with you, and you just happened to help me test a new move… A Tier Seven mark is indeed good, but to me, it's just so-so."
Chu Lin was stunned, his expression slightly complex. He cupped his hands and said, "Brother Mu is magnanimous."
He thought for a moment, then continued, "Brother Mu, I have a piece of news here that you might be interested in."
"What news?"
"Regarding a Heavenly Tier Spirit Beast," Chu Lin transmitted his voice.