In the following time, Mu Chen and Luo Li first helped the people in their team upgrade their marks to above level four, and then headed towards the gathering point.
Besides them, many other teams, big and small, were also rushing to the same location, as this was the final stop of the North Cang Realm's trial.
Along the way, they frequently saw battles between teams vying for mark spiritual energy.
However, their group had many members, being a merger of the team led by Chu Lin and the team led by Luo Li, so no one was foolish enough to cause them trouble.
After crossing a mountain range, they saw a vast plain. On the expansive plain, in the center, numerous teams were scattered about.
Due to the multitude of teams and the complex situation, no major conflicts broke out.
After all, they had made it this far, and if an accident occurred, causing their mark level to drop below four, it would be a huge loss.
"Yan Wang Yan Xiao, Zhou Wang Zhou Ling, and also the Shi Family's Twin Kings, Shi Jingtian and Shi Hao." Luo Li looked at the central teams, her expression slightly serious.
"Wait, what? Shi Hao!" In Mu Chen's Qi Sea, Amon was startled.
"What's wrong?" Mu Chen asked, although he wasn't sure if Amon's claim of "being able to twist off West Heaven Battle Emperor's head" was true or false, her mystery and power were undeniable.
She always boasted that the Amon Clan was the strongest in the world, and it seemed that besides the so-called "Wicked Lord True Eye" which could pique her interest, no one else was worth her attention. This was the first time he had seen her like this.
Could these Twin Kings of the Shi Family be extraordinary? But they seemed just average on the Spiritual Road... Mu Chen thought to himself.
Shi Jingtian and Shi Hao were Mu Chen's opponents on the Spiritual Road, and after seeing him, they came looking for revenge. Then they were beaten down.
"That's it?" Mu Chen was a little surprised. He thought that someone who could attract Amon's attention should be extraordinary, and that the Spiritual Road had limited their performance.
"Cough, cough, it's nothing, it's just that the name surprised me a little. Don't mind it." Amon laughed awkwardly.
Mu Chen absorbed their marks, and his own mark soared to level nine.
A purple-gold light shot out from his glabella, shining brightly. The space in the sky distorted, and a giant purple-gold palace slowly descended from the air.
"The Bei Cang Hall is open. Students with marks above level four, please enter." A cold voice emanated from the door.
The students rushed into the hall, jostling with each other. As long as they passed through this grand gate, they would officially become students of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy!
As the students streamed in, the originally empty and desolate hall became lively.
Mu Chen's gaze fell on the half-empty hall, where a figure in a black robe, with an ordinary face and hands crossed in wide sleeves, was looking down at them.
He recognized him at a glance; this was Mr. Hun, who had previously gone to the North Spirit Academy to recruit students.
Mr. Hun slowly spoke, his tone flat, without the slightest fluctuation: "Congratulations on passing the trial, and welcome to the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.
"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Hun Miesheng, Deputy Dean of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, and your guide."
So Mr. Hun's real name is Hun Miesheng... Mu Chen subconsciously looked at Hun Hunsheng beside him.
The latter nodded and whispered, "That's right, he's my father."
Hun Miesheng's right hand slid out of his sleeve. He waved his hand, and the marks on the students' glabella flickered, transforming into a ray of light that fell into their respective palms. The light receded, revealing a crystal card with a number on it.
"This is a Spirit Value card. The number on it is based on your mark level. You can consider Spirit Value as the currency of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. It can be exchanged for spiritual arts, spiritual tools, array diagrams, spiritual beast essence, or guidance from top instructors..."
"Dean Hun, how can we obtain this Spirit Value?" someone in the crowd asked.
Hun Miesheng forced a slightly stiff smile:
"You can obtain it by completing various tasks. I suggest you first exchange for a spiritual art called 'Soul Hook Lock.' When you go out to train outside the academy, you can use it to hook the souls of those you kill..."
"My Soul... cough, the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy buys souls long-term. Among all tasks, this is considered to be quite cost-effective."
Upon hearing this, many people frowned. This Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy's actions and style sounded a bit sinister. They actually encouraged students to hook other people's souls?
He looked at Hun Hunsheng, who shrugged: "Don't look at me like that, it's normal operation. After all, the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy is an academy founded by my Soul Clan, so it's normal to have this kind of style..."
Mu Chen hesitated, feeling as if he had boarded a pirate ship.
"Alright, no more nonsense. For the rest, you can experience it yourselves once you enter the academy. I hope you have a pleasant time in the academy."
Black mist surged from Hun Miesheng, and a large circular gate formed behind him from the black mist. Looking at the gate that exuded a chilling aura, as if leading to an abyss, everyone hesitated for a moment.
"Let's go." Hun Hunsheng, accustomed to it, was the first to walk in.
Mu Chen and Luo Li held hands and followed. At this point, there was no turning back. They could only trust that the renowned Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy would at least not harm its own students.
A chilling sensation from their souls made everyone shiver. The black mist disappeared, and warm sunlight shone down. What met Mu Chen's eyes was an extremely magnificent sight.
In front of them was a vast, endless land, dotted with countless buildings. Mountains rose and fell, and silver-white waterfalls cascaded from the mountaintops, exceptionally spectacular.
In the center of the academy, there was a bird-shaped mountain, with a large stone tablet on each of its left and right wings.
Many people immediately focused their gaze on the two stone tablets.
"What is that?" Someone couldn't help but ask.
No one answered. The students then realized that Deputy Dean Hun Miesheng, who had guided them, had disappeared.
"What do we do next?" someone asked.
"Are you this year's new students?"
Dozens of people arrived on the platform. These people were in groups of two or three, and most groups had pretty girls.
"We are your senior students, here to explain some things about the academy and also to recruit for our respective clubs," a senior student said.
"Hey, Mu Chen, come with me. I'll introduce you to a few people." Hun Hunsheng beckoned.
Being new, it was definitely right to build a good relationship with someone like Hun Hunsheng, who clearly had a significant background in the academy. So Mu Chen took Luo Li's hand and followed her.
"By the way, do you know what those two stone tablets are?" Mu Chen was still a bit curious about the stone tablets placed in such a prominent position, and he asked.
"Oh, those are like two ranking lists in the academy. Aren't they written on it? God Soul List and Heavenly Rank." Hun Hunsheng pointed at the stone tablets and said.
She paused and continued, "There are some benefits on the rankings, which is that you can get Spirit Value rewards. The God Soul List is set for you new students, only ranking the strong ones in the Divine Soul Realm.
"The Heavenly Rank, on the other hand, doesn't consider cultivation realm. As long as you have the strength, you can challenge it. This can roughly be seen as a ranking of strength among students, although it's not absolute, it has great reference value."
Luo Li asked, "Does the God Soul List only rank new students?"
"Of course not, it also ranks old students. It's just that if only the Heavenly Rank was set up, then new students would basically have no chance of getting on the list, which is why the academy set up the God Soul List, to give new students a goal to strive for."
It wasn't Hun Hunsheng who answered her, but a senior student who had followed along.
His gaze lingered on the two girls, Hun Hunsheng and Luo Li, for a moment, and he said with a smile:
"The academy doesn't prohibit conflicts between students, as long as it's not too excessive. So, students forming gangs is a very common thing. New students who don't join a faction are easily taken advantage of. Do the three of you want to consider our Ice Spirit Association?"
Mu Chen politely cupped his hands: "We'd like to get more familiar with the academy before deciding."
Hun Hunsheng, on the other hand, refused directly and decisively: "I already have a guild."
The senior student showed a slightly regretful expression, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he said gently, "If you three change your minds, you can come find me again."
Then he went to look for his next target.
Mu Chen turned his head and once again focused his attention on the Heavenly Rank.
"Heavenly Rank Tenth, He Yao."
"Heavenly Rank Ninth, Su Xuan."
...
"Heavenly Rank Fifth, Li Xuantong."
"Heavenly Rank Fourth, Yao Yan."
"Heavenly Rank Third, Shen Cangsheng."
"Heavenly Rank Second, Hun Jin."
"Heavenly Rank First, Hun Yufeng."
"Hun Jin, Hun Yufeng..." Mu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly: "Do you know these two?"
Hun Hunsheng replied, "Yes, I do. Didn't I say I have two little friends who entered the academy a year before me? It's these two guys... I'll introduce them to you in a bit.
"Because Aunt Sparrow said that our academy's performance in the Academy Competition was too unsightly, and she was annoyed with the Saint Spiritual Academy, wanting to teach them a lesson, so she arranged for us to come in."
"Hun Yufeng... As his name suggests, he must be a handsome and elegant person, I'm really looking forward to it." Mu Chen said with a smile.
Hun Hunsheng burst out laughing, "You absolutely must not mention his name in front of him. He almost lost his position as Young Clan Leader because of that name..."
"What do you mean?" Mu Chen was full of questions. "Is he your Soul Clan's Young Clan Leader?"
Hun Hunsheng chuckled: "He's considered the Young Clan Leader, but it's not very stable... His name was given by a very important figure who has a close relationship with our clan.
"However, another very important figure who also has a close relationship with our clan dislikes the characters 'Jade' and 'Wind.' Especially when these two characters are linked with the surname 'Soul'... In short, just be a little careful."
Walking down the stone steps leading to the platform below, a voice suddenly came from ahead:
"Husheng, you're finally here. We've been waiting for you for a long time."
☰