Hong Ling's Decision

After speaking, Liu Yang proudly and gracefully departed with Mu Yuan and the other two, not bothering to say another word.

"Brother Yuan, those guys from the West Courtyard are all more arrogant than the last, especially Liu Yang. He thinks he's so special, so arrogant and conceited. If he were truly special, he'd have been chosen by the Mirror of Judgment and qualified for the Spiritual Road," Su Ling said, his face pale and his teeth gritted.

"He's just a dog barking nonsense. Why would you lower yourself to argue with a dog?" Mu Yuan smiled as he saw Su Ling's indignation.

"Everyone in the Liu family is the same." Instructor Mo frowned as he looked in the direction Liu Yang had left, clearly a little displeased. He then turned to Mu Yuan with a smile and said, "I heard you can sense spiritual energy. Have you reached the middle stage of the Sensing Realm?"

"Instructor Mo, I've already entered the Spiritual Movement Realm," Mu Yuan nodded seriously.

Instructor Mo: "..."

Can we still have a pleasant conversation? He clearly didn't believe Mu Yuan's words.

Instructor Mo smiled helplessly, then said to Mu Chen, "Tomorrow is the competition between the two academies. Although Liu Yang's character isn't great, his strength as the number one in the West Courtyard Earth Tier is undeniable. After releasing his spiritual veins, he possesses strength comparable to the middle stage of the Spiritual Movement Realm. Mu Chen, do you have confidence for tomorrow?" He managed the East Courtyard of the Northern Spiritual Academy, and if the East Courtyard lost too badly tomorrow, it wouldn't look good for him. Clearly, he placed more hope in Mu Chen.

"Instructor Mo, you think too highly of me. If Brother Yuan is defeated by Liu Yang tomorrow, it won't matter even if I step in," Mu Chen spoke the plain truth, but Instructor Mo sighed and left. If Mu Yuan had entered the Sensing Realm a year ago, Instructor Mo believed he would have had a seventy to eighty percent chance of defeating Liu Yang. Unfortunately, it was too late. However, that Liu family brat had prepared thoroughly to defeat Mu Chen in the academy competition. He was somewhat looking forward to seeing who between Liu Yang and Mu Chen would take the title of number one in the Earth Tier tomorrow.

"Why does no one believe the truth?" Mu Yuan said to Mu Chen, feeling a bit dejected. Mu Chen gave him a speechless look. From the Sensing Realm to the Spiritual Movement Realm in a week, who could believe that? Thinking of Liu Yang's previous words, Mu Chen asked, "Brother Yuan, what did Liu Yang mean by his last sentence, 'Stay away from Senior Hong Ling in the future'? Should we go ask Hong Ling whose intention that was?"

"No need," Mu Yuan said with a wry smile. He had seen countless similar scenarios in novels in his past life. If Hong Ling hadn't tacitly agreed to such gossip, who would dare to fabricate stories about her given her status in the West Courtyard Heaven Tier? Hong Ling has really grown up. Mu Chen understood Brother Yuan better than anyone. Beneath Mu Yuan's seemingly calm and worldly facade lay a passionate heart. Seeing this, he made a decision.

As dusk gathered its sorrowful long threads, Mu Chen found Hong Ling's residence and walked towards it. However, a figure blocked him outside the room. It was Tong Guan, Liu Mu Bai's lackey.

"Mu Chen, is something wrong?" Tong Guan asked coldly.

"I'm looking for Senior Hong Ling," Mu Chen said with a smile.

"I know. Is there anything, you can tell me, and I'll pass it on to Hong Ling," Tong Guan replied. Mu Chen looked up, ignoring Tong Guan, and looked towards Hong Ling's room, saying, "There are some things I need to tell Senior Hong Ling personally."

"Brother Mu Bai is explaining cultivation issues to Hong Ling, and we can't allow any disturbances."

Tong Guan refused Mu Chen's request again.

"What do you mean?"

Mu Chen asked, confused.

"Do you genuinely not understand, or does Mu Yuan still harbor some lingering hope for Hong Ling? Hong Ling has already had Liu Yang relay a message to Mu Yuan, stating that she doesn't want to be too close to him and wants him to maintain some distance." Tong Guan said coldly.

Mu Chen's pupils contracted slightly, his gaze suddenly sharpening.

"A man who doesn't even dare to face rejection himself but instead finds someone else to convey his message has no backbone at all. You want Hong Ling and Mu Yuan to be together? Does he deserve her?"

Tong Guan looked at Mu Chen and said.

Mu Chen ignored her words, still looking at Hong Ling's room, and said, "Senior Hong Ling, could you come out for a moment? I'd like to know your thoughts."

There was no movement from inside the room. After a long while, Hong Ling's voice, both familiar and strange, finally came out:

"Mu Chen, go back and tell Mu Yuan that we are both adults now, and it's best to keep a little distance."

As Hong Ling said this, she let out a long sigh, as if shedding a heavy burden, and felt much lighter.

However, she also understood that she would lose something.

There were other students at Hong Ling's residence.

Seeing Mu Chen, they knew he was there on behalf of Mu Yuan.

Upon hearing Hong Ling's expected answer, they couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude, as if watching a good show.

Mu Yuan's desire was unyielding; he actually dared to pursue Hong Ling, truly lacking any self-awareness.

These two had a friendship spanning many years. Although their relationship was good, it didn't mean they could cross boundaries.

As the saying goes, a dragon does not associate with a snake!

These two were from entirely different worlds.

Hong Ling's words also clearly stated her stance.

Seeing the expressions of those students, how could Mu Chen not understand what they were thinking?

"So Brother Yuan had already seen through everything, and I've only made things worse."

Mu Chen sighed.

As night deepened.

Mu Chen returned to his room and saw Mu Yuan already waiting for him.

"Brother Yuan, I'm sorry."

Mu Chen lowered his head, filled with deep apology.

Not long after he left, more malicious rumors about Mu Yuan began circulating throughout the academy.

"You don't understand me as well as I do, and I don't care about those rumors, so why should you blame yourself?"

Mu Yuan comforted him instead.

Hearing this, Mu Chen looked up at Mu Yuan. Seeing his usual calm expression, he nodded:

"Okay."

"Brother Yuan, tomorrow you must make everyone astonished."

Mu Yuan flicked Mu Chen's forehead, laughing and scolding, "Stop worrying about these trivial matters in the future and focus on your cultivation. I don't want a brother who is too weak."

"I got it, Brother Yuan. I'll catch up to you."

Mu Chen rubbed his forehead, chuckling.

After Mu Yuan left, Mu Chen entered a state of cultivation. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth fluctuated slightly around him, then entered his body through his nostrils.

Traces of spiritual energy circulated along the cultivation path of the Great Pagoda Scripture, eventually transforming into dark spiritual power and entering his sea of energy.

Now, the dark spiritual power surging within his sea of energy was becoming increasingly potent.

Mu Chen also felt that his cultivation of the Great Pagoda Scripture was not far from the Foundation Establishment stage.

Suddenly, his sea of energy trembled slightly.

Mu Chen discovered that the dark spiritual power within his sea of energy was expanding at an astonishing speed.

Then, to his surprise, he realized he had broken through.

While delighted by this unexpected breakthrough, Mu Chen also found it amusingly frustrating.

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