Spirit Road's Aftereffects!

As night fell,

the students who had gone to train in the Northern Spirit Plains returned to camp one after another.

The Northern Spirit Plains at night were fraught with all kinds of dangers,

but the bonfire at the center of the camp kept most of the dangers lurking in the darkness at bay. With two Spirit Soul Realm Instructors in camp, they could protect the students from harm.

When the returning students saw the Instructors waiting outside the camp, they all greeted them,

and much of the exhaustion weighing on their bodies and minds after a day of training dissipated.

This was the sense of security brought by Spirit Soul Realm experts.

"Teacher Mo, Teacher Xi."

After Qing Luo returned to camp and reported in to the two Instructors, he headed toward the ravine at the center of the camp.

The strength of the Spirit Wheel Realm

was not yet enough to allow one to go without food like cultivators.

Thus, the students who had returned early had gathered around the bonfire, roasting the flesh of Spirit Beasts they had hunted in the Northern Spirit Plains or chewing on food they had brought from the academy.

Compared to last night's excitement, the camp was particularly silent and oppressive today.

The youthful smiles on the students' faces had been replaced by determination and solemnity.

"They've all grown a lot..."

"This is a necessary challenge in cultivation. Letting them realize its cruelty sooner may not be a bad thing for them!"

Seeing this,

Teacher Xi and Teacher Mo sighed in turn.

At the same time,

Qing Luo took out a piece of Spirit Beast meat, skewered it on a wooden stick, and set it over the fire to roast.

After obtaining the Jade Spirit Fruits,

Qing Luo had not hurried back to camp. Instead, he had continued training in the Northern Spirit Plains, hoping to find other Natural Treasures.

Perhaps he had used up all his luck,

but during his subsequent search, Qing Luo found nothing valuable. He did not even encounter another Intermediate Spirit Beast, nor did he run into Xue Tu...

With his current strength, hunting low-grade Spirit Beasts no longer held any meaning,

so he returned to camp early.

He planned to consume the Jade Spirit Fruits after nightfall to raise his strength.

More than thirty Jade Spirit Fruits...

They should be enough to take his strength another step forward!

"I really don't know how you managed it. That was a lineup equivalent to one Spirit Wheel Realm Middle Stage expert and over a hundred Spirit Movement Realm cultivators..."

Qing Luo had just picked up the sizzling, oil-dripping roasted meat before him and was about to eat,

when a fragrant breeze drifted over from behind him.

"Hungry? Want some?"

Without even turning around, Qing Luo knew who it was. He held out the roasted meat in his hand and said,

"I'm a little hungry, actually..."

Tang Qian'er rubbed her rumbling stomach, shyly accepted the roasted meat, and sat down beside Qing Luo.

"How did things go for you today?"

Qing Luo asked.

"Not bad. Thanks to you, the materials from those Fire Spirit Ape corpses are worth quite a bit of money."

As Tang Qian'er spoke, she seemed to recall something.

She looked at Qing Luo. "Mu Chen can be a little immature. Don't take it to heart. He's just a child."

"I don't hold grudges!"

As Qing Luo spoke, he took out two Jade Spirit Fruits from his Mustard Seed Bracelet and handed them to Tang Qian'er.

"You found these. I can't take them..."

Tang Qian'er said reservedly.

Why is he giving me Jade Spirit Fruits separately? Does he like me...?

"Consider it payment for helping me look for my Mustard Seed Bracelet. That bracelet has been a great help to me."

Qing Luo explained.

The other students only had one or two Spirit Souls, while he had one or two hundred.

Without the Mustard Seed Bracelet, he would not even have known where to put so many Spirit Souls...

"Is that the only reason..."

Tang Qian'er lowered her head shyly.

Seeing Tang Qian'er's bashful expression, Qing Luo knew what she was thinking.

"Yes!"

As Qing Luo spoke, he stuffed the Jade Spirit Fruits into Tang Qian'er's hands.

Just then,

a series of heavy footsteps approached from afar.

The subdued conversations around them suddenly fell silent as everyone turned grave looks toward the camp entrance.

"Those people..."

"They seem to be Liu Region people!"

Hearing the other students' murmurs,

Qing Luo and Tang Qian'er also looked toward the entrance.

More than ten burly men stood there, their auras deep and baleful energy curling around them.

At the front stood Liu Mubai and a middle-aged man with pronounced cheekbones.

The unfamiliar arrivals drew everyone's attention. The baleful energy emanating from them made the young boys and girls somewhat afraid.

"Liu Region people... Looks like the plot is about to begin!"

Qing Luo rejoiced inwardly.

He had not found anyone from the Liu Region all day, and he had thought the plot had gone off course...

Just then,

the Liu Region people walked toward Teacher Mo. The middle-aged man with pronounced cheekbones smiled and clasped his fists. "Teacher Mo, Liu Ming of the Liu Region has come uninvited. Please forgive the intrusion."

"So it's Third Master Liu of the Liu Region."

Teacher Mo nodded with a smile.

It was said that the Liu Region's Domain Lord had two younger brothers. Liu Ming ranked third in the Liu Family, and with his ruthless methods and Spirit Wheel Realm Peak strength,

he had earned the title of Third Master.

"Teacher Mo flatters me. It is merely idle gossip from outsiders."

Liu Ming treated Teacher Mo with great respect. "Teacher Mo, an important shipment from the Liu Region was intercepted by the Xue Tu Gang during transport. Their leader, Xue Tu, was chased by us all the way here and fled into the Northern Spirit Plains."

"By chance, we learned that Liu Mubai and Liu Yang were training in the Northern Spirit Plains, so we came to check on them as well. We have no intention of causing a disturbance."

"Xue Tu..."

At the mention of that name, Teacher Mo frowned slightly.

That man was a notorious criminal throughout the Northern Spirit Territory. No one knew how many lives stained his hands or how many factions he had offended.

Because of his Spirit Wheel Realm Peak strength, he acted without restraint.

The Northern Spirit Academy students were currently training in the Northern Spirit Plains. If they encountered him, it would be no small trouble...

"We came this time to remind Teacher Mo to have the students remain on guard during their training, lest anything unfortunate happen."

Liu Ming explained with a smile.

"I see. Thank you for the warning. We will be careful."

Teacher Mo nodded slightly.

"Teacher Mo, it is already late. May we stay in the camp for the night? We have already informed Teacher Xi. Rest assured, our people will stand watch tonight and ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Liu Ming asked.

"Fine."

Teacher Xi was an Instructor from the West Courtyard and had close ties with the Liu Region.

Since Teacher Xi had already agreed, Teacher Mo naturally had no reason to object.

"There are still some empty tents. Come with me."

Just as Teacher Mo was about to lead Liu Ming and the others away, Mu Chen suddenly asked,

"What did your Liu Region lose?"

For a moment,

everyone was stunned.

When they saw that the one asking was merely a Spirit Movement Realm student,

Liu Ming ignored him. Looking at Teacher Mo, he gestured with his hand. "Teacher Mo, please!"

Mu Chen: ???

Seeing himself being ignored, Mu Chen's expression immediately darkened.

What are you acting so high and mighty for?

Serves you right for having your things stolen!

"Mu Chen, isn't your Mu Region on bad terms with the Liu Region? Why are you provoking those people?"

Tang Qian'er came to Mu Chen's side and chided him.

She felt that Mu Chen was simply too good at stirring up trouble...

"I was curious, so I asked!"

"Go keep your Senior Student Qing Luo company. What are you coming to me for?"

Mu Chen said coldly.

Without waiting for Tang Qian'er to get angry, he stood and headed straight for his tent.

Childhood sweethearts?

She said she would take care of me, yet the moment she returned to camp, she went looking for Qing Luo.

What does Tang Qian'er take me for?

A backup?

How ridiculous. My girlfriend is far better than Tang Qian'er!

"You..."

Watching Mu Chen's departing back, Tang Qian'er gritted her teeth in anger.

She felt that Mu Chen had changed so much that he had become somewhat unfamiliar to her.

Ever since Mu Chen returned, Tang Qian'er had been mindful that he had been expelled from the Spirit Road and had avoided bringing up his sore spot.

She had not expected Mu Chen to be so arrogant.

He had only been invited back midway through the Spirit Road. If he had completed it from beginning to end, just how arrogant would this guy have become?!