Northern Spirit Plains, Looks Like You Don't Have Any Teammates!

Northern Spirit Plains,

were located northwest of the Northern Spirit Territory,

about a day's journey from the Northern Spirit Academy.

The Northern Spirit Plains were filled with countless dangers, but danger often came with opportunity. All manner of Spirit Beasts roamed there,

and people from every walk of life mingled within.

Early in the morning,

the Northern Spirit Academy's trial party set out.

Even so, they only gradually reached the outskirts of the Northern Spirit Plains near evening.

In the camp shrouded by nightfall, bonfires rose one after another, filling those inexperienced students with an inexplicable excitement.

Within the shadows cast by the bright fires,

many adventurers watched this scene with mocking glints in their eyes. Especially when they saw the youthful, beautiful female students,

they made no effort to conceal the greed and frenzy in their gazes.

Here, the rules of the outside world would be cast aside, and the evil in human nature would be infinitely magnified...

Mu Chen sat beside a bonfire.

His face looked particularly grim beneath the firelight.

Just now, Mu Chen had personally watched Tang Qian'er leave the ravine with Qing Luo, heading toward the tents.

At that moment,

a figure came up behind Mu Chen and casually patted him on the shoulder.

Swish—

Mu Chen sprang up on reflex, seized the wrist on his shoulder, and was about to fling the person away.

"Ow..."

A pained cry rang out. Once Mu Chen saw that the person behind him was Tang Qian'er,

he released her hand and said coldly, "Sorry. Don't come up behind me next time. Reflex."

"Are you okay...?"

Sensing that Mu Chen was in a bad mood, Tang Qian'er asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. Just an aftereffect of training on the Spirit Road. If this were the Spirit Road, anyone appearing behind me would already be dead!"

Mu Chen explained.

Tang Qian'er: "..."

"This isn't the Spirit Road. You should relax."

Tang Qian'er said worriedly.

She had felt that something was off about Mu Chen when she saw him today. It seemed her worries had been right.

"The Spirit Road taught me the laws of survival. You haven't experienced it, so you don't understand at all."

Mu Chen shook his head.

"I... fine, I don't understand, okay?"

Tang Qian'er found a spot beside Mu Chen and sat down. "Tomorrow is the Northern Spirit Plains trial. We can form teams. Have you decided who you're teaming up with?"

"Does a trial of this level even require a team? I'm enough on my own!"

Mu Chen said confidently.

Mu Chen's words left Tang Qian'er too choked up to speak.

Good grief!

Qing Luo had acted like this before, so why was Mu Chen acting the same way now?

Could this kind of aloofness be contagious?!

Qing Luo was Number One of the East Courtyard, so he had the strength for it. Why was Mu Chen trying to compare himself to Qing Luo?

"Did you take some gunpowder? I didn't offend you, did I?"

Tang Qian'er asked.

"No... This environment just reminded me of some things from the Spirit Road."

Mu Chen looked at Tang Qian'er and changed the subject. "Why did you come looking for me instead of staying with Qing Luo?"

"He went to rest..."

Halfway through, Tang Qian'er realized something.

She looked at Mu Chen in surprise. "Don't tell me you're... jealous?"

"What relationship do you and I have? Why would I need to be jealous?"

Mu Chen said.

Yet he couldn't hide the sourness in his tone.

"There isn't anything between him and me. We're teaming up for the Northern Spirit Plains, and I was talking to him about the team..."

Tang Qian'er explained.

She had initially thought Qing Luo liked her, but then she discovered that Qing Luo merely wanted her help...

During the time she had spent with him,

Tang Qian'er had nearly laid everything bare, yet Qing Luo had always maintained boundaries with her. They were more than friends but less than lovers. If she had to define it...

they were barely in that ambiguous stage~

"I'm not jealous. I already have someone I like!"

Hearing Tang Qian'er continue explaining herself, Mu Chen smiled.

"You..."

Tang Qian'er was so angered by Mu Chen that she couldn't speak. She rose directly and headed into the tent.

"Brother Mu... did you make Sister Qian'er unhappy?"

Tan Qingshan asked from nearby.

"I only told the truth. I don't know what's wrong with her."

Mu Chen spread his hands.

"Brother Mu, I think you went a little too far." Tan Qingshan held it in for a long time before saying that, then also got up and returned to the tent.

Watching Tan Qingshan leave,

Mu Chen hesitated but did not get up.

The image of that girl from the Spirit Road surfaced in his mind. Tang Qian'er was nice, but she still couldn't compare to Luo Li.

I wasn't wrong. If Luo Li were here, she would definitely understand me.

The next morning,

Teacher Mo gathered everyone together early.

"For this Northern Spirit Plains trial, this will be our camp. Your task is to hunt the Spirit Beasts inside.

Spirit Beasts are divided into High, Intermediate, and Low Grades...

In short, you absolutely must not venture deep into the Northern Spirit Plains!"

At those words,

everyone nodded repeatedly, and the relaxed looks on their faces were replaced by solemnity.

Whether it was an Intermediate Spirit Beast comparable to the Spirit Wheel Realm or a High Grade Spirit Beast comparable to the Spirit Soul Realm, neither was something they could handle.

The danger of this trial was far greater than they had expected...

"In this trial, every member of the top three teams in the final rankings will receive one Spirit Nurturing Pill."

Teacher Mo looked at the young men and women whose faces were full of anticipation for the reward,

and his tone softened slightly. "Therefore, if you want good final results, you must choose suitable teammates and engage in the necessary cooperation."

"Yes!"

All the students answered in unison.

"After you kill a Spirit Beast, its Spirit Beast Spirit will be used to judge your results."

Teacher Mo added.

"Teacher Mo, I don't want to form a team. My results will still count if I take the trial alone, right?"

Mu Chen suddenly asked.

???

At those words,

everyone turned to look at Mu Chen.

No team...

They were going to hunt Spirit Beasts this time, with a high chance of encountering Spirit Beasts at the Spirit Wheel Realm. What did he mean by refusing to form a team?

Was he planning to go in alone?!

Even Liu Mubai and Qing Luo had formed teams. Wasn't Mu Chen being far too arrogant?

"No. It's too dangerous inside. You can't handle it alone!"

Teacher Mo looked at Mu Chen with some disappointment.

He knew Mu Chen was proud, but he hadn't expected him to be proud to this extent. This sort of pride was no good thing...

"Teacher Mo, I don't need a team, really... I have confidence in my own strength, and I don't want to team up with strangers I don't know."

Mu Chen continued.

"That guy..."

From nearby, Tang Qian'er looked at Mu Chen angrily. "He's being ridiculous."

She had always treated Mu Chen as a younger brother, so hearing his request left her deeply disappointed.

"If you're worried, explore with Mu Chen."

Qing Luo said.

"What..." Tang Qian'er looked at Qing Luo in surprise.

"I can handle things alone, don't worry. Although you'll be with Mu Chen, the two of us will still count as a team. I'll make sure you get a Spirit Nurturing Pill."

Qing Luo said.

He had already intended to act alone after entering.

After all, what he needed to do was somewhat dangerous, and he likely wouldn't have the time to look after someone else.

He might as well go with the flow.

"I'm serious!"

Seeing that Tang Qian'er was still hesitant, Qing Luo continued, "I need to enter some dangerous areas. I'll have a better chance alone."

"Alright..."

Hearing Qing Luo say that, Tang Qian'er stopped insisting.

"Even though you're reliable, don't take too many risks. I'm part of the team too, and I'll hunt Spirit Beasts as well."

"Got it."

Qing Luo nodded.

Tang Qian'er walked over to Mu Chen and said, "Teacher Mo, I'll go with Mu Chen."

"Why did you come over? You don't need to come. I can manage alone..."

Before Mu Chen could finish,

Tang Qian'er interrupted him. "If you want to take part in the trial, then form a team properly. If you say any more nonsense, I'll never speak to you again."

"Fine..."

Seeing how serious Tang Qian'er was, Mu Chen couldn't argue with her. "Then we'll go together."

Meanwhile,

just as Qing Luo was about to enter the Northern Spirit Plains, a snide voice came from behind him.

"Looks like you don't have any teammates. Going alone is very dangerous..."

Qing Luo smiled indifferently.

His gaze swept over Liu Mubai's group. Their lineup was quite impressive; nearly all of the top-ranked students of the West Courtyard's Heaven Class were there.

Beside Liu Mubai stood the West Courtyard's social butterfly—Hong Ling!

"You seem very confident?"

Qing Luo asked.

"Anything can happen in the Northern Spirit Plains. More people means greater security. Otherwise, you might die in there without anyone even noticing."

Liu Mubai said mockingly.

"With more people, an entire group might die. If you don't believe me, follow me in!"

Qing Luo smiled calmly and walked straight into the Northern Spirit Plains.

"That guy..."

Watching Qing Luo's retreating back, Liu Mubai's eyes grew increasingly profound. "It'll be troublesome if you make it back out. Better for you to die in there."

"If you don't like the sight of me, come at me yourself. I don't think much of anyone else."

At that moment, Mu Chen came before Liu Mubai and said,

then,

under everyone's astonished gazes, he headed deeper into the Northern Spirit Plains with Tang Qian'er.

Liu Mubai: ???

He was somewhat dumbfounded. Only after seeing Liu Yang and Chen Tong in the distance did he realize what had happened.

"That rude little clown..."

"Really makes me furious!"

Liu Mubai angrily turned his gaze toward Hong Ling.

Hong Ling: ???

"The trial has begun. We should go in too."

With that, Hong Ling entered the Northern Spirit Plains first.

Watching Hong Ling's graceful waist sway, Liu Mubai licked his lips. "You don't know how to appreciate kindness. Sooner or later, I'll make you kneel before me!"