Bought a Hairpin! Northern Cang Hall!

Suddenly, Bing Tianxiao halted.

His gaze fell upon an inconspicuous stall.

Displayed there was a pale blue hairpin, crystal-clear throughout. It had not been carved from ordinary stone, but from some kind of Extreme Cold Ice Jade.

Under the sunlight, it gleamed with a cold yet gentle luster, exuding an aloof and noble aura.

"Boss, how much is this?"

Bing Tianxiao picked up the hairpin. It felt slightly cool in his hand and was simply a perfect match for Luo Li's temperament.

The stall owner was a somewhat timid-looking young woman. Seeing two such "great figures" at her stall, she was so frightened that she stammered:

"Th-this is a Low-grade Spirit Artifact, the Ice Soul Hairpin. It's not only pretty, it can automatically protect its wearer... Um, it's a little expensive. It costs... costs a Fifth-Level Mark."

After saying that, she instinctively shrank her neck.

After all, a Fifth-Level Mark was something most people here might not attain even if they risked their lives.

Yet Bing Tianxiao did not even blink.

"Level Five? Cheap."

Without hesitation, he raised a hand and lightly tapped the young woman's forehead with his fingertip.

Buzz!

A vast, pure surge of spiritual energy instantly poured into her.

The Level One Mark on her forehead began to surge wildly at a visible rate, becoming a dazzling "five" in the blink of an eye!

The entire place fell deathly silent.

A Fifth-Level Mark... just to buy a hairpin?!

Was this how a big shot spoiled his wife?

Don't talk to them about the Spirit Artifact's protective ability.

Anyone with eyes could see that these two were experts above the Divine Soul Realm!

What use could a Low-grade Spirit Artifact possibly have?

Completely ignoring the pairs of eyes around him that were nearly popping out, Bing Tianxiao turned and walked behind Luo Li.

"Don't move."

His voice was gentle as he carefully inserted the hairpin at an angle into Luo Li's cascading silver hair.

The deep blue shimmer complemented her peerless face, adding a touch of ethereal grace.

"Perfect."

Bing Tianxiao stepped back half a pace, rubbing his chin as he admired his handiwork.

"Tsk, tsk. You were already gorgeous enough to drive people mad. Now the other girls in the Northern Cang Realm won't be able to live with themselves."

Luo Li raised a hand and gently brushed the hairpin, feeling the lingering warmth from his fingertips.

A soft ripple stirred in her cold, clear eyes.

"What a spendthrift."

She lightly chided him.

Yet she showed no intention of taking it off. Instead, she lowered her head slightly, the corners of her lips curling into the faintest smile.

"Hehe, you can't buy what you love with a fortune."

Bing Tianxiao shrugged carelessly.

Then, as naturally as ever, he took Luo Li's hand again and looked beyond the basin.

That was the central region of the Northern Cang Realm.

"Alright, we've strolled around and bought something. It's time to handle business."

He stretched lazily.

"Let's go to the center of the Northern Cang Realm."

"The strongest group of students from this batch is gathered there. We can raise our Marks to Level Ten while we're at it."

"Since we're entering Northern Cang Spirit Academy, we won't just do so in style. We'll arrive in the strongest possible fashion!

If we're doing it, we'll be number one!"

At that, Luo Li nodded faintly. A sharp sword intent stirred within her clear, glasslike eyes.

"Mm, I'll listen to you."

The next instant, two streams of light shot into the sky.

Under countless gazes filled with awe and envy, the two departed.

The center of the Northern Cang Realm.

At this moment, the area was already packed with figures, and the atmosphere had grown tense to the extreme.

Everyone who could stand here was a top expert who had risen above the rest in this Northern Cang Realm trial.

Those in the Divine Soul Realm did not even have the right to speak. Only seven groups drew the most attention.

They were Mu Chen and King Yan, Yan Xiao; King Zhou, Zhou Ling; and several other kings.

There were also some leaders who had not participated in the Spirit Road, and these people were not weak either...

Only after them came the Shi Family Twins, who had been kicked out of the Spirit Road by Bing Tianxiao.

"Big Brother, the Northern Cang Spirit Academy slots are ours this time. Hmph, if it hadn't been for the Spirit Road..."

Shi Hao's expression was gloomy. Seemingly recalling some unbearable past, fear and hatred flashed through his eyes.

However, before he could finish speaking—

Two streams of light, carrying undisguised powerful auras, crashed down upon the very center of the area!

Boom!

The shockwaves rolled out, and the dust settled.

A young man and a young woman emerged.

The young man wore a roguish smile, while the young woman was cold and peerless, the long sword in her hand radiating biting chill.

The previously noisy stone platform fell silent for a moment.

When they clearly saw the young man's face, the Shi Family Twins, who had been full of arrogance just moments ago, suddenly stiffened. Their eyes nearly popped out, as though they had seen a ghost.

"Is... is that him?!"

Shi Hao's voice cracked as he instinctively retreated two steps.

Shi Jingtian's face had also gone pale, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

"B-Bing Tianxiao?! Why is that jinx here too?!"

They would never forget.

In the Spirit Road, it had been this seemingly cheerful fellow who kicked them out of the trial grounds, becoming an inescapable nightmare in their hearts.

The other top students around them who had also come from the Spirit Road underwent drastic changes in expression when they saw Bing Tianxiao and Luo Li. One after another, they restrained their previous arrogance, their eyes filled with deep wariness.

"Oh, quite a few familiar faces."

Bing Tianxiao swept his gaze across the crowd before it finally landed, smiling, on the grim-faced Shi brothers. He raised a hand in greeting.

"Shi brothers, long time no see."

The Shi Family Twins' faces twitched, but they did not dare retort. They even silently edged farther back into the crowd.

Seeing this, Bing Tianxiao curled his lips in boredom, then shifted his gaze toward the front.

There stood the group with the strongest presence.

At its head was Mu Chen. Though he stood alone, his aura was far more imposing than anyone else's!

When Mu Chen saw Bing Tianxiao and Luo Li arrive together, the corners of his lips rose slightly.

"Long time no see, Bing Tianxiao, Luo Li."

"Only a few days."

Bing Tianxiao laughed heartily, stepped forward, and patted Mu Chen on the shoulder with extreme familiarity.

Mu Chen shook his head helplessly.

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the Spirit Road knew that Mark belonged to these two.

The bow-and-sword combination...

At the same time, countless gazes turned toward the central area.

"King Mu is actually talking with those two."

"Did he call him Bing Tianxiao? Could that be the Spirit Crown Holder of the Spirit Road!"

"Who else but him would be worthy of such importance from King Mu?!"

"Then the other one must be King Luo, another king-level figure!"

By now, nearly all the students in the Northern Cang Realm had gathered here, so naturally there was no shortage of people who had participated in the Spirit Road.

After chatting for only a few moments, Bing Tianxiao had already surveyed the surroundings.

Without exception, everyone present had their Marks at the peak of Level Nine.

They were only one step away from Level Ten.

Yet that step was like an insurmountable chasm.

Because at this level, advancing any further—

Hunting ordinary spirit beasts or stealing the Marks of low-tier students was no more than a drop in the bucket. It was utterly useless.

Only by seizing Marks of the same level could one complete the final transformation!

That was why this group had remained locked in a standoff here, forming such a strange balance.

No one wanted to be the first to make a move, much less become prey in someone else's eyes.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

Bing Tianxiao shook his head, breaking the taut, bowstring-tight atmosphere.

He crossed his arms, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery.

"Say, everyone, since you've all come here, I assume you know that a Tenth-Level Mark is needed to summon Northern Cang Hall."