King's Tribute Festival, Ruler of the Continent

As the Young King of Hundred Spirits, Mu Chen was born to a position beneath only one, yet above ten thousand. His status was exalted, with Sovereigns bestowing blessings upon him and the masses offering prayers for his prosperity.

Others might be wealthy, but at most, they merely had a few mines at home.

Mu Chen, however, was different; he was a man destined to inherit an entire High-Grade Continent.

In the future, Mu Chen could spread his arms wide like an accordion and wave his hand at others, saying: "I have never touched a spirit coin; I have absolutely no interest in spirit coins."

"Release your spiritual energy and let me see."

Mu Feng collected his thoughts, beginning to examine his son's progress.

As Mu Chen flicked his palm open and channeled his cultivation technique, a wisp of mysterious spiritual energy surged from his abdominal sea of energy, coiling around his fingertips as nimbly as a small spiritual snake.

The color was dark and profound, extremely restrained, yet it rippled with a sharp, piercing fluctuation.

Though this exotic spiritual energy was strong, it was only at the level of the Sensing Realm perfection.

Logically, Mu Chen, who possessed an entire continent, should not have such a weak cultivation base.

However, because he intended to participate in the Spirit Road selection in half a year, he was deliberately suppressing his cultivation.

Those competing in the Spirit Road had to be under eighteen years of age, and their spiritual energy cultivation could not exceed the Sensing Realm—yes, the rules of the Spirit Road were indeed that bizarre.

Clearly, the Five Great Spirit Academies that hosted the Spirit Road selection preferred a blank slate.

"Foundation Establishment is reaching minor completion; not bad."

"In another half a year, you will reach major completion of Foundation Establishment and be ready to look toward the second realm: Form Condensation."

Noticing the density of that dark spiritual energy, Mu Feng's face revealed a satisfied smile.

The Great Pagoda Art had three realms: Foundation Establishment, Form Condensation, and Pagoda Transformation.

Over these years, Mu Chen had not merely been suppressing his cultivation; he had also been working on his Foundation Establishment.

The firmer the foundation laid by the Primordial God Art in the early stages, the more explosive the growth would be later on.

"The cultivation insights left behind by Mother mention that the Pagoda Divine Power converted by the Great Pagoda Art has the effect of sealing the spiritual energy of living beings; it is extremely tyrannical and peerless."

"When will this child be able to possess such miraculous power?"

"Pagoda Transformation. As long as you step into the third realm, Pagoda Transformation, you will."

Mu Feng shook his head with a chuckle, soothing his son.

For those who practiced the Pagoda God Art, although the quality of their spiritual energy in the first two realms far exceeded ordinary grades, they had not yet broken free from the mold; only upon reaching the third realm would they undergo a transformation akin to shedding their mortal skin.

It could amplify spiritual energy, seal spiritual energy—it could do anything.

"In a few days, you will preside over this year's King's Tribute Festival."

"After all, this foundation I have built is for you; it is time to show your face and let the ministers below know the demeanor of the Young King of Hundred Spirits."

Mu Feng finally brought up the serious matter.

The Hundred Spirit Continent was originally a vassal territory of the Northern Profound Sect, a super-power in the northwest of the Great Thousand World, and was merely an unremarkable High-Grade Continent.

It was not even considered a common super-continent, let alone one of the top ten famous throughout the Great Thousand World.

If not for the fact that the son of the Northern Profound Sect's Sect Master—an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign—had come to take up his fiefdom as the previous King of Hundred Spirits, only to be driven away by Mu Feng and his wife, it would have had no reputation at all.

For an old father, a High-Grade Continent was enough to retire on.

Mu Chen, however, did not wish to rely on the shade of his ancestors to inherit the family business.

He distractedly brushed off Mu Feng: "Yes, Father."

On the jade plaza in front of the main hall, a graceful silhouette leaned lazily against the railing, her long, beautiful eyes sweeping occasionally toward the two tightly shut, ancient doors.

She wore red, her figure slender with exquisite curves.

Her hair was ink-black, her skin snow-white, and she was naturally bewitching.

Her pretty, fair, melon-shaped face was filled with charm and allure, and her long phoenix eyes only added to her appeal; she was clearly a natural-born beauty.

It was hard to imagine that this was a girl of only fourteen or fifteen, yet she had developed so well.

In the future, she would surely be a femme fatale who could bewitch all living beings.

At the sides of the main hall entrance, eight loyal palace guards stood motionless, hands resting on their waist blades, standing as straight as javelins with a stern demeanor and long, steady breaths.

If not for the slight rise and fall of their chests, one might have mistaken them for eight spiritual puppets.

These were merely the Palace Guard Army responsible for protecting the Hundred Spirits Palace, the residence of the King.

Led personally by General Zhou Ye, the sworn brother of the King of Hundred Spirits, they were small in number but extremely elite.

Thus, even though this beauty had been there for a while, the palace guards remained indifferent, as if looking at thin air, their expressions cold and their gazes icy.

Then again, anyone who could enter and exit the heavily guarded Hundred Spirits Palace so freely must have had a significant background and an extraordinary origin.

They might even be the children of the continent's high-ranking officials.

To dare to offend a noblewoman of the royal clan? Was one tired of living?

"Creak~~"

As the vermilion gates rumbled open from within, a handsome youth in magnificent robes stepped over the jade threshold, emerging from the grand hall with the grace of polished jade.

"Young Master!"

The eight palace guards flanking the path seemed to snap to life from their emotionless, puppet-like state, striking their right fists against their chests in unison and bowing in salute.

The youth in fine robes did not falter, nodding with calm, refined composure. His elegant bearing clearly marked him as a direct descendant groomed by a super-power.

Seeing this, the beauty in red, who had been leaning against the railing, brightened and immediately stepped forward.

"Where is the Young Master heading?"

The girl named Hong Ling, wrapped in a faint, intoxicating fragrance, blocked the path with her hands behind her back, her exquisite, curvaceous figure standing prettily in his way.

Hong Ling was the daughter of the former Red Domain lord, Hong Ling, and a childhood playmate of Mu Chen.

"So it is Sister Hong Ling."

The youth stopped in his tracks, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

Come to think of it, in her youth, the commander Hong Ling had even pursued his father, Mu Feng.

"The King's Tribute Festival is approaching. The King has appointed Qian'er and me as assistant priestesses to help the Young Master complete the ceremony. There are many trivial matters that must be settled in advance."

The young girl in red stared at Mu Chen with her long, narrow eyes, her gaze burning and sincere, almost too intense to meet.

Her watery eyes seemed to hold a pool of spring water.

She never expected that the little brat who used to follow her around, running naked with a runny nose, would grow up to be so handsome and captivating.

To tell the truth, Hong Ling was a sucker for a pretty face.

Titles like "Young Master" didn't matter at all; she simply liked Mu Chen because he was good-looking, and any child they had in the future would surely be as handsome as his father.

To put it bluntly, Hong Ling wanted to be in a relationship with the Young Master!

Mu Chen, naturally intelligent, was well aware of Hong Ling's intentions.

Sigh, if being born handsome is a sin, then this Young Master has already sinned repeatedly, beyond any hope of redemption.

Truth be told, Mu Chen did like a beauty with the aura of an older sister like Hong Ling.

But he was still just a child!

According to the customs of the Great Thousand World, he would not be considered an adult or undergo the capping ceremony for another four years.

Endure a little longer, growing up is the priority. Wait for the future.

Bah, what kind of wild, shameless thoughts are these!

"Junior Brother Mu Chen, I have finally found you."

Suddenly, a melodious laugh rang out, temporarily rescuing the Young Master—who was contemplating how to escape—from the "spider web" of the spider spirit.

ps: The timeline has been adjusted. The protagonist is Mu Chen, that is all.