Joint Judgment, Supreme Scrutiny

Wu Tian, who had always held Mu Chen in high regard, suddenly paused and looked at the latter with an inscrutable expression. "Mu Chen."

Between heaven and earth, the onlookers seemed to sense something, their gazes shifting toward that slender figure with growing complexity, filled with pity and regret.

The Seven Sons of Hundred Spirits, in particular, all wore expressions of indignation and resentment.

Ji Xuan, supported by Yang Hong, smiled triumphantly in silence.

Although the silver-haired girl remained silent, the grip of her cold, soft hand, which was interlaced with Mu Chen's right hand, tightened significantly.

Only Mu Chen, at the center of the storm, stood tall with his eyelids slightly lowered. His gaze was calm, and his demeanor was composed in a way never seen before, as if he were completely unaware of the situation.

Having weathered many storms, Wu Tian could tell at a glance whether Mu Chen was merely putting on a brave front or if he was truly unswayed by external factors.

This graceful temperament and exceptional mental fortitude alone made him silently applaud in his heart: what a heaven-sent prodigy, what a worthy son of the King of Hundred Spirits.

"Mu Chen, you have violated the rules of the Spirit Road, employed cruel methods, and exploited loopholes to slaughter over a hundred geniuses of the human race. You are hereby sentenced to a reduction of your Level 3 Spirit Body as punishment."

Carried by surging spirit power, Wu Tian's voice traveled far and wide.

Upon hearing this, the crowd fell silent.

The rules of the Spirit Road? What kind of nonsense was that?

The Spirit Road trial had been held for countless sessions—ever since the Five Great Academies came into existence, it had been there—yet there had never been any such ridiculous rules.

Using every means to survive, to be the last one standing, and to compete for the Spirit Crown was the only rule.

Everyone knew that the Spirit Road had never had rules; this charge was merely an excuse, a punishment for Mu Chen slaughtering a large number of pre-selected geniuses and offending the Five Great Academies.

In one month, the kings would engage in the final battle at the end of the Spirit Road.

The peak kings, who possessed a Level 8 Spirit Body, were all straining to break into the Level 9 realm. Whoever could reach the Level 9 Spirit Body first would have the chance to become the supreme sovereign who would grasp the Spirit Crown, be crowned emperor, and rule over all the kings.

At this moment, stripping Mu Chen of his Level 3 Spirit Body and dropping him to Level 5 was undoubtedly cutting off his fortune, breaking his momentum, and ensuring he would have no chance to participate in the battle of the kings or compete for the Spirit Crown.

Perhaps Mu Chen would still have the opportunity to receive the Spirit Power Empowerment.

But for a top-tier king, that level of empowerment was more like an insult.

Yes, an insult—a naked, blatant insult!

Everyone knew the inside story, and everyone knew how absurd this all was, but no one dared to speak up.

"It is a pity that there will be one less excellent opponent at the end of the Spirit Road."

Bing Qing and Mu Kui, one after the other, voiced almost the same sentiment.

For these two geniuses from the Primordial Clan, the so-called Spirit Power Empowerment held no appeal; their clans possessed countless secret techniques to improve their cultivation.

They participated in the Spirit Road trial only to fight against geniuses of the same generation from the entire Great Thousand World, to temper themselves, and to pursue their limits in search of a breakthrough.

The Hundred Spirits Youth, upon hearing this, were filled with righteous indignation and shared hatred.

Tang Qian'er, whose sense of justice had been overflowing since childhood, widened her eyes, her slender fists clenched tight, and she was about to step forward to argue with Wu Tian and demand an explanation.

Mu Chen stopped her and shook his head silently; the tall girl retreated in dejection.

In the world of mortals, the five supreme academies of the Great Thousand World were like five ancient divine mountains hanging high above the nine heavens, pressing down on all living beings so heavily that they could not breathe, let alone resist.

Just as everyone thought Mu Chen had given up struggling and chosen to accept his fate, he suddenly spoke, "Sir, may I ask you a question?"

His expression was earnest, his tone peaceful.

Mu Chen could feel that this envoy from the Five Great Academies was showing him an intentional or unintentional kindness; though he did not know the reason, his tone was exceptionally polite.

Wu Tian sighed. "Speak."

Perhaps, perhaps the Five Great Academies really were in the wrong.

"May I ask, what are the rules of the Spirit Road?"

Mu Chen looked at the former with a sincere desire for knowledge.

Wu Tian pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "Please forgive me, but I cannot answer that. Ask another question."

In his heart, he had already categorized the boy as a hot-blooded youth who hated evil, possessed a clear sense of right and wrong, and longed for justice and truth, only to be battered and bloodied after repeated struggles.

"I know the answer."

"The Five Great Academies are the rules of the Spirit Road."

"The five most powerful academies of the Great Thousand World, which hold the power of life and death over all beings in the Spirit Road and stand high above, are the embodiment of the rules and the will of the plane that permeate this world."

"Rather than saying I violated the rules of the Spirit Road, it would be more accurate to say that I have offended the Five Great Academies."

Mu Chen ignored Wu Tian and spoke to himself.

The boy's clear voice, impassioned and crisp, drifted with cadence over the Black Demon Forest, as if playing a hymn of loyalty.

Many human geniuses looked at that slender figure in surprise, their expressions complex.

"Since you know, since..."

"Forget it, Mu Chen. Accept the order; do not make things difficult for me."

Wu Tian reined in his remaining pity, his tone shedding its warmth to become increasingly formulaic.

After all, he was the executor of the Five Great Academies' will.

"Apologies, but I cannot comply."

"The Mu Chen of the past would not accept this order, the Mu Chen of the present will not accept it, and the Mu Chen of the future certainly never will. Regardless of the circumstances, I simply will not accept it."

Mu Chen spoke calmly.

"You!"

Just as the indignant Wu Tian was about to speak, the space suddenly rippled. Multiple entities exuding terrifying auras shrouded in spheres of light appeared out of thin air, one after another.

As the spiritual radiance dissipated, five mysterious figures with distinct temperaments emerged.

"Greetings to the Supreme Realm experts!"

Wu Tian's expression turned solemn as he hurriedly bowed in salute.

Supreme Realm? Those were terrifying existences who had transcended the Three Days Realm and could traverse an entire continent at will.

There was an old saying in the Great Thousand world: below the Supreme Realm, all are but ants.

The Supreme Realm was the true hallmark of a powerhouse in the Great Thousand world.

Countless human geniuses followed suit, congratulating the arrival of the Supreme Realm experts, their voices rising like a tsunami.

A significant portion of the people here might never touch the Supreme Realm in their entire lives.

They had not expected this matter to alarm the guardians of the Five Great Academies.

"Mu Chen, This Seat will ask you only one thing."

"The joint ruling of our Five Great Academies—do you accept it, or do you not?"

A Supreme Realm expert from the Holy Spirit Academy stepped out from the crowd, sitting cross-legged in mid-air with an indifferent expression and icy eyes, appearing like a living god looking down upon all sentient beings.

As he spoke, a sheet of paper shimmering with golden light appeared at his fingertips.

"So it is the Supreme Realm lords of the Five Great Academies. This junior offers his respects."

After tidying his attire, Mu Chen respectfully took the paper, holding it in his palms and stroking it carefully.

This sight made the expressions of the Supreme Realm experts soften slightly.

It seemed this youth still harbored a shred of reverence.

Riiip, riiip. But in the very next moment—

That sheet of paper, which contained the collective will of the Five Great Academies and felt as heavy as ten thousand jun, was torn completely to shreds, inch by inch, by those slender, powerful, fair hands.

"Perhaps the lords did not hear clearly, so Mu shall reiterate it once more."

The tall, slender figure stood straight, revealing a set of brilliant, snow-white teeth. Under the gaze of countless complex eyes, he scattered the scraps from his hands.

He smiled, enunciating every word, "Accept! My! Ass!"

"Mu Chen!!"

A voice filled with boundless fury thundered across the heavens and the earth.

ps: For those asking if the protagonist's Level 3 Spirit Body can be restored, just be patient and keep reading (╯▽╰)

When has Old Li ever written a story that mistreats the protagonist? No nonsense here, just pure satisfaction.