"Are you all right?"
Nestled in Su Qing's arms, Tang Qian'er asked with concern.
"I'm fine."
Su Qing patted Tang Qian'er's head and softly recounted what had happened afterward.
Tang Qian'er rested against his shoulder, gazing at his profile as she listened intently.
Meanwhile, as Mu Chen stepped into this place, he scanned the crowd with a faint glimmer of hope.
When his eyes met Luo Li's, they gradually widened. The delight deep in his gaze spilled out uncontrollably, and a smile crept onto his lips.
The Black-Skirted Girl also smiled softly, rising to walk toward Mu Chen.
The two approached each other and soon stood face-to-face, gazing deeply into each other's eyes.
By now, the hall had fallen utterly silent, and everyone stared in astonishment at that slender, graceful figure.
Everyone who had participated in the Spirit Road knew how unapproachable this girl, who stood at its very pinnacle, was.
They had never heard of this favored daughter of heaven, who had drawn the admiration and desire of countless monstrous talents on the Spirit Road, having even the slightest intimate contact with any man.
What happened next exceeded their expectations even further: the two embraced each other tightly.
As for Su Qing and Tang Qian'er, they had merely been curious. After all, Su Qing had been utterly unknown before this.
But Luo Li and Mu Chen truly stunned them. One was "King Luo," who stood at the pinnacle of the Spirit Road; the other was the "Blood Calamity," whose name had thundered throughout it.
Now that was something to talk about.
Still, intimidated by King Luo, few dared discuss it loudly. Only scattered whispers could be heard.
Su Qing and Mu Chen exchanged a glance. Su Qing raised his eyebrows at him, and Mu Chen pulled a face in return.
Luo Li followed Mu Chen's gaze over as well. Su Qing smiled faintly, and he and Tang Qian'er greeted her warmly.
But this warm, lovely atmosphere did not last long. A grating voice soon rang out from the crowd.
"Well, well, isn't this Mu Chen? I didn't think you'd actually dare show your face!"
The speaker was Shi Jing, one of the Shi family's twin kings. Both brothers had earned King Rank evaluations on the Spirit Road and had longstanding grudges against Mu Chen.
"The Blood Calamity, whose reputation once shook the Spirit Road, is only at the divine soul realm middle stage now? Compared to what you used to be, isn't that strength a little too laughable?"
Shi Hao, standing beside Shi Jing, chimed in as well.
Su Qing watched the show with interest, his arm around Tang Qian'er, and even took a hanging chair and a handful of sunflower seeds out of the Sleeve Universe.
The two nestled together in the hanging chair, cracking seeds as they watched, utterly at ease.
Su Qing had no intention whatsoever of helping Mu Chen. At a time like this, Mu Chen needed to stand up for himself; intervening would only do more harm than good.
Besides, they would not actually fight. At most, they would exchange a few barbs, and Su Qing trusted that after so many years of learning from his words and example, Mu Chen would not come off worse.
Sure enough, Mu Chen fought a war of words against the whole opposition, leaving the brothers red-faced and speechless.
Humiliated, the brothers flew into a rage. Glancing around, they spotted Su Qing swaying in his hanging chair, cracking seeds and leisurely enjoying the spectacle, and their fury erupted.
Well, damn! We're arguing over here, and you're sitting there snacking and watching the show. You must think we're monkeys performing tricks for you!
How could we put up with that? I might not be able to outargue Mu Chen, but surely I can beat you!
The brothers immediately turned their anger on Su Qing. Shi Jing spoke in a mocking tone.
"Hah! How did a wastrel who loses all ambition indulging in women become the first to obtain a Ninth-Level Mark? Perhaps he made some shady deal with someone."
Su Qing grew interested too. Just as he was about to give the two a proper dose of sarcasm, Shi Hao spoke.
"Hmph! I saw the four of you making eyes at each other just now. Perhaps you've all been secretly putting bright green cuckold's hats on one another."
"I suppose you used that pretty face to lick Luo Li's boots and get your Ninth-Level Mark from her."
The entire hall fell silent.
Su Qing had not expected it. Mu Chen had not expected it. Nor had any of the onlookers expected the two to dare say such a thing.
Even Shi Jing stared at Shi Hao in astonishment.
How did you dare?
"Heh!"
Amid the silence, a soft chuckle rose from Su Qing's throat. A smile hung on his face, but there was not a trace of mirth in his eyes.
Su Qing hopped down from the hanging chair and swept his sleeve, gently sending both the chair and Tang Qian'er into a corner behind him.
Then a savage sword pressure bore down on the entire hall.
At the same time, another sword pressure, biting as frost, faintly rose from Luo Li, only for her to suppress it.
"Wh-what?"
Shi Hao was beginning to regret it. He had blurted those words out in the heat of the moment, but the blast of Su Qing's savage sword pressure instantly cleared his head.
Unfortunately, spilled water could not be gathered back. He could only steel himself and continue, fierce on the outside but weak within.
"We're already at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. You still want to attack me?"
"Heh."
Su Qing gave a soundless smile and spoke in an icy tone.
"Trash will never correct itself. We have to lend a hand."
"Only then will it roll into the trash can on its own."
"Right now, you've merely entered the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. This trial isn't over yet."
"Besides, the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy has never said killing is forbidden. They merely give you a mark to keep you alive."
At this point, Su Qing raised his voice and asked,
"Isn't that right, senior?"
Although the old man felt somewhat helpless, he disliked Shi Hao's remarks as well, and thought little of Su Qing's threat.
If you want to kill someone, you'll have to break through the barrier we bestowed.
He did not believe a mere divine soul realm cultivator like Su Qing could do that.
So the old man waved his hand, indicating that Su Qing could do as he pleased.
At this, Shi Hao's face gradually paled.
That was because the sword pressure Luo Li had suppressed was now rising beside him as well.
Shi Hao truly regretted it. Why had he run his mouth? Wonderful-now, even if he escaped elimination, he would still suffer a beating.
Despite his earlier mockery of Su Qing, the first person to obtain a Ninth-Level Mark could hardly be a fraud, no matter how he looked at it. Besides, that sword pressure was practically piercing the ceiling now.
But Su Qing did not give Shi Hao any more time to agonize. The sword pressure around him gathered inward like a storm.
A breeze swirled, and the Kunwu Sword appeared in Su Qing's hand as several arts strengthened him.
Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Arts: Subduing Dragons and Taming Tigers!
Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Arts: Mastery of the Five Thunders!
Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Arts: Earth-Traversing Golden Light!
In an instant, golden light burst from where Su Qing stood and flashed before Shi Hao. Kunwu Sword in hand, Su Qing swept out of that golden radiance.
A gleam of clear light filled Su Qing's eyes as he looked indifferently at Shi Hao, as though looking at a dead man.
Thunder patterns covered the three-foot Kunwu Sword, while the immense strength of Subduing Dragons and Taming Tigers gathered within the blade.
Shi Hao's pupils contracted at the sight, and he reacted instantly. Driving his spiritual energy, he summoned the grayish-white phantom of a giant python behind him.
Then Shi Hao swept both hands fiercely, placing several grayish-white stone steles between them, with a grayish-white wall of light behind the steles.
With unstoppable momentum, Su Qing stepped forward with Yu Steps and swung his sword down at him.
Golden Palace Jade Record: Geng Metal Armor-Piercing!
The layers of defense Shi Hao had erected were torn apart as easily as paper, and the Kunwu Sword struck his rocklike arms.
It broke through once more!
The sword tip reached Shi Hao's chest. The mark between his brows instantly shattered, becoming a membrane of light that enclosed him protectively.
At the sight of that membrane, relief surfaced in Shi Hao's eyes. Judging by Su Qing's momentum, he had genuinely feared being cleaved apart with a single strike.
Yet even when the membrane appeared, Su Qing's sword did not stop. Condensed sword energy surged like the Four Great Rivers, and the interlacing thunder patterns along the blade suddenly blazed.
Accompanied by peals of thunder, the Kunwu Sword slashed down.
This was the pinnacle of Su Qing's current skill.
Crack!
With that sound, the membrane abruptly shattered at the sword tip, and the Kunwu Sword pierced straight into Shi Hao's chest.
Then sword energy and lightning erupted together!