Cheers and cries of delight rang out around the arena.
To Liu Yang, the East Courtyard's cheers and the Western Academy's silence were painfully glaring.
They were like a sharp knife slowly slicing open his chest, trampling his pride into the mud until he could scarcely breathe.
Liu Yang lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily.
With a savage expression, he rolled over and struggled to his feet.
Seeing this, Mu Chen's expression, which had relaxed slightly after winning the match, gradually grew grave. He sensed a hint of danger.
After climbing to his feet, Liu Yang swallowed a mouthful of blood-laced saliva, then let out a furious roar.
"I'll slaughter you!"
A red glow rose from Liu Yang's hand, accompanied by an astonishing surge of spiritual energy.
Yet before Master Mo and the other two in the seats of honor could react, a silver streak shot out from the East Courtyard's seating area, swept across Liu Yang's wrist, and embedded itself in the ground.
It was nothing more than an ordinary refined-iron dagger.
The Spirit Breaking Bead in Liu Yang's hand fell to the ground along with the dagger.
At the same time, a gust swept past. Su Qing reached out, scooped up the Spirit Breaking Bead, and returned to Mu Chen's side.
Liu Mubai arrived in the arena shortly afterward, his face so dark it seemed ready to drip water.
"What extravagant means the Liu Family's young master has."
Su Qing spoke coldly.
The red glow faded from Su Qing's hand, revealing a fiery-red bead the size of a longan. Obscure inscriptions covered its surface, gathering violently turbulent spiritual energy.
This item was called a Spirit Breaking Bead. Powerful cultivators who had reached a certain level compressed their spiritual energy into these beads. When facing an enemy, the user only needed to activate one with spiritual energy to unleash a powerful, one-use attack.
Not only were the materials expensive, but the cultivator supplying the spiritual energy also needed exceptionally precise control while injecting it.
This made Spirit Breaking Beads rather rare and valuable.
"My hand!"
As Liu Yang cried out in pain, Master Mo arrived in the arena as well.
"Su Qing! Don't push us too far."
Liu Mubai called out coldly from the side.
"Liu Yang brought this on himself. Judging by the power of that Spirit Breaking Bead, he was trying to kill someone. Wouldn't you agree, Master Mo?"
Su Qing shot back.
"You actually dared to use a Spirit Breaking Bead during a match?"
The attention of everyone in the academy was focused on them. The moment they heard the words "Spirit Breaking Bead," discussion erupted.
"How shameless! Pah! He even brought out a Spirit Breaking Bead."
"Can't take a loss? Tsk, tsk. Just what you'd expect from the Liu Family. They're all cut from the same cloth."
"You #＆＊￥＃＆＊, you **! Shameless bastard, #＆＊＃$￥..."
Hearing the mockery and curses around him while pain shot through his wrist, Liu Yang turned as white as paper. He had utterly disgraced himself.
Dean Xiao and Instructor Xi of the Western Academy also swept into the arena. Master Mo walked over and explained what had happened, and everyone watched Dean Xiao's expression gradually darken.
"Dean, Liu Yang acted on impulse. Besides, he didn't hurt anyone and was injured himself. Surely there are mitigating circumstances."
Seeing this, Liu Mubai hurried forward to defend him.
"Mitigating circumstances? You really know how to tell a joke, Liu Mubai."
Su Qing raised a hand to stop Mu Chen from speaking and stepped forward.
"Don't forget, we still haven't settled which of us is the best in our year. I've been holding back because of my injury and haven't wanted to fight you. Have you really started treating yourself as number one?"
"If this counts as mitigating circumstances, then if I use a few tricks to cripple you next time, would that count too, Liu Mubai?"
Liu Mubai took a deep breath before speaking.
"Fine. Liu Yang was in the wrong. What do you want?"
"A fair ruling, of course. The Northern Spiritual Academy has its rules. I trust Master Mo and the dean to handle this fairly and impartially."
Su Qing narrowed his eyes in a smile, though there was not a trace of amusement in them.
Master Mo said from the side, "According to the rules, Liu Yang should be disqualified from advancing to the senior class this time."
Both members of the Liu Family instantly paled. Losing his qualification for the senior class meant losing the right to compete for a place in the Five Great Academies.
That would be a devastating blow to Liu Yang.
At that moment, Instructor Xi of the Western Academy stepped forward and addressed the dean. "Liu Yang acted recklessly because of his youth. That is understandable, and he hasn't caused any grave harm. Besides, the Liu Family rules the Liu Domain. Liu Yang's father won't let this rest."
"Though our Northern Spiritual Academy has nothing to fear from them, falling out with them would still be troublesome."
Master Mo stroked his beard and countered, "The Mu Family likewise rules the Mu Domain. Their standing is much the same. If we simply smooth this over to keep the peace, they may well resent it."
"Besides, handling it that way would surely chill the hearts of the other students."
What a headache.
Dean Xiao shook his head helplessly.
"Dean, how about this?"
Su Qing suddenly spoke up.
"Liu Yang was indeed a little reckless in this matter, but our Mu Chen wasn't hurt."
"Oh?" Dean Xiao looked at Su Qing with some surprise.
"We can accept those mitigating circumstances, but there are conditions. First, the Spirit Breaking Bead goes to Mu Chen as compensation. Second, Liu Yang must apologize, loudly."
Su Qing spoke with a beaming smile.
There was little point in dragging this out any further. Better to seize the chance to gain something and disgust them while he was at it. He could also do Dean Xiao a favor, which would make things easier in the future.
"You!" At those words, Liu Yang's anger rushed straight to his head.
Never mind that his father had personally made that extremely expensive Spirit Breaking Bead for his protection; having to apologize loudly to Mu Chen in front of everyone was already enough to kill him.
Unfortunately, circumstances left him no choice.
Liu Mubai reached out to hold Liu Yang back, then stepped forward.
"Since you want this Spirit Breaking Bead, take it as an apology to Brother Mu Chen."
"Liu Yang, apologize now."
Su Qing watched the two members of the Liu Family put on their performance with a smile. Liu Yang really was too young; the slightest spark sent his temper exploding.
"Fine!" Liu Yang said through his struggle.
"Mu Chen! I'm sorry!" Liu Yang shouted those words at the top of his lungs, though his tone sounded less like an apology and more like he was facing his father's murderer.
Beside him, Mu Chen could barely hold back his laughter.
He thought to himself.
My brother really knows how to stir things up.
Making someone like Liu Yang apologize really is harder than killing him.
"In that case, I forgive you, Liu Yang."
Mu Chen spoke while suppressing a laugh.
"Since Mu Chen has forgiven you, we will let this pass, but there must not be a next time. If you dare do this again, the Northern Spiritual Academy will enforce its rules, no matter what."
Seeing that both sides had settled the matter, Dean Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
Su Qing stepped forward and shook hands with Liu Mubai. Both wore warm smiles and looked perfectly cordial, but beneath those smiles, each was brimming with the desire to kill the other.
"My younger brother was at fault here. Thank you for your younger brother's generosity in forgiving him. Your brother will be a senior-class student from now on as well. I hope we'll have a chance to exchange pointers and see whether he can catch up to his older brother."
Liu Mubai tightened his grip as he spoke.
"What are you saying, Brother Liu? Talking in your sleep in broad daylight? You needn't trouble yourself over my brother. Your younger brother will be entering the senior class too, won't he? I'll certainly help keep him on his toes so he can catch up to his older brother."
Su Qing likewise tightened his grip in response.
Though the two stood in the arena smiling as they shook hands, anyone with eyes could see the turbulent waves hidden beneath their smiles.
With the matter of Liu Yang settled, Dean Xiao announced the results of the Academy Trial.
Mu Chen, Liu Yang, and the other outstanding students successfully advanced to the senior class.
As Mu Chen lifted his head to look up, Su Qing slapped the back of his head, making him jolt.
"Brother, what was that for?" Mu Chen complained, clutching the aching back of his head.
"What are you thinking about, standing there grinning like a fool? Thinking about that girl you met on the Spirit Road? Huh? Luo Li?"
Su Qing nudged Mu Chen's shoulder with his own.
"Brother, stop messing around. I really wasn't thinking about her."
Mu Chen's ears flushed red as he hurriedly defended himself.
"You really weren't?"
"I really wasn't!"
"All right. When we meet her, I'll tell her you don't miss her."
Su Qing teased him.
"Don't, Brother! I was wrong!"
"Heh, heh, heh."
Su Qing slung an arm around Mu Chen's shoulders, and the two left the arena, laughing and roughhousing.