Mu Family Father and Son

Liu Bai was not surprised by the news his younger brother had brought back. After all, this was already the final sprint. Anyone who still wanted to enter one of the Five Great Academies would desperately try to improve themselves.

What Liu Bai had not expected was that he had always thought few people in Northern Spirit Academy's Heaven Tier would meet the Five Great Academies' admission requirements this time. Yet the West Academy alone had four qualified candidates. Adding the six from the East Academy, there were ten students in the Spirit Wheel Realm under eighteen years old, while there were only half as many spots.

On the stage, Instructor Xi had already announced the matter. When they heard that Northern Spirit Academy actually had five spots this time, quite a few people became excited.

"Five spots? Doesn't that mean all four of us from the West Academy have a chance to get one?"

Liu Bai heard someone whispering nearby.

Those words nearly made him laugh out loud. The East Academy still had six qualified students. For all he knew, they might think even giving all five spots to them would leave one short.

However, if Liu Bai remembered correctly, Northern Spirit Academy had only received three spots in the original story. Now there were two more. Could this change have been caused by his appearance?

But did he currently have the standing to influence the Five Great Academies?

Of course, the question merely flashed through Liu Bai's mind.

Whether there were five spots or three, even if there were only one, it would not affect him in the slightest.

"Liu Bai, Zhao Pei, Li Yuan, Zuo Yue, the four of you are the West Academy Heaven Tier students who meet the Five Great Academies' admission requirements. I hope you will strive to secure a spot in the coming days."

Instructor Xi addressed the four of them directly.

Liu Bai had already met Zhao Pei and Li Yuan. As for Zuo Yue, she was rather mysterious. Liu Bai rarely saw her within the academy, and she appeared even less often in the Cultivation Hall. She was an ordinary-looking girl, but her aura was strangely unusual, making Liu Bai instinctively raise his guard.

The same scene naturally played out in the East Academy. Xu Ling, who had been cultivating behind closed doors all this time, also appeared. Many people were saying that he had already broken through to the Spirit Wheel Realm Middle Stage...

Time passed quickly, and the selection battles for the spots were about to begin.

As the day drew near, not only was Northern Spirit Academy busy, but the entire Northern Spirit Realm had become boisterous because of it.

Northern Spirit City had now become the focal point of the entire Northern Spirit Realm. Even the Domain Lords of the Nine Great Domains had arrived in the city one after another, awaiting the selection battles.

Northern Spirit City was undoubtedly at the height of its bustle today. The vast city was packed with people, and countless noisy voices converged into a deafening roar that shot into the sky before spreading far into the distance. It could be heard within a hundred li.

The battles for the spots were being held in Northern Spirit Plaza, in the northwestern district of Northern Spirit City. It was the most spacious place in the city and could accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.

Yet this enormous venue had already been swallowed by a sea of people.

Looking out, the black mass of the crowd stretched to the horizon. Even the towering buildings surrounding the plaza were packed with figures.

The sight left Liu Bai, who stood within the plaza, deeply puzzled.

After all, only ten people were qualified to participate in the selection battles. There would only be a few matches in total. Other than the nearby major forces, what could those people farther away even see?

Was there really any need to crowd in like this?

This had nothing to do with them anyway...

Liu Bai secretly shook his head. He could only say that he did not understand the way these people thought, just as he could not understand those fanatical celebrity chasers.

At the center of the plaza, closest to the arena, was a row of special seats.

Those seats were already filled with figures. Each one possessed an extraordinary bearing and abundant spiritual energy. Their eyes swept over the crowd with unconcealed authority. They were none other than the rulers of the Nine Domains of the Northern Spirit Realm!

Liu Bai looked over and found that his father, Liu Qingtian, was among them.

Perhaps because of what had happened earlier, Liu Qingtian's face was icy at the moment, and a low-pressure aura seemed to radiate from his entire body. No one was foolish enough to speak to him, but the occasional exchanged glances among the others revealed their gloating mood.

It could not be helped. As the number one domain, the Liu Domain naturally did not have particularly good relations with the other domains. Even the Luo Domain and Hong Domain, which had always been close to the Liu Family, were likely more interested in watching a joke unfold. They might even already be plotting whether they could do something while the Liu Domain was weakened.

Liu Bai swept his gaze across the Domain Lords and discovered that aside from the rulers themselves, each of them had several young men and women standing beside them.

When Liu Bai's gaze landed on a tall, handsome, resolute-looking man, he could not help pausing.

Mu Feng! The Domain Lord of the Mu Domain!

Of course, he had another, more important identity. He was the father of Mu Chen, the original story's protagonist, and Qing Yan Jing's husband...

Although Mu Feng looked rather old, it was clear from his features that he must have been a dashing and handsome young man in his youth. Combined with his masculine bearing and steadfast eyes, he certainly had what it took to attract women.

As for his strength...

He was also at the Divine Soul Realm Middle Stage, making him one of the stronger Domain Lords. Unfortunately, he was utterly incomparable to his wife. Liu Bai truly could not understand how Qing Yan Jing had fallen for someone like him back then.

Liu Bai was baffled. Maha Tian was probably baffled too, and there was no need to mention the people of the Futuo Ancient Clan...

When Liu Bai's gaze fell upon Mu Feng's side, he soon noticed that someone was observing him as well.

With a sweep of his eyes, he spotted a white-robed youth standing beside Mu Feng...

The youth looked thirteen or fourteen years old, with handsome features. At a glance, it was obvious that about thirty percent of his looks came from his father. Yet there was a gentler refinement within that handsomeness, clearly inherited more from his mother.

"So this is Mu Chen..."

The current Mu Chen could not even sense spiritual energy yet. Like Liu Bai's younger brother Liu Yang, he was still at home tempering his body. When the Spirit Road reopened in another year, he would probably be sent in.

He just did not know when news of that would spread. It should be sometime soon...

Meanwhile, between the Mu Family father and son.

"Father, someone is looking at you..." Little Mu Chen quietly reminded his father.

Mu Feng was startled and followed his son's indication, only to see Liu Bai turning his gaze elsewhere.

"That is... someone from the Liu Domain."

Mu Feng frowned.

"That is the son of the Liu Domain's Domain Lord, Liu Bai. He is also one of the students participating in this selection battle. It is said that he has already reached the Spirit Wheel Realm Initial Stage, and his talent is exceptional."

Mu Feng quietly introduced him to his son.

"I know him! But once I grow up, I'll definitely be stronger and more talented than him!"

Little Mu Chen was full of confidence, and Mu Feng could not help laughing aloud when he heard that.

Those words carried something of a I could take his place sentiment.

"Good boy. Your father believes in you!"

He patted his son's shoulder, but deep worry was hidden behind Mu Feng's smiling eyes.

"Jing'er..."

Thinking of that woman, gentle as spring sunlight, made Mu Feng's heart ache again and again. Yet before his son, he had to maintain a bright smile.

The commotion between the Mu Family father and son naturally drew many people's attention. Tang Shan, the Domain Lord of the Tang Domain seated not far away, looked over curiously.

Beside Tang Shan stood a girl dressed in black robes dark as ink. She was tall, and her graceful figure was no less striking than those of young maidens. She was Tang Qian'er, Mu Chen's childhood sweetheart who had grown up playing with him, as well as Tang Shan's only daughter.

At that moment, accompanied by the ringing of bells, Dean Xiao of Northern Spirit Academy slowly arrived with the two mentors. Beside the three of them was an unfamiliar middle-aged man.

This sight made the Domain Lords of the Nine Great Domains tremble inwardly, and their gazes toward the man could not help turning fervent.

For Northern Spirit Academy to treat an unfamiliar person like this, there was no need to guess. This middle-aged man must be the representative sent by the Five Great Academies this time.

If they could establish ties with such a person, it would bring enormous benefits to the Nine Great Domains.

Unfortunately, why would someone like that think highly of them...

After making the introductions, Dean Xiao stepped forward and announced the rules for the selection battles. There was not much to say. Everything was the same as in previous years, except for the number of matches.

As for Mr. Lin, the Five Great Academies' recruiter, he remained lazy-looking from beginning to end. He had no interest whatsoever in these so-called genius students, nor in the Domain Lords.

After all, Northern Spirit Academy did not yet have someone like Mu Chen, who had once participated in the Spirit Road. Judging by past circumstances, Northern Spirit Academy could not produce any talents worthy of the Five Great Academies' attention. Thus, this attitude was not strange at all.

Dean Xiao and the others could only smile bitterly at this.

They knew that beneath the Five Great Academies, there were countless small Spiritual Academies like Northern Spirit Academy!

Northern Spirit Academy only had a few spots to enter the Five Great Academies, but every time the Five Great Academies recruited students, there were millions of students like Liu Bai!

Taking a deep breath, Dean Xiao steadied himself and smiled at the many students below. "There are ten participants in this battle for spots: six from the East Academy and four from the West Academy. There are five spots, so there will be five decisive matches. The winners will obtain the qualifications to enter the Five Great Academies."

"As before, opponents will be determined by drawing lots. Do you understand?"

At those words, Liu Bai could clearly sense the nervousness of the people around him. Even their heartbeats had quickened considerably.

It could not be helped. One battle would determine victory or defeat. Once they lost, they would have no more chances. Let alone a group of teenagers, no one could possibly remain calm in such a situation.

Of course, not everyone was nervous.

Liu Bai, for one, did not care at all. He was not worried about who his opponent would be. So what if it was the so-called number one, Xu Ling?

Xu Ling clearly thought the same way. His expression remained calm as well, though when Dean Xiao finished speaking, he could not help glancing at Liu Bai.

"All students participating in the battle for spots, come onto the field!"

As soon as Dean Xiao's voice fell, a commotion rose from the East and West Academy sections. Then figures flashed out one after another, landing proudly in the arena amid countless envious gazes.

No matter how nervous they were inside, once they felt every eye focused upon them, these youths could not help feeling proud.

There was no denying it. They were the ten strongest members of the younger generation in Northern Spirit Academy, perhaps even the entire Northern Spirit Realm!

Looking at the ten before him, Dean Xiao, acting as referee, finally revealed a sincere smile.

"You are the strongest students of this generation in Northern Spirit Academy. No matter who your opponent is later, I hope you will fight well. Though only the winners will receive spots in name, if you catch the eye of the Five Great Academies' recruiter, you may have a chance to receive an additional spot. So do your best to show what you can do!"

The worried youths immediately brightened at those words.

Only Dean Xiao knew that while his words were not wrong, it would not be easy to catch that recruiter's eye. Among these ten, aside from Liu Bai and Xu Ling, Dean Xiao did not think anyone else could deliver a truly eye-catching performance.

Drawing lots...

Liu Bai looked at the bamboo slip in his hand, which bore the character for "three," and knew that he had drawn number three. Naturally, his opponent would be the person who had drawn the same number.

His gaze swept across the group before landing on someone. It was even an old acquaintance...

Zhang Jie looked at the number three slip in his hand, then at Liu Bai. His face had already turned pale.

Back when they had been cultivating on the Northern Spirit Plains, Zhang Jie had been the first to step out and accuse Liu Bai of cheating. Although he had always looked down on people like Liu Bai, who only relied on their families, deep down, he was filled with fear toward Liu Bai.

If all the spoils Liu Bai had produced during that cultivation session on the Northern Spirit Plains had truly been obtained by himself, then if he could kill a mid-level Crimson Flame Wolf King, he could easily crush Zhang Jie...

Forget one Zhang Jie. Even if two more joined him, they probably would not be Liu Bai's match.

Thus, Zhang Jie was already in complete panic.

"It's fine, it's fine. He must have cheated back then... He's just someone who used his family's pills to raise his strength. He definitely won't be my opponent!"

Zhang Jie could only keep comforting himself inwardly.

"Alright, since everyone now knows their opponents, this selection battle begins!"

With Dean Xiao's command, the youths withdrew, leaving only the two who had drawn number one facing each other on the arena!

Before the eyes of the entire crowd, the two youths began fighting at once.

There was no pointless chatter. Their strengths were evenly matched, and the spiritual arts they cultivated were of similar grades. Neither was confident that they could quickly defeat the other.

Liu Bai narrowed his eyes and silently watched the two figures on the arena. From time to time, the impact caused by eruptions of spiritual energy ruffled his hair.

"Ordinary-grade cultivation methods, ordinary-grade Attack Spiritual Arts. This is the normal standard for ordinary students. Even if they are exceptionally talented enough to reach the Spirit Wheel Realm at such a young age, so what..."