Academy Trial

After staying home for several days, Liu Bai returned to Northern Spirit Academy.

What he had not expected was that he had barely returned before Mentor Xi came looking for him.

"Why did you take so long this time? I thought you were going to miss the Academy Trial." When Mentor Xi saw Liu Bai, he asked with a puzzled expression.

"Academy Trial?"

Liu Bai suddenly understood. It was time for the Academy Trial, held once every three months.

The Northern Spirit Realm encouraged competition among its students, because only that could inspire more initiative in them and make them work harder at cultivation.

That was also why even a small place like Northern Spirit Academy was divided into the East Academy and West Academy.

Ever since its founding, the youths of the East Academy and West Academy had regarded each other as rivals, always thinking of ways to suppress the other side.

After all, they were all fifteen-year-old boys, at the age when they were eager to compete. No one wanted to be looked down upon by others.

In the previous few years, the East Academy had always held the upper hand. Whether among Earth Tier or Heaven Tier students, their strength had steadily surpassed that of the West Academy.

In the original story, it was only because Liu Mubai appeared and directly became the number one person in all of Northern Spirit Academy that the West Academy finally turned things around, suppressing the East Academy for several consecutive years when the plot began.

But in this life, it seemed the West Academy's chance to rise was coming early...

"Uh, Mentor Xi, do you think it's suitable for me to take part in the Academy Trial with my current strength?" Liu Bai frowned. Thinking about competing fiercely with a bunch of little brats made him somewhat unwilling to participate.

After all, the Academy Trial was only for Earth Tier students. How many Spirit Movement Realm cultivators could there possibly be between both academies? If he joined, he would simply be bullying them...

Of course, the most important thing was that this was an academy competition. He could not kill anyone to farm experience, so Liu Bai could not be bothered to take part.

"You brat, you've only just broken through to the Spirit Movement Realm Early-stage, yet your tail is already sticking up into the sky. Let me tell you, just these past few days, two people in the East Academy have broken through to the Spirit Movement Realm..."

After hearing Liu Bai's words, Mentor Xi immediately felt that his student was far too arrogant. He clearly did not take his peers seriously at all.

That would not do. He had to give him a warning, lest he suffer later on...

But before he could finish, Liu Bai circulated the spiritual energy within his body, and Mentor Xi could no longer continue.

"Huh? Mentor Xi, what were you saying? The East Academy produced two what?" Liu Bai asked teasingly with a grin.

"The East Academy... the East Academy is crap!" Mentor Xi could no longer hold it in and blurted out a curse, then immediately grabbed Liu Bai by the arm.

"What exactly did you do when you went home? It's only been a few days, yet you're suddenly at the Spirit Movement Realm Peak. It looks like you could advance to the Spirit Wheel Realm at any moment!"

Liu Bai smiled slightly. He could not blame him for being shocked. His rate of improvement truly was a little too fast in the eyes of outsiders. Even the old man at home had been startled.

"It's nothing. I just benefited from my family..." Liu Bai said with a smile.

Seeing this, Mentor Xi was stunned for a moment. Then he immediately thought that during the days his student had spent at home, the Liu Family had likely given him something good to increase his spiritual energy.

For example, spiritual pills... Such rare resources were scarce in the Northern Spirit Realm even at the first grade, but given the Liu Domain's strength, obtaining one or two pills that could help increase spiritual energy was not particularly strange.

With that thought, Mentor Xi did not ask further.

However, he said, "Although with your strength, you could rank among the top three even in the Heaven Tier, you still need to participate in the Academy Trial. After all, the first-place winner will receive a reward..."

Liu Bai remained unmoved. "A few low-grade Spiritual Arts as rewards? I don't need them..."

Northern Spirit Academy's Spiritual Art Chamber was divided into Heaven and Earth layers. Earth Tier students could only enter the Earth Layer to browse Spiritual Arts, while Heaven Tier students could enter the Heaven Layer.

However, most of the Spiritual Arts stored in the chamber were Mortal Grade Spiritual Arts. As far as Liu Bai knew, even the Heaven Layer only had a few Spirit Grade Spiritual Arts, and they were not particularly appealing to him.

Looking at the student before him, who seemed impervious to persuasion, Mentor Xi had a headache.

It had not been easy for the West Academy to produce such a monstrous talent. This was the perfect chance to overturn that old rival who had always been pressing down on him. If he gave it up just like that, Mentor Xi would not be willing either.

Gritting his teeth, Mentor Xi looked as though he was going all out. "How about this? As long as you participate, I'll make the decision to let you choose any Spirit Grade Spiritual Art from the Spiritual Art Chamber. What do you say?"

Liu Bai was somewhat surprised when he heard that. It seemed this man was truly willing to pay a heavy price.

Although he was one of the academy's two Mentors beneath the dean, allowing Liu Bai to freely choose a Spiritual Art was certainly not something he could easily do. He would likely have to pay some price himself to persuade the Northern Spirit Academy Dean.

Since there were benefits to be gained, Liu Bai naturally had no reason to refuse. It was not a difficult matter for him anyway.

When Mentor Xi saw him agree, the pained expression on his face immediately vanished. Then he left with a beaming smile, making Liu Bai suspect that he had been tricked by the man.

Still, he did not waste time on such matters. He went straight to the West Academy training grounds, took a look at his cheap little brother, then went off to cultivate elsewhere.

After all, there were no real forms of leisure or entertainment in this world. Other than cultivating, one could sleep or stare blankly into space. Even though Liu Bai relied on cheats for cultivation, he still had to find something to pass the time when he was free...

In the western area of Northern Spirit Academy was a vast open space, somewhat like an arena. Numerous fighting platforms were scattered throughout it, surrounded by rows of stone seats.

Although Liu Bai considered the Academy Trial little more than a bunch of little brats fighting, it was an extremely popular event within Northern Spirit Academy. Thus, very early that day, the seats had already been swallowed by a vast sea of people.

All kinds of conversations and whispers gathered together, mixed with the bell-like laughter of girls, filling the air with a cheerful atmosphere.

There were many people in the huge venue, but they were clearly divided into two groups: the students of the West Academy and East Academy. Due to their rivalry, both sides occasionally provoked one another, making the atmosphere especially lively.

Naturally, Liu Bai did not want to participate in such childish activities, but he was the acknowledged leader of the West Academy's Earth Tier students...

So at that moment, he could only stand at the very front and watch his underlings argue with the group of youths across from them. It was the same boring argument over and over—"I'm stronger than you, you're weaker than me"—yet every one of them was arguing until their faces were red.

However, the East Academy clearly surpassed the West Academy in the overall top ten rankings of Northern Spirit Academy's Earth Tier students. Thus, whenever they argued, Liu Bai's side was always at a disadvantage. Whenever that happened, his underlings would turn pleading looks toward Liu Bai, their big brother...

"Ha..."

He sighed inwardly.

Being a big brother was not so easy after all. Although he had been "made" their big brother, it did not seem right for him not to step forward and say something at times like this.

"Alright, stop arguing with them. We'll settle everything with our fists," Liu Bai said, shaking his head.

Opposite him stood a youth dressed in a black training uniform named Tao Gu. He came from a small family in the Northern Spirit Realm, but had unexpectedly been found to possess one Spirit Vein. As a result, he was highly valued by East Academy Mentor Mo, and his cultivation was quite good as well. He had now reached the Spirit Movement Realm Early-stage.

However, because he had broken through just a tiny bit later than Liu Bai, he had failed to become the first person of their generation to break through. He had long been unhappy with Liu Bai, who had "stolen" his "first-place" position.

In addition, Liu Bai had never liked interacting with other youths, making him appear somewhat arrogant in the eyes of outsiders. This gave Tao Gu an even worse impression of him. Upon hearing Liu Bai's words, he immediately snorted. "I'm just afraid that when the time comes, your West Academy's skills will lose again. That won't look very good..."

Liu Bai immediately frowned.

This guy had really mistaken his indifference for weakness...

"You're called... what was it again?" Liu Bai could not remember the youth's name for a moment and could not help looking toward one of his underlings.

"Tao Gu! Brother Bai, this guy is called Tao Gu..." one of them quickly replied.

"Oh, Tao Gu, right? When the Academy Trial starts, why don't you and I go first? That way, I can see just how strong the East Academy's number one genius really is."

"You...!!" The black-robed youth Tao Gu ground his teeth, his hands clenched tightly into fists.

He was looking down on him too much. He could not even remember his name...

The black-robed youth Tao Gu was certain that Liu Bai was deliberately humiliating him!

Isn't it just that he was born into a good family and has a good father? Let's see how I defeat him in front of everyone later, then humiliate him!

The youth's thoughts twisted darkly.

Well, Tao Gu had truly misunderstood Liu Bai. Liu Bai really did not remember his name; he was not deliberately trying to humiliate him.

After all, he could not even recognize all the underlings around him, much less an outsider.

Dong!

As a clear bell chime suddenly rang out, the many students throughout the venue were instantly stirred.

The Academy Trial was finally about to begin, and everyone properly returned to their assigned positions.

The Northern Spirit Academy Dean and the Mentors of both academies appeared on the high platform at the back of the venue. A middle-aged man stepped forward, his deep and powerful voice rumbling beside every student's ears.

"The time has come. The Academy Trial begins. During matches between members of the same academy, do not strike to kill. Remember that!"

"You all know the rules. Anyone who steps onto the stage has one chance to challenge an opponent. However, you only have one chance, so measure your strength and choose a suitable opponent."

The speaker was East Academy Mentor Mo, who would also become Mu Chen's Mentor in the future. Overall, Mentor Mo was stronger than the two Mentors, and he was stern by nature, treating all students equally. This was something Mentor Xi, who favored those from great families, could not compare to.

Of course, none of that had much to do with Liu Bai.

Once Mentor Mo announced the start, the dense sea of people in the venue immediately erupted into noise again.

After another bell chime, many impatient students rushed straight onto the fighting platforms...

"Mi Hayou, get your ass down here! I've been sick of you for a long time!"

"Wang Yi, you come out too! This time, I'll definitely get back at you for last time!"

"..."

Liu Bai found the chaotic scene somewhat amusing, but he soon caught sight of the black-robed youth Tao Gu rushing onto a fighting platform in the distance and immediately shouting in his direction.

"Liu Bai, get up here. Let's see which of us is truly the number one of the Earth Tier!"

At those words, many students immediately turned their gazes toward them.

Even some Heaven Tier students watched with interest, seemingly quite curious about this battle for "first place."

"Oh? Tao Gu is directly challenging Liu Bai?" Mentor Xi's gaze swept over from afar, and a strange smile appeared on his face. He then glanced at the old rival seated opposite him.

"They broke through to the Spirit Movement Realm at almost the same time. Although Liu Bai has the Liu Domain behind him, Tao Gu possesses Spirit Veins. It is still difficult to say who will win," Mentor Mo said with the same stern expression.

"Heh, not necessarily..."

Mentor Xi spoke aloud, but sneered inwardly.

So what if he had Spirit Veins? It was only one Spirit Vein. It could not withstand the crushing gap in strength.

Liu Bai had nothing to say either. He walked directly to the edge of the platform, then lightly jumped onto it.

"Alright, you can make your move now." Liu Bai casually stood opposite him, looking utterly unconcerned.

This scene made quite a few Heaven Tier students frown. They felt Liu Bai was being far too presumptuous, almost excessively arrogant.

"Damn it, he's too arrogant!"

"Tao Gu, we support you! Beat that arrogant bastard badly!"

"Exactly! Punch that bastard's pretty boy face a few times and see how he keeps using that slutty face to seduce girls..."

Everyone: "...?"

The East Academy students, who had been angrily shouting, suddenly heard that remark and could not help looking toward the speaker.

Then they saw a short, fat youth with a charcoal-black pancake face, filled with resentment. They immediately understood.

"Brother, did Liu Bai steal your girlfriend?"

"I don't have one, I didn't, stop talking nonsense!" The short, fat, dark-skinned youth repeatedly denied it. He even tried to cover his face with his hands, but unfortunately, his hands were too small to hide it...

On the platform, Liu Bai nearly fell flat on his face when he saw this.

Heaven and earth bear witness, he had never done such a thing. Furthermore, he had spent the past year cultivating alone. When had he ever used his handsome face to seduce girls?

Opposite him, Tao Gu saw Liu Bai still daring to be distracted by what was happening below. His anger immediately flared. He extended both arms, and a pale blue spiritual energy covered them. Even the air around his arms showed a faint tendency to freeze.

Heavenly Frost Palm!

With an angry roar, a surging wave of icy energy came rushing forth!