On a beautiful and sunny morning, sparse white clouds drifted across the sky, and the sunlight slanted down, coating the earth with a golden glow.
The entire Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy was in an uproar. A month had passed since the new students enrolled, and today was the day of the New Student Assembly.
Almost all the new students were rushing towards Bei Ling Mountain.
Besides the new students, the older students were also very interested in this grand event. Some hovered in the sky outside Bei Ling Mountain, while others gathered in the square, watching the competition through real-time images projected by Spirit Arrays.
During this month, Mu Chen ascended to the top of the God Soul List through the Trial Tower, obtaining enough Spirit Value to purchase a Divine Soul Pill.
After consuming the Divine Soul Pill, he successfully advanced to the Late Stage of the Divine Soul Realm.
In addition, he also became the leader of the "Luoshen Association."
The "Luoshen Association" was a student club spontaneously formed by new students, initiated and managed by Chu Lin, while Mu Chen, as the leader, had the sole responsibility of stepping in to resolve trouble when someone caused it.
As for the club's structure, number of members, and list of cadres, Mu Chen was completely unaware.
This "hands-off" approach naturally caused dissatisfaction among some, but Chu Lin's organizational ability was quite good, and no major problems arose within the club.
Especially after Mu Chen defeated the leader of the "Mad Lion Gang," an older student club that came to provoke them, everyone was thoroughly convinced by him.
This battle also put Mu Chen's name on the 92nd spot of the Heaven Rank, making him the only student in the institute simultaneously ranked on both the Heaven Rank and the God Soul List.
The "Luoshen Association" was not the only new student club; those arrogant prodigies were unwilling to be subservient to others.
Yang Hong formed the "Flying Dragon Association," Mu Kui formed the "Ironwood Group"...
Since the New Student Assembly was conducted in a free-for-all format, it was not only a test of individual student strength but also a competition between various clubs.
After Mu Chen and Luo Li met with Chu Lin and others in a square, they went to the foot of Bei Ling Mountain with their club members.
At this moment, the entire Bei Ling Mountain was surrounded by a massive array.
Seeing Mu Chen's slightly puzzled expression, Chu Lin explained:
"This array is used to distinguish between older and new students. It can identify Spirit Value tokens, and Spirit Value tokens are bound to one's aura... Older students will be blocked by the array, which prevents cheating.
"There is also a similar Spirit Array at the top of the mountain. That Spirit Array also identifies through Spirit Value tokens. After the one hundredth person enters, the Spirit Array will activate, isolating the rest of the students."
"So that's how it is..." Mu Chen nodded slightly.
As they waited on the plain at the foot of the mountain, the space at the summit of Bei Ling Mountain suddenly distorted, and three figures appeared in the air.
In the center was Hun Miesheng, dressed in black robes with an expressionless face. To his left was a figure dressed in white robes with white hair, but a youthful face. The person on his right was dressed in a green robe, with a face like beautiful jade, and a faint smile on his face.
Hun Miesheng spoke in a hoarse voice: "You should all already know the rules of the competition, so I won't say more.
"What you need to pay attention to is that there are a few Heaven-tier Spirit Beasts in this Bei Ling Mountain. Please remain vigilant during the ascent."
His voice was not loud, but it clearly entered everyone's ears, and everyone could hear it very clearly.
"No more nonsense, I announce that the New Student Assembly, now begins."
Countless new students scrambled to rush towards the summit. The originally silent mountain range suddenly boiled, and besides the shouts of the young people, countless roars of Spirit Beasts also echoed.
There were many participants, but when spread across the vast mountain range, they appeared sparse.
In the sky, a giant Flood Dragon was circling, exuding terrifying might.
Besides the giant Flood Dragon, there were also countless small snakes with double wings on their backs, scattered throughout the sky. They were like kings patrolling their territory with their guard, attacking any student who dared to ascend into the air.
The terrifying might emanating from the Flood Dragon had already reached the Late Stage of the Heaven Merging Realm, making many people feel awe and dare not fly.
"Be careful, those winged strange snakes are poisonous!" Someone shouted.
Mu Chen's expression also changed slightly as he looked at the dense strange snakes, a hint of apprehension in his eyes.
The forests on the ground were also not safe; Spirit Beasts spontaneously attacked the students who invaded their territory.
Battles were everywhere, violent spiritual energy overflowed, and the entire mountain range became a huge battlefield.
Mu Chen and Luo Li advanced together, their attacks were extremely sharp, and with every strike, a Spirit Beast would perish.
Behind the two of them followed dozens of members of the "Luoshen Association," all of whom had cultivation at the Divine Soul Realm, considered among the stronger group of students.
Of course, the "Luoshen Association" was not just that few people, but under the impact of the Spirit Beasts, they had all scattered.
Within the mountain range, the deeper one went, the stronger the Spirit Beasts became.
Gradually, the people behind him dwindled. Mu Chen wanted to help, but those who couldn't keep up with the team said:
"Boss, don't worry about us. Forcing our way through will only be a burden. Our strength can only take us this far.
"Stopping here might only result in some injuries, but forcibly stepping into a place we shouldn't go might cost us our lives if we're not careful.
"Go for it, bring back the championship."
Mu Chen nodded heavily.
They continued to advance and finally reached Bei Ling Mountain in the deepest part of the mountain range. At the halfway point of Bei Ling Mountain, they encountered Yang Hong and others.
Glancing at Mu Chen from afar, Yang Hong's eyes were cold. He casually ordered: "You guys go stop him."
"Yes." The few people following him said.
Unlike Mu Chen's laid-back development, the "Flying Dragon Association" formed by Yang Hong had a more rigorous organizational structure and attracted more skilled individuals.
The people around him were clearly much more numerous than Mu Chen's side.
Chu Lin led a few people to stop them, leaving only Luo Li beside Mu Chen. The two of them felt greatly increased pressure facing the Spirit Beasts that constantly attacked.
"Yang Hong..." A hint of coldness flashed in Luo Li's eyes.
"Let's get to the top of the mountain first." Mu Chen said in a deep voice.
The two passed through the beast horde and ascended the summit one after another, stepping into the Spirit Array. Their Spirit Value tokens displayed numbers four and five respectively.
A giant python suddenly shot out from underground, its mouth full of sharp fangs covered in a pus-like viscous liquid, and a putrid smell assailed them with its roar.
Luo Li couldn't help but wrinkle her nose.
"It's a Mountain Swallowing Python!"
With a clang, a cold light flashed, and a sword gleam pierced through the python's head. The long sword returned to its sheath, and Luo Li gently exhaled spiritual energy from her palm, retrieving an essence core.
"Careful." A green shadow rapidly flew towards Luo Li.
Mu Chen quickly stepped forward and activated the Floating Buddhist Tower. The black light tower protected the two of them, and a sharp scythe slashed onto the light tower, creating slight ripples.
"Green Leaf Mantis..." Mu Chen's hand seals flew out one by one, forming a huge array.
"Dragon-Elephant Array."
A dragon and an elephant pressed down towards the Green Leaf Mantis. This was only a second-tier array; although powerful, it was still somewhat difficult to deal with a demonic beast at the Early Stage of the Heaven Merging Realm.
Of course, Mu Chen didn't expect to kill the opponent with it. He followed behind the dragon shadow, and after the mantis was blocked by the dragon-elephant illusion, his blood-glowing fist and the six-layered Bansho Death Seal smashed onto its head.
The Green Leaf Mantis's head exploded like a watermelon dropped on the ground.
People arrived at the summit one after another, and everyone's gaze was fixed on a stone platform suspended in mid-air at the summit.
A flag was planted on the stone platform.
Mu Chen, Luo Li, Yang Hong, Bing Qing, Mu Kui, and other outstanding new students rushed towards the flag in unison.
Yang Hong looked at Mu Chen with cold eyes and sneered: "Heh, I don't know how you managed to clear the thirteenth floor of the Trial Tower, but with your pathetic Late Stage of the Divine Soul Realm strength, you still want to fight me?"
As he spoke, a massive aura erupted from his body. He had already stepped halfway into the Heaven Merging Realm when he first enrolled, and after a month of arduous cultivation, he had reached the Middle Stage of the Heaven Merging Realm!
"Consider yourself unlucky, I only just broke through to this level two days ago." Yang Hong held nothing back, immediately activating his Spirit Beast essence core.
Green spiritual energy surged, and a dragon's roar resounded through the heavens and earth. Yang Hong's figure disappeared, replaced by a bizarre giant beast with a tiger's head and a dragon's body.
Countless gazes converged on him, their pupils constricting slightly.
"That's... the fiftieth on the Ten Thousand Beast Record's Earth Rank, the Ancient Tiger Flood Dragon?"
A cold glint appeared in Mu Chen's eyes. He softly said: "Luo Li, please stall for some time. Don't let others snatch the flag while I'm dealing with him."
Luo Li nodded, and a sword gleam enveloped both Bing Qing and Mu Kui.
Although he could easily snatch the flag first with "Time Zero," he now wanted to deal with Yang Hong more.
Back in the Spiritual Road, among those who plotted against him, Ji Xuan was undoubtedly the mastermind, but Yang Hong also played a part in fanning the flames.
"Deal with me? With just you?" The giant beast with the tiger head and flood dragon body let out a loud laugh, its eyes filled with ferocity.
Mu Kui and Bing Qing dodged Luo Li's sword light, slowing down. Their gazes swept over Yang Hong, their eyes filled with deep apprehension.
Mu Kui suddenly stopped and said to Luo Li:
"It won't be easy for you to stop both of us either... I won't take the opportunity to snatch the flag before the battle between Mu Chen and Yang Hong ends.
"I will defeat the winner between the two of them in a fair fight and then claim the flag."
Bing Qing thought for a moment and also stopped advancing: "I also want to see how he plans to defeat the current Yang Hong."
However, no sooner had her words fallen than she saw a ray of light shoot into the sky.
The Spirit Flag had been pulled out.
Mu Chen was somehow standing on the stone platform, holding the flag high in his right hand, breathing heavily, his face showing undisguised fatigue, but his eyes were very sharp.
"When?" Mu Kui and Bing Qing were startled.
"Goodness, this guy plays dirty, pretending to want a decisive battle with Yang Hong, but actually secretly went to pull out the flag?" A hint of anger flashed in Mu Kui's eyes.
"He's not that kind of person." Luo Li had full confidence in Mu Chen.
She turned her head to look at the Ancient Tiger Flood Dragon that Yang Hong had transformed into.
The giant beast fell from the sky, hitting the ground with a loud "boom," kicking up a large cloud of dust.
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