Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

Hearing this, Elder Tielin also stepped forward, stroking his beard. "Elder Tie Mu is right. Would the two of us lie to you?"

Only then did all the students lower their heads in shame. ’If Mu Chen and his team hadn’t encountered a King Beast, if their mission had been just a little simpler, we definitely would have been among those who completed it. Is someone who can fight a King Beast for over ten minutes even human? And a person like that has to study in the special class? Doesn’t that prove how important the special class is?’

In that moment, the resolve of the thirty students who had passed hardened. Seeing their determined expressions, Lingyun, Tie Mu, and Tielin exchanged a knowing smile. They knew their goal had been achieved.

It was time to distribute the rewards. To the great disappointment of Mu Chen and the others, the reward wasn’t pills, but double the amount of Demon Cores from the Magical Beasts they had slain. This made some people green with envy. Two hundred and sixty Second-level Demon Cores and twenty-two Third-level Demon Cores—it was a massive fortune!

However, despite their envy, everyone understood that great strength yielded great rewards. In their hearts, Mu Chen had become a benchmark—someone to follow closely, even if they could never surpass him.

Mu Chen only felt slightly better after an exception was made for his team to enter the special class. He silently vowed, ’I will never let my team fall into such a dangerous predicament again.’

"I’m not finished. Everyone, fall back in line!" Lingyun said softly.

The students obediently returned to their ranks. Lingyun smiled and nodded. "The four hundred and sixty-five of you who didn’t pass the trial, do not be discouraged. As I said, this is the first year, and there is only one special class, which is why we recruited so few students. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t have another chance. The special class will have periodic tests. These tests won’t just be for its members; they’ll be open to all of you as well. If you pass a test that a special class student fails, or if you simply perform better than them, you will take their spot. They, in turn, will be demoted to a regular class."

"The academy is absolutely fair on this point. You will all be issued the same set of training equipment they use. But whether or not you put in the effort is up to you. That’s all I’ll say about that. Now, I have some good news. After every new student trial, there is a ten-day holiday. You can use this time to go home and visit your families, or you can remain at the academy. In short, for these ten days, you are free to do as you please. But in the future, such opportunities will be rare, so cherish this short break. Don’t waste it."

With that, Lingyun winked. "And now, I declare this year’s new student trial officially over! All students are dismissed!"

"ROAR!"

Many students let out beast-like roars, releasing the pent-up emotions from the past few days. During the tense trial for survival, they had gone through so much they had never experienced before. They didn’t know it, but at that moment, a subtle change had occurred within them—a change that would benefit them for the rest of their lives.

The moonlight cast dancing shadows, but tonight was destined to be lively. Laughter echoed along the road back to the academy. Though ninety percent of the students had failed the trial, they had gained a sense of camaraderie that nothing could buy. It was safe to say that every team that participated in the trial would be incredibly united from now on.

Mu Chen and his friends smiled, watching the laughing students around them. They were all talking about returning home to reunite with their families. A surge of emotion washed over Mu Chen. ’Three years apart, three years of longing. Tomorrow, I can finally go home.’ ’Home... what a warm word.’ A gentle breeze swept by, lifting his long blue hair. The corners of his lips curved upward. ’Dad, Mom, Chen’Er has grown up...’

However, as the students neared the main plaza, they were drawn to the bright lights illuminating the area. Beneath the lights, a massive crowd was gathered. Students from every grade level were standing there, periodically glancing in their direction. Not only was Mu Chen taken aback by the sight, but even Lingyun and Elders Tie Mu and Tielin, who were walking with them, couldn’t help but look confused.

’The new student trial has never had such a grand reception in previous years. Why the change this year without any notice?’ But as Tie Mu focused his gaze into the distance, his eyes widened in astonishment. "Is that...?"

Tie Mu’s reaction quickly drew the attention of Tielin and Lingyun. They followed Elder Tie Mu’s gaze and their expressions also turned to shock. Standing there was an arrogant, beautiful woman who appeared to be in her forties, her eyes filled with disdain. Beside her stood Di Cang, the Vice Dean of the Outer Circle. What’s more, surrounding the pair were all the instructors from the Outer and Inner Circles, and even a large number of Core Disciples from the Inner Courtyard had shown up.

"What is that old hag Qin Garden doing out of the Holy Hall? What’s going on?" Lingyun asked Elder Tielin, confused.

Elder Tielin could only shrug, as he had no idea what was happening either. Just as they were puzzling over the situation, Di Cang and Zhun Cang flew over swiftly, landing lightly in front of Lingyun and the others. Di Cang wore a pleasant, affable smile. "Yun’Er, Old Wood, Old Lin, thank you for your hard work."

Tie Mu and Tielin both waved him off. Tie Mu gave him a disdainful look and said, "Cut the crap. I’ve never seen you be so polite. Spit it out, what’s going on?"

Di Cang chuckled. "It’s nothing serious. A student from the Holy Hall issued a challenge to our Outer Circle, and today is the scheduled day. I just called everyone over to watch the fight."

"Oh?" Tielin exclaimed in surprise, then chuckled. "Is that so? This is a first for the Imperial Academy. It’s always been the Outer Circle challenging the Holy Hall, but today the Holy Hall is challenging us."

"Who are they challenging?" Tie Mu scanned the students, and his gaze suddenly landed on Mu Chen. He was stunned. "It can’t be..."

Di Cang just smiled without saying a word, but his silence was answer enough.

The surrounding students exchanged confused glances, waiting for Lingyun or the Elders to explain what was going on. But it seemed the instructors at the front had no intention of doing so. Little Tiger and Qing Lei, however, had a vague idea of what was about to happen. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Brother Mu Chen, it’s that guy," Little Tiger said, pointing to an arrogant youth standing at the front of the opposing crowd.

Qing Lei nodded. "Looks like Kong Ye Ming is determined to put you in your place."

"Heh..." Mu Chen chuckled and strode forward, quickly reaching the very front of the new students. For a moment, the two of them simply stood there, locking gazes.

When Kong Ye Ming saw Mu Chen step forward, he said with a sneer, "Well, well. Don’t tell me you couldn’t even pass the new student trial?"

Mu Chen smiled faintly. "As a matter of fact, I didn’t."

"Hm? Hahaha! That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard! You couldn’t even pass the new student trial? What right do you have to claim you can beat me, especially with such confidence?" Kong Ye Ming scoffed, his contemptuous gaze locked on Mu Chen.

Mu Chen continued to smile at Kong Ye Ming and said calmly, "Beating you will be easier than passing the new student trial."

With that, Mu Chen turned and walked directly toward the dueling arenas, his actions making his intentions clear to Kong Ye Ming. Just then, a figure in blue leaped from the ranks of the Holy Hall Students, landed at Mu Chen’s side, and began walking behind him toward the arenas.

Qin Garden’s brow furrowed at the sight. As the Hall Master of the Holy Hall, seeing her top third-year student display such a close connection with someone from the Outer Circle annoyed her. However, with Di Cang at her side, she couldn’t voice her displeasure.

Kong Ye Ming’s face darkened as he stared at Mu Chen. To him, Mu Chen’s actions were a deliberate humiliation. But then he had another thought. ’Our strengths aren’t even on the same level. Why should I care what he does?’

Realizing this, Kong Ye Ming concluded that Mu Chen was just putting up a brave front to save face. After all, in front of so many people, it was better to lose in the arena than to back down. Of course, he never for a second considered the possibility that Mu Chen could actually win.

Behind Kong Ye Ming, a group of indifferent-looking Holy Hall disciples let out cold smirks, their mocking gazes fixed on Mu Chen’s slender back.

However, among these Holy Hall Students, a handsome man holding a Folding Fan spoke, a cruel smile on his lips. "It seems I won’t have to make a move after all. This is what happens when you’re too arrogant! Mu Bingling, you see? You can’t escape the palm of my hand." The speaker was none other than Xuan Yu, the Prince who had been pursuing Mu Bingling. By now, the students who had taken part in the trial finally understood what was happening, and a wave of excitement passed through them. Soon, under Di Cang’s direction, the new students merged with the rest of the student body, and everyone began to buzz with discussion.

"Do you guys think Mu Chen will win?" a student from the trial asked quietly.

"Are you kidding? No matter how strong Mu Chen is, he’s only a Martial Master. Do you even know who Kong Ye Ming is? He’s the strongest expert in the Holy Hall’s fourth year, a Three-Ring Martial Spirit! There’s no way Mu Chen can win," a student who hadn’t been in the trial scoffed.

"I think you’re the one who doesn’t know anything! Mu Chen is incredibly strong. Besides, look at those arrogant jerks. They all walk around with their noses in the air. Underestimating your opponent is the surest way to a miserable defeat," another trial participant shot back.

But no matter what anyone else said, four students in the crowd wore confident smiles. The others didn’t know, but they had witnessed with their own eyes the power Mu Chen had displayed against the King Beast. Even though they hadn’t seen him use the Ice Prison Cold Mist, the strength he had shown before that moment was already far beyond that of a Three-Ring Martial Spirit.

"Heh... I’m surprised your Outer Circle students have some backbone. Most people would be too busy running to even think of fighting Kong Ye Ming," Qin Garden said, a mocking smile on her beautiful face as she glanced sideways at Di Cang.

Di Cang didn’t spare Qin Garden a single glance, nor did he say a word to her. Instead, he addressed all the Outer Circle Students. "Children, this battle will change an era—the era of the Holy Hall’s dominance over the Imperial Academy. From this day forward, you will understand that the students of the Holy Hall are nothing special after all."

The instant he finished speaking, the entire plaza fell silent. Even the students from the Holy Hall stared at Di Cang in astonishment. They might look down on the "inferior" students of the Outer Circle, but they held a deep-seated respect for Di Cang. He was the strongest person in the entire academy. For him to say such a thing sent a clear message: Kong Ye Ming was guaranteed to lose this duel. ’If that’s true, then who in the world is this boy named Mu Chen?’