Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

Mu Chen’s actions made countless people feel like they were hallucinating. A Sixth-Ring Martial Master moving freely through the air—Walking on Air? Why could he use an ability that only a Martial Spirit should possess?

The question echoed in countless minds. A sharp glint flashed in Di Cang’s eyes as he murmured, "This kid... he truly never fails to shock me."

"How is he doing that?" Tielin and Tie Mu both stopped, game pieces in hand, and asked with a frown.

Di Cang smiled faintly. "Look closely at Mu Chen’s feet." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Tielin and Tie Mu turned their heads, and upon closer inspection, they noticed the difference. Beneath Mu Chen’s feet was a palm-sized block of blue ice.

"This is... Primordial Qi Materialization!" Tie Mu froze, and the game piece in his hand fell onto the board with a CLACK.

Di Cang shook his head and gave a wry smile. "This kid always manages to do things ordinary people can’t even imagine. He’s a true monster!"

That was right. Since his Ice Extreme Attribute Power allowed for Primordial Qi Materialization, Mu Chen had an idea. ’If I can use the Primordial Qi in the air to form a weapon, then I should also be able to use it to create a foothold.’ To test this theory, Mu Chen leaped into the air. With a mere thought, he felt the Water Attribute Primordial Qi beneath his feet ripple. A block of blue Profound Ice materialized in mid-air. When he tapped it with his toes, he discovered it didn’t sink in the slightest. This meant he could stop anywhere he pleased in the air!

Primordial Qi Materialization was an ability exclusive to the Martial Emperor Level. However, once a Martial Artist reached the Emperor Realm, they could already soar freely through the sky and had no need to materialize footholds. Mu Chen was different. Though only at the Martial Master Realm, he could already achieve Primordial Qi Materialization. This single feat made him the first person below the rank of Martial Spirit capable of Walking on Air—an accomplishment unheard of on the Extreme Martial Continent!

"Perhaps... his appearance will mark a turning point for our Xuanling Empire," Di Cang said suddenly, his gaze filled with hope.

In the air, Mu Chen brandished the Profound Ice Giant Fan, slashing out. As the giant fan opened and closed, it transformed through countless techniques. Kong Ye Ming’s vision swam with a dizzying array of ice-blue phantoms of the fan. For a moment, he had no idea how to dodge. Fear crept into his heart, and he began to fall back. ’Has his cultivation realm long surpassed that of a Martial Spirit?’ he wondered. ’Is he just hiding his true power?’ But then he looked at the six orange Martial Rings shimmering beneath Mu Chen’s feet, and his confusion only deepened.

BANG!

Finally, under Mu Chen’s relentless assault, Kong Ye Ming, who was unable to focus and had already started to retreat, was viciously struck in the abdomen by the now-closed Profound Ice Giant Fan. The immense force sent him flying, and he crashed hard onto the open ground outside the arena.

Silence. Although some students had guessed Mu Chen might win the moment he started Walking on Air, seeing him actually achieve victory left everyone in a stunned hush. A new student from the Outer Circle, a Sixth-Ring Martial Master, had defeated a fourth-year from the Holy Hall, a Three-Ring Martial Spirit. The disparity in their realms made the outcome hard to accept.

As the dust settled, Kong Ye Ming’s face was deathly pale. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his gaze fixed on Mu Chen in horror as he murmured, "I... I actually lost. I lost to a Martial Master..."

He looked up at Mu Chen, who stood poised in the air, looking down at him. The sight of Mu Chen’s empty right sleeve, fluttering in the wind, felt incredibly ironic. He had lost. Lost to a Martial Master. Lost to a new student missing his right arm. It felt as though something inside him was slowly crumbling away. Clutching his abdomen, Kong Ye Ming stared blankly back at Mu Chen.

With a clench of his hand, the Profound Ice Giant Fan—condensed from Water Attribute Primordial Qi—burst into a cloud of glittering shards that drifted away on the gentle breeze. As this mist of energy passed Mu Chen, it acted as if it had found kin, circling around him several times before reluctantly dispersing.

"The winner is... Mu Chen!"

The ancient-sounding announcement came from offstage as Di Cang slowly floated into the air. His words pulled everyone from their state of shock and disbelief back to the harsh reality of the outcome. In response, the Outer Circle Students erupted in cheers.

"Mu Chen! Mu Chen! Mu Chen!..."

It’s unclear who started chanting his name, but soon, the sound shook the very heavens as more than six thousand Outer Circle Students roared in unison. Mu Chen had won. The Outer Circle had won. This battle was not just a resounding slap in the face for Kong Ye Ming—it was an even bigger one for the entire Holy Hall.

As the dean of the Holy Hall, Qin Garden didn’t look the least bit gloomy. In fact, she seemed rather excited. She flashed onto the arena stage and said, "You’re Mu Chen, correct?"

Mu Chen found the question rather pointless. He simply nodded, saying nothing.

Qin Garden was secretly annoyed. ’When have I, the dean of Xuanling Imperial Academy, ever been treated with such disrespect?’ On the surface, however, she remained perfectly cordial. "I am the dean of the Holy Hall, and of the entire academy," she said gently. "I hereby grant you the status of a core student in the Holy Hall. You will enjoy all the Fu Li of a core student. Are you willing to join us?"

The moment she spoke, Tielin’s face darkened. "That old woman has no shame!" he cursed. "Poaching someone so openly! It’s shameless!"

"Heh, you’re underestimating Di Cang," Tie Mu said, shaking his head and gesturing with his chin toward Di Cang in the air. "Look at the old fellow’s expression. That old woman is the one who’s about to be put in her place."

Tielin looked up. Di Cang was standing with his hands clasped behind his back, a broad smile on his face. He didn’t seem the least bit angry, nor did he show any sign of intervening. He had a smug, punchable look on his face, as if taunting, ’Go on, try to poach him. I dare you.’

Mu Chen looked at Qin Garden and bowed respectfully. "Dean, I must apologize," he said. "Please forgive me, but I cannot accept your offer to study at the Holy Hall."

Qin Garden’s brow furrowed. "Why not?" she asked. "The Holy Hall has superior instructors, abundant Cultivation Resources, and a great number of exceptional students. It would be of immense help to your development."

Mu Chen bowed again. "Dean, thank you for thinking so highly of me, but I will not be going to the Holy Hall. I enjoy the atmosphere in the Outer Circle. My Mental Realm is at peace here, and I won’t be in an environment where people look down on others just because they’re strong. Besides, my mentor is Lingyun, and Fu Li is also enough for me. Compared to the Holy Hall, I much prefer the Outer Circle."

The moment Mu Chen finished speaking, all the Outer Circle Students beamed with joy. In contrast, the students from the Holy Hall looked thoroughly disgraced.

"Tch, who does he think he is? So what if he beat one guy from the fourth year? The Holy Hall has plenty of students stronger than him."

"Heh, one victory and his ego has already exploded. I could take on a few guys like him at once."

"Exactly. He doesn’t know what’s good for him. We honored him with an invitation to the Holy Hall, and he really thinks he’s something special."

Qin Garden’s expression darkened. Other students would kill to get into the Holy Hall, yet here she was, in her capacity as dean, publicly inviting him in front of the entire academy, only to be rejected. She felt deeply humiliated. Her voice turned grim. "Mu Chen, you’d better think this through. I am inviting you in my capacity as dean. Do you really intend to refuse?"

Qin Garden’s words were an ultimatum. Mu Chen’s expression remained resolute, but just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by that ancient-sounding voice. "Qin Garden, you can stop. Mu Chen will not be going to the Holy Hall."

The voice had barely faded when Qin Garden spun around to face Di Cang, who was standing behind her. She sneered, "Oh? And what makes you so certain?"

Di Cang smiled. "Because I can teach him better than you can."

"Heh heh... Old Di, don’t think you can say such arrogant things just because your realm is one small step above mine. After all these years, do you really still think you’re the strongest in the academy?" With a cold sneer, Qin Garden’s Primordial Power erupted. An immense pressure enveloped the entire arena, forcing all the students to their knees.

"Th-This... is this the pressure of an Emperor?" a new student stammered.

Nine incredibly solid purple Martial Rings materialized beneath Qin Garden’s feet. Di Cang paused, slightly surprised. "So, you’ve reached the Nine-Ring Martial Emperor Peak. It seems you haven’t been slacking off these years," he remarked. "However..."

HUM! Di Cang stamped his foot, and a ripple spread through the space around him. And then... with no warning whatsoever, he simply vanished.

With a sharp RIPPING sound, the space beside Qin Garden suddenly shuddered and a rift tore open. In a flash, Di Cang appeared right in front of her. "Did you really think," he said coolly, "that I’ve spent all these years just drinking tea and napping?"

BOOM! An aura several times more powerful than Qin Garden’s erupted from Di Cang, instantly shattering her pressure. A single, silver Martial Ring floated at his feet, humming softly.

"You... You’ve actually..." Qin Garden pointed at Di Cang, her face ashen with shock.

"A Venerable has appeared!"

The academy’s mentors and Elders all bowed deeply. A Martial Venerable was a Venerable. On the Extreme Martial Continent, a Venerable was to be addressed as "Sir," and all who met one were required to bow, even if the person had only just stepped into the Martial Venerable Realm. To do otherwise was to show gross disrespect to a superior. Though extremely reluctant, Qin Garden also quickly bowed and addressed him as, "Sir."

Di Cang nodded slightly and announced in a clear voice, "Mu Chen is my closed-door disciple, and has been since the semester began. Do you think you can poach him from me? Do you think you can offer him better guidance than I can? I’ll tell you this—even I feel unworthy to be his teacher."

An uproar swept through the crowd.

His words sent a shockwave through the entire academy. Understanding dawned on some of the students, and they began to murmur.

"No wonder... no wonder he’s so powerful. He’s the disciple of a Dean... the disciple of a Venerable!"

"The Outer Circle... I’m staying in the Outer Circle! Mu Chen is now my goal!"

Little did Mu Chen know, his presence had already begun to change the entire landscape of the academy...

"The winner of this arena battle is Mu Chen," Di Cang continued. "As for the wager agreed upon by both parties, Mu Chen may demand any condition of Kong Ye Ming, up to and including his life."

Di Cang’s words silenced the excited students. To think Kong Ye Ming had been arrogant enough to agree to any condition Mu Chen set. Hearing the terms repeated, Kong Ye Ming’s already ashen face grew even paler. He suddenly became very nervous about what condition Mu Chen would propose.

Mu Chen still wore his calm smile. With a simple thought, he descended from the air and landed steadily in front of Kong Ye Ming. Kong Ye Ming flinched. "You... What are you going to do?"

Mu Chen smiled. "Weren’t you the one who said you’d agree to any condition?"

Kong Ye Ming’s gaze faltered for a second before he gritted his teeth. "Fine! Say it. Whatever your condition is, I, Kong Ye Ming, will fulfill it immediately!"