"Big Brother Mu!"
When Mu Chen appeared in the sky, earth-shattering cheers instantly erupted from within the gigantic Hokuang Reiwon. Within the current Hokuang Reiwon, Mu Chen's reputation had clearly reached its peak, with no one treating him as a freshman anymore. That's because the things he had done were things that even veteran influential figures like Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong were unable to achieve.
"Indeed, it's Mu Chen!"
Tan Qingshan and the other two looked excitedly at the familiar figure. Over the past year, the youth had matured quite a bit. However, there wasn't much of a change in his appearance.
The young girl by the name of Yu Xi had also opened her beautiful eyes wide as she stared tightly at the slender figure. The latter's calm and collected demeanour, which was still able to laugh wittily and wittily in the face of such a powerful opponent, caused the young girl's lovable face to uncontrollably flush red, while her heart started to sway.
Outside a large hall at the centre of the Hokuang Reiwon, Dean Tai Cang and a group of Elders were grinning as they looked towards the youths in the sky. Such a lively spectacle truly hadn't appeared for over half a year …
Up in the sky, Mu Chen raised his gaze, before saying with a faint smile, "Looks like everyone's strength has increased extremely quickly after half a year of seclusion!"
Upon seeing Shen Cangsheng and the other two, Mu Chen felt somewhat astonished in his heart. That's because he could sense that, amongst the nine of them, He Yao, Su Xuan, Xu Huang, Zhao Qingshan and the other two had basically all reached Heavenly Completion Stage Late Phase. This was practically the same as him. One had to know that before entering the Gate of the Northern Heavens, they had only just touched upon Heavenly Completion Stage. However, in the short span of half a year, they had unexpectedly soared to such a degree.
Furthermore, other than the six of them, Shen Cangsheng, Li Xuantong and Luo Li had clearly surpassed them. According to Mu Chen's senses, the three of them might have already passed their Human Body Disaster.
Such improvement in half a year was rather astonishing.
"If we didn't have such improvements, how would we have the face to participate in the Great Spiritual Academy Tournament?"
Said Shen Cangsheng with a grin as he sized Mu Chen up. In the next instant, his five fingers clenched together, while his eyes brimmed with scorching fighting intent. He wasn't a person that would easily admit defeat. When he had first met Mu Chen, the latter had needed to risk his life to fight against a mere Bai Xuan. However, who could have imagined that in the short span of a year, that youth would soar at an astonishing speed. Half a year ago, he had defeated Mo Longzi and killed Mo Xingtian. Such achievements had caused the entire Northern Heavens Continent to tremble.
Unknowingly, the youth from back then had already surpassed him in less than two years. Even the position of the Overlord of the Heavenly Rankings, which he had stably sat on for a long time, was in imminent danger. He knew that Mu Chen didn't have much interest in the First Rank of the Heavenly Rankings. However, the prideful him didn't need any modesty.
Previously, after witnessing the fight between Mu Chen and Mo Xingtian, Shen Cangsheng had already understood that there was already a disparity between him and Mu Chen. Therefore, during the past half a year of bitter training, he had been crazily cultivating. Fortunately, the results of his hard work weren't small. As of now, he had already passed his Human Body Disaster. He had the confidence that the current him would similarly possess the strength to fight against the previous Mo Xingtian!
Although he might still be unable to surpass Mu Chen, at the very least, he wouldn't feel that feeling of powerlessness again.
"Mu Chen, receive my move!"
The smile on Shen Cangsheng's face started to dissipate bit by bit, being replaced by a rarely seen solemn expression. Taking a step forward, he spoke out in a deep voice.
Looking at the solemn expression on Shen Cangsheng's face, Mu Chen seemed to have understood something as he looked at the latter's scorching and prideful gaze. Gently nodding his head, he slowly replied, "Please enlighten me, Senior Brother Shen Cangsheng!"
With a hearty chuckle, Shen Cangsheng took a step forward. Clenching his fists, Spiritual Energy that blotted the skies swept out, howling across the heavens and earth behind him like an ocean. Powerful Spiritual Energy pressure radiated out, giving off an astonishing momentum.
However, faced against the astonishing momentum from Shen Cangsheng, Mu Chen still had a calm expression on his face, to the point that even his robes didn't flutter in the slightest.
With a solemn expression on his face, Shen Cangsheng formed seals with both of his hands. All of a sudden, his hand seals changed, causing the torrential Spiritual Energy to boil. Following the changes of his hand seals, it formed into incomparably gigantic light seals. Those light seals condensed in the sky behind him, radiating with astonishing fluctuations.
Everyone could feel how frightening this attack from Shen Cangsheng was. Clearly, he wasn't holding back at all, and had chosen to use his strongest attack.
Looking at this scene, Dean Tai Cang slightly narrowed his eyes as he muttered, "He has actually cultivated the Divine Judgement Art to such a level!"
Bang!
All of a sudden, a clap of thunder resounded across the horizon, causing Shen Cangsheng's hand seals to abruptly freeze. In an instant, his gaze turned fierce as he took a step forward. In that instant, his figure shot towards Mu Chen like a bolt of lightning. Behind him, countless light seals moved along with him, shaking the heavens and earth like claps of thunder.
"Divine Judgement Art - Life Seal!"
Like a spectre, Shen Cangsheng's figure appeared before Mu Chen. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, his five fingers formed into a fist seal, causing Spiritual Energy that blotted the skies to sweep out from his body. Bright and resplendent rays of light caused him to appear akin to a dazzling sun. With a deep roar, his fist seal heavily punched out.
Bang!
Bang! The air in this region exploded apart, causing distorted runes to appear in the surrounding space. The myriad of light seals seemed to contain some sort of undefeatable conviction as they condensed together with Shen Cangsheng's fist seal, before rumbling towards Mu Chen.
This fist had displayed Shen Cangsheng's strength to its limits!
Facing this fist, even if it was Mo Xingtian, he would have to use his full strength to receive it!
At this moment, compared to half a year ago, Shen Cangsheng had truly become much, much more tyrannical.
At this moment, radiance erupted from Mu Chen's black pupils. All of a sudden, he clenched his fists tightly, as deep and low peals of thunder rang out from within his body. In the next instant, black lightning arcs furiously leapt onto his body, while four lightning runes slowly surfaced on his chest.
Rumble!
Peals of thunder rang out from within Mu Chen's body, reverberating across the heavens and earth. At this moment, his entire body seemed to be suffused with a jet-black lightning glow, while an indescribable surge of power rippled across his limbs and bones.
This was the first time that Mu Chen had thoroughly activated the Lightning God's Physique after cultivating it to the fourth rune.
This power was more than sufficient to shatter the heavens and shatter the earth!
Chi!
Black lightning arcs crazily leapt around on Mu Chen's body as he furiously took a step forward. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he sent a fist flying out.
There was nothing fancy about it, only an extremely frightening power.
Wherever the fist wind passed, ripples seemed to form in the surrounding space, while rumbling peals of thunder resounded across the heavens and earth.
Bang!
Under countless excited gazes, the two fists instantly collided. At the instant of the collision, any rumbling sounds disappeared, while the heavens and earth seemed to turn silent for an instant. However, in the next instant, a berserk and boundless energy shockwave unfurled across the horizon like a hundred thousand foot wave, as if a storm was taking shape.
Bang!
Bang!
Wave after wave of energy ripples struck out, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled behind Mu Chen, while the tens of thousands of glowing seals behind Shen Cangsheng rapidly trembled at this moment. In the end, with a rumble, the two figures trembled, before explosively retreating.
Mu Chen took eight steps back, while the lightning behind him crumbled and rumbled.
Shen Cangsheng took ten steps back, while the glowing seals behind him started to crumble inch by inch. In the end, they completely exploded, transforming into glowing specks that blotted the skies, an extremely gorgeous sight.
Countless people turned deathly silent. The collision of the two fists was breathtaking to the extreme. However, from the looks of it, it seemed that Mu Chen had gained a slight upper hand.
"I never imagined that you've actually cultivated the Lightning God's Physique to such a level."
Shen Cangsheng lowered his head and looked at his palm. It was completely red, while a numbing and prickling sensation could be felt. He raised his head, looked at Mu Chen, and exhaled a long breath of air. On his firm and resolute face, there seemed to be a smile of relief. His eyes brightened as he looked towards the Heaven Ranking stone tablet that symbolized glory within Hokuang Reiwon. With a faint smile, he said, "It's finally time for me, the number one on the Heaven Ranking, to step down. From today onwards, you will be the true number one of our Hokuang Reiwon!"
Countless students quietened down at this moment. Looking at Shen Cangsheng's figure that was as straight as a spear, a sliver of reverence gushed out from their hearts. Only now did they understand that Shen Cangsheng's fist fight was to let them completely let go of the greatest honour and glory of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy.
He had occupied this glory for many years. Now, this glory finally had someone more suitable for it.
Looking towards Shen Cangsheng, Mu Chen went slightly silent. He didn't care about this so-called number one on the Heavenly Ranking. However, he knew that this wasn't the time for him to reject it. This was the pride of the former Overlord of the Heavenly Ranking, Shen Cangsheng. Therefore, he slowly cupped his hands towards Shen Cangsheng. Not saying a single word, however, his expression was exceedingly solemn.
As the countless students looked at the exchange of the old and new Overlords, the blood within their bodies seemed to show signs of boiling. In the next instant, ear-splitting noises resounded across the entire region.
The expression on Shen Cangsheng's face turned gentle and relaxed. However, a slightly malicious intent appeared within his gaze. Sending a smile towards Mu Chen, he said, "Do you know what consensus we've reached within the Door of the Northern Heavens?"
Hearing that, Mu Chen gawked. Shooting a look at Li Xuantong, He Yao, Xu Huang, Zhao Qingshan and the rest, who were similarly staring at him with malicious gazes, he felt that something was amiss within his heart.
"If Shen Cangsheng loses to you, we'll all beat you up together!"
Li Xuantong slowly clenched his fist, while boundless Spiritual Energy erupted from him. Exchanging glances, Spiritual Energy surged from the bodies of He Yao, Xu Huang and the rest. Unexpectedly, all of them had explosively shot towards Mu Chen, Spiritual Energy howling as they rushed across the horizon.
"You bunch of bastards!"
Mu Chen's face turned black as he turned around and ran.
Whoosh!
However, just as he was about to run, a beautiful figure shot over from behind Li Xuantong and the rest, bringing along a familiar fragrance as she appeared before Mu Chen. In the next instant, everyone saw Luo Li grinning as she appeared before Mu Chen. Raising the longsword in her hand, she pointed it towards Li Xuantong and the rest.
"Hey, Luo Li! Why aren't you keeping your word!" Seeing this, He Yao, Xu Huang and the rest instantly shouted out in dissatisfaction.
"We clearly had an agreement!"
Seeing their dissatisfaction, Luo Li used her jade-like hand to push a strand of hair behind her ear. Retreating two steps back, she stood shoulder to shoulder with Mu Chen, before saying with a sweet smile, "But I can't bear to."
Therefore, at this instant, within the entire Hokuang Reiwon, countless howls of jealousy and hatred rang out.
Unable to stop himself, Mu Chen started to laugh. Perhaps, even after many years, the scene before his eyes would still vividly exist within his memories. Within this warm and comfortable ivory tower, there weren't too many schemes and schemes. Even if there were frictions, they would turn into jade and silk. Therefore, how could such a Hokuang Reiwon not let him work hard to fight for the glory that should belong to it?