Tranquility

Lin Lan had finally figured out what was special about the Lightning Element. His Lightning Element had to be strengthened by absorbing rare treasures rich in lightning elements. Though he had to fight for them himself, Lin Lan had never lacked the drive to rise higher.

The startled wind swept away the bright day; time flowed westward.

The weather was clear, and the sky was a flawless blue, soothing the spirit.

Beneath a large tree, the three of them lounged lazily. With a single glance, they could take in the whole panorama of Bocheng.

Once people started working, they no longer had the ease and comfort of their youth. Though returning to student life meant a future full of lurking dangers, Lin Lan would still carve out time to relax. He could not help recalling a popular line: "I wish to buy osmanthus and share wine on a boat, but it will never be like those youthful travels again."

Though worldly trials had worn away at the dust of life, his heart remained proud and unyielding.

Whenever he encountered demon beasts or the Black Vatican, Lin Lan never let them go. If he could fight, he would not waste words—first, they would take a Spatial Rhythm and drop to their knees to sing surrender.

Whenever they went demon hunting, Mo Fan would exclaim, "Awesome!" Yet he also felt secretly dejected. Why were they both Innate Dual Element mages, and I even have Little Mudfish—so why am I cultivating so slowly? Seeing Lin Lan directly cast Intermediate Level Magic, Mo Fan felt like all his cultivation had gone to the dogs. But once he returned to school and saw Mu Bai and the others, his gloomy mood improved again.

Mo Fan's Little Mudfish absorbed remnant souls every day until it was practically stuffed, while Mo Fan earned money and, following Lin Lan's advice, saved it up to buy a spirit seed.

After another boost from the Earth Sacred Spring, both Mo Fan's Lightning and Fire Elements would break through. His casting speed had also risen to a full 2.5 seconds. At this point, Mo Fan was far stronger than he had been in the original story.

"Time really flies!" Zhang Xiaohou lay beneath the tree, enjoying the breeze with a contented expression.

"Yeah. Cultivate when there's nothing to do, hunt demons during the holidays."

"The fuller and busier your life is, the faster it passes."

Mo Fan spoke calmly, his face equally relaxed.

"What demon hunting?"

"Oh, nothing."

Mo Fan hurriedly denied it.

"Mo Fan, in a few days, you'll be dueling that bastard Yu Ang. Remember what I told you," Lin Lan reminded him.

When they had gone out demon hunting, they encountered two Gray-robed Cultists. Lin Lan had instantly killed them with a Lightning Seal. Mo Fan had even declared that he would grind the Black Vatican's bones to dust and save young girls in the bloom of youth.

Lin Lan had also told Mo Fan that Yu Ang was a lackey of the Black Vatican. He could beat him half to death, but he should not actually kill him.

"Brother Lan, remember what?"

Zhang Xiaohou looked curious.

"Remember to eat more at the banquet." Lin Lan was not wrong. The Bocheng disaster was about to descend. Although he had a plan, it could not save everyone in the city.

"Ah..."

Zhang Xiaohou looked utterly confused. Still, if Brother Lan said to eat more, it had to be right. Lin Lan was a great person; he often treated the whole class to meals, including Mu Bai and Zhao Kun San.

Ever since the wilderness training, those two had stopped throwing out sarcastic remarks and behaved themselves.

"Don't worry. I'll beat that idiot Yu Ang so badly that even Mu Zhuoyun won't recognize him."

"By the way, Lanzi, Monkey, which magic university are you planning to apply to?"

As Mo Fan patted his chest and promised to knock Yu Ang flat, he also became curious about where the two planned to attend magic university.

"I don't know either. I'll take it one step at a time."

Zhang Xiaohou had not decided yet. Then again, whose youth was not filled with confusion?

"Pearl Academy."

Lin Lan was much more resolute. He also planned to develop in Magic City.

"Amazing, Brother Lan! But that makes sense. Brother Lan was already keeping a low profile during the annual assessment, but your strength was definitely more than enough."

"I heard that old bastard Mu Zhuoyun is planning to make a huge event out of it. He invited all the prominent figures in Bocheng, saying it's also Yu Ang's coming-of-age ceremony."

The moment Zhang Xiaohou opened his mouth, Mu Zhuoyun had become an old bastard. He had probably learned it from Mo Fan.

"Don't worry, Xiaohou. Forget everything else—Mo Fan has already cursed Yu Ang into losing his cool." Lin Lan smiled faintly.

"A coming-of-age ceremony? Then let's see who wins and who loses!" Mo Fan stood up, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

"One more thing. During this period, all of you should be careful. I suspect the Black Vatican's plan is about to begin."

"If you have relatives outside the city, have them leave for a while. It'll be fine for them to come back once this is over."

Lin Lan spoke up to remind them. As for everyone else, there was nothing he could do. If he went around warning this person and that person, then the next day, when he opened his door, Salang and Wu Ku might be waiting outside. He would not be able to escape, and even Phasing would be detected by Super Rank Mages like them.

"Got it, Brother Lan." Zhang Xiaohou fell into thought. He still had several relatives in Bocheng, and he could tell them not to go out during this period. Like Lin Lan, his parents had been Military Mages who died for Bocheng. That was one of the reasons why he later became a Military Mage.

"Really? Lanzi, once my dad sees me knock that idiot Yu Ang flat, and that old dog Mu Zhuoyun kneels to apologize to my dad, I'll have him take Xin Xia out for a trip." Mo Fan also believed Lin Lan would not joke about something like this. Having followed Lin Lan, he had learned more or less about the Black Vatican. While in the City Demon Hunting Squad, he had also noticed that demon beasts had been appearing far too frequently lately.

"Monkey, what level have you cultivated to now?" Lin Lan asked.

"I-I'm almost at the second level." Zhang Xiaohou's gaze dimmed somewhat, and he looked a little embarrassed. He knew Lin Lan's Lightning Element had already reached the intermediate level, while Mo Fan had cultivated to the third level. His cultivation was now the lowest among the three of them, so he could not help feeling down.

"Take this ordinary-grade Star Dust Magic Tool. It can help you cultivate faster." Lin Lan took out the ordinary-grade Star Dust Magic Tool he had bought earlier and handed it to Zhang Xiaohou.

"No, Brother Lan. It's yours—how could I accept it? Besides, Brother Lan, you already take great care of me. You guide my cultivation every day, and I'm already very grateful." Zhang Xiaohou refused in a low voice.

"Take it." Lin Lan directly stuffed the Star Dust Magic Tool into Zhang Xiaohou's hand.

"I don't need it anymore. Giving it to you will help improve your strength a little. Just don't forget me, Lin Lan, in the future~" Lin Lan said, patting Zhang Xiaohou on the shoulder.

"Brother Lan, you're really too good to me..." Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohou stopped refusing. He directly hugged Lin Lan's leg, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Lanzi, do you have one for me too~?" Mo Fan asked with a fawning grin.

"Get lost~ Give me your Little Mudfish, and I'll give you a Spirit-grade one," Lin Lan said.

"No way. Little Mudfish and I are bound by blood. I can give you the residual souls I absorb instead."

"Get the hell out. Mentioning residual souls pisses me off."

Lin Lan also returned home to cultivate. After this period of cultivation, both his Space Element and Lightning Element had connected forty-nine stars, while his Summoning Element and Ice Element had both been cultivated to the first level.

However, it seemed that the Ice Element and Summoning Element had nothing particularly special about them. Cultivating them was slow as hell, nothing like when he had first awakened the Lightning and Space Elements. Fortunately, with a Spirit-grade Star Dust Magic Tool and his spiritual power having reached the Third Realm, he had still cultivated this quickly.

"Next, I need to find a Summoned Beast. Let's see what's suitable on the Summoning Plane."

The original work never introduced Zhang Xiaohou's family, so the author roughly wrote something for it.