Mo Fan vs. Yu Ang

At night, Lin Lan and Mo Fan sat in the Mu Family's back mountain, drinking beer as they watched the Mu Family workers bustle around the courtyard in preparation for tomorrow's coming-of-age ceremony.

"Lanzi, I have a question." Mo Fan looked at Lin Lan.

"Go ahead." Lin Lan was also curious about what Mo Fan would ask. The Black Vatican, or Yu Ang?

"Why have you always taken me demon hunting? I barely helped at all, yet you still shared the money with me..." Though puzzled, Mo Fan looked at Lin Lan with great gratitude.

"Because you are the Evil God." Lin Lan looked at Mo Fan and spoke solemnly. Mo Fan truly was an investment Lin Lan had deliberately made. There would be too many emperor-level demon creatures in the future; if they invaded humanity, he would at least have a helper. Not to mention the Kunlun Demon Empire within the country, which even the Cold Moon Eye Demon God feared—just Khufu alone would be enough to give them hell.

"I'm a shoelace?" Mo Fan lowered his head to look at his shoelaces, utterly baffled. Lanzi can get drunk from beer and call someone a shoelace? What does that have to do with me... Forget it, he's the big brother, after all. After giving it some thought, Mo Fan did not argue. After all, one could hardly refuse after eating someone else's food and taking their money.

"So you really were here." Mu Ningxue walked up from the foot of the mountain and came over to sit beside Lin Lan.

"Mmm... she smells faintly fragrant." The moment Mu Ningxue sat down, Lin Lan caught the scent wafting from her. Her white clothes revealed the contours of her skin, while her long silver-white hair and delicate face made her look exquisite.

"Mo Fan, you should still not go. Yu Ang isn't easy to deal with." Mu Ningxue spoke to Mo Fan, her expression unchanged and as cold as ever.

"Burp~"

"Your Yu Ang wouldn't be able to beat me even if there were two more of him. Why wouldn't I go?"

Mo Fan let out a satisfied burp and spoke with absolute determination.

"And you too, Lin Lan. Mo Fan is dueling Yu Ang tomorrow, yet you two came here to drink. You've both got quite the nerve." Mu Ningxue's tone was somewhat cold, but her eyes carried a trace of resentment as she looked at Lin Lan.

"Huh?"

Lin Lan was momentarily at a loss for words. Was she complaining about him, or worrying about Mo Fan? He simply could not see through her. The Ice Crystal Bow within Mu Ningxue probably had not fully erupted yet. It was clear she still cared somewhat about her childhood friend.

"Mu Ningxue, want some? Lanzi just came to keep me company. In three years, I've already transformed. I'm no longer that useless person who could only watch helplessly as his father sold the house so I could attend school. Drinking a little is my farewell to that period of my life—and a send-off for tomorrow." Anticipation for the next day glimmered in Mo Fan's eyes, and intense fighting spirit radiated from him.

"I thought you really were uncultured, Mo Fan, and only knew how to say 'holy shit.' Hearing you say something like that today makes me very gratified as your brother." Lin Lan patted Mo Fan's shoulder. Mo Fan had indeed grown a great deal. He was no longer as reckless as before, something Lin Lan had seen during their previous demon hunts. Even his words carried some depth now.

"Then I'll have just a little. Good luck tomorrow." Mu Ningxue could also see that Mo Fan was truly different from before. There was not much she could do to help him, so she could only offer a friend's well wishes. She accepted the bottle Mo Fan handed her, opened the can, and took a small sip.

"Lanzi, do you remember when we were kids? The three of us sat here together too, watching the Mu Family people busy themselves in the Mu Family estate." Mo Fan said comfortably.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah~" Lin Lan wore a bitter expression. How the hell would he know about that? He could only humor Mo Fan. He had transmigrated with an identity but without any memories; it really was difficult.

The next day was Yu Ang's coming-of-age ceremony, and the contest for the Earth Sacred Spring proceeded as scheduled. There was a banquet at noon, followed by the Magic Duel in the afternoon.

"Lanzi, look at this black mountain bear paw, and this armored-shell turtle meat. They smell amazing." Mo Fan ate with great relish. These ingredients had all been obtained in the wild, fresh and delicious.

"If it tastes good, eat more. You won't get to eat this in a few days~" Lin Lan muttered as he watched Mo Fan vacuum up the dishes on the table with Wind Suck, making himself hungry too.

"Lan... Lanzi, put all the tasty food into your storage space, hehehe~" Mo Fan came up with another wicked idea, wanting to mooch some food. The Mu Family was wealthy, anyway; they would not miss any of this.

"I'm not short on pocket money. I already cleared out the little supermarket, and I've got plenty of cooked food too." Lin Lan could not bring himself to do something like that. In the Mu Family, only Mu He and Yu Ang were particularly deserving of death. The rest did not seem to be good people either.

"I think food is out, but cultivation resources should be fine." Lin Lan thought it over and decided this method was viable. They were going to run away anyway, so they might as well see what cultivation resources they could find.

"Lanzi, can you give me a share?" Mo Fan grinned as he asked for some resources.

"Share my ass. You've already eaten so much of my money. Just standing by and shouting 666 won't do—you put in some effort, and I might consider it." Lin Lan spoke irritably. Mo Fan was just like this. Now that he was not the Evil God, Lin Lan's investment needed to have its limits.

"I think that works. Once I come out of the Earth Sacred Spring, I'll definitely be at the intermediate level. When that happens, I'll take down one demon creature per Thunderbolt." Mo Fan gestured with his hands as he spoke.

"What are you two little brats doing here?" Zhan Kong slowly walked toward them.

"Boss Zhan Kong, you came here to mooch food and drinks too?" Mo Fan said through a mouthful of food.

"I came here to show Mu Zhuoyun some respect. You should learn from Lin Lan—look how composed he is. Unlike you, stuffing your face the moment you arrive, with grease all over your mouth." Zhan Kong's face darkened when he saw Mo Fan. He also knew about Lin Lan killing members of the Black Vatican and had come to recruit him again with a few kind words.

"Brother Lin Lan, how about joining our Military Mages? Your big brother here will look after you from now on." Zhan Kong said with a lecherous grin.

"I'll pass, Boss Zhan Kong. I still need to go to university." Lin Lan waved his hand and refused.

"You can be the big brother and I'll be the little brother, then."

The afternoon Magic Duel officially began, and Lin Lan sat in the stands to watch Mo Fan's duel with Yu Ang.

"Lin Lan, who do you think will win between Mo Fan and Yu Ang?" Tang Yue asked from beside him.

"Mo Fan is guaranteed to win." Lin Lan answered with certainty.

"Why do you think so? You were originally supposed to fight this battle." Tang Yue said regretfully.

"Mo Fan was trained by me. I'm not participating because the Earth Sacred Spring is no longer useful to me."

"I now announce that the Magic Duel officially begins." With Mu Zhuoyun's order, the two began drawing their Star Orbits.

"Your strength is only so-so. Why come here to suffer?" Yu Ang taunted Mo Fan.

"Fire Burst—Scorching!" Mo Fan ignored Yu Ang and immediately used a first-tier beginner fire spell to test him.

"Trivial tricks. Ice Vines—Freeze!" Yu Ang's Ice Vines froze the incoming Fire Burst into a block of ice.

"Impressive. That kid named Mo Fan casts spells so skillfully and quickly."

"Yu Ang is pretty good too. His first-tier Ice Vines neutralized that first-tier Fire Burst."

Two Bocheng officials in the stands commented, each with their own opinion.

"Ice Vines—Cover!" Yu Ang directly cast a second-tier ice spell, freezing most of the ground. The cold wind struck Mo Fan's face like blades, and Yu Ang wanted to make it impossible for Mo Fan to cast magic in such an environment.

"It's third-tier Ice Vines! A Mu Family disciple really is extraordinary."

"Third-tier Ice Vines is already out—what suspense is left in this match?"

Most of the people present were now on Yu Ang's side. The situation had become completely one-sided.

"Kid, it's time to end this. Ice Vines—Freeze!" Yu Ang directly unleashed an ice spell at Mo Fan.

"You're overthinking it. You're the one I'm about to cripple. Fire Burst—Explode!" Mo Fan was not panicked in the slightest. Fire elements had constantly been circling around him, and he cast much faster than Yu Ang.

The flames struck the ice spikes and melted them. The frozen lawn thawed beneath the fire, turning into icy water. The Fire Burst passed through the ice wall and blasted straight into Yu Ang.

"Ahhh...!"

Yu Ang's clothes were scorched black, revealing the Armor Magic Tool beneath them.

"Damn, isn't this cheating? He even brought out an Armor Magic Tool that counters the fire element—how is he supposed to fight that?" Zhan Kong was furious. Mu Zhuoyun truly had no shame.

"I never said Mo Fan wasn't allowed to wear magic tools. Background is a kind of strength too, isn't it?"

Mu Zhuoyun said mockingly.

Lin Lan watched Mu Zhuoyun without much expression. "Keep laughing. You'll be kneeling and begging soon enough." Then he glanced at Mu He. This old dog is the real master at pretending. Lin Lan could not help but sigh as he looked at Mu He's calm face.

"You do have some skill, but my father once told me that background is also a kind of strength. You can only blame your father for being a broken-cart puller who could give you nothing." Yu Ang mocked Mo Fan's family circumstances, his face full of disdain.

"What do you know? He gave me everything. Lanzi was right too—I really should beat you until you're half-crippled." Mo Fan was enraged, and a purple Star Orbit began forming in his hand.

"Lightning Seal—Raging Strike!"

"How can this be...? No... no!" Yu Ang was so terrified by the lightning element that he started begging for mercy. The next second, lightning struck him directly. "Ahhh...!" Yu Ang let out a miserable scream, convulsed all over, and collapsed onto the ground.

"This... how is this possible? Isn't he an apprentice mage? Why does he have two elements?" Zhan Kong's pupils trembled slightly. Mo Fan had truly given him a huge surprise. If he could not recruit Lin Lan, Mo Fan would do just fine!

"Innate Dual Element!" After saying that, Tang Yue glanced at Lin Lan, her face filled with shock. She had never expected both brothers to possess Innate Dual Element!

"Haha... Teacher Tang Yue, is something wrong?" Lin Lan gave Tang Yue an awkward smile when he saw her glaring at him.

"The victor is Mo Fan, who has earned the right to cultivate in the Earth Sacred Spring for seven days." Principal Zhu was delighted. The school had first produced Lin Lan, and now there was Mo Fan. Without exception, both were outstanding talents among men.

"Mu Zhuoyun, kneel and apologize to my father."

Mo Fan walked over to the stands and spoke coldly to Mu Zhuoyun.

"Brother Mo, I was in the wrong about what happened before. I apologize." Mu Zhuoyun did not try to deny it and directly dropped to one knee, sincerely apologizing to Mo Jiaxing.

"You mustn't, you mustn't! Brother Mu, get up. What happened before is all in the past."

Mo Jiaxing hurriedly helped Mu Zhuoyun back up.

After today, everyone praised Mo Fan. The upper ranks of Bocheng kept Mo Fan's Innate Dual Element a secret so that he could make a name for himself during the college entrance examinations.

Seven days later, the Black Vatican also began its plan, while Lin Lan prepared for the coming rain.

This chapter seemed to be the longest one yet, at 3,000 words. I was in class all morning, so I didn't post it.