The Light Element's Version Answer is the Ancient Capital

Silence was the Cambridge of tonight.

After a long pause, Zhan Kong finally spoke again: "Ancient Capital? What are you going to do in the Ancient Capital?"

"Kill undead, boost my strength."

From the moment he saw the Golden Star Dust in his Spiritual World, Xu Fang had made up his mind to go to the Ancient Capital.

The Light Element's ultimate answer was the Ancient Capital.

The Ancient Capital teemed with undead, from powerful Supreme Monarchs down to broken corpse fiends that didn't even qualify as Servant level—everything you could want, take your pick.

It was a perfect place for Light Mages. Elsewhere, a Primary Light Mage could only serve as a light bulb, and against ordinary demons, they were just photon skin treatments.

But here, the Light Element countered the Undead Element. A basic Radiance could deal decent damage to corpse fiends.

Xu Fang's plans clicked away in his head. In the Ancient Capital, he could test his special Light Element while leveling up to Intermediate, awakening a Summoning or Great Thunder Element—wouldn't that be perfect?

Zhan Kong said, "The Ancient Capital is too dangerous. Blood Alerts pop up every few days. It's not as safe as our Bocheng."

"Where is there a safe place?" Xu Fang replied. "A man dies or lives, you've got to take a gamble. Just go for it!"

This was the world of Full-time Mage! Better to trust his own tough luck than the Path of Cowardice.

Whoever chickened out died first. If you didn't risk your life, where would resources and opportunities come from?

That line struck a chord with Zhan Kong: "Now you're using your head. Better than that rooftop suicide attempt."

"...Can I say I went up there to get some air?"

"Can I say I went up there to get some air... Hey!" Zhan Kong mimicked in a weird, high-pitched voice.

The rooftop incident was swept under the rug. Zhan Kong actually felt some sympathy for Xu Fang—when no matter how hard you tried, you were doomed to fail, that helplessness and despair really made you want to die.

"You're sixteen, that's old enough. Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to talk you out of it." Zhan Kong said. "You can go to the Ancient Capital, but not yet. Wait until you finish your first year of high school and pass the Magic Release Exam. Then I'll help you get in touch with the Central Military Department."

"Of course." Xu Fang nodded.

"One more thing. Both your parents were martyrs, and your father was an Intermediate Sky Eagle Mage with plenty of merits. As their direct descendant, from the day you successfully awakened, the Southern Military Department will cover your resources up to Intermediate level."

Xu Fang's eyes lit up: "How much?"

"Who knows? Monthly allowance." Zhan Kong shot him a glance: "Kid, you're not planning to resell those resources, are you?"

"Legion Commander, you can doubt my strength, but not my character!"

"Character? With that bleached hair like a thug, you're talking to me about character?" Zhan Kong was a stubborn mule—if you had strength, he'd butter you up; if you didn't, you were nothing. His mouth was all about saying the wrong thing.

In the original story, to recruit Mo Fan with his Dual Lightning and Fire Elements, he'd call him 'bro' without even blushing.

"It's natural, that's just your stereotype!"

"Stereotype? Ha! Every summer, selling the Demonic Beast Meat from Xuefeng Mountain to restaurants and fleecing the new high school parents—you think I didn't know?"

"Uh..."

Xu Fang was speechless.

Even though it was the original owner who did it, they were dimensional counterparts. In other words, if it were Xu Fang, he'd probably do it too.

"Less nonsense. If you've got something to say, say it fast. I've got duty to get to." Zhan Kong said impatiently.

Xu Fang said, "Legion Commander, I want to apply for all my resources at once."

"Dream on! All at once? Do you know how much that is?" Zhan Kong grumbled. "Just from what I know, there's magic tools, Intermediate Awakening Stones, and..."

"I don't want any of that." Xu Fang said. "I want a Stardust Magic Tool."

A Stardust Magic Tool—the most coveted nurturing vessel for any mage's cultivation.

Few knew how it worked, but every mage knew that a Stardust Magic Tool could quickly restore a cultivator's energy after fatigue from training, shortening the recovery time.

Generally, a Primary Mage could only meditate for five hours a day, not a minute more.

The remaining 19 hours were a meditation fatigue period, only passable by doing other things or just sleeping. Otherwise, not only would cultivation stagnate, but you'd get splitting headaches, damage your body, and break your spirit.

For a grindset king, five hours was nothing!

A real man couldn't say he couldn't hack it—he'd fight all day and night!

And the Stardust Magic Tool was a cultivation artifact that shortened the fatigue period. Use it, and everyone's happy.

One day, two days—maybe not much effect. But over time? With natural talent and a treasure by your side, you'd have people calling you 'daddy' in a semester!

Without Mo Fan's Little Mudfish, he had to find another way, or he'd be left in the dust.

"Stardust Magic Tools aren't cheap. The cheapest ones cost tens of millions. Even a slightly better one—only that old geezer Mu Zhuoyun has one, and non-core members can't even touch it." Zhan Kong said.

"That's in Bocheng. How big is Bocheng?" Xu Fang laughed. "From what I know, my parents were directly under the Southern Military Department. There, a Stardust Magic Tool isn't that big a deal."

Zhan Kong laughed too. "Sly kid."

"So you agree?"

"I've got to file a report first. I'm telling you now, there's never been a precedent for this. I can't guarantee..."

"Legion Commander, you know, I've been without my mom since I was little."

Zhan Kong took a deep breath, feeling his temples throb. "...Fine, I get it. I'll find someone for you, alright?"

"Thanks a lot!"

Xu Fang patted the non-existent dust off his clothes and smoothed his hair, tousled by the Wind Track spell. "Alright, Legion Commander, you can see me off here. I know the way home, so no need to stay for dinner."

Zhan Kong watched Xu Fang's retreating figure and twitched the corner of his mouth twice.

Damn, where did he learn to be so shameless?

Xu Fang's old house sat on an old street, not far from a manor that was stunningly beautiful, with even the grass trimmed perfectly neat.

At the highest point of the manor stood several exquisite European-style villas, like princess castles from fairy tales, the stuff of dreams for every kid in Bocheng.

Too bad the manor was fenced off by iron railings, crudely splitting the inside and outside into two different worlds.

Xu Fang's place wasn't bad either—a three-story house with a rooftop terrace cluttered with household odds and ends, regularly renovated by Xuefeng Mountain.

Standing on the roof, you could look down at the shabby one-and-a-half-story building next door—that was Mo Fan's house.

A dilapidated, rundown shack, clinging pathetically to Xu Fang's house like a stubborn patch of dog-plaster.

Who would've thought that from here, two Forbidden Mages would emerge?

At Mo Fan's doorstep, a beat-up pickup truck, as worn as the house, was parked. A sallow-faced middle-aged man was hauling stuff out.

"Uncle."

Xu Fang greeted him.

"Oh, Fang Zai, you're off school this early?" Mo Jiaxing grinned with a simple, honest smile. "How'd the awakening go today?"

"I'm a Light Element, Mo Fan's a Fire Element."

"Ah, great, that's really great." Mo Jiaxing was overjoyed. He didn't know the difference between elements—to him, just awakening was impressive enough.

His son being so promising made it worth selling off his land to pay for school...

"Uncle, what's this?"

"Ah, I'm planning to rent out the house, make a bit of extra money for the family." Mo Jiaxing chuckled sheepishly. "Once I'm done, we'll hit the night market tonight and have a proper celebration for you two..."

Some people were born to be troublemakers. Before Mo Jiaxing could enjoy his happiness for long, a sharply dressed man walked out of Mu Family Manor.

"Jiaxing, why aren't you done moving yet? Let me tell you, this is my house now. You can't just squat here!"

"Brother Mu He, almost done, almost done." Mo Jiaxing bowed and scraped.

"Not to criticize you, but with your family's situation, why bust your ass to make your son a mage? Sure, your son awakened Fire, but so what?

Becoming a mage isn't that easy. Can your family afford those magic books, magic tools, magic equipment? Without that support, he can't even become an Elementary Mage..."

Mu He spoke slowly, his tone sounding earnest, but it was dripping with arrogance.

Mo Jiaxing humbled himself, pleading, "Brother Mu He, let's not talk about this today. The kids are here."

He wasn't afraid of being embarrassed himself.

He was afraid that Xu Fang would see this pathetic scene and make his son Mo Fan lose face. After all, Mo Fan had called Xu Fang his "archrival" and "fated opponent" since they were kids.

"You didn't mention it, and I didn't notice." Mu He turned to Xu Fang. "Xu Fang, take my advice—don't waste your effort. You're just not cut out for it!"