Three days later.
Northern suburbs.
Xu Fang stood on a high slope, watching through a pair of binoculars. From where he stood, he could see a tall wall rising abruptly from the open ground, with guards patrolling everywhere.
"I can't get in..."
The Star Seeds active in his stardust told Xu Fang that the Spirit Seed was inside the walls, but how to get in was a major problem.
The guards were a formidable bunch, every last one of them a Primary Mage. Several could cast Level 3 Beginner Magic. Even that old geezer Mu Zhuoyun didn't have this kind of security.
They were people, not Demon Beasts. Xu Fang couldn't exactly trade magic attacks with them and then step over their corpses to get inside. He'd have to think of something else.
"If only I had the Space Element or Shadow Element... Wait."
Out of the corner of his eye, Xu Fang spotted several people approaching quickly. He hurriedly aimed his binoculars at them.
"The Fire Flame Squad?"
Hunter Mages often ventured outside the Safety Zone, where they had to contend with both nature and Demon Beasts at all times, so they were usually very particular about their equipment. They were easy to recognize at a glance. The newcomers were the Fire Flame Squad, Yangcheng's top-ranked Hunter Squad.
Ma Zhuang, who'd ingratiated himself with them, wasn't with the team. Good things never came to parasites.
They were too far away for Xu Fang to hear what they were saying, but he could see them arguing heatedly. Before long, the argument turned physical, then escalated into a magical attack.
Xu Fang's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he put away his binoculars and ran downhill toward them.
He moved fast, the shoes on his feet flashing repeatedly as he ran.
Meanwhile, the fight quickly ended.
With an Intermediate Mage leading them, the Fire Flame Squad had dealt with the guards like it was child's play. Now, the guards were all sprawled on the ground, battered and groaning, while their leader angrily called for backup.
"The Fire Flame Squad ambushed us! We need support from the consecrates... I'm absolutely sure! The one leading them was Lu Yan, the captain of the Fire Flame Squad. Holy shit!"
The phone suddenly grew scorching hot, and the guard instinctively threw it away.
Smack!
A large foot stomped it to pieces.
Xu Fang glanced around, his face fierce. "Anyone else who tries to send word will end up like that phone!"
The guard gritted his teeth. "Fire Flame Squad, don't push us too far! The Wang Family isn't someone you can mess with!"
"The Wang Family? Hahaha!" Xu Fang threw his head back and laughed. "The Wang Family is exactly who I'm here to beat up!"
"Say that again!" another guard snapped. Xu Fang flung a Fire Burst at him, scorching the grass in front of him to ash.
Everyone was stunned.
Their magic energy was already spent. If they really angered Xu Fang, they'd be in serious trouble.
"Hmph!"
Xu Fang snorted and strode inside, under the guards' furious stares, seemingly to catch up with the Fire Flame Squad.
"Damn it! Damn it! There are so many of us, and we let a Primary Mage threaten us!"
"Who was that guy?"
"He used Fire Burst. Does the Fire Flame Squad have a second Fire Mage?"
"Ah! I remember now. They recently recruited a new member. Word is, he screwed over his old employer, and it caused a huge stir. I think his name was... Ma Zhuang."
"Right, I remember too. His name was Ma Zhuang!"
"Fine. Very fine. Lu Yan, Ma Zhuang—we, the Wang Family, will remember this!"
This place wasn't within Yangcheng's urban district. By law, it should have been under the jurisdiction of the Military and the Hunter's Alliance. In principle, the major families had no right to interfere.
But the Wang Family was, after all, Yangcheng's local power. They planned to take first and ask permission later.
After sending people to clear out the Demon Beasts, they had built a new wall here and announced that the place was a luxury hot spring resort.
"Boss, we've really made an enemy of the Wang Family this time," said a short-haired Hunter Mage, worried.
"Yeah. We're not weak, but we're up against the Wang Family... I heard they have at least three Intermediate Mages in their consecrate hall!"
Another man in sneakers looked just as anxious.
"Making an enemy of the Wang Family over a Spirit Seed doesn't seem wise."
They'd felt great when they stormed the gate, but now that the adrenaline had worn off, they couldn't help second-guessing themselves.
"You idiots!" Lu Yan scolded them. "Would I screw you over? Let me tell you the truth: some big shot wants this Spirit Seed."
Everyone perked up. The short-haired man hurriedly asked, "Someone bigger than the Wang Family? Could it be the Zhou Family?"
"The Zhou Family? Compared to them, the Zhou Family isn't worth a damn!" Lu Yan pointed upward, looking smug. "The Zhao Clan of the Magic City. Ever heard of them? The Zhao Clan's second young master is celebrating his birthday next month, and his family's been scouring the world for a gift. This Spirit Seed is our present to him!"
The man in sneakers said, "But boss, the Zhao Clan is famous for being loaded. Couldn't they afford to buy a Spirit Seed?"
"Bullshit!"
Lu Yan chuckled. "One Spirit Seed isn't the same as another. Read a book sometime. The history of Yangcheng says that two Light Element Spirit Seeds have appeared here.
"And look at the phenomena caused by this Spirit Seed: the spring water boils, and the plants grow. It's nothing like an ordinary Spirit Seed on the market!
"With this Spirit Seed, the Zhao Clan will be so pleased that we'll get to live it up in the Magic City. Isn't that better than staying in this godforsaken place called Yangcheng?"
"Brilliant, boss!"
"Just like we'd expect from our leader!"
"Hahaha, no wonder you didn't bring that kid Ma Zhuang."
"Enough with the flattery. Get moving!"
In the distance.
Up in a tree, Xu Fang held his binoculars and watched their every move.
"Why are they so happy? Did they eat bee shit?"
Xu Fang wasn't in a hurry. The Fire Flame Squad didn't have a Light Mage, so they couldn't absorb the Spirit Seed on the spot.
The Wang Family was no better. If they'd wanted to absorb it, they'd have done so already. There was no need to make such a big fuss, building walls and sealing the place off.
All he had to do was muddy the waters. Then he'd have a chance to take advantage of the situation.
"Here they come."
In the distance, Xu Fang spotted another group of people. They wore matching, elegant Tang-style outfits and hurried straight toward the same place as the Fire Flame Squad.
It wouldn't be long before the two groups ran into each other.
Xu Fang opened his backpack, took out a can of luncheon meat, and started eating. He planned to wait a little longer.
Meanwhile.
"Move faster! Once the Spirit Seed is exposed, it'll soon dissipate on its own!" said Wang Zhengbing, the Wang Family's Great Consecrate and an Intermediate Level Two Mage.
"Has the Fire Flame Squad gone crazy? They actually dared to oppose the Wang Family!"
"When we catch up, I'll smash them to death with a Tidal Surge!"
Wang Zhengbing said coldly, "Don't kill anyone unless you have to. An Ancient Capital adjudicator just passed through here three days ago. Our target is the Spirit Seed! A Spirit Seed this rare would be hard to find a second one of anywhere in the country. If you botch this, you know what will happen!"
At the thought of the family head's methods, everyone shuddered.
They'd heard that their family head planned to use this Spirit Seed as a gift to secure an important connection for the family.
They couldn't even imagine what the furious family head would do if they ruined everything...
"Wind Track—Haste!"
The Wind Mage in the group spared no magic energy, using Wind Track again and again to speed them up.
"Uncle Bing, they're just ahead!" someone in the group shouted. The Fire Flame Squad had spotted them too and hurriedly prepared for battle.
"Everyone, get them!"
"Take our Spirit Seed back from those thieves!"
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