The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

"Lu Yan! If you don't want to end up begging on the streets of Yangcheng as a cripple, then get lost with your people, and don't you dare lay your hands on what belongs to our Wang Family!"

"Heh, Spirit Seeds are ownerless things. Whoever has the stronger fist gets them! Others may fear your Wang Family, but our Fire Flame Squad doesn't!"

"Stubborn fool!"

Both sides were fuming, and without another word, they attacked.

Xu Fang stayed far away to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. He put down his canned meat and focused intently on enjoying the battle between Intermediate level mages.

He hadn't been able to see clearly during the Intermediate level battle on the train last time because it was separated by a train car.

"Fire Seed · Explode!"

The Hunter Mage squad, having spent years roaming the wilderness, knew the importance of seizing the initiative. A Fire Seed was immediately flung out.

Xu Fang hadn't seen any preparatory movements from him at all. He had already mastered Elementary Magic like Fire Seed, casting one every three seconds with ease.

"Ice Vine - Cover!"

The Wang Family's enforcers were not to be outdone. After a few rounds of probing, both sides began to get heated, and the intensity of the battle escalated.

"You guys cover me and let them taste the flavor of Bone Crushing Frost!" Wang Zhengbing said.

The other enforcers immediately stepped forward, forming a triangle to shield him, giving him ample time to charge up.

Intermediate level mages didn't commonly use Intermediate Magic in battle. The charging time for it was too long, and mages were physically frail; a single Elementary Magic spell from the opponent could be fatal.

However, if it were truly unleashed, its power was something Elementary Magic couldn't compare to.

Star Seeds connected one by one, quickly forming a star track.

The bright star track then intertwined again, rapidly transforming into a Star Chart beneath Wang Zhengbing's feet!

Crack, crack...

As soon as the Star Chart appeared, Wang Zhengbing was enveloped in ice-blue frost.

A massive and fierce aura of ice surged around him. The previously hot air suddenly turned cold and biting.

"Get out of the way!"

"Ice Lock - Mammoth!"

Seeing that Wang Zhengbing had completed his Intermediate Ice Element Magic, the three enforcers in front immediately retreated to the sides. A colossal ice python, as if alive, flicked its tongue and bared its fangs as it charged towards the Fire Flame Squad!

This terrifying sight startled the members of the Fire Flame Squad into dodging, but their captain remained motionless.

"Old man!"

Lu Yan spat on the ground, channeling his Demonic Energy fiercely into the Star Chart he had just drawn: "Didn't your high school teacher teach you? Below High level, Fire Element is king!"

"Blazing Fist · Sky Breaker!"

In an instant, a giant flaming fist appeared out of nowhere, the scorching heat seemingly distorting the air.

The poor trees and weeds, unable to withstand the torment of being frozen then roasted, were cleanly reduced to fragments and swept away by the wind.

Giant fist versus giant python!

In terms of destructive power, Fire Element was undoubtedly stronger, but Wang Zhengbing had unleashed Intermediate level two Magic, giving him the advantage in level.

The two skills clashed, erupting with shockwaves. Sand and stones flew everywhere, creating utter chaos.

The others weren't fools either. This wasn't the time for honorable combat. Taking advantage of the low visibility, they unleashed spells at each other.

The battle raged for a full ten minutes, with both sides exhausting their trump cards.

It began with magic duels, escalated to a clash of Magic Tools, and finally ended with Wang Zhengbing's Demon Slaying Tool severing Lu Yan's shield Magic Tool.

The scene was utterly devastated. All the trees were uprooted, huge craters dotted the ground, and the air was a hazy yellow, stinging any exposed skin.

"Lu Yan, I'll fuck your ancestors! Give me a straight answer, surrender or not!" Wang Zhengbing panted, gripping a dark gold Demon Slaying Tool.

Lu Yan felt incredibly wronged!

Damn it, these damned family enforcers, if you have the guts, take off your gear and let's fight hand-to-hand!

The Fire Flame Squad had been subdued, injured and incapacitated. If the other party hadn't been wary of the Judgment Society, most of them would have been reduced to dust.

His Demonic Energy was also completely depleted, leaving him no chance to turn the tide.

"Wang Family, I will definitely return!" Lu Yan spat out a harsh threat: "We retreat!"

They swiftly withdrew, not daring to linger any longer.

Seeing them leave, the Wang Family enforcers breathed a sigh of relief.

"Damn, these bastards really know how to fight."

"Lu Yan's Blazing Fist was already on the verge of Intermediate level two. If its power was any stronger, we would have had a hard time today."

"My Nebula is almost depleted; I used too much magic just now."

"Me too, Uncle Bing, should we head back now?"

The Wang Family members looked at Wang Zhengbing. Wang Zhengbing frowned in thought and then said, "No, let's get the Spirit Seed and take it back with us today!"

Everyone was astonished.

A young Mage said, "Uncle Bing, didn't you say Spirit Seeds have a short shelf life? Will it be okay if we take it out now?"

"That's better than someone else snatching it away!"

Wang Zhengbing said, "The Fire Flame Squad won't let us off easy even if they don't get the Spirit Seed. It won't take a day for everyone in Yangcheng, no, the surrounding cities, to know a Spirit Seed appeared here."

With a generous reward, there will surely be brave men.

If there's a 300% profit, these flies will commit any crime, even risking being blasted to death by an Intermediate Mage.

A ready-made Spirit Seed is more valuable than a General-level spirit essence!

"There's no such thing as guarding against a thief for a thousand days. First, escort the Spirit Seed back to the family, preserve it in a container, and immediately send it to Magic City!"

Wang Zhengbing was the head of the Wang Family's Enshrinement Hall, and his word was law. Everyone quickly sprang into action.

"BOOM!!!!!"

After a deafening roar, a clear spring was suddenly blown open, leaving only a scorched pit.

This Light Element Spirit Seed wasn't hidden very deep. Usually, when an elemental seed begins to affect its surroundings, it means it has already been exposed.

After the large hole was blown open, it was like a seal being broken, and a fierce light shot up into the sky.

Everyone present closed their eyes, feeling the stinging pain on their eyelids.

"As expected of top-grade!" Wang Zhengbing praised.

This Light Element Spirit Seed, named "Fluorescence," could increase the power of basic Magic by 2.5 times, placing it above average compared to other Spirit Seeds.

However, the most exceptional part of Fluorescence wasn't its amplification, but its added characteristic—constant temperature.

Even at the bottom of the deep spring, it could generate scorching hot springs using natural light. Not long after emerging from the water, the ice shards on the battlefield had already melted.

Wang Zhengbing had heard from the family head that the Second Young Master of the Zhao Family in Magic City awakened the Light Element, the weakest attribute. Even if he cultivated to the Intermediate level, all his skills would be defensive.

Would a prodigy from such a prominent family be content to be a turtle-shell Mage?

This Spirit Seed was perfectly suited to his needs.

After absorbing Fluorescence, the Light Element Demonic Energy could condense at a constant temperature, achieving the effect of burning flames. Combined with the 2.5 times amplification, it would be comparable to dealing with an Intermediate Fire Mage of the same level!

As for the possibility that Young Master Zhao was too low-level to absorb it?

That would be a matter for the Zhao Family. Whether it was stored through special means or distributed to others, it had nothing to do with their small family.

"Be careful, you few, clean up the battlefield."

Wang Zhengbing commanded, casually asking a guard who came to help, "Besides the Fire Flame Squad, no one else came in, right?"

The guard confirmed, "No one, just those six!"

"That's good. When this is over, I won't let a single one of them go... Wait, you said how many people!?"

The guard was startled and stammered, "S-six of them."

"There were clearly five just now..." Wang Zhengbing's breathing quickened, a sudden unease surging in his heart. He abruptly turned his head and saw a rapidly approaching figure!

"Die!"

"Ice Lock · Bone Grind!"

Wang Zhengbing roared, releasing all his remaining Demonic Energy, no longer considering sparing a life. He was determined to eliminate all potential threats!

Facing the oncoming icy aura, the opponent didn't dodge. A golden star track flashed past.

Wang Zhengbing couldn't tell if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but the star track's color seemed off, as if it were mixed with some red.