Everyone Won Big

How powerful was Intermediate Magic?

The magical world had always been divided on this question.

The more authoritative view was that, without Spirit Seeds or special talents, the base power of magic at each level doubled with every increase in rank.

For example, Fire Spark was twice as powerful as Fire Spark Burning, and four times as powerful as Fire Spark.

When a Stardust transformed into a Nebula, the number of Star Seeds also increased from seven to forty-nine, multiplying its power by a full seven times.

Xu Fang was currently a Level 2 Beginner Mage. By this calculation, he was a full fourteen times weaker than a Level 1 Intermediate Magic spell.

Even the best Heavenly Seed seemed to provide only a twelvefold boost!

Looking across the entire magical world, only Mo Fan in his Demonization state could achieve that!

But Xu Fang had done it too.

With only his Light and Fire Elements, his power had reached twice that of a mage at the same level.

When the Golden Star Seeds and Crimson Fire Light Array lit up at the same time, the boost reached the level of a top Soul Seed: sixfold.

And that still wasn't enough.

After Xu Fang used High Temperature Core to build up power, his strength doubled once more, achieving a full twelvefold boost!

The surging waves aboard the train and the Ice Lock before them could only avoid its sharp edge under the onslaught of Bright Blazing Fire!

In the sky, the icy-blue mist and golden light had annihilated each other. Only the elemental fluctuations lingering in the air reminded everyone that the astonishing scene they had just witnessed was no illusion.

Wang Zhengbing stared fixedly at Xu Fang and enunciated each word. "A Spirit! Seed!"

He had reached the same conclusion as Lu Wanqing. Xu Fang's bizarre-looking ability had clearly absorbed the properties of some top-grade Spirit Seed.

Only Intermediate Mages could absorb Spirit Seeds. That was an accepted fact in the magical world.

An Intermediate Mage with a Spirit Seed—even one who had only reached Intermediate Level 1—could easily defeat him at the peak of his strength...

"Your Excellency, we have no quarrel with you. If you're willing to take a step back, our Wang family will offer you satisfactory compensation."

Wang Zhengbing said.

Xu Fang remained silent. A broad greatsword and a heavy shield rose into the air beside him, one after the other, while specks of light appeared around his feet.

"A Demon Slaying Tool, a shield Magic Tool, and a Footwear Magic Tool..."

Wang Zhengbing's expression turned utterly grim. "Are you sure you want to make an enemy of the Wang family?"

"Are you going to let me pass or not?" The broad mask made it impossible to see Xu Fang's expression, but his manner—like he'd kill them all if they didn't get out of his way—had enraged everyone present.

"In your dreams! We're the Wang family's most loyal warriors. Even if we die, we won't let you take the Spirit Seed!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and the others joined in.

"That's right! If you want the Spirit Seed, you'll have to step over our corpses!"

"Even if we burn to death or get sliced in half by a Demon Slaying Tool, we won't let you get your way!"

"Give it up already!"

"Let's all attack together! I refuse to believe we can't stop him, even if half of us die!"

The crowd was furious, as if they could drown the bastard right there in a flood of spit.

But their bodies told the truth. No matter how loudly they blustered, not one of them dared take a step forward.

Xu Fang ignored them and looked only at Wang Zhengbing. "Are you going to let me pass or not?"

Wang Zhengbing's face was terribly grim. He hesitated for several seconds. Finally, when he saw Xu Fang impatiently place a hand on his Demon Slaying Tool, he hurriedly said, "Let him through! We'll let him through!"

Everyone stared at him in shock. "Uncle Bing!"

"You can't do that!"

"What if the head of the family blames you?"

"Enough! Our Wang family accepts defeat this time. If the head of the family blames anyone, I, Wang Zhengbing, will take full responsibility!" Wang Zhengbing picked up the vessel containing the Spirit Seed and tossed it to Xu Fang.

Xu Fang caught it. Feeling the aura of light, a hint of satisfaction flashed across his eyes. Without another word, he activated his Footwear Magic Tool and quickly vanished from sight.

The moment he left, the scene erupted. Everyone indignantly declared that they couldn't bow to a bandit like that and should have fought to the death. They had done everything they could and still failed to protect the Spirit Seed; they wished they could kill themselves to apologize to the head of the family...

"Enough!"

Wang Zhengbing barked, and the crowd fell silent at once, not daring to say another word. He turned to the guard from earlier. "You said you knew that man?"

The guard stammered, "Y-yes. His name is Ma Zhuang. The Fire Flame Squad only took him in recently."

"Hmph, so that's it. No wonder Lu Yan said, 'I'll definitely be back.' Their five-man team was just a smokescreen. The person who really wanted the Spirit Seed was here all along!"

Wang Zhengbing said, "Ahu, contact the family immediately. Hunt down the Fire Flame Squad and Ma Zhuang with all our might, and take back the Spirit Seed!"

Ahu was taken aback. "But, Uncle Bing, isn't it too late now?"

"Too late? Heh, what do you know?" Wang Zhengbing was supremely confident. "The ability Ma Zhuang used just now was clearly a Light Element spell. In other words, he's already embedded a top-grade Light Spirit Seed!

"As for the Fire Flame Squad? They're just Ma Zhuang's pawns, tools for draining our magic energy. How could they possibly be allowed anywhere near a Spirit Seed?

"So for now, the Spirit Seed is safe.

"Yangcheng is our Wang family's territory. As long as the Spirit Seed is still here, even if they dig a hole and bury themselves, they won't escape our eyes!"

Everyone suddenly understood.

"Brilliant!"

"So that's it!"

"As expected of Uncle Bing! You even saw through that!"

"Everything is under your control!"

After everyone showered him with praise, Wang Zhengbing's expression improved considerably. He snorted and said, "We've just been through a major battle, and our magic energy is depleted. Even if we used our Magic Tools, we might not be a match for Ma Zhuang. That man is shrewd. Better to let him enjoy himself for a while than drive him into a corner. We'll settle the score later!"

Meanwhile.

"Thud!"

With a sharp crack, Xu Fang lurched to one side and stumbled several steps before regaining his balance.

"Cheap stuff really is no good." Xu Fang cursed as he looked at the ruined Footwear Magic Tool.

It was a secondhand item he'd picked up as soon as he got his card. It had cost him a full four hundred thousand.

The seller had said it could only be used once a day, in principle. Xu Fang had used it just one extra time and it was already ruined. The seller hadn't honored the rich nuances of the Chinese language at all.

Fortunately, he'd gotten the Spirit Seed. If he hadn't, he would've taken a serious loss.

Just now, he might've looked like some mighty expert, all confidence and swagger, but in truth, every step had been fraught with danger.

A fully charged Crimson Fire Light Array had consumed half his magic energy.

Even if he'd been willing to drain the rest of his magic energy to use it one more time, the several minutes it took to build up power would've been fatal. The Wang family weren't little monsters who'd obediently wait around for him.

The Demon Slaying Tool was even more of a joke. There wasn't a single place in all of Yangcheng that could repair one. It was nothing but a prop, a bluff.

If Wang Zhengbing had still had enough strength to cast an Intermediate Magic spell, or use a Magic Tool—or if the Wang family members had all rushed him at once—

Then Xu Fang would've had no choice but to abandon his Sand Shield and run for it. There was no other option.

It had been a battle of wits.

Clearly, both sides thought they'd won big.

The only losers were the unfortunate Fire Flame Squad and Ma Zhuang, who'd been dragged into it for no reason. Xu Fang could only wish them luck. The Wang family had come up with all that on their own. He, Xu Fang, had never admitted to any of it.

Oh, right. There was one more: Second Young Master Zhao.

If the second young master found out that both sides had fought tooth and nail just to get him a birthday present, only for a third party to intercept it, he'd probably have no idea how to feel...