Mo Fan's Duel

During his entire senior year of high school, Jiang Yuan had gained a great deal.

First was the Stardust Magic Tool that boosted his cultivation.

After selling the Mortal-grade Stardust Magic Tool and the Soul Essences he'd collected, he commissioned the Hunter's League to purchase a Spirit-grade Nebula Magic Tool from Modu.

Now he could cultivate for fourteen hours a day, which under Overclock effectively became twenty-one hours.

Worth mentioning was that Mo Fan's Little Loach pendant had also advanced to Spirit-grade after swallowing a Soul Essence.

Next came his magical cultivation.

Driven by relentless training and combat, Jiang Yuan's Water element Nebula had reached Mid-level third tier.

Breaking through to Advanced was just around the corner.

The Undead element had broken through to Mid-level, but aside from more abundant magic energy and slightly stronger summoned undead, there wasn't much improvement.

The Mid-level Undead spell was called Undead Contract, requiring him to find an undead to contract with, nurturing it like a tamed beast.

Where would he find undead in Bocheng? He'd have to wait until he went to the Ancient Capital to make a contract.

Then there was the Lightning element.

Lightning was currently at Beginner-level third tier.

Finally, the Mind element.

Mind element magic had reached Beginner-level full cultivation.

Even though Jiang Yuan hadn't deliberately increased his meditation time for the Mind element, his meditation speed was unusually fast.

For magic systems like Dimensional Magic and Mind element that required mental strength, power was closely tied to one's mental realm.

His current mental realm was the Second Mirror.

Additionally, he estimated that the Mind element would break through to Mid-level faster than Lightning.

Achieving such magical cultivation in just three years of training would be considered astonishing anywhere in the world.

If anyone found out he had an Innate Talent for each element, it wouldn't just be simple shock anymore.

Those shameless old farts from the Court of the Adjudicators and the Court of the Sanctifiers would step in.

"Mo Fan, isn't tomorrow your duel with the Mu family? Are you ready?" Jiang Yuan suddenly remembered and asked.

"Yeah," Mo Fan replied, sinking into thought.

"Who was I dueling again?"

He'd been too busy this past year, completely putting the duel out of his mind.

He really couldn't recall who his opponent was.

Something like Fish Tank?

"Brother Fan, that guy's called Yu Ang, Yu Ang," Zhang Xiaohou reminded him.

"Oh, right. A small fry like that doesn't even register with me anymore. Whether he's Yu Ang or Fish Tank or whatever, he's just waiting for me to step on him and make everyone take notice!" Mo Fan was now very confident in his strength.

"Fight well, Mo Fan," Jiang Yuan said, his tone carrying a hint of gravity.

Once Mo Fan finished the duel and entered the Sacred Spring, it wouldn't be long before the blood alarm sounded.

The Bocheng Disaster was coming.

The next day.

At the Mu Family Manor, all the influential figures in Bocheng had gathered, turning the estate into a scene of clinking glasses and exchanged favors.

"Mo Fan's here!" someone shouted, and all eyes fell on the three who had just entered.

Jiang Yuan walked at the front, silent.

Zhang Xiaohou looked a bit awkward, not knowing where to put his hands, so he rubbed the back of his head to ease the tension.

Mo Fan was completely different, grinning widely and cheerfully greeting everyone.

"Old class monitor, you're here too! You've lost weight lately, huh?"

"Oh wow, the Chief Instructor's here too. Anything fun happening at the Snow Mountain Posthouse lately?"

"Hey, you there—where's your master Mu Bai? I wanted him to see my heroic display. What a shame."

Zhao Kun San, who was called out, had a face full of black lines and said bitterly, "Just keep showing off. When your opponent beats you down, don't say you're from Tianlan High School. But don't worry, I'll celebrate your cowardly retreat."

"Then I'm afraid you won't get to see me getting beaten," Mo Fan laughed.

He swept his gaze around—not only were his classmates and teachers there, but his father was also in the crowd watching him.

And in the distance, Mu Zhuoyun, who had noticed Mo Fan's arrival.

Their eyes met.

Mo Fan clicked his tongue and said to Jiang Yuan, "The big wife isn't here. She's probably gone back to the Imperial Capital Academy."

"Don't think about your main squeeze. When the duel starts, don't hold back," Jiang Yuan said.

"What's up?"

"Gut feeling," Jiang Yuan replied casually.

Gut feeling again.

Mo Fan didn't quite get it—gut feelings were too vague—but Jiang Yuan's instincts had been spot-on a few times now, and he was itching to stomp Yu Ang into the ground anyway.

No holding back, then.

Screw the Mu Clan or whoever.

Today was Mo Fan's day to make a name for himself!!

Before the magic duel officially began, a lavish banquet was held, all golden and gleaming. Mu Zhuoyun gave a few ceremonial remarks to win over the young talents.

It worked well enough.

At least plenty of people clapped enthusiastically.

Once the banquet ended, the magic duel kicked off.

The crowd gathered at an oval dueling arena on the estate, surrounded by tiered seating for the guests to watch.

After everyone took their seats, the duel's main players stepped up.

Mo Fan was the first to set foot in the arena.

Yu Ang made a flashy entrance in a snow-white outfit, decked out in several magic tools and artifacts, flaunting the Mu Clan's noble style.

Show-off. Way too show-off.

Mo Fan couldn't help muttering under his breath, "A fish tank dressed up this flashy. I'll make sure this punk knows only I get to be this flashy in all of Bocheng!"

As the duel's witness, Deng Kai walked to the center of the arena.

"Both of you are standout young mages in Bocheng. Anyway, this duel is about skill, not bloodshed!"

With that, Deng Kai moved to the edge of the arena but didn't fully step out, ready to intervene if anything went wrong.

"Alright, shake hands. You can start when I give the signal," Deng Kai said.

The moment Mo Fan and Yu Ang clasped hands, ice and fire energy erupted between their palms—the first clash began before the duel even started.

Feeling the chill in his hand, Mo Fan curled his lip.

Starting today, he'd show those arrogant, high-and-mighty types who was really the egg against the rock, who was the real clown!

Everyone who mocked and looked down on him—shut your damn mouths today!!!

"Mo Fan's fired up," Jiang Yuan said from the stands.

"If it were me, I'd be fired up too!" Zhang Xiaohou exclaimed excitedly.

A duel watched by so many—winning it would be the talk of the whole city. Who wouldn't brag about that?

What guy wouldn't get fired up in a setting like this?!

Jiang Yuan saw Zhang Xiaohou's face flushed red like a monkey's butt from excitement and knew right away.

This guy was really fired up.

No wonder he got along with Mo Fan—they were pretty alike in some ways.

Out of the three of them, only he was the mature man.

"Brother Yuan, I bought these cheer sticks for Brother Fan—they glow. Want to wave one around?" Zhang Xiaohou handed over a metal stick.

The stick had a matte black coating, dotted with colorful gaming-themed stickers. It flashed blue when lit up, and even made lightsaber swooshing sounds when swung.

Sleek and packed with tech appeal!

Jiang Yuan's eyes lit up, and he instinctively reached out.

Then he immediately kicked into Overclock mode.

Waving his hand, he refused like a mature man: "Nah, I'm not into that. You wave it yourself."

As he spoke, his eyes kept darting to the blue glow of the cheer stick.