Bo City's sewers. One week before the Holy Spring duels.
The sewers stank as always. After nearly three years hunting one-eyed rats in this hellhole, I still hadn't gotten used to it. Good thing trips here will end soon.
A week after practice, a year and a half ago, I approached Tang Yue and sold her a vial of water from a small pond near the One-Eyed Wolf's cave for five million yuan.
I also shared that I'd tested the water on sewer rats—they got way more aggressive. And with the growing rat tunnels in the sewers, someone planned to sic a rat tribe—maybe more than rats—on the city soon, bypassing the military blockade. Or pinch the soldiers from two sides and wipe out the city.
The trainee judge left thoughtful. If even after these hints she doesn't call in Mage's Tribunal help, I'll lose faith in humanity, ditch all plans, and grind levels in the mountains.
Just in case, I'm collapsing tunnels under the city myself, while boosting all my element stars with soul shards dropped and condensed from them. This should speed my mid-tier breakthrough even faster.
Too bad I can't drag anything with its own soul to another reality or pull from there— not enough power yet. But nothing stops me from fusing, say, a soul seed with myself there and returning. Can't boost allies that way, shame.
Speaking of allies. Zhang Kong, though grumbling and huffing, is an honest guy. So stretching artifact payouts over half a year, he delivered the promised rewards.
He didn't spend much by high-tier mage standards—30-40 million yuan. Price of two weak spiritual seeds. But with garrison commander duties leaving little time for side hustles, and no way he'd ask his family, it took that long. At least with that many artifacts, we can worry less about the schoolkids in the coming disaster.
Collapsing another tunnel, I checked my past-life memory map of monster surface breakthroughs. Not foolproof, but after sealing all marked spots, I'll sweep the sewers a couple more times for sure.
"Sigh, peace is just a dream." Boosting another star with a one-eyed rat's dropped soul, I sighed wearily. But though I love fooling around, when it's time, I work conscientiously. So back to it.
Mu Family Estate. Day of the Holy Spring duels.
One by one, luxury cars pulled into the Mu Family Estate along the winding mountain road.
Important guests arrived: Director Zhu with top school students, Commander Zhang Kong, Magic Association rep Yang Zuohe, Hunter Union chair Du Xiao, and other bigwigs with entourages and kids.
Mu Zhuoyun and Mu Yuan personally greeted all VIPs. After all, it was primarily the latter's coming-of-age day, with Holy Spring duels just one planned entertainment. Happening first, too. Not fight after the banquet, right?
Once seated around the circular arena, the host hyped the crowd. The arena was an open-air structure the size of eight basketball courts, mostly stone except the dirt floor. "Time flies so fast—we'll all age someday! Let's cheer the young generation! Today, Bo City's strongest young mages battle here! Except my daughter—she's unbeatable." No one argued with Mu Zhuoyun; everyone knew she'd broken through to mid-tier two weeks ago. He blared it citywide.
"First bout: Tianlan Magic High's top students! Mu Bai, school rank one, vs. Mo Fan, rank two! Winner challenges tonight's heir and hero—Mu Yuan!" The crowd applauded approvingly.
The Mu head knows how to talk. He framed it so we're testing against his successor—we're inherently lesser. Whatever, I don't pity Black Church faces, and I'll show him how wrong he is.
With those thoughts, I calmly descended to the arena. From the opposite end came Mo Fan, casually dressed like me.
"You're not favored in your family, tea boy!" Mo Fan jabbed with my childhood nickname. It grated the original Mu Bai, but it amuses me, so his taunt flopped.
"No need to hide nerves with snarky jokes. Heard your sister awakened healing element? Someone to patch your wounds post-fight—for free!" I reflexively fired back. But no more banter—the gong rang, time to fight.
I fire first ice tier one "Freeze" at him—he'll dodge anyway, why waste magic energy? No chance to recover it.
Mo Fan interrupts casting and leaps aside. What'd he expect? I outpace his cast speed, and he was prepping a stronger spell.
I close in and repeat. Happens twice more till Mo Fan realizes he's cornered.
Resolute, he starts a new spell, planning to tank my next attack. True, tier one ice just freezes legs, tier two not much better. Purple star path forms over his hand.
Nah, bro. No artifacts, with my public abilities, I can't dodge lightning. We didn't discuss using them.
Tier three ice "Envelop" flies from my hand near-instantly—it should fully freeze him and whip up a small blizzard for poor visibility.
I leap from my last seen spot, better safe. What if he finishes before freezing? Good call—next second, tier three beginner lightning hits there. As expected from Mo Fan, fought to the end.
I drop the blizzard quick to not worsen his state. I weakened the spell to avoid serious injury—human bodies, even mages', are fragile.
Blizzard fades, revealing Mo Fan's body iced thin. Medics rushed over.
Arena stands echoed stunned gasps and disbelief. Sadly, not for my coolness. He showed dual-element talent. Life's unfair—you win, they admire the loser.
"Winner: Mu Bai!" Whatever, victory's enough for me.