Chapter 179: The summoning element bonus
Mo Fan felt this trip had been well worth it.
Little did he know, Han Ji felt he had profited even more. The potential Mo Fan displayed was far beyond what most understood. On the surface, people only spoke of his Lightning, Fire, and Summoning elements—but Han Ji had already realized that what lay beneath that was something far more terrifying.
Sharing a portion of mutual interest with the Ancient Capital and tying Mo Fan to their side—why not? After all, Zhu Meng had also strongly recommended him.
Thinking of this, Han Ji’s smile grew brighter as he casually said, “Our Ancient Capital Museum still has quite a few good treasures stored away. I can make the call to gift you one as a thank you.”
Artifacts from the magical world were entirely different from technological relics. Most were ancient magical tools and weapons, carrying immense power, forming the very foundation of a city’s strength.
Among all the cities in the Nine Provinces, the Ancient Capital was undoubtedly one of the richest in heritage.
Han Ji asked, “You’re a Lightning, Fire, and Summoning mage, right? Our Fire and Lightning relics are mostly depleted after the war. As for Summoning… we do have something rare. What would you like?”
Mo Fan scratched his head, recalling what he had seen in the museum. Most relics were damaged or worn—powerful once, but no longer practical.
“Summoning then,” Mo Fan said. “Just pick something good for me.”
“I see…” Han Ji pondered before reluctantly instructing, “Bring that ancient bamboo slip.”
Moments later, an Army soldier walked in carrying a jade tray. Resting upon it was an ancient bamboo slip, emanating an archaic aura from before the Qin era.
Han Ji spoke slowly, “This is an ancient pact—the Gate Pact. Once your Summoning reaches the Advanced Level, Gate of the Beast Tide, tear open this slip. It will permanently transform your Advanced spell.”
Mo Fan’s eyes sharpened.
“Besides summoning a beast tide, you will gain an additional innate contract slot. The summoned creature will be able to freely traverse between realms and guard your Gate of the Beast Tide.”
Mo Fan immediately understood its value.
Normally, a summoner only possessed one innate contract beast at the Intermediate level, and perhaps another at Advanced level if they were exceptional.
But this…
“This means I can control three innate contract beasts?” Mo Fan muttered.
Han Ji nodded.
“With enough resources, even four. But the burden is immense. Most summoners can barely sustain one.”
Mo Fan grinned.
“Sounds perfect.”
To him, overwhelming strength had never come from restraint.
Still, Han Ji added a warning, “The third contract must align with guardian or gatekeeper-type creatures. And once you take this path, your Summoning cultivation will be fixed—you won’t be able to pursue other high-tier methods.”
Mo Fan waved it off. “Future problems.”
After all, compared to raw combat potential, nothing mattered more.
He accepted the Gate Pact with a satisfied smile.
—
Days later, Mo Fan returned from Mount Hua after recovering his strength.
But while his gains were immense, another issue lingered—Zhang Xiaohou.
The corruption from the Ancient King’s power wasn’t just physical—it was mental, emotional… something far deeper.
When Mo Fan found Zhang Xiaohou, he immediately noticed the difference.
The wind around Xiaohou was no longer pure. It carried a faint heaviness, like a suppressed storm tainted by something dark.
“You’re getting worse,” Mo Fan said bluntly.
Zhang Xiaohou didn’t deny it.
“The undead aura… it’s not just affecting my body anymore.”
Mo Fan nodded.
“That’s because it’s not simple energy. It’s emotional erosion.”
Zhang Xiaohou frowned slightly.
Mo Fan continued,
“I can try suppressing it with Light Element purification like a counterattck—but that only treats the surface.”
He paused.
“It burns it away temporarily. But it doesn’t remove the root.”
Zhang Xiaohou understood immediately.
That golden radiance, while powerful, had only cleansed what was visible. The deeper corrosion remained untouched.
“So what do I do?” Xiaohou asked.
Mo Fan smirked slightly.
“You go somewhere better.”
—
Pearl Institute.
The atmosphere was completely different from the Ancient Capital. Calm. Ordered. Alive.
Zhang Xiaohou stood quietly as Mo Fan led him through the campus.
Eventually, they stopped.
A girl stood beneath a tree, her presence quiet yet overwhelming in an intangible way.
Ding Yumian.
She looked at Zhang Xiaohou for only a moment before speaking softly,
“You’ve been exposed to something ancient… something filled with resentment.”
Zhang Xiaohou felt his mind tremble slightly—like his thoughts were being gently touched.
Mo Fan folded his arms. “Told you she’d know.”
Ding Yumian stepped forward.
“Light Element purifies the surface,” she said calmly. “But Psychic Element… rewrites the source.”
Zhang Xiaohou’s eyes sharpened.
Without another word, she raised her hand.
A silent wave spread outward—no light, no visible force—yet Zhang Xiaohou felt as if his entire mind had been submerged into a vast ocean.
The rage. The resentment. The whispers of the undead…
All of it surfaced at once.
But instead of clashing against it, Ding Yumian guided it.
Calmly.
Gently.
Like untangling threads rather than burning them away.
Zhang Xiaohou’s body trembled.
For the first time, the corruption wasn’t just suppressed—it was being reorganized… balanced.
The violent wind aura around him gradually stabilized, becoming clearer, purer.
Minutes later, Ding Yumian lowered her hand.
“It’s not gone,” she said. “But it’s no longer controlling you.”
Zhang Xiaohou opened his eyes slowly.
The world felt… lighter.
Mo Fan grinned.
“Told you. Way better than Light Element brute force.”
Zhang Xiaohou nodded deeply.
This wasn’t just purification.
This was control.
A foundation.
Ding Yumian looked at him once more.
“If you grow stronger, you’ll be able to suppress it yourself completely.”
Mo Fan added casually,
“And once you hit Super Tier, go take that Wind Heaven Seed.”
The air around Zhang Xiaohou stirred sharply.
“This power…” Mo Fan smirked, “you’ll need it.”
Zhang Xiaohou clenched his fist slightly, feeling the stabilized wind respond perfectly to his will.
This time, there was no hesitation.
“I understand.”
And now, his path forward was clearer than ever.