Chapter 181: National team assembly
“I understand,” Zhang Xiaohou said firmly, his voice steady in a way it hadn’t been before. The hesitation that once lingered in him was gone, replaced by clarity, and he looked directly at Mo Fan not just as a brother, but as someone already far ahead on the path.
Mo Fan smirked slightly. “That’s the point. You think I dragged you this far just for you to stop?”
Zhang Xiaohou shook his head. “No. I get it now. This is my path to Super Tier.”
There was a brief silence between them, filled with understanding. Mo Fan stepped forward and lightly punched Xiaohou’s shoulder.
“When we meet again, don’t show up looking half dead.”
Zhang Xiaohou let out a small laugh. “You’re one to talk.”
“I’m serious,” Mo Fan said, his tone sharpening. “The path ahead won’t be easy for either of us. I’m heading to the National Team, and you have your own road to walk. If we slow down, we fall behind.”
Zhang Xiaohou’s expression hardened. “Then I won’t fall behind.”
Mo Fan nodded. “Good. I don’t need you standing beside me on that stage to know you’re still moving forward.”
Zhang Xiaohou took a deep breath. “Then go. Make them remember you.”
Mo Fan smiled faintly. “I’ll make them remember our country.”
Zhang Xiaohou’s gaze grew firm. “And I’ll keep getting stronger too. Next time we meet, I won’t just be watching from behind.”
“You better not,” Mo Fan said confidently. “You’ve never been the one to quit. So catch up, because I’m not slowing down.”
Zhang Xiaohou smiled faintly. “I wouldn’t want you to.”
The two of them stood there for a moment longer before separating.
Zhang Xiaohou turned and left, his steps firm and unwavering, heading toward Pearl Institute and the path that belonged to him.
Mo Fan watched him go for a moment, then turned toward the departure gate.
Moments later, Lu Dong watched Mo Fan board the plane before finally leaving the airport. At a corner outside the terminal, he was stopped by a young, arrogant looking man.
“So? Did he head to the Imperial Capital alone?”
“Young Master Lu?” Lu Dong was startled. After seeing the man’s face clearly, he immediately spoke respectfully, “Yes. Mo Fan went alone. Zhang Xiaohou left separately. He isn’t part of the National Team.”
“As expected.”
Lu Yilin murmured to himself and sneered. “This year, some commoner brat actually got selected for the National Team by luck. No background whatsoever, yet he pushed me off the list.”
He was full of jealousy. He had been training with the National Team candidates for a long time when suddenly the notice came down. A new member was being added. With the team slots limited, someone had to be removed, and that someone was him.
Lu Yilin was extremely dissatisfied. His cultivation had already reached the Advanced Level. He just hadn’t fully mastered his Star Constellations yet. In terms of raw strength, he knew he wasn’t weaker than several people who made the cut.
Yet the higher ups expected him to compete not just in strength, but in reputation, backing, and influence as well. How absurd was that?
By that logic, shouldn’t commoners be compared with commoners, and nobles with nobles? He refused to accept it.
After doing his research, he discovered that Mo Fan’s recommendation votes came from multiple major forces within the Nine Provinces. The Enforcement Union, the Ancient Capital, Zhu Meng, and several top tier cities had all shown some form of support.
That made things complicated.
But complicated did not mean impossible.
Lu Yilin’s eyes narrowed slightly. “So he thinks having a few recommendation votes means he can step over me?”
Lu Dong hesitated, recalling what he had seen before. His face showed clear unease as he warned, “Young Master… that Mo Fan… he’s not normal. That kid’s a lunatic.”
“Pfft, what do you know?” Lu Yilin dismissed him coldly. “No matter how wild he is, he’s still just a commoner with no real foundation in the Imperial Capital.”
Lu Dong lowered his head and said nothing more.
Lu Yilin’s expression darkened. “When he arrives, find a chance to test him. I want to see whether he truly deserves that place.”
On the other side, Mo Fan sat through the long flight and finally arrived at his destination.
He had been unusually quiet the entire way. Zhang Xiaohou’s words still echoed faintly in his mind, but Mo Fan did not feel burdened by them. If anything, he felt more certain.
Everyone had their own path.
Xiaohou had chosen his.
Now Mo Fan had to walk his.
As the plane descended toward the Imperial Capital, Mo Fan leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes for a moment.
The National Team was not just another stage.
It was where the strongest young mages in the country gathered. It was where talent, background, resources, and ambition collided. Every person there would be watching him, judging him, testing whether he truly belonged.
Mo Fan opened his eyes slowly.
He did not care.
If they wanted proof, he would give them proof.
Time passed, and when Mo Fan arrived at the Imperial Capital National Team gathering point, the atmosphere was completely different from Pearl Institute. The arena was filled with elite mages, each one carrying a powerful aura, each one representing the peak of their generation.
Mo Fan stepped forward calmly, and the noise around him naturally quieted. Some recognized him, others only knew rumors, but everyone could feel it.
He wasn’t ordinary.
A group of senior mentors approached, their authority silencing the crowd. Feng Li stepped forward, his eyes landing on Mo Fan.
“So you’re Mo Fan.”
“I am.”
“You won’t be a substitute,” Feng Li said.
A ripple spread through the crowd.
“You’ll be a core member.”
Mo Fan didn’t react much. The surrounding candidates, however, immediately began whispering among themselves. Some were shocked, some were dissatisfied, and some looked at him with open hostility.
Feng Li continued, “Originally, we intended to assign you as captain.”
The reaction this time was even stronger.
Mo Fan simply raised his hand. “No need.”
Feng Li narrowed his eyes. “You’re refusing?”
“I don’t need it. Strength speaks for itself.”
A short silence followed before Feng Li nodded. “Then we vote.”
It didn’t take long.
“Mo Fan, Assistant Captain.”
No one objected.
Not because they all agreed, but because they could not deny it.
Mo Fan stood in the center of the gathering point, calm beneath the weight of everyone’s attention.
His strength was not just high. It was complete.
Fire High Tier Level Two.
Lightning High Tier Level One with a powerful spirit seed.
Summoning High Tier Level One with the Snow Frost Star Wolf at Mid Commander Level.
Little Flame Belle advancing.
Little Lightning Belle nearing pseudo Commander Level.
Light Basic Level Three.
Shadow Intermediate Level Three.
Space Level Three backed by immense mental strength.
It wasn’t just power. It was balance, versatility, and overwhelming combat potential combined into one. Even among the National Team, it stood at the top.
Several candidates stared at him in silence.
Only now did they understand why the mentors had made this decision.
Mo Fan looked across the arena, his expression calm.
Back at Pearl Institute, Zhang Xiaohou was walking his own path toward Super Tier.
Here in the Imperial Capital, Mo Fan would walk his.
He remembered Xiaohou’s words.
“Go. Make them remember you.”
Mo Fan smirked faintly.
He would.
Not as someone who came here to make up numbers.
Not as someone who needed a title to prove himself.
But as Mo Fan.
And once he stood on the world stage, he would make sure they remembered the name.