Chapter 198: Les go
Mo Fan, seeing his strength questioned, curled his lips. To an ordinary city, a single Commander level creature could bring utter devastation, just like what had happened to Bo City.
But ever since he stepped into the Advanced tier, he had already slain far too many of them. If his Four Star Hunter Master license had not been temporarily sealed away, there would not even be a need to explain himself. That badge alone was enough to let him walk the world openly.
Among Hunter Masters, reaching four stars already meant standing near the summit of the Advanced realm. Five stars and above brushed the threshold of the Super realm, and beyond that were Hunter Kings, figures of supreme status.
Likewise, the members of the National Team remained calm and composed. They were all seasoned geniuses who had faced major battles and held their own hidden cards. Commander level creatures did not scare them.
Just as Jiang Shaoxu stepped forward, about to make use of her silver tongue, Lin Junxian’s attitude suddenly changed. He waved his hand and said, “Forget it. If you are determined to go, make sure your schools, families, and backers all know clearly. Do not make it look like I forced you.”
“My investment may have failed this time, but I still need my reputation. If something happens, do not come blaming me.”
“Of course, if everything is handled properly, I will not be stingy with rewards. I can agree to reasonable conditions.”
Soon, President Lin handled everything generously and decisively. With a wave of his hand, he arranged luxury suites for everyone to rest in and proactively prepared all the hunting equipment, instruments, maps, water, and food they might need.
There was enough gear for the National Team to use all the way to Japan.
Fortunately, both Ai Jiangtu and Mo Fan had Space Element, so storing supplies separately was both convenient and safe.
Jiang Yu looked envious. “Space Element is way too useful. With two Space Mages on the team, we do not have to worry about the burden most teams face.”
Hearing that, Mo Fan only smiled. A thread of silver light flickered between his fingers. Ever since awakening Space Element and tempering his mental strength to the Third Realm, opening a personal storage space was no longer difficult for him. It might not be as stable as Ai Jiangtu’s, but it was more than enough for travel and battle support.
Mu Ningxue glanced sideways, her expression a little complicated. She had watched Mo Fan claw his way upward step by step through sheer grit and madness. His Advanced cultivation had already made him one of the three absolute cores of the National Team.
And she, despite the support of her family background, had somehow fallen behind him by an ever widening gap. The contrast was too stark.
On top of that, Mo Fan had been especially attentive to her recently. Remembering his confession at Dongting Lake, her heart could not help but waver.
Unfortunately, without that life and death moment beneath the jaws of a Commander Giant Lizard, his path to melting the ice queen had become much harder. Still, at least he had not suffered another setback in cultivation.
Everyone spent the night resting at the luxury hotel and set off early the next day.
Their guide was still the same honest boy from the fishing village.
His name was Liu Meng. He was extremely familiar with these waters and skillfully guided the small boat around the hidden underwater reefs and coral, successfully bringing the group to an ecological island outside Feiniao City.
All thirteen of them stepped onto the island, and the solid ground immediately gave them a sense of relief.
Mo Fan let out a breath and said frankly, “I am not good at deep water combat. If the fight drags into the sea, it will be troublesome.”
Most of the others showed similar expressions. The rocking boat had worn them out.
Even Zhao Manyan, despite being a strong Water Mage, would not feel fully confident once facing ocean demons beneath the surface.
Mo Fan closed his eyes and spread his spiritual sense. The ocean island was heavy with moisture, and the sea wind was thick with Water Element energy, but he did not rely on water. What stirred inside him instead was his sharpened spiritual perception, strengthened by his Space Element and Third Realm mental strength.
He steadied morale and said, “Do not worry. Once they come onto the island, leave the front line to me. You just need to locate the sea monsters.”
“That is right!” Zhao Manyan smacked his forehead. “As long as they are dragged onto land, it is not like we are helpless.”
Having already seen Mo Fan’s combat strength, Mu Ningxue, Zhao Manyan, Guan Yu, Nan Jue, and Mu Tingying all relaxed noticeably. Several of them had trained alongside him before, so they knew very well how frightening he was once he got serious.
That was also why this National Team was more cohesive than before. With Mo Fan at the center, no one dared underestimate the dangers ahead. He had already eliminated hidden threats like Zu Jiming and Lu Yilin in succession, shouldering a massive burden for the entire team.
Soon, Jiang Yu stepped forward and began examining the exposed rocks on the island, quickly finding traces of demons.
A single claw mark had slashed from the top of a two meter rock down to its middle, carving three deep grooves into the stone. A few red fish scales were found nearby too.
“It is a Scarlet Scale Sea Demon,” Jiang Yu said. “A rather rare one. Most coastal areas in the Nine Provinces are infested with Azure Scale Sea Demons. This kind is stronger. Even in its juvenile stage, it is a Servant class creature. Once fully matured, it can step into Warrior level.”
Jiang Yu’s Summoning mentor was a top class expert with broad monster knowledge, so he easily identified the creature.
Mo Fan nodded. Just as he was about to speak, the spiritual sense he had been maintaining since they landed picked up several life auras hidden behind a group of rocks in the distance.
Remaining calm, he waited until the creatures drew closer. Only then did Jiang Shaoxu react and shout, “Be careful, something is coming!”
She was one of the rare Psychic Element mages on the team, but in terms of raw sensing ability, she was still a step behind Mo Fan’s spiritual perception.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
As her warning fell, the Scarlet Scale Sea Demons hidden behind the rocks realized their cover had been blown and stopped trying to hide. They leapt out one after another.
Each one was massive and imposing, its body entirely crimson, with three razor sharp claws on each forelimb, stout hind legs, and a belt of fin like tissue around its waist. There were more than a dozen Warrior level monsters, each exuding a fierce and bloodthirsty aura.
Liu Meng, the local guide, turned pale with fear.
But the surrounding National Team members remained completely calm.
Each of them could deal with several Warrior level beasts on their own. Even if they were surrounded by more than a dozen, retreating safely was still possible.
“Tch, scared me for a second. Just a bunch of small fry. Watch me crush them!” Zhao Manyan was the first to act. Full of confidence, he drew his Water Element Nebula and unleashed the Intermediate spell, Violent Waves, Flooding.
With a booming rumble, a giant wave over twenty meters high surged from the shoreline, sweeping forcefully across the island. Its momentum was overwhelming, roaring like heavy machinery. Wherever it passed, boulders shattered and trenches were gouged open.
The Zhao Family had armed him with a high grade spirit seed, so the spell’s power was impressive.
But the Scarlet Scale Sea Demons did not panic at all. They let out harsh screeches, clearly mocking him.
In the next instant, all their eyes lit up with deep blue radiance.
The blue glow directly interfered with the wave.
Gradually, the raging tide began behaving abnormally.
It started to flow backward.
Under the Scarlet Scale Sea Demons’ combined control, the giant wave grew even taller as it reversed course. It surged past thirty meters, becoming a massive dark blue curtain of water roaring back toward the team like an ancient flood beast.
Guan Yu’s face changed immediately. “Idiot! Why are you still using Water Element against sea monsters? Do you think the ocean is not their home field?!”
Just as everyone prepared to scatter, Mo Fan moved.
Silver light flashed in his eyes.
A powerful spatial force burst forth and slammed into the returning tidal wall. The thirty meter wave froze in midair as though seized by an invisible giant hand. The entire water curtain twisted violently under the pressure, no longer advancing even a single step.
At the same moment, purple black lightning exploded from Mo Fan’s body.
The suspended wave was instantly blasted apart by arcs of lightning, shattered into countless sheets of water that crashed back down in a thunderous rain.
Mo Fan stood there calmly, silver brilliance and lightning still flickering around him.
Then he said lightly, “Whose home field did you say this was?”