Mo Fan at his best – Versatile Mage

Seeing Mu Ningxue’s somewhat embarrassed expression, Mo Fan chimed in bluntly, “Besides your pretty face, all you’ll do is attract unnecessary trouble, right?”

Although she did not like Mo Fan’s blunt way of speaking, Mu Ningxue still nodded.

That was indeed what she meant. She was already carrying too many problems. The Mu Clan, the Ice Crystal Bow, her family’s ruined reputation, her father’s pressure, her lack of resources, and now her elimination from the National Team. Anyone who stood too close to her would inevitably be dragged into those problems.

Mo Fan looked at her and said, “When we set off again, I told you before. With me around, all your troubles stop being troubles.”

This was the second time Mu Ningxue had heard Mo Fan say something like this.

The first time, she might have thought he was bragging.

But hearing it again now, Mu Ningxue no longer felt that way.

She looked at him quietly and suddenly asked, “Where were you during the Ancient Capital catastrophe?”

Mo Fan’s gaze paused slightly.

Mu Ningxue had guessed something.

“The reason there were only a limited number of deaths and injuries despite such a huge catastrophe is because I was there,” Mo Fan said calmly. “To exaggerate a little, within the territory of the Ancient Capital, even if I bombed the Clock Tower Magic Association headquarters, nothing much would happen to me.”

Mu Ningxue’s eyes trembled faintly.

Mo Fan did not explain everything clearly. There were some matters that were better left vague. But his words already revealed enough.

The Ancient Capital calamity was not something an ordinary mage could survive, much less influence. Even Super Mages could appear powerless before disasters of that scale. Yet Mo Fan spoke of it with calm confidence, as if he had truly stood at the center of that storm and walked out alive.

And this confidence was not empty.

Mo Fan was already very strong now.

During Sea Battle City’s great tide, he had shown his strength again and again. Fire swept across the battlefield, Lightning pierced through the monster tide, Shadow and Space let him move freely through danger, Little Flame Belle and Little Lightning Belle amplified his destructive power, and Snow Frost Star Wolf’s Mid Commander-level presence was so oppressive that even ordinary sea monsters froze in fear.

He had not even needed to fully rely on Wolfie at every moment.

It was not because Wolfie was weak. On the contrary, Wolfie’s aura was too powerful. The Snow Frost Star Wolf’s Emperor bloodline and Commander-level oppression were enough to make many lower sea monsters instinctively fear approaching. If summoned too openly in certain situations, it would draw too much attention and disrupt Mo Fan’s soul essence harvesting rhythm.

Mo Fan’s current strength was already monstrous among High Tier Mages.

With his compressed casting, battle experience, and high proficiency, he could release Advanced magic far faster than ordinary mages. Ordinary High Tier Mages might need around eight seconds to form an Advanced spell, but Mo Fan could complete one in about three seconds. Combined with his multiple elements, spirit seed amplification, elemental spirits, and combat instincts, he was already unmatched among High Tier mages.

Even a fully equipped elite High Tier Mage might not be his opponent.

Especially in terms of destruction, Mo Fan’s output alone was comparable to a full High Tier Mage squad.

“In short, you’ll understand later,” Mo Fan said.

He did not continue explaining the Ancient Capital matter. Instead, he handed the Star River Vein to Mu Ningxue.

This time, Mu Ningxue did not hesitate.

If Mo Fan had not been so blunt, her pride and hesitation might have made her refuse. But now, she did not want to refuse anymore. She also did not want to experience the ending Mo Fan had described.

Although the Mu Clan had shaped who she was today, she had also put in ten years of effort herself.

How could she give up so easily?

How could she watch her father and her loved ones fall into misery because she lacked the strength to resist?

Right now, her only real opportunity was the World Academy Competition.

Mu Ningxue reached out and accepted the Star River Vein.

The moment the resource entered her hands, the Ice Crystal Bow within her soul trembled faintly. A cold aura spread through the room, causing frost to silently form along the windowsill.

Mo Fan noticed it immediately and narrowed his eyes.

“Remember,” he said. “You are the master. The bow is only a tool. Don’t let it swallow you.”

Mu Ningxue held the Star River Vein tightly and nodded.

“I understand.”

Mo Fan turned to leave.

Behind him, Mu Ningxue’s voice sounded softly. “Mo Fan.”

“What?”

“Thank you.”

Mo Fan paused for a moment, then smiled without turning around.

“Remember it. I’ll collect properly in the future.”

After saying that, he walked out.

In the afternoon, rain inexplicably began to fall. The rain carried a bone-piercing chill, quickly enveloping the entire city in a damp cold that was difficult to bear.

By evening, after the mentors finished explaining the next arrangements, they prepared to leave. The entire team stood at the entrance, watching them depart.

They still deserved respect. After all, these mentors were famous senior mages in the country. Their cultivation, experience, and judgment could greatly benefit these young National Team members.

Feng Li looked over the group and suddenly frowned. “Where is Mu Ningxue?”

He had always admired that girl somewhat. Even if she had been eliminated due to her cultivation level, her temperament and talent were still rare.

“I’m coming.”

Just then, Mu Ningxue’s voice came from the staircase.

Everyone turned.

As Mu Ningxue walked down, the chill around her involuntarily condensed into a thin icy path beneath her feet. Frost spread quietly with every step she took, and the cold aura surrounding her was no longer the unstable aura of an Intermediate Mage.

It was deeper.

Sharper.

More complete.

Following that icy path, Mu Ningxue arrived before the mentors.

Feng Li had been frowning at first, but after sensing that Mu Ningxue’s Ice Nebula was no longer a Nebula, his eyes suddenly widened in shock.

That aura…

It was a Star River!

“You broke through?” Feng Li asked, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty.

It was no wonder he reacted this way. Even Song He, the other mentors, and the National Team members were all stunned.

In just one afternoon, Mu Ningxue had actually broken through!

Mu Ningxue nodded calmly. “I might not need to return for now. Also, I want to compete for an official team position.”

Guan Yu, who was standing nearby, was completely dumbfounded.

When he had gone to find her earlier, Mu Ningxue had clearly been at her lowest point. But now, she had already become a High Tier Mage. The cold aura radiating from her body was enough to prove how powerful her Ice Element had become.

Mu Tingying’s expression became extremely unpleasant.

She had thought Mu Ningxue would finally disappear from the team and stop being an eyesore. Who would have thought that this woman would actually succeed in breaking through at the last moment?

What made it even more unbearable was Mu Ningxue’s temperament.

Even after breaking through, she was still calm, still cold, still standing there as if nothing had shaken her.

Nanrong Ni’s expression was not pleasant either. She did not look happy about her supposed friend’s breakthrough. Instead, her brows furrowed slightly, as if Mu Ningxue’s success had disrupted something.

Jiang Shaoxu, however, smiled.

She glanced at Mo Fan.

She did not need to ask to know who had helped.

Feng Li stared at Mu Ningxue for a while before finally nodding. “Although I don’t know how you did it, since you successfully broke through, congratulations. You may continue training with the team.”

He paused, then added, “As for replacing an official member, there is no need to rush. Through this experience, you have already regained access to the training resources provided by the National Team. Whether you can truly return as a full member will depend on your future performance.”

Mu Ningxue nodded. “I understand.”

Feng Li turned to the others and said, “The substitutes will arrive later. For now, rest here for a few days and consolidate your cultivation.”

After saying that, he put away Mu Ningxue’s identification document again. Then his gaze shifted toward Mo Fan, and his expression immediately became less pleasant.

“You, kid. Come with us. Back to China.”

Mo Fan scratched his head.

He was not leaving the team permanently. He was only returning to China to deliver the Condensed Evil Bead to Old Bao for proper handling. He had told Ai Jiangtu about this before, but to his surprise, Ai Jiangtu had reported it to Feng Li.

Of course, this was not something that could be hidden.

This was not a matter of leaving for one or two days. It involved training schedules, resource arrangements, and the authority of the National Team mentors.

If Mo Fan were not exceptionally talented, asking for leave from the National Team during training would have been absolutely impossible.

That was why Feng Li’s expression looked so ugly.

After all, who casually asked for leave from the National Team?

Later, after arriving at the airport and boarding the plane, Feng Li finally could not help but scold him.

“Kid, I know you are already at the top among your peers in terms of ability,” Feng Li said. “But the National Team is not a game!”

Only Feng Li and Song He were sitting nearby. There were no unrelated people around, so Mo Fan did not hide too much.

“I know,” Mo Fan said. “If it weren’t for the restless thing on me that I can’t properly handle, I wouldn’t go back.”

Feng Li’s gaze sharpened. “What thing?”

Mo Fan did not answer directly. Instead, he asked, “Mentor, do you know Old Bao? Song Qiming?”

Feng Li frowned.

He was the one asking the question, yet this kid had asked him a question back.

Song He, sitting to the side, spoke first. “Song Qiming… if you mean Old Bao, then yes. He was once a retired member of the Holy Judgment Court. Even now, he is still an extremely famous figure in the magical world.”

Feng Li was not especially familiar with Old Bao personally, but he had naturally heard of the name.

Mo Fan said mysteriously, “Only he can solve the problem I have. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but knowing too much won’t do you any good.”

Feng Li and Song He immediately lost the desire to ask further.

At their level, they understood one thing clearly: there were many matters in the magical world where knowing less was safer.

But another doubt soon rose in their hearts.

How did Mo Fan, a student, know someone like Old Bao?

When Song Qiming was famous in the magical world, Mo Fan probably had not even been born yet.

Mo Fan ignored their suspicion and gave no further explanation.

He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

The Condensed Evil Bead had to be dealt with.

If Old Bao could purify it properly, then the clean dark-soul essence left behind might become the foundation for an Essence Orb. That Essence Orb could one day help Mu Bai and Zhang Xiaohou when their paths turned toward darkness, death, and the underworld.

Zhao Manyan’s Water Elemental Spirit search was also approaching.

Mu Ningxue had broken through to High Tier.

Wolfie still needed stronger resources.

Little Flame Belle and Little Lightning Belle needed more nourishment.

Mo Fan slowly exhaled.

There were too many things to do.

But that was fine.

As long as every step brought resources, power, and people worth protecting closer to him, then no trip was wasted.