Mo Fan at his best – Versatile Mage

Across the vast sea, Mo Fan breathed heavily as the enormous black sea-eye slowly began to collapse. The abyssal vortex that had swallowed more than a hundred kilometers of ocean gradually lost its horrifying gravitational pull, while the reversed tidal currents finally returned to normal. Dark-blue divine rings still revolved around Mo Fan, but their light had become faint and unstable. Above his head, the magnificent crown representing the sun, moon, and stars flickered as though it might disappear at any moment.

The Mermaid Queen’s elemental origin had nearly been exhausted. She had already suffered severe injuries before Mo Fan entered the battlefield, and allowing him to unleash Abyss of the Sea Returns to Ruin had consumed what little strength remained. Even with the terrifying power of the fused Northern Dark Heavy Water, maintaining a domain capable of suppressing two Monarchs was simply too demanding. Borrowed power could never last forever.

Mo Fan stared coldly at the ruined battlefield beneath him. The Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord Monarch was still alive, while the Sea Witch Monarch had sacrificed its physical body and scattered its consciousness among countless subordinate sea demons. Both Monarchs had been severely wounded, yet neither had truly died. That alone showed just how absurd the vitality of Monarch-level creatures could be.

“Damn, they’re stubborn,” Mo Fan muttered as he flexed his aching fingers. If the Abyss had remained active for another few minutes, he was confident the Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord would have been completely crushed, while the scattered consciousness of the Sea Witch would have been dragged into oblivion alongside its army. Unfortunately, the Mermaid Queen could no longer provide enough energy to maintain such an enormous domain. Mo Fan hated leaving valuable enemies half-dead.

Deep inside his spiritual world, the Coagulation Evil Pearl pulsed faintly. Beneath Fire, Lightning, Summoning, Shadow, Space, and Light, the true Demon Element remained silent but restless, as though waiting for Mo Fan to finally open the door that had remained closed all this time. He could feel the terrifying physical strength hidden within it, but using the Demon Element here would mean stepping into completely unknown territory. Before he could make a decision, the heavens suddenly changed.

The Dark Cloud Whirlpools created by the sea demon army had been torn apart by the previous abyssal collapse. Great cracks spread through the storm clouds, allowing rays of morning sunlight to pierce through the darkness and illuminate the ocean below. One golden beam became ten, then a hundred, until the gloomy sea was suddenly covered in warm brilliance. The dark-blue water gradually turned clear and jade-like beneath the sunlight.

Buzz… buzz… buzz!

The fading celestial crown above Mo Fan’s head suddenly trembled. Warm energy surged into his body, and the dim starlit water surrounding him began regenerating at a visible speed. Mo Fan immediately looked upward as the sun-shaped portion of the crown became increasingly brilliant. Golden water spread through the dark-blue ribbons around him, transforming their appearance completely.

“So that’s what you were missing,” Mo Fan murmured.

Information from the Mermaid Queen flowed through their temporary spiritual connection. Tri-Luminary Divine Water possessed three primary manifestations: Starlight, Lunar Eclipse, and Solar Radiance. The Starlight state gathered and stored celestial energy, Lunar Eclipse favored suppression and destructive water properties, while Solar Radiance possessed extraordinary healing and regenerative capabilities. Beneath an open sky and sufficient sunlight, the Water Spirit could continuously convert solar energy into elemental vitality.

Mo Fan finally understood why the sea demons had covered the sky from the very beginning. The Dark Cloud Whirlpools were not merely meant to control the battlefield or obstruct vision; they were specifically designed to suppress the Mermaid Queen’s strongest elemental states. Without sunlight or moonlight, she had been forced to rely almost entirely on Starlight. The sea demons clearly understood exactly how dangerous the Tri-Luminary Divine Water could become under the right conditions.

Golden water flowed through Mo Fan’s arms and chest, healing many of the wounds left behind by the previous battle. However, Mo Fan quickly realized the Solar Radiance was not truly restoring his own cultivation. He was merely acting as a temporary vessel while the Mermaid Queen used the sunlight to repair her damaged elemental origin. Her once-fading consciousness gradually became clearer inside the celestial water.

“Good. Recover properly,” Mo Fan said. “I’ll deal with the rest.”

A faint ripple passed through the Mermaid Queen’s consciousness. Mo Fan could sense surprise from her, as though she had expected the human borrowing her power to greedily absorb as much as possible before their connection disappeared. A Monarch-level Water Spirit and a celestial Water Seed were treasures powerful organizations could wage wars over. Yet Mo Fan had no intention of stealing the Mermaid Queen’s life-saving origin.

It was not because Mo Fan had suddenly become some selfless saint. Little Flame Belle already consumed an enormous amount of resources, Little Lightning Belle would eventually require just as much, and Wolfie’s future growth would be even more ridiculous. Supporting another Monarch-potential elemental creature would be enough to bankrupt several clans. More importantly, Mo Fan already possessed his own path.

As the Mermaid Queen’s consciousness stabilized, Mo Fan suddenly felt another elemental fluctuation in the distance. He turned toward the young mermaid who had desperately struggled through the waves to reach her mother. Although her body was covered in wounds, faint black-and-white stars floated through the water surrounding her. Her aura was incomparably pure, lacking the chaotic demonic energy normally possessed by sea creatures.

“A Water Elemental Spirit…” Mo Fan murmured.

The young mermaid was not simply the Mermaid Queen’s biological daughter. She was a genuine elemental lifeform born from the Water Spirit race, and within her body existed an immature trace of the same Tri-Luminary Divine Water. The power was incomplete and far weaker than her mother’s, but the foundation was unmistakable. Given enough time and resources, she could potentially inherit the full elemental lineage.

Mo Fan stared at the young Water Spirit for several seconds. Water, Light, regeneration, elemental reinforcement, celestial energy, and the potential to develop powerful defensive and offensive abilities all existed within the same lineage. A certain golden-haired bastard immediately appeared inside his mind. The longer Mo Fan considered it, the stranger his expression became.

“Zhao Manyan…”

It was almost too compatible. Zhao Manyan possessed High-Level Water and High-Level Light, while his entire fighting style revolved around surviving attacks that would kill normal Mages. Water defense, Light protection, Earth reinforcement, defensive magical equipment—if there was a way to withstand an attack rather than dodge it, Zhao Manyan would happily stand there and tank it. Giving him a Water Elemental Spirit capable of Solar Radiance would make his already disgusting survivability even more ridiculous.

More importantly, Tri-Luminary Divine Water was not limited to defense. Lunar Eclipse could provide suppression, Starlight could store and release energy, and Solar Radiance could continuously regenerate both elemental life and magical defenses. If the young Water Spirit eventually reached the same realm as her mother, Zhao Manyan would gain something he had always lacked: overwhelming battlefield control and genuine offensive potential. He would no longer simply be the team’s unbreakable shield.

Another name appeared in Mo Fan’s mind almost immediately—Feng Zhoulong. If anyone could study the Water Spirit’s elemental structure and develop a safe method for establishing a contract with Zhao Manyan, it would be him. An Elemental Spirit was fundamentally different from an ordinary summoned creature, and recklessly forcing a standard contract could damage its elemental origin. Feng Zhoulong would probably lock himself inside a laboratory for months if Mo Fan brought him something this rare.

ROAAAAAR!

A furious roar suddenly shattered Mo Fan’s thoughts. The Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord Monarch erupted from beneath the sea, nearly half of its once-impenetrable shell missing. Deep crimson flesh had been exposed beneath shattered armor plates, one enormous claw hung at an unnatural angle, and blood streamed continuously from the cracks covering its body. Even so, the creature’s vitality remained terrifying.

At the same time, thousands of distant sea demons suddenly stopped moving. Their eyes changed simultaneously as distorted soul energy spread through their bodies. The Sea Witch Monarch had abandoned its destroyed physical shell, but its consciousness still existed within the hive of subordinate creatures. Thousands of mouths slowly opened together.

“Human…”

Mo Fan glanced toward them with irritation. “You’re still alive enough to talk?”

A gigantic phantom formed above the sea demon army as countless spiritual threads gathered together. The Sea Witch’s voice came from every direction at once, its resentment causing the surrounding ocean to tremble. “You cannot protect the Water Spirits. The Sea Demon Empire will erase them.”

Mo Fan looked toward the Mermaid Queen and her daughter before returning his gaze to the two severely wounded Monarchs. A dangerous grin gradually appeared on his face. “Protect them? You misunderstood something.”

Golden celestial water surged around his body as the Solar Radiance grew brighter. Mo Fan slowly clenched his fist, causing the surrounding sea to sink under the pressure. “I’m not standing here to protect anybody. I’m standing here because I haven’t finished beating you two to death.”

BOOM!

Space distorted beneath Mo Fan’s feet. He vanished from his original position and appeared directly above the Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord Monarch before it could react. Golden starlight water condensed around his arm as he drove his fist downward. The attack looked almost beautiful until it connected with the Monarch’s head.

BANG!

The Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord was smashed directly into the ocean. A circular depression several kilometers wide appeared across the surface as the sea was violently forced downward, briefly exposing portions of the seafloor. The Dragon Lord roared and attempted to rise, but Mo Fan had already raised his hand again. Countless rivers of celestial water gathered throughout the sky.

Dark-blue water formed the foundation, golden sunlight flowed across its surface, and innumerable white star points glittered inside. Mo Fan could feel the three characteristics of the Mermaid Queen’s elemental power temporarily overlapping within the attack. He looked down at the battered Monarch and smiled coldly. “Let’s see how much shell you have left.”

The celestial rivers crashed downward.

BOOOOOOM!

The Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord crossed both claws above its body as ancient crimson dragon patterns illuminated across the remaining portions of its carapace. A massive wave of blood energy erupted upward and collided against the descending starwater. For a brief moment, the two forces remained locked together. Then a clear cracking sound echoed across the sea.

A fracture appeared across the Dragon Lord’s claw, followed immediately by another across its shoulder. The ancient dragon markings began splitting apart as more cracks spread through its damaged shell. Mo Fan watched the creature struggle beneath the celestial torrent and casually closed his hand. “Explode.”

Every white star hidden within the water ignited simultaneously.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Thousands of compressed starlight pearls detonated inside the celestial river. The Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord disappeared beneath overlapping elemental explosions as pieces of crimson armor were blasted across the ocean. Blood erupted from the creature’s wounds, and one of its enormous claws was completely destroyed. Yet even after suffering such catastrophic injuries, the Monarch remained alive.

Mo Fan stared at it in disbelief. “What are you made of?”

The Sea Witch Monarch immediately seized the opportunity. Thousands of possessed sea demons opened their mouths as invisible psychic waves erupted from them simultaneously. One mental vortex appeared above the battlefield, then another and another, until hundreds overlapped into a gigantic psychic storm. Even the ocean beneath the distortion began twisting unnaturally.

Mo Fan’s expression changed immediately. His current mental strength was powerful, but enduring a direct attack from a Monarch specializing in consciousness was completely different. He raised both hands as Space Element energy and Solar Radiance combined into an enormous circular barrier. The psychic storm struck almost instantly.

BOOOOOOM!

Mo Fan was thrown backward across the sky. The golden barrier around him rippled violently while his skull felt as though it had been struck by a mountain. Blood trickled from his nose, and his vision blurred for several seconds. The Mermaid Queen immediately poured Solar Radiance through their spiritual connection, allowing the dizziness to gradually disappear.

Mo Fan wiped the blood away and stared coldly at the sea demon army. “Okay. You’ve officially pissed me off.”

The ocean beneath him began trembling again, but before Mo Fan could continue his attack, his expression suddenly changed. Something was approaching from far beyond the battlefield. At first, it looked like nothing more than a thin white line along the edge of the horizon, yet the pressure accompanying it caused even the wounded Monarchs to pause. The white line expanded with terrifying speed.

“What the hell is that?” Mo Fan narrowed his eyes.

The Mermaid Queen’s consciousness suddenly filled with fear. The distant white mass was not a glacier and certainly not an ordinary wave. Mountains of bones were colliding and rolling over one another, forming an enormous skeletal tsunami that stretched across the horizon. Millions upon millions of undead creatures surged through the sea beneath an oppressive aura of death.

Above the endless bone tide stood an enormous skeletal figure. Its upper body pierced into the cloud layer, while its bones resembled gigantic white mountains connected together. Black undead energy covered the creature like a second ocean. Compared with its towering form, even the Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord Monarch seemed strangely small.

The possessed sea demons controlled by the Sea Witch suddenly released excited shrieks. Reinforcements from the Sea Demon Empire had finally arrived. Whatever controlled the skeletal tide clearly possessed strength far beyond the exhausted creatures already present. More importantly, Mo Fan could sense other powerful auras hidden behind it.

“Oh, hell no,” Mo Fan muttered.

He wanted the two Monarchs dead, but he was not stupid enough to remain surrounded by an entire reinforcement army just because the targets were almost finished. The Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord had already lost most of its shell, and the Sea Witch no longer possessed a physical body. He had gained enough from this battle, and risking everyone else for two finishing blows would be pointless.

Mo Fan looked toward the Mermaid Queen. “Take your daughter. We’re leaving.”

The Mermaid Queen’s recovering consciousness emerged from the celestial water. Her translucent body moved toward the young Water Spirit and gently embraced her, but instead of immediately escaping, she placed one hand against her daughter’s chest. A brilliant triangular symbol appeared beneath her palm, containing the shapes of the sun, moon, and countless stars.

Mo Fan’s expression changed. “Wait. What are you doing?”

The Mermaid Queen did not stop. The celestial crown above her separated into three portions as golden sunlight, silver-black moonlight, and pure white starlight descended toward her daughter. The three forces entered the young Water Spirit’s body, causing the incomplete elemental fluctuations around her to become incomparably pure. Mo Fan immediately realized what was happening.

It was an inheritance.

The Mermaid Queen was not transferring her entire Monarch cultivation. Instead, she was giving her daughter the most important part of her elemental foundation—the complete seed necessary to eventually awaken the Tri-Luminary Divine Water. The young Water Spirit began crying as the markings of the sun, moon, and stars gradually appeared across her body.

Through their fading spiritual connection, the Mermaid Queen’s intentions entered Mo Fan’s consciousness. Protect her daughter, allow her to grow, and most importantly, allow the young Water Spirit to choose her own future. Mo Fan remained silent for several seconds before nodding. He already knew exactly where she should go.

“I know someone who’s compatible with her,” Mo Fan said. “He’s annoying, greedy, terrified of dying, and he’ll probably complain nonstop when he realizes how expensive raising her will be. But if there’s one person I trust to keep something alive through absolutely anything, it’s Zhao Manyan.”

The Mermaid Queen looked at him quietly before gently touching her daughter’s face. The young Water Spirit clung to her mother for several seconds before the Queen finally transformed into flowing celestial water. Her weakened spiritual body wrapped protectively around her daughter as Mo Fan used Space Magic to create a temporary elemental vessel.

The skeletal tsunami was rapidly growing larger across the horizon. Mo Fan could already hear billions of bones crashing together like violent waves, while the towering undead ruler at their center continued advancing with impossible speed. There was no longer any reason to remain. Mo Fan immediately began constructing his Space Constellation.

Silver stars illuminated around him one after another. Seven became forty-nine, forty-nine became three hundred and forty-three, until the completed constellation distorted the surrounding space. The Sea Witch Monarch instantly realized what Mo Fan intended to do and ordered thousands of possessed creatures forward. Mo Fan simply laughed.

“Next time I see you two, finish dying properly.”

Silver radiance exploded.

“Instantaneous Movement!”

BUZZ!

Mo Fan, the Mermaid Queen, and the young Water Spirit disappeared from the battlefield just before the first wave of sea demons reached them. Moments later, the skeletal tsunami swallowed the entire region. Mountains of bones collided against the sea, black undead energy covered the heavens, and countless skeletons surged across hundreds of kilometers like an ocean of death.

At the center of the skeletal tide, the gigantic undead ruler slowly raised its head. The battered Crimson-Shell Dragon Lord and the scattered consciousness of the Sea Witch immediately lowered their presence before it. Whatever had arrived was clearly no ordinary Monarch. Had Mo Fan remained even slightly longer, escaping would have become far more difficult.

Several hundred kilometers away, silver light suddenly split the air. Mo Fan stumbled out of the spatial distortion and nearly planted his face directly into the ground. Moving such an enormous distance while carrying multiple living beings had drained what remained of his Space Element, and his already exhausted body finally protested.

“Mo Fan!?”

A familiar voice came from nearby. Mo Fan slowly lifted his head and found Zhao Manyan standing with Mu Bai a short distance away. Both of them stared at his ruined clothes, blood-covered face, and exhausted appearance. Zhao Manyan immediately pointed toward him.

“Holy crap, what happened to you?”

Mo Fan did not answer immediately. He stared at Zhao Manyan, then examined his Water Element aura, followed by the Light Element energy naturally surrounding him. After that, Mo Fan glanced at the elemental vessel in his hand. A strange smile gradually spread across his face.

Zhao Manyan’s expression immediately became suspicious. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Old Zhao,” Mo Fan said, walking toward him. “How badly do you want to become stronger?”

Zhao Manyan took one cautious step backward. “Depends on how likely your method is to kill me.”

Mo Fan’s smile widened. “Perfect answer.”

He opened his palm and shattered the temporary elemental vessel. Clear water flowed outward, gradually forming the shape of the young Water Spirit. Her long hair floated weightlessly around her while countless black-and-white stars shimmered throughout the water covering her body. A golden sun marking rested on one side of her forehead, while a silver-black crescent appeared on the other.

Zhao Manyan froze.

His Water Star River reacted first. Moments later, his Light Element also began trembling violently inside his spiritual world. The two normally separate magical systems responded to the young Water Spirit at exactly the same time, causing brilliant water and light energy to surge uncontrollably around Zhao Manyan.

“What the hell!?” Zhao Manyan shouted.

The young Water Spirit slowly floated toward him. She seemed uncertain at first, but after sensing the Water and Light Elements inside Zhao Manyan, her hesitation disappeared. She gently placed one hand against his chest. Golden ripples immediately spread across his body.

Mo Fan’s eyes brightened. “Exactly what I thought.”

Mu Bai looked between them. “What is she?”

“A genuine Water Elemental Spirit,” Mo Fan replied. “Monarch lineage, too.”

Zhao Manyan’s eyes immediately widened.

“She inherited something called Tri-Luminary Divine Water from her mother,” Mo Fan continued. “Solar Radiance, Lunar Eclipse, Starlight, regeneration, elemental recovery, powerful defensive properties, battlefield suppression, and eventually offensive water abilities strong enough to threaten Monarchs.”

Zhao Manyan slowly grabbed Mo Fan by the shoulders. “Keep talking.”

Mo Fan pushed his hands away. “She’s compatible with both your Water and Light Elements. Solar Radiance should be especially compatible with your Light Element, while your Water cultivation gives her a stable elemental foundation. If she eventually masters all three Tri-Luminary states, you might actually stop being someone whose only talent is refusing to die.”

“Who said that’s my only talent?” Zhao Manyan protested.

Mo Fan ignored him. “Think about it. Regenerating Water defenses beneath sunlight, stronger Light barriers, celestial water capable of restoring your energy, Lunar Eclipse suppression, Starlight energy storage, and eventually a full Water Domain. Combine that with your defensive equipment and Earth Element, and killing you is going to become disgusting.”

Zhao Manyan slowly turned toward the young Water Spirit. His expression changed from suspicion to genuine excitement. The little Water Spirit looked back at him curiously before reaching out and touching his forehead. A small golden water symbol appeared between his eyebrows.

His consciousness suddenly sank into an enormous spiritual ocean. Brilliant sunlight covered one half of the sky, silver moonlight illuminated the other, and countless stars filled everything between them. The young Water Spirit stood in the center, watching Zhao Manyan as the faintest spiritual connection formed between them.

It was not yet a true contract.

When Zhao Manyan opened his eyes again, Mo Fan immediately became serious. “Don’t get excited yet. She isn’t an ordinary summoned beast, so I’m not letting you recklessly force a contract.”

Zhao Manyan frowned. “Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Feng Zhoulong,” Mo Fan replied without hesitation. “Elemental Spirits have different life structures from normal contracted creatures. We let Feng Zhoulong study her elemental origin first and develop a method that connects your Water and Light Elements to her without damaging either side.”

Mu Bai nodded slightly. “That would probably be safest.”

Mo Fan looked back at Zhao Manyan. “After that, you raise her.”

“Me?” Zhao Manyan pointed at himself.

“Yes, you,” Mo Fan replied. “Your Water Element becomes her primary foundation, while your Light Element supports Solar Radiance. If she awakens Lunar Eclipse and Starlight properly later, the two of you could become ridiculously compatible.”

Zhao Manyan looked down at the little Water Spirit again. Until now, his path had almost always focused on defense. His role was to survive, protect others, and block attacks powerful enough to flatten ordinary Mages. With the Tri-Luminary Water Spirit beside him, that path could change completely.

He would still possess terrifying defense, but his defenses could regenerate. His Water Magic could suppress enemies while protecting allies, his Light Magic could strengthen Solar Radiance, and the Water Spirit herself could eventually become a terrifying offensive force. If she inherited even a fraction of the Mermaid Queen’s potential, Zhao Manyan would someday possess a partner capable of reaching the Monarch realm.

Mo Fan slapped him on the shoulder. “Old Zhao, you might actually become a beast.”

Zhao Manyan stared at him. “I was already a beast.”

“Not that kind.”

The young Water Spirit quietly moved closer and wrapped both arms around Zhao Manyan’s arm. Zhao Manyan immediately stopped talking. He looked down at her while she stared back with clear, curious eyes, the golden sun marking on her forehead glowing faintly.

Mo Fan grinned. “Looks like she doesn’t hate you.”

Zhao Manyan remained silent for a moment before carefully patting her head. “Fine. If she chooses me after Feng Zhoulong figures everything out, I’ll raise her.”

Golden water rippled outward around the young Spirit. Her expression brightened, and Zhao Manyan’s Water Star River immediately responded. Even his Light Element began shining more strongly than before.

Mo Fan nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Better start saving money.”

Zhao Manyan’s smile instantly disappeared. “Why?”

Mo Fan thought about the resources consumed by Little Flame Belle, Little Lightning Belle, and Wolfie. His expression became strangely sympathetic. “Because raising something with Monarch potential isn’t cheap.”

Zhao Manyan went pale. “How expensive?”

“A lot.”

“How much is ‘a lot’?”

Mo Fan patted his shoulder again. “You’ll find out.”

Zhao Manyan stared at the young Water Spirit clinging to his arm, then back at Mo Fan. After several seconds, he sighed heavily. “Can I give her back?”

The young Water Spirit immediately tightened her grip.

Zhao Manyan looked down at her. She silently stared back at him.

“…Fine,” Zhao Manyan muttered. “I’ll get rich somehow.”

Mo Fan laughed.

From that moment onward, Zhao Manyan’s future path was no longer simply that of an indestructible defensive Mage. The inheritance of the Tri-Luminary Divine Water had placed something far greater in front of him—a path where Water, Light, defense, regeneration, suppression, and overwhelming elemental power could eventually become one.

And once Feng Zhoulong completed the contract method, the true growth of Zhao Manyan and the Tri-Luminary Water Spirit would finally begin.