After boarding the Baxia vessel, Mu Nianbing led the team toward Osaka.
This phase of training was actually part of the preliminary stage for the World School Tournament, where they needed to challenge the National Institute Teams of various countries to earn enough National Institute Medals.
Over two hundred countries participated in the tournament, but only thirty-two teams would ultimately advance to the grand stage in Venice.
The Island Nation's National Institute was located at Shuangshou Pavilion in Osaka. Their goal was to obtain the Institute's medal there before heading to Tokyo.
"Challenging an Institute? Sounds fun. I'm good at that," Mo Fan said excitedly.
After all, what was the point of learning magic if you couldn't show off once in a while?
"Don't even think about it. You're a substitute — it's not your turn," Zu Jiming sneered. Among the team, he disliked Mo Fan and Zhao Manyan the most.
One was a substitute; the other had gotten in through connections. To him, neither deserved to be on the National Team.
As for Mu Ningxue, who was also a substitute, Zu Jiming didn't dare offend her.
For one, her displayed strength was already at the Advanced Level in two elements — far above his. It was almost impossible for her to be eliminated.
And second, she had Mu Nianbing, their captain, backing her.
Even with the powerful Zu Family behind him, Zu Jiming wasn't foolish enough to provoke the captain.
"If useless people like you were sent out, we'd probably lose," Zu Jiming added mockingly.
Mo Fan's eyes narrowed. He wasn't someone who tolerated insults. He was an Advanced Mage now — no way he'd let this go.
"You calling me useless?" Mo Fan's tone dropped.
Zu Jiming's expression darkened. "You want to find out what poison tastes like?"
Mo Fan frowned slightly. He wasn't too familiar with Poison Element magic, but he knew it was tricky — insidious, hard to guard against.
"If you two have a problem, take it to Osaka and fight it out there," Mu Nianbing said coldly.
"Ahem, speaking of Osaka, there's a Sea Battle City here, right? Should we check it out?" Jiang Yu quickly changed the topic, trying to ease the tension and help Mo Fan avoid trouble.
Zu Jiming was a regular member, while Mo Fan was still a substitute. If they fought now, Mo Fan would likely suffer the consequences.
As long as no serious incidents occurred, the regular members wouldn't be eliminated early in the training process.
There were three substitutes in total — Mo Fan, Zhao Manyan, and Mu Ningxue.
With Mu Ningxue's strength, her elimination was nearly impossible. That left only Mo Fan and Zhao Manyan as the most likely candidates to be dropped.
"There's no need to go to Osaka's Sea Battle City," Mu Nianbing replied. "The instructor already assigned us a mission in Tokyo's East Sea City."
"East Sea City? One of Asia's Four Great Sea Battle Cities!" Jiang Yu exclaimed, his excitement rising.
But then, realizing why they'd been sent there, he sobered quickly — hunting sea monsters wasn't exactly a vacation.
When they arrived at the Osaka train station, Jiang Shaoxu immediately dragged a few of the girls off to go shopping, even trying to bring Mu Nianbing along.
He declined firmly. Shopping with a group of girls would drive him mad.
As for safety, he wasn't worried. The Island Nation's public order was good — it wasn't like the gun-crazy chaos of America.
"Don't just stand around. The rest of us are enough to challenge the Institute," Mu Nianbing said, flagging down a taxi.
He took Mo Fan and a few others with him to Shuangshou Pavilion.
Language wasn't an issue — Osaka was an international city, and taxi drivers usually knew some English.
Since one taxi could only seat four, Ai Jiangtu took the others in another car.
After some time, they arrived at the West Guardian Pavilion.
But before they could even enter, several guards in samurai robes fixed sharp, suspicious gazes on them.
"Hey! You're from China, aren't you?!" A sharp, feminine voice called out.
Turning toward the voice, Mu Nianbing saw a woman in a floral kimono, holding a delicate umbrella, approaching with an air of arrogance.
Mochizuki Chihaya.
Mu Nianbing instantly recognized her — a tsundere little brat.
He said flatly, "Yes. We're the China National Team. We're here to challenge your Institute."
"Oh, you're the China Team? Hmph. You don't look impressive," Mochizuki Chihaya said disdainfully, eyeing him up and down.
Mu Nianbing frowned slightly. This woman clearly needed a lesson. Or perhaps her backside was itching for one.
"Our strength doesn't matter. Beating your Island Nation Team with one hand would still be easy."
He wasn't one to tolerate arrogance — and he certainly didn't take the Island Nation's team seriously.
With his current strength, only teams like Britain or Greece could be considered potential threats.
"Say that again if you dare!" Mochizuki Chihaya snapped, her face flushing red with anger.
"Oh, I forgot to add — your Island Nation Team is trash, and your Shuangshou Pavilion's National Institute Team is even worse."
Since he'd already chosen to be blunt, Mu Nianbing saw no need to hold back. It might draw hatred, but it felt great to let it out.
"How dare you insult Shuangshou Pavilion!" Mochizuki Chihaya shouted, her fair fists trembling, veins standing out against her pale skin.
"Die!"
A sharp sound echoed as strange vines erupted beneath her feet, rapidly intertwining into bell-shaped flowers over a meter wide.
They multiplied quickly, spreading like wildfire until the entire ground was covered in blooming vines!
"Unfortunately for you," Mu Nianbing said calmly, "Ice restrains Plants."
His pupils turned a crystalline icy blue, and a freezing aura burst outward, sweeping through the entire courtyard.
The spreading frost outpaced the vines, instantly freezing everything it touched.
The ground, walls, even the air around West Guardian Pavilion turned to solid ice, as delicate snowflakes drifted in the frozen air.
In just seconds, Mu Nianbing had changed the climate of the entire area.
"Soul Seed!" Mochizuki Chihaya gasped, her expression turning grim as she saw her vines frozen solid.
From that single move, she was already completely suppressed.
No — crushed.
"You're not the only one with a Soul Seed!" She shouted defiantly, beginning to cast again — but a rough male voice suddenly interrupted.
At the sound of it, Mochizuki Chihaya immediately froze in place, falling silent.
...
Author's Note:
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1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
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3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
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5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
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