Chapter 15. The Competition for the Earthly Sacred Spring
The one-eyed wolf flew more than ten meters away, and behind it, the ground was ablaze with fiery red flames, as if a scorching sea of fire was spreading.
The flames flickered and crackled, turning vegetation to ashes in their wake, leaving charred marks like jagged scars branded onto the earth.
The one-eyed wolf had large burns on its body, its fur was charred and curly, and it emitted a pungent, burnt smell.
After struggling to its feet, it seemed to realize that this human was not easy to deal with, and its eyes showed fear as it turned to run away.
But how could Mo Fan possibly give it a chance to escape?
The wind element fluctuated beneath his feet, and a gentle breeze whistled up. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of the one-eyed demon wolf.
"Thunder Seal - Wrathful Strike!"
Immediately afterwards, lightning crackled around Mo Fan, blue arcs of electricity darting about like raging snakes, emitting a hissing sound.
The third-level lightning seal was unleashed once more, and the sky seemed to be torn apart by the dazzling lightning.
"Boom!!!"
"Boom boom boom"
In an instant, the ground, which had been bombarded by thunder, was shattered into pieces, with huge cracks spreading outwards like a spider web. Soil was blasted into the air, and dust filled the sky.
A huge crater appeared on the ground, with residual lightning power still flickering dangerously at the bottom.
The one-eyed wolf fell to the ground with a thud and remained motionless.
As a wisp of remnant soul floated out, Mo Fan hurriedly searched the area and then quickly left.
However, this time no dire wolves or gorillas appeared.
Clearly, the one-eyed wolf had been lurking in the vicinity and had come here after smelling the blood.
The surrounding wilderness returned to silence, with only the ravaged earth and the lingering scent of battle in the air bearing witness to the fierce fighting that had just taken place.
He stepped out of the safe zone and hunted down demons; he succeeded.
That step was a symbol of courage and determination, and also the beginning of his journey to strength.
Luckily, we didn't encounter large groups of demons. Although we did encounter one-eyed demon wolves, they were all alone and didn't have much of an impact.
After hunting demons in the wild, Mo Fan sold the materials he had obtained.
Looking at the money he had earned, he felt a sense of satisfaction. These were not just wealth, but also a testament to his hard work.
Afterwards, I returned to the university library to meditate and focus on self-control.
In that tranquil space, he seemed isolated from the outside world, immersing himself completely in the world of magic, sensing every flow of magical power, and constantly improving his strength.
In the time that followed, aside from his meditation and some necessary lessons, Mo Fan spent his time hunting demon wolves and demon rats outside the Snow Peak Mountain post station.
He was like a lone hunter, traversing the wilderness, searching for his prey. Each strike was precise and decisive; his magic grew increasingly refined and powerful in battle.
In just six months, Mo Fan alone killed over a hundred demon rats and more than ten demon wolves.
His name gradually spread near the Xuefeng Mountain post station, becoming a legend among the people.
After all, he's still just a high school student.
Before they knew it, three years had passed, and the day of the magic exam and the competition between the school and the top families like Bo City for the Holy Spring had arrived.
Mo Fan was unsurprisingly summoned to Principal Zhu's office. When he arrived, Principal Zhu and Deng Kai, a member of the school board and the Grand Elder of the Hunter Alliance, were already there.
"Mo Fan, do you know why we called you here today?" Principal Zhu asked.
"Is it the annual competition between the academy and the disciples of aristocratic families at Di Shengquan?" Mo Fan asked directly.
This was no secret in Bocheng. However, the school always lost in the competition.
"It seems you already knew."
Deng Kai said, "The Earthly Sacred Spring is an extremely limited resource, and we can only open it for one student each year. This student is not only selected from the school, but also from magical families and aristocratic families who must compete for it."
At this point, Deng Kai couldn't help but smile wryly and said, "Principal Zhu, we haven't obtained this unique qualification for many years. It feels like it's been monopolized by family members."
"It's not surprising. Families and clans can concentrate their resources on an outstanding scion, and the nurturing and training they receive is something that a school like ours can't provide." Principal Zhu appeared quite calm, as if he had long since taken the matter lightly.
"This time, we plan to have you participate in this competition, but you don't need to feel too much pressure. It's good for you to realize the strength of the scions of powerful families early on, so that you will be more composed and work harder on your future cultivation path," Principal Zhu continued.
"Okay." Mo Fan didn't say anything more.
Because no matter how much you talk, nothing beats the real impact of having Yu Ang trampled under his feet.
After another round of idle chatter, the two finally told Mo Fan to go back and get some rest.
Mo Fan actually understood the general meaning: these two were worried about the blow he would suffer if he were defeated.
But thinking about it, it makes sense. Some people are born with ample resources and diverse magical tools, something grassroots mages can't compare to. After all, a mage's advancement requires resources, and while academies are fair, they also provide comprehensive training. They can't possibly cram all the resources onto one person.
Although Mo Fan is from humble beginnings, he has his own cheat code to become stronger. In the face of such a cheat, any background will seem powerless.
The competition took place at the Mu Family Manor villa.
That is, Mu Zhuoyun's home.
In Bo City, his small clan was considered one of the city's top families.
Today, the entire Mu Family Manor is truly filled with distinguished guests. This is because today is not only the day of the competition for the Sacred Spring, but also the day Mu Zhuoyun is holding a coming-of-age ceremony for Yu Ang.
Mu Zhuoyun's ambitions are quite grand. His daughter, Mu Ningxue, is exceptionally prominent in the capital, and his adopted son is destined to become a central figure in Bocheng. As for the school, it can only play a supporting role.
In the evening, Mo Fan arrived here with School Director Deng Kai, Principal Zhu, teachers Tang Yue and Xue Musheng, and several representatives of the graduating class.
Among these people were Zhang Xiaohou, Zhou Min, Xu Zhaoting, and others from the class. As soon as they arrived, Mu Zhuoyun didn't exchange many pleasantries and directly led them to the arena.
It seems they intend to eliminate the supporting characters first, and then the distribution of the sacred spring water will be a matter for these 'big families'. If the school weren't also a representative force of the city, these ordinary schools wouldn't even have a chance in this competition.