Medics thawed and carted off Mo Fan with my help. Now circus time.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Mu Family's Mu Bai scored an easy first win! Applaud him!" Yeah, now that I won, suddenly "Mu Family member." "Next, tonight's hero, my dear successor Mu Yuan! Applaud him!" The namesake youth stepped out to roaring cheers.
"In literally ten seconds, the final Holy Spring duel today! Where Mu Bai tests his strength..." "Sorry to interrupt!" Cupping hands to mouth, I appealed to reason. Hey, might work? Hope dies last.
"Don't I need magic energy recovery? I used four spells, one tier three—only two-thirds reserve left!" I reminded everyone this wasn't a university hill defense battle, but two separate duels.
"...You get ten minutes. Program allows no more." Mu Zhuoyun spat reluctantly, though a normal mage needs an hour for a third reserve. Sorry, Hope, we're do...
Ten minutes later—no reserve refill for me, Mu head entertained guests—we took battle stances.
Gong!
No dallying, I charged Mu Yuan, dodging his tier two "Hardening" en route. At range, direct-cast tier three ice "Envelop" at him.
Not like Mo Fan with innate instincts and some experience—this is a sheltered boy, no need to close like last time.
Spell hits, blizzard hides Mu Yuan.
"So easy!?"
"Much faster than the first duel!"
"Mu head ashamed to field such an unprepared heir!?"
Crowd shocked and outraged, blizzard clears—Mu Yuan in clearly artifact armor, hands shielding head. Oops, weak spot.
"Artifact armor!?"
"Mu head's got thick skin..."
"I thought I was shameless, now I can take bribes guilt-free..." Dude, too loud—you're lucky with the city disaster coming.
"...Cough, rules didn't specify artifacts." Mu Zhuoyun paper-shielded his face. But that usually implies no use. Even freezing Mo Fan didn't use his Zhang Kong-gifted bone shield.
Mu Yuan dropped hands from head and, to bury his adoptive dad's rep deeper, used artifact boots—fled at tier one wind speed to max range.
"... " Even crowd speechless.
"... Duel continues!" Mu head couldn't fully save face but pushed the circus.
"Surrender—this armor counters ice! As an ice mage myself, I resist it—you've no chance!" He retreated farther as I closed. Poor Mu Zhuoyun, pitying him now.
Then Benny Hill chase, minus music. I run on foot, he flees with boots. Round and round.
He tried spells, but distance let me dodge. Tried running on foot, but fitness lacked—when I caught up, boots again.
"...Why run!? Armor beats ice—close in, hit him with magic, don't fear his spells!" Mu Zhuoyun's patience lasted two arena laps. Face already deep in shit, he gave a hint to win. Naive.
"Yes, father!" Mu Yuan gained confidence. To wash shame fast, he booted closer.
"Your end!" He grinned triumphantly but paled, arm forward.
"Magic energy out?" I mocked, hands in pockets, walking toward him.
"... " Silence and pleading glance at adoptive dad answered.
"Use the armor—it doesn't drain magic! Close in and pummel him! You've the edge!" Is he desperate?
Mu Yuan, like hearing divine revelation, grinned wildly and charged, swinging.
Waiting till strike range, I manifested the artifact short sword that finished the practice wolf and slashed his armor, piercing and inflicting mid-severe wound. Mu Yuan crumpled, whining in pain.
"... " Hear the crickets?
"What? He used artifacts, so can I—no rules broken." Dead silence, no need to shout. Arena acoustics carried fine.
"... Winner: Mu Bai." Mu Zhuoyun croaked. Bet he craves whiskey now, not this mess.
Mu Zhuoyun must've gotten hammered—or just avoided me—since three days later, Director Zhu led me to the spring.
Even Mu He with his dubious offers didn't suit. Apparently, he finally wrote me off. But no matter, I'll break through, and pull the others out too.
Finally, Director Zhu and I approached the building of the Central Bank. The building was two hundred meters tall and completely covered in tempered glass, forming a straight and pentagonal shape. Under the scorching sun, it gleamed with a metallic sheen.
"Few people know, but originally this building was built as a cover for the Holy Spring. Outsiders would never think that the city's main treasure is right under the most noticeable building," Director Zhu told me, and entering the building, he led me to an inconspicuous elevator.
"From here you go alone, fifteenth floor on the minute, they'll meet you there. The Holy Spring removes fatigue from Cultivation and significantly speeds it up, so cultivate around the clock and don't be lazy, I believe you can break through," he gave me instructions until the elevator door closed.
Downstairs, a security team awaited me, led by an Intermediate Tier mage. Nice setup they have. Though they can't enter the spring, the residual radiation seeping through the armored doors is enough to make this place the best Cultivation spot in the city. Probably the military fights for spots here.
After checking my identity, they opened the doors and let me inside, slamming them shut immediately.
The Holy Spring was a small lake with a stone path leading to a stone platform in the middle. As far as I know, somewhere in the wall near the entrance is the spring's evacuation mechanism.
Sitting right on the stone path so the spring surrounded me on both sides, I cleared extraneous thoughts, closed my eyes, and immersed myself in my spiritual world.
Time to break through to Intermediate Tier.