Someone Else's Stepping Stone

Stepping into the Mu Clan Estate, Mo Fan had the misfortune of overhearing Feishi, Li Wenjie, and Caitang discussing him. He found himself quietly wondering what expressions they'd make if they ever found out that "Fan Mo" and "Mo Fan" were the same person.

*Whatever. Better to focus on the duel.*

He made his way into the estate's grand banquet hall, which was laid out with an impressive spread of food. Mo Fan hadn't eaten all day and was moving straight for the tables when he spotted a dashingly handsome man with rugged stubble, surrounded by a cluster of young women.

"You've actually got the nerve to show up!" The stubble-faced man fixed Mo Fan with a hard stare.

"Chief Instructor — here to freeload as well?" Mo Fan hadn't expected to find Zhankong here.

"Ahem — watch your mouth!" Zhankong extricated himself from the group and pulled Mo Fan aside, eyebrow raised. "So — after graduation, how about joining my unit? If you make it into a decent Magic University, my division can absolutely cover your expenses. I know you're the type who attracts trouble. With government backing, you'll have free rein to step on whatever privileged brat rubs you the wrong way — we'll clean up after you."

This wasn't the first time Zhankong had tried to recruit Mo Fan. Whether it was also a bid to reclaim the expensive Sickle-Bone Shield was another question entirely.

"No thanks. Guarding the frontier every single day? That sounds mind-numbingly boring. I'd rather see the big cities."

"What's so great about a big city? Concrete, steel, exhaust fumes, and rot. Nothing like the Waystation — fresh mountain air, birdsong, flowers everywhere. And if you get tired of the mess hall, you can always head out and bring back a few Demon-Beasts for dinner. Now that's a life," Zhankong said, all smiles.

"I'm not joining the military. Final answer."

"Fine, fine, fine — you've got spine, I'll give you that. Say the word today and I'll have your back when real trouble comes. But if you're going to be this stubborn, don't come crying to me when Yu'ang beats you half to death!" Zhankong seethed.

*With his name behind him, what young mage wouldn't come crawling on their knees for a spot in his unit? And this kid won't even spare him a glance!*

Mo Fan turned to leave. Zhankong's hand came down on his shoulder.

"Chief Instructor — what's this? I won't join your unit, so now you're going to force me?"

The swaggering older-roué act had vanished. Zhankong's expression had gone serious, his brow set with quiet intensity. He lowered his voice. "You don't have to join. Just do me a small favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"During your duel with Yu'ang — pay close attention."

"Attention to what?"

"Just... pay attention."

"I don't follow." Mo Fan was about to press further when a group of middle-aged men and women of obvious standing came walking their way.

They were clearly old acquaintances of Zhankong's. He broke into a grin and went to greet them.

Mo Fan was left thoroughly puzzled, with no idea what Zhankong had actually been trying to tell him.

Before long, the most important figures in Bo City had all arrived: Principal Zhu, Deng Kai, Yang Zuohe, and others — each personally welcomed by Mu Zhuoyun, with Yu'ang at his side.

Principal Zhu represented the magic schools — the towering pillar of Bo City's educational establishment.

Deng Kai led the Hunters' Alliance, his authority in the city unrivaled.

Yang Zuohe spoke for the Magic Association, his influence running close to the other two.

On the military side stood Zhankong. The Chief Instructor was arguably the most formidable mage in the room — the city's true guardian.

And Mu Zhuoyun, needless to say, stood as patriarch of his clan.

It struck Mo Fan that he had, in one way or another, now met every major figure in Bo City. Did that make him someone worth knowing?

*Not quite.* He knew perfectly well how wide the gulf between him and these veterans still was. The reason they paid him any attention was simple: as a student, standing out made it easy to catch the eye of faction leaders. But once he stepped into the real world — once the tide came in and washed the sand clean — most of them would forget him soon enough.

Also present were three of Mo Fan's instructors from the Waystation: Luo Yunbo, Pan Lijun, and Baiyang. According to the old hands at the station, these three were a cut above squad captain Xu Dahuang in raw ability — mages hovering just beneath the Intermediate-Level threshold.

In Bo City, reaching Intermediate-Level Mage was genuinely remarkable. Any faction would readily offer a senior position to attract someone of that caliber.

Put plainly: if Mo Fan could reach that level, Mu Zhuoyun wouldn't dare lay a finger on him. The number of Intermediate-Level Mages across all of Bo City could be counted on two hands.

"Mu Zhuoyun's really going all out this time. He's invited practically everyone in Bo City with any standing — and they've all turned up to give him face," someone at the banquet murmured.

"Of course they have. The Mu Clan has produced a Mu Ningxue. Their standing in a few years won't be anything like it is now. Everyone knows old Zhuoyun is on his way to running the whole show. Today he's introducing Bo City's young heir apparent — if you want a future in this city, you had better show up. Anyone who got an invitation and didn't come is probably already on a blacklist."

"Isn't that a bit extreme?"

"Not at all. Think about how old the rest of us were before we scraped into Intermediate-Level Mage. Then look at Mu Ningxue — how old is she? From that alone, you can imagine just how much of this city the Mu Clan will eventually control."

"Exactly. Apart from Chief Instructor Zhankong, who floats above all our worldly concerns, everyone else has to tread carefully around old Zhuoyun. And I have no idea what's going through the head of that Mo Fan kid. The lot of us can't do anything but bow and scrape — and there he is, acting like he's got nothing to lose."

"It's not so simple, though. Word is that Mu Ningxue and Mu Zhuoyun don't exactly see eye to eye, and she's already made clear that Mo Fan is off limits. That puts a ceiling on how far Zhuoyun can really push things."

"True. And they say this Mo Fan is the top student at Tianlan Magic High School — stood out during Field Expeditions, became a personal favorite of Chief Instructor Zhankong's. Principal Zhu and Deng Kai would absolutely back a student like that. Even if neither wants to antagonize Mu Zhuoyun, Zhankong isn't the type to hold back for anyone. Touch one of his people and he'll show up at your door."

Feishi caught wind of the conversation and promptly wove himself into the group. When he came back, Xiao Ke looked over curiously. "Feishi, why is everyone talking about Yu'ang and this Mo Fan person?"

"Oh — I just found out myself. Mo Fan is, to some extent, representing the magic school faction. He'll be dueling the clan disciple Yu'ang on the school's behalf. Whoever wins earns the right to train at the Earth Sacred Spring — one of the rarest cultivation opportunities Bo City has to offer."

"So that's what this is about. I've heard the schools haven't sent anyone to the Earth Sacred Spring in years."

"Makes sense. Schools mass-produce students. Getting one or two once-in-a-generation talents in a cohort is an exceptional harvest. Clan disciples are a different story — fewer in number, but every single one is a concentrated elite. It's no surprise this Mo Fan is about to end up as someone else's stepping stone."

"That's so sad." Xiao Ke tilted her head, a quiet look of melancholy on her face. "The best student to emerge from fifteen hundred peers — and it still isn't enough to overcome being born into the wrong family."

Feishi let out a long sigh.

"Picking the right family to be born into — now that's a real skill."