The Factions Scramble

"Brother, Yu'ang is still lying there." Mu He spoke up to remind Mu Zhuoyun.

Mu Zhuoyun's expression darkened instantly.

*Damn it* — he had nearly forgotten that today was supposed to be his son Yu'ang's Coming-of-Age Ceremony. This grand, elaborate celebration had ended up becoming the day that little bastard Mo Fan shook all of Bo City.

What made it worse was that losing the duel meant he, Mu Zhuoyun, had to apologize to that father and son in front of a hall full of distinguished guests.

At the thought of it, something churned violently in his chest, his blood pressure spiking to god knows what level.

In the dueling arena, Mo Fan couldn't even be bothered to glance at Yu'ang, who lay crumpled from the Lightning Seal like a dead dog.

*Background. Go ahead and flaunt your background in front of me — my lightning was made specifically to strike down posturing dogs like you.*

He turned and walked toward the guest seating area.

The outcome couldn't have been clearer. He had won.

Although the crowd's stunned admiration was gratifying to the very last nerve in his body, what Mo Fan really wanted to see was the expression on that old bastard Mu Zhuoyun's face right now.

Sure enough, the old bastard looked like he was trying to spit up blood and couldn't quite manage it.

"My father already returned the gesture on your behalf," Mo Fan said with a cold snort as he stepped up to Mu Zhuoyun. "Old man, now it's your turn to figure out what to do."

*I've waited years for this day. And with every person of standing in the city watching — let Mu Zhuoyun taste what it feels like to grovel for once.*

Mu Zhuoyun's face twitched violently.

He had actually taken Mo Fan seriously — fearing the kid might pull off some miracle comeback, he had specifically prepared an Armor Enchanted Gear for Yu'ang. But never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Mo Fan possessed innate Dual Elements, let alone that he had already trained Lightning Seal to the third level.

The entire grand Coming-of-Age Ceremony had been thoroughly hijacked into this kid's moment of glory. He had put in all the work only to hand someone else the prize. That feeling was enough to make him fume from every pore — like a man who discovers he's been made a fool of in front of the whole world.

"Well… it's fine, it's fine. Mr. Mu Zhuoyun has always looked after our family, really. Mo Fan, let's just let this go." Mo Jiaxing was a kind man at heart. In his eyes, forcing Mu Zhuoyun to kneel and apologize was as good as killing him — the man was someone of standing, after all.

"Yes, yes, let's just forget the whole thing — tonight has truly been an eye-opener for all of us." Mu He jumped in quickly, his manner entirely different from before, practically oozing the pleasant warmth of a merchant eager to curry favor.

*Just forget it??*

*Damn it — if that old bastard had been willing to "just forget it" earlier, I wouldn't have had to blast them with lightning in the first place!*

"Hmph. Bowing and apologizing — that's nothing. I, Mu Zhuoyun, am a man of my word. I made a bet, I lost, and I will honor it." Mu Zhuoyun spat the words out with force.

The moment they left his mouth, he stepped directly in front of Mo Jiaxing.

His words had rung out boldly, but his body moved with visible stiffness.

Was he really going to kneel before these two?

*After something like this, he would never be able to hold his head up in Bo City again.*

*Bastard. That absolute bastard. How could innate Dual Elements — a heaven-defying gift like that — land on a little wretch like Mo Fan? No wonder he agreed to this wager with such brazen confidence. He had this trump card the whole time.*

He, Mu Zhuoyun, had been as calculating and canny as a seasoned fox — yet he hadn't been able to account for innate Dual Elements.

After a long internal struggle, he gritted his teeth, and slowly, both knees began to bend.

"Old Brother Mu Zhuoyun, this really isn't necessary — we don't have any deep-seated grudge between us, so why go through all this? And in this day and age, must we really resort to such formalities? The ancients always said a single laugh can dissolve old enmities — what we have between us barely even registers as that." Mo Jiaxing hurried forward and helped Mu Zhuoyun back to his feet.

Mu Zhuoyun stared at him, visibly taken aback.

By his reckoning, most people in this situation would have savored every moment — not everyone could claim to have received a kowtow from Mu Zhuoyun himself, and Mo Jiaxing had even done it first. Yet here this man was, pulling him up.

"Mo Fan, that's enough." Mo Jiaxing turned to his son.

Mo Fan shrugged. His father had spoken — what else could he do?

Besides, Mu Zhuoyun had been on his knees, had given his bow, and years of pent-up resentment had been fully unleashed in that moment of furious lightning. That was enough.

"Well said. The ancients certainly knew that a laugh can dissolve old enmities. Today should truly be a day of celebration — Bo City has given birth to yet another extraordinary innate talent that will shake the entire world. Not long ago, Mu Ningxue's innate Spirit-Grade Ice Seed already had us convinced that Bo City's star would rise. And now Mo Fan's innate Dual Elements have proven even more breathtaking. Heaven truly smiles upon Bo City!" Principal Zhu, a man of great prestige and seniority, offered the words with genuine feeling.

Bo City was not a particularly distinguished city among those in the southern region — largely because no truly remarkable Mage had ever emerged from it. It had languished in obscurity in the south for longer than anyone could remember.

Yet Mu Ningxue's innate Spirit-Grade Ice Seed and Mo Fan's innate Dual Elements were certain to send shockwaves across the entire region, placing Bo City at the very center of the south's attention.

The mere thought of it was enough to set the blood racing.

"Mo Fan, let me put it plainly — join the military and I guarantee you'll rise to command a city's military division someday. The cultivation resources alone are beyond measure, and your future will be without limits." Zhankong stepped forward first, speaking with an earnestness no one had ever seen from him before.

"Zhankong, that's enough," Yang Zuohe said with displeasure. "Every person has the freedom to choose which faction to align with. What do you think you're doing, pressuring him like this?"

"What — am I pressuring anyone? Mo Fan and I are practically brothers. He's my sworn little brother." Zhankong's eyes went wide.

Instructors Luo Yunbo and Pan Lijun stood off to the side, sweating.

*Chief Instructor — since when did Mo Fan become your sworn brother?*

"Chief Instructor, what on earth are you even doing right now?" Mo Fan was speechless.

"Oh? Not satisfied with that? Fine — then you be the elder brother. You can be my sworn older brother for all I care. Just join the military, and I guarantee you wealth and glory either way." Zhankong fired back without missing a beat.

Luo Yunbo and Pan Lijun were now sweating an absolute torrent.

*Oh, for the love of — you're the commander of Bo City's entire military division, and you want to call an eighteen-year-old your sworn older brother? The whole division would have a collective breakdown. Could you have even a shred of dignity, Chief?*

Both instructors desperately wanted to grab their Chief Instructor and drag him away. This was absolutely, profoundly mortifying.