A Single Cry to Shake the World

Fat but surprisingly sharp, Feishi had been watching Mo Fan intently. After a moment's hesitation, he finally leaned over and whispered to his companions: "Does anyone else think this guy looked exactly like someone we know when he Released the Lightning Seal??"

"You noticed it too!" Xu Dahuang's eyes went wide on the spot.

Nearby, Xiao Ke was chomping on an apple and nodding so hard she could barely keep it in her mouth.

Li Wenjie's smile had gone distinctly strange. He shot a glance at Guo Caitang.

Guo Caitang had clearly picked up on it as well. Her pretty face was the very picture of someone desperately refusing to accept what was right in front of her.

"Fan Mo — Mo Fan — holy shit, it's *him*!!" Xu Dahuang suddenly put it all together and let out a shout.

The entire demon-hunting squad understood in an instant. Their expressions were beyond what words could capture.

They had always known Fan Mo was young, but none of them had ever imagined he was a student who hadn't even finished his third year of high school.

Most crucially: on top of his Lightning Element, the guy also packed a devastating Fire Element — and that Fire Element was apparently no weaker than the captain's own.

Of all of them, Guo Caitang was the one whose feelings were most tangled. Over the past year of working together, she had developed something of a soft spot for the squad's mysterious Lightning Element member, Fan Mo.

Everyone knew Lightning Element mages had limitless futures — most of them chose comfortable careers with high pay and high prestige. Yet the young and talented Fan Mo had stuck with their demon-hunting squad instead, performing brilliantly while always keeping his cool. And then there was the fact that he had once saved her life single-handedly, and another time used the Lightning Seal to rescue the entire squad. Of course she'd come to feel something for him.

And now Fan Mo and Mo Fan had collapsed into the same person. The one she liked and the one she found irritating and exhausting — fused into one. This was just... just *unspeakable*.

"Everyone, I have something I'd like to say." Principal Zhu spoke up again.

Principal Zhu commanded great prestige, and everyone naturally fell silent to hear him out.

"Innate Dual Elements is a breathtaking gift, and the Magic College Entrance Examination is almost upon us. We at the school intend to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a bold statement — to show the rest of the country what Bo City is capable of. Therefore, I ask that everyone present refrain from disclosing what transpired here today. Once the national Magic College Entrance Examination has run its course, we can give our exceptional Mage Mo Fan the moment he truly deserves — one that will shake the entire country. What do you say?" Principal Zhu's words hung in the air.

An event this significant — once the gathering broke up, the media would swarm like locusts.

The Magic College Entrance Examination, the most critical milestone in a young mage's life, was practically on their doorstep. Principal Zhu was determined to use it to put Bo City on the map in a way that left a lasting impression. It had been far too long since the city had been given anything to celebrate.

"I have no objections — but we can only delay our official report by two weeks at most." Yang Zuohe spoke on behalf of the Magic Association.

"Principal Zhu, with me here, who would dare let a word slip before then?" Zhankong said.

Zhankong was no fool. If the news got out and larger organizations came swooping in to poach Mo Fan, he'd be the one left empty-handed. He would see this suppressed no matter what.

Not everyone present could be guaranteed to stay tight-lipped, but as long as they kept it out of the media and stopped the story from spreading that way, a few loose tongues wouldn't do much damage. The embargo only needed to hold until the Magic College Entrance Examination was over — then it could all come out.

"Wait, is it really that serious? They're actually shutting out the media over innate Dual Elements???" Wang Sanpang whispered.

Teacher Tang Yue was standing among the students, her own heart still not fully calm. Hearing Wang Sanpang's question, she couldn't help but explain: "Growing up in a backwater like Bo City, you have no idea how staggering innate Dual Elements truly is. The moment this news gets out, Bo City will be swarming with powerful factions by the very next day. And if Mo Fan aligns with any one of them, some of the more ruthless players might decide they'd rather destroy the prize than see a rival claim it. Taking out a Basic-Level Mage like Mo Fan quietly wouldn't be difficult for people like that. Keeping this under wraps is good for Mo Fan — and good for all of us."

"That frightening? Isn't that basically no different from the Black Church?"

"The world is full of wolves. Better to be careful," Tang Yue said.

"Brother Fan really knocked everyone off their feet this time... but seriously, how does he even train? If he has Dual Elements, he should need twice the time of any of us — so how is he so far ahead in both?" Zhang Xiaohou couldn't help saying.

"Seriously, right!"

The corner of Xu Zhaoting's mouth kept twitching. *Zhang Xiaohou, could you please just shut up?*

"Yu'ang must be bawling his eyes out by now."

"No kidding — did you see that old schemer Mu Zhuoyun? After everything between him and Mo Fan, he looked ready to adopt the guy on the spot..."

"Please — the Chief Instructor literally tried to swear brotherhood with Mo Fan. With a High-Level Mage like the Chief Instructor backing him, who would dare lay a finger on Mo Fan?"

"Ugh, comparing yourself to others will only break your heart."

As Mo Fan's classmates chattered on, Tang Yue's bright eyes remained fixed on Mo Fan.

Now she finally understood how Mo Fan had managed to kill the Gloom Wolf Beast all that time ago.

Honestly, Mo Fan never ceased to astonish. He had been concealing his innate Dual Elements all along, never breathing a word of it...

Though, when she thought about it, that had been the smart play. Keeping a low profile while your strength isn't yet where it needs to be is never a mistake. And now with Zhankong — who seemed almost desperately eager to pull Mo Fan into his corner — as his backer, the road ahead for Mo Fan's training would be far smoother.

The only question was whether this guy could truly make full use of his unparalleled innate Dual Elements — whether he could rise above all the extraordinary talents scattered across the entire country.

Tonight, Mo Fan had announced himself to the world in spectacular fashion.

With the Magic Association, the Hunters' Alliance, and Bo City's military jointly clamping down on the news, there was little chance of it leaking in the short term.

Of course, the greatest prize of this magical duel was never merely about reclaiming lost dignity. More importantly, the victor would earn the right to train at Bo City's Earth Sacred Spring for an entire week.

The Magic College Entrance Examination was almost here, and with the nourishment of the Earth Sacred Spring behind him, Mo Fan's cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds before the exam — and when he stepped onto that national stage, his performance was certain to dazzle the country.

At that point, his name would resound to every corner of the land. It could be said that an almost perfect path for Mo Fan's magical future was already being laid out before him.

*Earth Sacred Spring — what kind of extraordinary training ground could it possibly be?* Mo Fan couldn't help feeling a surge of anticipation.

Rumor had it that many Mages who had been stuck at the threshold between Basic-Level and Intermediate-Level had made their breakthrough thanks to the Earth Sacred Spring. And an Intermediate-Level Mage was already considered remarkably formidable in Bo City.

What's more, since Mo Fan possessed innate Dual Elements, reaching the Intermediate Level would mean having three complete elemental systems at his command — an overwhelming edge even within the world of Intermediate-Level Mages.

*Right — I have to make the most of this rare opportunity and push my strength as far as it will go.*