Outside the cave.
"Green Tea Man, what are you doing here? Where's Mu Nianbing?"
Mo Fan, who had arrived a bit late, looked at Mu Bai and asked with a hint of irritation.
At the sound of that nickname, a vein twitched on Mu Bai's forehead.
"Try calling me that again, you bastard."
"Don't fuss over small things," Mo Fan replied casually. "Mu Nianbing didn't go in there alone, did he?"
He glanced toward the cave. It was pitch black inside, yet a biting wind blew outward, carrying the chill of something unnatural.
Although Mu Bai didn't want to engage with Mo Fan, he still gave a stiff nod.
"Holy crap… that guy's insane," Mo Fan muttered.
He considered himself pretty daring, but even he wouldn't dare to walk into that ominous cave by himself.
Suddenly, a violent gust of wind howled from above.
Everyone looked up just in time to see Instructor Zhan Kong soaring down from the sky, his Wind Wings spread wide behind him—each beat stirring powerful gusts.
Wind Super-Level Magic — Wind Wings!
The students were left in awe. Seeing such high-level magic up close ignited a deep longing within them.
Zhan Kong ignored their admiration completely. He simply said, "Stay here," before flying straight into the cave.
Inside, the air grew colder and colder. The smell of blood lingered faintly.
"Instructor?"
Mu Nianbing looked up at the sudden arrival, pretending to be startled.
Zhan Kong's sharp eyes scanned the area. The Nether Wolf Beast lay lifeless on the ground, and even the surrounding rock walls were encased in ice.
Was this truly the work of a second-year student?
"How did you kill it?" he asked bluntly.
"Instructor, I haven't even asked you yet—why was there a Nether Wolf Beast here? If I hadn't reacted fast enough, I'd be a corpse right now."
Mu Nianbing didn't answer the question directly. Instead, he shifted the topic skillfully.
A flicker of embarrassment appeared on Zhan Kong's face. He couldn't have predicted that Bai Yang's Nether Wolf Beast would lose control.
Still, he was shocked—Mu Nianbing had managed to slay it alone.
"Ahem… I'll give you an explanation later. For now, answer my question."
"I first used Ice Spread to freeze it in place," Mu Nianbing replied calmly, "and then finished it off with this."
He raised his hand and condensed a Profound Ice Thorn, flicking it at the wolf's corpse.
A surge of biting cold filled the air. Zhan Kong's eyes narrowed slightly. That aura—it wasn't ordinary.
A Spirit Seed-level ice energy?!
Could it be a natural Spirit Seed?
For such a small place like Bo City to produce two natural Spirit Seeds was simply unbelievable.
No wonder he had sensed a powerful ice presence from Mu Nianbing back at the inn.
"Your talent is remarkable," Zhan Kong said after a moment. "Are you interested in following me? I could train you personally."
If he could nurture Mu Nianbing to the Super Level, perhaps they could one day reach Tianshan to rescue Qin Yuer.
Mu Nianbing shook his head without hesitation. "Forget it. I'm a member of the Mu Family."
He knew joining the military wouldn't bring him much benefit compared to his clan's resources.
Zhan Kong didn't insist. He only nodded thoughtfully.
"Instructor," Mu Nianbing suddenly said as Zhan Kong turned to leave, "that shield magic tool you promised earlier—can I exchange it for cash instead?"
Zhan Kong stumbled mid-step and almost fell.
Still, he had made the promise. He couldn't go back on his word. With a sigh, he agreed to transfer the money to Mu Nianbing's account after returning.
Since Mu Nianbing had single-handedly slain the Nether Wolf Beast, every student received an A grade, while Mu Nianbing earned a rare S grade.
"To the death, Brother Nian!"
The students erupted in excitement. Some even joked about becoming Mu Nianbing's sworn little brothers.
Mu Nianbing, however, remained calm. What was the point? He couldn't even take the Magic University Entrance Exam anyway.
Later, Zhan Kong kept his promise—transferring 600,000 yuan to Mu Nianbing's account.
It was the equivalent of a low-grade shield magic tool's value.
Earning 600,000 in one training session would have been unimaginable on Blue Star.
But for a mage, it was pocket change.
A decent demon-slaying tool cost several million, while high-grade artifacts easily reached hundreds of millions.
During the holidays, Mu Nianbing didn't join any city demon-hunting teams. Instead, he focused entirely on cultivation.
With his current strength, working as a city-level hunter would only hold him back.
As the holidays ended, a new semester began.
Whether on Blue Star or in this world, the third year of high school was a turning point.
Getting into a top magic university meant securing a future far ahead of the rest.
"There's been a blessing every September 1st for the past two years," Mu Nianbing muttered. "Will there be one this year too?"
He couldn't help but feel hopeful.
Both the Ice God's Blessing and the Thunder Emperor's Blessing had given him immense power.
If he could receive more… surpassing even the Mu Clan's main branch would just be a matter of time.
Just then, lines of fiery red text appeared before his eyes, glowing like molten gold.
[Obtained the Blessing of the Phoenix.]
[Ability One: Nirvana Fire — rapidly heals injuries; may help fire-element beings achieve Nirvana Rebirth.]
[Ability Two: Immortal Body — instantly revives upon death; usable once per year.]
"This… is insane," Mu Nianbing whispered in disbelief.
Was he truly the heavens' chosen favorite?
"Student Mu Nianbing, do you find my class that boring?"
A charming, teasing voice rang out, laced with irritation.
Startled, Mu Nianbing looked up. Unbeknownst to him, Tang Yue was already standing right in front of his desk, arms folded and eyes sharp.
Tang Yue's smile didn't reach her eyes. Not only had this student zoned out in her class—he was ignoring her entirely.
"Of course not," Mu Nianbing said quickly. "I was just… thinking about something."
"Oh?" Tang Yue raised a brow. "And what could possibly occupy your thoughts for so long? Care to share it with your teacher?"
Her tone was soft but pressing. Mu Nianbing's talent was exceptional, but that made her even stricter. Theory was just as important as practical magic.
Without a solid foundation, even a prodigy could fall short.
Unless… he reached the Intermediate Level, which granted automatic entry into top academies.
Mu Nianbing hesitated, eyes flicking upward—then stopping for a moment.
A vast expanse of white greeted him, impossible to ignore.
"Uh… of course, I was thinking about Teacher Tang Yue," he said with a grin.
The classroom exploded into laughter and gasps.
Did he really just say that aloud?!
Most male students admired Tang Yue silently, never daring to speak such thoughts.
Mo Fan stared at him in disbelief. Was this guy seriously that bold?
Tang Yue blinked, caught off guard. Being openly complimented—no, confessed to—by a student left her both flustered and oddly amused.
She quickly composed herself. "Ahem. Student Mu Nianbing, your studies are what matter most right now. This time, I'll let it go—but don't repeat it."
Mu Nianbing shrugged casually. As long as she didn't make trouble for him, that was good enough.