Boom!!!
A violent explosion erupted, and scorching flames instantly devoured a vast area. Molten lava gushed upward like a blazing pillar, melting through the air itself.
As the flames clashed with ice, a thick mist of steam billowed across the entire arena, obscuring the vision of all the freshmen watching.
"Damn! Dongfang Lie really deserves his title as the Dongfang family's most talented genius! His Fire Element is insane!"
"I heard he has a natural gift — something called a Mutant Star, which boosts his magic power!"
"Wait, doesn't that mean he can use Fiery Fist – Nine Heavens even at the first Intermediate Level?"
"That's totally broken!"
Under that destructive punch, everyone was certain Mu Nianbing had already been eliminated.
But what puzzled them was that the safety instructor hadn't intervened yet.
Wasn't he worried Mu Nianbing's life was in danger?
"Ice Lock — Bone Crushing!"
A cold, crystalline voice echoed from within the fog.
In an instant, all the steam froze solid. The flames that had once scorched the ground were extinguished in the blink of an eye.
Dongfang Lie's Mutant Fire was powerful, yes — but it was still just ordinary fire. Mu Nianbing's Black Ice, on the other hand, was born from a Spiritual Seed.
"Spiritual Seed?! That's impossible!"
Dongfang Lie's expression froze in shock. To possess a Spiritual Seed right after entering the academy… that was absurd!
But before he could react further, a chain of ice burst through the air, coiling tightly around him.
Mu Nianbing gave the chain a sharp tug and hurled Dongfang Lie across the field.
At the same time, the icy barrier surrounding Mu Nianbing began to dissolve — revealing the dazzling Thousand Flowers Ice Mirror, an all-around defensive technique that had completely neutralized Dongfang Lie's second-level Fiery Fist.
"Dean Xiao, two hundred people should be enough, right?"
Mu Nianbing looked toward the podium, his tone calm and measured.
Since the quota had already been reached, there was no need to continue fighting. Anything more would be pointless.
Several teachers exchanged uneasy looks, but before any of them could speak, Dean Xiao announced:
"Since the Summoning Department has achieved the required two hundred participants, all freshman resources for this year will belong to the Summoning Department."
The audience erupted in uproar. No one could accept that all resources were now concentrated on a single department — and on a single person, at that.
Dean Xiao, however, continued speaking, publicly praising Mu Nianbing's performance while chastising the rest of the students for their lack of effort.
Mu Nianbing's lips twitched slightly. Great. Now I'm the public enemy of the entire freshman class.
Still, it didn't matter. He never cared much for their opinions.
In the following days, the other summoners, unwilling to offend Mu Nianbing, simply claimed their own shares of resources and stayed out of his way.
Though he had technically gained everything, he also earned the resentment of nearly everyone in school.
After the beast-fighting competition, only Mu Nianbing, Lin Mu, and Dongfang Lie remained in their dormitory — everyone else had already moved out.
Mu Nianbing actually welcomed the peace. Fewer people meant more time and space for practice.
Within days, the entire school was abuzz with talk of the "new devil" — Mu Nianbing, whose power at the second Intermediate Level crushed all other freshmen.
And of course, alongside his name came that of the "new goddess" — Ding Yumian.
"Ding Yumian…"
When Mu Nianbing finally took a break, he looked at her picture on the school board. Her beauty and temperament were exceptional — serene yet magnetic.
But what truly caught his attention wasn't her appearance. It was her strength.
She was said to be even more gifted than Dongfang Lie.
If she had participated in the beast-fighting competition, Mu Nianbing wasn't sure he could have won.
Ding Yumian majored in the Psychology Department, and her spiritual strength was formidable — exactly the area where Mu Nianbing was weakest.
Good thing she didn't compete.
From then on, aside from spending time at the apartment with Ye Xinxia, Mu Nianbing devoted all his remaining hours to study and cultivation.
A month later, a message came from Dean Xiao, summoning him to the office to collect his rewards.
Dean Xiao's office was on the top floor of the library. When Mu Nianbing arrived, the dean was still busy sorting through documents.
"Dean Xiao," Mu Nianbing greeted politely.
Dean Xiao set down his papers and smiled. "During your interview, I sensed an incredibly pure Ice Aura within you. Only one other Ice Mage I've met had such power."
Mu Nianbing wasn't surprised. Someone of Dean Xiao's level could easily sense the faintest fluctuation of magic.
The mage he mentioned was likely Qin Yuer — another person forever marked by the Ice Calamity.
"Let's get to the point," Dean Xiao continued. "The freshman resources this year are diverse. Even if I gave you everything, you probably wouldn't need all of it, so I'll simplify the process."
The school's overall allocation for each student was modest — but with all the freshmen's shares combined, the total was enormous.
"I'm not short on resources for now," Mu Nianbing replied calmly. "What I want most is a chance to train in the Three-Step Pagoda."
Dean Xiao raised an eyebrow. "The Three-Step Pagoda? Don't tell me you came to Mingzhu Academy just for that?"
"It's one of the reasons," Mu Nianbing admitted. "But not the only one."
After all, the Imperial Capital Academy had its own sacred cultivation site. Mingzhu's Three-Step Pagoda was special — but not unique.
"Normally, only students from the main campus are qualified to train in the Three-Step Pagoda," Dean Xiao explained. "The Green Campus isn't permitted access…"
He paused, then added with a smile, "However, considering the amount of resources you've earned — the total is indeed enough to exchange for a single training opportunity."
He had already been planning to nominate Mu Nianbing for the Pagoda. The young man's request only made it easier.
"As for the summoning resources — the Beast General's Spiritual Blood would help evolve your summoned creature. But your Cangming Jiao has already reached the Commander level. Perhaps you could use it to strengthen your next contract beast instead."
"That won't be necessary," Mu Nianbing replied. "Convert it into something else."
Dean Xiao gave him a helpless look. "You mean… a cash exchange?"
He sighed. "The school paid good money for these resources, and now you want to sell them back? You're quite the negotiator."
"Cash discounts aren't possible," the dean continued. "But you can exchange them for a higher-quality magic tool or artifact."
"Magic tool…"
Mu Nianbing frowned slightly. He didn't have much use for those, and the total value still wasn't enough to afford true magic armor.
After some thought, he finally settled on a Mind-Focusing Artifact — a tool that could resist mental interference.
It perfectly covered his only weakness.