Inside the Ancient Capital's inner city.
Beneath a temporary shelter.
Fang Yu held a steaming cup of coffee as he gazed toward the skies above the Ancient Capital.
Countless helicopters circled overhead, continuously lowering supplies.
Across every corner of the city, under the glow of floodlights, people worked tirelessly.
They were rebuilding the Ancient Capital.
After a long while, Fang Yu took a large gulp of coffee before letting out a long sigh, as if expelling every trace of the foul air left behind by the undead.
Early spring was approaching.
The New Year was just around the corner.
He only hoped the Ancient Capital could restore as much as possible before the New Year arrived.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Just as Fang Yu finished his coffee and was about to leave, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang.
The moment he answered, he heard Headmaster Xiao's reminder.
"The National Institute nominations have entered the final selection stage. Since you only received three nomination votes, you're currently only an alternate candidate. If you want to enter the main team, you'll have to compete for your place."
"So, head to the Imperial Capital Academy immediately."
"Understood," Fang Yu replied.
The World College Tournament was finally about to begin!
It was the grand stage where the finest young Mages from every nation competed against one another.
What truly excited Fang Yu, however was that before reaching the final showdown in Venice, there would be an entire year of training and exploration.
That journey was filled with countless precious cultivation resources waiting to be obtained.
Two days later.
He arrived in the Imperial Capital.
The air was as bad as ever.
The sky was covered by a grayish-brown haze, with neither blue skies nor white clouds in sight.
After taking a deep breath of the Imperial Capital's smog, Fang Yu made his way to the Imperial Capital Academy.
Following the location he had been given, he arrived at the academie's central district, where an enormous Magic Duel Arena stood.
The arena was magnificent.
The entire venue was shaped like a star, covered by four black arched domes that could be opened or closed at will.
Surrounding it were grand spectator stands capable of seating fifty thousand people, making the entire structure appear both majestic and imposing!
Not long after entering Fang Yu spotted a handsome young man with dyed blond hair.
Unfortunately, the lecherous grin on the man's face as he stared at the messages on his phone completely ruined his good looks.
Not only that, he even sent a voice message.
"Come to the hotel tonight. The room is big, and the bed is even bigger."
Walking over, Fang Yu firmly patted Zhao Manyan on the shoulder.
"What a handsome face. It's a shame that expression completely ruins it."
"Oh, get lost, get lost, get lost..." Zhao Manyan replied irritably.
"You're so obsessed with beautiful women that you've probably forgotten why you're even here," Fang Yu teased.
"As if!"
"My dream is to sleep with supermodels from all over the world. That's why, with my 'money power,' I've come fully prepared," Zhao Manyan replied confidently.
"So you've got ambitions like that?" Fang Yu said.
"Of course. Don't tell me you're not interested in beautiful foreign women," Zhao Manyan said with a look of disdain.
Now that the topic had been opened the two men, who clearly shared the same interests, immediately threw their arms around each other's shoulders and began chatting enthusiastically.
Not long afterward, two people approached them.
One was the chief instructor, Feng Li, recognizable by the tiger-striped mark on his forehead.
As the Chief Instructor of the National Tribunal, he was also serving as one of the National Team instructors for this year's World College Tournament.
The other was Headmaster Song He of the Imperial Capital Academy.
Likewise, he was also serving as one of this year's National Team instructors.
"Since everyone has arrived, let's begin immediately," Headmaster Song He said without any unnecessary introductions.
"The rules are simple. Each of you will choose your own opponent. Anyone who is challenged may not refuse."
"Everyone must fight three matches."
"We'll determine the final members of the main team based on your performances."
"Young people show us what you've got!"
Instructor Feng Li's voice echoed throughout the arena.
At that moment the atmosphere instantly became tense.
No matter how friendly everyone had been beforehand, from this point onward, all pretenses would disappear.
If they couldn't even win the selection matches. Then dreaming about competing in Venice would be nothing more than a fantasy!
After all, it was the greatest tournament in the world.
Simply making an appearance there would guarantee an extraordinarily bright future.
The duels began.
When Fang Yu stepped onto the arena, with the cultivation of a High-Tier Mage, none of his opponents could withstand even a single exchange.
He defeated them with ease, securing his place among the successful qualifiers early on.
After confirming his advancement, he watched with great interest as the other competitors displayed their abilities.
On the arena, Zhao Manyan's performance was equally impressive.
His Light Element and Water Element defenses alternated seamlessly.
Combined with his numerous magic equipment, he forcibly exhausted his opponent's magic energy before finishing the match with a Slaying Magic Tool.
As expected he truly lived up to his reputation as the man blessed with "money power."
After watching for a while Fang Yu stood up and left.
He did not remain in the Imperial Capital for long.
Instead, he returned to the Magic Capital.
Magic Capital, Clear Sky Hunter Agency!
Second floor.
Leng Qing sat on the sofa, her beautiful autumn-water-like eyes lowered slightly. Strands of dark hair hung beside her ears, her fair, slender neck exposed. Her gentle and elegant demeanor was enough to make anyone's heart skip a beat.
She was alone at home, quietly listening to music on the television. Fang Yu walked over and sat directly beside her.
"Did you miss me?"
"Weren't you attending the Imperial Academy selection trials? Why are you back already?" Leng Qing looked at Fang Yu.
"I got my spot, so I came back."
Fang Yu couldn't help but yawn. With sleepy eyes, he looked at Leng Qing beside him and said, "I've been traveling all day. I want to rest."
"If you're tired, then go back and sleep," Leng Qing replied.
"That won't do."
Leng Qing ignored him and continued sitting there quietly, though her brows furrowed ever so slightly.
Before long, the music began.
The piece was Edward Elgar's Salut d'Amour, composed as a gift to his newlywed wife. Written in the style of a classic serenade, it painted an elegant portrait of love for the world.
The violinist on the television played a melody overflowing with deep affection, like the tender whispers exchanged between lovers. Beneath its graceful tune lingered a faint trace of melancholy.
Gradually, as the emotionally layered finale approached, the piece softened until it came to an end. Yet the lingering notes seemed to echo through the room, as though two lovers were still quietly murmuring to one another.
Leng Qing narrowed her eyes and immersed herself in the performance. Before she realized it, her emotions had begun to overflow.
Just then a faint snoring sound reached her ears.
Though soft, it was remarkably distinct.
The sudden noise shattered the wonderful atmosphere she had been enjoying. Pouting slightly, with a trace of annoyance between her brows, she quickly turned her head.
The result left her both amused and speechless.
The little troublemaker beside her had somehow fallen asleep, and he was even snoring.
Seeing him leaning awkwardly to one side, sleeping in an extremely uncomfortable position, Leng Qing felt a touch of sympathy. After a moment's thought, she quietly reached out with both hands, gently straightened his slumped body, then slowly leaned her shoulder toward him.
Some time later.
Suddenly, Leng Qing shivered involuntarily, and her entire body went numb.
H-He actually, Leng Qing felt as though she was about to lose her mind.
She realized that her neck had been bitten. More accurately, it wasn't a bite at all, but rather something clinging to her in a strangely intimate way. In that instant, it felt as though her very soul was being drawn out by an irresistible force. Embarrassment and irritation surged through her mind without end.
Yet the sensation itself was equally strange.
It was slightly tingling, slightly numb.
Leng Qing abruptly pushed the person leaning against her shoulder away. Startled, she failed to control her strength properly. The sleeping Fang Yu's forehead immediately slammed toward the table in front of him. After a dull thud, the pain jolted him awake.
"Ow, ow..."
"That hurts! What the hell happened?"
Fang Yu clutched his aching forehead and looked pitifully at Leng Qing beside him.
Then he noticed that the usually mature and composed Leng Qing was glaring at him with a face full of anger. Her expression looked as though she wanted to devour him alive.
"Go back and sleep!"
Leng Qing stood up and quickly walked toward her room, throwing those words over her shoulder in a fierce tone.
Completely bewildered, Fang Yu stared helplessly at her departing figure, growing even more confused. However, it wasn't long before his attention was drawn back to his forehead.
"Hiss..."
It had swollen.
Sigh!
After spending the night resting at the Clear Sky Hunter Agency, Fang Yu reluctantly left. His Ice Element cultivation had already reached the threshold of the second level of the High-Tier.
It was time to make another breakthrough.
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