Chapter 260: Return to the Inner Academy, Li Shan's Challenge
By the time Mo Yu and his group left the Storm Wolf territory, it was already late at night. For safety, Mo Yu decided to set up camp deep in the mountains and spend the night there. Early the next morning, he led everyone back to the Inner Academy.
It took nearly five hours for the large group to return to the Inner Academy from the mountains by noon the following day. Despite the long trek, the members of Mo Clan, Pan Men, and Yue Ling were not at all tired or complaining. On the contrary, each of them was full of energy and excitement.
Such a massive mountain expedition was likely unprecedented in the history of the Inner Academy. Even if the academy elders heard about it, they would surely be shocked. After all, the Storm Wolf pack was led by a fifth-rank Wolf King, a formidable force even in the outside world. With this success, the group would undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy at Canaan Academy.
Upon their return to the academy, thanks to the Inner Academy badges they wore, Mo Yu and his group were able to reenter the academy without any obstacles. As this strong and confident group suddenly appeared, many students in the academy were stunned. Some, remembering rumors they had heard, cried out in surprise.
"It's Mo Clan, Pan Men, and Yue Ling! I heard they went deep into the mountains to attack the Storm Wolf pack. I can't believe they're back so soon! Judging by their happy faces, did they actually succeed?"
"Impossible! That's the Storm Wolf pack we're talking about. The Wolf King is a fifth-rank magical beast, the Storm Wolf King. Unless several academy elders joined forces, how could they have defeated the pack?"
"Not necessarily. I heard Mo Clan's leader, Mo Yu, meticulously prepared for this assault for half a month. Plus, with help from Pan Men and Yue Ling, it's not entirely impossible that they succeeded."
"If Mo Clan really did defeat the Storm Wolf pack, that would make them more impressive than Lin Xiuya's Wolf Fang and Liu Qing's Li Shan. I wonder if Mo Clan is still recruiting—I want to join!"
As murmurs filled the air along the road, many began to speculate about the outcome while watching the energized members of the three groups.
Ignoring the whispers, Mo Yu felt a sense of relief once they had safely entered the Inner Academy. His tense mood relaxed, and his previously quick steps slowed as he led the group leisurely toward Mo Clan's territory.
Successfully obtaining the Jade Blue Crystal, along with the unexpected rewards of the Seven-Colored Ancient Vine and the Dou Zong skeleton, had made this expedition extremely fruitful. Additionally, thanks to the group's prior preparations with Swift Shadow Boots and the Guardian Armor, only a few members were injured, and there were no fatalities. Even those who were hurt recovered quickly with the help of Xiao Yan and Pan Men.
As they arrived at Mo Clan's headquarters, the previously empty space quickly became lively again with the return of the group.
"Congratulations, Cousin Mo Yu! You must have secured the Jade Blue Crystal by now," Xun'er said cheerfully, her beautiful eyes twinkling.
Mo Yu naturally understood the deeper meaning behind her words. This sharp and clever Gu Clan princess must have noticed something. However, he did not explain further, only smiling gently.
"Yes, I've got it. The Jade Blue Crystal is very useful to me, and I have all of you to thank for helping me obtain it."
"You're too kind, Mo Yu. We didn't do much," said Han Yue as she approached, her usually cool face reflecting a mix of emotions as she looked at him.
Anyone who had witnessed Mo Yu's battle with the Storm Wolf King would find it hard to stay calm. Despite being a newcomer who had only been in the Inner Academy for a few months, Mo Yu's strength was already comparable to the top three strongest senior students.
Moreover, the overall strength of Mo Clan had surprised Han Yue. During the battle with the Storm Wolf pack, Mo Clan had almost single-handedly taken on the entire pack, with Yue Ling providing only auxiliary support.
"Regardless, I'm grateful for the help of Pan Men and Yue Ling. I gained quite a few treasures in the Wolf King's lair, and today, I'll share them with everyone," Mo Yu said with a smile. With a wave of his hand, he took out a pile of high-quality magical cores, herbs, and other treasures from the Wolf King's lair, stacking them into a small mountain in the center of the hall.
"Everyone who participated in the mountain expedition, whether from Mo Clan, Pan Men, or Yue Ling, may take one item from this pile. Additionally, every member of Mo Clan will receive a reward of fifteen days' worth of fire energy. Members of Pan Men and Yue Ling will enjoy a fifty percent discount on any weapon purchases from Mo Clan in the future!"
As soon as Mo Yu finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment. Then, a wave of cheers suddenly erupted like a storm.
"Long live the boss! Long live Mo Clan!"
The members of Mo Clan, Pan Men, and Yue Ling cheered ecstatically. Everyone's faces were filled with joy. Although the treasures from the Wolf King's lair might not have impressed Mo Yu, they were valuable to the others.
More importantly, the fire energy reward for Mo Clan members and the discounts for Pan Men and Yue Ling were practical and substantial benefits, making them even more excited.
With Mo Yu's generous rewards, the bonds between the three groups quickly strengthened as members joyfully lined up to choose their treasures.
"Boss Mo, I have a request. I wonder if you would agree," said Qian Mo suddenly, as he waddled over, his plump body shaking slightly.
"Oh? Senior Qian Mo, what's the matter?" Mo Yu asked. During the mountain expedition, Qian Mo had contributed greatly by helping Lin Yan hold off two peak-level fourth-rank wolves. Mo Yu had taken note of his efforts and had a good impression of him.
"It's nothing major. I was just wondering if I could join Mo Clan," Qian Mo said, bowing slightly to Mo Yu.
"Oh? Fatty Qian, I didn't expect you to want to join Mo Clan! You've got good taste," Lin Yan said, a little surprised but quickly smiling as he patted Qian Mo on the shoulder.
"Of course! Boss Mo is clearly a dragon among men, and Mo Clan is the rising star of the Inner Academy. Joining Mo Clan guarantees a bright future. I just hope Boss Mo will accept me," Qian Mo said, looking at Mo Yu with a hopeful expression.
"Haha, if Senior Qian Mo wishes to join Mo Clan, I welcome you with open arms. From now on, you are one of us," Mo Yu said, laughing as he warmly welcomed Qian Mo's decision.
Qian Mo was a peak-level Dou Ling, ranked in the top ten of the academy's strongest students. With great potential to break through to the Dou Wang and possibly even the Dou Huang rank, his joining Mo Clan was something Mo Yu gladly accepted.
"Congratulations to Mo Clan on gaining another top-ten student! With Senior Lin Yan and the formidable Mo Yu, Mo Clan might soon rival Lin Xiuya's Wolf Fang in strength!" Han Yue said, her beautiful eyes flashing with surprise as she stepped forward to offer her congratulations.
Internally, she was even more impressed with Mo Yu. This new student had, in just a few months, managed to win over both Lin Yan and Qian Mo. His talent and strategic abilities were exceptional, and she began to think that one day, his name might even reach the Central Plains.
Mo Yu simply smiled and said nothing in response.
After a few more polite exchanges, Xiao Yan and Han Yue bid farewell to Mo Yu, while the tired members of Pan Men and Yue Ling returned to their respective quarters to rest.
"Fu Ao, here's my Crimson Fire Crystal Card. Distribute the fifteen days' worth of fire energy to everyone as promised, and then return the card to my room," Mo Yu instructed Fu Ao after the others had left.
"Yes, boss! Leave it to me," Fu Ao replied respectfully, accepting the Crimson Fire Crystal Card and thumping his chest in assurance, his gaze full of admiration for Mo Yu.
During the mountain expedition, though the Heaven-Devouring Python had played a key role in subduing the Storm Wolf pack, the sight of Mo Yu battling the Wolf King had left a lasting impression on the entire Mo Clan.
At that moment, with lightning crackling around him, Mo Yu had appeared like a Thunder God, inspiring awe and reverence from everyone who witnessed it.
Now, in the eyes of the Mo Clan members, Mo Yu was like a legend, and they wholeheartedly worshipped him.
Mo Yu smiled at the admiration in their eyes and, after giving a few more instructions, returned to his room.
Surprisingly, instead of immediately beginning his cultivation, Mo Yu collapsed onto his bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Despite how impressive the battle with the fifth-rank magical beast had seemed, it had drained him greatly. If not for his strong body and deep reserves, he might have collapsed during the fight with the Wolf King.
Mo Yu slept for an entire day and night. When he awoke the following afternoon, the bright sunlight shone on his handsome face, like a beautiful painting. As he stretched and yawned, he felt completely refreshed.
"Ah, that feels good!"
The midday sun poured over Mo Yu as he stretched lazily, a pleased sigh escaping his lips.
"No wonder the Thunder Armor body technique is so powerful. If I can further master the Desolate Immortal Thunder Body, which is comparable to a Heaven-rank technique, I might even be able to kill a Dou Zun with a single punch," he thought, recalling his physical battle with the Storm Wolf King.
Although he hadn't managed to defeat the Wolf King, clashing head-on with it as a five-star Dou Ling was proof enough of the Thunder Armor's strength.
As for the Desolate Immortal Thunder Body, it was an advanced physical technique far superior to the Thunder Armor. On the Dou Qi Continent, it was as rare as a Heaven-rank battle technique. Though Mo Yu possessed knowledge of the technique, he was not yet strong enough to cultivate it.
As Mo Yu pondered, the Heaven-Devouring Python suddenly emerged from his sleeve, coiling itself around his arm.
Looking at the python, Mo Yu smiled. Without this loyal companion, he might have had to ask Snake Uncle for help during his battle with the Wolf King.
Thinking of this, Mo Yu generously took out another bottle of Purple Crystal Essence and handed it to the python. However, unlike before, when the python would have eagerly pounced on the essence, this time, it stopped mid-air and stared at Mo Yu with its mesmerizing snake eyes.
Just as Mo Yu began to sense that something was off, a cold and enchanting voice suddenly came from the python's mouth.
"Do you really think you can keep treating me like a pet?"
Though the voice was cold, it carried a seductive charm that sent a shiver down Mo Yu's spine. However, just as a surge of heat rose in his chest, Mo Yu forced it down, his eyebrow twitching as he cautiously asked, "Queen Medusa?"
As he spoke, the Heaven-Devouring Python's body glowed with faint seven-colored light, and it began to wriggle. In a matter of moments, it transformed into an incredibly alluring woman, whose beauty could turn any man into a beast in an instant.
Even though Mo Yu was no stranger to extraordinary sights, the sight of this seductive serpent woman stirred his heart.
Suppressing his feelings, Mo Yu's gaze lingered on her flawless, seductive face as he smiled lightly.
"Your Majesty, Queen Medusa, we meet again."
"Hmm, I've appeared this time because your battle with the Storm Wolf King drained much of the Heaven-Devouring Python's strength. Otherwise, I would have remained suppressed," Queen Medusa said, her beautiful eyes flashing with a hint of surprise as she sized up Mo Yu.
Originally, Queen Medusa had agreed to work with Mo Yu mostly because of her respect for Snake Uncle, a senior of the snake people race. Deep down, she had doubted whether Mo Yu would actually be able to help her fuse her soul. However, sensing his current strength, she was a little shocked. In less than a year, Mo Yu had gone from a Da Dou Shi to a five-star Dou Ling—an incredibly fast rate of improvement.
With this realization, Queen Medusa looked at Mo Yu with newfound seriousness.
"How's your progress on preparing a method to fix my soul?"
Licking her lips, Queen Medusa asked with a hint of expectation in her voice.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I've been gathering the materials needed to forge the Soul-Fusion Holy Cup, which will perfectly solve your soul problem. The only thing I'm missing now is a sixth-rank soul-type magic core. Once I have that, I can start forging it. If all goes well, I should have it ready within the next year," Mo Yu said, smiling as he looked at the enchanting beauty before him.
Queen Medusa was momentarily taken aback. She had only intended to nudge him, but she hadn't expected him to be almost done with the preparations. This made her feel a bit awkward.
"Thank you," she said softly after a moment.
For most people, receiving thanks from such a proud and powerful queen would have been a great honor. However, Mo Yu merely waved his hand nonchalantly. Just as he was about to speak, a panicked voice suddenly echoed from outside.
"Boss, something bad happened! Just now, while Lady Xiao Yu was on her way to Mo Clan, she was bullied by Liu Qing's sister, Liu Fei. Captain Fu Ao tried to intervene, but the members of Li Shan stopped him and injured him. Now Captains Qian Mo and Lin Yan have gone over to confront Li Shan, but I heard that Liu Qing himself has shown up, and he doesn't seem the least bit apologetic."
Mo Yu was stunned for a moment. Then, his expression darkened, and as he opened the door, faint arcs of lightning flashed in his silver eyes. Even Queen Medusa, inside the room, felt a sense of unease at his presence.
After a brief silence, Mo Yu smirked, striding forward as he coldly said, "Let's go and meet Li Shan!"
(End of the Chapter)
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