Chapter 76: Once Again—Farewell (Thanks to A Lump of Oil in My Pocket for the generous reward of 10,000 book coins)
Instructor Moon Fox was also quite surprised. Although Chen Mo was indeed the most capable student in her Class F, having cleared the simulation within a hair’s breadth at a distance of 9000 meters, and despite starting as the very last in the entire school, he had climbed his way up through sheer determination and hard work. This spirit deeply impressed Instructor Moon Fox. Otherwise, with her status, she would have had no reason to give Chen Mo extra training sessions every day, teaching him all sorts of combat techniques.
“Chen Mo, are you really going to challenge Shangguan Chaoyue?” Moon Fox’s tone was tinged with hesitation.
Chen Mo grinned. “Instructor, weren’t you hoping I’d win some glory for Class F? Well, I’ll win some glory for you! That’s right! I’m going to challenge Shangguan Chaoyue!!”
At that moment, Moon Fox’s heart warmed. She nodded silently to herself. Yes, so what if he loses? At worst, he can try again in next month’s promotion match. What’s needed is precisely Chen Mo’s fearless attitude!
Moon Fox smiled. “Very well! Then I announce: Chen Mo of Class D challenges Shangguan Chaoyue of Class B!”
In the stands, a subtle smile appeared on Young Master Wei’s calm face.
“What do you think, Young Master Wei?” Zhang Shengmo loved hearing the opinions of his childhood friend.
“What do I think? I think I’ll just sit and watch!” Young Master Wei swirled his feather fan in jest.
Zhang Shengmo sneered. “Looks like Chen Mo’s fox tail is finally showing. He’s been pretending to be weak, playing the fool to catch the tiger. But I doubt this particular tiger—Shangguan Chaoyue—will be so easy for him to swallow!”
Young Master Wei offered no comment. “Whether or not he can manage it, we’ll see after the match. But what about you, Brother Shengmo? Do you plan to keep a low profile, or will you show your true colors?”
Almost subconsciously, Zhang Shengmo glanced at Ning Xuan, sitting not far away, who was shouting herself hoarse cheering for Chen Mo.
With a hint of disdain, Zhang Shengmo said, “Heh, I’m ranked third in the school, you’re second. I can’t beat you. As for first place, that childish little girl—I can’t be bothered to bully her!”
“Hahaha! Shengmo, oh Shengmo, you’ve never changed your arrogant ways since we were kids. But don’t underestimate that girl. I’ve heard through the grapevine that Zhou Xiong led a group to ambush Ning Xuan and Chen Mo, but Ning Xuan single-handedly took care of them all. Her magical prowess is truly formidable!”
“Heh, magic? Just a little trick. Once I draw my sword, all magic evaporates into thin air!” Zhang Shengmo boasted.
“Shh, the match is starting!” Young Master Wei focused his gaze on the field.
Chen Mo and Shangguan Chaoyue stood at opposite sides of the central ring, each enveloped in a blue shield. The rules were simple: whoever’s shield broke first, lost.
Chen Mo’s novice mage robe looked especially shabby. In contrast, Shangguan Chaoyue’s equipment was dazzling—a D-rank “Deceitful Words Set,” ranked in the top 100 of the Evolution Forum!
Chen Mo activated his data scan.
[Shangguan Chaoyue Lv23]
[Intermediate Warrior]
[HP: 4000]
[MP: 1000]
[Physical Attack: 450]
[Magic Attack: 50]
[Equipment: Deceitful Words Armor, Constitution +1; Deceitful Words Helmet, Constitution +15; Deceitful Words Gloves, Strength +15; Deceitful Words Handblades, Strength +15; Deceitful Words Short Boots, Agility +15; Deceitful Words Legguards, Constitution +7, Agility +7; Set Bonus: Movement Speed +50; Attack Speed +50%]
[Skills: Blade Thrust, ??? (Effect to be updated in combat); Night Star Dart, ????; Phantom Shadow, ???]
From the data, it was clear that Shangguan Chaoyue truly lived up to her name—she had the strength to challenge for the top spot in the school. In fact, her power was already comparable to the instructors. Instructors like Moon Fox and Wei Zheng had only started with better resources and higher starting points, but in the end, they’d only been evolving for just over a month—the same as the students—so it was natural for students to surpass their instructors.
In the Class B stands, everyone looked supremely confident.
“This match is predictable. The moment Shangguan Chaoyue switched roles, I knew it was over!”
“I really don’t know where Chen Mo got his courage, challenging our Class B superstar! Go, Chaoyue! Crush him!”
“Hey, I heard the two of them are roommates. Heh, maybe they’re dropping the soap together!”
From the cheers in the arena, it was clear that Shangguan Chaoyue’s popularity was overwhelming. Apart from his sister, his best friend Ding Yan, and Ye Zhiyan, there were almost no cheers for Chen Mo.
Shangguan Chaoyue basked in the crowd’s adoration, even cupping her hand to her ear, as if to say, “Let me hear your screams!”
Sure enough, the female voices in the crowd shrieked even louder. “Chaoyue! Chaoyue! Chaoyue!”
Chen Mo secretly snickered. If those girls knew that their charming idol was actually a girl in disguise, he wondered what expressions they’d make.
His sneaky smile was caught by Shangguan Chaoyue, who seemed to read the meaning in his grin and was so angry she gnashed her teeth. “You! Don’t look at me with that expression! Make your move! Since we’re roommates, I’ll let you have the first three attacks!”
Heh!
Chen Mo was never one to be modest. “Is that so? You said it yourself—here I come!!”
He unleashed his full mental power—Meditation!
Fire elements danced in Chen Mo’s hands. He compressed two fireballs and stacked them together.
Go! Double Fireball!
The compressed twin fireballs were highly unstable, wobbling erratically as they flew through the air.
Shangguan Chaoyue’s lips curled with amusement. Such magic was child’s play for an intermediate warrior like her.
Blade Thrust!
Not only did Shangguan Chaoyue not dodge, she charged straight in, transforming into a blur. Her hands, clad in Deceitful Words Gloves and Handblades, each boosting her strength by 15, were equipped with flexible blades that could alter their length at will.
Break!
She shot forward like a speedboat, arms outstretched, the handblades forming a triangular cutting current that stabbed directly into the heart of the compressed fireballs.
Bang!
The compressed fireballs were sliced clean in two, as easily as cutting a watermelon.
“Whoa!” the stands erupted in astonishment.
Most people held magic in awe, believing it to be omnipotent, while physical attacks seemed insignificant in comparison.
Yet, in this moment, Shangguan Chaoyue proved that magic was a paper tiger—physical force could also shatter spells!
“How interesting!” Young Master Wei watched with delight. “Shangguan Chaoyue is even stronger than I thought. She’s actually mastered how to counter magic!”
From a scientific perspective, magic consisted of elemental particles shaped by a mage’s meditation; physical attacks, too, were made of particles, whether fists or blades, but these particles were fixed and tightly bound, unlike magic, which was free-form and highly creative. Of course, there were also magical weapons, which combined both fixed and free arrangements.
Once this principle was understood, breaking magic with physical force was simple—particles could split other particles!
Hmm?!
Chen Mo’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected Shangguan Chaoyue to be able to slice through magic itself.
Still, he didn’t panic. His mental link with the fireballs remained intact—Explosive Flame!
He detonated the two cleaved fireballs on the spot.
Boom! Boom!
The fireballs erupted, sparks flying everywhere!
Swish—
A faster blur—Shangguan Chaoyue seemed to have anticipated Chen Mo’s detonation. The instant she cut through the fireballs, not only did she not slow down, she activated the Deceitful Words set’s speed bonus. The Blade Thrust accelerated even more, and in just half a second, the handblades were already stabbing toward Chen Mo.
Chen Mo instinctively tried to dodge with a backward slide, but suddenly remembered—this body wasn’t the Demon King’s, but the Prince’s. The Prince could only barely manage such advanced maneuvers; with too little agility, his movements were simply too slow!
Shhk!
Both handblades pierced straight through his shield, leaving two skull-shaped cracks.
-250 HP
-250 HP
With just one attack, half of his shield’s value was gone!