Versatile Mage c1-2021, page 107
Dean Xiao seemed to have anticipated this kind of discussion. He waited until everyone had finished talking, before he slowly fished out a scroll from his b.r.e.a.s.t pocket that contained instructions.
"A few days ago, we received some information. A Shadow Beast the government used for taming has escaped due to problems with its supervision. The Shadow Beast possess some of the Shadow Elemental abilities, and it is able to hide really well in the night. At same time, it's very hard to find them as they sneak through the city in the day. This Shadow Beast has gone through special training, so it won't take the initiative to attack human beings, nor would it try to massacre them. Right now, it is like a wandering cat as it was in some place inside Shanghai.
"Our school is supposed to be assisting the government. The second we find any kind of trail of the Shadow Beast, we are to notify them immediately. Right now, I want you guys to catch this Shadow Beast alive and return it to the government.
"This will be the placement examination for the Main Campus."
After Dean Xiao announced this mission, the thousand people began to talk in a loud buzz.
They'd heard that this Main Campus Examination could possibly be a large scale Battle Royale. They originally thought it was going to be a competition between students; however, it turned out it was actually a military mission!
"What is worth mentioning is that the Shadow Beast won't attack humans on its own, nor does it have the intention to slaughter others. However, when it get attacked or pursued, its temperament will change greatly. Its danger level would be no less than that of a regular Magical Beast. That is why when you find the Shadow Beast and are going to catch it, you will need to outline a plan first.
"The students or the group that catches it and delivers it to the school's Beast Cage will obtain the reward! If a single person finishes it, then that person will receive the reward. If it's a group, with a limit of 5, then they will divide the reward amongt themselves. The reward is obtaining an opportunity to enter the Three Step Pagoda!" Dean Xiao said.
"Three Step Pagoda!"
"Heavens, it's the Three Step Pagoda!"
As the words left Dean Xiao's mouth, a thousand students nearly went crazy.
Even the students within the Main Campus would fight among themselves for the Three Step Pagoda. This time, Dean Xiao had actually given out five spots!
Mo Fan had personally entered the Three Step Pagoda to cultivate. He was very clear on just what kind of frightening cultivation speed it could bring Magicians!
If he had directly charged into the third layer, then that 200x cultivation would've been incredibly useful!
If he was given a couple more days, then Mo Fan firmly believed that he would be able to increase his other Elements to a whole new level.
The first day after coming out of the Three Step Pagoda, Mo Fan made a promise to himself that he would definitely return to the Three Step Pagoda once more. Who would've known that happiness would come this quickly. The reward for the Main Campus Examination this time would actually be an opportunity to enter the Three Step Pagoda!
Good, that's too good...
The current him was able to enter the third layer. If he was able to cultivate within the third layer for seven days, Mo Fan's Shadow Element and Summoning Element would both increase to the second level!
A student who was standing relatively close to the platform excitedly asked, "Dean, are there any hints or trails?"
Dean Xiao shook his head and said, "You'll have to go find it on your own."
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Happiness was happiness, and being excited was excited. However, this mission had no hints or clues, and thus had already become a massive obstacle for the thousand or so students that were taking the test.
If you were to add in the outskirts of the city to the entirety of Shanghai, it was an incredibly big area. There were numerous alleys and streets. At this moment, they weren't able to determine which area of the city the Shadow Beast was in. Trying to find a Shadow Beast with the ability to conceal itself within this incredibly busy large city, that was like trying to fish a needle from the sea!
Mo Fan really needed to enter the Three Step Pagoda once more.
When he entered the third layer, he had focused on cultivating the Fire Element. He had already touched upon the door of the third level of Fire Magic. If he was given two more days, then his Fire Nebula would definitely reach the third level!
Beneath the Advanced level, Mo Fan had no need to be afraid of anyone!
Apart from this, Mo Fan's Shadow Element could be classified as having only just entered the Nebula stage. Control of his Giant Shadow Spike's Star Atlas had been cultivated by Mo Fan within the Three Step Pagoda. Otherwise, he would have needed more than half a year before he would be able to cast it. What was originally nearly impossible to do was now something that he was very familiar with.
As for the Summoning Element, there was no need to mention it. Mo Fan was still unable to draw the Summoning Element's Intermediate Star Atlas.
The time within the Three Step Pagoda was far too limited, Mo Fan had only focused on his Fire and Lightning cultivation.
The next time he entered the Three Step Pagoda, Mo Fan would have two options. Either he would charge into the third level of the Fire Element, or he could raise the level of his Shadow and Summoning Elements. In short, for someone like Mo Fan that had so many Elements, being able to enter the Three Step Pagoda once would result in his strength increasing by at least one level!
"The Shadow Beast... if only Lingling was here, it would be great. She is an expert in pursuing beasts. She was even able to find those creatures that hid beneath human skin. This kind of Shadow Beast would be simply nothing for her!" Mo Fan said to himself.
Mo Fan could already be considered a high level Hunter. He was also at his wit's end, so he had no idea where to start…
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After returning to his room, Mo Fan opened his computer with the intentions of looking up materials regarding the Shadow Beast. He wanted to see if the Shadow Beast had some kind of special habit.
"Mo Fan, Mo Fan. Since the examination this time allows you to form groups…Why don't you join our Beautiful girls group. Look, with me who is so filled with knowledge, the knowledgeable and powerful Big Sister Mu, you who is fierce and is super capable of fighting, and two others who possess very good controlling abilities, we would definitely be invincible!" Ai Tutu immediately charged into the living room as she said this to Mo Fan, her face filled with excitement. Her two jade hares were bouncing back and forth in front of Mo Fan.
Mo Fan raised his head as he looked at the Ai Tutu whose face was filled with expectations, and then he glanced at Mu Nujiao, who was changing her shoes.
"Find someone else," Mo Fan shook his head, as he didn't plan on going with them.
"Don't tell me you're planning on doing it by yourself! Aiya, how could you be like that?! We, the Beautiful Girl Group, invited you with such sincerity! Don't you know how bad your reputation in school is, there is no one who would want to be in the same group as you! Other than Sister Mu and I who don't avoid you… who would've thought that you'd be this selfish, and even reject us! I will bite you to death!" Ai Tutu spewed out as she became fl.u.s.tered.
"Tutu, stop causing trouble." Mu Nujiao immediately stopped her.
Mo Fan didn't feel like explaining it to Ai Tutu.
The truth was, it was not that Mo Fan didn't want to form a group with others. After all, there was no difference between the rewards one person got, and a group of five.
However, Mo Fan was very clear on his current situation.
Perhaps the Black Vatican didn't dare to make too much noise within the perimeter of the school, but once they exited the school, they would dare to do anything. Mo Fan didn't want to involve these two girls into his own matters. The Black Vatican would definitely not be lenient just because they were beautiful!
Chapter 219 - Setting a Trap!
When the Black Vatican did things, they tend to use sly schemes.
Right now, there were no movements from them, which only signified that they had been scheming in order to have it all done at once.
Their most beautiful opportunity to make a move would be the unavoidable Main Campus Examination.
The Main Campus Examination couldn't exactly disappear. If it did not take place, that would only notify the Black Vatican that the different powers were on guard against them. Furthermore, the Pearl Institute couldn't exactly cancel such an important matter just because they were suspicious.
Forget it, let's not think about these things. Let's find the Shadow Beast first!
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"Monkey, you're currently in the Army, right?" Mo Fan called Zhang Xiaohou's number.
"Yeah, Brother Fan, let me tell you, I'm really amazing right now…" As soon as Zhang Xiaohou heard Mo Fan calling, the serious demeanor he had built up within the Army suddenly turned into a child trying to brag about his grades as he began boasting.
"Did you apply to the central section on your own?" Mo Fan asked, feeling slightly shocked.
Zhang Xiaohou seemed to have mixed in well with the Army. The Army was making efforts to nurture him. Although he had to go through a year of central section training, he would be promoted to an officer once he returned.
"Yeah, you can learn a lot of things from there. Brother Fan, did you need something from me?" Zhang Xiaohou asked.
After their separation in Bo City, Zhang Xiaohou had chosen to enter the Army. He chose a road that majority of the students did not take, while Mo Fan went to Shanghai and competed within his school. The two of them walked different paths, but that did not affect their friendship.
"Yeah, I want to know more about one of the domesticated beasts in the Army, the Shadow Beast," Mo Fan said.
"I'm not responsible for that area. However, I do have a companion who specializes in taking care of Shadow Beasts. I might not be able to get extremely classified information, but the more common things won't be a problem," Zhang Xiaohou said.
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Zhang Xiaohou's work ethic was quite high. Mo Fan called him in the morning, and by the afternoon, he had already sent the materials regarding the Shadow Beast over to Mo Fan.
"Brother Fan, if you are ever around the central section of the Army, come and find me, I really miss you!"
"I will!"
"Brother Fan, you must be really impressive now right?"
"Of course."
"Brother Fan, you are still so immodest."
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Zhang Xiaohou's companion really helped Mo Fan a lot. The materials stated that the Shadow Beasts that had been domesticated had an extreme craving for beef. They would have to eat at least half a cow every day. If you wanted to find a wandering Shadow Beast within Shanghai, then you'd have to start finding clues from some of the beef processing factories within Shanghai.
Mo Fan wasn't in a hurry to go to the beef processing factories. Shanghai was a colossal city, the larger beef processing factories might not number a thousand, but there would at least be eight hundred. To find a Shadow Beast was easier said than done.
Soon enough, Mo Fan arrived at a police station. A high tier Hunter's identity was no less than that of an officer. Mo Fan was able to use the police to help him find information regarding thefts.
"Mr Hunter, the reports that you wanted have been sorted. Since most of these are trivial matters, and a lot of these are about stealing and destroying meat, these kind of cases would at most have us sending some people over to take a look and take a report. For it to be completely investigated is rather impossible," the female officer said to Mo Fan.
"Alright, thank you. Another thing, if someone makes a report regarding theft or destruction of meat, then please notify me as soon as possible. These are my contact details…" Mo Fan said to the female officer who helped him find the information.
"Alright!" The female officer seemed to be a rather new worker, she was very enthusiastic toward most things.
After leaving the police station, Mo Fan returned home to browse through the materials of these thefts and destroyed meat.
"The frequency of these events are relatively high within the Pudong district. Most of the recent cases are along Wan Street. This place should be close to the harbor, the imported meat would all be stored around here before they use trucks to deliver it across the city…" Mo Fan quickly had a direction to work from.
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On the same day, Mo Fan went to Wan Street, which was near the harbor in Pudong District. Having the identity of a high tier Hunter made it very convenient getting things done. As long as he was investigating a case, especially one related to Magical Beasts, the workers would definitely cooperate and tell him everything they knew.
Mo Fan had arrived at the beef storehouse and began to cautiously investigate the area.
The materials given to him by Zhang Xiahou stated that the Shadow Beast was a creature whose tail tend to shed hair. The lost hair would have a fluorescent glow. Thus, if he was trying to find the location of the Shadow Beast, it would be very easy to use the fluorescent light from the tail hair to determine whether it had appeared in this area or not.
After searching through more than twenty beef storage areas in succession, Mo Fan finally came to a beef storage area that was not carefully maintained, and found a fluorescent tail hair.
"The lost tail hair will disintegrate into dust within seven days, this hair has almost turned into dust…"
His investigation did not let him find the exact location of the Shadow Beast, all it did was to tell him that it had been around this area. The time it stayed here was relatively short.
Finding the clues here were of no use, Mo Fan could only leave to find the next suspicious area.
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Not too long after Mo Fan had left the beef storage, another team of people came over. Furthermore, each one of them began to look over the different beef storages.
"Brothers, could it be a real Magical Beast appeared? There was already someone who came by before to take a look," a worker said as he trembled in fear.
"Oh? There's someone who would come here before us?" Shen Mingxiao asked, feeling slightly shocked.
Shen Mingxiao was also one of the more reputable people within the school. He had relied on the connections he had within the Hunter Union to come all this way, and thought he was the very first one to obtain these clues. Who would've thought that someone had already been here!
"It seems like we need to be even faster. If it was found by someone else first, that would be bad," Luo Song said.
"Don't worry, the Shadow Beast can only be ours!" Sheng Mingxiao declared.
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After Mo Fan left the beef warehouses, he began to proceed toward the Huangpu River.
"Hello? Who is this?" Just when Mo Fan was about to reach the next area, his phone began to ring.
"Mr Hunter, it's me. I have just gotten a tip that there as a huge amount of beef being stolen by an old meat vendor in Xu Jiang'an, do you want to go and take a look?" the female officer inside the police station called to say.
"Alright, I'll go and take a look. Thank you. I'll treat you to a meal next time," Mo Fan said.
"Oh…"
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A man with a mask covering half his face was standing in a parking lot by a very common convenience store, a cold expression on what was left of his features.
A completely black creature was standing next to him. Its long claws were wrapped around the cold and sweaty female officer's throat. If the beast's claws closed lightly, then the policewoman's blood would definitely splash everywhere.
"You've done well, I won't kill you. This, however, does not mean I won't kill your family. So, if you want your family to live, then you better not tell this to anyone…" the man with the mask said, an ominous glint in his eyes.
The truth was, he wanted to kill people.
After his face had been ruined, he had imagined every single person he had killed off to be Mo Fan.
However, he didn't kill this policewoman.
If she died, then the people of Magic Court would rapidly be in pursuit of him.
The Black Vatican enjoyed slaughter. Killing people didn't need any logic behind it, but before they killed someone, they would make sure it didn't bring them any trouble.
Chapter 220 - Entering the Trap by Mistake
Along the Huangpu river bank, there was light coming from a high location from afar. These lights were flickering in different colors as they reflected on the surface of the river. Following the movement of the stream, it looked like a floating, colored ribbon in the dark.
A heavy odor similar to excrement drifted by, instantly ruining the beautiful scenery. This was followed by numbers of black figures coming out of the river, one by one. The odor came precisely from these figures.
The five figures were in the front, they looked like they were chasing away animals as they let out a severe, excoriating noise.
They began to swiftly move toward Xu Jiang'an, because they had to gather there before their objectives got there!
"Hui Si, you stay on outside. The second you see our objective, notify me immediately." The man wore a long grey cloak that covered his body, and a mask covering his face.
The five of them were all wearing long, grey cloaks. All of their bodies emitted a strange odor, and from one glance, you could tell they weren't good people.
"Yes sir." The person called Hui Si immediately stood guard outside.
They entered a rather shabby factory. This factory seemed like it recycled lower quality meat, as it smelled like meat everywhere. There were a lot of other things mixed together with it, so it smelled more like dog food, and could still be sold for a good price somewhere.
The factory had some machines in operation. However, there was not a single person inside, perhaps no one within a hundred meters.
