Versatile Mage c1-2021, page 65
Mo Fan and his family finally arrived at the placement area address provided by Bo City.
There seemed to be around a thousand or so people in the placement, just enough to fill a small district.
A brief description of the district could be said as “cozy”. The truth was, the construction of it could also be described as sloppy; the height between the floors was relatively short. Living inside those places was like living inside a slightly larger box, restricted to a certain extent.
But according to what Mo Jiaxing said, as long as there was a place to live, then there wouldn’t be any problems. Mo Fan also didn’t have anything to complain about.
After considering Xinxia’s situation, the neighborhood association placed them on the first floor. Originally, Mo Fan thought he’d be able to see the high-rise buildings that were bright like a flourishing blossom. Unexpectedly, the surroundings of this area were even more desolate than freaking Bo City… the post-calamity Bo City!
This was a very rural area of Shanghai. According to the neighbors who had already moved in, it took roughly twenty minutes to get to the subway station via the bus, and then another half an hour to get to the downtown of Shanghai...
That would mean going to Shanghai took an hour, and coming back would also take an hour!
_Shit, if it wasn’t for the fact I don’t have money, then I’d have already left! How could I think that the government would assign us to the beautiful city? Instead, they placed us in this place that isn’t half as good as Bo City!_
_Money, I need to make money. In any case, I am an Intermediate Magician. Making money should be quite easy, and after I get that money, I’ll finally move. No matter where I rent, it’d still be better than this uninhabited rural place of Shanghai, I suspect that there’s probably Magical Beasts appearing in the evening..._
Mo Jiaxing didn’t mind. He was very quick to find a job, and he soon returned to his old profession; a chauffeur.
Xinxia didn’t plan on going back to school. There probably weren’t any Magic Schools in this area of Shanghai. The round trip to the city was also very inconvenient. Thus, she decided to homeschool and then participate in the high school exams next year.
The fact is, a Healing Magician was in great demand in hospitals. However, Mo Fan didn’t want Xinxia to enter society this early. For someone in her situation, it’d be better for her to stay in a park with an enchanting scenery.
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Mo Jiaxing’s new job started to get busy. Xinxia was self-studying and meditating at home. It was clear that these two had adapted to their new lifestyle.
Mo Fan was also busy. He didn’t have too much money at hand, but preserving his relatively simple lifestyle was not too much of a problem. However, to change his lifestyle into a better one required hundred of thousands of RMB, which was a bit more difficult. Not to mention, Mo Fan planned to use those hundred of thousands of RMB to purchase Star Trails.
Star Trails were very important for Mo Fan, as there were a total of 49 Stars within his magic Nebula.
In the past, Mo Fan only needed to link seven Stars to cast Primary Magic.
However, the difficulty of Intermediate Magic was much higher than Primary Magic.
First, Mo Fan needed to link his Stars into a special Star Path. After linking the Star Paths, it would become a captivating Star Diagram, which would be considered as opening the door to Intermediate Magic, allowing him to cast spells of that level.
For a new Intermediate Magician to connect all of their 49 Stars without a mistake was simply a fairy tale. That was because they were unable to remember the pattern of the Star Diagram, and also because their minds couldn’t handle the duration of high concentration.
Star Trails were a kind of Magic Scroll, their usage similar to the Star Diagram Books given to Mo Fan by Mrs. Tangyue.
The Star Diagram Book was able to directly connect all of the Stars to a certain extent. If you were to compared the two, a Star Diagram would be like a character with numerous strokes, and the Star Trails would be like the different radicals; it was the copybook for the radicals!
_(Ed. Note: Chinese characters are made up of radicals!)_
New Intermediate Magicians needed to use Star Trails to guide and regulate them, or else they would create an indescribable Star Diagram that couldn’t conduct Magic.
One Star Trail cost 50 thousand RMB.
Mo Fan bought two, one was Fire and the other was Lightning.
In other words, the ten or so thousands of RMB which he had earned back in the Hunter Squad had all been used to purchase this godforsaken Magic copybook.
To excel among their peers as Primary Magicians, the big family clans would expend a lot of money on their children. However, reaching the Intermediate level, it would simply be robbing them of their wealth! A tool for assisting in control of your Stars cost fifty thousand RMB, that was roughly the same price as a cheap car!
In short, there was no money for them to move anytime soon… However, that was fine. He would focus on cultivating in this desolate place!
What method was he going to use to earn money?
Undoubtedly, it would be killing Magical Beasts!
As for killing Magical Beasts, without Intermediate Magic, it would be relatively difficult. Just thinking about that incredibly vicious fist of flames smashing over, Mo Fan’s entire being began to get excited. _What Magical Beasts? They might as well become bank notes and enter my pocket!_
Furthermore, Mo Fan had yet to cast the Intermediate Magic of Lightning. The Star Diagrams which Mrs. Tangyue had given to him were all of the Fire element. The Intermediate level Fiery Fist was already incredibly tyrannical. _I wonder how Lightning element, the strongest of the classic elements, would strike the heavens?_
Cultivate, cultivate!
_I have to hurry up and cultivate properly. If I don’t cultivate it, then I swear I won’t leave the door!_
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Mo Fan was incredibly enthusiastic. He didn’t want to waste a single day as he began to meditate in their new apartment.
Meditation was essential. Mo Fan had roughly calculated that he currently had enough magic energy to cast three Intermediate Magic spells before he would feel dizzy. If it wasn’t for Xinxia’s Healing magic, then he most likely would faint after using Fiery Fist.
After Meditating, he would cultivate Control.
His 49 Stars would no longer form a monotonous Star Path, forming a far more complex Star Diagram. Seeing the disobedient and scattered Stars, Mo Fan began to feel a headache. At the same time, he felt like he was incapable of doing this.
“Little Loach, whether I, your father, can remain awesome depends on you… If you don’t help me cultivate, then I will sell you off! The market price for a Stardust Magic Tool is sky high, let alone a Magic Tool like you who has jumped who knows how many grades after swallowing the Underground Holy Spring!”
_(Ed. Note: Ah, our Mo Fan. He seems to have forgotten the Pendant is bound to him. Empty threat, unless he kills himself, too.)_
After absorbing the Underground Holy Spring, the Little Loach Pendant had jumped who knew how many grades. Currently, Mo Fan had no idea on how to appraise Little Loach Pendant’s grade.
Either way, it was impossible for it to be the same as the tiny little Stardust Magic Tool from before!
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Translator: Tofu
Editor: RED
Chapter 123 - Mrs. Tangyue's Invitation
Currently, even if Mo Fan didn’t enter meditation, his Nebula would still be in a state of growth. The growth rate wasn’t slow, either.
An exact number of how much the Little Loach Pendant was supplying his cultivation was something Mo Fan did not know at the moment.
In short, Mo Fan hadn’t done anything in these two months of time, he only focused on cultivating. He didn’t know whether he would be able to completely cast his first Intermediate Magic in a short half a year worth of time like he could back at Primary level.
“Alright, I have cultivated for a month, let’s see where my limit lies!”
Mo Fan exerted all his effort preparing to connect all of his Stars to the very extent of his ability.
Mo Fan was very familiar with the methods of connecting Stars into Star Paths through the usage of Star Trails. What came after is how many Stars Mo Fan would be able to control.
The first seven were easy as they were the seven Stars for his Primary Magic. Mo Fan connected them with ease as they formed into a Star Path…
As the Control continued, Mo Fan forced the other Stars that was moving quickly to listen to his command.
The eighth Star was very obedient. Mo Fan didn’t interact with it much, and after a proper agreement with one another, the eighth Star had moved into its allocated place during the first week.
The ninth Star was not as obedient. Mo Fan had used threats to finally subdue it, and when he wasn’t being cautious, a fracture could easily emerge on the ninth Star.
A Fracture was the same as Primary level; when a single Star failed to connect, then the entire Star Path would collapse like a domino effect, forcing a restart. This was caused by outside interruptions, or a lack of a concentration in controlling the Star.
“Good, good! The next one is the tenth Star!”
After successfully connecting the ninth Star, he immediately began on the increasingly difficult tenth Star.
The previous nine stars were all on the same Star Path, they were the axis of the Star Diagram. Mo Fan had to constantly maintain the completed Star Path so it would not break, all the while he attempted to open up another new Star Path.
Completing a single Star Path may not be hard, however, controlling other Stars while maintaining an entire Star Path increased the difficulty several times over. This could be considered as testing the level of a Magician’s concentration!
Mo Fan was shouting within his mind, while at same time, he did not dare to loosen up.
He clearly remembered that when he had broken through to the Intermediate level, his consciousness had been hit by sequence of headaches. He clenched his teeth as he endured it.
The truth is, if you were unable to endure this kind of mental attack, then it could be said that your mental strength was not enough to handle a whole Nebula’s worth of Stars.
Within this period of practicing, who knows how many times Mo Fan lost to the tenth Star…
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“Come, good job!”
The purple Star gradually came over sincerely. At last, it finally remained in the specially designated spot obediently, under the control of Mo Fan.
One Star Path and a newly appointed Star...
For Mo Fan, this could be considered as taking a big step, at the very least, he had grasped the essential part of the Intermediate Magic’s Star Diagram.
Many Intermediate Magicians could meticulously study this Star Diagram for many years. Many had already achieved the Intermediate level. However, by the time they were able to use Intermediate Magic, they would already be too old.
The difficulty of a Star Diagram was far more difficult than a Star Path. They would be stuck at this area if they did not have a sufficient amount of willpower, nor understanding of Control.
Mo Fan’s Control could be considered very successful!
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On this morning, Mo Fan went to find a desolate place without any people just like before, so he could practice his Magic.
After reaching the Intermediate level, Mo Fan’s speed in casting magic had become extremely fast.
Now, Mo Fan only needed 1.5 seconds to cast Lightning Strike or Fire Burst. It was said that the real incredible Magicians were able to cast Primary Magic simply by lifting their hands, achieving the action of an instant casting.
Mo Fan also knew that it practicing was extremely essential if he wanted to reach that kind of level. 1.5 second-casting was still slightly slow. If a Magical Beast was around 30 or so meters away from you, perhaps they would only need one second to directly appear in front of you.
After finishing practicing, Mo Fan felt the mobile phone in his pants vibrate.
As Mo Fan opened the phone, he saw it was an unknown caller. He felt suspicious as he answered the call.
“Hello, is this Mo Fan?” From the phone came a m.a.t.u.r.e and incredibly s.e.xy voice, hearing it could make people’s ear feel comfortable.
“Mrs. Tangyue, it is great that I can hear your voice again!” Mo Fan answered happily.
After the calamity happened, no one was able to care for others. Mo Fan also did not see his beloved Mrs. Tangyue. Speaking of which, if it wasn’t for Mrs. Tangyue giving him the few Star Diagram Books, then his life would have most likely ended in Bo City.
“You sure hid yourself in a far place. I had to ask Zhankong to know that you’re in the placement area in Shanghai,” Tangyue said with a smile.
“After so many things happening, I just wanted to find a peaceful place to practice,” Mo Fan replied.
“How come you decided to come to the great Magic City, the waters here are quite deep. Even the Mu Family would be classified as a small family clan within the great Magic City of Shanghai. Seeing how much you love causing trouble, I hope you don’t provoke any of the great noble families,” Tangyue said.
“Currently, it is as though I am cut off from the rest of the world. The placement area is pretty desolate. Even if I wanted to cause trouble, I’d still need the environment,” Mo Fan replied with a bitter smile.
_This placement area… Sigh, forget it, I feel too disinclined to talk about it._
“I am currently on a mission in a northern area of Hangzhou. If you don’t have anything to do, why don’t you come over here for a bit, I’ll take that time and give you some recommendations,” Tangyue told him.
“On a mission? Mrs. Tangyue, just what divinity are you, could you leak a bit of that to this student of yours?” Mo Fan replied.
Mo Fan had already asked once before. Star Diagram Books were indeed an item that you couldn’t buy even if you had the money. His teacher, Mrs. Tangyue, had given him four books at once! It clearly showed that her background was not as simple as just a high school teacher.
“I’ll tell you when the time comes. So, are you coming here or not?” Tangyue said mysteriously.
“I’ll go, of course I’ll go!”
“You should have reached the Intermediate level, right?”
“Eh?... How did you know?” Mo Fan replied awkwardly.
The matter of reaching Intermediate level was something Mo Fan hadn’t told anyone yet. After all, the more strength he exposed, the more unfavorable it would be for him.
“It just happens that we are in need of a Lightning Magician.”
“Sensei1, I haven’t completed my Star Diagram yet!”
“Don’t worry, I have already prepared a Lightning Star Diagram Book for you,”
“... Does your family sell those? Why do you make it sound like it was a cabbage? I heard this thing was being controlled by some influential power, and it was impossible for them to be on the market. Sister Tangyue, don’t tell me you are from that influential power?” Mo Fan asked.
“Why are you asking so many questions? If you help us complete this mission, then you will receive many benefits.”
“Will there be an Awakening Stone?”
“An Awakening Stone… Alright, if you finish this, then I can bring you to the Magic Association to Awaken.”
Mo Fan felt a headache coming on as he heard this.
_What do you mean, finish this?_
_Pretty lady, you are a teacher, could you please pay attention to the phrasing!_
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Translator: Tofu
Editor: RED
Chapter 124 - Tangyue's Background
Hangzhou was very close to Shanghai, or perhaps it could be said that Shanghai’s urban area bordered the urban area of Hangzhou.
Mo Fan arrived in a small town in Jiangnan, a location in the north part of Hangzhou, following the instructions of the m.a.t.u.r.e and s.e.xy Mrs. Tangyue.
The name of the small town was Xishui, the name of it was somewhat interesting. However, after Mo Fan arrived in the small town, he realized that this place had cracked, soiled, and abandoned fields everywhere. Compared to the image of the Jiangnan waterways that Mo Fan had in mind, the difference was like heaven and earth.
What water? Let’s not even talk about a river, there was not even a brook to be seen around here. Even a small pond would be a huge problem to find.
The small town seemed to be a decent tourist attraction in the past, and it appeared to have some relatively classic inns. Following the address sent by the beautiful Tangyue, Mo Fan found the “Spaced Inn”. With a glance, he noticed the curvaceous, charming, and wonderful teacher who was sitting on the balcony, and Mo Fan felt much happier.
_Her round b.u.t.t, and the impressive, majestic mountain peaks. Mrs. Tangyue, are you sure your last name is not Cang?_
Tangyue seemed as though she could sense Mo Fan. As her hair swept past, her eyes like limpid autumn waters were filled with joy as they gazed at the young man who had arrived.
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“Mrs. Tangyue is still that beautiful person from the past,” Mo Fan couldn’t help but praise her.
“You’re not bad, either. Reaching the Intermediate level at such a young age, even amongst the large noble family and associations, that could be perceived as a genius,” Mrs. Tangyue replied with a smile.
“Mrs. Tangyue isn’t that old either, right? I have yet to truly see your strength,” Mo Fan answered.
“Alright, stop playing dumb. I know you wanted to ask where I was during the calamity of Bo City, right?” Tangyue was very direct.
“Alright, I do want to know because I feel like Mrs. Tangyue isn’t as simple as your regular Intermediate Magician… your background can’t be normal, either. The only thing is, I don’t understand why you came to teach in our Tian Lan Magic High. Is it because you did something that you can’t tell people, or is it perhaps that you are actually the mastermind behind the Black Vatican?” Mo Fan wondered aloud.
