Chapter 15: Showing off

"You've reached the intermediate level? "

Song Xia could barely keep her calm. She had always been competitive, finding new methods to battle even if she were only a Primary mage. She was the group's information collector. She would make sure of ensuring the maximum gains were made in whatever they did.

"It's the Underground Holy Spring isn't? Hmmph"

" Fine Ancient capital it is" blurted Song Xia before scurrying back to cultivate.

" That's great brother with this you'll be promoted and have a few more subordinates to lead. Ask for a few more girls in our team. We need a more balanced team"

"We won't be transferring until you guys break through as well. Besides I've got a matter to handle before we get to Ancient capital "

"What is it? " asked Gao Xuan with a silly smile on his face.

"Teacher has agreed to help me get a contracted beast. I'll be flying to Dunhuang as soon as open my contract space and I need to let Fenrir evolve as well. Also I am going to attempt a second awakening regardless of my situation."

Opening the contract space was a good way to measure their cultivation as it would appear after full control over the stars were achieved.

At the end of their conversation Gao Xuan felt he had swallowed a fly and went back to cultivate himself. Anyone could see things were serious if Gao Xuan went to cultivate. If it weren't for the fact that he was below drinking age, he would be at a bar with the other soldiers and even drag his bro there.

At the end Cao Guang also felt he had shown off enough and went to call his teacher.

"You've broken through to the intermediate level, good good"

" Wait till you control your stars, I'll take you to Dunhuang. If it weren't for the fact my contract slots were full I might have attempted to sign a Flame Belle huh! "

Damn geezer, you didn't even realise a Flame Belle would be born soon before I said so and now you want steal my future daughter from me

" Teacher what about my awakening and Fenrir's evolution."

"Right it is better to wait for both at ancient capital. I won't help any further than I have with Fenrir's evolution. You should buy your own resources. As for your Awakening a guy there owes me a favour there. You can't be sure what will happen although the old man Ying said it would probably be overdrawing an element from the future. There are very few records of this happening. 

Go on and try it out just don't be disappointed if you fail. For now just cultivate. We'll meet again at Dunhuang. And don't forget about your fire element. If you want to possess a Flame Belle that will be necessary."

Damn there's so many stuff to do, I even have to learn to be promoted. Besides teacher is a bit stingy. He has yet to spend any money in me. He probably blinked his way to Bo and even had a spare Soul Container. The guidance master probably owes him a favour and he is loosing nothing helping me in Dunhuang.

Even the filial Cao Guang could not help feel that his teacher was unreliable. As a man he had always enjoyed spending other people's money. Even military had poured more into his cultivation than his teacher. It made him uncomfortable, he needed to spend some Gao Xuan's money to feel better.

Where is my little bro?

That night Gao Xuan mourned for his empty wallet.

--

Cultivation was boring and tedious. Many people were unable to keep up to meet the requirements of their level. Each star had a different personality and a Mage was required to keep every star in check. 

Little Tora pendant had yet to evolve into a Star Nebula magic tool as such it could not affect the whole Star Nebula and help Cao Guang. Yet it could influence a Stardust too great extent. 

With Cao Guang deciding to divide and conquer. It wasn't long before he would control each star dust seperately and later all of them together. Life was like that. You would want Apples but you would get Oranges.

Cao Guang was able to promote his Fire Star Dust into a Star Nebula before he could control the intermediate spell of Summoning element. Atleast this orange was extremely sweet. 

The trio went on more patrol missions under Sergeant Zhang who had been promoted to a Second Lieutenant after the Darkwing Wolf's assault. He could command a team of 25 soldiers in a large city with that title. Ofcourse these numbers where only valid during war time preparations or special missions. 

During ordinary situations he would Commander up to 10 soldiers in a large city. Since Bo City did not have enough soldiers, they formed squads based on roles. If a set of roles were fullfilled a squad was formed.

Song Xia was the scout, Cao Guang was the defensive mage, Gao Xuan was support while Lieutenant was the offensive mage. Gao Xuan was supposed to be the defensive mage but since the primary spell of Earth element was not completely applicable in that sense. Poor Fenrir had to be a meat shield and a tank.

Magical wolves were famed for their healing factor. Atleast Fenrir could enhance itself right? 

---

"A warrior level wolf" , analysed Sergeant Zhang looking at the footprint. "Be alert and request back up".

They were unaware of the wolf's prowess and level and only Lieutenant Zhang was a full Intermediate mage. His Fire and Wind elements were at the second tier. 

"Lieutenant back is up ten minutes away" said Song Xia handling the military grade communication devices. Most communication devices would not work due to interference outside the safe zones. 

However military had long possessed better tech that was usable as long as they venture far into demon territories. Orange shaded regions where probably it's limit.

But there were still Red, Purple and Black regions above it. Red shade represented a large scale demon horde even the magical wolf herd of Nanshan mountains were not qualified at this level. 

Purple represented a demon kingdoms. Song Ting Lake, Tian Shan mountain kingdom and the Undead of Ancient capital were on this level. 

Black however represented points of no return for humans. Except for international shipping routes and a few exceptions the whole water body on earth far from land were a huge black region for humanity. Of course alerts of cities held different meaning. This was only a representation of the wilderness.

Of course Tian Shan mountain is just as dangerous as a black region at it's highest level. As for the undead only the Dark Abyss is a black shaded region. The shades of regions on a map also take they strength of local human forces. Classifications weren't as simple as that.

The magical wolf horde of Nanshan were a extermination level threat for Bo, but if it was Ancient capital then it would barely be a orange or red shades region depending on the strength of the wolf Ruler.

Their back up had quickly arrived led by a peak intermediate Mage. One of the only three in Bo City's military, Tong Xuan, elements Light and Earth.

Tong Xuan's squad was eight in number with a scout, two offensive mages, three defensive mages and two support mages. Tong Xuan quickly readjusted the team before proceeding. Their group even had a Shadow mage, who kept the keep the group out of the beast's radar using the shadows.

In the military, if not necessary soldiers would not engage a stronger creature without reinforcements. The Wind mage quickly spotted a Three-eyed magic wolf ahead. It was a Lesser Warrior. 

This would be a tough fight for the Squads. Their defensive capabilities were good enough but their offensive spells were lacking only Lieutenant Zhang could hurt the Wolf.

"Cao Guang, your wolf will distract the wolf. I'll place everyone except for lieutenant Zhang and myself under your command, old Zhang you will be our canon I'll guard you".

Mages often needed to be in squads to be in groups to deal with monsters and in Bo.. no all around the world mages would have to face beasts without the required number of mages in their squads. 

They had to get creative and use tactics and trickery to deal with Servant and Warrior classes. As for higher class beast their intelligence would be on par with humans. Against them formation attacks and layering spells were necessary.

Tong Xuan made hand signs for all toove out. Lieutenant Zhang cast a Wind Trail and boosted himself to the forefront, an Earth guard appeared before him as he used his Fire spell.

Fiery fist: Ground break 

The wolf obviously alerted and launched a strike at the Lieutenant. 

" Song Xia now, Light mages cast your spell now" commanded Cao Guang. To him commanding troops were a symphony. Every note had to be perfect and one would feel the magic of Music.