Chapter 29: Top-Tier Nebula Soul Nurturing Vessel

The next morning, Mo Fan was abruptly awakened by the sound of gongs being struck. Groggily, he opened his eyes and saw children running around, women doing housework, and elderly folks leisurely strolling about. The desolate scene from the previous night seemed as if it had never existed.

As Mo Fan stepped out of the hut, several curious, snot-nosed children gathered around, staring at him like he was some exotic foreigner.

"You're awake. Head to the village hall; the village chief wants to see you." said the elder who had kept watch all night. Despite staying up, he appeared unusually energetic. After breakfast, he escorted Mo Fan to the village hall.

The hall was small, with a courtyard in front. In the center was a large copper basin filled with cold, clear water, with numerous smooth stones lying at the bottom. Upon closer inspection, Mo Fan noticed red characters carved into the stones—names of people.

"In our village, when someone leaves, whether young or old, their name is inscribed on a stone and placed in this basin. It prevents them from joining the creatures outside." the elder casually explained.

Inside the hall, several elderly men sat on wooden chairs, appearing relaxed, showing no signs of fear despite living on the edge of the undead territory. They seemed to be the type of "rooted" people who thrived outside the safety of the magic-protected zones.

At the head of the hall sat a middle-aged man with prominent crow's feet. His smile, though kind, revealed a weathered face, hinting at many hardships despite his well-maintained skin.

"I'm the village chief. You can call me Fang Gu." he introduced himself.

Hearing the name, Mo Fan paused for a moment.

If it weren't for the betrayal by another village and the involvement of the Church, this place would have remained a safe haven, Mo Fan thought. Although he had taken some of the village's Holy spring water, it rightfully belonged to his companion, the Little Loach. Even if he had taken it all, it would have only returned to its original owner. However, he understood the villagers needed the water to stabilize their inner peace, so he refrained from taking too much. They would need the water to keep themselves safe in the future, especially if the Church's attention was not drawn to the area due to a lack of energy in the well.

"Thank you for your hospitality last night." Mo Fan said.

"You're young. What brings you to this dangerous place?" Fang Gu asked.

"I'm searching for an old acquaintance." Mo Fan replied vaguely.

"It's risky to walk through undead territory, especially without gray garlic for protection." Fang Gu warned.

"I came in a hurry. I'm lucky your village was nearby; otherwise, I might not have survived." Mo Fan admitted.

Fang Gu didn't press further. After all, many travelers passing through this area sought shelter in the village, as it was a rare place untouched by undead attacks, making it a wise choice to stop and rest.

Knowing Mo Fan needed to continue his journey, Fang Gu generously gifted him two pieces of gray garlic, a valuable commodity that was rare and expensive in major cities like the capital, but freely given here.

Mo Fan didn't feel guilty accepting the gift. After all, he hadn't taken all the well's energy for the Loach's growth, and he still needed more energy for it to fully evolve. He did offer the villagers some money, but in such a self-sustaining place, wealth didn't hold much value. They rarely needed anything from the outside, and when they did, the village chief would send representatives to buy it. Having seen city life, some villagers chose to leave, but others remained steadfast to their peaceful existence.

Revealing their situation to the outside world would undoubtedly destroy their tranquility.

Two weeks later, in the final village, Mo Fan obtained the last bit of energy from the well. With that, the little loach absorbed enough to complete another evolution.

That night, after the loach's ascension, Mo Fan speculated that it had reached the top level of a nebula-tier soul nurturing vessel, possibly even ascending to a star river-tier.

Thanks to this advancement, Mo Fan's fire element gained new strength, and his lightning element also broke through to level two. The sensation of his nebula constantly growing stronger was deeply satisfying.

On his way back to the capital, Mo Fan encountered no further troubles.

Upon returning to the capital, Mo Fan didn't stay long. Instead, he headed straight to Pearl Institute to register.

He planned to apply for the Summoning Department through a special admission process. Given the advantages of the summoning element, it was the best path for him, particularly for seizing resources.

For most people, the magic entrance exam was a life-defining event. For Mo Fan, it was just another step.

He bypassed the traditional exam route and chose the interview process at Pearl Institute. During the interview, he confidently showcased his summoning abilities. After being asked several in-depth questions about magic, the five examiners had him perform a stardust strength test.

"Impressive. Now, summon your creature so we can have a look." said Dean Xiao, a man with thick glasses.

Mo Fan complied, linking his star trail. In a flash, the wolf beast leaped out.

The examiners were visibly pleased with the wolf's evolved strength.

"I've heard that Director Lu's team found a very talented earth mage, someone who used Earth Wave in a unique way, trapping a trial beast in quicksand." commented a male examiner with a bowtie.

"Does that mean we can only admit one of them?" asked an elderly professor wearing glasses.

"Yes." the man replied.

Dean Xiao paused before saying, "In that case, let's interview them both. If they're suitable, we'll admit them both. I think this student shows great potential."

"Alright." the male examiner agreed, nodding.

After securing his admission to Pearl Institute, Mo Fan didn't stay there. He visited his sister, Xin Xia, before returning to Bo City.

His father, Mo Jiaxing, had resumed work in Bo City, and as for Xin Xia, she was fully self-sufficient. She ordered groceries for herself, so Mo Fan didn't need to worry about her.

After spending a day with Xin Xia, he texted his teacher, Tang Yue, only to receive her usual playful but stern responses, as if she were always one step away from scolding him.

In a way, her stubbornness was charming—much like her delicate, sweet lips.

(End of Chapter)