The World Academy Tournament

On Pearl Academy's main campus road, Lin Tingyu cast one last resentful glance back over his shoulder.

Mo Fan had hit it exactly right. The one thing Lin Tingyu despised above all else was people touching his bow tie. The second was being called effeminate.

That man had just committed a capital offense on top of a capital offense. If he couldn't get even, how was he supposed to hold his head up at Pearl Academy?

"Brother Dongfang, why did you stop me? Maybe you and the others want to look good in front of Mu Nujiao, but I don't owe her that." Lin Tingyu's voice was sharp with indignation.

"I just didn't want you to come out the worse for it," Dongfang Ming said.

"How would I possibly come out worse?... Wait." Lin Tingyu paused. "Are you saying he's stronger than me?" The idea struck him as almost laughable.

Across Pearl Academy's entire Main Campus, the people who could go toe-to-toe with Lin Tingyu could be counted on one hand. He refused to believe that some loudmouthed punk pulled off the street could actually match him.

Dongfang Ming was a proud man himself. He had absolutely no intention of mentioning how, acting as a Trainee Tribunal Agent, he had once gone after Mo Fan and Tang Yue — only to be beaten outright by Mo Fan. He gave Lin Tingyu a vague non-answer and steered him away, thinking to himself: *So this guy is actually enrolled here at Pearl Academy. Why have I never seen him before?*

Lin Tingyu took it as Dongfang Ming trying to play the gentleman in front of Mu Nujiao. Whatever the reason, he had no intention of letting the one called Mo Fan off the hook.

Meanwhile, Mo Fan headed directly to Dean Xiao's office to report in. Along the way, he couldn't help muttering to himself. Back in the freshman district, he had been a figure people crossed the street to avoid — an absolute terror. But after spending the better part of a year away from school, it seemed everyone had simply forgotten he existed. That was not a good state of affairs. Now every two-bit nobody felt comfortable threatening to cut off his hands. And worst of all — the sheer nerve of someone saying he wasn't good-looking.

"Dean Xiao, I'm here to report in!" Mo Fan didn't even bother knocking. He shoved the office door open and walked straight in.

Inside, roughly four or five senior faculty members and several student council leaders were in the middle of a meeting. Every face turned toward him, wearing the same expression of sheer disbelief.

"Which department are you from? Walking into the dean's office without a shred of manners — do you want to get expelled?" one of the department heads barked.

The student council members were equally floored. Even they — prominent figures who commanded respect across the entire student body — made a point of being careful and utterly deferential whenever they entered the dean's office. And yet here was someone who had simply shoved the door open and strolled in like he owned the place. This person clearly had no interest in living peacefully at Pearl Academy.

Dean Xiao had been on the verge of letting his displeasure show — he still needed to maintain his authority in front of all these teachers and students — but the moment he recognized Mo Fan, every trace of irritation evaporated.

He waved a hand at the room. "Let's pause for now. You can all step out — I'll call everyone back shortly."

The teachers and students filed out in various states of confusion. None of them could recall the dean having a relative quite like this.

The room cleared quickly, leaving only Mo Fan and Dean Xiao.

Dean Xiao's expression settled into a warm, relieved smile. "Everything all right?"

"Couldn't be better. Just missed you, Dean Xiao, after all this time." Mo Fan grinned.

He meant it. Throughout his time at Pearl Academy, Dean Xiao had consistently looked out for him. As far as Mo Fan was concerned, the dean was genuinely someone worth respecting.

"I had Zhankong put out the word that you'd died — for your own safety. But surviving a demon's backlash... that's nothing short of a miracle. Some of the blame rests with us as well, for failing to protect you properly. Your innate Dual Elements truly are something extraordinary," Dean Xiao said.

"I was the one who was too reckless," Mo Fan replied. "Either way, it worked out. I'm back and ready to keep going."

Dean Xiao gave a small nod. As long as nothing had gone wrong — that was all that mattered.

"If there's nothing else, Dean Xiao, I'll head back to my classmates. Oh — one more thing. I'd like to switch departments."

"You're leaving the Summoning Element department?" Dean Xiao raised an eyebrow.

"The Summoning Element department can't even field a full soccer team, and there's not a single girl in the whole place. It's dull. Transfer me to the Fire Element department — it's the biggest in the academy. Plenty of people, should be lively." Mo Fan said with a noticeably scheming gleam in his eye.

Dean Xiao could only shake his head in resignation. This kid had somehow managed to stir up an absurd amount of trouble even within the tiny, understaffed Summoning Element department. The Fire Element department had no idea what was coming.

Still, it wasn't a particularly difficult request. If Mo Fan was set on training there, there was no real reason to refuse. The competitive atmosphere of such a large program probably wouldn't hurt his development either.

"All right, all right. For now, focus your training here at the academy. When the time comes, I'll put your name forward for the National Academy Team. I hope you'll make a strong showing in the World Academy Tournament."

"World Academy Tournament?" Mo Fan said. "What's that?"

Dean Xiao's brow arched. Half exasperated, half amused, he asked, "Are you even a student here? How do you not know what the World Academy Tournament is? And on top of that — the Hangzhou Lingyin Tribunal has been pushing hard to nominate you as a confirmed selection for the National Academy Team. You truly have no idea?"

Something clicked. Mo Fan suddenly understood what Teacher Tang Yue had been trying to tell him before they parted ways. "I never agreed to join any tournament," he said flatly. "It's a thankless arrangement — win, and the school gets all the credit for its brilliant teaching; lose, and it's your own incompetence."

Dean Xiao pressed two fingers to his temple. "Do you have any idea how much the major academies, the Great Lineages, the Hunters' Alliance, and the Magic Association have all poured into this — the resources, the manpower — just to fight over a single spot? And you're calling it thankless." He shook his head. "Regardless, the school will formally review the nomination. If it passes, there is no running away."

"Isn't that a bit heavy-handed? Pearl Academy is full of talented people, more capable students than you can count — why does it have to fall on me?" Mo Fan said.

"There's still time before the National Academy Team selection. The World Academy Tournament is also known as the Battle of Venice — you'll learn the details as we go. As for your department transfer, I'll have the academic affairs office process the paperwork—" Dean Xiao paused. "Actually, I'll handle it myself. Just head over to the Fire Hall and report in directly."

"Oh — right. Thanks, Dean Xiao."

"Try not to cause too much trouble. Things work differently between departments, and I won't always be in a position to help you." The words came out before Dean Xiao could stop himself.