Zhao Manyan burst into laughter as he excitedly recounted the events, leaving Ye Chenfeng with an expression of smug certainty.
"See? I told you! You can't beat Mo Fan, and you still wouldn't listen!" Ye Chenfeng exclaimed, shaking his head as though the outcome had been inevitable.
He couldn't help but admire Mo Fan's strength, marveling at the sheer volume of magical power the guy could wield. Even if all his systems were balanced, the power he packed was extraordinary. And he hadn't even utilized the shadow system yet! If Mo Fan and I were at the same level, Ye Chenfeng mused, I'd still lack the raw mana reserves he has.
It's no wonder Mu Ningxue hasn't reached that kind of capability.
"So, was it a draw?" Ye Chenfeng asked, though he already anticipated the answer.
"Draw? Are you kidding? We won the first round—thanks to my defense!" Zhao Manyan replied with a grin, puffing out his chest with pride.
Oh, right. I forgot this guy had also climbed the third step of the tower and had advanced his cultivation significantly, Ye Chenfeng thought, only half paying attention. But his mind lingered on Mu Ningxue.
Why doesn't she have a charcoal-grilled afro or an electric-shocked hedgehog hairstyle? Those are Mo Fan's signature finishing moves.
Could it be... some inexplicable force intervened? A manifestation of cosmic will? Or maybe even the goddess herself had activated a hidden self-defense mechanism?
Curiosity got the better of him, and Ye Chenfeng jogged over to Mu Ningxue. "Ningxue, you were pretty amazing out there. Mastering a domain and holding your ground against Mo Fan? Impressive!"
Mu Ningxue, still composed despite the battle, met his gaze and replied bluntly, "You're right. I lost."
Ye Chenfeng paused, taken aback. Then his spiritual insight kicked in, and he saw the culprit—a faint trace of magical interference on Lu Zhenghe, standing nearby with his hair spiked like a freshly electrocuted hedgehog.
"Unbelievable," Ye Chenfeng muttered under his breath. This guy ruined everything. The rare chance to witness Mu Ningxue's out-of-print forms—gone! No electric hedgehog Mu Ningxue, no charcoal explosion Mu Ningxue.
What a tragedy.
Ye Chenfeng's expression turned cold, his frustration barely concealed. If this guy hadn't interfered, Mu Ningxue would've been forced into one of those hilariously embarrassing transformations. What a wasted opportunity!
Trying to make the best of the situation, Ye Chenfeng placed a hand on Mu Ningxue's shoulder and said in mock seriousness, "Since you lost, you'll need to train harder. And while you're at it, maybe focus on catching up to me. You're running out of chances to pursue me, you know."
Mu Ningxue shot him a look of disbelief, her lips twitching in annoyance.
Just as Ye Chenfeng was about to double down on his teasing, Lu Zhenghe interrupted, his voice sharp. "Let go of Ningxue! Or you'll regret it!"
Ye Chenfeng turned lazily to face him, one eyebrow raised. "What's the problem, kid? Do you have feelings for her?"
Lu Zhenghe bristled but said nothing.
"Oh, you like my cousin?" Ye Chenfeng continued, smirking as he casually pulled Mu Ningxue into an exaggerated hug, mussing her hair playfully before letting her go.
"Cousin?!" Lu Zhenghe repeated in shock, his eyes darting between Ye Chenfeng and Mu Ningxue.
"Yeah, of course! She used to call me 'brother' all the time when we were kids. Now, though…" Ye Chenfeng trailed off, throwing a sly glance at Mu Ningxue, whose expression had darkened considerably.
The team exchanged whispers, each member growing more convinced of the fabricated familial bond. Lu Zhenghe, clearly out of his depth, looked at his teammates for confirmation.
"It's true."
"Absolutely!"
"No doubt about it."
The affirmations only fueled Lu Zhenghe's belief. With a determined nod, he declared, "Uncle!"
"He's NOT!" Mu Ningxue's exasperated outburst silenced the group instantly.
The team froze, stunned by the rare sight of their usually composed captain losing her temper.
Ye Chenfeng smirked triumphantly, basking in the chaos he had orchestrated. Victory, once again, was his.