After more than ten days of focused cultivation, Mu Nianbing finally advanced his Ice Element to the Advanced Level Two.
"With the blessing of the Galaxy Magic Artifact, my cultivation efficiency has improved tremendously," he murmured, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
At this pace, he estimated that within a year, he could reach the third level of the Advanced realm.
After the Ice Element's breakthrough, the magic energy flowing within his Galaxy more than doubled.
Even without relying on the Ice Ring, Mu Nianbing could now effortlessly summon an Ice Dragon.
More importantly, his control had also improved. The greater the precision, the stronger and more refined his Ice magic would become.
As soon as he stepped out onto the balcony, his phone buzzed with a message from Lingling:
"There's a mission. Come quickly."
Mu Nianbing's lips twitched slightly. "Can't she at least send me the mission details first?"
Sighing, he said goodbye to Ye Xinxia, then left the apartment. He hailed a taxi and headed toward the Qingtian Hunting Ground.
Truthfully, Mu Nianbing would have preferred flying there on his Cangming Jiao — it was several times faster than any car.
However, since he didn't have a Summoning Beast Certificate, he couldn't legally ride or fly it through the city skies.
When Mu Nianbing stepped through the gates of the Hunting Ground, Lingling came running toward him, her face filled with excitement.
Seeing her expression, he could already guess — it must be a high-level mission.
"Alright, tell me. What's the mission?" he asked directly. He was short on money, and any well-paying job was welcome.
The Galaxy Magic Artifact alone had cost him four hundred million.
After paying Mu Ningxue her share of one hundred and twenty million, only about five hundred million remained.
It sounded like a lot, but if he ever wanted to buy a monarch-level bloodline beast, that amount wouldn't even scratch the surface.
Thankfully, he didn't need to purchase Soul Seeds, or he'd already be broke.
"This one's from Huo Tuo, the forging master at the Pearl Tower," Lingling explained, placing a mission form in front of him.
The signature in the lower right corner indeed read Huo Tuo.
Mu Nianbing didn't care much about who issued it — what mattered was the reward.
After scanning the form, his brows furrowed slightly.
"Two Blood Fangs for eighty million? Isn't that a bit stingy for a master blacksmith? I thought they were all loaded."
Although eighty million was the highest bounty he'd taken so far, it still seemed low considering the client's status.
If I don't squeeze him for more, how could I be worthy of Master Huo Tuo's reputation?
"Eighty million is still a decent amount," Lingling said with a sigh. "But finding vampires like these won't be easy. They're cunning and rarely appear in public."
Indeed, compared to ordinary monsters, vampires were much harder to track down.
Mu Nianbing rubbed his chin thoughtfully — and then a name came to mind.
"Lingling, help me locate someone."
"Who?" she asked curiously.
"Liu Ru... and her sister, Liu Xian."
Lingling gave him a puzzled look but still pulled out her laptop.
After a few minutes of searching, two photos appeared on the screen — two young women who looked strikingly similar.
Mu Nianbing's lips curved into a faint smile.
If he could find them, finding the vampire wouldn't be difficult.
"What do you need them for?" Lingling asked, still confused.
"Vampires are drawn to young, beautiful women. I plan to use them as bait to lure it out," Mu Nianbing said casually, half-truthfully.
In reality, he already knew that Liu Xian and Liu Ru had been targeted by the vampire named Nie Dong. Liu Xian, in particular, was likely his next victim.
Shanghai might look glamorous on the surface, but beneath its lights lay shadows filled with filth and secrets.
Yet even those dark forces had their own rules, maintaining a fragile balance between black and white.
"Isn't that too risky? What if something goes wrong?" Lingling asked, frowning. She didn't like the idea of endangering civilians.
"Don't worry," Mu Nianbing replied with confidence. "I'm absolutely sure of this."
With his current strength, a mere General-level vampire like Nie Dong could be frozen into an ice sculpture with a single move.
Seeing his calm assurance, Lingling sighed and dropped the matter.
Using the address Lingling found, Mu Nianbing headed straight to Liu Xian's residence.
If she was still alive, then keeping a close watch on her would ensure the vampire would eventually appear — and when he did, Mu Nianbing would be waiting.
Soon, he arrived in front of a slightly old two-story building.
The first floor had snack shops and small boutiques, while the upper floor was decorated with flowerpots and vines.
This should be Liu Xian's home.
He knocked on the door, and a few moments later, a pretty young girl appeared. Dressed in a simple school uniform, she radiated youthful charm.
This must be Liu Ru.
"Hello, may I ask who you are?" she said politely, looking at him with wide, curious eyes.
"My name is Mu Nianbing. I'm a Hunter Mage from the Qingtian Hunting Ground. Is your sister Liu Xian at home?" he asked.
"A... Hunter Mage?"
Her eyes widened in surprise, followed quickly by worry. "Is my sister in danger?"
It wasn't unreasonable for her to associate a mage hunter's visit with potential trouble.
"Not yet," Mu Nianbing reassured, "but there's a potential threat."
"Potential threat?" she repeated softly, her hands clasping together nervously. Then, with sudden determination, she grabbed his arm.
"Master Hunter, please save my sister! I'll do anything you ask — just help her!"
Mu Nianbing blinked, a little taken aback. Her face was full of sincerity — and panic.
"Anything?" he echoed teasingly.
Liu Ru nodded earnestly. "Anything."
He chuckled and waved a hand. "Relax, I was joking. As a Hunter Mage, it's my duty to help. I'll take care of this."
"By the way," he added, "what time does your sister usually get off work?"
"Around eight or nine in the evening," Liu Ru replied without hesitation.
Mu Nianbing frowned slightly. A woman returning home that late, especially in a secluded area like this — no wonder she'd been targeted by a vampire.
"Is there a problem?" Liu Ru asked nervously, noticing his expression.
"Do you know the route your sister usually takes home?" Mu Nianbing asked.
Liu Ru thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I can show you."
Mu Nianbing smiled faintly, "Good. Then let's make sure your sister gets home safely tonight."
...
Author's Note:
Versatile Mage: Heir of the Frozen Throne — Part 1 is now fully completed and available on my Patreon!
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1.Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
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4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
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