Chapter 182: Intentional? Absolutely intentional!

Meanwhile.

Lin Mo, outwardly expressionless, was already angry inside.

He had just confidently claimed he had no problem, only to fail the very next second.

Where could he possibly save face now?

"What the hell is going on?!"

Lin Mo's tone turned fierce.

"Xiao Bing! Didn't you say it was all under your control?"

"Didn't you say all you needed was your hands?"

"Didn't you promise a spectacular explosion?"

"You blew one and seven went dead? You've ruined my reputation completely!"

Facing Lin Mo's torrent of curses.

In the skill bar.

【The body of 【Ice Spike Spell】 trembled slightly, hands clasped over her burning cheeks, breathing heavily: "Ah… Master… your scolding is so fierce, so merciless…"】

"…"

Lin Mo felt a thousand llamas stampeding through his mind.

This fucking thing.

He scolded it—and it got turned on.

The other skills, seeing this, also couldn't hold back anymore.

【【Earth Shield Spell】 whispered softly: "Master, forgive me for saying this, but I think she's doing this on purpose!"】

【【Fireball Spell】 let out a cold snort: "Hmph. I have always acted with integrity, striving to win, even willing to sacrifice my life for victory."】

【【Fireball Spell】 glanced at 【Ice Spike Spell】: "Some people, however, deliberately fail out of selfish motives—how filthy! I am ashamed to be grouped with you!"】

"…"

After being reminded by Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu.

Lin Mo froze.

Come to think of it, that might actually be true.

Almost fell for the trick!

"Xiao Bing, take this seriously!"

Lin Mo issued his final warning in his mind:

"If you dare fail on purpose again, I'll just ignore you forever. You believe me?"

As soon as he said this.

【Ice Spike Spell】 shuddered.

For a skill desperate for her master's attention… no, for her master's scolding, this was worse than death!

【Your skill 【Ice Spike Spell】 senses an unprecedented crisis! She cannot accept the fate of being permanently ignored by her master!】

【【Ice Spike Spell】 panicked: Waaah… Master, don't ignore me! I'm sorry! I'll be serious this time, I promise!】

"You better be!"

Lin Mo growled.

【A faint blush swept across 【Ice Spike Spell】's ice-blue form.】

【She whispered softly: Master's fierce expression… so charming…】

Lin Mo closed his eyes in despair.

…

"Ding dong—ding dong—"

At that moment.

The doorbell shattered the awkward silence in the backyard.

Han Xue frowned slightly.

Who would come to disturb her at this hour?

She turned to Li Xuer.

"Xuer, go see who it is."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Li Xuer replied and ran out.

Moments later.

Guhe, Xu Wenchang, and Zhang Daoyuan arrived at the villa's backyard, led by Li Xuer.

"Teacher! It's the principal and the others!"

Han Xue turned to look.

Fang Lei and the others immediately straightened their postures and bowed respectfully:

"Principal, good day!"

"Mr. Xu, good day! Director Zhang, good day!"

Lin Mo also turned around and nodded politely.

Han Xue stepped forward, her tone respectful yet still cool:

"Principal, Mr. Xu, Director Zhang."

"What brings the three of you to my humble courtyard?"

Guhe chuckled, stroking his chin. "Hahaha, we heard Lin Mo came here to study ice magic."

"Old Xu here couldn't sit still in his office—he dragged me along just to watch the spectacle."

"We wanted to see how our nation's first prodigy in history fares with ice magic."

Xu Wenchang picked up the thread, eagerly asking:

"How's it going, Teacher Han? How's Lin Mo doing?"

Hearing the question.

Han Xue glanced at Lin Mo and reported honestly:

"Beyond my expectations."

"His affinity for water elements is incredible—he mastered 【Condense Water into Ice】 without any instruction."

"He learned 【Ice Burst】 at the beginner level with just one glance—cast it instantly without a staff."

"Now, he's preparing to learn 【Extreme Cold Chain Burst】."

As her words ended.

The backyard fell silent for three seconds.

Then.

"Hahahaha!"

Xu Wenchang burst into laughter.

He slapped Zhang Daoyuan on the shoulder. "See, Old Zhang? I told you! I told you Lin Mo would master 【Condense Water into Ice】 on his own!"

"You didn't believe me?"

"You insisted on arguing—said ice magic couldn't match fire magic, that it'd take at least three days?"

Xu Wenchang smirked, eyebrows raised triumphantly:

"Now who's eating crow? Three days? He'd think three seconds too long!"

Zhang Daoyuan cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Old Xu, can you just shut up for once?"

Han Xue shook her head helplessly, her cool voice cutting in:

"Since you're here, stay quiet and watch."

"Lin Mo is in a critical phase of insight. 【Extreme Cold Chain Burst】 is no ordinary technique—it demands absolute focus. Don't disturb us."

Upon hearing this, Guhe immediately nodded solemnly.

"Of course, of course."

He turned and glared at Xu Wenchang:

"Old Xu, did you hear that? Shut your mouth and watch quietly!"

Xu Wenchang immediately clapped his hand over his mouth and stepped aside obediently.

Han Xue walked back toward Lin Mo.

Looking at his calm face, her tone softened:

"Lin Mo, don't feel pressured."

"【Extreme Cold Chain Burst】 is inherently difficult for someone just starting with ice magic."

"You managed to freeze all targets instantly on your first try—and even detonated one."

"You're already very close to success. That's already extremely impressive."

Han Xue lavished praise on him, trying to ease any sense of frustration he might feel.

Facing Han Xue's reassurance.

In the skill bar, 【Ice Spike Spell】 heard this and immediately became displeased.

【"Ice Spike Spell"】 crossed her arms and sneered, "This old woman is so noisy—yapping nonstop."

"I was just playing around earlier—did you really think I couldn't do it?"

【"Ice Spike Spell"】 sniffed haughtily, "If I went all out, even I'd be scared of myself!"

Listening to Xiao Bing's words.

Lin Mo's lips twitched slightly.

He replied coldly in his mind:

"Enough. I hope you're not all mouth and no action."

Lin Mo's tone grew sharper:

"If you mess up again, you know the consequences."

Facing Lin Mo's reprimand.

【"Ice Spike Spell"】 instantly perked up: "Leave it to me!"

With Xiao Bing's assurance, Lin Mo finally felt a little reassured.

At this moment,

Han Xue, seeing Lin Mo's calm expression, assumed he had regained his composure.

She shifted tone, her previously gentle gaze turning sharp once more.

"However."

"For true geniuses, only through actual combat and real pressure can they better comprehend success."

Saying this,

Han Xue turned her head toward Li Zhiyan, Fang Lei, and the other six standing nearby.

"You six will now train with Lin Mo in live combat—apply enough pressure to him."

"Huh?!"

Li Zhiyan, Fang Lei, and the other six froze.

They exchanged glances.

Train with Lin Mo?

Remember, the man standing before them was Lin Mo the Demon King!

The terrifying force who single-handedly crushed the entire second-year class!

The prodigy countless masters predicted would one day reach the pinnacle of Longguo and become the Supreme Grand Mage!

Train with a legend like him?

It was an immense honor!

After a brief moment of shock,

Fang Lei was the first to recover.

"Yes, Master Han!"

He shouted loudly, stepping forward with eager fists clenched.

"Brother Lin Mo."

"The Cold Chain Explosion technique is indeed difficult—I myself spent a full month studying it before I mastered it."

Fang Lei grinned:

"Let your senior brother demonstrate it for you."

No sooner had he spoken,

Li Zhiyan also leapt forward, unwilling to be outdone.

She winked playfully at Lin Mo and grinned:

"Brother Lin Mo, I mastered it days faster than this guy—wait till I show you, you'll understand at a glance!"

In an instant,

all six senior students eagerly stepped forward.

In their eyes,

this might be the only chance in their lives to show off their skills before the Demon King!

If they didn't show off today, they'd never get another chance.