Early the next morning, Mu Nianbing took a flight back to Shanghai.
After landing at the Magic City Airport, he immediately hailed a taxi and headed straight for the nearest Zhao Auction House.
Time waited for no one — the sooner he obtained and used the Galaxy Magic Artifact, the faster his Ice Element cultivation could advance.
As he stepped into the grand hall of the auction house, Mu Nianbing immediately spotted a familiar figure.
Zhao Manyan, the second son of the Zhao family, was leaning casually against the reception counter, teasing the young receptionist with his usual grin.
Mu Nianbing sighed inwardly. This guy never changes.
Without warning, he jabbed Zhao Manyan in the waist with his elbow.
"Ah! What the—" Zhao Manyan winced, spinning around in pain. When he saw who it was, the half-formed curse froze in his throat.
"Brother Bing! You walk like a ghost — not a sound!" he groaned, clutching his waist. "You almost sent me to meet my ancestors!"
Mu Nianbing folded his arms. "I should be asking why the dignified second son of the Zhao family is flirting with receptionists in broad daylight. Is that really necessary?"
Zhao Manyan rubbed the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. "I was just… recovering from the trauma of training. You know, emotional healing and all."
"Emotional healing, huh?" Mu Nianbing gave him a flat look. "Sure."
Zhao Manyan quickly dropped the subject, pulling Mu Nianbing toward a private VIP room.
"Brother Bing," Zhao Manyan said after they sat down, "you've been in the Imperial Capital for a while. Any news about Mo Fan?"
Mu Nianbing's expression remained calm. "Not yet. But don't worry — with Little Loach around, he'll be fine. He'll come back."
Zhao Manyan exhaled in relief. "Good. That guy's stubborn enough to survive anything anyway."
He glanced at Mu Nianbing curiously. "So, what brings you here? Looking for something specific?"
Mu Nianbing nodded. "Do you have any Galaxy Magic Artifacts in stock? Preferably high-quality ones."
Zhao Manyan blinked. "Galaxy Magic Artifact? You're really aiming high."
These artifacts were immensely valuable — their worth rivaled that of synthetic Soul Seeds.
Only the most powerful mages could afford them, and even then, few dared invest so much in a single item.
Still, it made sense. A mage like Mu Nianbing, already blessed by the Ice God, could use such an artifact to soar even faster.
After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Manyan grimaced.
"This branch doesn't have one right now," he admitted. "They're top-tier items — too rare for regular circulation."
Mu Nianbing frowned slightly. "What about other Zhao Auction Houses? You can't tell me the Zhao Chamber of Commerce doesn't have a single one."
Zhao Manyan rubbed his chin. "There might be one or two… How about this? I'll find a way to get you one personally. Once I secure it, you can just transfer me the payment."
A faint smile tugged at Mu Nianbing's lips. "Alright. I'll leave it to you."
He knew Zhao Manyan well enough to trust him — the man might be lazy, but he wasn't dishonest.
Besides, the quality of a Galaxy Magic Artifact was something no one could fake.
When Mu Nianbing returned to his apartment later that day, he found Ye Xinxia curled up quietly on the sofa.
Her eyes were red, and her hands were clutching a prayer pendant.
Without needing to ask, he already understood. The authorities must have reported Mo Fan's "death."
The higher-ups had likely chosen to cover up the truth of the experiment — labeling Mo Fan as a failed subject to erase any trace of the demonic faction's involvement.
Mu Nianbing sighed softly and walked over. Before he could even speak, Xinxia suddenly turned and threw herself into his arms.
"Brother Nian… you're safe…"
Her voice trembled faintly, barely above a whisper.
Mu Nianbing smiled gently and stroked her hair. "Of course. You know I wouldn't fall so easily."
Xinxia's eyes welled up again. She looked up at him, her voice quivering. "But Brother Mo Fan… is he really gone?"
"Don't worry." Mu Nianbing's tone was firm, certain. "Mo Fan's alive. He'll come back soon."
Her eyes widened, hope flickering across her face. "Really?"
"When have I ever lied to you?" he said with a teasing smile.
Xinxia puffed her cheeks, her shyness returning. "Plenty of times… Every time you say it's the last time, it never is."
Mu Nianbing froze for a moment, caught off guard. Since when did she become so bold?
Before he could reply, Xinxia's face turned scarlet, and she buried her head in his chest like an embarrassed little ostrich.
Mu Nianbing chuckled quietly. He wrapped his arms around her gently, letting her warmth melt the cold air between them.
"Xinxia," he murmured, "you've grown stronger… braver too."
Her heartbeat quickened under his touch, but she didn't move away.
They stayed like that for a long while — the air filled with quiet comfort rather than words.
Later, when she finally drifted to sleep, Mu Nianbing carried her back to her room and covered her with a blanket before stepping out to the balcony.
Two days passed.
True to his word, Zhao Manyan contacted him again — this time with good news.
He had managed to secure a Galaxy Magic Artifact, one that Mu Nianbing personally tested upon receipt.
Its energy resonance was pure and powerful — cultivation speed increased by more than threefold.
With the Ice God's Blessing enhancing him further, a single day of his training could equal an ordinary mage's entire week.
And if he trained inside the Three-Step Tower, the effect would be even greater — even if the Tower's impact on high-level mages was limited, every bit counted.
To Mu Nianbing's surprise, Zhao Manyan only asked for 400 million, far below the item's market value.
"Consider it a favor repaid," Zhao Manyan had said with a grin.
Mu Nianbing knew it was because he had once saved Zhao Manyan's life. Still, he accepted the deal gratefully.
"Half a month…" he murmured to himself that night as icy mist swirled around him on the balcony. "At this pace, I can reach Advanced Level Two in half a month."
A faint smile curved his lips. With each breakthrough, his control over the Ice Element deepened, his aura becoming sharper and colder — like a blade forged in frost.
Still, the Ice God's Blessing only enhanced his Ice cultivation.
His Summoning and Space Elements progressed at normal speed, so he balanced his training carefully — sixty percent Ice, twenty percent Summoning, and twenty percent Space.
He closed his eyes, letting the chill seep into his veins as frost spread across the floor tiles.
Soon, faint rays of dawn light touched the horizon, and the Magic City's skyline shimmered beneath the early morning frost.
...
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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