Chapter 82: The True Purpose

Ling Mo and Antoun continued their exchange. After everything that had happened, the mood in the live-streaming chatroom suddenly became much calmer. It now seemed that all of this had been planned and arranged long ago, and they were merely following the script step by step—so what was there to panic about? Had they really been ‘using’ the power of an eighth-tier magical beast all along? Thinking about it that way, wow, it was actually kind of exhilarating!

Moreover, as time passed, everyone started to realize something: despite such shocking news, such a massive revelation, and an event with so much impact, Katherine’s stream hadn’t been shut down! The public seemed shocked, but the authorities were utterly unruffled—no forceful measures, not even a word of the intense conversation between Ling Mo and Antoun was censored. This clearly sent a message: the human leadership was in the know! In their eyes, this matter didn’t even require the same level of secrecy as that previous “Original Sin Crystal Spider” incident.

“That last conversation was so intense, I need a moment to process...”

“My worldview has shattered...”

“Who am I? Where am I? What did I just witness?”

“Suddenly, I really admire Lord Di Shitian. What on earth did he do back then?”

“I’m only now realizing I know nothing about society...”

“I was just worried humanity might go extinct, but now I think our society is tough as nails!”

“Even eighth-tier magical beasts take orders—Lord Di Shitian is incredible!”

“But is it really giving orders? Isn’t it more like a partnership, or maybe a win-win relationship?”

“Being able to cooperate with an eighth-tier magical beast is amazing in itself! Suddenly, the future of humanity looks bright!”

“Thinking about that serpent in the sky still makes me uneasy though...”

“Didn’t Lord Antoun say she doesn’t have a bank card? The service is seriously lacking! Is there any hero in the banking industry willing to go set up an account for her in the magical beast rainforest?”

“Viewer ‘Joy Through Heartfelt Creation’ sends a Small Fireball to the host! Message: Every time I watch Teacher Ling’s stream, I’m full of surprises...”

“Isn’t this Katherine’s channel? When did it become Teacher Ling’s?”

“If it weren’t for Teacher Ling, would there be so many people here? Seriously, get a clue!”

“Viewer ‘Photography Bankrupts Generations’ sends a Chaos Meteorite to the host! Message: Finally found the source of that famous Antoun photograph! The industry always thought it was photoshopped, but nobody could figure out how—it was debated for ages. Now the truth is out: that scenery in the avatar is the real deal...”

“Supreme VIP ‘Wind Mages Are a Trash Class’ sends five Chaos Meteorites to the host! Message: Antoun’s user ID is just ‘Antoun’? Are there other magical beasts with accounts on the Magic Web? I vaguely remember seeing a golden ID called ‘Deathwing’ before—could it really be the great Deathwing?”

“Didn’t you hear earlier that Antoun is female? Don’t call her Lord Antoun, call her Lady Antoun!”

“Supreme VIP ‘Wind Mage Really Is a Trash Class’ sends five Chaos Meteorites to the host! Message: I’d better watch my mouth online from now on. Just checked that thread on the Mage’s House forum—the content is wild!”

“Supreme VIP ‘Love Watching People in Trouble’ sends five Chaos Meteorites to the host! Message: That guy called ‘My Dad Is an Archmage’ was calling out Lady Antoun for a duel in three consecutive posts. What a madman!”

“Viewer ‘All-Powerful God’ sends a Meteoric Fire Rain to the host! Message: That’s tragic! The thread’s been pinned by an admin, and on post sixteen the guy’s even talking about doing unspeakable things to Antoun’s grandmother! He’d better start getting his affairs in order now!”

“Official ID ‘My Dad Is an Archmage’ sends a Chaos Meteorite to the host! Message: I’m freaking out... If I survive this, I swear I’ll be an upstanding, model citizen in future!”

“Whoa, the guy himself is here!”

“Raise him up~~!”

“Is your dad really an archmage?!”

“Bro, are you panicking yet?”

“Interview question: How do you feel right now? Mixed emotions or pure terror?”

“This is the first time in my life I’ve seen someone challenge an eighth-tier magical beast to a duel! In over three thousand years of human history, no one’s dared that before. Bro, you’re a legend!”

“You’re doomed, man. Rest in peace.”

“Serves you right for all your trash talk. No sympathy here!”

“Flowers for the fallen hero~~!”

“Take my advice, brother: stay a thousand kilometers away from the magical beast rainforest. No one can save you otherwise!”

“Suddenly remembered, isn’t Katherine still soaking in that lake? Why hasn’t she come out yet?”

“Will she come out much stronger? Will she be able to punch Di Shitian and kick Teacher Ling?”

“Dream on. According to Teacher Ling’s martial arts rankings, even breaking through to advanced martial master would be a stretch!”

“The previous comment makes sense! Maybe her constitution will improve, but it probably won’t do much for her organ control abilities, right?”

“...”

At this moment, Ling Mo and Antoun were no longer discussing the Magic Web; the conversation had returned to the main issue. Ling Mo pointed at the volcano on Antoun’s back and said, “Old friend, you’ve been stalling for quite a while now. You’ve had enough time, haven’t you? Everything’s done, right? Don’t you owe me an explanation?”

Antoun fell silent. The light screen before her vanished on its own, replaced by a small spatial gate. Katherine, drenched from head to toe, floated out of the portal, eyes closed, sitting cross-legged, still deep in meditation.

The massive eye on Antoun’s head slowly lit up, fixing on Ling Mo. She said in a measured tone, “It’s done. I’m returning your apprentice to you. What I did to her is exactly what you expected: I’ve completely transformed her constitution.”

“That took this long?” Ling Mo didn’t back down an inch; he stepped forward to meet Antoun’s gaze. “She’s only just become an intermediate martial artist—how could she possibly need that much of your energy? Did you really have to reveal your Origin Flame?”

“Of course I did.” With that, Antoun glanced at the magic-eye sprite nearby, then fell silent. Her consciousness linked directly to Ling Mo’s, her voice ringing in his mind: “I passed my Origin Flame on to her. From now on, she is a pure Fire Spirit.”

“What?!” Ling Mo’s expression changed dramatically. In a flash, he lunged to Katherine’s side, placing his hand on her body, anxiously checking her condition. At the same time, a wisp of mist formed at his fingertip, which he pressed to the center of her brow.

The moment the mist touched her skin, a tiny flame flickered out of Katherine’s body, burning the mist away in an instant! But the fire didn’t stop there—after consuming the mist, it leapt onto Ling Mo’s finger, alive and dancing in his palm!

It really was... the Origin Flame! Ling Mo clenched his fist, extinguishing the flame at once. Furious, he roared telepathically at Antoun, “Why did you do this?! Can’t you see her natural affinity is for wind? You’ve ruined everything!”

“Ruined? How is it ruined? That’s not how I see it!” Antoun’s mental voice suddenly surged, thundering like a storm: “It’s been over eight thousand years—I’ve finally found a compatible being. If I miss this chance, where will I find the next ‘Antoun’?”