Just as Mo Fan was about to pull out his Fire Element scroll, Song Jie suddenly moved.
"Glorious—Ultimate Explosion!"
A blinding golden light erupted from his hand, brighter and more intense than any Glorious Light Mo Fan had ever seen.
"Ah—!" Mo Fan shielded his eyes. The brilliance was so dazzling it was almost painful.
The golden sphere streaked forward like a miniature sun and slammed into the Blood Vein Demon Rat.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion followed. The entire underground chamber trembled violently as waves of light swallowed everything in sight.
When the golden flare faded, the massive War General–level monster lay in a pool of its own blood, its body torn to shreds.
Even its bones had been vaporized.
Mo Fan stared, stunned. His throat went dry as he swallowed hard.
Was this still the same Song Jie he knew?
He had just obliterated a Commander-level demon like it was nothing!
That attack… its destructive power was at least on par with High-level Magic!
The door to the Holy Spring chamber rumbled shut once more.
"Song Jie, that… that was your magic just now?" Mo Fan asked, still in disbelief.
Song Jie nodded calmly. "Yeah."
Without another word, he turned toward the central altar and began examining the surrounding mechanisms.
After a moment, he found a small button hidden behind the pedestal.
He pressed it, and the glowing liquid of the Holy Spring began gathering into a crystal container.
Mo Fan watched, amazed, as the sacred water condensed itself. He couldn't help wondering how Song Jie even knew about this mechanism—
but he decided not to ask.
"The door's sealed. How do we get out now?" Mo Fan asked.
"Instructor Zhan Kong told me there's a hidden passage here," Song Jie replied. "Come with me."
Mo Fan immediately understood why Song Jie seemed so well-informed—Zhan Kong must have told him in advance.
The two searched the chamber and soon discovered a concealed entrance beneath the stone floor.
"Let's move," Song Jie said, stepping into the dark tunnel.
Along the way, they passed several corpses—military magicians, long dead.
"So, the army did come," Song Jie muttered. "Zhan Kong and Tang Yue must've realized something was wrong and sent them to warn us… but the demons got here first."
After walking for a long while, faint light finally appeared ahead.
When they emerged, Mo Fan blinked in surprise. "Wait—this is the back mountain behind Tianlan Magic High School, right?"
Song Jie nodded, scanning the distance. The once-lively campus was eerily silent.
No students. No teachers. Only the faint sound of rain.
"They must've already been evacuated," Song Jie said softly.
Mo Fan's eyes widened. "Then… Bo City's been invaded by demons?"
Song Jie pointed toward the skyline. "Look for yourself."
Far away, thick smoke rose over the city. Faint roars echoed through the streets.
"I need to find my dad and Xinxia!" Mo Fan said anxiously, turning to run.
"Calm down," Song Jie said. "If the school's been evacuated, Xinxia should be safe. Your father was probably sent to a protected zone as well."
Mo Fan took a deep breath, forcing himself to steady his nerves. "Yeah… maybe you're right."
"First, we need to reach the Safe Barrier," Song Jie said. "The streets are crawling with demons. Even a Commander-level mage wouldn't survive being surrounded."
Mo Fan nodded. He couldn't help but admit—without Song Jie, he'd already be dead.
"What's the plan?" Mo Fan asked.
"The original routes are too dangerous. We'll cut through the southern district—it's the fastest path to the barrier," Song Jie decided.
"Got it." Mo Fan clenched his fists. "I'll follow your lead."
"Then let's move."
The two descended the mountain path and reached the ruined city streets below.
Burnt cars, collapsed buildings, and twisted metal filled the road.
Several Slave-level demons were wandering ahead.
"We wait until they pass," Song Jie whispered.
They crouched behind an overturned bus until the pack moved on. Then they slipped out, carefully making their way forward.
But before long, three hulking figures appeared down the street—each radiating terrifying power.
"Three Commander-level demons!?" Mo Fan gasped.
Song Jie's eyes narrowed. "Perfect."
Mo Fan looked at him in disbelief. "You're not seriously thinking of—"
"No need to sneak around," Song Jie interrupted with a faint smile. "I'll give them a surprise."
"...A surprise?" Mo Fan had a bad feeling, but he knew Song Jie wouldn't joke about something like this.
"After I deal with them, we'll run straight through. Don't hesitate," Song Jie ordered.
"Understood!" Mo Fan nodded firmly.
Song Jie stepped out from behind the cover.
There were at least a hundred demons ahead—Slave-levels, Warriors, and three Commanders among them.
"If I can wipe them all out at once," he murmured, "it'll ease the burden on the military in Bo City."
His power surged.
His current Light Magic had evolved far beyond its basic form—
Brilliant Light Arrow → Multi-Light Arrows → Light Laser → Multiple Light Lasers → Continuous Light Beam → Glorious Burst Laser!
His sixfold-enhanced Glorious Burst Laser carried destructive power on par with High-level Second-Tier Magic—
perfect for clearing a wide area like this.
"Mo Fan, get ready!" Song Jie shouted.
Mo Fan braced himself. He couldn't wait to see what kind of devastating spell Song Jie would unleash next.
Song Jie raised his arm slowly.
A massive orb of radiant golden energy began forming in his palm, swelling brighter and brighter—
until the entire street was illuminated by the light of a new dawn.