Versatile Mage: Get the Desert Emperor clone at the start

Chapter 221 Excuse me? I'm just here for tourism.

In her eyes, Lu Yilin's shallow background and pretentious arrogance were nothing more than a clumsy performance by a clown.

What truly piqued the interest of this "Jiang the Fox" was Qin Xiaonan, who had displayed astonishing strength in the previous fierce battle against the sea monsters.

While everyone else was exhausted and in a sorry state, Qin Xiaonan seemed to be handling things with great ease.

His control over magic was unparalleled; despite his advanced cultivation, he was able to kill a commander-level demon in the siren's home turf.

In any place, strong people always attract the attention of the opposite sex.

The events that occurred in Sakura Country did not have a significant impact on the National Government Trials.

That's something important people should worry about; what does it have to do with high-ranking mages like them?

A catastrophe of imperial scale? That's too far-fetched, not nearly as real as the training mission assigned by the mentor right now.

Most of the talents in the National Government team are high-level mages who have just broken through to the next level.

After a brief moment of shock, the group composed themselves and, following their mentor's guidance, embarked once again on the path of trials filled with unknowns and challenges.

On the subsequent trial path, Qin Xiaonan and Lan Xi appeared exceptionally relaxed.

Lanxi is a monarch-level mermaid in human form and has received a gift from Soraka, the Star Child. Her strength is unfathomable.

For her, participating in the National Government Trials was a novel and interesting journey through the human world.

Her ease and ease stem from the confidence of her absolute strength.

In contrast, Mu Nujiao was also quite content, and she and Qin Xiaonan would have fun wherever they went.

However, she would also find some time to immerse herself in meditation and spiritual practice alone.

This hard work soon paid off—with the help of the Star River Vein generously provided by Lan Xi, Mu Nujiao's body suddenly burst forth with a strong cyan radiance!
Under the impact of surging energy, her wind-element nebula finally underwent a qualitative transformation, successfully constructing a dazzling galaxy, and the wind element also broke through to a higher level.

"Congratulations, Sister Mu, you've broken through!" Lan Xi said.

"Thank you."

Qin Xiaonan then asked, "Your third element, Summoning, is also at the intermediate level. Have you thought about what kind of partner you want?"

Mu Nujiao tilted her head slightly, her black hair fluttering in the wind, "I haven't thought about the specifics yet."

After Mu Nujiao broke through to a higher level in the plant category, she shifted her third category towards awakening the summoning category on Qin Xiaonan's advice and succeeded.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaonan's thoughts shifted slightly.

With his current abilities and the resources he controls, especially the army under the Desert Emperor Azir, it would not be difficult for him to find a powerful summon beast for Mu Nujiao that could intimidate all sides.

However, Azir's Shurima Empire is located deep in the desert, and its demons are mostly ferocious beings adapted to the arid environment, such as sandstorm giant scorpions, rock armor giant lizards, and quicksand spirits, whose attributes are incompatible with the plant-based magic that Mu Nujiao mainly cultivates.

It's time to find a suitable contracted beast for Mu Nujiao, Qin Xiaonan thought to herself.

In contrast to Mu Nujiao's breakthrough, Mu Ningxue's cultivation became even more diligent after advancing to the advanced level of the ice element.

She seemed to transform all her repression and resentment into a chilling power, always taking the lead in every national training exercise and actively confronting the most dangerous demons.

Surrounded by chilling ice crystals, she frantically honed her skills, eager to tear away the shadow cast by the Mu family. She had already traversed a considerable distance in the National Academy Trials, encountering numerous challenges along the way, but Qin Xiaonan had only made a handful of moves, almost none.

Although Mu Nujiao did make a move, it was very little; most of the time she simply stayed quietly by Qin Xiaonan's side.

The veteran members of the team were tacitly aware of this, and even took it for granted.

They had witnessed Qin Xiaonan's unfathomable composure amidst the sirens' horde, and they had also seen the power and exquisite nature of Mu Nujiao's plant magic.

They knew that once these two really put their strength into it, neither of them could stand a chance.

Therefore, no one complained about their "lazy" behavior. On the contrary, they felt that the team had two hidden trump cards, which gave them an invisible sense of confidence.

However, this tacit balance was completely shattered by the newcomer, Lu Yilin.

Jiang Shaoxu ignored his attempts to be attentive and remained distant and indifferent, yet she often chatted and laughed with Qin Xiaonan, her eyes revealing undisguised interest.

This stark contrast felt like a poisonous thorn piercing Lu Yilin's fragile self-esteem.

Jealousy and resentment quickly festered and finally erupted during a break.

Lu Yilin suddenly stood in front of Qin Xiaonan, his chest heaving with excitement, his voice filled with barely suppressed questioning and deliberately raised volume:
"Qin Xiaonan!"

"As a member of the National Team, we've fought our way here, and you're acting like nothing happened! You haven't lifted a finger. What do you mean by this? Is it comfortable to hide in the back and watch the show?"

Qin Xiaonan was leisurely gazing at the distant scenery when she heard this. She glanced sideways, a hint of helplessness at being disturbed in her eyes, as if she were looking at a noisy insect.

He truly hadn't expected that this good-for-nothing, who was only brought in because of his connections, would be so reckless as to jump out like this.

Before Qin Xiaonan could speak, Jiang Shaoxu chuckled lazily, her red lips parting slightly, her words like icy knives:
"Lu Yilin, mind your own business. With your limited abilities, you should think about how not to hold the team back in the next training session." She didn't even bother to look at him properly, her contempt undisguised.

Jiang Shaoxu's sarcasm was like adding fuel to the fire, and Lu Yilin's face instantly turned bright red:

"Jiang Shaoxu! Am I wrong?! We challenged two national teams, and every time the brothers gave it their all! And what did he do? He didn't even show his face! He just spent all day taking Mu Nujiao around, sightseeing and enjoying himself!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, as if he had seized upon a huge incriminating evidence. "This is a trial for the National Government concerning national honor! It's not a paid vacation for you!"

Tourism? Qin Xiaonan was speechless. To be honest, he really did come with the mindset of tourism.

If it weren't for certain specific people or things, given his current perspective and strength, he wouldn't be interested in this level of so-called "experience" at all.

Just as Lu Yilin was spouting his spittle, Lan Xi, who had been quietly staying by Qin Xiaonan's side, finally swept her deep, ocean-like eyes over coldly.

Her voice was ethereal and melodious, yet it carried a chilling aura and an undeniable air of authority.

"Shut up." She looked at Lu Yilin and said, "With your pathetic skills, do you think you're qualified to tell my brother what to do? If you keep making noise, believe me, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish."

She slightly raised her delicate chin, her eyes looking down at ants, "Go away, don't get in my way."

Lan Xi's words carried an indifference and authority that transcended human comprehension, instantly making Lu Yilin feel as if he had been choked.

All the unanswered questions were stuck in his throat, his face turned from red to green, leaving only an awkward stiffness.

(End of this chapter)