Hearing this, Tang Yue felt relieved. She had to admit that the youth before her was very charming and reliable. His ability to instantly kill a General-level demon was devastating, and the nearby mages' morale soared.
She sincerely invited him, saying, "Come join the Adjudication Court. You're destined to become a Great Mage."
A graceful figure drifted over from afar. His sister, Lu Mei, also arrived on the Wind Track. Hearing this, she glanced over and snorted softly before turning to her brother with a bright smile. "You little brat, you've learned how to show off now. You're not hurt, are you?"
"No." Lu Jun waved his hand, then said to Tang Yue, "We'll talk about it later. The demons are attacking right now."
"Fine!" The three of them temporarily formed a team. Gathering a group of Elementary Mages, they began pursuing the retreating demons and sweeping through this flank of the battlefield.
As for the General-level wolf corpse, no one paid it any attention. They would deal with it after the battle. Military Mages were specifically responsible for counting the spoils, so no one would pocket it.
Lu Jun did not obtain a General-level Spirit, either. He only got a Remnant Soul.
He looked across the battlefield littered with corpses, feeling rather regretful. He had arrived too late. Otherwise, if he had participated in the battle from the beginning, he probably could have gathered enough to synthesize one or two Servant-level Spirit Essences.
After demons died, both their Essences and Remnant Souls would quickly dissipate if they were not collected immediately.
Moreover, the absorption range of Lu Jun's White Tiger Pendant was limited. In the end, he still had to kill demons himself. He could forget about taking shortcuts.
Rumble!
Before long, Tide surged around Lu Jun. One Storm Wave after another burst forth, ravaging the mountains. Vast floods of blue water mixed with mud and rocks swept countless fleeing One-Eyed Magic Wolves into their depths, strangling them as they drowned.
At the same time, Lu Mei and Tang Yue did not remain idle. The former cast Wind Disk · Tear, and tornadoes more than twenty meters tall swept across the battlefield. Dense wind blades flayed more than twenty wolves into mincemeat.
The latter was even fiercer. She had a fiery figure, a hot-blooded temperament, and an equally violent fighting style. With one punch, she unleashed the Fire Element Intermediate Level 3 spell Sparrow Flame · Fierce Fist · Nine Palaces. Empowered by a Spirit Seed, its might far surpassed that of the siblings' attacks.
The ground trembled as huge cracks appeared. Rings of flame spread outward, while pillars of fire shot into the sky, covering an area a hundred meters wide. Its power was no less than that of the Water Element Storm Wave.
Every Magic Wolf caught within the cinnabar-colored tide of flames was burned to ash.
With the addition of three Intermediate Mages, two of whom were peak experts, the demons not only failed to break into Bo City but also began breaking the stalemate and launching a counterattack.
Looking down from above, the blue-black tide shrank. Led by Lu Jun and the other two, the flank of the battlefield gradually began to shift. Large numbers of Magic Wolves died, and the spearhead plunged straight toward the wolves' core.
At the outpost on the front line, Deng Kai of the Demon Hunting Alliance was temporarily in command. He raised his telescope, and upon seeing this scene, exclaimed in surprise, "Whose subordinates are these? They're so fierce!"
His subordinate replied, "Examiner Tang Yue, Hunter Lu, and her younger brother."
Deng Kai said grimly, "I don't care who they are. All troops, listen up! Press forward! Follow the wound they've torn open and kill them all!"
Meanwhile, as Lu Jun slaughtered without restraint, the Remnant Souls absorbed by the White Tiger Pendant—combined with those killed by his sister and Tang Yue nearby—quickly exceeded a hundred. Faint blue lights gathered together, condensing into a brand-new Servant-level Essence Soul.
He spared part of his attention to check on it. His heart surged with excitement, and he hurriedly guided the Essence into his Spiritual World, into that vast platinum-colored Nebula.
Forty-nine stars glittered brilliantly. Six of them occupied the center alone, each clearly larger than the others and far more lively.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
When the Essence merged into one of the ordinary stars, another star immediately swelled and squeezed into the center. Seven stars revolved around one another, radiating an extraordinary force. Not only did they expand the boundary of the Nebula by another circle,
they also nourished the sword seal suppressing the Nebula. The seven stars arranged themselves upon it, strengthening his Natal Magic Tool.
The next moment, information surged into Lu Jun's mind: Metal Element Elementary Level 4 advancement! Its name was Vibration!
It was an ascension based on Level 3 Golden Radiance.
Originally, Golden Radiance had gradually become somewhat ineffective against the sturdy flesh and defensive demonic spells of General-level demons. At most, it could penetrate to the bone marrow. Yet if he failed to kill them instantly in melee, even ordinary Water Shield could not withstand a single blow from a General-level demon. Death would be certain.
Thus, Vibration appeared. Based on the principle of metal resonance, it created a powerful special vibrating effect. Every slash carried a knockback effect, and even General-level demons would be sent flying violently.
Combined with the knockback of his Spirit Seed's triple Water Shield · Cycle, Lu Jun's attacks became utterly foolproof.
Besides that, under the impact of this energy, he vaguely sensed that Metal Element Intermediate Level 2 was within reach.
Chapter 47: General-level Magic Wolf
Lu Jun calculated that it had been a year and four months since he broke through to Metal Element Intermediate Level. Although he had focused most of his energy afterward on the Water Element, Mind Element, and Curse Element, he had not neglected his own training.
After this battle, he might be able to break through.
Roar, roar, roar! Lu Jun's mind suddenly returned to the present. His sixth sense stirred, and he sensed a violent, powerful aura ahead. He immediately raised his head. Sure enough, a wolf demon with a physique even stronger than the one before it was charging over.
Clearly, the Magic Wolf pack had noticed the reversal on this side and wanted to send a Great General to kill them.
This Three-Eyed Magic Wolf stood more than ten meters tall even on its hind legs. Its aura was terrifying. As it moved rapidly, it kicked up sonic booms, and the rain falling from the sky was blown backward.
Even so, Lu Jun was not afraid. If he were alone, he could fly on his sword, use Water Element Storm Waves to wear it down, and then follow up with Metal Element Magic. There would still be a chance of killing it, let alone with three people.
But in the next moment, he could no longer remain relaxed. Three more ordinary General-level wolves, each slightly smaller, emerged from the central pack.
With the Great General at the tip, they charged in a triangular formation. From afar, their advance looked like an overwhelming force capable of toppling mountains and overturning seas.
Gasp! Lu Jun heard the two people beside him inhale sharply.
"I'll try to block them with Rock Barrier first."
Lu Mei spoke as she swiftly controlled her stars. Elementary Ground Wave was released. A distant stretch of land ahead softened and collapsed, transforming into a swamp.
However, when the leading Great General Magic Wolf charged through it, its speed decreased only slightly. Only the three General-level wolves behind it were noticeably slowed.
Seeing this, Lu Mei frowned slightly, but her hands did not stop moving. She had never expected an Elementary spell to be useful; she merely wanted to restrain them for a moment. Soon, an Apricot Yellow Star Chart unfolded beneath her feet. Dense earth elements surged around her as she slammed both hands onto the ground.
Rumble!
In an instant, rows of Mountain Screens fifteen meters high rose up, repeating her earlier tactic to trap all four General-level demons together.
The four General-level Magic Wolves were caught in a narrow corner. They slammed into the walls furiously. With a boom, they broke through one yellow stone wall, but two more rows remained behind it, enough to complete the enclosure.
The Great General Magic Wolf was about to be trapped. It threw back its head and howled, while green light blossomed beneath all four feet. Its speed suddenly increased by a large margin. Its enormous wolf body stepped into the air and flew away, intending to leap over the fifteen-meter-high stone walls.
That size and jumping power were terrifying.
"Shadow Intermediate, Level 3 Giant Shadow Nail · Pear Thorn."
At the critical moment, Tang Yue struck. She had been preparing her magic as well, and it had now taken shape. She coldly flung out several clusters of shadowy light. They writhed in midair and transformed into several enormous spikes, following the shadows of the night sky as they silently arrived beside the four Magic Wolves.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
The Great General, which had been about to leap out, suddenly stiffened. It helplessly fell downward. Immediately afterward, the four walls closed together, squeezing the four Magic Wolves into one mass and pinning them firmly in place.
However, the earthen fortress continued to shake violently, and crushed stones fell in a steady stream. Given the strength of General-level demons, they would probably break through the obstacle soon.
But with Lu Mei and Tang Yue controlling them through two Intermediate spells, there was ample time to cast magic.
Two clear shouts rang out: "Wind Disk · Tear! Sparrow Flame · Fierce Fist · Nine Palaces!"
The stone-wall fortress in the distance trembled violently. The ground split apart, and rings of flame spread outward. Nine pillars of fire shot into the sky. The Spirit Seed's flames burned fiercely, with each wave of fire rising higher than the last.
Immediately afterward, a wind eye condensed. A vast expanse of blue-green gale swept across the flat ground. Wrapped in flames, the fortress was like a torch. The flames suddenly surged higher, blue and red interweaving like a fire dragon soaring into the sky, reaching more than thirty meters.
Lu Jun did not rashly intervene. His Water Element did not coordinate well with the other two in battle. Wind and fire, on the other hand, complemented each other far better.
Besides, it was not as though he was doing nothing. With a thought, he controlled his Metal Element Star Chart. A Dark Gold Flying Sword emerged around him, swallowing and spitting sharp radiance. In an instant, it soared into the sky, hurtling forward until it reached the limit of his mental perception.
Then a streak of Platinum Sword Light descended vertically. It grew faster and faster, and the sword shadow grew increasingly massive, like a platinum meteor streaking across the night sky. From top to bottom, it formed a single platinum line dividing heaven and earth.
Boom!
The moment it struck, it had already transformed into a twelve-meter Heavy Sword. It was like a supersonic missile crashing into the ground. It struck the flaming fortress, and the violent shockwave it raised scattered the blue-red storm of flames. The earthen fortress collapsed and exploded.
The newly advanced Level 4 Vibration also activated. It pierced through the earth's crust. Dense spiderweb-like cracks appeared across the ground, and huge slabs of earth rose into the air.
Even Lu Jun and the other two, who were some distance away, were jolted upward. Their feet left the ground several inches before they staggered back down.
Tang Yue hesitated, then said, "It should be dead, right? This Magic Tool of yours is quite something."
Lu Jun, however, said solemnly from the side, "No. It's not dead yet."
Through his Mind Element perception, he sensed that the three life forces in the fire were already extremely weak, like candles flickering in the wind. Under the continuous burning of the Sparrow Flame's Spirit Fire, they would die sooner or later.
The Great General's Life Aura, however, remained exceptionally tenacious. After all, it was a huge demon standing more than ten meters tall. Even the twelve-meter Heavy Sword had only pierced through the bodies of the three weaker General-level wolves when it fell.
The Great General had narrowly avoided a fatal injury.
A short while later, a Three-Eyed demon staggered out of the shattered flaming fortress. Its entire body was covered in wounds, and one of its legs was lame. Large patches of its skin and fur were charred black, while crisscrossing wounds exposed the flesh beneath. One leg had been pierced by the Vibranium Heavy Sword.
It growled furiously. Still, it moved its heavy legs forward, wanting to tear Lu Jun and the other two apart. The ferocity of a cornered beast had been fully aroused.
"Heh." Lu Jun chuckled. He had been prepared. He struck with the Water Element Intermediate spell Tide · Violent Waves · Repel, sending a vast flood thirty meters wide surging forward. In an instant, it collided with the charging Magic Wolf.
Splash!
The heavily wounded Great General had no strength left to resist. The moment they met, it was swept away by the blue flood. It rose and fell amid the current, spinning and tumbling as it was shredded to pieces.
It struggled constantly, but the blue river seemed almost wicked, continuously dissolving its strength and demonic power, even devouring them.
After several dozen seconds, the blue water dried up, revealing a massive wolf corpse lying in the damp, freshly plowed riverbed. A Remnant Soul merged into the White Tiger Pendant.
Lu Jun felt the demon's last shred of strength being drained away. It had suffocated to death, while the 20 percent boost gathered on his body was ready to be unleashed.
"The four General-level demons are dealt with. Counting the dozen or so we killed earlier, the flank is almost cleared. Everyone, push a little harder!"
Tang Yue relaxed beside him, her beautiful face covered in sweat. She spoke in exhaustion.
Including Lu Mei, the two women had been fighting for quite some time, and the Nebulas of both elements were nearly depleted.
Lu Jun looked into the distance. Corpses covered the mountains and wilderness. On the neighboring route, Lin Yuxin and Yang Zuohe were also fighting desperately. The three armies had joined forces and were charging straight toward the heart of the wolf pack.
He clearly saw unrest spreading among the black mass of demons on the distant mountain. Their morale had been completely shaken.
Boom!
Suddenly, a tremendous boom rang out across the heavens, accompanied by a mighty shout: "Those who dare invade my Bo City will be punished, no matter how far away they are!"
Immediately afterward, a huge black shadow fell through the rainy night sky and slammed heavily into the mountains. It was none other than the decapitated Winged Azure Wolf, a Commander Rank Demonic Beast. The enormous creature was dozens of meters long—only half as tall as Godzilla—and it was dead just like that.
Awooo!
Seeing this, the wolf pack wailed in grief. They could no longer maintain their formation and completely collapsed, scattering in all directions.
The war came to an end, and all the mages erupted in cheers!
Chapter 48: The Aftermath
Zhan Kong's figure slowly descended from midair. Amid the crowd's cheers, he landed at the very front.
Everyone wore smiles. Tang Yue, Lu Mei, Lin Yuxin, Yang Zuohe, Principal Zhu, Deng Kai—even Lu Jun saw Mu Zhuoyun and Mu Ningxue among the Great Noble Families' forces.
That was right! Mu Ningxue was here too. Because Lu Jun had appeared this time and taken the initiative to act, she had not followed the original trajectory of returning to Imperial Capital University after Mo Fan's duel. Instead, she had fought alongside everyone in Bo City.
At this moment, regardless of their identities or ranks, everyone was celebrating wildly. The sincerity of their emotions was deeply moving.
Seeing this scene, Lu Jun felt somewhat dazed. He had truly changed the future, torn apart the script, and achieved a perfect ending.
A smile gradually appeared on his face as his thoughts flew. This is wonderful. Fighting demons really is enjoyable. I've survived the most crucial tribulation of my life and protected my homeland.
Next, I'll be heading to the academy. Fighting people should be just as enjoyable, right?
Speaking of which, Lu Jun had never fought a human mage before. For three years, he had battled in the wilderness, slaughtering the Black Beast Demons of the Black Vatican.
Soon, his thoughts returned to the present. He saw that the heavy rain in the night sky was becoming lighter. As the rain was about to stop and the clouds disperse, he finally let out a long breath. This meant that the Black Vatican had abandoned its plan completely and withdrawn Rain Summoner Wu Ku.
The situation was settled!
Actually, Lu Jun had been extremely wary of the two of them. He had not dared to be absolutely certain that they would not act. Thus, before the operation began, he had still had Tang Yue pass on the intelligence, solemnly instructing her to give it only to the Hangzhou Adjudicator—her eldest uncle.
That way, there would still be room to salvage the situation if anything unexpected happened.
Moreover, Zhan Kong himself was no simple character. He was a peak High Rank Mage and possessed the Zu Family Forbidden Art. When necessary, someone like Wu Ku, a bottom-tier Super Rank combatant, could be beaten down immediately. It was a backup plan.
Lu Jun had only launched his move after careful deliberation. Now, as his gaze swept across the crowd, he happened to see Mu He among the Mu Family's group. The man wore a smile, as though he were sharing in everyone's joy.
Seeing this, Lu Jun could not hold himself back and nearly laughed aloud. Anyone who knew Mu He's identity and then looked at what he had done would understand. He had been forced along by the Mu Family and had no choice but to disguise himself as an Intermediate Mage helping Bo City heroically resist the demons.
The mission had failed, yet he still had to smile and celebrate. His heart was probably bleeding.
At last, the night rain stopped. A faint glow appeared along the horizon, as if dawn had pierced the darkness.
Everyone stared blankly at the sky, unable to recover for a long time. They had not pursued the wolf demons fleeing into the wilderness. Cornered enemies should not be chased, and they were already utterly exhausted. Besides, demons could never be killed completely.
The human world occupied less than one percent of the land. Being able to preserve Bo City was already enough.
Zhan Kong was completely unharmed. He was merely soaked through and looked somewhat disheveled. Watching the blue-black tide recede across the mountains, he muttered, "This battle has at least bought Bo City ten years of peace."
It would remain peaceful until a new wolf pack migrated to South Ridge.
Once everyone's excitement faded, taking stock of the casualties presented an entirely different scene. Many people wore sorrowful expressions.
Fortunately, most of the casualties had been among the border soldiers and outposts. They had all died while resisting the first wave of impact. After the reinforcements arrived and the battle reached a stalemate, there had not been many further casualties.
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