Full-Time Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant

Of course, true beast taming was not that simple. Just like Victoria of the British royal family, an internationally renowned dragon-taming clan, or the domestic Sky Eagle Troop, they supported large numbers of Mind Mages and also needed special medicinal formulas.

In other words, without the backing of a major power, this kind of Mind Mage was useless.

"It's enough to dabble in it a little. Demonic beasts can't be trusted. Only contracts from the Summoning System are truly reliable."

Lu Jun shook his head. His original intention had merely been to forcibly control a few Generals during battle as temporary meat shields and cannon fodder, then discard them after they had served their purpose.

With his second-stage spiritual cultivation, his Mind Element should have been noticeably stronger than Xin Xia's.

In addition, Lu Jun unexpectedly gained another benefit from his bloody battle in this Beast Fighting Competition.

That was the wonderful use of the Tidal Spirit Seed in the Water Element. It had clearly strengthened his body, which made him ponder deeply. Perhaps strengthening one's physique was not limited to the Curse Element and Poison Element methods.

Why had it enhanced his body? According to his speculation, there were roughly two reasons. First, water was the gentlest element, and under certain conditions, magical energy could be absorbed by the human body. Second was the special nature of the spirit seed "Tide." Legend had it that the demon god's [Tide God's Eye] could stir the ocean's supreme tidal power, pointing directly toward the highest truth of the Water Element.

Swimming was the best form of exercise for improving physical fitness. Under the washing and pounding of ocean tides, the body absorbed magical energy. Perhaps it really could be tempered into a physique comparable to that of demonic beasts.

This was not some opportunistic method like those of the Curse Element or Poison Element.

"Water Breathing? That joke from that year might actually become reality?"

Lu Jun's expression turned strange. However, this required extremely high magical attainments—at least advanced control ability, along with profound theoretical knowledge.

Pearl Academy happened to be such a place. Every department had accumulated countless ideas and practical experiences from their predecessors, while its professors possessed rich magical theory. It could save him many detours and allow him to innovate.

Judging by the Fusion Magic and all-element magic of eight or nine years later, Full-Time Mage society had already accumulated enough knowledge. It only lacked an opportunity to achieve a great leap forward.

Lu Jun did not stay home the whole time. After resting for a few days and spending time with his elder sister, he returned to school.

Pearl Academy had actually begun classes a week earlier. It was only because they considered his circumstances that they approved half a month of leave for him, while also allowing the hype to die down.

He had browsed posts and videos at home as well. Audience members at the scene had gradually uploaded recordings online. After meticulous editing, the day-and-night battle was condensed and sped up, paired with background music that made viewers' blood boil. It went viral across the internet, reaching tens of millions of views.

Fortunately, many people did not understand Pearl Academy or the Beast Fighting Competition, so it did not cause any especially major public controversy.

Now that things had cooled down, Lu Jun headed straight to Dean Xiao's office to collect his reward.

Behind the desk, the elderly professor in glasses said cheerfully, "You're here. Have a seat."

"Heh heh, Dean, about those resources..."

Lu Jun rubbed his hands together like a fly, asking somewhat sheepishly.

"Of course, they were prepared long ago." Dean Xiao adjusted his glasses and smiled. "We studied the matter. Most of the resources for all departments in the Green Campus are Stardust Magic Tools, and they differ by department, so their prices are also unequal."

"You might not even be able to use them, and converting their value would be very troublesome."

Hearing this, Lu Jun nodded. That was true. He did not even use a Nebula Magic Tool now; the White Tiger Pendant was enough. The reason his Curse Element and Mind Element had been able to rise to Intermediate Magic so quickly was largely due to the White Tiger Pendant's subtle influence.

Although it usually had very little presence, it had many functions yet to be unlocked and required further restoration and exploration.

Dean Xiao said, "So I plan to let you cultivate in the Three Step Tower for seven days. At the same time, the academy treasury will be opened for you, and you may choose any powerful Intermediate Magic Tool. You'll also receive five million in funds. How does that sound?"

"That works." Lu Jun was delighted to hear it. It was the same as Mo Fan in the original story, except the quality of the magic tool would be a notch higher and the funds more plentiful. It was probably because he had not taken the Summoning System's Strange Blood for beast refinement.

The academy treasury's magic tools came from all kinds of sources: allocations from the Ministry of Education, items collected and forged by the academy itself, and donations from outstanding alumni. There were quite a few Good Things inside.

There was no need to say much about the [Three Step Tower]. It was what allowed Pearl Academy to stand proudly among the world's best. Normally, only the top fifty experts on each department ranking in the Main Campus could enter to cultivate for a day or two.

It was said that the tower had been constructed by an exceptionally powerful Space Element mage, possibly even a Forbidden Curse mage, who was also a grand master of formations. By relying on the power of formations, it absorbed the free-floating elements between heaven and earth every day, stored them, and created a holy land for cultivation.

It was like a blessed grotto-heaven.

One day of cultivation inside was worth at least a month outside.

Of course, Lu Jun was not in a hurry to enter. Several of his elements had only just broken through. He needed to consolidate his cultivation first and push it to the limit. Only by entering during a bottleneck to make another breakthrough could he achieve the best results.

However, whether it was the Three Step Tower or the magic tools in the treasury, the academy was, in some sense, balancing its own books and getting something for nothing. There was actually no need to convert the shared resources intended for all new students across every department.

In other words, those students' resources would still remain. Later, the academy only needed to raise the assessment requirements slightly. Not only would it not affect the new students' cultivation resources, it would instead improve their overall quality through the added incentive.

Lu Jun spotted this blind spot. A year later in the original story, Mu Jiaonu had made a generous donation, but the academy had effectively gained double the resources.

Then, he followed Dean Xiao to choose a magic tool. Armor Magic Tools, Demon Slaying Gear, Wing Magic Tools, special magic tools, and more filled the place in dazzling array.

He also saw the Mind-Focusing Magic Artifact [Mental Necklace] that Mo Fan had originally obtained. Without that thing, Mo Fan would not know how many times he would have died at the hands of Mind Mages and demonic beasts.

Unfortunately, Lu Jun's allowance was not that generous. He could only look at super magic tools such as Super Rank and advanced-grade items. He could not even choose Intermediate Magic Tool Wing Magic Tools or Armor Magic Tools.

A Date with Ding Yumian?

Magic tools were indispensable helpers for mages.

Among all kinds of magic tools, Wing Magic Tools and Armor Magic Tools were the most expensive. The former enabled flight and required rare, difficult-to-find materials, while the latter covered the entire body and required a large amount of materials, making them costly.

In the end, after much deliberation, Lu Jun chose a Shield Magic Tool. It could block the full-force strike of any General-level creature, even a General in its Advancement Period.

It was named the [Mysterious Black Tortoise Shell Shield], a Water Element magic tool that could be used together with Water Shield. It was made from the material of a General-level sea demon called the [Mysterious Black Tortoise], and its quality was first-rate.

At the very least, it could keep Lu Jun safe throughout the Intermediate Magic stage.

Why had he chosen a Shield Magic Tool? It was simple: the situation had changed. His all-element Intermediate Magic consisted either of offense, control, or support. He lacked a defensive skill of the Same Rank.

Water Shield and the Vibranium Heavy Sword were invincible against Servant-level creatures, but they were somewhat lacking at the Intermediate Magic stage.

The advantage of magic tools was that they could be summoned instantly, saving one's life at a critical moment.

Once Lu Jun reached the high tier, he would not need much defense anymore. The water-element high-tier [Water Glory Sky Curtain] would be sufficient. It could be said that the choice depended on the stage.

He also had the Footwear Magic Tool [Azure Cloud Boots] for mobility, which was enough for the Servant-level and General-level stages.

After seeing Lu Jun make his choice, Dean Xiao smiled kindly. "Work hard. You'll achieve something in the future."

"Thank you for thinking highly of me, Dean."

Lu Jun said gratefully.

A moment later, he held a jet-black, rounded tortoise shell in his hand. Circles of ripples resembling Mysterious Black vortices covered its surface, crystal clear and translucent.

On the spot, Lu Jun could not wait to refine the Mysterious Black Tortoise Shell Shield.

Within his Spiritual World, aside from the four Nebulae, there were now two marks: one in the shape of boots, the other a tortoise shell. They represented the two magic tools.

Seeing this, Lu Jun was thoroughly satisfied.

Just as he was about to leave, Dean Xiao suddenly called out from behind him, "Wait, there's one more thing."

Hearing this, Lu Jun turned around in confusion. "What is it?"

"A private matter..." Dean Xiao pondered for a moment before saying gently, "You already know that child Ding Yumian's secret, don't you?"

Lu Jun's brows twitched at once, and his scalp went numb. It felt rather like he had bullied a small girl and her father-in-law had come knocking—strange... He quickly shook his head. He had not done anything to wrong Ding Yumian, so there was no need to panic.

He gave an awkward laugh. "Dean, I guarantee I'll keep it absolutely confidential."

"Don't be nervous." Dean Xiao smiled. "That girl Ding Yumian told me your secret is no small matter either. I trust that you'll keep her secret."

He paused, then said, "What I mean is, the two of you can get to know each other."

"Huh?"

After leaving, Lu Jun got Ding Yumian's contact information, his expression somewhat strange. What did Dean Xiao mean by that? Why did it feel like he had been officially ordered to court a girl?

An illusion, definitely an illusion! Still, Ding Yumian was worth getting to know. A Mind Calamity Bringer was practically guaranteed to become a Forbidden Curse mage in the future. She had no real troubles herself and had concealed things well, so she was worth befriending early.

Besides, once his metal element was exposed in the future, he would definitely have to clash with the Holy City, which stood above the Five Continents Magic Association. One could never have too many allies.

Ding Yumian's fate in the Original Timeline had been far too regrettable. Just imagine it: if Qin Yuer and Ding Yumian from the original work had both survived and grown up, they would each be at least comparable to an angel.

Once he gathered a lineup of himself, Mo Fan, Mu Ningxue, Ding Yumian, and Qin Yuer, why would they need to compromise for humanity's stability? They could directly scatter the Holy City's ashes and take charge themselves.

That was probably what Dean Xiao meant as well. He was old now and did not have long to live. If he could help Ding Yumian win over a genius ally, she would have far more room to maneuver in the future.

After hesitating for a while, Lu Jun recalled what had happened during the Beast Fighting Competition and decided to call Ding Yumian.

Very soon, the call connected, and a gentle, magnetic female voice came from the other end. "Hello? Who is this?"

Lu Jun was a little nervous. After a moment of silence, he said, "I... I'm Lu Jun. Dean Xiao introduced me."

The instant he said it, he wanted to slap himself. His tongue had slipped—what kind of nonsense was that?

On the other end, Ding Yumian remained silent for a long while. Then she let out a soft laugh, her voice pleasant and melodious. "Alright, I know what this is about. Just wait for me at the Luckin Coffee shop in the Green Campus of Pearl Academy."

"I haven't even apologized to you yet."

"Alright." Lu Jun sighed. "Then let's meet at the coffee shop."

Not long after, following the school navigation, he arrived at a street corner. Beneath the coffee shop's parasol sat a woman in a white dress, seated on the side with elegant poise. Her long legs were pressed neatly together, without a gap between them. Her calves were vaguely visible beneath her skirt, her skin fair, her temperament gentle and noble.

As expected, it was Ding Yumian.

The boys at several nearby tables were secretly glancing at her, and a few of them were eager to move.

"Hello."

But when Lu Jun walked over and greeted Ding Yumian, the nearby boys seemed to have been frightened. They scattered in retreat, clearing out a large area of empty space. His intimidation was truly maxed out.

Before leaving, they carefully snapped a photo of the two sitting face-to-face, silently thrilled, then eagerly opened the school forum.

A post titled <Confirmed! Lu Ren Tu and Ding Yumian Are Together, Having an Offline Date> suddenly appeared, sparking heated discussion.

At this moment, Ding Yumian had originally been frowning slightly. Her sensitive mind had perceived the emotions of the nearby boys, making her somewhat uncomfortable. Yet when she saw everyone retreat in fear the moment Lu Jun arrived, she could not help but smile.

She teased him slightly. "It seems your intimidation really is useful."

Lu Jun was surprised, then smiled as he picked up the conversation. "It still can't stand up to your charm."

As soon as the words fell, both their faces reddened slightly. Strange... They had clearly only come to express thanks, or perhaps discuss each other's thoughts. Why did it feel like a blind date?

In truth, discussing their deepest secrets was equivalent to laying their inner hearts bare and revealing everything without reservation. It was even more intimate than being a married couple or lovers, and involved matters of life and death.

Lu Jun sat down, took a deep breath, and changed the subject through Mind Telepathy. "What's your situation now?"

He actually knew, but he could not show it. He had to let her say it herself.

Ding Yumian was slightly startled. Her beautiful eyes stared at Lu Jun for a moment. After hesitating, she also used telepathy to say, "Do you know about Calamity Bringers?"

"I know." Lu Jun understood at once. "So you're a Mind Calamity Bringer."

Her smile was bitter. "You don't seem surprised?"

Lu Jun sighed. "I had already guessed from that kind of mental potential."

"Aren't you afraid?" Ding Yumian's smile remained, but it seemed extremely false now. Her inner heart was in pain. The mistakes she had committed when she lost control meant she deserved to go to hell; she had carried original sin from the day she was born.

Beyond that, she knew full well that she was destined to be alone. Sooner or later, she would be targeted by the international magic associations and executed, perhaps even dragging down any close friends with her.

"Afraid? Afraid of what?"

Lu Jun slowly leaned against the table, his hands clasped beneath his chin as he spoke calmly.

She murmured softly, "For example, if I lose control, I could easily erase your soul. My Mind Magic can do anything—I could easily control your thoughts and pore through your memories. Or perhaps... the pursuit of the Inquisition Court under the Holy City."

Ding Yumian's words carried a chilling implication.

The reason why humans were intelligent beings was the awakening of self-awareness. When someone could freely rummage through the most shameful secrets in your memories and control your consciousness, it was undoubtedly the greatest fear.

Survival and death were Nothing Special in comparison.

Even Lu Jun's Mind Element was merely a safeguard. It could not completely prevent others from peering into his memories unless he cultivated it to an extremely high level.

Not to mention the renowned Holy City. No traitor targeted by the five major Magic Associations and the Inquisition Court could escape judgment.

For they represented the highest will of the entire human race.

Anyone with even a little rationality would surely keep their distance after learning of this.

Yet Lu Jun Smiled and said with composed calm, "What if I'm also destined to end up on the Holy City Inquisition Court's blacklist? I have Dual Elements Per Tier, as well as a strange Magic System."

He did not reveal the existence of the Metal Element. But judging from his Innate Dual Elements, someone as intelligent as Ding Yumian should have guessed it. Once they had Cooperated for a while, she would naturally find out.

Lu Jun had no particular reservations. First, sincerity for sincerity—she had already revealed her most crucial secret, so what was there left not to trust? Second, the two of them were currently hiding themselves very well. As long as they remained careful, they would be fine until the Sea Demon Empire's invasion eight years later.

Hearing This, Ding Yumian fell into thought. No wonder Lu Jun could fight for an entire day and night. Some had once guessed that he possessed an Innate Talent, though it was not reflected in his magical power, but in his endurance—his magical energy reserves were several times greater than an ordinary person's.

Thus, those people did not think that gaining one more Spirit Seed would allow someone to Could Defeat Lu Jun. It was far too absurd. Some interested parties were preparing a talent ranking, and Lu Jun was practically guaranteed a place in the top five.