Full-Time Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant

Of course, now she knew. His endurance talent was essentially Dual Elements Per Tier—four elements... Wait, she had spotted the blind spot. Could it be that Lu Jun had four elements at the Intermediate Level?!

That was rather terrifying. Ding Yumian thought to herself that even if she unleashed the full combat power of her Mind Element, she might not be able to defeat Lu Jun. Aside from the Water Element and Curse Element he displayed openly, there was a hidden Mind Element, as well as one strange Magic System. Was it that super Magic Tool?

Ding Yumian came back to her senses and said with a hint of self-mockery, "Then we're cut from the same cloth, destined to be destroyed."

"What do you plan to do in the future?" After a moment of silence, she asked, "Or rather, what do you think is the meaning of life?"

"The future? You mean the Holy City?"

Hearing this, Lu Jun was surprised. Seeing the white-dressed girl's lost and sorrowful gaze, he said speechlessly, "What are you even thinking? The meaning of life lies in living. If those old bastards in the Holy City dare interfere with my life, I won't just swallow it. Sooner or later, I'll wipe them out."

He patiently persuaded her, "What are you afraid of? If they push us too far, we can always go to the Holy City and pull off some kind of self-destruction. Even if we die, we'll tear off a chunk of their flesh."

Lu Jun had realized that Ding Yumian had psychological issues. In the original work, she displayed a strong tendency toward self-destruction. Her supposed tranquility and kindness were merely an outward manifestation born from self-loathing.

Now that he had interacted with her, he felt this even more deeply. He had to reverse this mindset.

Ding Yumian was somewhat stunned. From childhood to adulthood, everyone around her had spoken of how powerful the Holy City was and how supreme the Five Continents Magic Association was. Even Dean Xiao, whom she had always regarded as a towering tree shielding the sky, occasionally let slip certain taboos without meaning to.

This had placed immense pressure on her Inner Heart. She was utterly unwilling to drag others down, which in turn led her toward self-denial. Today was the First Time she had encountered someone arrogant enough to declare that he would grind the Holy City and the Five Continents Magic Association to dust.

On second thought, Ding Yumian considered all the things Lu Jun had done since entering school as a freshman. Worthy Of Lu Ren Tu, his temperament and conduct were cut from the same cloth.

Yet for some reason, meeting another person with similar experiences and hearing these impassioned words softened something within her. It was As If she had finally let out a breath, and the burden on her shoulders eased.

She pursed her lips and smiled. "Overturn the Holy City? You really dare to say that."

"Don't disbelieve me." During this frank conversation, Lu Jun seemed to have fully relaxed as well. He voiced the bold ideas in his heart, ideas even his Elder Sister Lu Mei had never known about.

He said, "I understand the Holy City far too well. That lot is nothing but Western bandits."

"We need to establish our own voice. I know some people who, like you and me, possess extraordinary potential. If we Join Forces and grow stronger, we'll absolutely be able to stand against them as equals."

Ding Yumian stared blankly, suddenly thinking that perhaps this man had been meticulously plotting resistance from the very moment of his Magic Awakening. He truly had incredible courage—and he gave her an intense sense of security.

At that moment, she closed her eyes. Another voice within her Inner Heart called out. After hearing Lu Jun's words, it became even more agitated, Wish One Could burst forth and seize control.

When Ding Yumian opened her eyes, her gaze had Gained a few traces of sharpness, and her pupils were resolute. She said, "You're right. We can neither give up resisting nor cling to the fantasy that we'll never be discovered, Shrink Back in a corner, and peacefully accept the protection of others."

"We must prepare for the worst and be ready to perish together."

Lu Jun was visibly astonished. He had thought he would need to persuade her for quite some time. How had Ding Yumian changed her way of thinking so quickly?

"Surprised?" Ding Yumian's red lips curled upward. Her Beautiful Eyes stared directly at Lu Jun, while her bearing abruptly Changed, becoming bold and intensely aggressive. "The emotions reflected by your mind say that you pride yourself on understanding everything, calm and composed. But have you truly understood me?"

Seeing This, Lu Jun somehow felt as though he had been seen through.

Before he could speak, Ding Yumian across from him extended her slender, Pure White jade hand, smiling from the Corner of the Mouth. "Happy cooperation."

Lu Jun hesitated, then extended his hand as well. He lightly clasped the cool, jade-like tips of her four fingers, releasing them at the first touch. "Happy cooperation."

"Then," Ding Yumian said with a radiant smile, "do you have any ideas now?"

"Uh..." Lu Jun felt that the rhythm had shifted into her control. He Didn't Care about such minor details, and after pondering for a moment, said, "We're still weak right now, and I know those people are in the same position."

"For now, we should be practical and focus on improving ourselves as much as possible."

Ding Yumian covered her mouth and Chuckled. "So you were just making grand empty promises and pumping me full of hot air?"

"Ah, well." Lu Jun was a little embarrassed, but then he remembered something and said excitedly, "I do have a way to help us grow quickly... Do you still remember your outburst during the Beast Fighting Competition?"

"Mm." Ding Yumian seemed to return to her original disposition. Lightly biting her lip, she said, "I remember. I'm sorry about what happened then."

Lu Jun found it strange. Her temperament was a little too unpredictable. He said, "It's fine. What I mean is that this mental pressure of yours has an excellent Tempering effect on me."

"From now on, I want to temper my will beneath your mental pressure and artificially raise my spiritual realm."

These Words left Ding Yumian slightly stunned. This could be done? There were very few Mind Element mages in the country, so methods and resources for advancement were scarce. Most could only temper themselves.

Still, after thinking it over, she had to admit it was a good method. She nodded and agreed. "All right. Set a time, and I'll occasionally make time for it."

Multiple Soul Personas

Hearing Ding Yumian agree, Lu Jun was delighted. Both his Curse Element and Mind Element greatly benefited from spiritual enhancements. With the help of this Mind Calamity Calamity Bringer, he would soon be able to improve at high speed and no longer need to worry.

She was practically an external cheat... Cheat... third-party plugin... Plugin—ah, damn it! What was he thinking?

He hurriedly shook his head. Only a Mind Calamity Bringer could be used this way, and Calamity Bringers were already rare. One limited to the Mind Element was even rarer, perhaps appearing only once in a century.

As for Ding Yumian saying she would make time, that was perfectly normal. Others needed to cultivate and improve too; they could not possibly give all their time to you.

But Lu Jun could not accept her gift with Peace of Mind either. Only mutual progress counted as a win-win cooperation.

As it happened, he had some ideas that he could not carry out with his own spiritual realm and control alone. He might as well tell Ding Yumian and let her improve as well.

At that moment, Ding Yumian suddenly said, "I always feel like you're thinking improper things."

"Ahahaha." Lu Jun laughed awkwardly, muttering inwardly that she was far too perceptive. He was at least a Mind Element mage and could hide his thoughts. If it were other boys, they probably would not be able to bear having their minds read at all. He wondered who would dare marry such a wife in the future.

He changed the subject. "My cultivation is easy enough to improve, but I do have some ideas for increasing your strength."

Ding Yumian looked puzzled. Her large eyes blinked as she tilted her head. Her princess-like, smooth black hair fell over her chest, giving her a playful charm like that of a young wife.

Seeing This, Lu Jun's heart stirred. He quickly steadied himself, then eagerly shared his Modified Mind Impact with her—the self-created magic [Mind Sword]. Ever since his Mind Element had advanced to the Intermediate Level, this method had improved greatly, and he could now store multiple "mind swords" At the Same Time.

Of course, he could not be sure whether she could refine it successfully. The key was the Metal Element's magic energy tempering its sharpness.

Hearing this, Ding Yumian became interested. "Not a bad idea. No one thought of it before."

Before Lu Jun could offer any guidance, she fixed her gaze, and some kind of powerful Mental Power erupted. A transparent, crystal-clear fine needle hovered between her brows, radiating waves of danger.

Lu Jun felt his hair stand on end, a stabbing pain striking his brow as his sixth sense issued a fierce warning.

He stared wide-eyed at Ding Yumian's move and asked in shock, "How did you do that?"

Ding Yumian said strangely, "Didn't you just figure out the trick? It happened in an instant. This move is pretty good, but it isn't very useful to me. I can simply crush them with Mental Power—the principle is the same as annihilating a soul."

Lu Jun was speechless. It had only been a few seconds, yet she had learned it instantly. Was having exceptional mental talent really that amazing?

Then he recalled his other ideas, and his heart burned with excitement. Wasn't having a Mind Calamity Bringer right beside him perfect? She could serve as a test subject and swiftly verify all his various conjectures.

Once his mental cultivation reached the required level, Ding Yumian could teach it back to him in reverse. Wouldn't that be like having someone chew through the knowledge first, then spit it back out for him to eat, making it easier to digest?

That was what mutual benefit and win-win truly meant.

Lu Jun could not help asking, "Do you know about the 'Nascent Soul'? Roaming the vast void with the spirit, and also the Mind Palace, multiple personalities..."

"Huh? Nascent Soul?" Ding Yumian didn't understand. After Lu Jun explained the concept in detail, she pursed her lips and said tactfully, "I cultivate magic, not in an immortal cultivation novel."

Hearing the implication in her words, Lu Jun stopped talking and scratched his head. It seemed he really had been indulging in wild fantasies.

Ding Yumian gave a soft "Mm" and comforted him, "Some ideas aren't practical, while others can be tried. But I'm only at the Intermediate Level, so there's very little I can do. Things may be different once I reach the High Rank or Super Rank."

After hesitating for a moment, she decided to speak frankly. "The Nascent Soul and multiple personalities you mentioned are actually... actually the concept of 'Soul Characters.' As a Calamity Bringer, I mastered them long ago."

Lu Jun was stunned, quite taken aback. Soul Characters had only appeared much later in the original timeline. When Mo Fan became the Evil Saint King, he possessed the Eight Soul Characters of good and evil.

Wait. He dug up a memory from his mind. Ding Yumian was the only human existence to possess multiple Soul Characters. With extraordinarily high soul quality, she had condensed several Soul Characters.

Even after dying in the future, her soul had not perished. As long as she wished it, she could remain in this world forever. It was already more fantastical than the indestructible Nascent Soul of the Dao Realm.

The Vengeance Soul had personally led an army of sea demons back to Magic City, nearly flattening the coast, only to fall to a betrayal from the Kind Soul and destroy itself. One could not help sighing at that ending.

"What's Wrong?" Ding Yumian sensed a trace of pity from the man in front of her and called out.

"Nothing." Lu Jun said with a complicated expression, "No wonder I felt your temperament kept changing just now, like you had split personalities. I never expected..."

Ding Yumian blinked, her smile deepening. "I do indeed have several Soul Characters. I can handle different situations and different people perfectly, which is why I asked whether you truly understood me."

Multiple personalities... He felt that Ding Yumian had way too many buffs stacked on her. Marrying one wife would be the same as marrying several wives. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

The two sat in the café like that, chatting continuously from morning until afternoon. They kept putting forward conjectures about the Mind Element, exchanging ideas, rejecting them, and refining them.

Lu Jun gained insight into the abilities of a Mind Calamity Bringer, her mental talent, multiple Soul Characters, and the [Mind Eye] that influenced the thoughts and emotions of all living beings.

By the end, not only was Lu Jun's mind filled with stray thoughts, even Ding Yumian's Inner Heart was far from calm. Her face was slightly flushed, and beneath the glow of the evening clouds, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

She had never felt that anyone's ideas aligned with her own so closely. Inspiration bloomed endlessly as the two discussed with each other, explored the Great Dao, and immersed themselves in boundless wonder with utter exhilaration.

Perhaps it was because this was the first time she had opened her Inner Heart to an outsider, or perhaps it was the great desire for knowledge that transcended human lust.

Meanwhile, Lu Jun also thought of the term "Dao companion." On the vast and boundless Great Dao, the two would support each other as they searched above and below.

When he snapped awake from the sea of inspiration, his mouth dry from talking, he glanced at the sky and found that night had already fallen. He smiled at Ding Yumian and said, "It's getting late. How about we end things here for today?"

Ding Yumian came back to her senses, her face rosy. They had talked for an entire day right after meeting, and Hearing This, she gave a slight nod.

"It's so late. Do you want me to take you back?"

Lu Jun had originally wanted to leave immediately, but then felt that would be impolite. He scratched his head and asked courteously.

"No need." Ding Yumian stood and smoothed her skirt, her Beautiful Eyes smiling as she said, "I live in the girls' dormitory. Don't tell me you want to visit too?"

The two had become much more familiar with each other and could joke around.

"Haha, no need for that." Lu Jun decisively shook his head. "Be careful on your way back."

"Mm." Ding Yumian gave a soft nasal hum, waved goodbye, and said, "See you."

Then he watched the graceful back of the woman in the white dress walk toward the end of the darkness. Her dress was extremely simple and elegant, yet it could not conceal her tall, voluptuous figure. From behind, the curve of her full hips was startling, and the close-fitting white dress lent her an added charm.

Out of politeness, Lu Jun only glanced once before withdrawing his gaze. He turned around and left on Wind Track.

Neither of them noticed the enormous stir their day-long conversation had caused on the school forum.

Perhaps even if they had known, neither would have cared, given their personalities. They had nothing to hide.

Lu Jun pondered their earlier exchange as he walked home.

It had to be said that Ding Yumian's talent gave him tremendous inspiration. In the future, he could follow her model to improve his Mind Element, reach the Super Rank, and attain terrifying destructive power. Perhaps it even contained the secret to becoming an Emperor.

She had already identified several conjectures as research topics earlier. Once she developed them, he might be able to learn them himself.

When he returned home, he was surprised to find that the lights in Jinyuan Apartment were still on. Suddenly, he inwardly cried out in alarm. He had become too immersed in researching with Ding Yumian and had nearly forgotten that his Elder Sister was waiting at home.

They still had a City Demon Hunting Squad mission, yet Lu Mei had ended up handling all of it.

"This is going to be difficult. Why isn't she asleep yet?"

Nervously, Lu Jun pushed open the door and saw Lu Mei sitting on the sofa in a set of black silk pajamas, her pure white jade-like legs crossed and her arms folded over her chest.

Seeing This, he swallowed. The black pajamas and her fair skin complemented each other perfectly. Combined with the thin fabric, she was utterly seductive.

Lu Mei had initially worn a tense expression, but when she saw this brat staring blankly, she snapped coquettishly, "What are you looking at?"

"Hehe." Lu Jun grinned foolishly and hurriedly flattered her. "You're very pretty... By the Way, why are you staying up so late today? Staying up will ruin your skin."

But Lu Mei had not been bewitched by his sweet talk. She sneered. "First, I'm a mage. Staying up late won't hurt my body. Second, you came back late tonight. What happened?"

"Ahaha." Lu Jun scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "I had something urgent at the academy today and was coordinating resources with Dean Xiao."

"Is that so?" Lu Mei pulled out her phone, held it up at Lu Jun, and asked, "Then... what's this?"

Lu Jun's sharp eyes caught the photo on the screen. It showed him and Ding Yumian sitting together and talking in a coffee shop. Because of the angle, they looked very close, intimate like a couple.

Holy crap. This is bad, he thought inwardly, cold sweat pouring down his back. What if his sister misunderstood? He wished he could drag out whoever had taken that photo on the spot and grind them to dust.

Then Lu Jun looked closer and discovered that the photo had come from the school forum. Astonished, he could not help asking, "Sis, when did you join the school forum?"

"Hm?" Lu Mei crossed her legs, puffed out her chest, and said in a strangely sarcastic tone, "Never mind that. How do you explain this? I've been working hard on the night shift, while you've been chatting with some other little girl... Oh~, and it's the girl who proactively threw herself into your arms at the Beast Fighting Arena."

As she spoke, she did not notice that, at some point, her tone had turned sour.

Lu Jun stood there speechless. Ding Yumian's secret absolutely could not be exposed; the more people who knew, the greater the chance of it leaking. He could only swallow his frustration and keep quiet.

Seeing Lu Jun standing obediently at attention as if waiting to be punished yet refusing to speak, Lu Mei felt inexplicably irritated. She could not say why, nor could she bear to scold him. She merely pressed her red lips together and said calmly, "It's normal to want to date in college. Just let me know in the future."

With that, she rose from the sofa and was about to return to her room.

"Wait." Lu Jun hurriedly called out to her. After thinking for a moment, he said vaguely, "It really isn't what you think. Uh... it's a serious matter. I can't reveal the secret."

After saying that, he felt somewhat uneasy, wondering whether his sister would believe him.

Lu Mei suddenly stopped ahead of him. Hearing his explanation made her feel much better. As she turned around, the hem of her black dress spun like a blooming night-blooming cereus. Looking back at him, she chided, "Alright, I believe everything you say. Go to bed early. You're forgiven."

At This Scene, Lu Jun stared blankly at his sister, his heart pounding. Good heavens, who could withstand that?

He went to shower and sleep in excitement, yet he suffered from insomnia all night. Scenes kept replaying in his mind—one moment, Ding Yumian's lovely figure amid mist as they talked freely through the day; the next, the night at the hotel with his god-sister Tang Yue; then the everyday moments he spent with Lu Mei, every glance back, every smile and frown.