Full-Time Mage: Starting from Obtaining the White Tiger Pendant

After waking up early in the morning, Lu Jun noticed faint dark circles under his eyes and sighed, "I'm numb."

Knock, knock, knock!

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of Jinyuan Apartment.

Lu Jun was a little puzzled. Who could it be so early in the morning? At the same time, his older sister from the other apartment also came out. She had just woken up, her demeanor lazy, with one strap of her pajamas slipping off her shoulder, revealing her delicate collarbone, rounded jade shoulder, and fair skin.

She yawned and asked, "Who is it?"

Lu Jun, naturally vigilant, activated his Mind Element Star Nebula. His second-realm spiritual power spread out, sensing the mind lake outside. He had offended quite a few people and had to be careful about everything.

After chatting with Ding Yumian for a day, he hadn't gained nothing. At least he could analyze the differences between killing intent, hostility, and goodwill.

Only when Lu Jun sensed that the person outside the door had a calm mind did he relax. He walked forward and opened the door, only to be surprised to find a beautiful and noble woman standing there, with a delicate face, attractive features, and a captivating figure.

He hesitated and asked, "Are you...?"

"Hello," the woman said kindly. "I am Mu Nujiao from the Mu Family. Please excuse my intrusion."

So it was her. Lu Jun understood. She was a supporting female character from the original story. In a year, she would be a Dual Elements Intermediate level one mage. Now, at his age, she should also be at the Intermediate level. In the early stages, she focused on combat power, but in the future, she would change her path and work in education.

The Mu Family called her a celestial talent, and she was as passionate about battle as a demon.

Lu Mei, who was in the room, heard this and came out, frowning slightly. "What is it? Another recruitment attempt?"

Ever since Lu Jun had fought thousands of freshmen and then fallen unconscious for a few days, many Great Noble Families from Magic City had flocked to invite the siblings.

It was simply too rare to find a mage from a common background with such cultivation potential, so they all wanted to recruit them.

In the end, Lu Mei refused them all. If they truly wanted to climb the ladder by joining a Great Noble Family, they would have done so back in Bo City.

Mu Nujiao was unfazed and said generously, "That's right, I'm here on behalf of the Mu Family to recruit you."

As soon as she said this, Lu Mei waved her hand and said, "Forget it, we're not interested."

"Okay, no problem," Mu Nujiao replied, surprisingly not pressing the issue. Instead, as if completing a task, she was straightforward and efficient.

Lu Mei and Lu Jun were stunned. In the past, those who came to recruit from Noble Families were either arrogant and condescending, or they pleaded earnestly and treated them with respect. Some even resorted to threats and inducements, but all of them were trying hard to win them over, with the backing of powerful figures exerting pressure.

This was the first time they had encountered someone who didn't seem to care about failure at all.

"Surprised?" Mu Nujiao asked with a smile. "Actually, if it weren't for the family's request, I wouldn't have wanted to come. It's useless even if I did. If you were interested in joining, the previous dozen or so families wouldn't have been rejected. Clearly, you want to be independent."

She said slowly, "Comparatively, I'd rather maintain a friendship with you. I think highly of your future. If you want to rent a Star River Magic Tool or purchase a Star River Vein, you can discuss it with me."

"I will mobilize my connections to help you build a platform. I believe the Mu Family's friendship is something you need, right?"

Hearing Mu Nujiao say this, the siblings nodded. This kind of attitude made interacting much more comfortable.

Lu Jun secretly thought it was good. As expected, she was the most impressive among the four great families in Magic City from the original story. The two Mu sisters were both shrewd and capable, with strong methods, and no prodigal sons appeared under their management.

"Speaking of which," Mu Nujiao winked at Lu Jun, "I plan to enroll in Mingzhu University next academic year. You're my senior."

With his sister present, Lu Jun's tone was calm. "That's quite a coincidence."

Mu Nujiao was also perceptive of the atmosphere. She glanced at the two of them and smiled charmingly. "Then I won't disturb you any longer. Here's my business card."

A moment later, she left the piece of paper and departed gracefully.

The two looked at each other, not paying much attention to this small interlude, and returned to their rooms to cultivate.

Chapter 84: Small Flood Season, Yangtze River Alert

Three months passed in the blink of an eye, reaching the middle of the semester.

After Mu Nujiao's visit, Lu Jun resumed his normal school routine. Although his reputation caused many students to scrutinize him at school, as time passed, the attention gradually subsided.

Those Great Noble Families and major powers also stopped sending people to their door, clearly understanding the siblings' intentions.

Of course, no one had forgotten the night of the freshman Beast Fighting Competition. They simply hid their apprehension and admiration in their hearts and let their actions speak for themselves.

Therefore, his academy life was quite carefree.

During these three months, Lu Jun focused on cultivation and lay low. After the storm passed, he finally mastered the Mind Element and Curse Element, two Intermediate level magics, to the same proficiency as his Gold and Water Elements, reaching the point where he could cast them in just two to three seconds.

During this time, he met with Ding Yumian two or three times. Using mental pressure, he honed his will. Although the process was painful, to his surprise, his spiritual power genuinely increased significantly, reaching the peak of the second realm.

By the time the selection for the National Prefecture War begins in two years, he might even reach the fourth realm of the Intermediate level, equivalent to a Soul Seed, making him a top-tier High-level powerhouse.

Keep in mind that Ai Jiangtu, the captain of the national team in that year, only had [fourth realm] spiritual cultivation and was a High-level Curse Element mage when he first appeared.

And Curse was only one aspect of Lu Jun's abilities; he had three more elements!

Today, he was cultivating as usual, shifting his focus from the Mind and Curse elements to the Water Element, aiming to break through to level two.

Outside Jinyuan Apartment, a drizzling rain fell, and ample moisture permeated the air, creating a comfortable environment for a Water Element mage.

The rain was not heavy, at most a moderate shower, far from the downpour that night in Bo City.

However, the problem was that it had been raining for three days and three nights without stopping. This was too unusual. Even in a coastal area with abundant water, it was already November, and precipitation should have significantly decreased.

Lu Jun stood up after his meditation, looking at the gloomy weather, his brow furrowed. He wasn't happy about the environment being suitable for cultivation.

One must know that this month was already autumn, the harvest season. A continuous light rain would make it impossible for farmers to rush their harvests, which was a disaster.

Furthermore, even with the city's excellent drainage system, urban flooding was gradually appearing. Many people would rather stay home than go out.

Immediately, Lu Jun turned on the television. The reporter was reporting on various cities along the entire first major river basin experiencing different degrees of flooding and suffering heavy losses.

Experts have judged that a Monarch Level Demonic Beast has appeared and is causing chaos in the Yangtze River. It's using the ocean monsoon and flood season's power to cause continuous rain along the coast, leading to tidal surges that invade human territory.

This disaster was caused by the Demonic Beasts using the heavens' might.

Lu Jun shook his head. "Monarch Level is too far away. Someone else will deal with it."

The original book also had no information about this disaster. It made sense; Mo Fan had been in seclusion for cultivation this year, almost to the point of ignoring worldly affairs. Coupled with his low cultivation, he couldn't possibly get involved in this excitement.

He had called Mo Fan occasionally over the past three months, but the calls went unanswered. It seemed Mo Fan was determined to achieve great power before showing off at the academy. Unfortunately, the legend of Senior Lu's all-nighter was a hurdle he couldn't overcome.

Creak~

Suddenly, the door opened, accompanied by the crisp sound of boots and a wave of intense cold.

Lu Mei returned, holding an umbrella. A little moisture clung to her clothes. She took off her high boots and placed them on the shoe rack, shook the water off her umbrella, and then opened it by the entrance to dry.

"How's the situation?" Lu Jun asked without turning his head. "Did you gather any intel?"

His sister's expression was grave. "There are quite a few Demonic Beast tribes emerging from the Huangpu River. Plus, Chongming Island needs to fight sea monsters. We're short-handed. We don't need to go looking for intel; the Hunter's Alliance is providing it for free. They're going to conscript civilian Mages."

Lu Mei had been stuck at the Intermediate level with her Dual Elements for months, reaching her limit. She needed the Star River Vein, which cost at least 100 million, and an extra 10 million for insurance.

Currently working as an Urban Management Officer in Magic City, she had saved up 80 million, including previous earnings, leaving a shortfall of tens of millions.

The siblings had been looking for wild Demon Hunting jobs. After investigating for a while, they finally found an opportunity to intervene by following official actions, which was clearly safer.

The Yangtze River flood season is quite common, usually occurring from May to October. Flood season Demonic Beast tribes frequently encroach on both banks, only to be suppressed by humans.

The shortage of personnel this time was just an unexpected minor flood season occurring in November.

"Then we can do it. We're in the Huangpu River anyway. The highest level that appears here is Commander Rank. That Monarch is in Jinling, hundreds of thousands of miles away. It's very safe," Lu Jun said, his eyes lighting up. Due to the Black Vatican, he hadn't gone out Demon Hunting in a long time, and the Remnant Souls stored in his White Tiger Pendant hadn't increased at all.

Coincidentally, he had mastered all four Intermediate level Magics and was itching for a challenge.

Besides his Gold Element Primary Magic reaching level four, he also needed to improve his other three elements.

He was considering upgrading his next Primary Magic to level four, choosing the Water Element's Water Shield to strengthen his defense, making it foolproof.

"When do we leave?"

"Now!"

Lu Mei changed into a new outfit in her room, tied her hair into a neat ponytail, and said crisply.

Lu Jun had initially considered asking Ding Yumian to join, but after thinking about it, he decided against it. She improved purely through talent and didn't need combat experience. Moreover, her Mind Calamity Bringer status was best kept hidden.

Thus, on the surface, there was Mo Fan and Qin Yuer. In the shadows, there were Lu Jun and Lu Mei. And in the deepest recesses, there was Ding Yumian—a series of trump cards.

Water Shield · Cycle.

Stepping outside, Lu Jun cast two Primary Magics. The azure Water Windbreaker on the siblings intertwined, absorbing the pouring rain and keeping them completely dry.

The two braved the moderate rain, using Wind Orbit · Floating Shadow, and arrived at the assembly point in about ten minutes. It was in the center of Magic City, not far from the Huangpu River that ran through the city.

They saw colorful spells erupting in the distance through the rain as Military Mages suppressed Demonic Beast tribes.

Hunters were arriving one after another. There were about forty to fifty people, all Intermediate Mages. The official member waiting at the front was a member of the Adjudication Court, and surprisingly, it was Tang Yue.

"Hi, long time no see."

The long-haired woman with wavy hair had a beautiful figure, and her mature face was full of charm as she greeted the siblings.

Lu Jun was stunned and asked, "Why did you come here from Hangzhou?"

"Sigh, do you think I wanted to?" Tang Yue sighed. "The Hangzhou Adjudication Court basically covers the entire southeast region. We're like firefighters, rushing wherever trouble erupts."

"I was supposed to be transferred to Jinling, but when I saw your names on the list, I applied to join this operation."

As she spoke, Lu Mei and Lu Jun suddenly understood.

Tang Yue then looked at the dozens of hunters present. Although few in number, they were all elite Intermediate Mages. With one High-level Mage leading them, they could even contend against a Commander-level beast.

She said heroically, "There's no time for pleasantries. We're short-handed and need to quickly block a crossing point, the [Songjiang] tributary of the Huangpu River."

The main force was already fighting those Commander-level beasts. They only needed to deal with the overflow of Demonic Beasts below General-level.

Actually, if Magic City's Super level Mages could be mobilized, it would be much easier to resolve this. But there were cost issues.

This wasn't about manpower or employment costs. It was about the overall cost of governance. The entire human race was powerful, and from the perspective of a single Demonic Beast race, they were the strongest.

However, they occupied vast territories and were surrounded by Demonic Beast empires. Countless disasters occurred every year: the Yangtze River floods, the East China Sea tides, the Yellow River's silt, the Imperial Capital's sandstorms, southern floods, northern blizzards, all accompanied by Demonic Beast invasions.

This was just a minor incident among countless uprisings. Across the country, there were other disasters, and manpower was stretched thin.

Therefore, when the cost of governance exceeded a certain limit, making the higher-ups feel pained or that the gains didn't outweigh the losses, they would consider abandoning the area, just like Bo City and Jinlin City.

Chapter 85: Battle Against Flood Beasts

Lu Jun knew that given Magic City's importance, it had to be defended regardless of the scale of the invasion.

When the situation became dire, Super level Mages would eventually intervene. There was no doubt about safety.

Secondly, in Jinling, a group of Super level Mages had already been organized, setting up a net to capture that flood season Monarch beast, which was why they were temporarily unable to spare their hands.

Tang Yue wasted no time and led the elite hunters to a reservoir dam. Amidst the wind and rain and the gloomy weather, the water in the reservoir churned restlessly, and the dam swayed unceasingly.

The water's surface was pitch black. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't blackness at all, but rather countless, massive crocodile shadows piled on top of each other. These were [Huangpu Crocodile Demons]. This tribe had several Commander Rank individuals and was entrenched in the vicinity.

The government had considered clearing them out, but since Huangpu was connected to the Yangtze River's water system, the Demonic Beasts were inexhaustible. After clearing out one group, another would migrate in.

Compared to a more powerful tribe moving in, it was better to selectively leave weaker tribes, as they were easier to deal with anyway.

"Using demons to control demons, maintaining ecological balance" had always been the Military's philosophy.

Just like now, the main force of the Great Crocodile Demon tribe resided in the Yangtze River. It was said to be a Sub-Dragon Monarch that had refined its bloodline to its peak, and it was the monarch behind this current unrest.

The Huangpu Crocodile Demons, provoked, also launched an invasion, but they were intercepted by heavy water gates and dams, preventing them from easily disturbing activities within the city.

The Great Crocodile Demons on the lake were each shaped like dragons, their tails covered in steel-like barbs. Their skin was as thick as hardened mud and steel plates. Even the Servant-level ones were easily eight to nine meters long.

The General-level ones were over ten meters long, resembling small flood dragons. Their numbers were incredibly high; for every ten Servant-levels, there was one General-level. It was astonishing. As they emerged, they densely covered the lake's surface, making it almost impossible to see the water. Their scales shimmered with a cold, dark light, layered upon each other.

Furthermore, Demonic Beasts in the water were generally two to three times stronger than those on land. This wave of attacks would be difficult to handle.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The towering dam vibrated violently. Even though it was made of special magically forged materials, under the continuous impact of immense force, cracks appeared on its surface, and debris flew everywhere.

A team of over a dozen Military Mages had positioned themselves on the dam early, unleashing various spells. However, they couldn't stop the surging crocodile horde. They vanished in an instant within the "Black Scale Tide," appearing too insignificant. Occasionally, they had to dodge high-pressure water jets spat out by the crocodile demons.

The leading Military Mage, seeing Tang Yue, said wearily, "You're here. Quickly reinforce the dam. We can't let them break through. If they get through, they'll scatter into the city's sewers, or into the small streams of villages and towns, making them much harder to deal with."

Tang Yue frowned, standing on the constantly vibrating dam, struggling to keep her balance.

Dozens of hunters gasped in shock at the sight on the lake. "There must be at least a thousand crocodile demons here."

An Intermediate level soldier said, "They're very smart. As soon as we get control of the Star Map, they dive underwater, and most magic becomes ineffective."