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

"Look!" someone suddenly shouted, pointing at the lake, which had long been churned into a muddy mess by the battle. "Those Crocodile Demons are retreating."

Dense masses of giant crocodile corpses floated on the lake's surface, glistening with dark light. Huge dark shapes swam beneath the water, stealthily withdrawing through the gaps, occasionally bumping into the bodies of their companions.

The remaining three hundred or so Crocodile Demons retreated, flowing back into the main current of the Huangpu River along the waterway.

Over seven hundred corpses were left behind, a clear sign of defeat.

The soldiers and officers were somewhat dazed. They had slacked off and barely exerted themselves, yet they had won and defended the Songjiang River Dam, with Lu Jun being the biggest contributor throughout the entire engagement.

The Demon Hunting Mages, however, couldn't care less. Seeing the lake filled with crocodile corpses, their eyes burned with greed. What were they risking their lives for in Demon Hunting if not for wealth?

Tang Yue paused for a moment, then turned to the assembled Mages. "Lu Jun contributed the most this time, so he gets half the share of the corpses. Additionally, that General-level corpse from the Advancement Period belongs to him."

Upon hearing this, the others nodded, unconcerned. They had managed to avoid any casualties, and that was a pure profit.

The hunters began to enter the lake, continuously salvaging the Crocodile Demon corpses and extracting materials. The crocodile hides were incredibly tough; even without being crafted into Magic Tools, simply wearing them provided considerable defense.

As the twenty-meter-long giant crocodile was hauled ashore, Lu Jun saw it and smiled at his sister. "The hide is flexible; it can be made into an Armor Magic Tool."

Unexpectedly, Lu Mei wasn't interested. Shaking her head, she said, "I'm almost High-level. This would only make an Intermediate level Armor Magic Tool at best, and it would cost a fortune. Forget it."

"However," she added with a smile, tapping her brother's forehead with a slender finger, "it's thoughtful of you, you little rascal."

Lu Jun's heart fluttered, and he recalled his sister's lap pillow from three months ago.

Once everyone had finished dealing with the materials, they found themselves with nothing to do. During this time, a large truck drove in. A regular soldier loaded the materials onto it. There was no fear of them being pocketed; these served as proof of military merit.

Tang Yue was about to say something when her expression suddenly changed. She opened her communicator, listened, and then, after closing it, said with a grimace, "Things are not looking good. The Huangpu Crocodile Demons are no longer heading this way; they're focusing their full assault on another dam."

"They've already broken through the defenses and entered the city outskirts along the streams and rivers. Reinforcements are needed there."

Several people exchanged glances. Demonic Beasts weren't stupid; if one area was difficult to breach, they would find a weaker point.

Someone asked, "What should we do? Continue with our orders to suppress them, or go for reinforcements? If we go to help, this area will be empty again. What if we're ambushed?"

Hearing this, Tang Yue also hesitated.

Lu Jun suddenly spoke up, "Why don't we leave three or four people here? You, me, and my sister are enough. Even if a thousand more Crocodile Demons come, we can handle them. There's no need to waste manpower."

As he spoke, everyone's eyes lit up, and they nodded. They had indeed slacked off a bit during the previous battle. Lu Jun alone was sufficient, and his combat power had been witnessed by all; he was trustworthy.

The leader of the Military Mages gave the college student Lu Jun a deep look and decisively said, "Alright, that's the plan. Maintain communication at all times. If you can't hold on, request reinforcements."

Chapter 88: Water Shield Level Four

Shortly after, the officers led a team of over sixty Intermediate Mages away.

Lu Jun nodded as he watched everyone depart. Flood disasters accompanied by invading Flood Demons were the most troublesome, far more difficult to deal with than Demonic Beast tribes on land. Underground water systems were interconnected, with gaps and vulnerabilities everywhere.

Those Demon Hunting teams, the Adjudication Court, and the defense forces were constantly rushing to put out fires. The Crocodile Demons held the initiative. This was likely another reason why the Magic City's Super level Mages weren't intervening; combat power wasn't always the deciding factor. Once the Crocodile Tribe retreated into the Deep River, no amount of manpower could reach them.

Furthermore, Lu Jun also considered his own performance. With others present, he couldn't go all out. While the Gold Element and Mind Element were subtle, using Intermediate level Magic would make them noticeable, so caution was necessary.

Only Lu Mei and Tang Yue were trustworthy. The former knew pretty much everything, while the latter was experienced and might even imagine some super Magic Tool.

The three of them remained in place, exchanging smiles before sitting down cross-legged to recover their Magic Energy.

News poured in from all directions; the situation was dire. The floodwaters were rising, requiring large numbers of Earth Element Mages, even tens of thousands of people, to plug the breaches and construct temporary dams.

Lu Jun was immersed in his Spiritual World. The Water Element's Azure Star Nebula had only recovered to about half its capacity when he suddenly felt a disturbance in his mind.

"Hehehe, they'll come back as soon as everyone leaves. Demonic Beasts are truly cunning."

He sneered but didn't act. His spiritual sense detected a faint dark shadow lurking underwater beneath the ferry crossing, seemingly gathering intelligence. It was a scout from the Crocodile Demon tribe.

Therefore, Lu Jun didn't attack. Killing a few Crocodile Demons would only alert them. It was better to set a trap and wait for the prey to walk into it.

He then sent a telepathic message to the two mature and steady elder sisters beside him: "Crocodile Demons are coming. Don't make a sound."

The two women were sharp and intelligent. They maintained their meditation outwardly while subtly controlling their Star Maps, ready at any moment.

Lu Jun, meanwhile, began his preparations. The dark green Curse Element Star Nebula released its Magic Energy, weaving invisible nets across the lake and dam, visible only to souls.

Gurgle, gurgle!

After an unknown amount of time, bubbles began to rise from the ferry crossing. Unbeknownst to them, the lake had become slightly deeper. The Crocodile Demons had gathered another seven to eight hundred of their kind, though there were no longer any General-level creatures from the Advancement Period among them.

Lu Jun secretly marveled at this number, realizing the Huangpu Crocodile Tribe was not simple. There might even be a Commander Rank from the Advancement Period among them, with tens of thousands of subordinates.

Splash!

The three on the dam remained as still as mountains. Suddenly, the lake churned violently, creating a thirty-meter-high tidal wave that surged towards the dam, nearly submerging the shore.

Lu Jun's eyes snapped open in surprise. Crocodile Demons prioritized physique and close combat. They were rare amphibious Demonic Beasts, but since when did they possess such water-controlling abilities?

If they had this power before, why would they have been strung up and beaten by a few Water Element Mages with no room to resist?

At this moment, Lu Jun had no time to think. He rapidly controlled his Star Seeds, reaching a state of "thought-to-star-orbit." He cast three Level 3 Water Shields - Cycle on himself, his sister, and Tang Yue.

Hummm! The air's moisture was drawn in, rapidly weaving into several shimmering, bright blue silk ribbons of water that coiled around the three of them.

Lu Mei and Tang Yue also reacted swiftly, unleashing the Intermediate level Magic they had prepared.

Demonic Wind - Wind Disk - Tear! Sparrow Flame - Fierce Fist - Nine Palaces!

The two women's auras surged, their presence becoming imposing. First, a twenty-meter-high, pure white tornado shot into the sky, its rapidly spinning, cutting wind blades slicing the towering tidal wave in half with a 'poof,' sending water splashing everywhere and a downpour of rain.

Then, Tang Yue unleashed nine ferocious, flame-spewing dragons that collided with the tidal lake. A continuous sea of fire erupted, accompanied by crackling sounds. Water vapor evaporated, and large patches of white mist filled the air, causing the temperature in the area to rise sharply, turning it from humid to dry.

However, before the three could relax, they saw a line of white appear at the river mouth leading into the lake in the distance. It approached rapidly, revealing itself to be another thirty-meter tide, moving at extreme speed.

The next moment, a sky-shattering giant wave crashed down. Millions of tons of water surged, slamming into Lu Jun and the others, sending them flying. Not only that, but the tidal wave seemed to have a life of its own, pulling back into the lake.

The water swept the three of them back into the sea, and they were powerless to resist.

Anyone who has played in the ocean knows that a tide reaching their ankles can make it hard to stand on the shore. If it reaches waist-high, it's life-threatening. If you're swept away, the more you struggle, the farther you get from shore. The best course of action is to keep breathing and conserve energy to save yourself.

If the wave is higher than a person, there's no hope. Just wait for death.

This ten-zhang high flood that didn't kill the three on the spot was a testament to the power of the Tide·Water Shield·Cycle.

Of course, the moment Lu Jun fell into the water, his Cycle couldn't withstand the impact and completely collapsed, scattering into countless wisps of azure water droplets. A large amount of water rushed into his mouth, nose, and eyes. His eyes felt dry, and he instinctively closed them. His nose and mouth burned, and he began to suffocate.

Furthermore, the churning lake water caused his body to sway, making him lose his sense of direction. Even through his telepathy, he could sense the shadows of massive Crocodile Demons approaching from all sides of the lakebed.

A stone sank in Lu Jun's heart. This was troublesome. A human Mage fighting Demonic Beasts at the bottom of the lake would be utterly thrashed.

If he were at the High-level, he could have easily saved his sister and the others by either using his Water Element domain to control the tide or by casting the High-level Magic Water Glory Sky Curtain. As it was, he could barely save himself.

There was no choice. Lu Jun's Primary Magic, Water Shield, though at Level 3, was only good for resisting small winds and rain or shielding against downpours. It was far from being able to breathe underwater or move freely in the depths where Demonic Beasts stirred up trouble.

This operation was clearly not a simple crocodile rampage; a powerful Great Demon with control over water was assisting. Water Element Mages below the Intermediate level were somewhat powerless.

"I can't wait any longer."

He endured the pain of water entering his mouth and nose and made a decision in an instant. His thoughts guided two complete spirit cores from the White Tiger Pendant into his Azure Star Nebula of the Water Element. It might be profitable to sell them for ten million, but life was worth more.

Plink, plink!

Two crisp sounds followed. Within the Azure Star Nebula, seven Star Seeds, two larger than the others, revolved around the vortex. A powerful yet gentle Magic Energy surged out.

Lu Jun clearly felt his affinity for Water Element increasing, his body seemingly drenched in immortal dew, transforming into water. The next time he cast the six-stage Overlord Wave, it would be easier to control.

Immediately, he quickly used telepathy to lock onto his sister Lu Mei and Tang Yue's figures. He controlled the Star Orbit with his thoughts and unleashed the Level 4 [Water Shield·Mysterious Flood Dragon]!

The instinct from the Water Element Nebula suggested that Level 4 Water Element Magic was more focused on self-enhancement.

Buzz!

Lu Jun's physique erupted in a layer of azure light, and a surge of majestic water vapor emanated from his body. His fair skin was covered in fine, shimmering illusory scales that condensed into an inner armor, appearing hard and indestructible, reflecting light.

An external Water Cloak was added, woven from several thick streams of water, like a massive azure serpent coiling around him, guarding him from all sides.

Chapter 89: Yangtze River White Sturgeon Demon

Lu Jun felt a strange sensation, as if the illusory scales, like dragon skin, extended all the way to his jaw. Suddenly, he awakened a deep-seated human talent called "Fetal Breathing," also known as underwater breathing.

Human infants are surrounded by amniotic fluid in the womb and do not suffocate. Upon birth, they instinctively possess superb swimming skills. These innate abilities vanish as they grow.

Now, with the help of the Level 4 Water Shield·Mysterious Flood Dragon, they were all recovered.

Furthermore, Lu Jun felt that the surging tides from the lakebed no longer seemed so unstoppable. It was as if he were a fish in water, able to clearly discern the use of each wave and control his body with the changing currents. Gravity seemed to disappear, and he felt even more agile than on land.

In an instant, his body, which had been tumbling in the boiling water, straightened. He stood calmly at the bottom of the lake. Though seemingly still, the azure serpent water streams of his cloak were constantly shifting, and the illusory scales on his body trembled.

The pain in his mouth and nose, the dryness in his eyes, all vanished. His breathing became smooth, and the air he inhaled from the water felt fresh.

Lu Jun didn't have time to savor the feeling. He immediately controlled his Star Seeds, and two streams of water emerged from each of his hands, piercing through the murky tides to reach his sister Lu Mei and Tang Yue.

The two azure water streams faintly resembled giant pythons. Upon touching any part of the two women, they rapidly spread, like Iron Man's suit, with shimmering dragon scales spreading inch by inch from their waists or backs, covering their entire bodies.

The giant pythons actively embraced and coiled, forming a special water shield that enveloped them on the outermost layer.

The next moment, Lu Mei and the other woman seemed to instinctively know what to do. They quickly straightened their bodies, their buoyancy causing their dresses to float up, revealing their plump, slender legs. The long, slender tail of the azure serpent water stream clung tightly to them.

Then, with a swift movement like a mermaid's, they shot away at high speed, calmly evading the charging Crocodile Demons.

Seeing this, Lu Jun breathed a sigh of relief. With his two sisters safe, he had no further concerns. A Servant-level Crocodile Demon, eight to nine meters long, charged at him with immense force.

He wanted to test the power of the Level 4 Water Shield and did not cast any magic to defend himself.

Thump!

As expected, the giant crocodile's gaping maw clamped down on his arm, but it was repelled by the swift water streams of the azure serpent. Not only did it fail to break his skin, but it couldn't even penetrate the outer water defense.

"Not bad. It was worth spending ten million to enhance it."

Lu Jun was delighted. Originally, his Level 3 Water Shield, enhanced by the Tidal Spirit Seed, could withstand an attack from an Advancement Period Servant-level beast. Now, it could even withstand a few attacks from a General-level beast. Coupled with the Magic Tool [Mysterious Black Tortoise Shell Shield], he was completely safe.

Buzz!

Seven or eight giant crocodiles surged around him, kicking up white spray as they attacked.

Seeing this, Lu Jun snorted coldly. He reached out and a Vibranium Heavy Sword appeared. He activated the Level 4 Weapon Forging·Shock and casually swung it. A beam of white-gold light, over ten zhang long, shot towards the sky. Wherever it passed, the tides churned in layers.

Splash!

With a single sword strike, the powerful shockwave forcibly pushed aside the lake water on both sides, creating a vacuum trench that split the lake surface in two. Sunlight streamed in.

Of course, there were also a series of dull cutting sounds. Thick blood diffused through the lake water. The seven or eight Servant-level Crocodile Demons, upon slight contact, had their skin torn open, and some were even cut in half on the spot.

Lu Jun pushed back the surrounding crocodiles, kicked his legs, and flexibly squeezed through the gap, surfacing. He looked into the distance, his telepathic intent immediately capturing the center of the crocodile swarm.

Several small, short fish-like demons stood on their hind legs. They were smooth and pure white, covered in fine white scales, with webbed fins on their limbs. Their heads were peculiar, with pointed mouths like swords piercing the sky.

"Yangtze River White Sturgeon Demon!"

Seeing this, Lu Jun's mind immediately recalled the various Demonic Beast intelligence his sister had collected, and he identified these creatures.

His expression turned cold. So the water waves just now were caused by the White Sturgeon Demon. This Demonic Beast had a weak physique, not much stronger than a human Mage. Its only strength was its powerful Water Element control, and it often accompanied many Lords along the Yangtze River, acting as an advisor.

Whenever the flood season arrived, the White Sturgeon Demon was the first to brew the Tide.

"No wonder hundreds of Crocodile Demons dared to provoke me. They brought an 'advisor.' The Huangpu Crocodile Tribe was indeed incited."

Lu Jun had initially intended to use the Intermediate level Water Element skill, Raging Waves, but he gave up upon seeing the White Sturgeon Demon. The combined Water Element control of several General-level White Sturgeon Demons was enough to obliterate Raging Waves.

On the other side, Lu Mei and Tang Yue spread out, already activating their Intermediate level Magic to fend off the surging crocodile horde. The two of them couldn't fully utilize their abilities in the water, and their Earth Element and Fire Element Magic were suppressed.

In the distance, the White Sturgeon Demons revealed sinister smiles. Their intelligence was clearly far superior to the Crocodile Demons.

"Heh heh, you think this is all I can do to you?"

Facing the perilous situation, Lu Jun remained completely calm. With a thought, he activated the [Curse Mark · Evil Spider Trap · Weaving Net] he had just laid.

Buzz buzz buzz!

Suddenly, clusters of dark green evil claws appeared silently on the surging, boiling lake surface, like vast, eerie green nets opening to scoop the water.

Roar roar roar! A portion of the dense, flashing black light from the crocodile horde stiffened, ensnared by an unknown Curse Net that captured their souls. Complex dark green Curse Marks appeared on their backs.

The few General-level White Sturgeon Demons at the center discovered with horror that they had been covered by countless wisps of the dark green network without knowing when. Their souls ached intensely, their flesh was corroded with a 'sizzling' sound, and a Curse Mark also appeared on their foreheads.

They could no longer use their Water Element control to stir up waves.

This wasn't the end. Facing the attack of several loyal General-level Giant Crocodiles who were busy protecting their master, Lu Jun sneered. His eyes turned black and white, and a transparent Star Map materialized behind him.

He used his Intermediate level Mind Element Magic for the first time.

[Second Realm · Xin Lian · Mind Control]!