"Look!" someone suddenly shouted, pointing at the lake, which had been churned into a muddy mess by the battle. "Those crocodile demons are retreating!"
Countless giant crocodile corpses bobbed on the lake, glinting with dark light. Beneath the water, massive shadows swam through the gaps and quietly withdrew, occasionally bumping into the corpses of their companions.
The remaining three hundred or so crocodile demons retreated along the river, returning to the main channel of the Huangpu River.
More than seven hundred corpses remained behind. It could certainly be called a rout.
The soldiers and officers felt as if they were dreaming. They had merely gone through the motions and hardly contributed at all, yet they had actually won and defended the Songjiang River Dam. Throughout the battle, Lu Jun had contributed the most.
The Monster Hunting Mages, however, did not care about that. Seeing the crocodile corpses floating across the lake, their eyes burned with excitement. Why else would they risk hunting demon beasts if not for money?
Tang Yue stood dazed for a moment before turning to the assembled mages. "Lu Jun contributed the most this time, so he gets half the corpses. In addition, that Advancement Period General-level corpse belongs to him."
Hearing this, the others nodded without objection. As long as none of them died, they had already made a pure profit.
The hunters began entering the lake, constantly hauling up crocodile demon corpses and cutting apart their materials. The crocodile hide was extremely tough. Even without being made into a magic tool, it possessed formidable defensive power when worn on the body.
The twenty-meter-long giant crocodile was hauled up. When Lu Jun saw it, he smiled and said to his sister, "Crocodile hide is flexible. It can be made into an Armor Magic Tool."
Unexpectedly, Lu Mei was not interested. She shook her head. "I'm almost High-level. At most, it could be made into an Intermediate-level Armor Magic Tool, and it would cost a fortune. Forget it."
"Still..." She smiled brightly and reached out to tap her brother's forehead with a fair fingertip. "At least you put some thought into it, you little brat."
Lu Jun's heart stirred as he recalled his sister's lap pillow from three months ago.
Once everyone had finished processing the materials, they suddenly had nothing to do. During that time, a large truck drove in. An ordinary soldier loaded the materials onto it and hauled them away. No one would dare to pocket them, since they served as proof of their battle achievements.
Tang Yue had just opened her mouth to say something when her expression suddenly changed. She opened her communicator and listened. After shutting it off, she said grimly, "This is bad. The Huangpu Crocodile Demons have stopped coming this way and are attacking another dam with all their strength."
"They've already broken through the defenses and entered the city suburbs along the streams. That area needs reinforcements."
Several people exchanged glances. Demon beasts were not idiots. If this place was too difficult to break through, they would simply seek out a weaker point.
Someone asked, "What should we do? Continue suppressing them according to orders, or go help? If we reinforce them, this place will be left empty again. What if we're ambushed?"
Tang Yue hesitated upon hearing that.
Lu Jun suddenly said, "How about leaving three or four people here? You, me, and my sister will be enough. Even if another thousand crocodile demons come, we can still suppress them. There's no need to waste manpower."
His words made everyone's eyes light up, and they nodded. They had actually held back during the battle. Lu Jun alone was enough. They had witnessed his strength and found him trustworthy.
The Military Mage commander took a deep look at Lu Jun, the university student, and decisively said, "Good. We'll arrange it that way. Maintain communications at all times. If you can't hold out, request reinforcements."
Water Shield · Fourth Level
Before long, the officer led more than sixty Intermediate Mages away.
Lu Jun nodded as he watched them leave. Flood Demons accompanying floods were the most troublesome. They were a hundred times harder to deal with than demon hordes on land. Underground waterways stretched in every direction, leaving gaps and vulnerabilities everywhere.
The Monster Hunting Squads, the Adjudication Court, and Wei Fang were rushing around to put out fires. The crocodile tribe held the initiative. Perhaps this was another reason the Super Rank Mages of Magic City did not act. Combat strength was not always the most important factor. Once the Crocodile Tribe hid in the Deep River, no amount of manpower could help.
Lu Jun had also considered the matter of displaying his strength. With other people here, he could not fight at full power. The Metal Element and Mind Element were subtle, but using Intermediate Magic would make them rather obvious. It was better to be cautious.
Only Lu Mei and Tang Yue were trustworthy. The former knew almost everything, while the latter had broad experience and might instead imagine that he possessed some kind of super magic tool.
The three remained where they were, smiled at one another, and sat cross-legged to recover their magic energy.
News arrived from all directions. The situation was worsening. The floodwaters were rising, requiring large numbers of Earth Element Mages. Tens of thousands of people even had to use their bodies to block the water and build temporary embankments.
Lu Jun immersed himself in the Spiritual World. The Azure Star Nebula of his Water Element had only just recovered halfway when his mind stirred and he sensed something strange.
"Heh. They came back the moment everyone left. Demon beasts really are cunning."
He gave a cold laugh but did not attack. His mental will spied a faint shadow circling beneath the ferry crossing. It seemed to be gathering information—the scout of the crocodile demon tribe.
Therefore, Lu Jun did not act. Killing a few crocodile demons would only alert the enemy. It was better to lay a net, prepare the trap, and wait for the prey to walk into it.
He used Mind Telepathy to quietly tell the two mature and dependable older sisters beside him, "Crocodile demons are coming. Don't make a sound."
Both women were exceptionally clever. On the surface, they continued meditating, while secretly controlling their Star Charts and preparing for action.
Lu Jun began setting up the trap. The dark-green Curse Element Star Nebula released magic energy, weaving invisible nets across the lake and the dam. Only souls could see them.
Gurgle, gurgle!
No one knew how much time passed. Bubbles began rising from the ferry crossing. Before they realized it, the lake had grown somewhat deeper. The crocodile horde had summoned another seven or eight hundred crocodile demons, though there was no Advancement Period General-level demon among them.
Seeing their numbers, Lu Jun was secretly alarmed. The Huangpu crocodile horde was no simple force. There might even be an Advancement Period Commander-level demon among them, with tens of thousands of clansmen under its command.
Crash!
The three people on the dam remained as motionless as mountains. Suddenly, the lake surged violently, raising a thirty-meter-high, earth-shaking wave that slammed toward the dam. The flood nearly swallowed the shore.
Lu Jun opened his eyes in shock. Crocodile demons were known for their physical strength and melee combat. They were rare amphibious demon beasts, but when had they gained such powerful control over water?
If they had possessed it earlier, why would they have been beaten so helplessly by the few Water Element Mages?
There was no time to think. Lu Jun quickly controlled the stars, almost reaching the level of One Thought Star Track. Three Level Three Water Shield · Cycle spells in succession reinforced himself, his sister, and Tang Yue.
Buzz, buzz, buzz. The moisture in the air was drawn out and quickly intertwined into several bright azure water ribbons that coiled around their bodies.
Lu Mei and Tang Yue reacted quickly as well, releasing the Intermediate Magic they had prepared.
Demonic Wind · Wind Disc · Tear! Sparrow Flame · Fierce Fist · Nine Palaces!
The women's auras surged, their bearing becoming fierce and unrestrained. First, a twenty-meter-high, pale-white tornado shot into the sky. Its rapidly rotating, slicing wind blades split the towering wave in two with a sharp hiss, sending water splashing and rain pouring down everywhere.
Then Tang Yue released nine flaming flood dragons with ferocious claws and fangs. They collided with the tidal lake surface, creating a continuous sea of scorching fire. Hissing filled the air as the water evaporated into thick white mist, causing the temperature in the area to soar and transforming the damp air into dryness.
However, before the three could relax, a line of white appeared in the river channel at the distant lake entrance. It rapidly approached, revealing another thirty-meter-high tide.
The next moment, an earth-shaking wave crashed down. Millions of tons of water swept over them, violently sending Lu Jun and the others flying. Worse, the wave seemed alive, drawing them back toward the lake.
The water wrapped around the three and forcibly dragged them into the lake. They had no power to resist.
Anyone who had played in the sea knew that even ankle-deep tides could make someone lose their footing on the shore. Once the water reached the waist, it was certainly life-threatening. If someone was swept away, resisting would only take them farther from shore. The best thing was to preserve their breathing and strength and save themselves.
If the waves rose above a person's head, there was no hope. They could only wait to die.
The ten-zhang-high flood before them had not killed the three on the spot, which already demonstrated the power of Tide · Water Shield · Cycle.
Of course, the moment Lu Jun fell into the water, the Cycle around him finally failed to withstand the impact and completely collapsed, scattering into countless azure droplets. A huge amount of water rushed into his nose, mouth, and eyes. His eyes grew dry, and he instinctively shut them. His nose and mouth burned as he began to suffocate.
Furthermore, the lake churned without end, making his body spin and robbing him of any sense of direction. Through his mental perception, he could even sense massive crocodile shadows approaching from all around the lakebed.
Lu Jun's heart sank. This was troublesome. Human mages fighting demon beasts on the lakebed would be beaten to a pulp.
If he were High-level, he could easily save his sisters, whether by using his Water Element Domain to control the elements and neutralize the tide, or by using the High-level Magic Water Glory Sky Curtain. For now, he could only protect himself.
There was nothing he could do. Although Lu Jun's Primary Water Shield was at Level Three, it was only good for resisting small winds and waves or shielding against heavy rain. It was still far from allowing him to breathe underwater and move freely beneath the surface while demon beasts stirred up the water.
This operation clearly was not merely the crocodile horde causing trouble. A powerful demon beast skilled in controlling water was assisting them. Water Element Mages below the Intermediate Level were at a disadvantage.
"I can't wait any longer."
He endured the pain of water flooding his nose and mouth. In an instant, he made his decision. His thoughts guided two complete Essences from the White Tiger Pendant into the azure Water Element Star Nebula. Selling them for ten million would have been profitable, but his life was worth more.
Pop! Pop!
Two crisp sounds rang out in succession. Seven stars, each twice as large as before, revolved around the vortex within the Azure Star Nebula. Powerful yet gentle magic energy surged forth.
Lu Jun clearly felt his affinity with the Water Element rising steadily. His body seemed to be soaked in immortal dew, transforming into flowing water. The sixfold stacked Storm Wave he cast next would be easier to control.
Immediately afterward, he used mental perception to lock onto the figures of Lu Mei and Tang Yue. He controlled the Star Track with a thought and released the fourth-level [Water Shield · Profound Flood Dragon]!
The instinct transmitted by the Water Element Star Nebula seemed to indicate that the fourth-level Water Element Magic mainly acted upon the caster himself.
Buzz!
An azure glow blossomed over Lu Jun's body. Vast water vapor surged from within him. Fine, crystalline Illusion Scales spread across his fair skin, condensing into inner armor. They looked hard and indestructible, reflecting dazzling light.
An outer layer of Water Windbreaker formed as well. Several thick streams of water intertwined like a huge azure serpent wrapped around his body, coiling before and behind him and protecting everything.
Lu Jun found it strange. The Illusion Scales, resembling dragon hide, extended all the way to his cheeks. Suddenly, he awakened a long-hidden human talent known as "embryonic breathing," or underwater breathing.
Human infants could remain inside the placenta in their mother's womb, surrounded by amniotic fluid without suffocating. After birth, they could instinctively swim with astonishing skill. As they grew, these instinctive abilities vanished without a trace.
Now, with the help of the fourth-level Water Shield · Profound Flood Dragon, they had all returned.
Moreover, Lu Jun felt that the waves surging around the lakebed were no longer as unstoppable. It was as if he had become a fish in water. He could clearly distinguish the purpose of each current, adapt to changes in the water, and control his body freely. Gravity seemed to have vanished, making him even more agile than on land.
In an instant, his body, which had been tumbling through the boiling water, straightened and stood calmly on the lakebed. Although he appeared motionless, the azure serpent of water around his body kept changing, and the Illusion Scales on his skin trembled constantly.
The pain in his nose and mouth and the dryness in his eyes completely vanished. His breathing became smooth, and the air within the water that he inhaled was fresh.
Lu Jun had no time to study the sensation carefully. He immediately controlled the stars. Two streams of water surged from his hands and passed through the turbid tide, reaching Lu Mei and Tang Yue respectively.
The two azure streams vaguely took the shape of giant pythons. The moment they touched any part of the women's bodies, they rapidly spread, as though Iron Man's armor had covered them. Crystal dragon scales extended inch by inch from their waists and backs, covering their entire bodies.
The giant pythons actively coiled around them, forming a special water shield that covered the outermost layer.
The next moment, Lu Mei and Tang Yue seemed to understand instinctively. They quickly straightened their bodies. Buoyancy lifted their skirts, revealing their long, full, slender legs, while the long tails of azure serpents clung tightly to them.
They then moved like mermaids. With a whoosh, they shot away at great speed, calmly avoiding the crocodile demons charging at them.
Seeing this, Lu Jun let out a sigh of relief. With his two sisters safe, he had no more worries. An eight- or nine-meter-long Servant-level crocodile demon charged toward him, carrying tremendous force.
Wanting to test the strength of the fourth-level Water Shield, he did not release any magic to block it.
Boom!
As expected, the giant crocodile's gaping jaws clamped onto his arm, only to be knocked back by the turbulent water around the azure serpent. It could not even break through the outer water defense, let alone injure his skin.
"Not bad. That million was worth spending to strengthen it."
Lu Jun was delighted. His Level Three Water Shield, strengthened by the Tidal Spirit Seed, could already withstand a blow from an Advancement Period Servant-level demon. Now, it could endure several attacks from a General-level demon as well. With the [Mysterious Black Tortoise Shell Shield], he was completely safe.
Buzz!
Seven or eight giant crocodiles surged viciously from all around, raising white sprays as they charged.
Lu Jun snorted coldly. He reached out, and a Vibranium Heavy Sword appeared in his hand. The fourth-level Forge · Vibration activated. With a casual slash, a dozen-zhang-long streak of Platinum Glow shot into the sky. Wherever it passed, the tide churned and folded over itself.
Crash!
The sword's powerful vibrations forcibly parted the lake on both sides, carving out a vacuum trench. The surface split in two, allowing sunlight to shine through.
Along with it came a series of muffled sounds as flesh was cut. Thick blood spread through the water. The seven or eight Servant-level crocodile demons were torn open at the slightest touch, and some were even cleaved in half on the spot.
After knocking back the nearby crocodile horde, Lu Jun swept his legs and agilely slipped through the gap, breaking the surface. He looked into the distance, and his mental will immediately detected the center surrounded by the crocodile horde.
Several short fish demons stood upright. Their bodies were smooth and pure white, covered in fine white scales. Their limbs ended in webbed fins, while their heads were strange, with pointed mouths resembling a long sword stabbing into the sky.
"Yangtze River White Sturgeon Demons!"
At this sight, Lu Jun immediately recalled the various demon beast reports his sister had collected and identified them.
His expression turned cold. So the White Sturgeon Demons had been behind the waves. Their bodies were weak, no stronger than human mages, but their ability to control water was truly formidable. They often accompanied many Rulers of the Yangtze River, serving as military advisers.
Whenever the flood season arrived, the White Sturgeon Demons were the first to brew the tides.
"No wonder hundreds of crocodile demons dared to provoke me. They brought a 'military adviser.' The Huangpu crocodile tribe was clearly incited."
Lu Jun had originally wanted to use the Water Element Intermediate Magic Storm Wave, but abandoned the idea after seeing the White Sturgeon Demons. Several General-level White Sturgeon Demons working together possessed enough water-controlling power to erase the Storm Wave.
Elsewhere, Lu Mei and Tang Yue had separated and were already using Intermediate Magic to resist the surging crocodile horde. The two could not move freely underwater, and their Earth Element and Fire Element Magic was suppressed.
In the distance, the White Sturgeon Demons revealed sinister smiles. Their intelligence was clearly far greater than that of the crocodile demons.
"Heh. Do you really think I can't hit you like this?"
Facing the crisis, Lu Jun remained completely calm. With a thought, he activated the [Curse Mark · Evil Spider Trap · Web Weaving] he had just set up.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Suddenly, clusters of dark-green demonic claws descended silently onto the violently churning lake surface. They spread out like faintly glowing green webs, reaching down toward the water.
Roar, roar, roar! Some of the densely packed crocodile demons, their bodies flashing with dark light, stiffened as their souls were caught by the mysterious Curse Net. Complicated dark-green Curse Marks appeared across their backs.
The several General-level White Sturgeon Demons in the very center were horrified to discover that they had somehow been covered by countless layers of ghostly green webs. Their souls ached terribly, while their bodies were corroded with hissing sounds. A Curse Mark appeared on each of their foreheads as well.
They could no longer control the water or stir up waves.
That was not all. Several loyal General-level giant crocodiles, rushing over to protect their masters, attacked. Lu Jun gave a cold laugh. His eyes turned black and white, while a transparent Star Chart formed behind him.
It was his first time using Mind Element Intermediate Magic.
[Second Realm · Mind Ripple · Mind Control]!
Before you continue