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

At this moment, Lu Jun only felt his vision go black, and his consciousness was squeezed into a small corner of the Spiritual World, feeling like he was being pressed down in his sleep. He knew, could see, and could touch, but he couldn't control his own body.

Beside him, a consciousness like a colossal entity occupied the space, exuding a dangerous and powerful aura.

But he didn't struggle, suppressing his instinct to resist, and quietly stayed put, observing Ding Yumian's actions.

On the other side, Ding Yumian had a different experience. Her consciousness was thrust into an unusual body, which felt heavy yet full of vitality. In the Spiritual World, she saw a brilliant expanse of stars.

Four nebulae—platinum, azure, dark green, and transparent—intertwined, shining in mutual brilliance.

Ding Yumian didn't pry. Her consciousness focused on the transparent nebula of the Mind Element. To be precise, she could only control the Magic Energy of the Mind Element; she couldn't interfere with other Magic Element nebulae.

Perhaps it was because her mind and Lu Jun's had been in constant opposition, making them intimately familiar with each other.

She opened her eyes and stiffly raised her hand. It was Lu Jun's hand, fair and slender, nourished by Water Element Magic Energy, its skin no less delicate than a woman's.

This was fine, but what she felt below was different. Through the knowledge from those scraps, she immediately understood what it was. Her soul flickered and trembled, filled with immense shyness. She couldn't help but wonder how men walked without getting caught on this thing.

Ding Yumian mused for a while before finally calming down and beginning to control the body to walk. In just a few minutes, she went from awkwardness to perfect fluidity. She knew Lu Jun's body inside and out, intimately.

Then, she controlled the physical body and sat down cross-legged, meditating on the nebulae, grasping the Star Seeds, and mobilizing her mental power and the Mind Element.

Lu Jun had granted her full access to these permissions, even assisting her from the side.

Soon, Ding Yumian's first attempt revealed an unprecedented dryness. The Mind Element Magic Energy was too dormant, making it incredibly difficult to grasp even a wisp of it. It was also extremely weak and shallow, less than a small puddle.

For the first time, she understood the vast difference between her "talent" for controlling mental power as naturally as breathing and the endowments of ordinary people.

Fortunately, Ding Yumian's talent was undeniable. Having possessed it before, it was almost ingrained as instinct. She gradually adapted and, step by step, refined her control over her thoughts.

On the transparent nebula, a mass of pale white light writhed and shifted unpredictably. Under Ding Yumian's control, various shapes appeared in succession, as if she were kneading dough, her will as her command.

Lu Jun was now quite astonished. In the same body, the other person's control was far superior to his own. Simultaneously, he was receiving continuous feedback. Once he re-entered his physical body, his control over the Mind Element would likely improve significantly.

"That's enough. Guide the seven Servant-level Essence Spirits into the nebula, and I'll try it."

Lu Jun's consciousness suddenly understood a stream of mental information. The two were connected heart to heart, their tacit understanding extraordinary. He mobilized the seven Essence Spirits from the White Tiger Pendant to enter the nebula, while Ding Yumian was responsible for shaping them.

Hummm! The seven Star Seeds gradually expanded, transforming into Primary level four, and a new surge of Magic Energy emerged.

Following her own experience of splitting her soul into multiple fragments, Ding Yumian solemnly began to divide and reshape this Magic Energy.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Jun felt the pressure ease. His consciousness flowed out from the corner and regained dominance. He opened his eyes and saw Ding Yumian's beautiful, delicate face opposite him, filled with exhaustion.

She said, "It's done, but it's only the shaping of Mind Element Magic Energy, not including your consciousness and soul's origin. I'm afraid the actual effect will be quite different."

Chapter 99: White Moonlight, Red Rose

Hearing this, Lu Jun didn't mind. He knew very well that it couldn't possibly reach the level of Ding Yumian's Calamity Bringer talent, that of multiple soul fragments.

After all, it was just a Primary level four magic effect. If it were that easy to achieve, wouldn't that mean a Mind Calamity Bringer had appeared, and every Mind Mage could replicate such talent?

He didn't ask for too much, but the insights from the Mind Element feedback brought him pleasant surprise.

Mind Primary level four magic [Ling Yi · Multiple Personality Mask].

Its effect was similar to [Multiple Soul Fragments], but it didn't truly split the soul's origin into multiple parts, nor did it have separate personalities and minds, nor special divinity. It constructed "illusory souls" through magical effects.

In essence, it was worlds apart from the Calamity Bringer talent, but the effect it presented was what Lu Jun desired.

These virtual souls were like blank canvases, ready to be doodled on and filled with "content."

For example, after he controlled Star Seeds to cast magic, he could put on layers of disguises for his soul. When another Mind Mage's consciousness probed, they wouldn't see a Spiritual World with four elements—platinum, azure, dark green, and transparent—shimmering with Intermediate level nebulae.

Instead, they would see the fake virtual souls Lu Jun had created. It could be Primary level Stardust, Intermediate level nebulae, one element, two elements, three elements, Fire Element, Ice Element, Water Element, and so on.

From now on, he would be safe. As long as his spiritual realm was high enough, even if he visited the Holy City and was inspected by several archangels, he would still be deemed a "good person"!

Furthermore, when Lu Jun fought against Mind Mages, even if a High-level Soul Control hit him, if their spiritual realm wasn't high enough to detect the virtual souls, they would only control the superficial virtual personality. He would remain hidden in the deepest core, watching coldly, waiting for an opportune moment for a fatal backstab.

He could even deliberately edit memories and stories. After being mind-read, he could present a completely fake persona, or disguise himself as a Nightmare from the Curse Element to trick Mind Mages.

In summary, this skill's apparent effect was not obvious; it was specifically designed to counter Mind Mages.

At the very least, with it, Lu Jun would no longer feel so powerless when fighting Ding Yumian. He could at least put up a fight. Even if she painstakingly broke through his layers of mental defenses, it would still be unknown which soul disguise was his true self.

Seeing the boy's delighted expression, Ding Yumian pursed her lips, her eyes showing a hint of tenderness as she said, "As long as you think it's okay."

She also had her own insights and fell into thought. Her soul possessed a special nature; the Calamity Bringer talent for the Mind Element originated from the soul.

If her soul kept drilling into Lu Jun's body, wouldn't that, over time, modify his body and mental space, creating a soil suitable for the Calamity Bringer talent?

Coupled with Lu Jun's personal efforts, perhaps his innate talent could be elevated postnatally.

Anyway, it was her first time entering someone else's body, and she could clearly feel her soul constantly exchanging with the Mind Element nebulae, bit by bit contaminating the Mind Element nebulae. She wasn't sure if this was a good sign.

"Haha, thank you for your hard work. Thank you for accompanying me to hone my will."

Lu Jun said with genuine gratitude, then his heart itched, and he added, "How about we do it again?"

Don't misunderstand; the two were purely engaging in a mental battle.

This time, casting the Mind Primary level four magic yielded immediate results. Although his counterattack was still weak, he could barely protect himself.

Time flowed by unnoticed.

As the sun set, a man and a woman lay side-by-side by the lawn, gazing blankly at the sunset. The fiery red glow illuminated their faces, and an indescribable, ambiguous understanding permeated the air.

Since their souls had swapped, their relationship seemed to have broken another barrier, becoming even closer than a superficial romantic relationship.

A moment later, Lu Jun stood up, patted his butt, and said with a smile, "I'm leaving first."

The woman in the white dress slowly stood up and nodded gently, "I'll walk you out."

The two strolled across the campus, with a sky ablaze with sunset clouds in the background. The bustling crowds around them, a mix of noise and tranquility, painted a moving picture.

Finally, they reached the campus entrance. Lu Jun waved goodbye, and Ding Yumian stood still, gazing after him like a pure white chrysanthemum, serene and gentle.

Not long after, he returned home and opened his room door. Lu Mei was inside, wearing a conservative yet elegant black evening gown. The thin silk dress clung to her mature, voluptuous figure, accentuating her graceful, tall physique.

His sister seemed to have put in extra effort to dress up. Her beautiful and charming face bloomed into a smile. She twirled, lifting the hem of her skirt, and elegantly extended a hand covered by a black glove. A faint smile played on her lips as she said, "My little prince, I've been waiting for you."

Lu Jun was stunned. His eyes flickered with amazement. His sister was exceptionally beautiful today, mature, elegant, and alluring, like a mysterious and noble dark-blooming epiphyllum.

When a beautiful older sister invites you, who could resist?

He curled his lips and said, "You're messing with me, right?"

But Lu Jun's hand still reached out and took his sister's jade hand, which was covered by a black silk glove. He squeezed it slightly; it felt soft and boneless, the silk incredibly fine and smooth.

Lu Mei's smile deepened. She raised her hand and gestured, "Where is your kiss for my hand?"

He felt a bit awkward at the request, then heard his sister let out a soft hum, tinged with slight dissatisfaction.

"Alright, alright, you're the star tonight."

Lu Jun quickly nodded. Holding his sister's delicate hand, he lowered his head and gently kissed the back of her hand, smiling as he said, "Good evening, my beautiful Princess."

Seeing this, Lu Mei's face flushed. The moist touch on the back of her hand felt ticklish.

She withdrew her hand, hiding it behind her back, pretending not to care. Her jade feet in heeled sandals stepped out, and she said, "Let's go, I've booked a restaurant. I'll treat you to a good meal tonight."

It was a rare occasion to reach High-level Wind Element, so they went to celebrate, treating it as a way to relax after cultivation.

Lu Mei drove her off-road vehicle, taking Lu Jun straight to a renowned high-end restaurant. The siblings had a very enjoyable meal that evening.

Lu Jun couldn't remember the taste of the food, but the memory of his sister's every smile and glance was deeply etched in his mind.

On the way back, Lu Mei also awakened her Fire Element, managing all three simultaneously.

The night passed without incident.

In the days that followed, Lu Jun lived a life of routine: studying magic theory at the Academy to enrich his knowledge, cultivating with Ding Yumian, discussing the control of Wind Element magic with his sister at home, and when he had time, reporting for duty with the City Demon Hunting Squad to hunt demonic beasts in rivers, lakes, and seas.

Facing two beautiful women with distinct temperaments every day, his life was comfortable and fulfilling.

Two months flashed by, and the first semester of his freshman year ended.

Every mid-year, Pearl Academy would hold a large-scale assessment, the Advancement Assessment, to move from the Green Campus to the Main Campus.

Strictly speaking, Pearl Academy didn't have grade levels, only two major campuses.

The Green Campus was merely a transition, while the Main Campus was where the real competition took place. Students could stay in the Green Campus for a period, with no specific limit, depending on the individual. If they stayed for more than four years, their student careers would end with a graduation certificate.

This cohort consisted almost entirely of Elementary Mages, while the Main Campus was populated entirely by Intermediate Mages. Any major department, such as Water, Fire, or Wind, would have over a thousand young Intermediate Mages.

Chapter 100: End of the First Semester, Direct Advancement to the Main Campus

For two months, Lu Jun hadn't focused on the Gold or Water Elements. Instead, he concentrated on cultivating the Curse and Mind Elements, both reaching the peak of Intermediate level one.

His three major elements were on the verge of breaking through to level two, and it was time to use the Three Step Tower for advancement.

Naturally, he had no intention of staying in the Green Campus. Fishing for minnows was boring; competing in the Main Campus was more interesting, especially the "ranking battles," which offered abundant resources.

The top fifty in each department could cultivate in the Three Step Tower for one day. The top one hundred would receive Nebula Magic Tools, exclusive elemental magic tools for cultivation. The top three hundred would receive Spirit Seed Fragments.

Ten Spirit Seed Fragments could synthesize one standard Spirit Seed. Considering a Spirit Seed is worth twenty million, one fragment from a ranking battle would be worth two million.

It could be said that reaching the threshold of the top one hundred meant everyone had maxed out their cultivation at Intermediate level three and possessed a Spirit Seed.

If Lu Jun wanted to remain a strong contender, he needed to have Intermediate level two in all his elements, a top-grade Spirit Seed, the three realms of the mind, and Curse Substance – all indispensable.

Only then would he have a chance to enter the top fifty on the classification rankings as soon as he advanced to the Main Campus.

It's worth noting that Pearl Academy also held one ticket to the National Academy Battle. Only the first-ranked overall could claim it.

Ding Yumian made a similar decision. After reaching High-level in her Mind Element, she focused her energy on the Fire Element, intending to join the Fire Department. Her Intermediate level one Fire Element was somewhat meager and needed support.

Her third awakened element was the Shadow Element, and she had now split off a strange soul persona to control it. Lu Jun had interacted with this soul persona before and couldn't handle it.

The Shadow Element's strength was still at the Stardust level, but it had finally escaped the awkwardness of being a stationary damage dealer.

In addition, Lu Jun had accompanied his sister on demon hunts for the past two months. It was indeed different from when the demonic beast tribes proactively invaded during the flood season; the efficiency was mediocre.

There was no other way. Demonic beasts on land were two-dimensional, while those in water were three-dimensional. For the same area, the space for movement was several times larger.

This point would be fully demonstrated during the future invasion of the Pacific Sea Monster Empire, with its shallow and deep water zones, each layer inhabited by various demonic beasts and different food chains.

Moreover, the flood-season beasts were cunning; they could lurk and evade. Unlike the pack-like Magic Wolf dens, they were scattered. Demon hunting was possible, but achieving great harvests was extremely difficult. Therefore, the Magic City Demon Hunting Squad rarely heard of large-scale hunts of Servant-level beasts.

They usually targeted individual General-level beasts and ignored Servant-level ones.

Fortunately, Lu Jun had learned the Elementary Water Shield skill at level four, allowing him to move freely in rivers. Coupled with his peculiar Mind Element magic, he could often catch one beast and use it as a guide, capturing an entire family. Their corpses would form a chain.

In two months, they had hunted over three hundred Servant-level demonic beasts and seven or eight General-level flood-season beasts.

Although the harvest seemed small, it was unrivaled among the Magic City Demon Hunting Squads. It's worth noting that in the two and a half years he spent in Bo City, he had only hunted a total of over six hundred Magic Wolves.

The only drawback was the slow accumulation of funds. Selling materials and intact spirit cores dropped from them only brought in about twenty million, making the next "small goal" of the Star River Vein seem distant. Indeed, without the Black Vatican sending warmth, overnight riches were impossible.

Inside Jinyuan Apartment at this moment, Lu Jun looked inward at his four Star Nebulae. Three elements had reached Primary level four, with only the Curse Element remaining. The effects of the first three were increasingly impressive.

He anticipated the effects of Fearful Haze reaching level four. Currently, he was three Star Seeds in, having fed in three synthesized Servant Spirit Orbs.

Lu Jun had woken up early this morning and headed straight for Pearl Academy. He encountered Ding Yumian along the way.

The woman in the white dress was gentle and virtuous, her soft black hair woven into a net. She waved and smiled, "Good morning, Lu Jun. Dean Xiao wants to see us."

"Good morning," Lu Jun replied habitually, then asked in surprise, "Dean Xiao? What does he want with us?"

"I'm not sure."

The two walked side-by-side towards the Dean's office, chatting as they went.

Soon, Dean Xiao saw that the distance between their shoulders was only two to three centimeters, an intimacy almost like a couple's. He couldn't help but show a strange smile, feeling quite gratified.

Ding Yumian, with her sensitive Mind, noticed Dean Xiao's emotions and blushed.

Lu Jun, beside her, scratched his head and looked away as if nothing had happened.

"Hahaha," Dean Xiao chuckled at the shy demeanor of the young man and woman, sighing that youth was wonderful. He then adjusted his glasses and said, "I called you here to approve your advancement."

"You two don't need to participate in the advancement assessment; it's meaningless. Special talents receive special treatment. Yumian's condition isn't suitable for combat, and you, Lu Jun, would just be bullying freshmen. You can report directly to the Main Campus."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jun was surprised and delighted. It was great to be able to skip the trouble. The advancement assessments of previous years were nothing more than Demon Hunting missions, chasing down some troublesome General-level Demonic Beasts within the city.

He had casually dealt with one or two such things when he was part of the Magic City City Demon Hunting Squad.

However, he seemed to recall something and rubbed his hands, smiling, "Dean, I think it's better if I don't. I don't want to be accused of being a favoritism case."

Dean Xiao was surprised. Why had Lu Jun's attitude changed?