Versatile Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant

Lu Jun felt something strange as the illusionary scales resembling dragon skin extended along his cheeks. Suddenly, he awakened a long-hidden human ability called "Fetal Breathing," also known as underwater breathing.

As a human fetus, one resides in the placenta surrounded by amniotic fluid and does not suffocate. Upon birth, humans instinctively grasp exceptional swimming techniques, but these innate traits fade with growth.

Now, with the help of Basic Water Magic Level Four: Black Dragon, all of it was regained.

Additionally, Lu Jun felt the surging waves around the lakebed were no longer overwhelming. He seemed to move effortlessly, identifying the purpose of each ripple, adjusting his body according to the flow, and defying gravity, becoming even more agile than on land.

In an instant, his previously rolling body stabilized in the boiling water, standing upright at the bottom of the lake. While he appeared motionless, the Black Dragon Flow around his coat continually shifted, and the illusionary scales on his body vibrated constantly.

The pain in his nose and mouth, as well as the dryness in his eyes, completely vanished. His breathing became smooth, and the oxygen extracted from the water felt fresh.

Lu Jun had no time to delve deeper into his newfound abilities. He quickly controlled the star patterns, and two streams of water emerged from his hands, navigating through the turbulent tides and reaching Lu Mei and Tang Yue.

The two streams of aquamarine water faintly took on the shape of giant pythons. Upon touching any part of the women's bodies, the water rippled outward, resembling the effect of Iron Man's suit. Crystal-clear dragon scales spread inch by inch from their waists or backs, covering their entire bodies.

The serpentine water streams coiled tightly around them, forming a special water shield that enveloped their outermost layers.

In the next moment, Lu Mei and Tang Yue seemed to master an unlearned technique. They quickly stabilized their bodies. The buoyancy caused their clothes to float, revealing their slender, well-toned legs. The Black DragonWater Flow adhered closely, resembling the tails of mermaids.

With a swift flick of their legs, they darted away at astonishing speed, gracefully evading the attacking crocodile demons.

Seeing this, Lu Jun let out a sigh of relief. With his sisters safe, he had no further concerns. Ahead, a slave-level crocodile demon, about eight or nine meters long, charged at him, carrying immense force.

Lu Jun, eager to test the strength of his Basic Water Magic Level Four, didn't use any magic to counter the attack.

Boom!

As expected, when the giant crocodile bit down on his arm, the Black Dragon's rapid water flow repelled it. Not only did the creature fail to penetrate his skin, but it also couldn't even breach the water-based defense layer.

"Not bad! Worth the ten million I spent to strengthen it."

Lu Jun was delighted. Previously, with the Tide Spirit Seed enhancing his Water Magic Level Three, he could withstand an attack from a slave-level advanced-stage demon. Now, he could endure several strikes from a warrior-level demon. Coupled with the magic tool Xuanming Turtle Shell Shield, he was invincible.

Buzz!

Seven or eight massive crocodiles charged toward him, creating waves of frothy water.

Seeing this, Lu Jun snorted coldly. Stretching out his hand, a Black Golden Heavy Sword appeared. Activating Level Four Forging: Vibration, he casually swung it, unleashing a wave of platinum brilliance that surged ten meters high, sending waves tumbling.

Crash!

With one swing, the powerful vibration force parted the lake water, forming a vacuum trench. The lake surface split in two, allowing sunlight to pierce through.

Along with it came a series of dull, fleshy slicing sounds. Thick blood spread through the water, as seven or eight slave-level crocodile demons were either shredded or instantly bisected upon contact.

After forcing the nearby crocodile demons back, Lu Jun propelled himself out of the gaps, rising to the lake's surface. Gazing into the distance, his spiritual sense immediately locked onto the core surrounded by the crocodile demons.

There, several humanoid fish demons stood upright. Short in stature, their smooth, white scales gleamed under the light. Their limbs bore webbed fins, and their pointed heads resembled a piercing longsword.

"Yangtze River Paddlefish Demon!"

Upon seeing them, Lu Jun immediately recalled the demon intelligence his sister had gathered, identifying the creature.

His expression darkened. No wonder the water waves earlier were so turbulent—it was the paddlefish demons' doing. These creatures were physically frail, only slightly stronger than human mages. However, their water control abilities were exceptional. They often served as strategists alongside many river monarchs in the Yangtze region.

During flood seasons, paddlefish demons were always the first to orchestrate tidal surges.

"No wonder the Huangpu Crocodile Tribe dared provoke me with just a few hundred crocodile demons. They brought their 'strategist,' huh?"

Lu Jun initially considered using the mid-tier Water Wave Magic, but seeing the paddlefish demons changed his mind. With several warrior-level paddlefish demons working together, their combined water control could neutralize his spell.

Elsewhere, Lu Mei and Tang Yue separated, casting mid-tier magic to fend off the surging crocodile horde. However, in the water, their earth and fire magic were suppressed.

Far off, the paddlefish demons grinned maliciously, their intelligence far surpassing the crocodile demons.

"Heh, do you think I can't reach you?"

Confronted with the dire situation, Lu Jun remained composed. With a thought, he activated the Cursed Seal: Web of Evil Spider he had previously set up.

Buzz!

Suddenly, greenish-black claw-like webs silently descended over the boiling lake surface. Like spectral fishing nets, they spread outward.

Roars!

A portion of the crocodile demons froze as ghostly green patterns emerged on their backs, revealing intricate cursed marks.

At the center, the warrior-level paddlefish demons were horrified to find themselves ensnared by countless spectral threads. Their souls screamed in pain as the curse eroded their bodies, leaving green imprints on their foreheads.

Their ability to manipulate water was completely sealed.

But it wasn't over yet. Seeing a few warrior-level crocodile demons rushing to protect their masters, Lu Jun sneered. His eyes, one black and one white, shimmered, while a transparent star map unfolded behind him.

For the first time, he unleashed his mid-tier Psychic Magic:

Second Realm: Heart Ripple - Mind Control!

Buzz!

Lu Jun's powerful mental energy surged into the warrior-level crocodile demons, breaking through their mind lake barriers. They became confused, mistaking him for their true master, the paddlefish demons.

Driven by bloodlust, the massive creatures turned on their allies. Three or four colossal crocodiles, over ten meters long, protected him and began slaughtering the surrounding slave-level crocodiles.

Splash!

A warrior-level crocodile's massive claws crushed a smaller one, splitting its head open like a watermelon. Another warrior-level demon bit down, severing a crocodile cleanly in half from the spine.

The sudden betrayal caused chaos. Slave-level crocodiles hesitated, baffled by the turn of events, while the paddlefish demons, usually the brains of the operation, remained incapacitated.

Lu Jun's combined mastery of Psychic Magic and Curse Magic effectively neutralized more than half of the enemy forces—a testament to his overwhelming strength.

Ordinary psychic or curse mages wouldn't have been as powerful. His advanced spiritual realm allowed him to simultaneously control several warrior-level demons.

Of course, it was only possible because of his rigorous training under Ding Yumian. By breaking through the inner defenses of warrior-level crocodiles and mimicking the paddlefish demons' water-based aura, his deception could last for a limited time.

[For additional chapters....

Versatile mage {40 chapters}

Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}

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