After Lu Jun returned to the altar, several Mermaid Holy Spirits present looked at this "son-in-law" with curiosity, letting out affectionate, tinkling calls.
The mermaid mother and daughter took the opportunity to cultivate in the distance, absorbing the water energy dispersed during the upheaval of the Black Sea and Yellow Spring, saving quite a bit of cultivation time.
As for Ye Mei and the others, they stepped forward with smiles to congratulate him. This trip had become even more perfect, and they were unaware of Dean Xiao's plan to hunt an Emperor.
After the group dispersed, Lu Jun went alone to report to Dean Xiao.
Before he could speak, Dean Xiao smiled warmly and said, "Not bad. The commotion you caused by refining Yellow Springs True Water actually provided us with cover."
Hearing this, Lu Jun revealed a puzzled expression, not understanding what he meant.
Dean Xiao analyzed carefully, "The Mermaid clan is hiding in plain sight in the depths of the Mariana Trench, and the Magic Trench Sea Demon race guarding the outer perimeter is unaware."
"But our sudden arrival would still alert them. They would wonder why human mages would risk venturing deep into this forbidden zone of life for no reason."
Lu Jun's expression turned serious. Indeed, the Sea Demon prophet race, as the brain of the Pacific Empire, was not lacking in intelligence, it was hard to guarantee they wouldn't notice something.
Their knowledge of the Pacific Empire's foundations and their secret contact with the Mermaid clan were based on an information gap. Now that they intended to exploit that gap for a major operation, they absolutely could not afford any leaks.
Seeing his disciple's changing expression, Dean Xiao chuckled. "That's why your refinement of Yellow Springs True Water made the Sea Demon prophets believe that we humans came here to seek opportunities in the forbidden land."
The existence of a Water Element Heavenly Seed was known to the Human Holy City and the Mermaid clan. There was no reason for the Pacific Empire, which had once breached the Holy Spirit ancestral land, to be unaware. Under such coincidence, a form of strategic deception had naturally taken shape.
Lu Jun figured this out, his eyes brightening. This operation had gone too smoothly—if heaven offered it and he didn't take it, he would be at fault!
He said to Dean Xiao, "I want to stay and help you."
Dean Xiao listened to his disciple's explanation. His brows alternated between shock and deep concern as he stood there pondering for a long time.
Originally, he planned to send Ye Mei and the others, including Lu Jun, away before the battle began. He knew well how terrifying a clash between an Emperor and a Forbidden Spell was, it carried apocalyptic power. No matter how strong a Super Tier mage was, once caught in it, life and death were uncertain.
But Lu Jun's abnormal thirty-sixfold Water Element power shocked him to the core. His Calamity Talent made Dean Xiao's heart skip a beat, it truly had great utility.
This forced Dean Xiao to reconsider.
Even as he hesitated and still intended to refuse, Lu Jun spoke again with firm eyes, revealing another trump card.
"My body is comparable to a Monarch-level demon. If I can merge with a Sub-Emperor Holy Spirit, not only would it add a complete Emperor-level combat force, but my own safety would also be guaranteed."
Lu Jun was confident that his Water Element cultivation could enhance the Holy Spirit Emperor, raising its strength by another level and truly stepping into the Emperor realm.
After hearing this, Dean Xiao praised, "Good! Since you have the courage, how could I stop you?"
After all, according to intelligence, the Dragon Emperor of the Pacific Empire was no simple foe. Its strength ranked mid-tier among the Ten Emperors, above the Shark Nation Lord, the Demon Ruins White Spider Emperor, and the Mirage Sea Dragon Ant Queen. (original reference)
Among them, the Mirage Sea Dragon Ant Queen ranked last, yet even then, Commander Hua had great difficulty killing it alone, let alone the Dragon Emperor.
Dean Xiao was planning with advantage over ignorance; every additional trump card meant a greater chance of victory.
Thus, he decided that in addition to the ultra-long-distance spatial teleportation array, he would also set up another Forbidden Spell-level ocean current sealing formation.
This was extremely familiar to him. With a water circulation formation as a foundation, creating a destructive ocean current formation was even simpler.
Before that, Dean Xiao activated the spatial teleportation array to send a message to Commander Hua in the Philippines to discuss the matter.
Lu Jun was of great help here, lending his supreme treasure, the Triangular Dimensional Mirror to his teacher, enabling long-distance transmission without being detected by the Sea Demons.
After operating the treasure with his half–Forbidden Spell cultivation, Dean Xiao said solemnly, "Lu Jun, this magical artifact of yours is not simple. After imprinting it deeply with my Space Element, it can increase base power by an additional 1.5 times, along with other effects."
Hearing this, Lu Jun was greatly surprised. His Space-Time Element already had limitless potential with his techniques and spiritual realm. If he reached Super Tier and added the Triangular Dimensional Mirror, it would become as monstrous as his Water and Metal Elements.
Soon, Commander Hua's reply arrived—just one word:
"Kill!"
Lu Jun felt invigorated. He couldn't help but admire the decisiveness of the Jiuzhou leadership, though perhaps it was also fearless ignorance. If they truly went to war with the Sea Demon Empire, it was uncertain whether Jiuzhou would still have such confidence.
At the same time, the Mermaid Queen stood at the center of the altar, hands clasped before her chest in silent prayer.
The altar hummed, and the surrounding statues lit up one by one like a field of stars, gathering into a beam of moonlight that transmitted a message to their ancestral Holy Spirit.
Before long, the Holy Spirit Emperor replied, agreeing to the battle plan.
It too had its hardships. During its most difficult period, it had been hunted by three Emperors, nearly falling, its origin on the verge of shattering, its life hanging by a thread, while its clan members were slaughtered wantonly, it was filled with grief.
If it could break free from the entanglement of the Pacific Empire and give its people a chance to live, it was willing to pay any price.
Seeing this, Lu Jun clenched his fists and helped Dean Xiao set up the formation.
Days passed one after another.
Dean Xiao completed the spatial teleportation array, successively sending Ye Mei's group and members of the Mermaid clan out of the Mariana Trench.
Until their departure, neither Lu Jun nor the others revealed the plan, if a ruler is not discreet, he loses his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he loses his life; if matters are not kept secret, they bring disaster!
Buzz—Buzz—Buzz!
Another day, the silver magic formation on the altar burst with dazzling light, and a towering figure stepped out. He had a dark face with a beard, heroic and extraordinary in bearing.
Hua Zhanhong had arrived. He smiled and nodded at Lu Jun, remarking, "I thought you would need another three or four years before you could participate at the level of Emperor and Forbidden Spell. Not bad!"
From Jiuzhou's side, only Commander Hua had come, there were no other Forbidden Spell Mages to assist.
There was no choice. The Pacific Empire was pressing in from three sides, leaving no spare forces. In addition, Forbidden Spell Mages had to remain stationed in Jiuzhou's Magic Capital, Demon Capital, and Imperial Capital, which also served to restrain other Emperors for Lu Jun's operation.
Time passed, and after several days—
The entire Black Sea suddenly trembled as one. The Yellow Spring settled into dormancy. Centered on the Mariana Trench, countless flickering magical formation patterns spread outward along the currents. With the aid of the Calamity Talent to command wind and rain, it was silent and unnoticed, enveloping a vast expanse of ocean.
If viewed from above the planet, the blue Pacific Ocean near the continental region showed circulating currents, faintly outlining a deep-blue forbidden circular formation.
Dean Xiao took a deep breath and said in a low voice to Lu Jun and Hua Zhanhong, "Alright. Have the Holy Spirit Emperor lure the Dragon Emperor over."
At the same time, not far from the Mariana Trench, over the vast ocean near Antarctica, the celestial phenomena suddenly changed. The sun and moon appeared together, the stars gathered around, forming a magnificent image of the starry sky.
For additional chapters
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