Lu Jun shook his head. It seemed that after they had launched a surprise attack and killed an Emperor first, they had truly driven the Pacific Empire into a frenzy.
To be honest, he had always found the Sea Demon Empire's actions in the original timeline rather puzzling.
Why would they throw away their forces one by one, like delivering themselves to the enemy? It was practically the Seven Calabash Brothers sending themselves to rescue Grandpa one at a time.
If they had instead launched a massive full-scale offensive like this from the very beginning, China's limited manpower would have been unable to take advantage of its strategy of "one region in trouble, aid arriving from all directions."
In that case, the entire eastern coast falling within a short period would not have been impossible.
This was also why Hua Zhanhong had still felt despair even after killing the Dragon King Ant Queen Emperor.
Of course, another possibility was that the sea level had not yet risen high enough in the original timeline to support such a large-scale Sea Demon invasion.
Lu Jun remembered that the Pacific Empire's invasion of the Nine Provinces depended on the whims of the Southern Emperor, the "Roof Emperor," and required the Antarctic glaciers to melt, creating favorable conditions for their attack.
Only when the Antarctic ice sheets melted and both timing and geography aligned could the invasion truly begin.
"I wonder how many Emperors have come this time."
He frowned in thought.
Sea Demon Emperors likewise required vast oceans and immeasurable amounts of seawater to fully unleash their strength. Otherwise, they would be somewhat weaker than land-based Emperors.
The death of the Tyrant Dragon Emperor had also involved this factor.
It had been trapped within the Mariana Trench, restricted by its limited space, and subsequently beaten down by three Emperor-level combatants.
The Cold Moon-Eyed Demon God, however, possessed the Divine Eyes of Ocean and Tide, allowing it to overcome this weakness and firmly secure its position as the ruler of the Pacific Ocean.
While these thoughts ran through his mind, Lu Jun's actions did not slow in the slightest.
He tore open a spatial passage and stepped through it.
Crossing ten thousand miles in a single stride, he traveled from the western Ancient Capital to Magic City in the far east.
Pearl Academy, Professors' Apartments.
The moment his figure appeared, a powerful wave of Spiritual Power immediately locked onto him.
After sensing it briefly, he recognized it as Ding Yumian's consciousness.
Seeing this, Lu Jun smiled and greeted the graceful woman in the white dress who had just stepped out of her room.
"Long time no see."
Ding Yumian rolled her eyes at him.
This rogue!
What kind of Space Mage teleported directly into a girl's home?
Lu Jun chuckled awkwardly before looking her up and down, filled with admiration.
After not seeing her for so long, Ding Yumian's cultivation had become even more unfathomable.
She had clearly stepped into the realm of a Psychic Half-Forbidden Curse Mage.
That was an extraordinary achievement.
A Calamity Bearer at the Half-Forbidden Curse level possessed combat power comparable to Principal Xiao, who wielded three Forbidden Curse Elements.
For a short period of time, she could even restrain a weaker Emperor.
Lu Jun knew that in the original timeline, when Mu Ningxue secluded herself in Antarctica and advanced her Ice Element into the Half-Forbidden Curse Calamity realm, she had directly crushed both Ice Emperor Mu Rong, who sought to steal her Ice Bow talent, and Madame Luo Ou, a dual-Element Forbidden Curse Mage.
In short, people like himself, Mo Fan, Mu Ningxue, and Ding Yumian might still technically be Super-Level Mages, but they could not be measured by ordinary standards.
Every one of them possessed the ability to fight beyond their rank.
Therefore, Lu Jun, with two Elements at Super-Level Perfection and four Elements at Second-Level Super Level, being capable of challenging an Emperor alone was not an unbelievable prospect.
He asked, "How's the situation?"
"See for yourself."
Ding Yumian shook her head.
Her graceful steps carried her onto the balcony as she gazed toward the southeast.
The distant sky was dim and unclear.
Even the horizon seemed stained with a strange crimson glow.
The clouds rolled and churned unnaturally, as though some terrifying demon creature was stirring them.
From time to time, winds as fierce as a typhoon wailed through the air and battered the city shrouded in mist.
An invisible gloom settled into everyone's hearts.
On one side stood a prosperous metropolis.
On the other lay a cold, monstrous sea that seemed to herald the apocalypse.
It felt as though the stable and peaceful era of civilization was coming to an end.
Humanity was about to enter a far harsher age.
An age of darkness, coldness, and endless moisture.
Yet one in which they would have no choice but to coexist with all of it.
Lu Jun followed Ding Yumian onto the balcony.
Standing side by side, the two silently experienced the atmosphere of an approaching doomsday.
They sensed wave after wave of savage and violent auras emanating from the Pudong coastline, along with chaotic torrents of magical energy.
Clearly, the battle there had already begun.
The alliance of Super-tier Mages and the legions of High-Tier Mages had mobilized in full force to fight against the Sea King Skeleton.
The bustling streets and avenues that had once defined the prosperous city were now empty.
All ordinary citizens had retreated into their homes, tightly shutting their doors and windows.
They prayed to Heaven above and waited for the judgment of death.
Only by opening their phones could one still witness the noisy, bustling mortal world.
Hundreds of millions across China were online.
Countless pieces of information refreshed every second.
One shocking video after another appeared, showing Sea Demons invading and slaughtering entire regions.
Part of this was due to civilian access to increasingly advanced technology.
The other reason was that China no longer prohibited such information from spreading.
"Crash—!!"
Lu Jun casually opened one of the videos, and a piercing, shrill noise immediately rang out.
Although the phone screen was small, it was still enough to convey the terrifying waves captured in the recording.
Towering walls of water rose layer upon layer, nearly reaching the clouds themselves.
Standing amidst them was a Skeleton Sea King formed entirely from water.
It stood between heaven and earth, peerlessly domineering, its demonic might overwhelming the world.
The sky and sea around it had become murky and chaotic.
Towering white "mountain ranges" suddenly emerged one after another, rising majestically as terrifying resentment surged upward, shattering large stretches of space.
Those were no glaciers.
They were clearly endless masses of bones churning together, forming vast snow-white mountain ranges of skeletons.
The result was a colossal skeletal tsunami that swept across the battlefield with overwhelming force.
Even in the recording, only half of its body could be seen.
Around it floated dozens of multicolored lights.
Those lights were actually Super-tier Mages engaging it in mobile combat.
The stark contrast between the two sides only highlighted the Sea King Skeleton's unrivaled dominance.
Lu Jun's eyes sharpened.
He noticed a totem imprint on its back and muttered to himself,
"The Chongming Bird Totem, one of the direct Holy Beast descendants of the Vermilion Bird Totem. I wonder whether Mo Fan can make it in time to obtain this opportunity."
The reason the Sea King Skeleton was known as the Invincible Monarch was because it had refined the Chongming Bird Imprint.
It possessed the power of being indestructible in water, making it far more durable than ordinary Supreme Monarchs.
He did not dwell on it for long.
Mo Fan's luck with opportunities was endless.
Just like this Qinling expedition.
Without the Chongming Heavenly Flame, perhaps he would directly obtain the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Flame instead.
At the same time, Lu Jun could not help feeling emotional.
Back when he had rescued the Mermaid mother and daughter in Sydney, he had nearly been caught by the pursuing Sea King Skeleton.
At the time, he had almost been forced to activate the Ancient King's Armor to escape.
Now, however, the Sea King Skeleton was no different from a chick in his eyes.
He could crush it to death with a casual gesture.
What truly concerned him were the one or perhaps several, mysterious Emperors lurking behind it.
Lu Jun swiped to the next video.
The scene shifted to Hangzhou.
A skyscraper-sized serpent confronted a mountain-like giant shark.
The Black Totem Serpent had been pinned down. Before coming here, he had already spoken with Tang Yue.
All he could do was tell his beloved to be careful.
He swiped again.
The Calamity Twin Stars in Xiamen rampaged wildly, smashing apart a cross-river bridge.
A storm was gathering.
Every region seemed on the verge of collapse.
Suddenly, a firework shot into the sky from the Oriental Pearl Tower in Magic City.
Ignoring the torrential rain and violent winds, it blossomed brilliantly overhead.
Seeing this, Lu Jun's expression turned serious.
"That's a Forbidden Curse Assembly Signal. I need to gather there."
Just as he was about to step through space, Ding Yumian called out:
"Wait. I'm coming with you."
Lu Jun froze briefly and turned around.
The woman in the white dress stood there, peerlessly beautiful.
Her flawless face was filled with determination.
She stepped forward and extended her slender jade-like hand.
Their fingers intertwined tightly.
"Alright."
After a moment of silence, Lu Jun did not try to stop her.
Instead, he nodded and said,
"After this battle, we'll live openly beneath the sunlight."
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
With their hearts in perfect harmony, Lu Jun and Ding Yumian crossed hundreds of kilometers in a single step and appeared at the Oriental Pearl Tower.
For additional chapters
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