Chapter 23: Metal Element,Basic Level 3:Golden Radiance

Lu Jun was surrounded on all sides but did not panic. Stepping on the interconnected wind tracks, he charged into the pack of wolves, slashing and killing. One strike sent a demon wolf flying, and a spinning slash decapitated a wolf attempting to ambush him from behind.

His swordsmanship had no particular style—plain and simple—each strike aimed to kill.

However, the wolves were too many. Even with the wind track aiding his movements, Lu Jun was bound to slip up eventually. The pack leader, cunning and opportunistic after suffering an earlier loss, stopped attacking directly and instead directed the others to encircle and hunt him down.

Boom!

Finally, as Lu Jun swung his sword once more to force back a demon wolf and was about to step onto the wind track to evade, fatigue caused a brief delay. It was during this gap that an advanced-stage demon wolf seized the opportunity. With its massive body accelerating, it delivered a fierce claw strike.

From a distance, Lu Mei cried out in alarm, "Lu Jun!"

She, too, was entangled by several demon wolves. While stepping on the wind tracks to dodge, she used earth ripples to hinder her opponents, attempting to free herself to unleash intermediate-level magic.

But the demons weren't fools; based on her earlier attacks, they recognized Lu Mei as the true threat.

This left Lu Mei unable to free her hands. After all, both of her elements were primarily for movement and control; only her intermediate-level magic had killing power, but completing a star map required at least four seconds.

Fortunately, at this critical moment, Lu Jun reacted swiftly. He quickly withdrew his arms, bringing the massive, door-sized Golden Greatsword horizontally in front of him, shielding his body.

Clang!

The pack leader's strike was blocked by the heavy sword, but the sheer force of the impact was too much for his frail human body to withstand.

Lu Jun was sent flying, a heavy feeling in his chest. Around him, ripples shimmered across the azure water armor, scattering countless streams of water. As he crashed into the ground, he saw four or five single-eyed demon wolves pouncing toward him, teeth bared, aiming to tear him apart.

A strong sense of crisis surged within him. If he fell and got overwhelmed, even the water armor wouldn't save him from certain death.

Suddenly, inspiration struck him. He rolled on the ground to dodge the savage attack and immediately noticed the advanced-stage pack leader charging at him again without any hesitation, its robust body exploding with force.

Boom!

Lu Mei acted just in time, unleashing her Level 3 Earth Wave: QuickSand, creating a deep pit under the advanced-stage demon wolf. The ground collapsed, turning into a swamp-like mire that caused the pack leader to stumble and its limbs to get stuck, restraining it tightly.

Although Lu Jun gained a brief respite, the situation remained dire.

They could have jumped off the cliff to escape entirely, but it would have rendered their hunting efforts futile.

At this moment, Lu Jun felt the urge to retreat but immediately rejected the thought. His eyes turned resolute. If he couldn't overcome this difficulty, he might as well go home and raise pigs instead of being a mage.

Then, in his spiritual world, the Metal-element stardust seemed to sense his determination. The previously dim platinum mist began to glow with new vitality, expanding in brilliance. Not only did it grow larger, but his magic power also recovered slightly.

After repeated slaughter, the golden-element stardust finally transcended its critical point, reaching Elementary Level 3: Golden Radiance.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Lu Jun, inspired, let out a low shout. He raised the four-meter-long Golden Greatsword. Golden patterns spread and outlined on its surface, a layer of sharp platinum radiance enveloping it. With a powerful swing, golden light erupted from the greatsword.

The golden arc was condensed, dazzling, and crossed over ten meters in an instant, piercing the air with a sharp whistling sound.

Squelch!

The demon wolf ahead couldn't dodge in time and was struck squarely on the head. The sound of flesh being sliced resounded as the golden light sliced smoothly through, splitting its body in half. Blood spurted wildly.

But the golden light did not stop there. It continued its momentum, cutting through the bodies of two more demon wolves before dissipating.

"What...?" Lu Mei's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.

Lu Jun leapt forward, his muscles taut. Gripping his sword with both hands, he struck down at the advanced-stage pack leader again. The Level 3 Golden Radiance activated once more. One advantage of the gold element was that techniques like [Weapon Enlargement] and [Golden Radiance] could be performed without needing to complete a star map.

The pack leader, trapped in the sinking mire below, struggled desperately but could only watch as the heavy sword descended.

In the next moment, Lu Jun's figure descended from the sky. The blade's cold glint flashed as it slashed toward the pack leader's neck in a decapitating strike.

Squelch!

When Lu Jun landed, he knelt on one knee, and a geyser of blood shot up behind him, reaching three meters high. The massive wolf head, half the size of a human, flew into the air, landing heavily to the side and even leaving a deep trench in the ground.

The massive wolf's body convulsed a few times before collapsing silently into the muddy mire. The pack leader was dead!

Covered in the wolf's hot, gushing blood, Lu Jun stood up, his entire body drenched in red. The smell of blood was thick in the air. His figure was imposing, exuding a terrifying aura. With one hand, he raised the wolf's severed head high and let out a furious roar.

At that moment, the seven or eight injured demon wolves around him whimpered in fear, completely intimidated.

Perhaps they had never seen such a mage before—one who fought in close combat, charged into their pack, and decapitated their leader single-handedly!

"Get lost!" Lu Jun threw the massive wolf's head into the midst of the wolves and kicked it toward them.

Seeing this, the wolves retreated step by step, hesitant to stay.

But it was too late. Lu Mei shouted, "Level 1 Wind Disk: Tornado!"

Rumble!

A fierce wind swept across the mountaintop once again. A tornado over ten meters high roared through, hurling both injured and healthy wolves down the mountainside to their deaths.

With the wolves completely cleared, Lu Jun finally sat down heavily, panting. His muscles ached, and he had to admit he had been putting on a bit of a show earlier. After all, the Metal-element stardust had already been drained of magic power after casting Golden Radiance twice.

However, when he saw the mountain slopes covered in demon corpses, his heart filled with satisfaction and excitement. Basic Level 3! The next step was to break through the barrier to the intermediate level.

This achievement was two years ahead of Mo Fan, who had only reached double-element Basic Level 3 at the end of his senior year in high school.

Moreover, the Metal element's killing power was undeniable. The skill Golden Radiance compensated for its previous weaknesses, allowing him to execute mid- to short-range attacks with lethal precision. The future was promising!

"An advanced-stage servant. Even intermediate-level magic might not guarantee an instant kill, yet I defeated it effortlessly."

Taking a deep breath, Lu Jun's heart swelled with ambition, yearning to make a name for himself.

Meanwhile, Lu Mei walked over, her expression a mix of shock and concern. She couldn't deny the impact of seeing her brother raise the wolf's head, drenched in blood.

It was like witnessing the silhouette of an epic hero. At just sixteen, having reached Basic Level 3, battling and slaying demons—who among his peers could stand against him?!

She struggled to recover, eventually asking, "Are you alright?"

Lu Jun grinned and replied, "The heavy sword blocked it, and the Level 2 Water Defence absorbed the impact. I'm probably fine, but we'll need to go to the hospital for a proper checkup later. For now, let's gather the spoils."

Hearing this, Lu Mei's brows arched gently as she smiled warmly. "Okay."

Before long, she armed herself with a dagger and began finishing off the demon wolves' corpses, her water armor activated to avoid any mishaps.

As she went about her task, her mind wandered. She remembered the sacrifices she had made for her brother—giving up the opportunity to attend a prestigious academy, raising a half-grown boy as a single woman, and enduring society's invisible biases.

Whether it was her dream of mastering magic or the prospect of a mundane life as a wife and mother, she had known these were out of reach when she made her choice.

But now, seeing her brother grow up so quickly and show such promise, a faint sense of loss crept in. When children spread their wings and soared, what about her?

Now, with Lu Jun's rapid progress, Lu Mei realized she was still young. There was still time for her to chase the dreams she had once set aside. Dusting off those aspirations, she resolved to climb toward the pinnacle of magic once more

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