Ancient Capital.
Simons listened to the short man's exaggerated account of his past connection with Lu Jun, his gaze growing deep and calculating. He felt this might be a breakthrough point.
He seemed to glimpse the initial link between the Undead Emperor and Nine Provinces, perhaps it all began with the Evil Abyss incident, led by Lu Jun, Mo Fan, and others.
In truth, given his status as a Saint Shadow Forbidden Curse mage, he would normally not care about such minor figures. However, those two were simply too outstanding. Lu Jun aside, Mo Fan's demon transformation at the Parthenon, his Supreme Monarch-level combat power, and his forbidden techniques made him yet another major threat to the Holy City.
This investigation was necessary.
"Moreover, during the National Tournament, Nine Provinces already disclosed part of the truth. Mo Fan personally jumped into Evil Abyss, and came back alive."
Kye analyzed the situation and found it quite reasonable. The Ancient King's status in Nine Provinces' history and public sentiment was unique. If he truly had rational intent, cooperation would be the best outcome.
The two grew increasingly excited. Nine Provinces, Undead Emperor, and Lu Jun, all the clues were starting to connect into a coherent chain.
While the short man was boasting, Simons suddenly spoke.
"You said Lu Jun once entered the undead forbidden zone. What exactly did he do?"
Hearing this, the short man paused. Upon noticing they were foreigners, he frowned slightly. He had personally followed Lu Jun through those events and naturally knew the truth Asharuiya, the Black Church, the Kunlun Water, the revival of the Ancient King, but why should he explain all this to foreigners?
He turned to leave, uninterested in responding.
Simons sneered. A surge of spiritual power erupted from his gaze, carefully controlled so it did not affect the surrounding civilians, undetectable to anyone else, yet carrying overwhelming pressure that slammed directly into the short man's mind.
BOOM!
In an instant, the short man's mental world rang like thunder. His High Tier Star River was nearly severed. His face turned pale as he swayed unsteadily in place.
He realized instantly, these two were not simple. And worse, they harbored hostility toward Lu Jun.
He tried to escape and report this to the Magic Association's Han Ji.
But it was too late.
Simons and Kye moved to either side and seized him, deliberately shouting, "Alright, stop talking. Let's set off immediately."
The others could not see clearly what had happened and simply urged them along in confusion.
The short man's face was filled with terror. Unable to resist, he was forced like a puppet to lead the group forward.
Half a day later, the hundred-person tour group happily entered the undead forbidden zone, while their guide was plunged into an abyss of suffering.
Initially, the short man refused to reveal anything, but under relentless interrogation from Kye and Simons, he quickly broke. Simons's spiritual probing even exposed his deepest fears, using his wife and child as leverage. He had no choice but to comply.
For two Saint Shadow Forbidden Curse mages, this was effortless.
During the interrogation along the way, they successfully reached the Military Strategy Mansion, the former Ruiju Six Villages site, now transformed into a cluster of high-rise buildings.
Simons grinned coldly.
"We've confirmed it. Lu Jun is colluding with the Undead. We either capture him directly, or use those around him as leverage."
Kye glanced at the barely conscious short man and asked indifferently, "So he's no longer useful?"
"Hahaha, don't rush." Simons said contemptuously. "He still has one final use—he has some connection to Lu Jun. We can use his identity to meet the leaders of the Military Strategy Mansion. Whether it's Lu Jun or anyone else, we can capture them all in one go. No need to search around."
"Good idea."
Inside the Military Strategy Mansion Command Office, located at the core of the tallest building and controlling all operational affairs.
At that moment, Lu Mei was in meditation when a guard outside reported that visitors had come seeking her, claiming to be acquaintances of Marshal Lu.
"Friends of Lu Jun? Let them in."
Lu Mei felt slightly puzzled but did not hesitate. Since Lu Jun had long acted as a hands-off leader, operational matters were handled by Jun Yaojin, while she was responsible for strategic direction.
Soon, three men pushed the door open and entered.
The leader was a short Chinese man with a pale face and dull eyes, yet faintly familiar in appearance. The other two were foreigners with deep-set eyes and aquiline noses, casually scanning the office with interest.
Lu Mei recognized the short man immediately. As for the foreigners' behavior, she sensed something was wrong and was about to speak when the short man struggled to move his lips and silently formed two words:
"Run away!"
Upon seeing this, Lu Mei's expression changed slightly. Earth, fire, and wind elements surged around her, mixed with chaotic light that seemed on the verge of fusion.
But the two foreigners paid no attention. Instead, they looked at her with interest.
Kye smiled faintly.
"So this is Lu Jun's sister? Indeed, quite a valuable target."
Under Divine Gift [ Action Prediction], Lu Mei's next few seconds of movement were already completely foreseen, allowing him to watch her with amused disdain.
A Divine Gift, in relation to Forbidden Curse mages, was similar to Transcendent Powers for Super Tier and Domains for High Tier—an ultimate sublimation of the Forbidden Curse level. However, unlike them, a Divine Gift carried the word "divine," and thus possessed authority over rules and law-like power, such as absolute forbidden domains, extremely high priority, and abilities that were essentially unsolvable.
Ever since Kye obtained the ability of Action Prediction, it was as if he had opened a god's-eye view. He had never failed in his operations, and unconsciously, arrogance had grown within him.
Lu Mei's beautiful eyes burned like fire. Crimson-brown flames enveloped her entire body, Jiang Feng's possession. Black violent winds howled and gathered around her, a Wind Heaven Seed. On top of that, a necklace around her neck erupted with radiance. She then activated her Transcendent Power, recreating chaos as four-colored waves of light surged outward and swept across the surroundings.
But in the next instant, her expression changed in shock. The attack that should have been capable of destroying heaven and earth and flattening the entire Military Strategy Mansion landed on the surrounding space, but it did not stir even the slightest ripple. It was silently annihilated.
Forbidden Curse level! Definitely a Forbidden Curse mage!
Lu Mei could not help but feel despair. What had she done to deserve an assassination by a Forbidden Curse mage… no, this was definitely aimed at her younger brother.
On the other side, Simons raised his hand and manipulated the elemental forces within this small spatial area. However, when Lu Mei's attack descended, his hand trembled slightly and he was forced back a step.
"This kind of magic what is it?!"
Simons did not expect that his Divine Gift [Natural Bestowal] would actually be shaken. Sensing the opponent's perfectly fused four-element state, his expression changed drastically, his gaze turning heated, this Military Strategy Mansion truly held great secrets.
Just as the two of them believed victory was already in hand, Lu Mei suddenly relaxed. Her beautiful expression turned calm as she looked forward.
At first glance, it seemed she was looking at them, but in the next instant, Kye realized something was wrong. She was looking behind them?!
In that instant, a faint sigh echoed from behind, spreading throughout the entire office. Calm, yet carrying overwhelming killing intent, a voice said: "When there is a road to heaven you refuse to take, when there is no gate to hell you force your way in, Saint Shadow Organization, hehe…"
Kye felt a chill run down his spine. Since when had someone appeared behind them without them noticing? What kind of cultivation level was this?! Why had his Divine Gift [Action Prediction] failed?!
However, the two reacted instantly. Kye turned sharply with a fierce expression, slashing out a magnificent light blade toward the rear. Simons also moved, countless blood-colored vine plants erupting violently from his body.
But Lu Jun was faster than them.
His heart was already filled with rage. The Holy City was truly a cancer, acting without restraint, daring to target his family!
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Fairy Tail{30 Chapters}
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