"You mean that? Isn't it all because of that Medusa Mother incident. I heard from the locals that even the upper echelons of the African Magic Association are having headaches over it."
Jun Yaojin recalled the scene from a few days ago when she had passed through the Serpent Mountains, and her heart still trembled with lingering fear.
The so-called Serpent Mountains were a special phenomenon formed when countless snake groups intertwined and entangled with one another, coiling into massive spherical 'snake mountains,' driven by mating and heat-induced instincts.
Unlike Lu Jun and the two siblings, who were bold and highly skilled—capable of crossing the entirety of Greater Africa and possessing flight abilities, making the journey largely safe—she did not dare to act so recklessly.
A few days earlier, Jun Yaojin had only dared to cross the wilderness and reach Cape City by tagging along with a convoy, cooperating with local guides, and traveling together with more than a dozen high-level mages.
Fortunately, as a handmaiden of the Parthenon, she possessed powerful blessing and healing magic. Coupled with her graceful beauty, she was well-liked by her companions and placed under protection, allowing her to make the journey with scares but no real danger.
Lu Jun thought to himself, As expected.
With the unrest spreading across Africa, he did not wish to linger any longer. Rising to his feet, he said to the two women, "Once I finish my business, let's head home."
Jun Yaojin gave a bitter smile. "It won't be so easy to leave now. With the Serpent–Scorpion Tribe in turmoil, traces of monarch-level activity have already appeared outside Cape City. There might even be a Scorpion Monarch or a Serpent Queen watching from the shadows."
"So all flights have been suspended and don't dare to resume. As for traveling by sea, the oceans are becoming increasingly unsafe as well. On our way here, we were even attacked by the Sea Serpent Monarch. Skirting around the Indian Ocean would be fraught with danger."
She sighed softly. "How do you say it in Huaxia? An autumn of many troubles… I feel like the world is welcoming another dark era."
"It's called 'a season of troubles,'" Lu Jun corrected her, then said solemnly, "The Cape Magic Association shouldn't just sit by and do nothing. It shouldn't take long before they move to eradicate the Serpent–Scorpion forces outside the city, right?"
Lu Jun was not overly worried. He had many trump cards of his own—avoiding trouble did not mean he truly feared it.
After that, the three of them rented a meditation chamber and temporarily stayed in Cape City, focusing on cultivation.
At this time, with the Star Ocean Controller in hand, Lu Jun's speed in cultivating Curse Element super-tier magic had increased severalfold. He estimated that in about a month, he would be able to cast it.
Early the next morning, he interrupted his star control practice and headed to the headquarters of the Cape Magic Association to apply for resources in the form of a small, top-grade metal mineral vein.
The Cape Magic Fortress Association responded swiftly, dispatching a middle-aged mage to receive him.
The visitor had reached the super-tier realm. Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, wearing glasses, he exuded a refined and scholarly air—completely different from the usual hot-tempered stereotype.
"So you are Lu Jun, captain of the China National Team? Already at the super-tier… truly young and accomplished."
The bespectacled Black male mage said in surprise upon seeing him.
Hearing this, Lu Jun was startled. The receptionist turned out to be an acquaintance—Davin, the man from the original story who had once been trapped in the Sahara and nearly killed by an earth-element wraith, the Sandstorm Monarch.
Of course, Lu Jun's intervention back then had saved Davin's life, and Davin had promised to fulfill his request for a top-grade metal mineral vein.
Lu Jun replied politely, "You flatter me."
"Hahaha, there's no need to be so modest," Davin laughed, teasing him in an equal and friendly manner. "The youngsters in our country will need several more years before they can break into the super-tier. Compared to you, they're far behind."
The two chatted briefly in the hall.
Davin then said sincerely, "I still need to thank you for your help back then. I'll take you to the headquarters' specialized mineral storage vault so you can choose the metal vein you like."
"Much appreciated," Lu Jun said with a nod.
Following Davin, he passed through a complex network of vine-like transport pipelines, walked past cavern after cavern formed of immortal vines, and finally arrived in a vast, emerald-green cavern.
Below, seven or eight mages hurried back and forth. All around were countless sealed compartments, each holding ores of various colors and strange shapes.
"These are the mineral databases established by the Magic Association," Davin explained slowly. "They include all confirmed minerals—ordinary ones, those containing magical energy, and more."
"Take a look and see which one you want. Depending on the reward's value limit, we can make adjustments or compensations accordingly."
Hearing this, Lu Jun nodded. The African Magic Association's generosity in gifting an entire mineral vein was not unlimited—it was constrained by a certain value ceiling.
However, he was quite well-off now and did not need to worry too much. He could simply pick the best.
Lu Jun declined Davin's offer to consult the illustrated mineral compendium for selection.
Why bother with such trouble? Each mineral had different properties and effects. If he examined them one by one, who knew how long it would take—his eyes would grow tired, and he might still end up hesitating.
The best solution was simple.
Let the "main party" choose for himself.
Buzz—buzz—buzz!
With a single thought from Lu Jun, within his spiritual world, inside the vast and surging platinum-colored star river, the Tai'a Sword Seal began to stir restlessly. It was as if it had long since sensed the countless metals outside and was impatient to rush out.
Now that it had received his permission, it instantly transformed into a streak of black light that pierced out from between his brows and entered the outside world.
In the blink of an eye, Devon saw a three-foot-long black divine sword hovering beside Lu Jun, its blade gleaming. He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "What a unique magical artifact!"
However, he did not probe further. The person before him was no longer a junior, but an Super-tier mage. Anyone who reached the Super tier required immense, pure external energy—meaning everyone possessed great fortuitous encounters and a few personal secrets.
Buzz~
The spirit of the Tai'a Divine Sword hovered beneath the cavern ceiling, pausing before one strange metal ore after another.
Its selection process was swift. Before long, it stopped in front of a metal block shimmering with platinum-colored radiance.
"Have you decided? This one?" Davin asked.
Lu Jun was slightly surprised. He stepped forward and took the platinum ore from its compartment, carefully sensing it. He discovered that the sharp, murderous aura it emitted was extremely similar to Metal-element star river magic energy.
Davin glanced at it and immediately understood, taking the initiative to explain,
"So it's White-Grinding Essence Gold. It's an expensive, top-grade metal that can be used to refine certain advanced-tier artifacts."
He then shook his head.
"Unfortunately, its function is rather niche. Very few artifact masters are willing to use it as a base material."
"In terms of overall performance, it's fairly ordinary compared to metals of the same tier. Its only distinguishing feature is that any artifact forged from it grows stronger the more it's used—its power and all aspects of performance steadily improve."
"That's why it's called White-Grinding Essence Gold—meaning it must be continuously polished."
Lu Jun pondered for a moment.
"That actually sounds pretty good."
"It does," Davin laughed. "But the drawback is that the growth rate is far too slow. It generally takes ten years just to see a noticeable improvement."
"For us mages, magical artifacts are often used as temporary replacements. Who knows when one might be damaged or destroyed in battle? We don't have the luxury of waiting for it to slowly evolve."
Lu Jun nodded slightly. Overall, White-Grinding Essence Gold was indeed rather mediocre.
However, he closed his eyes and sensed the thoughts of the Tai'a Divine Sword's spirit, as well as the knowledge surging forth from within the White Tiger pendant.
Only then did he realize—
The true name of this ore was Tai Bai Xin Gold.
Xin Gold is the softest of metals, yet unyielding despite countless bends. The more it is tempered, the sharper its edge becomes—even if broken, it can be reforged.
Tai Bai Xin Gold is the purest aggregation of Metal-element essence between heaven and earth. Thus, whether in luster or aura, it closely resembles Metal-element magic energy.
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