A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Originally, the excitement following the National Institute Tournament should have gradually faded. However, with the shocking news that Lu Jun was suspected of practicing forbidden magic and that Salan's death was uncertain, the entire internet once again erupted in uproar.
Global netizens were in a frenzy.
"Oh my God, this can't be true, right? Haha, I knew it! How could someone single-handedly defeat an entire team of elites? Turns out it was forbidden magic cheating!"
"Unbelievable, such disgrace on an international level — cheating?!"
"Hahaha, I knew it! A mere top-32 competitor suddenly sweeping all the way to become the undefeated champion? Obvious hacks — today the truth is out!"
Some mocked and ridiculed, while many others who knew Lu Jun well stepped up in his defense, knowing full well that he would never do such a thing.
> "You just believe whatever people say? If someone said eating sh*t was good, would you try it too?!"
"Even the Jiuzhou government has officially lodged a protest, yet you trust the Holy City instead?!"
In Magic City, Ding Yumian, Qing Yu, and Lu Weixi were all deeply worried about Lu Jun.
Ding Yumian, wearing a white dress, stood at the academy gate, lightly biting her red lips. She wanted several times to rush out of the academy, board a plane, and fly to the Holy City but was sternly stopped by Dean Xiao.
Dean Xiao looked around and sighed. "You two are both Calamity Survivors. Don't force yourselves into the Holy City — you'll only make things worse."
"As for Lu Jun," he continued, "don't worry. Shao Zheng's diplomatic negotiations have already made some progress."
Meanwhile, Tang Yue received word from the Tribunal that Lu Jun had been detained by the Holy City. Her face showed utter disbelief, gritting her teeth in fury. She immediately set off for Greece with Zhu Meng.
Zhu Meng's Tribunal faction was originally in charge of Europe, and since it was he who had recommended Lu Jun in the first place, he could not stand idly by. He began taking active measures.
Even Elder Song of the Sky-Hunting Demon Bureau — once a divine officer of the Holy City was invited out by Hua Zhanhong to assist.
However, Tang Yue couldn't help feeling melancholy. It had been a year since she last saw Lu Jun. She didn't know whether he still thought about her, or if she had just been a passing fling. Either way, she was determined to find him.
Meanwhile, in the distant Western Regions.
Lu Mei was cloaked in a gray-white robe. Even so, her alluring figure was still visible beneath the fabric. With graceful steps, she walked out of the Taklamakan Desert, yellow sands swirling behind her, her aura heroic and proud.
She lifted her head slightly, revealing a half of her flawless, jade-like face. Her chin was smooth and delicately pointed, her red lips glistening as she murmured, "A year at last… my training is complete. I wonder how my little brother is doing."
Then, carrying the corpse of Shi Qianshou in one hand, she headed toward the Dunhuang Military District.
Half a year ago, following the leads provided by her brother Lu Jun, she found Shi Qianshou — the man said to live and die with his city and killed him, seizing a half-withered Earth Core Essence.
After explaining the list of Shi Qianshou's crimes, she was met with terrible news.
"What? My brother's been detained by the Holy City?"
Lu Mei's elegant brows furrowed, her beautiful face turning cold. Without hesitation, she rushed to the ancient capital's international airport, boarding a flight for the Holy City.
"I'll bring him back safely. Let's see who dares to touch him."
At a small courtyard at the foot of the Parthenon Mountain, countless echoes of human voices reverberated through the void, surging like the tides.
Lu Jun sat cross-legged in the courtyard. Within a radius of a hundred meters, the scenery shifted unpredictably — holy and demonic energies intertwined as one.
At times, sacred chants surrounded him, auspicious light cascaded down, and the phantoms of billions of holy spirits appeared, brilliant and radiant, making him seem as divine as a god.
At times, demonic howls filled his ears, cold winds howled, and countless fiends danced madly in the shadows — the roars of demon gods shaking the air, painting him as a peerless great devil.
Fortunately, these visions existed only on the spiritual level. If they truly manifested, the world would be shaken.
During this period, Lu Jun had immersed himself in cultivating the Psychic Element. Ever since planting the Seed of Imagination, this was the first time he had thoroughly explored it.
The tide of faith born from the National Institute's championship victory, combined with the malicious curses and slander suddenly launched by the Holy City, intertwined light and darkness—nourishing the bloom and condensation of the Lifan Flower Seal.
"Human hearts are unfathomable. They can unite as one and create miraculous monuments, or they can fracture into chaos, turning the world into purgatory. The human heart is supreme—higher than the heavens themselves. When I temper my heart through the hearts of others, the soul becomes eternal!"
Lu Jun's eyes shimmered with radiant wisdom. That crystalline transparency seemed to elevate his soul—his divinity faintly revealed.
In the next instant, his expression twisted, as though divided into a face of yin and yang. The left half was compassionate and sacred, his left eye a brilliant sapphire; the right half was sinister and cold, his right eye black-red like the abyss.
In the blink of an eye, Lu Jun returned to normal. A thunderous roar exploded within his mind, and a world-shaking voice resounded.
Inside his spiritual world, a vast azure star river surged violently, finally shattering a layer of light, expanding to twice its former size, until it collided with a thick heavenly barrier.
Mind Element advanced to High-Tier, Level Three— [Soul Dominion · Mind Crusher].
Lu Jun's gaze was gentle and serene, his aura rising sharply. During this month of secluded cultivation, not only had his Mind Element advanced, but the power of Imagination had also accumulated significantly, illuminating one petal of his Lifan Flower.
At the High-Tier stage, the Lifan Flower possessed twelve petals in total, each representing a force equivalent to an entire star river of Imagination Power, capable of unleashing infinite might.
Furthermore, by refining his own heart through the hearts of others, Lu Jun completely purged all the negative emotions corroding his Ancient King Armor Robe, leaving it pure as a mirror. Through this, he even comprehended the Heaven-Seed Realm—the seventh stage of spiritual cultivation.
Previously, no matter how much his cultivation improved, this barrier stood immovable. Now, he had finally grasped the profound mystery of the mind.
As Lu Jun quietly absorbed and consolidated his insights, a sudden knock echoed at the courtyard door.
A beautiful woman pushed it open, stepping in with a basket. Her figure was voluptuous and graceful, her limbs slender yet full of strength, her smile charming and full of allure.
It was none other than Jun Yaojin. She entered with a tray of food.
Seeing her, Lu Jun asked with familiarity, "How are things outside?"
Jun Yaojin smiled sweetly. "Quite well. It seems you'll be allowed out today."
Over the past month, thanks to Shao Zheng's tireless efforts, the Parthenon Temple had been sending delicious meals three times a day—always delivered by familiar faces. There had been no restrictions on information from the outside world.
Through their frequent interactions, Lu Jun had grown quite familiar with Jun Yaojin. After all, they were once comrades-in-arms.
Upon hearing he would soon be released, Lu Jun showed no emotion and calmly asked, "What happened at the Parthenon?"
Jun Yaojin hesitated, then whispered, "Another Saintess has died. It was Panny Kallis—she was killed personally by Xin Xia. Many witnessed it with their own eyes. Even the death of Andre has been blamed on her."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jun sneered. "So, she's Salan now?"
"This…" Jun Yaojin was momentarily stunned before shaking her head. "Whether she's Salan or not no longer matters. She's killed two Saintesses. The Hall of Knights, the Hall of Faith, and several Forbidden Curse mages are preparing to execute her."
"Today, the Holy City is expected to convene all thirteen adjudicators for a vote."
"What a fine Parthenon. What a fine Holy City—reversing truth and falsehood, twisting black and white."
Lu Jun sneered coldly. His conversation with Jun Yaojin was merely routine.
In truth, with his Mind Element cultivation and True Name foresight, he could faintly commune with the thoughts of heaven and all living beings—possessing the grace of one who could sit in a humble cottage yet perceive the affairs of the world. He was even on the verge of developing Prophetic Perception—the ability to foresee the outcome of events.
Thus, he already knew that the Parthenon Temple had withheld the Divine Imprint Benediction from him.
Lu Jun's gaze deepened. "Parthenon Temple, Holy City… You have forced my hand."
Soon after, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door again. Lu Jun looked toward the source, momentarily stunned—seeing a familiar figure, curvaceous and enchanting.
Tang Yue strode quickly into the courtyard. Upon seeing Lu Jun, she smiled brightly. "Long time no see, little man. I've come to take you home."
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