Versatile Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant-Chapter 117: Mental Detection

Everyone fell silent. Budget constraints were a strong argument.

They strongly suspected that the reason this mission was assigned as an exchange student trial was to exploit them as free labor.

One had to know that everyone present was at least at the Spirit Seed + Intermediate Tier Level 2, equipped with luxurious magical gear. In the mercenary world, a squad of ten intermediate-tier elites like them would cost no less than tens of millions to hire.

"Haha, just kidding."

Professor Yuan chuckled, then changed the topic, saying, "There are two reasons. First, my White Yang Dolphin beast-taming is classified military information. Without the proper documentation and registration, official institutions won't permit it to board a ship."

"Even if we took a commercial vessel, its route might not align with the White Yang Dolphins' migration path. Plus, we wouldn't have the freedom to adjust our course and access certain remote areas."

He shrugged and added, "The second reason is your trial. Finding suitable mission targets isn't easy."

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood and could only resign themselves to staying in the water. They almost forgot that, given their backgrounds, they were practically bound to the nation. This allowed them to naturally come into contact with classified information related to the formation of underwater forces.

Since their identities ensured that they wouldn't betray their country, it wasn't appropriate to hire outsiders for such missions.

Seeing their reactions, Professor Yuan smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry, you won't be working for free. I've learned from communicating with the White Yang Dolphins that their species indeed produces White Jade Gel."

Gao Sheng, who had been a passive listener, suddenly became alert and eagerly asked, "It really exists?"

Professor Yuan nodded and explained, "White Yang Dolphins usually seek out burial grounds—Demonic Tombs—when they approach the end of their lifespan. Their bodies decompose naturally, and over time, the residual magical energy condenses into a gentle, gel-like substance resembling white jade, hence the name."

"Its effects include nourishing blood and qi, strengthening the body, and accelerating wound healing. For water-element mages, it's especially beneficial, even enhancing water-control abilities."

"However, these White Yang Dolphins don't remember any large Demonic Tombs. Most of them have already been looted by the White Sturgeon Demon Tribe. There are only a few scattered sites left, probably just enough to share."

The students' expressions eased, and anticipation grew for the journey ahead. Even if they couldn't use the White Jade Gel themselves, selling it would bring considerable wealth.

Meanwhile, Gao Sheng was completely overjoyed. The whole reason he had gone through the trouble of searching for White Yang Dolphins was to heal his old injuries.

What baffled him was that when he had asked the dolphins about this before, they had ignored him. He had assumed it didn't exist. Yet, the moment Professor Yuan stepped in, the truth was immediately uncovered.

Professor Yuan scratched his head and said, "Uh... Sound Element magic allows one to hear the voices of all things. This is why learning a foreign language properly is important."

This left Gao Sheng speechless. Thinking back to his past conversations with the White Yang Dolphins—where they had completely misunderstood each other—he suddenly felt like a fool.

Mu Tingying, Jiang Xu, and the others no longer had any doubts and continued swimming behind the ship.

After several hours, they reached a silent stretch of the river, where numerous sandbars jutted out of the vast waters. A strange, foul odor—likely the excrement of some demon beasts—permeated the air. The White Yang Dolphins beneath them stirred uneasily.

Lu Jun promptly warned, "This is the territory of the Huangpu Crocodile Demon Tribe. Be wary of crocodile demons lurking in the deep waters."

His Psychic Perception was sharp. Danger loomed all around. The waters here were shallow and littered with hidden reefs, preventing any ships from passing through.

The only advantage was that they were at the periphery of the crocodile demon territory, meaning there were no Commander-level or Advanced-tier Warrior-level creatures here. The main shipping route, however, was deep and wide, home to such high-tier beings. Fortunately, the ship had a barrier, ensuring its safety.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

Silently, Lu Jun cast his Intermediate Tier Level 2 Psychic Magic: Mind Ripple – Mental Detection. Instantly, his mental energy expanded without limit, covering hundreds of meters. It allowed him to perceive everything, even through obstacles.

Being Intermediate Tier Level 2 in all elements, his abilities were extraordinary. Under the Psychic Element's influence, the unfamiliar riverbed was revealed—countless Black-backed Iron Crocodiles lay in wait, resting quietly.

The Psychic Element was indeed a must-have for the wilderness. With Lu Jun leading the group, they navigated through the Huangpu Crocodile Demon domain without a hitch.

By using Mental Detection to identify threats in advance, they could alter their route accordingly.

If evasion wasn't possible, he would cast Mental Pacification, lulling large groups of demons into slumber.

Mu Tingying, Dongfang Ming, and the others had initially been eager for an intense battle, expecting a long fight. Instead, the entire journey was unexpectedly smooth, seamless even. They exchanged wide-eyed glances of confusion.

Li Kaifeng muttered, "Strange... why haven't the crocodile demons shown up?"

"No idea," Gao Sheng shook his head. "Maybe they were culled during the recent minor flood season and are now recuperating? Either way, avoiding a fight is a good thing."

Nearby, Nanrong Ni sat gracefully atop a White Yang Dolphin, her fair feet lightly tapping the river's surface, creating delicate ripples.

The sight of the young woman, the river, and the dolphin formed a perfect scene—she looked like a waterborne fairy on a leisurely outing.

Some of the more lascivious members of the team couldn't help but steal glances, gulping at the sight. Her legs were flawless, her figure lush, and her temperament gentle—she was simply a masterpiece.

Lifting a hand to brush back her hair, Nanrong Ni fixed her charming eyes on Lu Jun and softly said, "We should thank our team leader, Lu Jun, for his excellent navigation and good fortune."

The others snapped out of their daze and quickly added words of praise. However, in their hearts, they chalked everything up to luck. Instead, they envied Lu Jun for stealing the spotlight in front of a beautiful woman.

Little did they know that Lu Jun, upon feeling Nanrong Ni's so-called "affectionate gaze" and flirtatious behavior, was internally cringing.

He cursed, thinking, Is this manipulative, scheming green tea woman setting her sights on me now?

Others might not realize it, but he knew the truth—Nanrong Ni pretended to befriend Mu Ningxue while secretly plotting to kill her and steal her Heavenly Ice Bow talent.

Getting involved with a woman like her was practically asking to die.

Besides, her current actions were already distasteful. She knew very well that before leaving, Lu Jun had been sent off by Ding Yumian and Lu Mei—yet here she was, deliberately flirting with him. The meaning behind it was self-evident.

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Lu Jun remained vigilant, refusing to even glance at Nanrong Ni. Instead, he focused on his spiritual world. This journey alone had drained half of his magical energy just from using Mental Pacification and Mental Detection. The road ahead was still long.

He had no intention of explaining anything to the others. Keeping a low profile while reaping the benefits was best. Fortunately, as team leader, he had the authority to keep certain things under wraps.

Only Professor Yuan seemed to have noticed something. However, he remained silent and simply recorded his observations.

After successfully crossing the Huangpu Crocodile Demon territory, the group entered a more expansive stretch of the Yangtze River. Looking out, the horizon blended sky and water into a seamless white mist, the distant shores completely obscured.

Now, Lu Jun truly felt the grandeur of a fully magical world.

Days passed in a blur. The twelve of them moved forward in stops and starts, fending off numerous attacks while struggling to protect the White Yang Dolphins. A journey that should have been completed by now was only a third done.

Everyone was exhausted, their morale low. Their bodies were sticky, their clothes had been soaked and dried repeatedly, and grime accumulated on their skin. The team's frustration was palpable—a stark contrast to their initial enthusiasm.

Professor Yuan and Gao Sheng exchanged knowing glances. They understood that the team's real trial was beginning.

Being submerged in water for long periods, experiencing the monotony of an unchanging environment, and enduring relentless threats—these conditions could break anyone. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a torture method called Water Prison.

Lu Jun remained composed, feeling comfortable thanks to Level 4 Water Protection and Level 4 Spiritual Ripple, which kept his mind stable.

But he could sense the instability within the team. Unfortunately, there was little he could do. He couldn't reveal his Psychic Element, so he had no way of reinforcing their mental state.

At this moment, seven or eight White Yang Dolphins suddenly plunged into a specific part of the river. As they went deeper, a wave of humid mist rose around them, spreading thickly through the area.

At first, no one paid much attention. But when the white fog became so dense that visibility dropped to less than ten meters, everyone realized something was wrong.

"There's something off," Lu Jun murmured. Then, he swiftly cast another Intermediate Tier Psychic Spell—Mental Detection to scan the surroundings.