Versatile Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant-Chapter 120: Jinling Dragon Gate

Lu Jun and his group swiftly left the waters, bringing the white river dolphins along.

Then, they took a brief rest, floating on the river's surface.

Yes, they were literally floating. Twelve people lay on the bouncy backs of the white dolphins, with their lower bodies submerged in the white waters of the Yangtze River.

At first glance, it seemed like a romantic pool party. However, upon looking up, the gloomy and rainy weather, the vast and endless expanse of water, and the monotonous tidal waves created an oppressive atmosphere.

If not for Lu Jun's Water Defense protecting their bodies, they wouldn't have been able to endure such prolonged immersion in water.

Jiang Xu complained, "Why can't we transport them over land? I'd rather traverse those demon-occupied territories on land! Staying in the Yangtze is frustrating—my Lightning and Summoning abilities are useless here! If real danger arises, I won't even be able to fight back."

The others echoed similar sentiments. Each of them faced different disadvantages, and their combat abilities were at rock bottom. But the real struggle was the mental exhaustion.

Hearing this, Lu Jun shook his head. Even though they had passed through the Misty Water Snail's domain without casualties, their morale had taken a heavy hit.

Even with Mind-Calming Artifacts shielding them, the snail's mental enchantment had still left its mark on some of their hearts.

That was for them, though.

Lu Jun looked inward at the space within his White Tiger Pendant, feeling quite satisfied. With his mental state stable due to his Mind Soothing ability, he was actually the one in the best condition.

Within the Blood Lake, dozens of flickering Ghost Flames burned intensely, radiating powerful soul energy.

Each of them belonged to a Warrior-Level remnant soul, and in terms of energy content, they weren't much weaker than complete Servant-Class Soul Essences.

From the Battle of Bo City to the Magic City Hunter Squad, the Huangpu River hunt, and now this mission escorting the white Yangtze dolphins, Lu Jun had unknowingly accumulated a considerable number of Warrior-Level remnant souls.

He was now close to forming a complete Warrior-Level Soul Essence!

Currently, he had over seventy remnant souls. Just twenty more, and he could fuse them into a Warrior-Level Soul Essence, which would be enough to enhance eight or nine Level-4 Stardusts.

That meant he was nearing Level-4 Intermediate Magic!

Additionally, in the Blood Lake, hundreds of faint blue light specks—remnants of Servant-Level souls—were rapidly clustering together, igniting into small Ghost Flames.

Including three fully formed Servant-Class Soul Essences he had obtained, he now had a total of six.

"Curse Element—Level-4 is just around the corner."

Feeling this positive progress, Lu Jun was in a great mood. With tangible rewards from this training mission, there was no reason for him to feel mentally exhausted.

At that moment, Professor Yuan reminded everyone, "Time to move. We're almost at Jinling, just a little longer to endure."

The group exchanged glances, sighed, and followed behind the white Yangtze dolphins.

After more than ten days, they had crossed several demon-infested regions along the Yangtze River, eventually arriving at an extraordinary sight.

Boom!

The massive Yangtze, spanning several kilometers wide, suddenly dropped off a natural step, creating a thunderous waterfall.

The vertical drop spanned several hundred meters, forming a colossal natural barrier that resembled an immense Milky Way Wall, blocking their path forward.

The cascading waterfall pounded onto the river below with an unending roar, raising towering waves.

Countless white splashes soared into the air as the turbulent water churned violently. The entire area was enveloped in thick mist, saturated with rich water elements, giving it an ethereal, dreamlike appearance.

"This is the Milky Way Gorge. The immense Yangtze suddenly drops down a geological step, converting its gravitational energy into powerful kinetic force, causing the rapids to foam and creating this spectacular scene, hence the name."

Professor Yuan, standing under a towering ancient tree on the riverbank, explained as if reciting from a textbook.

Beside him, Bai Zhengfeng added, "I know this place! Locals call it the Jinling Dragon Gate. Once we cross this barrier, we'll reach Jinling—the former capital of six dynasties, a place of immense prestige, hence the name Dragon Gate."

"But the most important reason is that this natural landscape divides the Yangtze's demons into different tiers."

"Before the Dragon Gate, the strongest demons found here are Commander-Level at most. Even among the dozen or so demon tribes, there are only about twenty Commander-Level creatures in total."

"But beyond the Dragon Gate, Ruler-Level demons start to appear. Just a few months ago, Crocodile Monarch was spotted here."

Lu Jun nodded while gazing at the dense cluster of black figures in the turbulent waters beyond the Milky Way Wall.

His expression turned serious as he pointed to the distant figures. "So, all these demons... are trying to cross the Dragon Gate to ascend?"

"The Yangtze's waters beyond the Dragon Gate are richer in resources, and the demon density is significantly higher. Many tribes seek to enter that region, believing that if they can establish themselves for a few decades, they'll experience an astonishing transformation—ascending from Commander-Level to Ruler-Level."

Professor Yuan explained, "So in a way, yes, they're trying to 'leap the Dragon Gate' like the ancient legend."

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"You should see it during the Yangtze River Migration Period. Dozens of major demon tribes attempt to cross the Dragon Gate at the same time, while countless rogue demons swarm in as well. The entire river becomes a battlefield—demons trampling over each other in desperation, turning a radius of dozens of kilometers into a literal Sea of Demonic Beasts.

"The sheer volume of bloodshed dyes the entire Huangpu River red."

"But crossing the Dragon Gate isn't easy. It requires immense strength to push against millions of tons of rushing water, along with incredible water-controlling abilities and even a bit of luck. Some demons even sabotage others by stepping on them."

"This..." The group glanced at the seemingly docile white Yangtze dolphins beside them, realizing how difficult it would be for them to ascend.

Jiang Xu suddenly asked a key question, "Wait... there are at least a hundred thousand demons here. Won't they attack us on sight? If we get caught in a swarm, we're dead!"

Veteran fisherman Gao Sheng chuckled, "Relax, they won't. These demons are all focused on climbing the Dragon Gate. If Lu Jun casts Level-4 Water Defense on us, we'll blend right in."

Though the group was exhausted and wary of the dangers, the fact that Jinling was so close—and that their mission was nearly complete—boosted their morale.

Lu Jun manipulated his Stardust, stirring the water around them. Vast amounts of water vapor condensed, forming intertwining streams that wrapped around each of them, coalescing into shimmering blue Water Cloaks.

With twelve people and several white River olphins, they approached the foot of the Milky Way Waterfall in a grand procession.

The water here surged with extreme violence, as if boiling. Towering waves crashed relentlessly, endlessly rising and falling.

Even with Lu Jun's Water Defense, they struggled to move forward against two-meter-high waves.

Fortunately, the white river dolphins proved invaluable. With a resonant cry, their massive, jade-white bodies radiated a soft glow. The surging waves immediately lost much of their force, and the surrounding waters became significantly calmer.

By working together, the white radiance enveloped the entire group, further enhancing their protection.

Lu Jun instantly felt the pressure on his body lighten—what had previously felt like carrying dozens of kilograms was now close to nothing.

"Not bad, huh?" Gao Sheng patted the dolphin's back proudly. "When it comes to taming water creatures... I know my stuff. Otherwise, how could they be part of the Underwater Elite Force?"

As they neared the Milky Way Gorge, they looked up—and the sight was truly breathtaking.

The sky and earth seemed filled with endless white, as though they were gazing at an infinite expanse. It felt like the Celestial River itself was pouring down from the heavens.

No wonder it was called the Milky Way Gorge.

Without hesitation, Lu Jun stepped into the waterfall.