Versatile Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant-Chapter 145: Promotion Hope, Junior Mo

Lu Jun had no idea what would happen when Dean Xiao refined this Water Orb magic equipment.

However, it seemed to have fully awakened the potential of the Heavenly Blue Pearl, not only revealing its true name, Water Repelling Bead, but also unlocking various mystical abilities.

First and foremost, it elevated the Water Element Basic Spell Water Defense to the fifth Star Level without requiring the purification of seven Warrior-Level Soul Essences.

Level 4 Mystic Serpent, Level 5 Dragon Monarch Water Repelling Bead!

If Level 4 Water Defense was equivalent to half a Mid-Tier spell and could withstand a single blow from a minor Warrior-Level creature, then Level 5 was fully on par with a Mid-Tier defensive spell.

Its defensive capacity was akin to the Rock Barrier of the Earth Element, meaning it could resist even the impact of a Great Warrior-Level attack.

It was important to note that this was still just a Basic Spell. Lu Jun could achieve Mid-Tier defensive effects with only a small amount of magic energy, which was practically cheating.

However, upgrading a Basic Spell to Level 5 provided the highest cost-efficiency. Advancing to Level 6 or 7 depended on the type of ability chosen, and even then, the benefits would be marginal and a waste of resources.

A Level 6 Star required a Commander-Level Soul Essence. With his current strength, even if he reached the pinnacle of the Super-Tier, he might still struggle to slay 700 Commander-Level monsters.

And even if it were to reach Level 6, its offensive power would still be nowhere near High-Tier magic.

Instead of wasting money on that, it would be far better to invest in an Elemental Heavenly Seed, which, when combined with a High-Tier spell, would be exponentially stronger than an over-leveled Basic Spell.

Lu Jun had no intention of taking that path—Level 5 was already satisfying enough.

The Water Repelling Bead upgrading his Water Element Basic Spell was merely a bonus. Its true power lay in its three magical effects:

Immunity to water-element spells of the same tier. The ability to store an additional reserve of Water Element magic energy, effectively doubling his magic reserves. A 50% increase in base power for all Water Element spells.

The first two effects meant that once Lu Jun activated Level 5 Water Defense, he would become a natural counter to Water Element magic. Even Mid-Tier Violent Waves would be absorbed completely. The same would apply to Great Warrior-Level creatures like Flood Demons and Sea Monsters that controlled water.

With the Water Repelling Bead, he was impervious to all water-based attacks, and his vast magic reserves perfectly complemented his Tidal Affinity Talent.

These two effects were not stagnant either—they would continue to strengthen as his Water Element cultivation progressed. Now that he reached Peak of Mid-Tier, he had become immune to Violent Waves, and the bead would allow him to store an additional Nebula-Level magic reserve.

And once he reached the Forbidden Curse Tier, perhaps it would even grant immunity to Forbidden Curse-Level Water Magic?!

As for the 50% base power increase, it worked multiplicatively with his Tidal Spirit Seed, tripling his Water Magic's power. When combined, even a simple spell would have 4.5 times its normal effect.

This kind of enhancement affected base power, similar to the Spiritual praise of the Parthenon of the Temple, meaning it could stack with Soul Seeds, magic equipment, and other power boosts.

At last, Lu Jun felt a glimmer of hope in facing the future Sea Monster Empire. Ordinary Water Magic was only useful for self-preservation in the face of apocalyptic tsunamis—to truly reverse the tide of battle, he needed overwhelming growth.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Lu Jun controlled his Star Map, activating Water Defense. A layer of shimmering, crystalline scales spread across his body, forming the image of a Water Jiao Dragon coiling around him.

The most eye-catching feature was the Heavenly Blue Water Bead floating above his head, radiating a powerful water aura. The defensive power of his Level 5 Water Defense became 50% stronger under its influence.

Feeling the immense power granted by the Water Repelling Bead, he grew restless with anticipation. He could hardly imagine how destructive a combination of Violent Waves + Tidal Affinity + Water Repelling Bead would be.

Seeing this, Lu Jun muttered to himself, "I really have to thank Professor Xiao properly."

Truly a Water Element treasure, this artifact had elevated his Water Magic to an outstanding level. He even felt like he was leading the pack—an illusion, perhaps, but within his Spiritual World, his Azure Nebula had expanded significantly, even eroding part of the barrier to the High-Tier realm.

Glancing at his White Tiger Pendant, his eyes lit up. Inside were eight Servant-Level Soul Essences, one Warrior-Level Soul Essence, and a fragmented Commander-Level Soul Essence—just enough to unlock a Level 4 Mid-Tier spell for one of his elements.

"If I just buy one more 'Galaxy Vein,' with this power and the support of the Three-Step Tower, I could break through in Water Element instantly, without waiting half a year!"

Excitement surged within him. Unexpectedly, it wasn't the Metal Element that would break through first—it was the Water Element taking the lead.

It couldn't be helped. First, it was a matter of opportunity—his Jade Cream from the Yangtze Training, followed by Dean Xiao's Water Repelling Bead, had created a perfect storm for rapid growth.

Second, it was about frequency of use. Ever since coming to Pearl Institute, he had been cautious with his Metal Element, whereas his Water Element had been used extensively in battle, gaining immense experience.

Inside his Golden Source Apartment, Lu Jun refined the Water Repelling Bead, eager to earn 100 million and break through to High-Tier.

"Becoming the top Water Element student... a sophomore at the High-Tier level is totally reasonable!"

Afterward, when he returned to campus, he made a trip to Dean Xiao's office.

Dean Xiao smiled warmly and asked, "So, how do you like my gift?"

"The effects are incredible—thank you, professor."

Lu Jun replied sincerely, openly sharing his progress.

Dean Xiao pondered for a moment before commenting, "I've never seen this happen before... You must have perfectly refined the Water—uh, Water Repelling Bead's power. You got lucky, kid."

Hearing that there were no issues, Lu Jun sighed in relief, trusting the judgment of a Water Forbidden Curse Mage.

Over the next few weeks, he gradually adapted to his enhanced Water Magic while attending lectures from Dean Xiao.

Surprisingly, the professor didn't give him one-on-one lessons but instead had him study formation magic with the main campus professors.

That was good news. After all, Mo Fan always asked Mu Bai for advice when encountering formation problems, making it seem like his formal education was lacking.

Turns out, he simply skipped those classes—his entire focus had been on increasing his cultivation.

As Lu Jun maintained a steady learning rhythm, he planned to take on a major contract to earn the 20 million he still needed. That reminded him of Clear Sky Monster Hunting Agency!

But before he could act, the campus became livelier—crowds of new students and parents arrived to tour Pearl Institute.

Seeing this, he blinked in realization—an entire academic year had passed. After summer break, he would be a sophomore, and the new freshmen were arriving.

Looking back, his progress had been astonishingly fast—he had not wasted a single moment.

Lu Jun thought about Mo Fan, who had been absent for a year, and couldn't help but smile.

He then called his secretary, Qing Yu, and said, "Hey, are you free?"

A pleasant, concise voice replied, "What do you need?"

"Drive over. I need to pick someone up. Take the best car from the garage."

"Got it!"

Before long, at the Pearl Academy gate, a low-key yet extravagant black sports car slowly approached. The most striking feature was the five-star red flag displayed on the front.

All the freshmen gasped in astonishment. No matter how discreet a luxury sports car tried to appear, the aura of wealth and prestige was unmistakable. The atmosphere was simply different.

The eighteen-year-old freshmen were buzzing with excitement.

"Damn! A supercar! Just by looking at the quality, it's got to be worth at least a million. The rumors were true—at Pearl Academy, you can casually run into luxury cars."

Many girls' eyes sparkled, seemingly envisioning a dreamy campus life filled with supercars and handsome guys.

However, some onlookers couldn't help but speak with a hint of jealousy.

"Tch! It's just a sports car. The brand matters. There are some that only cost a little over a hundred thousand. Some people just haven't seen the world. Besides, in the end, a mage's cultivation is what truly matters."

Of course, some well-informed parents noticed the red flag emblem, their expressions shifting slightly. They quickly pulled back their children, who were about to rush up to take pictures, and whispered a warning:

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"Whenever you see a car like this, don't approach recklessly. It might not be as expensive as some foreign supercars, but even if you have money, you can't buy it."

It was a domestically-made Hongqi (Red Flag) car. After some individuals explained its significance, the crowd suddenly realized—it was actually a government official's vehicle, one reserved for figures at the senatorial level.

Instantly, gasps of shock spread among the onlookers.

Those who had been dismissing the car out of envy quickly fell silent. They quietly moved away, fearing that someone inside the car might have overheard their earlier remarks and hold it against them later.

Soon, under the curious gazes of the crowd, the driver's side door opened.

To everyone's surprise, stepping out was a young woman around their age.

Her flawless beauty, icy-cool aura, and elegant, slender figure immediately captivated the onlookers.