Chun quickly realized the problem. Although Mei could handle the game and push forward with borrowed power, if the opponent pursued relentlessly, could they really keep blasting all the way to the Arctic Forbidden Area?

Then retreat? That was impossible too—an avalanche blocked the rear!

Maybe, they just had to wait until the opponent's divine cannon ran out of energy?

As it turned out, the cannon fire continued for half an hour without stopping! Meanwhile, the Water Element suffered some damage and its size reduced a bit.

Chun was startled at this development. When he obtained the Pirate King's warship, firing one round at the insect nest on the Old Turtle depleted the energy! Was this Empire airship nuclear-powered?

However, there was some gain; his Master-level Swimming Technique continuously increased in proficiency at level 10. Speaking of which, this Master level was rather superficial, built upon the understanding of fluid dynamics from repairing the Conch Lighthouse, and now further enhanced by grasping the impact of stamping, he might master it with personal trial.

Mina spoke up, "Master, my time to transform into a dragon is up."

As she spoke, her dragon form dissipated into a mist, and Mina, dazzling in a black and red ceremonial dress, enchantingly returned.

Chun stared stunned, "Very, very impressive. This... can the other soul artifact transform as well?"

Mina replied, "Master, the other soul artifact can transform. However, there's no indication for the current soul artifact's next transformation."

Holy crap, just like a small character transforming into a vine, after one transformation, the next is indefinitely postponed! But how to resolve this? As a novice, Chun had no solution.

With a sigh, Chun remarked, "We have to use the other soul artifact sparingly."

"Understood, Master!"

Mina advanced and embraced Chun, "Master, we can't let Lady Mei be the only one exerting effort, we should also lend a hand."

Umm… this…

Chun asked in surprise, "How can we help?"

Mina nestled against Chun, "By using the soul artifact, Healing of Love, to recover, which should also restore the Water Element we're possessing…"

Chun shivered all over—your first action upon reverting to human form is to target me!

Mei laughed aloud, "Can it work or not? Give it a try!"

Ah, you!

Mina quickly entwined her limbs around Chun, "Come on, Master; Lady Mei suggested it, have a go!"

But Aileen is here, painstakingly absorbing the Mirror Demon, and you want me to… better give Aileen a heads-up! If in reality, this would be madness, but it's a game; Aileen wholeheartedly supported me with the City Beauty, and even with the false angel Mary, she possessed me for the capture. She supports me.

Why the need to inform Aileen? Because Mina's different, already the second heroine, don't want Aileen

to have second thoughts…

Chun took out the mirror, "Aileen…"

Aileen's voice was faint, "I'm striving to absorb…"

Chun was hesitant, "I'm trying to find a solution, I need to… recover with Mina."

"Then go ahead and recover…"

Uh, did I not explain clearly?

Chun broke into a sweat, "I mean recover with Mina through Healing of Love."

The mirror suddenly amplified, shocked, "Dear! You—"

Chun shuddered internally—she guards against internal threats, not external ones…

Aileen exclaimed, "How could you do this?!"

Chun felt foolish, maybe he truly didn't understand women, ashamed to the point of wanting to kneel!

Aileen vented, "She's a dragon! Different physique, different species! What are you thinking? Are you trying to—"

Holy shit, what are you saying!!

Mina spoke beside, "Mistress, I've reverted to human form!"

Aileen paused, "Ah? Like this! Well… serve the master well! I'm busy here."

Mina's smile was charming, "Yes, mistress!"

Ah!! It turns out, I didn't understand Aileen!

Mina smiled, "Master, let's have a healing kiss…"

——System Alert: FBI Warning…

Chun suddenly remembered Sun Quan's wife, Bu Lianshi, why did Sun Quan love Bu Lianshi the most? Because she was magnanimous, assisting Sun Quan in finding…

In sum, as a veteran cadre, Chun remained composed and focused on the Water Element's transformation.

It seemed difficult to see any effect; despite the cannon fire, it shrank as expected. It felt like Mina was deliberately finding a pretext to engage with me under FBI scrutiny…

Thankfully, moments ago Aileen shouted in the mirror, her voice loud and seemingly in a position of power; the ball held by the Water Element seemed subdued considerably… good!

...

An hour later…

The "nuclear-powered airship" continued the pursuit and bombing, while Mina kept changing tactics for intimate mosaics with Chun, whose Spirit state was exceedingly full, and then the system issued a new alert:

——System Alert: You have perfectly surveyed the Snow Crystal River Basin map, successfully acquiring the information for the academic profession "Erudite Scholar."

Mei exclaimed in surprise, "Reached the source!?"

Ah! Chun immediately stood up, but failing to do so, he barely managed to rise, witnessing a vast expanse of lake encircled by icy peaks ahead.

The Water Element entered the lake, its depth abruptly soaring, exceeding hundreds of meters!

Mei rejoiced, "I refuse to believe, with such deep water, what could they possibly do to us?"

Sure enough, the cannon fire finally ceased.

Chun reviewed the map; judging by latitude, this location was on the edge of the Arctic Circle, indicating they hadn't entered the so-called Divine Forbidden Area.

Options included either going ashore to bypass the surrounding ice mountains? But emerging would result in cannon fire, clearly not feasible. Or perhaps finding another tributary?

"Mei, find a way out."

"Of course!"

So Mei began circling the lake in search of an escape. Chun glanced back at the airship, now parked at the water exit, no longer pursuing, seemingly at leisure.

Chun's heart sank, they knew the terrain well, indicating no exit existed! So, this was intentional, the Water Element driven here. Then what? The Water Element required no oxygen, capable of lingering indefinitely. Could they send divers to capture?

Chun suddenly considered a major possibility, akin to the Dragon Sleep Divine Hall, their mage had marked this Water Element, awaiting the mage's arrival for subjugation! However, ordinary mages couldn't dive, guaranteed to fail. Those daring enough to dive were undoubtedly super experts!

Chun worried, "Mei, if they send a super expert to subdue the Water Element, what then?"

Mei chuckled, "You've already subdued it! Just activate the summoning lift command, the Water Element will vanish, and we'll make our escape—that said, it won't be entertaining anymore."

Indeed, the fun would be lost! The current Water Element was the original version, dissolving would strip its power, summoning again would yield the weak player version…

But with a guaranteed retreat, Chun indeed relaxed. The opposing super mage may not arrive so soon; now the sole task was to wait for Aileen to absorb the Mirror Demon, as much as possible.

Chun's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by intense spatial fluctuations!

Mei's eyes widened!

Chun was startled; this was clearly a super mage directly teleporting onto the airship? Certainly, the Silver Queen, Fafnir's Black Iron Blade each had a Teleportation Array, the advanced Empire airship should logically possess teleport capabilities!

Mei, having composed herself, spoke coldly unprecedented, "There's a renegade from the Sea Race, a Naga Sea Demon! I've decided, when it descends, we'll eliminate it!"