Early in the morning, Lu Jun got up and rented a tour bus to take the whole team to Osaka.
He quietly calculated the time. Whether it was Feiniao City incident or the evil spirit at Yanming Temple, he had resolved both quickly and gained a lot. The former had earned him a Commander-level soul essence, and the latter a deal with the Zhao Family.
It was just that the National Team members had it too easy it felt like a field trip, without much hardship.
By noon, Lu Jun heard from Dean Xiao that the National Team Grand Mentor, Feng Li, was feeling troubled.
He wanted to increase the difficulty of the experience, but feared that if it was turned into hell mode, sure, Lu Jun would gain tempering, but the rest of the team wouldn't survive.
Lu Jun merely smiled without saying anything. Maybe Feng Li wouldn't have to worry soon he was thinking of temporarily leaving the team.
Raising kids was too exhausting. The sea monster swarm around Ocean Battle City in Japan would be perfect for farming. He had a feeling he could grind his way up to a Level 5 Basic Spell or maybe even a Level 4 Advanced Spell.
On the bus, the group watched the seaside scenery behind them gradually fade into the distance.
Suddenly, they cried out in shock, startled to see a small island floating on the mist-covered sea surface!
Soon, the island slowly sank and disappeared from view.
Jiang Shaoxu, still in shock, asked, "What the heck was that?"
The icy-cold Mu Ningxue, smart as ever, hesitantly guessed, "Could it be Baxa, the underwater shadow creature, following us?"
Everyone was startled at her words and found it very plausible.
Lu Jun confirmed, "That's right. No need to worry about it. If it keeps following us, even better like having a personal bodyguard."
Guan Yu laughed, "Hahaha, that does make sense. A top-tier creature as the National Team's bodyguard that's pure prestige."
While the National Team members were chatting and laughing on their way to Osaka, the temple they had left Yanming Temple underwent a drastic change.
A monk named Nanami suddenly went insane and confessed to all the horrific crimes he had committed, shocking the other monks and pilgrims, who were outraged.
They subdued Nanami and handed him over to the Metropolitan Police Department, where he was sentenced to death.
In the end, the monks Nara and Miyata were cleared of all charges. Statues were erected in their honor, and the older monks repented day and night in shame.
As for the one who started all this, Lu Jun left silently, hiding his merit and fame.
This matter had nothing to do with him. He didn't have the right to act as judge over anyone. All he could do was use Mind Trick to make Nanami spill the truth and let the local government handle the judgment.
Now, it seemed the outcome wasn't too bad.
...
The "Island Nation" lived up to its name—tiny in land area, long and narrow like an earthworm.
The National Team's bus soon arrived in Osaka.
The location of the Osaka National Pavilion was quite interesting. It was situated on two opposing peaks around seven to eight kilometers inland from the coastline.
These two mountains, known as Sentinel Peaks, looked remarkably similar. Their cliffs were rugged, their slopes steep, and the winding road coiled around the mountain waist. Occasionally, one could see sharp turns with nothing but a cliff on the outside.
The National Pavilion sat atop the mountain, also known as the Twin Sentinel Towers. From afar, it looked like two grayish-white castles standing tall on the peaks.
And between these sister towers, spanning the high chasm, was a hanging wooden corridor. There was only one mountain road, so to get from one tower to the other, one had to walk across this suspended passage!
To put it plainly, it was a narrow corridor between two heavens, connected by a hanging bridge.
Even so, the National Team members were all impressed.
Jiang Yu exclaimed, "The eaves of the Twin Sentinel Towers actually serve as watchtowers. From here, looking south, you can see the most intense marine battlefield in all of Osaka. That's why so many military top brass choose to live here… Who would've thought? This Japanese Pavilion is seriously imposing!"
When they arrived at the West Sentinel Tower, guarding the gate were two Japanese mages dressed in traditional samurai-style robes.
As they saw the group of young people approaching, their eyes sharpened, and they were just about to intercept.
But at that moment, a beautiful woman dressed in a kimono, holding a floral parasol, proactively stepped forward. Her jade-like feet took small, graceful steps in wooden clogs as she approached.
She looked young, but her temperament was that of a refined mature lady. Her full chest pressed tightly against the kimono fabric, her posture elegant and curvaceous, like a noble Japanese madam. Her occasional glimpses of creamy-white skin added layers of seductive charm.
Seeing this scene, Lu Jun recalled something—seemed like Japan's National Pavilion's attitude at the start had felt off.
The members of the Kyushu National Team all wore serious expressions, assuming the situation was about to turn hostile.
But to their surprise, this tall, mature beauty gently walked up to Lu Jun, raised her parasol, and shaded his head from the scorching midday sun.
In a soft voice, she said, "You must be Lu Jun~. I am Mochizuki Chikako, and I have come specially to welcome your esteemed National Team."
Hearing this, Lu Jun was surprised such a gentle tone?
The two stood quite close, enough to share the same parasol.
He caught a strong rose fragrance very feminine and charming. Looking slightly down, he caught sight of soft cleavage revealed between the kimono collar snowy peaks and graceful curves.
"Psshh…"
Lu Jun thought to himself that he had finally unlocked the correct approach to Japan not spirits and ghosts, but flower maidens.
Mochizuki Chikako, using a delicate Japanese-accented Chinese, spoke gently: "Lu Jun's name is known throughout the world. For a strong mage like you, our Twin Sentinel Towers should of course show the utmost courtesy."
As Kyushu's neighboring nation, Yingzhou had always been wary of Kyushu's rise.
With the start of the National Competition, they immediately began investigating and gathering intel on all Kyushu National Team members.
And what they found shocked them this year's Kyushu team had clearly leveled up, with three core members suspected of being Dual Advanced. Even on a global scale, they were among the strongest young mages.
Especially the team captain, Lu Jun. After the Battle of the Magic City, he fought openly, and related footage and records had already spread to other nations, shocking them to the core.
One person, slaughtering hundreds that cold and efficient art of killing was something no academy mage could ever match.
Little did anyone know how deeply Mochizuki Chikako was moved by it. In Japan, a nation that admired power, it sparked admiration and reverence.
On the Yingzhou internet, Lu Jun had already been mythologized by countless netizens.
Titles like "Slayer of a Thousand," "Enemy of Ten Thousand," "The Empire's Deadliest Tiger," "The Kyushu Sword Saint."
Even the young students in Osaka's National Pavilion were uneasy, fearing they might get butchered. After all, it was common knowledge that the two countries bore blood grudges. Accidents during magical duels weren't rare either…
Seeing this, Lu Jun sighed. It made it hard for him to exploit anything for leverage.
But fine this magical world wasn't like his past life. The mainstream now was international cooperation.
History had also slightly changed. After Japan landed on Kyushu in the past, they were quickly beaten back into the sea. Though there was blood between the two nations, it wasn't the kind of endless, all-consuming hatred anymore.
Mochizuki Chikako held the parasol for Lu Jun with one hand and, with the other, respectfully invited the group into the West Sentinel Tower.
As she walked, she gently introduced, "The Twin Sentinel Towers are a vital place in our Yingzhou. Other than the West Sentinel Tower, please do not enter the East Sentinel Tower on the eastern peak. That place is actually an international prison, used to detain many high-risk mage criminals."
"It's heavily warded even Super Tier mages dare not enter without permission."
"Apologies for the many restrictions."
Lu Jun nodded with understanding. The East Sentinel Tower… that was the birthplace of the Red Demon.
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