Versatile Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant-Chapter 177: Tyrannical Lu Nian!

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Lu Nian was highly skilled in earth magic, possessing domain abilities. His earth-elemental seed was ideal for escape and burrowing, and with the added acceleration from his magic equipment, even most high-tier wind mages would struggle to catch up with him.

However, when he glanced back, a black-purple bolt of lightning rampaged through the forest, weaving in and out of sight. It was completely unstoppable, and the distance between them was visibly closing at an alarming rate.

Realizing he was about to be caught, Lu Nian's expression hardened. He suddenly shot out from underground, facing his pursuer head-on.

His deep-set pupils flickered with a brownish glow as golden-brown star patterns intertwined across his body, forming the majestic outline of a constellation. A torrent of earth-elemental magic energy surged forth.

High-tier Rock Element, Level Three—Rock Demon's Gaze: Celestial Veil!

Starting from high-tier magic, the Earth Element's destructive power increased significantly, with some abilities being terrifyingly potent. This particular spell was modeled after Medusa's Gaze but reconstructed using the Rock Element, granting it petrification capabilities.

Level One: Petrification. Level Two: Earth Dragon Spikes. Level Three: Celestial Veil. Each level explored the depths of rock manipulation.

Rumble!

In that instant, Lu Nian locked his gaze on the area before him—blue skies, white clouds, and a dense forest. Then, a terrifying force erupted. A vast expanse of gray-white light radiated outward, swallowing everything in its path and turning the world within his vision into a colorless void.

Immediately, countless trees withered into brittle statues before shattering into dust. Even the clouds, which had once floated freely, crumbled into earth and fell like cascading sand.

In the span of a single breath, the area within several hundred meters was left barren. The air was thick with petrification dust, an endless drizzle of grayish-white specks resembling a heavy snowfall. The ground was blanketed in a thick layer of ash.

All vegetation had been completely erased.

Buzz!

But before this overwhelming destruction could take full effect, the Night Thunder Dream Beast had already shifted directions at lightning speed. It carved a perfect arc through the air, narrowly avoiding the petrification zone before circling behind Lu Nian.

Riding atop the dream beast, Lu Jun had initially been preparing to sketch out his constellation and unleash Heavens Water Curtain as a defensive measure. However, the scene that unfolded before him caught him off guard.

The Night Thunder Dream Beast had effortlessly dodged the enemy's attack.

Realizing this, Lu Jun quickly dismounted to avoid interfering with his summon's performance.

At that moment, Lu Nian was drenched in cold sweat. Behind him, a powerful Commander-tier Demon locked its fierce gaze on him, its oppressive presence sending shivers down his spine.

Quickly turning around, he saw an enormous claw closing in half the size of a human torso. Its flesh was wreathed in an eerie black thunder, crackling with a vicious energy that stirred up clouds of dust.

The fusion of thick Shadow Magic and violent Lightning Magic granted this beast both corrosive and explosive power. Combined with the raw physical strength of a demonic creature, even a high-tier mage would perish instantly from a direct hit.

"Celestial Veil!"

Lu Nian, the infamous dark mage, barely had time to let out a furious shout before the grayish-white dust surrounding him began swirling. Countless minuscule particles gathered together, forming an intricate web-like barrier in front of him.

High-tier Level Three Rock Magic was far more versatile than its Level One counterpart. It could trigger a secondary effect: any petrified remnants from the attack could be reabsorbed and manipulated into a defensive shield hence the name Celestial Veil.

Boom!

A deafening impact resounded as the blackened claw struck the thin veil of dust. The immense force caused the barrier to collapse inward, but it did not shatter. It absorbed the blow like a swamp swallowing an object, neutralizing some of the attack's power.

However, the Shadow Magic embedded within the attack continued to erode the shield. Blackened grains of sand crumbled away at the edges, accompanied by a series of sizzling sounds. The crackling thunder was significantly suppressed by the earth element, preventing it from fully unleashing its devastating effects.

Even so, the overwhelming strength of the Commander-tier Demon still sent Lu Nian flying, his body flung high into the air.

Swoosh!

The Night Thunder Dream Beast gave chase without hesitation. It dug its claws into the ground, propelling itself forward. Its afterimage flickered before it suddenly leaped into the air, reaching Lu Nian's airborne form in an instant. Its enormous figure loomed over him like a celestial beast blocking out the sky.

Midair, Lu Nian's head was spinning. Before he could even react, his pupils shrank in horror as he saw a shadowy silhouette above him its form blocking out the light and casting an oppressive darkness over his body.

Alarm bells rang in his mind. He frantically gathered his earth-elemental energy to activate Rock Demon's Gaze once more, intending to petrify his opponent. The gray-white sand clinging to his body quivered, attempting to coalesce into another barrier.

But the Night Thunder Dream Beast was too fast.

Before the petrification veil could fully form, a massive hoof came crashing down on Lu Nian's chest.

Thunder Stomp!

Boom!

A thunderous explosion echoed as Lu Nian's eyes bulged, almost popping out of their sockets. His body curled into a near right angle from the impact, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Nian was sent hurtling straight down like a missile. His Golden Radiance Armor, an enchanted defensive artifact, visibly caved in at the chest.

Yet before he could even make contact with the ground, a black-and-white silhouette materialized below him. The Night Thunder Dream Beast lowered its head, its sharp horn pointing directly upward. Its polished surface gleamed with an ominous, deep black glow, brimming with dark energy.

Demonic Spell: Death Ray!

In the next instant, Lu Nian's lower back was struck dead-on by the beast's horn. A searing pain shot through his spine as his enchanted Golden Radiance Armor rapidly corroded, turning into patches of blackened dust.

His downward momentum was instantly reversed—his body was flung skyward once again.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Within this chaotic battlefield, countless afterimages of the Night Thunder Dream Beast filled the air. Waves of dust and rippling air currents swirled around, but none could keep up with its relentless attacks.

Seeing this unfold, Lu Jun was left utterly speechless. Slowly lowering the magic he had been about to cast, he felt an odd sense of déjà vu. (Gaara, Uchiha Madara: "Do you even respect us?")

This was the awe-inspiring devastation that only a high-speed demon could deliver.

Only now did Lu Jun realize that he didn't even need to intervene. His Night Thunder Dream Beast was more than capable of handling the situation alone. In the end, an Apex Commander-tier Summon was far superior to the Yangtze River's White Sturgeon Demon.

Of course, Lu Nian was no weakling. He was a high-tier mage with mastery over three elements. Unfortunately, due to severe injuries in his past, he suffered from lingering internal damage and had to rely on tobacco to suppress the pain.

Ultimately, the only element he could fully utilize was his Rock Element.

But that element was now completely overwhelmed by the Night Thunder Dream Beast's nightmarish presence.

A few seconds later, as the beast finally began showing signs of exhaustion, it paused and returned to Lu Jun's side.

With a final, low growl, the Night Thunder Dream Beast gathered a terrifyingly dense black lightning in its maw. The crackling energy interwove into a towering black lightning beam, marking the final, suffocating strike.

Boom!

In an instant, the Black Lightning Beam pierced through the swirling Celestial Veil, directly striking Lu Nian midair.

A massive explosion erupted in the sky as a dazzling black-purple light engulfed everything. Lu Nian was sent crashing into the distant ground, carving a deep crater upon impact.

Inside the pit, his breathing was weak. His golden armor had long been reduced to dust under the corrosion of darkness, and most of his bones and flesh were shattered.

"He's still alive?"

Lu Jun was surprised. After enduring such a brutal beating from a Commander demon at close range, Lu Nian hadn't died immediately.

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But upon further thought, it made sense. Even after being beaten to a pulp by Demon Mo Fan, Lu Nian had still managed to spit out some harsh words and even counterattack a little.

Beside him, the Night Thunder Dream Beast took a few breaths before regaining its composure. Its body tensed as if eager to continue, looking far from finished.