Just as Lu Jun was about to head out to greet his visitor, before he even reached the entrance, he sensed an immense, biting aura of extreme frost rising from the north of the Military Strategy Headquarters and rapidly approaching.
He couldn't help but be surprised.
Who exactly possessed an aura comparable to a Supreme Monarch, yet carried none of the brutality unique to demons, instead radiating an unmistakable sense of holiness?
Before he could spread his Spiritual Sense to investigate, the White Tiger Pendant hanging around his neck suddenly began to glow.
A wave of joyful excitement and anticipation flowed from it.
It was the first time Lu Jun had ever seen the White Tiger Pendant react like this.
He paused in astonishment.
When he reached the entrance of the estate, he saw a weathered middle-aged man standing there.
Wrapped in a military overcoat, the man stood tall and straight.
His sharp features and resolute expression gave the impression of someone who had survived countless brutal battles in the wilderness, forging unshakable dignity and determination through hardship.
"Instructor Zhan Kong?"
Lu Jun smiled with heartfelt emotion.
"It's been a long time."
He carefully looked Zhan Kong over.
His own destiny had replaced Zhan Kong's fate of becoming the Ancient King, and ever since then, even Lu Jun had no idea where Zhan Kong's future path would lead.
However, after sensing Zhan Kong's cultivation, Lu Jun was genuinely surprised.
He had reached the Super Tier in four Elements.
His foundation was extremely solid.
He had undoubtedly awakened Innate Talent, and very likely possessed Heaven Seeds and unique cultivation methods as well.
Although he still couldn't compare to Lu Mei, considering Zhan Kong's talent and age, his achievements were already extraordinary.
After all, Zhan Kong had once been one of the core members of China's National Team during the World College Tournament.
His talent had ranked among the absolute best in the country.
Although an accident afterward had caused him to waste two or three years in despair, once he regained his resolve, the potential he unleashed was no less astonishing than the new generation of prodigies like Mo Fan.
Five years had passed since they parted in the Ancient Capital.
His current cultivation, four Elements at the early stages of Super Tier could only be described as respectable.
After all, Zhan Kong had already reached Peak High Tier long before.
Looking at Lu Jun, Zhan Kong smiled with satisfaction.
"I've heard about everything you've accomplished."
"You've done well."
"Slaying three Emperor-level beings..."
"Such a feat has never been accomplished before, nor will it likely ever be again."
"You've become the finest student I've ever taught."
Rumble!
The earth suddenly shook in the distance.
Lu Jun turned toward the source.
A majestic giant White Tiger of absolute ice strode forward across the snow.
Wherever it passed, boundless blizzards swept across the land, freezing thousands of kilometers of wilderness solid.
In the blink of an eye, the White Tiger arrived beside Zhan Kong.
Seated atop its broad back was a gentle, dignified woman.
She possessed silver-white hair much like Mu Ningxue's, fluttering gracefully amid the falling snow, resembling an Ice Goddess descended from the Tianshan Mountains.
She truly carried an ethereal tranquility about her.
Peaceful...
Silent...
Untouched by worldly worries.
A faint smile rested upon her lips as her beautiful eyes quietly settled upon Zhan Kong.
Zhan Kong smiled in return and gently patted the White Tiger's enormous fluffy head.
For a moment, the scene seemed frozen in time.
The rugged man's straightforward strength, the ethereal woman's quiet affection.
Lu Jun couldn't help becoming momentarily absent-minded.
It almost felt impossible to distinguish dream from reality.
Still, he wasn't particularly surprised.
He had already sensed the outcome beforehand.
Smiling, he asked, "So your wish finally came true?"
"It did."
Zhan Kong smiled peacefully.
Looking proudly toward Qin Yu'er beside him, he said, "I kept my promise."
"I brought her out of that lonely place."
Hearing this, Lu Jun sincerely congratulated him.
"Congratulations."
Zhan Kong then calmly recounted everything he had experienced.
He had ventured deep into the Tianshan Mountains.
He had encountered the Abyss Cliff Hunters.
He had crossed paths with countless Tianshan beast tribes.
He had witnessed the breathtaking Heavenly Scar of Tianshan.
More than once, he had been pushed to the brink between life and death.
He described it all lightly, almost casually.
Yet Lu Jun could easily imagine how many hardships and dangers Zhan Kong had truly endured.
Lu Jun knew exactly what kind of man Zhan Kong was.
He always kept his promises.
He would never seek help from others.
That was precisely why, after returning from the World College Tournament, Lu Jun had never gone to Tianshan himself.
Not to mention his current strength, capable of slaying Emperors, even when he had only just entered the Super Tier, he had never regarded the dangers of Tianshan as particularly frightening.
Compared to Evil Abyss beneath the Ancient Capital.
Or the Kunlun Demon Empire...
What was Tianshan?
At that moment, the White Tiger curiously observed Lu Jun.
For some inexplicable reason, it instinctively felt an unusual sense of closeness toward this human.
Lu Jun glanced back and chuckled softly.
The Tianshan White Tiger Totem...
Without question, it was a direct descendant of the White Tiger Sacred Beast.
Unfortunately, it had mutated into an Ice-element creature instead of inheriting the White Tiger's greatest strength, its unrivaled Metal-element killing power.
Then again, that wasn't particularly strange.
After all, among the Vermilion Bird's descendants, there was also the Sea Eagle, whose primary attribute was Lightning.
Back when one of his Contract slots had still been vacant, Lu Jun had briefly considered contracting the Tianshan White Tiger.
Looking back now, however...
How could it possibly compare to the Emperor-level Sacred Flower, whose Blessed Calamity Talent complemented all his abilities so perfectly?
Noticing the interaction between them, Zhan Kong gently patted the White Tiger's head and smiled with both gratitude and helplessness.
"I was only able to break Yu'er's ice seal because of the Tianshan White Tiger."
Many of the opportunities he had obtained throughout his journey had also been brought to him by the White Tiger.
Hearing this, Lu Jun felt somewhat surprised.
Encountering the Tianshan White Tiger itself wasn't unusual.
What surprised him was that, in the original timeline, it had been the little White Tiger that had attached itself to Mu Ningxue before eventually becoming her contracted beast.
Now, however its companion had become Qin Yu'er instead.
Lu Jun stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Could it be that the attraction of an Ice Calamity Mage was simply too great?
That seemed to be the only reasonable explanation.
He then asked,"So how did the two of you leave Tianshan?"
Zhan Kong and Qin Yu'er exchanged a glance.
Their fingers interlocked firmly as they spoke with unwavering determination.
"The Pacific Empire is invading our coastline."
"How could I possibly remain hidden in the mountains and enjoy peace while everyone else fights?"
"I want to leave Tianshan and help Jiuzhou."
"If I can contribute even a little, then that's enough."
Those words deeply shook Lu Jun.
After finally fulfilling their lifelong wish, the two of them could have retired into the mountains, living freely together like legendary lovers for the rest of their lives.
Yet Zhan Kong and Qin Yu'er had still chosen to come out.
They had willingly exposed themselves to the outside world.
Were they not afraid that the Holy City would discover them?
Were they not afraid of sacrificing their lives?
Lu Jun remained silent.
He could only say as expected of Zhan Kong.
He was still the same man he had always been.
Qin Yu'er was the same as well.
Kind-hearted...
Pure...
Never changing despite everything she had endured.
Looking at the two of them, Lu Jun reflected on the countless lives whose fates he had changed throughout his journey.
Most of them he hadn't thought much about afterward.
But if there was one person whose destiny had been the most worthwhile to change, without question, it was Zhan Kong.
Lu Jun admitted to himself that he could never reach such a level.
Jiuzhou had wronged Zhan Kong and Qin Yu'er.
The Holy City had persecuted them.
The original timeline's ending had been one of the greatest tragedies.
Yet in this lifetime, the path they now walked was every bit as remarkable.
He calmly said,"You don't need to worry about the Holy City."
"If they dare utter a single word..."
"I'll crush them."
Zhan Kong laughed.
He felt that Lu Jun had changed even more than he had.
The young man who had once seemed inexperienced at fifteen or sixteen overlapped in his mind with the commanding leader before him now boldly declaring such words.
For a moment, he couldn't help feeling dazed.
A short while later, after hearing the news, Mo Fan hurried over.
The moment he saw Zhan Kong, he exclaimed joyfully,
"Chief Instructor!"
Among everyone, Mo Fan was the one who had received the greatest kindness from Zhan Kong.
Zhan Kong had concealed Mo Fan's Innate Dual Elements for him and had openly stood up for him during the Mu Clan banquet.
The three reunited, and for the first time in a long while, they found themselves reminiscing about their days back in Bo City.
Lu Jun was in an exceptionally good mood.
With the return of the Tianshan White Tiger, the grand undertaking of gathering the Totems was finally complete.
The Black Totem Snake...
Baxia...
Moon Moth Phoenix..
Sea Eagle..
Tianshan White Tiger...
And now, there was even an additional Chongming Bird.
Six great Totems.
Six Supreme Monarch-level beings.
Once the Azure Dragon Sacred Beast awakened, the resonance among the Totems would elevate them into six Emperor-level existences.
After the Pacific Empire had already lost three Emperors, the balance of power had shifted completely.
With one side weakening while the other grew stronger.
How could the Cold Moon-Eyed Demon God possibly withstand them?
Lu Jun clenched both fists.
He could hardly wait to eliminate Khufu, allowing the Ancient King's Armor's Death Origin to evolve into the level of a Ruler Emperor.
At that point merely driving back the Cold Moon-Eyed Demon God would no longer be the goal.
It would become a hunt, with every powerhouse joining forces to bring it down.
For additional chapters
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