Douluo: God-level cheat, invincible as soon as you get out of the mountain

The midday sun barely pierced through the dust and haze that shrouded Jinlin City.

Lu Nian stood on the roof of a half-collapsed shopping mall, his military uniform epaulets trembling gently in the breeze.

His gaze, like that of a hawk, swept across the crisscrossing streets below.

More than twenty mid-level military mages were scattered among the surrounding buildings, maintaining a well-trained tactical formation.

"Commander, no targets found in the East District," the female adjutant, Lin Yu, reported in a low voice, her voice exceptionally clear through the communicator.

"But some traces of recent activity were found, which should be no more than two days ago."

Lu Nian did not respond immediately. He raised his right hand, and a ball of dark red energy appeared in his palm. Crimson energy could be faintly seen within the vortex of the potion.

"For the future of magicians, I need more test subjects, more data, and more breakthroughs."

"Mo Fan, a perfect example of a person born with dual systems."

Lu Nian muttered to himself, a fervent glint in his eyes.

"Once I obtain him, my research can advance further. The true demonic system will no longer be a fantasy."

His thoughts drifted back to the failed experimental subjects in the military laboratory, to the mages who had collapsed due to the loss of control over their power.

Each failure made his research goals clearer, but the old fogies in the Military Intelligence Bureau had lost patience and accused him of "violating human ethics" and "going mad."

Defection is the only option.

"Commander," Lin Yu's voice interrupted Lu Nian's thoughts.

“There is an energy fluctuation, about two kilometers to the northwest.”

A glint of light flashed in Lu Nian's eyes.

"All teams, move towards the northwest and remain concealed. Lin Yu, you lead the second squad to flank from the side."

"Yes!"

Three streets away, Mo Fan leaned against a broken wall and cautiously peeked out.

His heart was pounding in his chest.

"Damn it, how did they find this place?"

He gritted his teeth, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

A day earlier, they had stumbled upon traces of Lu Nian's troops in this deserted city.

I originally thought it was just a routine patrol by military mages.

Just as they were about to contact the other party, a strange note appeared in their hands.

The document stated that Lu Nian had defected from the military and was now searching for mages with "special constitutions" to conduct some kind of forbidden experiment.

Mo Fan, who was born with two elements, was his number one target.

"Mo Fan, don't be impulsive."

Mu Nujiao pressed her shoulder; the aura of plant-based magic made her almost blend into her surroundings.

“They outnumber us, and Lu Nian is a high-level mage; we are no match for him.”

Ai Tutu nodded in agreement, her plant-based magic completely concealing her aura.

“Sister Jiaojiao is right. Although you are weak and your character is not very good, as the eldest and second eldest sisters of Mingzhu Academy, we will naturally not abandon you.”

Ai Tutu patted her large chest with great confidence.

Mu Ningxue went to other survey points alone yesterday to collect data. With her abilities, she should be fine.

Recalling the note from yesterday, Mo Fan's expression became even more complicated.

He knew very well that the person who delivered the message to them was Fu Ye.

The other party had said from the very beginning that they would protect Mu Ningxue and the other two from the shadows, which means that they had been by their side from the very beginning.

However, because they were too weak, they were unable to detect the other party's whereabouts.

Just then, Mo Fan lowered his voice and said, "Lu Nian's target is me. As long as I distract them, you can evacuate safely."

Hearing Mo Fan's words, Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu shook their heads with complicated expressions. "No, now that we've seen their faces, they will definitely try to kill us all."

"So even if you were captured by them, we wouldn't survive. Besides, we're teammates. Although you don't seem like a good person, at least you're of decent character."

Mu Nujiao took a deep breath, and wind-elemental spiritual energy gently swirled around her.

Just then, a clear, cold voice came from above.

"Have you discussed it?"

The three looked up and saw Mu Ningxue standing on the roof of a dilapidated building.

Her long, icy blue hair fluttered in the wind, and her gaze toward the military mages who had defected from the Kuomintang in the distance carried a hint of indifference.

"Sister Ning Xue?" Ai Tutu asked in surprise, "What happened to you?"

"Lu Nian's troops have completed the encirclement."

Mu Ningxue landed lightly, almost without making a sound. "They will find this place soon. I will need your cooperation later."

Lu Nian stood in the middle of the street.

Looking at the four people in front of him, a smile appeared on his lips.

"Mo Fan, who was born with two elements, the eldest daughter of the Mu family, and the Mu family's..."

His gaze finally settled on Mu Ningxue, lingering for a few more seconds.

"Although I'm surprised you'd come here, I only have one goal today."

He took a step forward, and the pressure from the high-ranking mage was so tangible that it made the air feel heavy.

"Mo Fan, come with me. I promise I won't hurt your friends."

"dream!"

Mo Fan ignited flames in his hands, and lightning danced around him.

The battle is about to break out.

Mu Nujiao made the first move, with countless vines bursting from the ground and wrapping around Lu Nian and his men.

With perfect coordination, Ai Tutu spread frost along the vines, temporarily freezing several mid-level mages.

But Lu Nian simply waved his hand, and a yellowish-brown energy wave spread out, instantly disintegrating the vines and frost.

“Mid-level magic can’t defeat me,” he said calmly, as if stating a simple fact.

Just then, Mu Ningxue moved.

She didn't chant any incantations or form any hand seals; she simply slowly drew back a bow made of condensed ice crystals.

The bow is as transparent as the purest crystal, while the bowstring is composed of countless tiny ice crystal particles, emanating a chilling aura.

Lu Nian's expression changed slightly. "Mu Ningxue, I know your identity is special. My target here is not you, so I hope you can step aside."

Mu Ningxue did not answer; all her attention was focused on the bowstring.

An arrow made entirely of extremely cold ice crystals slowly took shape, and where the arrow tip pointed, snowflakes condensed in the air.

"Everyone retreat!"

Lu Nian gave the order decisively, but it was too late.

The ice arrow was released from the bow.

There was no sound, only an icy blue trail streaking across the air.

Wherever the trajectory passed, everything froze—rubble, steel bars, ruins, even light seemed to be frozen in that instant of extreme cold.

Lu Nian erected an earth-based energy shield, and his subordinates cast defensive spells.

But the power of the Ice Crystal Bow far exceeded expectations, and ice cracks quickly spread across the surface of the shield.

Just as the arrow was about to hit Lu Nian, Mu Ningxue's hand trembled slightly.

The magical energy within her was insufficient to truly control this ice bow. (End of Chapter)