"China, victory!"
"China Team, ranked first!"
As the chief referee solemnly announced it, the pre-prepared ceremonial cannons of Venice City fired into the sky. Fireworks blazed, booming echoes filled the air, heralding the birth of the champions.
The multicolored light reflected on each Huaxia team member's face, while golden fragments rained down, like a shower of gold—brilliant and dreamlike.
On the arena, now a vast lake, the shattered island had broken into massive stones floating on the water.
Lu Jun and the others stood scattered on these stones, all overjoyed.
The world was wet, and the spectators were drenched, but they didn't care. They all stood and cheered, clapping wildly, caught in the celebration.
In the resting room, China's other teammates who hadn't competed, such as Jiang Yu, Jiang Shaoxu, and Guan Yu, finally realized and murmured, "Am I not dreaming?"
The next moment, they shouted and rushed down the arena to join the celebration.
National tutor Feng Li was overjoyed, and Shao Zheng in the Chinese VIP box looked gratified. With Chinese Team taking first place, their nation would secure the largest share of benefits on the international stage.
In the Chinese live broadcast, the commentator roared hoarsely, "Lu Jun unleashed his signature Tidal Water, annihilating the Egyptian team's undead! We! Are the champions!"
Countless comments flew in like snowflakes.
"Unbelievable! I never thought this year's Chinese Team would actually win!"
"Yes, and with a perfect victory—national trials, elimination rounds, treasure-hunting, grand duel—without a single loss, fully deserving!"
"From first-round elimination among the top thirty-two to champion? I must be dreaming. Progress must follow principles too."
"Hahaha, Lu Jun… no, Representative Lu now has permanent immunity from criticism in my eyes."
"Come on, Lu Jun is clearly beyond the level of the younger generation. This might be the last public appearance of this National Team."
Meanwhile, in Jiuzhou, Dean Xiao, Tang Yue, Ding Yumian, and Qing Yu quietly sent their congratulations.
In the Demon Capital, Feng Zhoulong was even more excited. Seeing Lu Jun wreak havoc with North Sea Heavy Water, he was undoubtedly the happiest. After all, this natural predator he had cultivated personally.
That night, Venice became a city that never slept. The entire national team celebrated, and the citizens took advantage of the occasion to join in.
Only the Egyptian team, upon waking, discovered the Pharaoh's Spring missing, immediately vomiting blood and collapsing again.
They had no idea who had taken the treasure, only suspecting Chinese Team, but without evidence, there was nothing they could do. Taking second place brought them no joy at all.
Chinese Team's celebration lasted three days.
In the morning, Lu Jun noticed Zhao Manyan looking gloomy and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Not happy even after winning?"
Old Zhao hesitated briefly, then sighed. "It's about my father. He's old, has developed many ailments. I thought winning this championship could give him a great boost of pride."
"Who knew I'd receive news of his critical illness?"
Hearing this, Lu Jun immediately became clear-headed. He knew the matter: Zhao Manyan's father was critically ill, and his elder brother, Zhao Youqian, had begun a power grab, even sending assassins at this critical moment.
Fortunately, Old Zhao had control over the Supreme Totem Turtle. The Supreme Monarch Great Turtle followed all the way to Venice and saved him in time, or it would have been over.
Lu Jun glanced and asked, "Did the experts from Parthenon examine him? Maybe they could save him?"
"Sigh!" Zhao Manyan let out a long sigh. "Do you think, given my father's status and wealth, we wouldn't have sought help? A sage examined him and judged there was no hope. His life is exhausted, all organs and cells failing."
"Magic isn't omnipotent. Otherwise, why do those healing mages only live to a hundred? In this case, even resurrection spells can't help."
Lu Jun comforted him, "Then offer your condolences."
Old Zhao shook his head, said nothing further, and walked out alone. "I want to be alone for a while."
At this moment, Lu Jun watched Zhao Manyan's desolate back, thought for a moment, and summoned the Night Thunder Dream Beast. Encasing himself in the dark domain, he quietly followed.
He intended to save Zhao Manyan and help him ascend to the leadership of the Zhao Group.
"Sigh, too rushed. Zhao's family may plunge into chaos. I'll also face pressure from Zhao Jing, who has a close relationship with Zhao Youqian."
Yet Lu Jun hesitated. Helping Zhao Manyan offered many benefits but also many drawbacks.
Firstly, as Zhao Manyan himself understood, after his father's passing, only his elder brother could manage the big picture.
Because Zhao Youqian had always run the business, many allies recognized only him. Zhao Manyan awakened too late. Even holding the title of National Team first place, his foundation was unstable—he might not retain leadership.
Secondly, Zhao Manyan lacked further experience. Could he continue to develop as before? That was uncertain.
Lu Jun shook his head. It was difficult. According to Zhao Manyan's father's plan, things would have been ideal: Zhao Youqian manages the business, Zhao Manyan focuses entirely on cultivation, and upon reaching forbidden spell level, succession would be natural.
It would also remedy a major weakness of the Zhao lineage—having no forbidden spell supporter behind them.
"Take it step by step. A blessing may come from misfortune. For Zhao Manyan, to overcome his brother and hold the vast Zhao Group, the trials endured might not be less than mingling with Mo Fan. As for Zhao Jing…"
He pondered. Zhao Jing, a member of the Zhao Group, was a family member deeply involved in the magical field and one of the most prominent forbidden spell seeds. His cultivation was fully complete at the Super-tier, and he was still very young, around thirty or forty years old.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a human leader-level seed—far above the level of any National Team first-place rank.
Lu Jun couldn't touch him for now; his age was many cycles older.
Fortunately, Zhao Manyan's father had just fallen critically ill, leaving the succession uncertain.
Once Zhao Manyan swiftly captured Zhao Youqian in a lightning strike, exposed his crimes, and with his father's endorsement ascended to the position of decision-maker, even Zhao Jing's discontent could not act in the short term.
Lu Jun's gaze was deep: "Zhao Jing remains a hidden threat. He was the one who incited Zhao Youqian to take assassination and power-grabbing actions, and he himself acts boldly and recklessly."
However, a slight smile appeared on his lips. With such a formidable enemy watching, Zhao Manyan ascending to the decision-maker position would likely feel uneasy, driving him to train relentlessly.
If this pushes him to unprecedented potential, combined with the Zhao family's resources, his growth would accelerate even faster.
Lu Jun weighed the pros and cons, then looked at Zhao Manyan walking along the quiet seaside path ahead. Setting aside personal gain, since Zhao Manyan had stood up when facing the Lu family, he was equally willing to repay the favor.
At this moment, Zhao Manyan's mind was heavy with worries.
He knew well that his elder brother's temperament was the type to achieve goals by any means. With the Zhao family now unstable and under stormy circumstances, he feared that even a thought he dared not deeply consider might become reality.
"Hopefully not."
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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