Interception and Counterkill

Mu Wanqing's voice fell silent.

The air in the entire auditorium seemed to freeze.

Challenge Mode?

Clear it alone?

An extremely high death rate?

Every one of those words was enough to make people tremble!

The recruitment teachers from the other academies looked at one another.

The formerly lively atmosphere instantly cooled.

[Shengjing Academy]!

Those four words left everyone breathless.

It was the true holy land in the hearts of Huaxia's professionals!

Mu Wanqing's words were gentle.

Yet every sentence carried an immense pressure.

SSS-Rank evaluation!

A two-person team: a Necromancer and a Priest!

No matter how one looked at it, that combination was strange.

The recruitment teachers from the other academies also put away their warm expressions.

Their gazes at Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao now held greater doubt.

Indeed, this was far too absurd.

Lin Mu narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Mu Wanqing, whose presence onstage was exceptional.

Her gaze was calm, yet filled with powerful confidence.

He guessed that this so-called "challenge"...

was very likely meant to test which of them, he or Su Xiaoxiao, was truly responsible for the SSS-Rank evaluation!

Su Xiaoxiao was somewhat nervous and instinctively clutched the corner of her clothes.

She knew very well how that SSS-Rank evaluation had come about.

She was not afraid of hardship, nor was she afraid of challenges.

But for her, this Dungeon was practically certain death.

It filled her with unprecedented Fear.

Lin Mu sensed Su Xiaoxiao's tension.

He reassured her with a glance.

Then, he looked directly at Mu Wanqing.

"Teacher Mu."

Lin Mu spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly carried through the silent auditorium.

"May I ask for the specific details of this challenge Dungeon?"

A trace of approval appeared in Mu Wanqing's eyes.

To remain calm under such pressure was already rare.

"Of course."

Mu Wanqing nodded.

"The Dungeon is called [Wailing Cavern], with a level limit of LV.1 to LV.10. The mode is 'Survival Challenge.' Challengers must survive in the cavern for at least twenty-four hours and kill the final Boss, [Cave Lord]."

"The monsters inside range from LV.5 to LV.10 Elite-rank, while the Boss is a LV.10 Lord-rank. The rewards are also extremely generous."

"Most importantly, this Dungeon cannot be entered as a party. You may only enter alone. And once you enter, you cannot leave unless you clear it or... use a special item to forcibly withdraw midway."

Gasp!

A wave of sharp breaths rang out below the stage.

LV.5 to LV.10 monsters!

And a LV.10 Lord-rank Boss!

For newcomers who had only just become professionals, this was practically a suicidal challenge!

Not to mention that damned twenty-four-hour survival requirement!

"This is simply impossible to complete!"

The War Academy recruitment representative could not help speaking up, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Teacher Mu, this is already beyond the capabilities of new students! Even the genius students of our academy would not dare casually challenge a Dungeon of this difficulty at LV.10!"

The old man from Huaxia Professional University also chimed in:

"Indeed, Teacher Mu, this requirement is too harsh. Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao's SSS-Rank evaluations are beyond doubt. Even if they only enter your Yellow Branch, I believe they could rise through the ranks during the assessment."

Mu Wanqing's expression did not change as she spoke evenly:

"As everyone knows, Shengjing Academy's Heaven Branch receives the greatest resources and training methods in Huaxia—without equal. Even ordinary geniuses are not qualified to enter. This challenge is their chance to prove themselves."

"I believe those with SSS-Rank evaluations will certainly have their own ways of handling it."

"Of course, it is not mandatory. As this teacher said, the two of you may also make a name for yourselves in the Yellow Branch's freshman assessment and advance directly to the Heaven Branch."

Her gaze fell upon them again.

"Lin Mu, Su Xiaoxiao, you still have not answered my question."

"Will you accept the challenge?"

The entire auditorium fell deathly silent.

Everyone's eyes converged on Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao looked nervously at Lin Mu, continuously pressing her lips together.

"I... I give up! I don't plan to choose Shengjing Academy!"

Su Xiaoxiao's voice trembled slightly, but her tone was firm.

After all, she knew that with her true ability, attending such a top academy would bring her no benefit.

For a moment, all sorts of inscrutable gazes turned toward Lin Mu again.

Yet a confident smile appeared on Lin Mu's face.

This Dungeon sounded tough. It would be perfect for farming experience and maybe getting some good drops while I'm at it.

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

He looked at Mu Wanqing and spoke each word with resounding force.

"I accept this challenge!"

A sharp gleam flashed in Mu Wanqing's eyes, and a satisfied curve rose on her lips.

"Very good."

She took a black token glowing faintly from her storage space, along with an extremely valuable Emergency Teleportation Jade Talisman.

"This is the Challenge Token for [Wailing Cavern]. It can be activated within three days."

"If you encounter danger midway, this teleportation item will be your only means of saving your life."

"I will wait for you in Xilin City for five days."

"If you clear it successfully, the gates of Shengjing Academy's Heaven Branch will open for you."

"If you cannot defeat it, use the Teleportation Jade Talisman immediately. But then, you can only enter the Yellow Branch."

Mu Wanqing said nothing further.

Lin Mu reached out and accepted the cold token and Teleportation Jade Talisman.

They felt heavy in his hand.

"I understand."

Lin Mu replied calmly.

An uproar erupted throughout the auditorium.

Worry, confusion, and countless other emotions filled the gazes fixed upon Lin Mu.

Did this Necromancer truly possess some heaven-defying ability?

With Lin Mu's matter settled, the Application Guidance Meeting continued.

Although Lin Mu had already accepted Shengjing Academy's challenge invitation,

the other top academies still had no intention of giving up.

They came over from time to time, extending olive branches to Lin Mu.

Lin Mu refused them one by one.

Wang Debiao had lost all face at the Application Guidance Meeting, and fury surged in his chest.

Deep in his eyes lay venomous resentment that could not be dispelled.

An orphan.

So what if he had some talent?

A genius who had not yet grown was nothing more than a slightly bigger stray dog by the roadside!

The official route could not be touched.

Then he would use some private methods!

He refused to believe that brat could stay lucky forever!

The Application Guidance Meeting continued noisily for an entire day.

Until the sun set.

Only then did the recruitment teachers from the various academies leave one after another, each with their own thoughts.

Lin Mu knew very well.

That old dog Wang Debiao would never let this go.

Open attacks were easy to evade; hidden arrows were difficult to guard against.

He made plans.

After collecting the rewards from the school and city tomorrow, he would visit the professional market.

He would buy some basic defensive equipment.

Then get some scouting items that could provide early warnings.

It was always better to be prepared.

Dusk descended.

Lin Mu walked home alone.

When he turned into a secluded alley that was usually deserted, his steps paused slightly.

In the air...

there seemed to be an unusual sense of tension.

The next second.

At both ends of the alley,

several dark figures silently emerged.

Five people.

They were all around LV.10, roughly at the First Advancement.

Their professions were varied.

They carried all sorts of gleaming weapons in their hands.

Savage smiles filled their faces.

"Kid, you're pretty alert, huh?"

The lead man was a burly figure wielding a hand axe.

He licked his cracked lips, his voice hoarse.

"Unfortunately, you won't be escaping today!"

Lin Mu was somewhat surprised.

The Wang Family's dogs had come quickly enough.

There was not the slightest panic on his face, only a colder gleam in his eyes.

"Just you pieces of trash?"

Before his words had even faded,

mana surged repeatedly within him.

[Resurrect Skeleton]!

[Resurrect Skeleton]!

The ground trembled as nine [Steel Skeletons], gleaming with a metallic sheen, burst from the earth.

Their steel bones flashed with cold light as they instantly surrounded Lin Mu at the center.

Ghostly blue Soul Fire flickered within their hollow eye sockets.

Each held a chilling steel blade.

They exuded a suffocating, heart-pounding pressure!