Modifications Before the Challenge

He left the trading hall.

Lin Mu found a secluded, empty alley.

After confirming no one was around, he took out the two pieces of equipment he had just bought.

The talent [Description Tamperer] activated!

[Fire Lizard Guardian Breastplate]: Crafted from the tough hide of a fire lizard and treated with a special process, it offers decent defense and fire resistance. Fire resistance +10%.

"Change 'Fire resistance +10%' to 'Fire resistance +90%'!"

Hum—

The equipment description had already changed.

[Fire Lizard Guardian Breastplate] (LV.5, Blue)

Defense: 25-30

Constitution: +3

Special Effect: Fire resistance +90%

Lin Mu grinned, nodded in satisfaction, and then looked at the [Swift Wind Boots].

Detailed description: Made from light Gale Bird feathers and tough enchanted leather, infused with weak wind elemental magic. Movement speed +5%.

His gaze paused on the phrase "weak wind elemental magic."

"Change 'weak' to 'strong'!"

[Swift Wind Boots] (LV.5, Blue)

Defense: 10-15

Agility: +5

Special Effect: Movement speed +15%

Agility had increased by 2 points, and movement speed had tripled!

Lin Mu put away the two newly transformed pieces of equipment.

His grin widened.

"Gear is ready. Once tonight's refresh hits and I give it another round of heavy modifications, I'll head to that [Wailing Cavern] tomorrow and have some fun!"

Back at home, Lin Mu was no longer as restless as the first few times, unable to sleep.

After a simple meal and drink, he began to conserve his energy.

Time ticked by, minute by minute.

Midnight!

The modification count refreshed!

Lin Mu's spirits lifted.

He started with [Resurrect Skeleton] again.

Activating the talent, he checked the description details:

[Resurrect Skeleton] (Level 2): Consumes 10 mana. By channeling strong death energy, summons 1 skeleton assembled from steel bones from the void to fight for you. Moves slowly, sturdy structure, extremely difficult to destroy. Maximum count: 90.

"Change 'summons 1' to 'summons 9'!"

Modification successful!

Without hesitation, Lin Mu directly leveled up [Resurrect Skeleton].

Details after leveling:

[Resurrect Skeleton] (Level 3): Consumes 55 mana. By channeling multiple streams of strong death energy, summons 10 skeletons assembled from steel bones from the void to fight for you. Moves slowly, sturdy structure, extremely difficult to destroy. Maximum count: 90.

Single summon had gone from one to ten!

Next was [Bone Tooth].

Description details:

[Bone Tooth] (Level 2): Consumes 95 mana. Channels death energy to summon 90 sharp teeth from the buried bones of the dead, rapidly stabbing forward in a linear area, dealing 3-5 physical damage each.

"Change 'summons 90' to 'summons 99'!"

He then added the remaining skill point to [Bone Tooth].

Details after leveling:

[Bone Tooth] (Level 3): Consumes 107 mana. Channels death energy to summon 100 sharp teeth from the buried bones of the dead, rapidly stabbing forward in a linear area, dealing 4-6 physical damage each.

The two core skills, [Resurrect Skeleton] and [Bone Tooth], were already absurdly effective.

After another round of heavy modifications tomorrow night, the scene would be unimaginable!

After that, Lin Mu went through all his current equipment and boosted each piece's attributes one by one.

[Withered Wood Staff] (LV.0, White)

Attack: 9-9.

Special Effect: Reduces mana cost by 99% when casting skills.

The attack floor had risen from the previous 1 point to 9 points.

[Rapid Healing Ring] (LV.5, Blue) (Level insufficient, cannot equip)

Defense: 1-9.

Special Effect: Restores 99 HP per second.

The defense ceiling had increased.

[Silent Black Stone Necklace] (LV.5, Blue) (Level insufficient, cannot equip)

Constitution: +2

Special Effect: Increases perception range by 92 meters.

Ninety-two meters of perception range—he was practically a one-man active phased-array radar! Within that range, not a single rustle or shift could escape his senses.

[Fire Lizard Guardian Breastplate] (LV.5, Blue) (Level insufficient, cannot equip)

Defense: 25-30

Constitution: +3

Special Effect: Fire resistance +99%

Fire resistance maxed out, nearly doubled! (Not immunity to fire damage, but a boost to his existing fire resistance.)

[Swift Wind Boots] (LV.5, Blue) (Level insufficient, cannot equip)

Defense: 10-15

Agility: +5

Special Effect: Movement speed +95%

Movement speed skyrocketed!

The next day, just as dawn broke.

Lin Mu stood by the window, the cold black Challenge Token clutched tightly in his hand.

Last night's modifications had pushed his combat power to a brand-new peak.

At this moment, he was brimming with confidence.

"It's time to take on the challenge."

Ever since the Great Cataclysm on Blue Star, monsters had spread everywhere, and dungeons had sprung up like forests.

Through generations of professionals fighting bloodily, humanity had relied on towering walls and fortified cities to establish countless sanctuaries.

Dungeons that had been fully explored and controlled were managed uniformly by nearby cities or major factions.

Some dungeon entrances even sat directly within city limits, guarded by full-time professionals, ready at any moment to suppress any monsters that might break free.

[Wailing Cavern] was one such special existence.

It was located in the eastern district of Xilin City, under the unified command of the city's Dungeon Management Office, with the City Guard coordinating defense of the surrounding dungeons.

After a quick pack-up, Lin Mu hailed a taxi straight to the Dungeon Management Center in Xilin City's east district.

This place wasn't just the entrance to [Wailing Cavern]; so even though he hadn't arrived late, the square was already packed with people.

Numerous professional teams were gathering here, either looking for teammates or preparing to embark on new adventures.

He walked directly to the dedicated registration counter for [Wailing Cavern].

"Hello, I'd like to apply for entry into [Wailing Cavern]."

Lin Mu said calmly to the staff member in charge of registration.

The staff member was a middle-aged man who looked somewhat weary.

He lifted his head and glanced at Lin Mu.

When the scanning device showed that Lin Mu was only LV.4, his brow couldn't help but furrow.

"Young man, the [Wailing Cavern] is a special challenge dungeon, extremely difficult, and only allows solo entry."

He advised with good intentions:

"At your level, I suggest you go outside the city to clear some stray wild monsters first, or choose lower-level dungeons that allow party formation. It's safer."

Lin Mu shook his head, his tone firm.

"Thank you, but I insist on entering the [Wailing Cavern]."

Seeing Lin Mu so stubborn, the staff member sighed helplessly.

"Although the [Wailing Cavern] charges no fee, entering requires a specific Dungeon Challenge Token."

He said in a routine manner.

Clearly, he didn't believe this young man in front of him could produce any credentials.

Upon hearing this, Lin Mu silently took out the black token that Mu Wanqing had given him from his storage space.

The moment the token appeared, the casualness on the staff member's face instantly froze.

Replaced by a look of disbelief and astonishment.

He took the token, carefully verified it, and when he looked back at Lin Mu, his expression had completely changed.

Mixed with shock, confusion, and a hint of envy.

"So it's... a challenger from Shengjing Academy."

He muttered under his breath, then said no more and quickly processed Lin Mu's entry.

Under the staff member's guidance, Lin Mu walked toward the light gate that exuded a dim, eerie aura.

At the same time, on the massive display screen beside the dungeon entrance, his basic information was updated and displayed in real time.