Leaving the Trading Hall.
Lin Mu found a quiet, deserted alley.
After confirming that no one was around, he took out the two pieces of equipment he had just bought.
Talent [Description Tamperer] activated!
[Fire Lizard Guardian Breastplate]: Made from the tough hide of a fire lizard and treated with a special process, it offered decent defense and fire resistance. Fire resistance +10%.
"Change 'Fire resistance +10%' to 'Fire resistance +90%'!"
Whirr—
The equipment description changed.
[Fire Lizard Guardian Breastplate] (LV.5, Blue)
Defense: 25–30
Constitution: +3
Special Effect: Fire resistance +90%
Lin Mu grinned and nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the [Swift Wind Boots].
Detailed Description: Made from the light feathers of a Gale Bird and durable enchanted leather, they were imbued with a weak wind-elemental magic. Movement speed +5%.
His gaze paused on "weak wind-elemental magic."
"Change 'weak' to 'strong'!"
[Swift Wind Boots] (LV.5, Blue)
Defense: 10–15
Agility: +5
Special Effect: Movement speed +15%
The agility bonus had increased by 2 points, and the movement speed had more than tripled!
Lin Mu put the two like-new pieces of equipment away again.
His grin widened.
"My gear is ready. Once the changes refresh tonight, I'll make another big one, then head to that [Wailing Cavern] tomorrow and have some fun!"
When Lin Mu got home, he was no longer so excited that he couldn't sleep, unlike the previous times.
After eating and drinking something simple, he began to rest and conserve his strength.
Time passed second by second.
Midnight!
His number of modifications refreshed!
Lin Mu's spirits lifted.
As before, he started with [Resurrect Skeleton].
He activated his talent and checked the description:
[Resurrect Skeleton] (Level 2): Consumes 10 mana. By channeling strong Death Aura, summons 1 skeleton made of Steel Bone from the void to fight for you. It moves slowly, has a sturdy structure, and is extremely difficult to destroy. Maximum number: 90.
"Change 'summons 1' to 'summons 9'!"
Modification successful!
Without hesitation, Lin Mu raised [Resurrect Skeleton] by one level.
Upgraded description:
[Resurrect Skeleton] (Level 3): Consumes 55 mana. By channeling several streams of strong Death Aura, summons 10 skeletons made of Steel Bone from the void to fight for you. They move slowly, have sturdy structures, and are extremely difficult to destroy. Maximum number: 90.
A single summon now called forth ten skeletons instead of one!
Next was [Bone Tooth].
Description:
[Bone Tooth] (Level 2): Consumes 95 mana. By channeling Death Energy, summons 90 sharp teeth from the Dead Remains buried deep underground and sends them stabbing rapidly toward a linear area ahead, each dealing 3–5 physical damage.
"Change 'summons 90 teeth' to 'summons 99 teeth'!"
He then added his remaining skill point to [Bone Tooth].
Upgraded description:
[Bone Tooth] (Level 3): Consumes 107 mana. By channeling Death Energy, summons 100 sharp teeth from the Dead Remains buried deep underground and sends them stabbing rapidly toward a linear area ahead, each dealing 4–6 physical damage.
The effects of his two core skills, [Resurrect Skeleton] and [Bone Tooth], were now downright absurd.
Once he made another big round of changes tomorrow night, the possibilities were almost too wild to imagine!
After that, Lin Mu once again improved the attributes of each piece of equipment he had.
[Withered Wood Staff] (LV.0, White)
Attack: 9–9.
Special Effect: Reduces mana cost by 99% when casting skills.
Its minimum attack had increased from 1 point to 9.
[Rapid Healing Ring] (LV.5, Blue) (Level too low to equip)
Defense: 1–9.
Special Effect: Restores 99 health per second.
Its maximum defense had increased.
[Silent Black Stone Necklace] (LV.5, Blue) (Level too low to equip)
Constitution: +2
Special Effect: Increases perception range by 92 meters.
A perception range of ninety-two meters turned him into a walking active electronically scanned array radar!
Within that range, not even the slightest movement would escape his notice!
[Fire Lizard Guardian Breastplate] (LV.5, Blue) (Level too low to equip)
Defense: 25–30
Constitution: +3
Special Effect: Fire resistance +99%
His fire resistance was maxed out, nearly doubling! (This didn't bring him close to immunity to fire damage; it increased his existing fire resistance.)
[Swift Wind Boots] (LV.5, Blue) (Level too low to equip)
Defense: 10–15
Agility: +5
Special Effect: Movement speed +95%
His movement speed had skyrocketed!
The next day, just after dawn.
Lin Mu stood by the window, clutching the cold black Challenge Token in his hand.
The changes he had made last night
had pushed his combat power to an entirely new level.
Now, he was brimming with confidence.
"Time to take on the challenge."
Ever since the Great Cataclysm on Blue Star,
monsters had been everywhere, and Dungeons had sprung up all over the place.
After generations of professionals fought bloody battles,
humanity had established countless sanctuaries behind towering walls.
Dungeons that had been thoroughly explored and brought under control
were managed collectively by nearby cities or powerful organizations.
Some Dungeon entrances were even located right inside cities.
Professional fighters guarded them closely, ready to suppress any monsters that might escape.
The [Wailing Cavern] was one such special case.
It was located in the eastern district of Xilin City.
The Dungeon Management Office, directly under the municipal government, oversaw it.
The City Guard also helped defend several nearby Dungeons.
After quickly getting ready,
Lin Mu took a taxi straight to the Dungeon Management Center in eastern Xilin City.
The [Wailing Cavern] wasn't the only Dungeon entrance here.
So even though he hadn't arrived particularly late, the plaza was already packed with people.
Many professional teams had gathered there, either looking for teammates or preparing to embark on a new adventure.
He headed straight for the registration desk reserved for the [Wailing Cavern].
"Hello, I'd like to enter the [Wailing Cavern]."
Lin Mu spoke calmly to the staff member in charge of registration.
The staff member was a middle-aged man who looked somewhat tired.
He glanced up at Lin Mu.
When the scanning device showed that Lin Mu was only LV.4, his brow furrowed.
"Young man, the [Wailing Cavern] is a special challenge Dungeon. It's extremely difficult, and you can only enter alone."
He advised Lin Mu kindly:
"At your level, I suggest you go outside the city to clear out some stray monsters, or choose a low-level Dungeon that allows teams. That would be safer."
Lin Mu shook his head, his tone firm.
"Thanks, but I'm determined to enter the [Wailing Cavern]."
Seeing how stubborn Lin Mu was, the staff member sighed helplessly.
"Although the [Wailing Cavern] doesn't charge an entry fee, you'll need a specific Dungeon Challenge Token to enter."
He said it as a matter of routine.
Clearly, he didn't think the young man before him could produce the required proof.
At that, Lin Mu
silently took the black token Mu Wanqing had given him out of his storage space.
The moment the token appeared, the casual expression on the staff member's face froze.
In its place was sheer astonishment and disbelief.
He took the token and checked it carefully. When he looked at Lin Mu again, his gaze had completely changed.
It held a mix of shock, confusion, and even a hint of envy.
"So you're... a challenger from Shengjing Academy."
He murmured under his breath, then said no more and quickly processed Lin Mu's entry.
Following the staff member's directions,
Lin Mu walked toward the Light Gate, which emanated a dark, ominous aura.
At the same time,
his basic information appeared in real time on the huge display beside the Dungeon entrance.
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