The Great Ones Arrive

This ghoul's body was nearly twice the size of an ordinary ghoul.

Its skin was a sickly, bruised blue-purple, covered in pustules and festering wounds.

It sensed Lin Mu's arrival, jerked its head up, and let out a sharp, piercing shriek.

Foul, stinking drool dripped from its mouth full of jagged teeth.

It charged at Lin Mu's skeleton army with incredible speed.

At the same time, it opened its reeking maw and violently spat out a thick, yellow-green glob of venom!

"Sssss--"

The venom landed on the Steel Skeletons, immediately raising clouds of pungent, stinging white smoke.

Although the Steel Skeletons had extremely high defense and the direct damage from the venom wasn't significant, the continuous corrosive effect was still rather disgusting to watch.

Lin Mu frowned slightly. He was far too idle right now, and a playful mood struck him.

His gaze sharpened, and his talent [Description Tamperer] activated!

He quickly examined the detailed description of this [Mutated Ghoul Elite].

[Mutated Ghoul Elite]: A ghoul that has mutated from years of devouring rotting flesh and toxic substances. Possesses extremely fast movement speed and powerful leaping ability. Can spit out highly toxic liquid that rapidly corrodes objects. Its body emits a nauseating stench of decay.

A playful curve tugged at the corner of Lin Mu's mouth as he focused his mind on the word "toxic."

"Modify 'highly toxic liquid' to 'non-toxic liquid'!"

In an instant, the yellow-green liquid that the [Mutated Ghoul Elite] spat out again

landed on the skeletons, but instead of producing corrosive white smoke, it was as clear as water, even carrying a faint, strange, refreshing fragrance.

"Roar?"

The [Mutated Ghoul Elite]'s movements came to an abrupt halt.

Its massive head tilted, displaying an extremely human-like expression of confusion.

As if it were saying:

"Where's my venom? Where did all that venom of mine go?!"

Taking advantage of its daze, dozens of Steel Skeletons swarmed forward.

The steel blades in their hands turned into a chilling rain of steel, instantly tearing this confused elite monster to shreds.

Lin Mu stepped forward

and casually picked up a piece of green equipment the elite had dropped.

At that moment, from the deeper, darker tunnel across the lake, a presence far more powerful than the [Mutated Ghoul Elite] was slowly stirring.

Xilin City, East District Dungeon Management Center.

The exclusive entrance to [Wailing Cavern] was packed with people.

On the massive display screen, a few simple lines of text had captured everyone's attention.

[Wailing Cavern]

[Challenger: Lin Mu]

[Class: LV.5 Necromancer]

[Entry Time: 00:45:32]

[Current Rating: C]

"Whoa—look! He... he leveled up, and there's a rating now!"

Among the crowd, a sharp-eyed professional pointed at the screen, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"My god! How long has he been in there? Less than an hour? And he went from level four to level five?"

"And in a hellhole like [Wailing Cavern]! Whether a Necromancer can even survive is a question! This Lin Mu... what kind of monster is he?"

"C-rank rating! Solo challenge, Necromancer—that rating is already terrifying!"

The waves of discussion rose and fell.

Incredulity was written on every face.

Just then, a stir broke out at the edge of the crowd.

Several professionals clad in City Guard standard armor cleared the way.

Forcing a path through the packed onlookers.

Immediately after.

A group of figures strode in quickly under everyone's gaze.

At the lead.

Was none other than Mu Wanqing, the admissions mentor from [Shengjing Academy].

Her expression remained calm as ever.

But in her deep, profound eyes, there seemed to be a flicker more than usual.

Beside her.

Qu Qingfeng, the principal of Xilin Second Vocational College, had fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

He hurried along.

Cautiously gauging Mu Wanqing's expression.

Ji Xiangwen, director of the Municipal Education Bureau.

And several other top academy admissions representatives still in Xilin City had also followed.

Their expressions varied.

But without exception, they carried a mix of gravity and curiosity.

"Teacher Mu, Director Ji, Principal Qu!"

The director of the Dungeon Management Center rushed forward to greet them, his forehead also slick with sweat.

Mu Wanqing gave a slight nod.

Her gaze went straight to the display screen.

When she saw Lin Mu's LV.5 level and C-rank rating.

A ripple finally stirred in her autumn-water eyes.

"He's faster than I expected."

Mu Wanqing spoke lightly, her voice not loud.

But it carried clearly to the ears of the surrounding big shots.

Qu Qingfeng's heart tightened at her words, mixed with a trace of inexplicable anticipation.

"This kid... does he really have another card up his sleeve?"

He mused inwardly.

His gaze locked onto the data on the screen.

The other academy representatives exchanged glances, their expressions complicated.

None of them had expected.

That Lin Mu would enter [Wailing Cavern] so quickly.

Was this confidence, or recklessness?

Time.

Ticked by, second by second.

The atmosphere at the entrance grew increasingly tense.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the next change in the screen's data.

Every second felt unbearably long.

Suddenly!

"It... it moved again! The rating and level changed!"

Another outcry erupted from the crowd!

All eyes snapped to the display screen!

The previously static characters were now faintly flickering, refreshed anew!

[Wailing Cavern]

[Challenger: Lin Mu]

[Profession: LV.6 Necromancer]

[Entry Time: 01:05:47]

[Current Rating: B]

"LV.6! B-rank rating!"

Principal Qu Qingfeng could no longer contain his excitement, blurting out in a startled cry.

His cheeks flushed crimson from exhilaration.

His fists clenched tight, knuckles turning white.

The other big shots around him were likewise stunned, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief.

"One hour and five minutes... from LV.4 to LV.6, and he even pushed the rating to B-rank..."

That refined old gentleman from Huaxia Professional University.

His eyes behind the lenses were now wide as saucers, murmuring to himself.

"Could he have been killing monsters the whole time? Wasn't it said that in [Wailing Cavern], you had to avoid encounters as much as possible just to have a chance at seeing the dungeon boss?"

The middle-aged man in military uniform from the War Academy furrowed his brows, his gaze filled with incredulity.

"When did Necromancers... become this strong?"

Mu Wanqing still stood in place, her expression calm.

But the hands she clasped behind her back, almost imperceptibly, tightened slightly.

"Interesting."

She thought to herself.

"It seems this trip to Xilin might actually bring me some surprises."

The crowd erupted completely!

"B-rank! It's B-rank! I remember the last person to clear [Wailing Cavern] was a Shadow Assassin, who sneaked all the way to the boss using skills, took it down with a special item, and still only came out with a B-rank."

"And Lin Mu is a Necromancer! Did he really just kill his way through? This is absolutely insane!"

"Could it be... he might actually make it out alive?"

A young professional spoke, his voice trembling with a hint of anticipation.

No one could answer that question.

But in everyone's heart, because of the astonishing performance Lin Mu had just displayed, a massive wave had been stirred up!