Lin Mu's gaze swept over the items scattered beside the Cave Lord's massive corpse.
A giant axe glimmered with a faint purple light.
A skill book shimmered with a blue glow.
And a ring radiated brilliant golden light.
He quickly picked up all three items.
[Cave Lord's Bone Axe] (LV.10, Purple)
[Skill Book: Resurrect Skeleton Archer] (LV.10, Necromancers Only)
"A ranged summon?"
Lin Mu rubbed his chin. This skill would make up for the lack of offensive power in his current summons. It might come in handy in certain situations later.
[Fear Whisper Ring] (LV.10, Gold)
"Not bad. I'd say that's a pretty great haul."
Lin Mu put the spoils away in his storage space, his doubts about those "surface monsters" and the SSS-Rank score briefly crossing his mind.
"Never mind. I'll think about it after I get out."
The five-minute countdown was almost over.
A flash of white light passed, and Lin Mu's figure slowly emerged from the Light Gate of the [Wailing Cavern].
The moment he appeared, the crowd, which had been in an uproar over the SS-Rank clear record, seemed to have been hit with a pause button.
Not a sound could be heard!
Everyone's eyes—
ordinary professionals and the bigwigs in the front rows alike—were fixed on Lin Mu.
They looked ready to pounce on him and devour him the very next second!
"It... it really is him!"
"An SS-Rank clear! He made it out alive!"
The brief silence gave way to shouts and commotion like a volcanic eruption!
"Is he even human?! Just over three hours! He went from LV.4 to LV.9 and cleared the [Wailing Cavern]!"
"Necromancers... How did I ever think this class was weak?!"
Director Liu was shaking with excitement. His lips trembled, and he could barely get a complete sentence out.
He looked at the bigwigs beside him. They were no less affected!
Mu Wanqing maintained her outward composure, but inside, her thoughts were already surging like a storm-tossed sea.
She stepped forward slowly, keeping her voice as calm as she could.
"Congratulations, Lin Mu. You've completed the challenge."
Lin Mu looked composed, as though he had just finished an ordinary outing.
He gave a slight nod.
"I was just lucky."
"Lucky?!"
The hot-tempered recruitment representative from the War Academy couldn't help but scoff.
Yet his tone brimmed with admiration and helplessness.
"If that counts as luck, then the so-called geniuses trained by our academies are all a joke!"
The elderly man from Huaxia Professional University also shook his head with a wry smile.
"I've worked in admissions for decades, and I've never seen a challenger so... unconventional, yet so successful."
His gaze swept over Lin Mu, full of curiosity.
"Lin Mu, would you mind telling us how you managed to get an SS-Rank score in the [Wailing Cavern] in such a short time?"
That was the question on everyone's mind.
At the question, Lin Mu put on a suitably "exhausted" expression.
He answered flatly.
"The monsters inside... seemed weaker than I expected."
"And they didn't seem to like working together. I took advantage of that and defeated them one by one."
His explanation echoed the one he had given before about clearing an SSS-Rank Trial Dungeon.
It sounded somewhat plausible, but on closer thought, it was full of holes.
Yet somehow, no one could find a way to refute it.
After all, the SS-Rank clear record was right there!
Mu Wanqing gave Lin Mu a long look.
"How long did it take you to kill the Cave Lord?"
Lin Mu pretended to think for a moment, then answered, "I didn't really pay attention. It took a while. Its defense was very high, so I mostly relied on my summons to wear it down."
"Your summons?"
A faint flicker crossed Mu Wanqing's eyes. "Are your summons different from the skeletons of ordinary Necromancers?"
Lin Mu's heart tightened. It seemed she had noticed something.
But he remained impassive.
"Maybe I was lucky. My class underwent a minor mutation when I awakened."
"Mutation?"
Mu Wanqing mulled over the word, looking thoughtful.
She didn't press him further and instead changed the subject.
"Lin Mu, you cleared the [Wailing Cavern] challenge with an SS-Rank score before the three-day deadline."
"As agreed, Shengjing Academy's Heaven Branch officially admits you!"
At this, the faces of the recruitment representatives from the other academies filled with undisguised envy and regret.
Principal Qu Qingfeng was so excited that he gave Lin Mu a hearty slap on the shoulder.
"Good! Well done! Lin Mu, you've made Second Vocational College proud!"
Mayor Fan Zhiheng also stepped forward, a look of approval on his face.
"Lin Mu, you've brought glory to Xilin City once again!"
He spoke in a deep voice.
"The city government has decided to award you another five hundred thousand Nova Coins! We'll also give you a luxury apartment in Tianlan Mansion, right in the city center!"
"Hiss—"
A fresh wave of gasps swept through the crowd.
Five hundred thousand Nova Coins!
A luxury apartment in Tianlan Mansion!
Now that was something! Money and a house—they were really going all out to win him over!
Tianlan Mansion was one of Xilin City's famous upscale neighborhoods. An apartment there was worth at least several million Nova Coins!
This honor was enough to make any newly awakened professional green with envy!
Lin Mu was also pleased. The reward had come at just the right time.
He was still living in the old house his original body's parents had left behind.
It was outdated in every way.
Besides,
as his strength grew and his secrets piled up,
a safer, more private place to live was indeed essential.
He bowed slightly to Mayor Fan Zhiheng.
"Thank you for your generosity, Mayor."
Fan Zhiheng waved his hand with a smile.
"You've earned it. I hope you'll make even greater contributions to Xilin City and Huaxia in the future."
An aide standing beside him immediately stepped forward.
He handed Lin Mu a room key that shimmered with a pale golden light, along with a set of documents.
"Mr. Lin, this is the key and property deed for Tianlan Mansion, Building A, Apartment 1801. All the paperwork has been taken care of. You can move in whenever you like."
The aide's voice was respectful and professional.
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