"Four-Turn Big Shot" Prepares for First Turn

As his voice trailed off, a flicker of resolve flashed through Li Fan's eyes.

"Let's go! Follow them and take a look!"

"Maybe it's some senior expert training here—if we can form a favorable connection, that would be a tremendous stroke of fortune!"

The other two heard this, and hope kindled in their eyes as well; they immediately nodded in agreement.

The three of them, gritting their teeth against their injuries.

Quietly trailed behind that squad of Steel Skeletons, carefully maintaining their distance.

The further they followed, the more shaken they became.

They saw that this squad of Steel Skeletons encountered any monster along the way.

Whether it was the cunning [Vicious Savage Wolf] or swarms of [Giant Ants], none could stop them in the slightest.

Steel blades swung, cold light flashed, and wherever they passed, nothing but scattered remains remained.

"Too... too strong!"

The level ten Shield Warrior stared, dumbfounded, his voice trembling.

"Each of these iron skeletons is probably no weaker than a level twenty elite professional! Whose summon could this be?"

"Their movements are perfectly uniform, their coordination seamless—it's like a well-trained army!"

Li Fan's expression was extremely grave as he lowered his voice to speculate.

Just as Li Fan and the other two were hiding behind a massive old tree, lost in wild thoughts.

The scouting Skeleton Squads ahead converged from different directions.

In the end, eight squads, totaling eighty Steel Skeletons.

Trod with heavy steps toward an open woodland.

The three held their breath and peered out.

Then, they witnessed a scene that would stay with them for life.

"Pfft—"

The level ten Shield Warrior choked on his breath, nearly passing out.

Li Fan felt as though his entire worldview had been shattered in that moment.

"D-did you see that?"

The Swordsman stammered, eyes wide as saucers.

"F-few dozen! At least eighty of those metal skeletons!"

The Shield Warrior's voice quivered as well.

Li Fan swallowed hard, his shock beyond words.

"W-who in the world is this? A Necromancer? But what Necromancer could summon so many, and such powerful Steel Skeletons?!"

"To control such a mighty undead legion, its master must be at least a third-tier, maybe even a fourth-tier dark-attribute big shot!"

This guess made the other two gasp sharply.

A fourth-tier powerhouse!

That was someone who could hold down a fortress, someone capable of tipping the scales in a local battle!

In their eyes, that was a figure of legend.

The three continued to stealthily follow the skeleton army.

Soon, they encountered another sight that overturned their understanding!

In the middle of a woodland, ten identical Steel Skeletons.

Surrounded a delicate-looking youth who seemed no more than seventeen or eighteen.

The youth was leisurely sitting on a camping blanket, holding a bottle of soda in his hand, his posture as relaxed as if he were picnicking in a park.

And those eighty Steel Skeletons that could terrify any professional.

Were lining up, respectfully placing the equipment they had scavenged along the way, one by one, before the youth.

This... was the "fourth-tier big shot" they had imagined?!

"Brother Fan! Pinch me!"

Li Fan took a deep breath, pointing at his own thigh, which had already been pinched purple, and said with a bitter smile:

"Pinch you? No need! This is real!"

He paused, his gaze turning resolute:

"What happened today—only heaven, earth, you, and I know. Not a single word to outsiders, understand?"

Li Fan warned them sternly.

"Understood!" The swordsman and shield warrior quickly nodded.

They knew that the secrets of such a powerhouse were not something they could casually pry into or discuss.

"Come out."

Lin Mu suddenly spoke at this moment, his voice soft yet clearly reaching the ears of the three.

Li Fan and his companions stiffened, realizing they had long been discovered.

They exchanged glances, steeled their nerves, and stepped out from behind the tree.

Their faces bore expressions of profound complexity—awe, fear, and a trace of bewilderment.

Li Fan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully.

"Senior... this junior, Li Fan, thanks your summoned creature for saving our lives. This great kindness will never be forgotten!"

He truly couldn't think of anything else.

Aside from the word "senior," how else could he address this mysterious and powerful youth before him?

Hearing this, Lin Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, finally understanding.

So that skeleton squad had incidentally saved some people.

"Life-saving grace?"

A playful curve tugged at the corner of Lin Mu's mouth as his gaze swept over Li Fan and his two companions.

His eyes were utterly calm, yet it sent chills down their spines.

As if the next moment, they would be refined into skeletons!

"I just had them clean up some trash, and saving you was a side effect."

Lin Mu's voice was light.

Trash?

Those were over a dozen [Shadow Spirits] that had driven them to the brink of death!

And in this "senior's" mouth, they were merely trash?

Li Fan bowed his head even lower, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

"Yes, yes, senior is right. It's us juniors who carelessly blocked your summoned creature's path. Please forgive us, senior!"

At this moment, he only wanted to survive.

Dignity, face—before absolute power, they were worthless.

The two younger men behind him had already collapsed to the ground.

Guttural sounds escaped their throats, but they couldn't utter a single word.

"Take this."

Lin Mu casually picked up a blue short sword and tossed it to Li Fan.

"I don't like trouble."

"You saw nothing today, understand?"

Li Fan fumbled to catch the short sword.

Its icy touch jolted him, snapping him back to his senses.

He immediately grasped Lin Mu's meaning.

This was hush money—and a warning!

"Understood! This junior understands!"

Li Fan clutched the short sword tightly to his chest, as if holding the most precious treasure, bowing repeatedly to Lin Mu.

"This junior saw nothing today! We were just passing by and accidentally got lost! Thank you, senior, for pointing the way!"

He frantically signaled his two companions with his eyes.

They quickly caught on, scrambled up from the ground, and imitated Li Fan, nodding their heads like pestles pounding garlic.

"Right, right, right! We saw nothing!"

"We're blind! Deaf!"

Lin Mu watched their comical antics, waved his hand dismissively, and said nothing.

"Go."

"Yes, yes! We'll scram right now!"

Li Fan, as if granted amnesty, grabbed his two terrified companions.

And scrambled, stumbling, deep into the dense forest.

Not daring to pause for a moment, as if a prehistoric beast was chasing them.

Until they had run far away, no longer feeling that suffocating pressure.

The three of them collapsed beneath a tree, gasping for air in great heaves.

"F-Fan-ge... are... are we still alive?"

The shield warrior's voice still trembled.

Li Fan lowered his head, gazing at the short sword glowing with blue light in his arms, his expression profoundly complicated.

He took a deep breath, his tone immensely grave.

"Remember, everything that happened today—bury it in your guts! If anyone dares to breathe a single word, none of the three of us will survive."

Having dealt with those three minor interruptions, Lin Mu was in good spirits.

He sorted and stored the equipment the skeletons had brought back, planning to dispose of it all together later.

Just then.

A chime sounded in his mind.

[Professional Lin Mu has met the conditions for first-class advancement!]

[Please proceed to the "Holy Temple" in a nearby main city as soon as possible, and accept the advancement quest at the "Altar".]

[Upon completing the advancement quest, your profession will undergo a qualitative leap!]

"Finally here!"

A light never before seen flickered in Lin Mu's eyes.

He immediately recalled all his skeletons and dismissed them back into the void.

Then, orienting himself, he headed straight toward Xilin City.

Half an hour later.

Xilin City, Holy Temple.

It was a magnificent, strangely white building.

Situated in the city's central square, it symbolized the supreme sanctity of a professional's power.

Lin Mu passed through the Prayer Hall and arrived at the side hall dedicated to advancements.

The attendant was an old man in a white priestly robe.

His expression was solemn, his eyes as calm as still water.

"Young man, do you need to undergo advancement?"

The old man spoke slowly.

"Yes, Priest."

Lin Mu replied calmly.

"Place your hand on the Altar and wait for its response."