Geniuses Gather

Under Li Ling's chattering guidance, Lin Mu passed through the grand school gate of Shengjing Academy, carved from a single massive boulder.

Beyond the gate, a wave of source energy so dense it nearly materialized washed over him.

The academy's architecture blended ancient charm with futuristic design.

Research labs brimming with technological flair stood alongside timeworn, classical halls.

Students came and went, each exuding a steady, powerful aura with sharp eyes—none of them weak.

"Junior, look! That up ahead is the main building of the Heaven Branch!"

Li Ling pointed excitedly at a structure crafted entirely from an unknown green jade.

"The Heaven Branch has the best resources out of all four branches, with independent training secret realms. Only the monsters among monsters get in!"

The two arrived at the main building's office.

Mu Wanqing had been waiting for some time.

When she saw Lin Mu, a flicker of curiosity and admiration flashed through her eyes.

Then she quickly regained her professionalism and composure.

"Student Lin Mu, welcome to Shengjing Academy."

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, Mu Wanqing stood up directly.

"Follow me. Your classmates have already gathered."

She led Lin Mu into a spacious, almost absurdly large common room.

Inside, twenty-eight new students with varied auras stood or sat.

Their powerful presences clashed, thickening the air with tension.

Li Ling quietly leaned close to Lin Mu's ear and whispered a rapid introduction.

"That one with his eyes closed, surrounded by all kinds of elements, is Luo Tian. He's the highest-talent professional in this year's Shengjing Academy intake. When he awakened the [Elementalist] class, he also activated the [Gold Talent: Elemental Mastery]!"

"That girl in the corner playing with a dagger is Xiong Zining. [Purple Talent: Shadow Dance]—top-tier assassin talent!"

"And that muscular guy radiating a holy aura is Lei Ming. [Purple Talent: Holy Light Affinity], class is the rare [Paladin]!"

Every person here was a chosen prodigy, selected from across the nation.

"Everyone, quiet down a moment."

Mu Wanqing's voice rang out.

She stood in the center of the common room and introduced, "This is Lin Mu, your new classmate from now on."

All sharp gazes instantly locked onto Lin Mu.

When they sensed his LV.15 level—the highest among the new students—many pupils contracted.

But when their eyes landed on the glaring "Necromancer" label, confusion, doubt, and even contempt began to spread through the crowd.

"Pfft!"

A youth built like a bear, with bulging muscles, burst out laughing.

His name was Lu Hu, and he had awakened the [Purple Talent: Extreme Berserk].

"A Necromancer? And he hasn't even activated a talent? This is the most useless early-game class there is, and he gets into our Heaven Branch?"

"How did he get that level? Did someone carry him up?"

His voice, sharp and loud, didn't match his hulking frame at all, and it was utterly unapologetic.

A few low murmurs of agreement followed.

Zhao Lei, watching from behind, was overjoyed inside.

Lin Mu remained unmoved. He simply raised his eyes calmly and glanced at Lu Hu.

That gaze was as deep as an ancient well, and it actually made Lu Hu feel a chill on the back of his neck.

He didn't argue. He just spoke flatly.

"Strength will have its chance to prove itself."

"Hmph!"

Mu Wanqing furrowed her brow and let out a heavy snort, a wave of pressure sweeping through the room.

"Put away your pathetic arrogance! The Heaven Branch values potential and actual combat, not shallow levels and class prejudice!"

Her eyes swept over the crowd as she stated directly.

"Student Lin Mu is the creator of the SSS-rank trial dungeon record and the SS-rank [Wailing Cavern] record."

This statement plunged the entire lounge into dead silence!

Everyone's expression froze on their faces.

If you said Lin Mu was standing in front of them, they might not recognize him.

But to say this was the freshman from Xilin who broke the historical record this year—these people were far from unfamiliar with that.

"Alright, since everyone is here, I announce the content of the first assessment for Heaven Branch."

Mu Wanqing swept her gaze across the crowd.

"Tomorrow, all new students will undergo a collective practical combat test."

"The test location is the academy's [Void Secret Realm]."

"Each person will enter an independent instance space. The assessment will score you comprehensively based on your performance in the secret realm, including the number of monsters killed, efficiency, survival time, and so on."

"The final score will directly determine your subsequent resource allocation and training plan!"

As soon as the assessment content was announced, the atmosphere instantly became charged with tension.

Lu Hu's face flushed red as he spoke again, his spearpoint directly aimed at Lin Mu.

"Genius Necromancer! I challenge you!"

"If you can outperform me in this assessment, I, Lu Hu, will kneel and apologize to you publicly!"

"That's right! Me, Ao Di, too!"

Another lanky youth chimed in to stir things up.

The corner of Lin Mu's mouth twitched, and he silently cursed in his mind, This is like stumbling into a car dealership.

Suppressing a laugh, he met the provocative gazes and calmly nodded.

"As you wish."

This carefree attitude only made Lu Hu and Ao Di more irritated, while the other geniuses watched with a mindset of enjoying the show.

After the assessment was announced, the crowd dispersed.

With Li Ling's help, Lin Mu moved into his independent dormitory in Heaven Branch.

The environment was extremely luxurious, not only vast in size but also equipped with a private gravity training room and an energy replenishment formation.

After seeing off the adoring Li Ling.

In the dead of night, his talent refreshed.