"Battle for Talent," Shengjing Academy's Challenge Invitation!

The next morning.

Lin Mu opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.

The increase in his attributes

meant that even though he had stayed up late, he showed no sign of fatigue.

News of the SSS-Rank clear rating

had, after fermenting overnight, swept through Xilin City's professional circle.

The name Lin Mu,

along with his Necromancer class, known as the "most useless special class,"

instantly became the focus of the entire city.

Countless factions,

including top academies from other cities,

powerful guilds,

and long-established families,

had begun secretly investigating his background through every possible channel.

West Forest City No. 2 Vocational Academy.

The grand auditorium.

Before the Application Guidance Meeting officially began,

Director Liu Minghui of Academic Affairs impatiently stepped onto the stage.

His face was glowing with excitement.

In a booming voice, he announced the additional rewards from the Municipal Education Bureau for Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao.

"Students Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao will each receive a West Forest City Nova Medal! This medal is not only a symbol of honor, but also comes with certain special privileges!"

"In addition, each of you will receive a Rare Grade skill book for your class, as well as a Primary Spirit Nourishing Pill!"

A chorus of sharp breaths immediately rose from the audience.

Envious gazes turned in unison toward Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao alone

blushed more deeply the more she listened, growing increasingly embarrassed.

Liu Minghui paused before continuing,

"Due to certain special circumstances, officials from the Municipal Education Bureau will personally deliver the rewards to the school tomorrow. They will be distributed together with the Academy's rewards!"

Thunderous applause erupted.

Liu Minghui gestured for everyone to quiet down, then announced the official start of the meeting.

Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao

unsurprisingly became the center of attention.

The teachers who had looked down on Lin Mu and even treated him coldly during yesterday's awakening

now wore warm smiles across their faces.

Their eyes were filled with approval and concern.

They fussed over him and asked after his well-being.

Their attitudes had completely changed.

Even more surprisingly,

several admissions officers from elite advanced professional academies that had never set foot in Second Vocational College in previous years

had appeared in the auditorium's VIP section.

War Academy, Huaxia Professional University, Heavenly Mansion Academy...

These illustrious names left the students present thrilled beyond measure.

Though they all knew

these representatives had come for Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao's astonishing SSS-Rank ratings!

Still, being able to say they had attended the same school would bring them some glory!

That was how admissions worked.

The students only needed to choose a university that suited them.

But the representatives of these elite institutions had far more to consider.

An invisible battle for talent suddenly erupted.

"Student Lin Mu, War Academy is willing to offer you a full scholarship of one million Nova Coins per year! We will also assign a professional above Third Advancement in the same class as your personal mentor!"

A middle-aged man in military uniform, radiating a fierce presence, spoke first.

"What a joke! You think a mere million is enough to win over an SSS-Rank genius?"

The representative from Huaxia Professional University,

an elegant old man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, sneered.

"Student Lin Mu, how about learning about our Elite Talent Program? A customized training plan, unlimited rare resources! Upon graduation, you'll be directly assigned to a core national department!"

The admissions officer from Heavenly Mansion Academy was unwilling to be outdone.

He threw out even more enticing terms.

The atmosphere in the auditorium reached a fever pitch.

Just as the prestigious schools were arguing until their faces turned red,

halfway through the meeting,

Bang!

The auditorium's heavy doors were violently kicked open.

Wang Hao's father,

Wang Debiao, a squad captain in the Xilin City Guard,

stormed in wearing standard-issue armor and carrying a heavy axe at his waist,

along with several City Guards who looked equally hostile.

His face was livid, and his eyes were vicious.

He strode straight through the crowd

and marched up to Lin Mu.

"Lin Mu!"

Wang Debiao's voice exploded like thunder, filled with suppressed fury.

"My son Wang Hao died in yesterday's Trial Dungeon! How dare you say this has nothing to do with you?!"

He glared at Lin Mu, his words brimming with undisguised menace.

"I heard that before entering the Dungeon, you and my son agreed to a 'sparring match'! Did you stab him in the back inside the Dungeon?!"

Wang Debiao tried to use his status as a City Guard squad captain to place immense pressure on Lin Mu.

The entire auditorium instantly fell silent.

Everyone's eyes focused on Lin Mu and Wang Debiao.

Faced with this sudden accusation,

Lin Mu remained calm, without the slightest trace of panic.

He lifted his eyelids

and gave Wang Debiao an indifferent glance.

"Inside a Dungeon, life and death are left to fate. What does Wang Hao's death have to do with me?"

"As for the sparring match..."

A faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of Lin Mu's lips.

"He provoked me repeatedly first. I only agreed verbally because I had no other choice. Could that possibly count as evidence that I killed him?"

Principal Qu and Director Liu immediately sensed that something was wrong.

They hurried forward.

"Captain Wang, accidents happen in newbie Dungeons every year. Besides, this is a school. It would be bad for its reputation."

Director Liu signaled to Wang Debiao with his eyes, the meaning obvious: Why not take a look around at who was present first?

They could not make it any clearer than that.

Wang Debiao had an older brother serving in the upper ranks of the City Guard.

That was Wang Hao's uncle.

He had often abused his authority and bullied others.

Of course,

Lin Mu was now a hot commodity.

They could not let this extraordinary genius suffer any grievance!

After all, an SSS-Rank rating in a newbie Dungeon was unprecedented across all of Blue Star!

Wang Debiao looked around and froze on the spot.

He had not expected so many important figures to have gathered at this mere Xilin Second Vocational College!

Before he could try to salvage the situation, someone had already spoken.

"Hmph! Trial Dungeons are dangerous by nature. We all deeply regret your son's unfortunate death. But trying to slander an SSS-Rank genius without any evidence is rather overbearing, isn't it?"

The War Academy admissions representative was blunt and direct as he snorted coldly.

His words clearly carried an intent to defend Lin Mu.

The representatives from several other prestigious schools also spoke up in turn.

They hinted that Wang Debiao should not use his power to bully others.

Wang Debiao felt pressure from all sides.

Cold sweat immediately broke out across his body. After all, even his brother would not dare offend these people!

On top of that, he truly had no solid evidence.

Faced with representatives from so many elite academies, his expression changed at once.

"No! No, that's not it! I was just asking Student Lin Mu about what happened."

Wang Debiao looked at Lin Mu guiltily.

"Student Lin, since you don't know anything, I'll be leaving first. If you remember anything later, I'll come ask you again!"

After leaving behind a veiled threat,

Wang Debiao led his men away in embarrassment.

Just when everyone thought the disturbance had temporarily settled,

a middle-aged woman who had remained silent all this time, carrying herself with exceptional poise

and dressed in an elegant plain robe,

slowly rose to her feet.

Her gaze was gentle yet deep as it swept over Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao.

"I am Mu Wanqing, an admissions representative of Shengjing Academy."

Shengjing Academy!

The most prestigious Academy in Huaxia Nation, without equal!

The entire auditorium erupted once more!

Mu Wanqing's voice was calm, yet it carried unquestionable authority.

"Students Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao, on behalf of Shengjing Academy, I first extend an invitation of admission to you both. We will likewise provide generous enrollment rewards."

Then her tone shifted.

"However, to be frank, this SSS-Rank rating contains some puzzling aspects. The strength of both your awakened classes is not particularly high, and neither of you has activated a talent."

Mu Wanqing put it tactfully, but her meaning was clear.

After all, the combat strength of Blue Star's professionals had always been determined by class and talent.

Under normal circumstances, Lin Mu and Su Xiaoxiao's classes could never have achieved such a result. Surviving alone would have been a miracle.

"Since its founding, the admission standards of Shengjing Academy's various branches have required consideration of class and talent. If the two of you enroll directly, then under normal circumstances, you can only enter the Academy's Yellow Branch."

Mu Wanqing paused slightly before continuing.

"The Academy sent me here this time to ask whether you are willing to accept a special Dungeon designated by the Academy under Challenge Mode, which requires you to clear it independently within three days."

"Passing the challenge will not only help you establish yourselves among the Academy's many geniuses in the future, but will also affect your branch assignment and resource allocation after enrollment."

"Of course, even if you do not take the challenge, outstanding performance in the freshman assessment will still give you a chance to enter a better branch."

She paused, and her gaze sharpened.

"I must remind you that this Dungeon has an extremely high mortality rate."

"Are you two willing to accept this challenge?"