Because Your Brother Isn't a Shield Guard

"Qin Zhixue and Chen Ming teamed up!"

"They're both Level 6 now. They're probably getting ready to challenge a dungeon together."

"I'm so jealous. Other people can already take on dungeons, while we're still struggling to get past Level 5."

"Right now, the only teams in Cloud Sea City that can challenge dungeons are probably the Morning Light Squad and the Abyss Squad."

At the border.

People looked at the "Morning Light Squad" gathered together and couldn't help sighing in admiration.

The dungeon rankings for the Grand Exam no longer covered just Cloud Sea City. They now covered the entire Jiangnan Province.

So the squads from the various cities had gradually started appearing online too, drawing quite a bit of attention.

Especially today, the fourth day of the Grand Exam.

Some S-rank Class Changers who had leveled up quickly had already reached Level 5 and could lead teams into dungeons.

And in Cloud Sea City,

the squad that naturally attracted the most discussion was the "Morning Light" Squad, with Chen Ming and Qin Zhixue.

As well as the Abyss Squad, with Wang Yan and Wu Qingyang.

"Did you hear? Just now, Song Chuan, that S-rank Class Changer, announced he was joining the Abyss Squad too!"

"Damn... That makes three S-rank Class Changers in the Abyss Squad!"

"Are they planning to compete with the Morning Light Squad?"

"Compete with that monster Chen Ming? They must be crazy."

After Chen Ming's information had been made public and the testing incident,

many people now considered him beyond the bounds of an ordinary person.

"Maybe, but no matter how strong Chen Ming is, he's bound to have weaknesses. Don't underestimate a team of three S-rankers."

"Dude, are you serious? Do you even understand what a score of 6,500 means?"

"Speaking of which, besides Chen Ming and Qin Zhixue, doesn't the Morning Light Squad only have two other members?"

"That's right. One is the A-rank Contractor who follows Qin Zhixue, and the other is Chen Ming's friend, a B-rank Assassin."

At that, many people looked even more envious.

An A-rank Contractor was one thing. Their class abilities were special, so it made sense they could latch onto a powerful teammate.

But even an ordinary B-rank Assassin could latch onto one...

That left them feeling deeply unfairly treated.

"Damn, so this is the benefit of having a badass brother?"

"My brother's C-rank too. Why isn't he that strong?"

"Because your brother isn't a Shield Guard."

"So being a Shield Guard is all it takes?"

"No. He'd also have to be called Chen Ming."

"..."

Elsewhere.

After accepting the Dungeon Rune Stone from Qin Zhixue, Chen Ming used it.

[Fusion Dungeon Rune Stone--]

[After use, the dungeon's location will be marked on the Class Changer's personal map!]

[Note: Fusion Dungeons are highly challenging. Proceed with caution!]

Chen Ming had experienced the rewards from outdoor dungeons firsthand.

Not every outdoor dungeon was a "Treasure Hunt" type where you could find rare resources.

But one thing was certain: even an ordinary outdoor challenge dungeon offered far better rewards than the large "official" dungeons in Cloud Sea City.

Whether it was experience, equipment, or resources, they weren't even on the same level.

So if Chen Ming had to challenge one of those fixed large dungeons now,

he'd probably... consider it beneath him.

Since Qin Zhixue had a rune stone for an outdoor dungeon, Chen Ming was naturally happy to take it.

As for the warning that it was highly challenging, Chen Ming simply ignored it.

It was a first-tier dungeon. How hard could it be?

Chen Ming didn't yet know what level his combat strength would reach if he went all out.

But one thing was certain: fighting above his level was as easy as drinking water.

Forget anything below Level 10. Even if a Level 20 Exotic Beast showed up, Chen Ming would dare charge straight at it with his blade.

[Dungeon Rune Stone used successfully!]

Chen Ming opened the information to take a look.

The map showed the location of the Fusion Dungeon.

"Hmm? This direction..."

Chen Ming raised an eyebrow.

The Fusion Dungeon's location was close to the special valley he had encountered earlier in the Exotic Beast Forest.

Judging by its exact location, it wasn't inside the valley.

But it was in the same general area.

"Is there something special about that region? Does it produce outdoor dungeons?"

Dungeons were regions formed under the influence of special energy, much like something nurtured by nature.

If several dungeons appeared in one region, it proved that the area must be saturated with energy.

Chen Ming shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

"In that case, let's go."

He looked at his three teammates.

He was getting ready to lead them into the Exotic Beast Forest and head for the dungeon.

"Wait a moment."

Someone called out to him from not far away.

Chen Ming looked over and saw a group of people.

At the front walked two elderly men in crisp uniforms, the principals of Third High School and Fifth High School.

Three more followed behind them.

Wang Yan, Wu Qingyang, and Song Chuan.

The group headed toward the city gate, immediately attracting plenty of attention.

After recognizing them, Chen Ming's gaze swept to either side.

Sure enough, Principal Zhou and the Inspector, whom he had once seen from afar in the valley, were there too.

But neither of them was walking with the two principals, Principal Wang and Principal Wu, or with Wang Yan and the others.

"Chen Ming, wait a moment. We have something to discuss with you."

Principal Wu from Third High School stepped forward.

"What is it?"

Chen Ming asked calmly.

Principal Wu got straight to the point. "You must have heard about the special assessment for Jiangnan Province this time."

"The competition is fierce, and Cloud Sea City can only send one team to take part in the Jiangnan Province selection."

"And?"

Chen Ming furrowed his brow slightly and glanced at Wang Yan and the others behind him.

He had already guessed why the principals of Third High School and Fifth High School had come.

"So we hope you and Qin Zhixue will join the Abyss Squad and represent Cloud Sea City in the selection together."

Principal Wu smiled as if he were proposing something perfectly reasonable.

Because, in his view, it really was perfectly reasonable.

"You want me to join the Abyss Squad and bring Qin Zhixue along too? Why?"

Chen Ming was baffled.

"Because you're the five most promising people in this year's Cloud Sea City cohort."

Principal Wu said it as if it were obvious.

"You, Qin Zhixue, Wang Yan, Wu Qingyang, and Song Chuan would make a perfect team. You'd definitely make a splash in Jiangnan Province."

Principal Wang spoke up too. "You're heading to a dungeon, aren't you? You can use this chance to get used to working together."

"Practice coordinating with each other."

Principal Wang continued talking as if the matter were already settled.

Behind them, though, the two people standing behind Qin Zhixue and Chen Ming both wore strange expressions.

Lin Wei: ?

Sun Yang: ?

What about me?

Am I invisible?

"Uh... Get used to working together?"

Chen Ming fell silent for a moment.

Then he answered bluntly, "I'm not interested."

Get used to what?

Get used to how those three could serve as background props in a fight?

Or, to put it less politely...

Were those three even good enough?