Chapter 5: Further Mutation and Strengthening

Zi Liyuan didn't rush to exit the dungeon; instead, he opened the attribute panel again.

He clicked on the "+" sign behind the "Skeleton Summoning" skill and chose to activate Mutated Enhancement (2).

[Do you wish to activate the Nether Crystal Core, consuming 1500 units of energy to perform Mutated (2) enhancement on "Skeleton Summoning"? Yes/No?]

"Yes!"

With Zi Liyuan's current 2000 points of Spiritual Energy and nine variants of enhancement schemes, he could already satisfy the first two requirements.

Although his Spiritual Energy recovery was slow, regenerating only 1 point every 10 minutes, he could directly consume potions for recovery, which was entirely satisfactory.

The skill column was once again shrouded in a layer of gray-black mist, and then it returned to normal in just 2 seconds.

The skills within his skill column increased from two to three.

The "Skeleton Summoning" skill, like the main branch of a tree, mutated once more, producing a new offshoot, "Summon Skeleton Archer."

[Summon Skeleton Archer（Level 2）]: Using Spirit as a guide, consuming 20 units of Spiritual Energy, summon two Skeleton Archers from the Netherworld Realm to serve you. (Note: There's a 0.01% chance to summon a Mutated Body Skeleton Archer)

[Skeleton Archer]

[Level]: Level 2

[Class]: Archer

[Attributes]: Physical Damage 6 (+2), Physical Defense 3 (+2), Health 80 (+20).

[Skill]: Double Shot

[Combat Power]: 9

The attributes were slightly stronger than those of a Level 2 Skeleton Warrior template, no wonder the mutant enhancement only consumed an additional 500 energy points.

However, as ranged troops, they significantly strengthened the Skeleton Army.

"There are 8 hours left until midnight, plan carefully, head to the wilderness area to grind mobs, and try to get back before 11 p.m. to do an extra run in the level 10 dungeons."

To secure a spot in the top 100 before the entrance exam, he had only seven days to level up and every second counted.

Being able to run an extra dungeon would put him at least one level ahead of others, increasing his advantage for the college entrance exams.

Pocketing his pocket watch and storing all the skeletons in the Necromancer's exclusive Undead space, Zi Liyuan logged out of the dungeon and appeared directly at the White Crane Academy's altar plaza.

At this moment, the vast plaza had become desolate, with the majority of the students having completed their first dungeon run and found teammates to grind mobs in the wilderness areas.

"Wow, big bro, you're already level 9, that's amazing! Can you team up and take little sister with you?"

Zi Liyuan, who had been about to leave, didn't expect a beautiful girl to suddenly approach him, looking at him with admiration.

"No time."

With a cold face, Zi Liyuan didn't even give the girl, who had a beauty score above 8, a second glance and quickly walked out of the plaza.

Teaming up to carry girls was out of the question!

Carrying girls would only slow down his leveling pace!

Thus, the task of carrying girls was better left to those bootlickers!

He was a top talent, aiming for Dragon Academy, how could he waste time on carrying girls!

White Crane Academy was very thoughtful in their arrangements, providing transportation to the wilderness leveling areas 24 hours a day from the altar plaza during the seven days from Awakening Day to the college entrance exam.

Hurrying onto a bus that had already started up, Zi Liyuan had just sat down when the bus left White Crane Academy and headed towards the outdoor leveling area designated for new job changers.

"Eh, Zi Liyuan, what are you doing here?"

Across the aisle, who would have thought to encounter classmates on the bus; following Zi Liyuan's gaze, they discovered that there were actually five classmates inside the vehicle.

"Zi Liyuan, didn't you switch to a hidden profession? Didn't you receive invitation cards from the nine major academies?"

Classmate Wang Motuo looked at him curiously and asked.

Any student who received an invitation card had ample time to level up and didn't need to compete against the clock with those who needed to take the college entrance exam.

"Pfft, Necromancer, indeed a hidden profession, but it seems the nine major academies aren't keen on recruiting those related to death this year."

A snicker sounded, Luo Kaize's jeering voice ringing out with a gleeful expression.

Underachievers always envy the top achievers, especially those who dominate their peers, and are often hated by most, so Zi Liyuan didn't have many friends, though he did have a few enemies.

"Hmph, even if Zi Liyuan didn't receive an invitation card, he could still secure a spot by taking the entrance exam," Wang Motuo retorted with dissatisfaction.

Girls naturally favored the super top achievers, especially ones from their own class, and besides, Zi Liyuan was handsome!

Although this world values strength, good looks are justice, and given the same circumstances, who would bother with an ugly fool?

"Motuo is right, Liyuan, after all, has a hidden profession, which gives him a much larger advantage, plus Liyuan is already at level 9," said Shen Yuan, seated next to Wang Motuo, casting a disdainful glance at Luo Kaize.

This guy had some background and often caused trouble in school with a bunch of hooligan friends, much to the disgust of many girls.

"What? Zi Liyuan, how could you have reached level 9 so quickly?!"

Luo Kaize, who had been scoffing moments ago, suddenly turned his head to look at Zi Liyuan, his face full of disbelief.

Everyone had only just finished awakening and switching classes, barely leaving White Crane Academy, and the only way to gain a large amount of experience was the first run through the newbie dungeon.

He had chosen the elite difficulty, yet he was only just at level 6 now.

Realizing this, his expression turned even uglier, and his gaze toward Zi Liyuan even held a hint of fear.

He might be an underachiever, but he wasn't stupid, and with a little thought, he figured out the reason.

Only by clearing a rare dungeon, particularly those of extreme difficulty, could one gain the massive experience that shoots them straight to level 9.

Anyone who can conquer a rare dungeon from the first try is a genius coveted by all big academies, whose future accomplishments overshadow those of ordinary students.

Is the gap between hidden professions and common professions that big?

Luo Kaize instantly lost interest in mocking others and even felt like a clown.

Shen Yuan did not pay attention to Luo Kaize but continued to softly ask Zi Liyuan.

"Liyuan, did you know Shen Yurou switched to the lifestyle profession of Mechanic?"

"Yurou became a Mechanic? Like the kind that screws bolts in factories?"

Zi Liyuan's head snapped around, looking at Shen Yuan with disbelief in his voice.

His relationship with Shen Yurou was somewhat complex, as they both came from the same orphanage, though their fates were different.

Thanks to a fling with Lady Luck, he had left that place early and gone on to a life of happiness.

The girl, Shen Yurou, on the other hand, grew up relying solely on her superior intellect.

However, she had always been competitive with him, mainly because she had never managed to outperform him from their first year through to their third, as he consistently ranked above her.

It was unexpected that the usually so determined girl had awakened and switched to a lifestyle profession.