frightened off

The soldiers of the kingdom of Shenxia returned laughing and chatting.

"Those guys from the Sakura Nation were hilarious the way they ran away."

"It was really amusing to see them flee in such a panic."

"So many pros getting scared away by a couple of skeletons, what a shame."

"They can overcome nightmare-level dungeons, but when faced with real danger, the Sakura Nation is just fodder. Of course they escaped, staying would have been suicide."

As they spoke, many eyes turned to Lin Moyu.

Lin Moyu, who was always taciturn and enigmatic, seemed extremely mysterious to them.

Whispers spread, speculating about Lin Moyu's origins.

"Where is he from?"

"Could he be from one of the best academies?"

"Unlikely, what would the students of the best academy be doing here?"

"Besides, the students of the best academy are constantly leveling up and mastering high-level dungeons, they wouldn't waste their time with such exams."

"Who is this extraordinary figure?"

"He rarely speaks."

"A man of few words, but his method of killing the Shikigami was swift and fierce."

The return journey was relaxed.

Although they hadn't passed the test, they were satisfied with today's experience.

Driving people out of the Sakura Nation was satisfying enough.

The task of the exam seemed secondary.

There was only displeasure in Ling Zhen's gaze.

He looked at Lin Moyu alternately with displeasure and regret.

If he hadn't pressured Jiang Taotao, he'd have been among the fourteen who passed the exam.

But now...

"We're not done yet."

Ling Zhen's heart was boiling with hatred.

They left the light screen and returned to the starting point.

At this moment, Jiang Taotao took out the task stone and the mermaid tear, "Hand in the task!"

The task stone and the mermaid's tear slowly rose up.

A phantom of Shenxia Tower appeared in the air.

A beam of light shot out from the tower and hit Jiang Taotao's task stone and the mermaid's tear.

A few seconds later, a majestic voice sounded from above.

"The test is over, return!"

The phantom of Shenxia Tower shone brightly, illuminating everyone.

In the blink of an eye, they were transported back.

Within seconds, they were back at Qianlong Academy.

"We're back."

"The exam is over."

"Phew, everyone made it back alive."

"Of course, it's not that easy to have accidents. With hundreds of exams a year at all the academies, how often do you hear about fatalities?"

"There are no fatalities in low-level exams, but the top academies with their level 30 and above professionals lose people every year."

"Obviously. For them, our exams are a piece of cake."

Qianlong Academy hummed with excitement as everyone discussed the exam.

Most of them were talking about Lin Moyu.

Without him, they might still be competing against the Sakura Nation.

Snatching the dungeon from them would have been unsafe.

After all, they had a high-ranking Onmyoji.

Ning Yiyi's face paled; she felt very uncomfortable with long-distance teleportation.

"We'll have to choose closer locations for future attempts

"I won't go to faraway places anymore."

Ning Yiyi lay on the table, weak as a dead fish.

Jiang Taotao smiled and relaxed after she returned.

"Thanks."

"This exam was very important to me."

She thanked Lin Moyu sincerely.

Lin Moyu shook her head, indicating that there was no reason to thank her.

Ning Yiyi finally recovered, "Sister Taotao, don't be so polite to Moyu. Although he doesn't talk much, he's very friendly."

Ning Yiyi hadn't known Lin Moyu for long.

But somehow she trusted him completely.

"Silence!"

A deep voice came from above.

Everyone looked up.

A figure stood in the air.

A level 70 professional from the third round, entering the void.

Lin Moyu felt a deep sense of respect.

Professionals who had reached level 70 and passed the third round could fly.

Every professional, regardless of their class, achieved this.

Some, like the onmyoji, could fly earlier by using their shikigami.

But that was something else.

"This is our director, Director Hongshan."

Whispered Ning Yiyi in Lin Moyu's ear.

Lin Moyu nodded slightly, his eyes filled with admiration.

Anyone who made it to the third round deserved respect.

The high school textbooks said how difficult the third round was.

Less than one percent of professionals made it.

People like that deserved admiration.

Figures like Bai Shen were even rarer; there were only a few in the whole nation.

Director Hongshan swept his gaze over them and was visibly satisfied.

"This experiment is over. The experiment and the results are currently being analyzed."

"The final results will be sent to your communicators shortly."

"Remember: the most important thing about an experiment isn't the result, but the process."

"Enjoying the process, overcoming fear and keeping faith in victory is the goal of the exam."

"Completing the exam without loss and returning safely is more important than anything else."

"I understand that you encountered experts from the Sakura nation during the trial."

"We'll analyze the details."

"Those who did well will have the opportunity to be accepted into the best academies."

"And now get some rest."

Principal Hongshan finished his speech and turned to leave.

Ning Yiyi took a deep breath: "Always the same motivational speech, can't they come up with something new?"

Jiang Taotao chuckled: "Just listen, that should give us courage."

Ning Yiyi snorted, "I don't need any encouragement. They always use the top academies as bait, what's so bad about that?"

Jiang Taotao laughed even louder, "It might not be a big deal to you, but it means a lot to us."

Ning Yiyi fell silent, knowing how much Jiang Taotao wished to be accepted into a top academy.

At Xia Capital College, there was a big difference between ordinary students, academy students and top academy students.

Everyone aspired to be admitted to one of the top academies.

Jiang Taotao shared the loot from the dungeon.

Lin Moyu also passed on what he had received.

Although he and Ning Yiyi had survived the last two rounds, he insisted on dividing the loot equally among the team.

After splitting the loot, Ning Yiyi and Lin Moyu made their way to the Empire Trading Post.

Lin Moyu planned to sell unused items for gold.

Ning Yiyi, who was indifferent to money, handed over her share to Lin Moyu and claimed that her warehouse was full.

A flimsy excuse, as the storage rooms were quite large.

Lin Moyu accepted her goodwill.

Their relationship seemed to have changed and certain things no longer needed to be discussed.

They sold unused silver cutlery at the Empire Trading Post.

There was a silver dagger of the Mermaid Queen in the dungeon.

Lin Moyu intended to give the dagger to Ning Yiyi.

However, she showed him a better silver dagger.

Both were of silver quality, but her dagger had better properties.

Black iron equipment was for below level 10.

Bronze was for levels 10-20.

After level 20, stronger silver equipment was used.

Even with silver equipment, there was a significant difference between the best and worst properties.

The Mermaid Queen was a level 24 boss in a level 20 dungeon.

The properties of her silver weapon were average.

Her only advantage was her esthetic appeal.

The prices for silver weapons in the Empire Trading Post ranged between 50,000 and 200,000.

The Mermaid Queen's weapon usually fetched around 70,000.

Lin Moyu sold the Mermaid Queen's weapons and materials and received 180,000 gold for them.

"Don't you need a weapon?" Ning Yiyi looked at his empty hands.

He had a magic book, but he had sold it for convenience.

Lin Moyu shook his head, "It's useless to me."

As a necromancer, neither staff nor magic book were of any use to him.

Lin Moyu suspected that his class had special equipment.

Minor spiritual enhancements were of little use.

Ning Yiyi nodded, "Save money and buy scrolls for the basic skills."

"Before your second turn, you should have mastered all the basic skills."

Lin Moyu listened carefully; Ning Yiyi knew more than him.

She became the teacher and explained patiently.

"If you don't learn all the basic skills before the second round, you'll have to use the scrolls with the intermediate skills."

"Awakening a basic skill with a medium scroll is a waste."

Lin Moyu understood.

Intermediate scrolls could also awaken basic skills.

The price difference was considerable, and using a medium scroll for a basic skill was a waste.

Suddenly, Lin Moyu's communicator rang.

A stern voice answered.

"Lin Moyu, come to the academic affairs office."