Exiting the dungeon, Xia Xue immediately used the Junior Cooldown Amulet. Just a few seconds later, they re-entered the Nightmare-level West Sea Mine Dungeon. This time, Xia Xue seemed transformed, her excitement palpable as she ran alongside Lin, her face alight with thrill, making Lin feel somewhat baffled. Was there really a need to be this excited? It was just about luring a bunch of monsters and blowing them up, nothing more than a low-level dungeon, after all.
Xia Xue caught Lin's puzzled look and retorted with a princess-like haughtiness, "What are you staring at, haven't you seen a beautiful girl before?" Lin had indeed seen her, for several years, and he couldn't deny her beauty. Comparing her to Ning Yiyi, each had their own charm, one petite and cute, the other tall and proud. However, Lin remained unaffected by their beauty; to him, Ning Yiyi was a friend, and Xia Xue, a classmate.
After another 10-minute run, the formidable Nightmare-level boss, the Goblin King, lay defeated before Lin once again, its eyes filled with resentment. Lin whispered, "Four more times." Their continuous four runs through the dungeon took less than an hour, with Xia Xue exhausting the amulet's uses. The once glowing amulet now looked no different from an ordinary stone, its runes barely visible upon close inspection. Xia Xue mentioned the amulet needed recharging, a complex process requiring a high-level alchemist.
Through the four dungeon runs, Xia Xue reached level 14 with 20% experience, close to level 15, while Lin was at level 15 with 85% experience. Their rapid progress made Xia Xue optimistic about their chances at the Great Exam, hoping to bring honor to West Sea City and their school principal. They decided to rest, waiting for the dungeon's cooldown to end, with Xia Xue suggesting Lin could try for the provincial top scholar to gain significant benefits at Shaxia Academy and possibly join the Creation God Academy.
Curious about the Creation God Academy, Lin learned it was an elite institution within Shaxia Academy, housing the top talents among the empire's geniuses. Though Xia Xue wasn't clear on the details, she believed Lin had a chance. Lin, intrigued by the potential rewards and opportunities, decided he would give it a try, especially since his sister was at Shaxia Academy.
Spotting Gao Yang looking for a team near the dungeon entrance, Lin suggested they include him in their next run. Despite Gao Yang's lower level making it hard for him to find a team, Xia Xue and Lin agreed to help him, showing their willingness to support a fellow classmate and friend.