Entering the Tyrant Desert Dungeon for the eighth time, Lin finally achieved his goal and stumbled upon the desert fruit, a rare and coveted item that brought a flicker of joy to his usually indifferent expression. With the desert fruit in hand, he could now fully upgrade his two crucial skills, potentially leading to further enhancements with each level gained. Standing just 1% short of leveling up, Lin mused on the strategic advantage of utilizing the desert fruit now, rather than after reaching level 22, which would necessitate an additional level of skill training.
"Desert fruit!" Lin exclaimed, recognizing its significance as a sacred object for skill cultivation. Amidst the excitement, a skeleton abruptly barred the path of a teammate eager to claim the desert fruits for themselves.
"We had an agreement," Lin reminded sternly. "The desert fruits are mine until my skills are perfected. After that, the rest are yours." This pact had been clear from the beginning, yet dissatisfaction simmered among the team, with some questioning why all fruits should be Lin's alone. With a cold glare, Lin warned of expulsion from the team, a threat taken seriously given his role as captain and the consequent failure of their mission should anyone be expelled.
Silence followed, though resentment lingered. Unperturbed, Lin focused on his goal, his skeleton warriors guarding the precious fruits against any who dared to challenge the agreement.
As Lin practiced his skills, the temperature around them dropped, a side effect of his skeleton armor skill which only consumed a minimal amount of spiritual power, allowing for rapid practice. The desert fruit, acting as a miraculous aid, enabled him to enhance his skills significantly without concern for resource depletion.
Watching Lin consume desert fruit after fruit, his teammates could hardly hide their envy. Yet, no one dared to challenge the skeleton legion or Lin's authority. Lin's progress was swift; in just half an hour, his skeleton armor skill reached an impressive level 21, providing a formidable physical defense. The sheer strength of this skill, even before applying his talent enhancement, was astonishing.
Next, Lin focused on the Slowing Curse, its potency growing with each level gained, until it felt as if the entire world fell under its sinister grasp. The curse's area of effect and impact were staggering, painting the skies a menacing scarlet and leaving onlookers in awe and fear.
Having maximized his skills, Lin addressed the surplus desert fruits, offering the remaining to his teammates before venturing alone into the ant cave to further practice his Corpse Explosion skill. The cave trembled with the force of his attacks, signaling his relentless pursuit of mastery.
Meanwhile, outside, the scramble for the remaining desert fruits turned chaotic, highlighting the desperate desire for power and advancement among his teammates. Lin, focused solely on his growth, paid them no mind, seeing their squabbles as beneath his concern.
The narrative shifts to the following day, where Xia Xue and Zuo Mei, now closer friends, prepare for the academy's opening ceremony. Their conversation, naturally revolving around Lin, showcases the curiosity and intrigue he inspires. As they, along with Feng Xiu, a distinguished swordsman, converge in the academy square, the anticipation for Lin's arrival grows.
With the ceremony about to begin and Lin's whereabouts still unknown, anxiety mounts among his friends. Yet, just as doubt creeps in, Lin appears, calm and unfazed by the urgency of his late arrival, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead at the academy.