Lin Moyu sat in deep meditation, surrounded by his skeletal warriors, their eerie presence deterring anyone from approaching. At the entrance to the dungeon, over a hundred adventurers gathered, but none dared come near him. The unsettling aura of his undead companions was enough to keep them at bay.
He preferred it that way—no distractions, just the quiet preparation for his next foray. He patiently waited for the 12-hour cooldown of the dungeon to pass, his mental strength gradually replenishing as he meditated. Once fully restored, he would be ready to summon his skeletal warriors again and dive back into battle.
As night descended, Lin Moyu finished his meditation. Around him, adventurers lit bonfires, the smell of roasting meat wafting through the air. Experienced and prepared, these people came well-equipped, unlike Lin Moyu, who had brought only a handful of sweet potatoes for his journey. His stomach rumbled, reminding him of his hunger. Reaching for his rations, he realized all the sweet potatoes had been given to Ning Yiyi, a thought that brought a brief smile to his face.
With no other option, he took out a simple steamed bun and began eating it quietly, bite by bite.
"Hey, brother! Want to join us? We've got some meat on the fire!" A cheerful voice called out. It was a young man in his twenties, his attire marking him as an assistant. He waved Lin Moyu over to share some of their feast—juicy, fragrant meat sizzling over the fire.
Lin Moyu shook his head, politely declining the offer. The young man didn't push but smiled warmly before returning to his friends.
"I don't know why you even invited him," one of his companions muttered. "That guy's a weirdo. He hasn't spoken a word since he arrived."
"Yeah, and those creepy undead things around him? No thanks," another added.
The young man, Wang Yi, shrugged off the comments. "I don't think he's weird. He's just quiet. He hasn't caused any trouble."
Taking a piece of roasted meat, Wang Yi approached Lin Moyu again, his smile never fading. "Here, take this. You can't just eat buns all night."
Lin Moyu glanced at him but said nothing. Wang Yi set the plate of meat down in front of him and walked away without waiting for a response.
Under the watchful eyes of his skeleton warriors, Lin Moyu inspected the food with a detection spell. It was safe. He picked up the meat and took a bite. It was delicious, smoky, and tender, a welcome change from the plain buns.
From a distance, Wang Yi smiled at him, and Lin Moyu couldn't help but be reminded of Gao Yang. The resemblance in their carefree grins was uncanny.
After finishing his meal, Lin Moyu resumed his meditation, fully restored and ready for his next dungeon run. His skeletal warriors stood vigilant, ensuring his safety through the night.
As dawn approached, the 12-hour cooldown ended, and Lin Moyu rose, mentally preparing for another round in the dungeon. "This time, I'll hit level 13," he thought to himself.
However, a commotion near the dungeon entrance caught his attention. Two factions seemed to be in a standoff. One group, wearing matching uniforms and wielding high-quality weapons, blocked the entrance entirely. The other group, adventurers like Wang Yi and his companions, looked frustrated but scattered, clearly outmatched in both number and strength.
"Your Dynasty Guild is going too far! Why won't you let us in?" one adventurer shouted.
"Yeah, the dungeon doesn't belong to you!" another protested.
A mage from the Dynasty Guild stepped forward, his staff glowing ominously. "Our young president is inside completing a task. No one enters the dungeon until it's finished."
The crowd erupted in anger, but no one dared challenge the Dynasty Guild directly. Their power and reputation made them untouchable to most.
Wang Yi stood among the crowd, his usual smile replaced by frustration. Lin Moyu approached him, quietly asking, "What's going on?"
Surprised to hear him speak, Wang Yi explained, "The Dynasty Guild's young leader is trying to get the Goblin King's crystal core. It's a rare drop, only appearing once every 100 days in the Nightmare-level dungeon. Today's the day it's supposed to drop again."
Lin Moyu's eyes narrowed. "And they think they can just block everyone out?"
Wang Yi nodded. "They issued the quest themselves through the exchange, but no one's completed it before. The crystal core is worth 300,000 gold coins. They're only offering 100,000, so no one's willing to sell it. Now, they're trying to get it themselves."
A small, knowing smile crossed Lin Moyu's face. The crystal core Wang Yi spoke of was already tucked safely in his storage space, glittering like a ruby.
As Wang Yi continued, "The Goblin King's crystal core can be crafted into a Goblin King's Ring by an alchemist. It's one of the strongest pieces of equipment for anyone below level 40—boosts all attributes by 10 and upgrades all skills by one level. Their young leader needs it for his admission to Xia Jing Academy."
Lin Moyu's smile widened. He didn't care about the Dynasty Guild or their ambitions. The only thing that mattered was leveling up, and no one was going to stand in his way.
With his decision made, Lin Moyu strode toward the dungeon entrance, indifferent to the Dynasty Guild's blockade. They had no idea what was coming.