Chapter 167

Inside the dungeon center.

Countless onlooking students, after watching Lin Mo and the others enter the dungeon, began to chatter excitedly.

"Fuck, the team dungeon record is global—this is about our Long Nation's honor!"

"Yeah, most records are split between our Long Nation and Meili Nation—what the hell is this Ying Nation? They stole the record and even left mocking comments?"

"Exactly, Ying Nation is just a dog raised by Meili Nation, and with the bone their master tossed them, they dare to shit and piss on our Long Nation's head?"

"Fuck, I really hope Lin Mo the Demon King leads this team and shatters the record so badly that those Ying Nation bastards can't even understand it in their lifetimes!"

The surrounding students were all fired up.

As citizens of Long Nation, their innate pride and sense of honor made them furious and suffocated.

"Sigh, easy to say, but it's not that simple to take it back…"

A student wearing black-rimmed glasses frowned and shook his head.

"We've held these three team dungeon records for a full fifty years."

"During that time, how many brilliant prodigies have emerged from our Long Nation and Meili Nation—didn't they want to break the record?"

"Not because they didn't want to, but because they couldn't."

"The previous record was, theoretically, the absolute limit."

"This time, Ying Nation's 'Ghost God Clan' pushed the time forward by nearly three minutes… that's definitely not achievable through mere firepower upgrades."

"They must have discovered a completely new way to bypass the mechanism—or found some cheat shortcut!"

"Such a mechanism breakthrough couldn't have been figured out overnight."

This logical, well-reasoned analysis hit like a bucket of ice water.

The surrounding crowd fell silent.

Indeed.

Team dungeons don't just test individual power—they test understanding of the mechanics.

Without knowing how to break it, entering is just wasting time.

Just then,

"I won't let you say that about the Demon King!"

A clear female voice rang out.

Everyone turned to look.

A sophomore girl's face was flushed red.

Though short in stature, she now stared unflinchingly at the glasses-wearing boy.

"Hmph, what do you know? You have no idea how terrifying the Demon King is!"

The girl clenched her fists, her eyes gleaming with awe.

"I was standing on the walls of the Hero Capital today!"

"I watched him turn our thousands of people—and the entire capital—into dust!"

"That crushing sense of despair—you people who never experienced it can't possibly understand!"

The girl took a deep breath, her tone absolute:

"For ordinary prodigies, the mechanism is indeed an insurmountable chasm."

"But if that person is Lin Mo the Demon King, it's different!"

"In my view, there is nothing the Demon King cannot accomplish in this world!"

"Anyway, I believe in him—he will definitely reclaim the record!"

This near-blind worship sparked stunned glances among the senior students.

This junior… is she mentally sound?

Got one-shot along with the whole wall, and now she's a diehard fan?

Total masochist confirmed.

The glasses-wearing boy opened his mouth to retort, but the words died on his tongue.

After all,

All the students present were citizens of Long Nation.

Deep in their hearts, they all desperately wished Lin Mo and his team could reclaim the record and slap the Ying Nation people hard across the face.

But…

It was too hard.

…

Meanwhile,

Not far away, Xu Wenchang silently watched the dungeon fissure.

"Xu, what are you staring at? So absorbed."

A gentle voice sounded softly beside him.

Xu Wenchang turned his head and saw the principal, Guhe, standing beside him as if he had appeared out of nowhere.

"Principal."

Xu Wenchang gave a slight nod, then asked with curiosity: "You weren't here before Lin Mo and the others entered—where did you go? So secretive."

Guhe glanced at him and smiled:

"I went to the Central Tian Shu Bureau."

Upon hearing "Tian Shu Bureau," Xu Wenchang's pupils contracted slightly.

Tian Shu Bureau.

It was the highest center of power in the entire Long Nation!

Also the daily workplace of the Five Elders, the pinnacle of Long Nation's authority.

"Why did you go to the Tian Shu Bureau?"

Xu Wenchang asked.

"What else would I go for?"

Guhe said matter-of-factly:

"Our Jing University produced a freak like Lin Mo—shouldn't I personally report to the Five Elders?"

Xu Wenchang nodded in deep agreement.

Indeed, Lin Mo's current value far exceeded that of a mere "talented student."

He was essentially a strategic nuclear weapon for Long Nation's future dominance on the Ten Thousand Nations Battlefield.

"Then… what did the Five Elders say?"

Xu Wenchang asked curiously.

Guhe smiled lightly:

"They're extremely interested in Lin Mo, but they've been busy lately. They'll probably meet him in a few days."

"Whoa…"

Xu Wenchang sucked in a breath.

The Five Elders!

Even the chairmen of the most renowned top guilds across the land found it harder to meet them than to climb to heaven.

Many couldn't even gain entry to the Tian Shu Bureau.

To be received by the Five Elders meant direct entry into Long Nation's core power circle—an immense honor!

And this kid, Lin Mo, had only been enrolled for a few days?

Such an achievement was unprecedented in all of Long Nation's history!

Seeing Xu Wenchang's expression, Guhe smiled and continued:

"It's natural the Five Elders are interested in Lin Mo's talents."

"If Lin Mo can help Long Nation reclaim those three records this time, it'll be another feather in his cap."

"Then perhaps we can secure even more benefits for this kid."

Xu Wenchang nodded silently.

Then, as if remembering something, Guhe turned to Xu Wenchang and asked:

"By the way, Xu, what's Lin Mo's plan this time?"

At this question, Xu Wenchang's expression turned strange.

He let out a bitter laugh:

"Plan? Yeah, we have one."

"Full power, ignore the mechanism, just crush through."

"…."

Guhe's smile froze.

Ignore the mechanism? Smash through?

How is that possible?

Every dungeon has strict level restrictions.

Logically, within those level limits, cultivators absolutely cannot bypass the mechanism.

But…

Guhe paused to reconsider.

This child, Lin Mo, doesn't seem to care for reason.

He's someone who, at this stage, has mastered dual-element special techniques and three high-grade skills.

This might just…

Actually work out.

Xu Wenchang looked at Guhe and asked:

"Principal, do you really think this kid Lin Mo can pull it off?"

Guhe fell silent for a moment, then a faint smile curled at his lips:

"Perhaps he can."

"Old Xu, didn't you yourself say that this kid Lin Mo's specialty is delivering surprises?"

Upon hearing this answer, Xu Wenchang was momentarily stunned.

Then, the two exchanged a knowing smile.