Chapter 257: You

The Earth Shield Technique froze.

【"Wan… Wan Nian Lao Si?"】

The Earth Shield Technique's voice trembled.

【"Have I sunk so low that even my master doesn't want to mention me…?"】

【"Master… I'm your shield!"】

【"I'm Xiao Tu, who swore to protect you for life! Wuhuhu…"】

Lin Mo's lips curled into a faint smile.

Everything is under control.

What does Xiao Tu care about most?

Unlike Xiao Huo, it doesn't care about power or the top spot.

Xiao Tu cares about only one thing.

That is his master's safety and his place in his master's heart.

"Sigh…"

Lin Mo sighed.

"Xiao Tu, it's not that I don't mention you."

"Look at yourself right now."

"Xiao Huo mastered Nine Yang Burning Heaven Art last night, Xiao Bing holds three high-grade divine techniques, and Xiao Lei has advanced rapidly—he's already climbed to second place."

Lin Mo paused.

He added a little more fire in his mind.

"What about you?"

"Your high-grade skill, Wall of Sighs, is indeed resilient."

"But then what?"

"Because you have that one skill, you've started slacking off?"

"You need to know, the opponents I'll face later won't just be your current peers."

"They'll be spellcasters who can destroy heaven and earth with a wave of their hand."

"At that time, will your shield still hold?"

"With this attitude of yours, what can I possibly rely on you for? If I can't rely on you, why even mention you?"

As Lin Mo spoke, he carefully observed the Earth Shield Technique's reaction.

After all, you can't be too harsh.

What if you push Xiao Tu so far he completely shuts down?

The essence of managing subordinates lies in precisely balancing pressure and motivation.

The carrot and the stick—this craft demands perfect timing.

Carrot and stick—this craft requires perfect timing.

Pierced by Lin Mo's words, each one a dagger to the heart.

【The Earth Shield Technique's entire body blazed with light!】

【【Earth Shield Spell】—light blazed fiercely around him!】

【The Earth Shield Technique roared in fury.】

【"I absolutely won't let my master down!"】

【"Master, I swear—I will become the hardest shield in the world! No one will lay a finger on you!"】

【"Tonight! Tonight I'm going to grind monsters!"】

【"Whoever dares to take my spot, I'll stab them to death!"】

Hearing Xiao Tu's battle spirit finally ignited.

Even shouting "stab them to death."

Lin Mo nodded in satisfaction.

Good.

That's exactly the effect he wanted.

Yet, watching the Earth Shield Technique howl like a wild beast.

The Fireball Technique, possessing Bai Bai's body, sneered coldly.

The 【Fireball Spell】 dominating Bai Bai's body sneered coldly.

On Bai Bai's fox face appeared an expression of supreme arrogance.

【"It's good to have ambition."】

【"Second, I'm glad you've found your drive again."】

【"You all, work hard!"】

【"Just aim to… fight for second place."】

【"As for first place? I've welded it shut! From now on, I'll be logging in daily—you'll just watch! Hahaha!"】

【"I've already welded myself to the number one spot! I'll be logging in every day from now on—just watch!" Ha ha ha!】

Overbearing!

Completely disregarding the other three techniques.

【The Ice Spike Technique gritted its teeth: "You violent brute! Just wait, miss!"】

【The Lightning Strike Technique coldly snorted: "Don't speak too soon."】

Watching the atmosphere in the skill bar flare up again.

Lin Mo stretched, threw off the covers, and got out of bed.

His goal had been achieved.

These guys will probably dig up the ancestral graves of every monster in the wild tonight.

Tomorrow is the day the Junior International Arena opens.

Today, he could still run one last dungeon raid.

After washing up.

Lin Mo changed into clean clothes.

He stepped out the door with Bai Bai.

…

Afternoon.

Jingdu University, Dungeon Center.

Today, the lobby buzzed with restless energy.

Because everyone knew.

The International Arena opens tomorrow.

This was also Lin Mo the Demon King's final chance to break a record before entering the arena.

The moment Lin Mo entered the dungeon center lobby with Bai Bai.

The previously noisy hall fell silent.

"The Demon King has arrived!"

Students spontaneously parted to form a corridor.

Their eyes brimmed with awe and fervor.

Lin Mo remained calm, walking steadily down the corridor to the dungeon rift.

Lin Mo remained calm, walking along the passage until he reached the rift.

The nineteen prodigies of the Dragon Sequence Class stood in perfect formation, waiting.

At the front of the line.

Principal Guhe and Grade Director Xu Wenchang had already arrived.

"Principal, Master Xu."

Lin Mo stepped forward and greeted them with a smile.

Lin Mo stepped forward and greeted with a smile.

Guhe smiled warmly at Lin Mo.

"You're here."

"Go ahead."

"Clear today's dungeon raid quickly—it won't take you more than a few minutes."

Guhe patted Lin Mo's shoulder.

"Afterward, I'll tell you in detail about tomorrow's International Arena."

"After we're done, I'll tell you in detail about tomorrow's Ten Thousand Nations Battlefield."

"Alright."

Then.

He turned, his gaze sweeping over the Dragon Sequence Class.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the members of Dragon Order Class.

"Go."

Lin Mo waved his hand.

Leading everyone, they marched boldly into the dungeon rift.

Light flickered.

The twenty figures vanished instantly from the hall.

……

Watching Lin Mo and the others enter.

Xu Wenchang looked up at the fissure's upper edge, at the Adams family's record.

【Completion Time: 26 minutes 45 seconds】

"Principal."

"Do you think Lin Mo will break the one-minute mark again this time?"

Hearing the question,

Guhe stroked his beard and smiled as he replied,

"Old Xu."

"Do you think there's a difference…"

"Between two minutes and one minute?"

Xu Wenchang paused.

Guhe glanced at the record time and chuckled softly:

"Whether it's fifty seconds or one minute fifty seconds—"

"To the Adams family, to the whole world, it's a dimensional strike."

"This score will likely stand unchallenged for centuries to come."

"Lin Mo has become a mountain no one can ever climb again."

Xu Wenchang sighed deeply, fully agreeing.

"True enough."

"That kid… honestly, I'm truly envious."

And not far from the two,

Among the student crowd outside the hall,

A small group huddled together, whispering excitedly.

"Come on!"

A stout third-year senior gestured to his dorm mates.

"Bet on the Demon King's completion time!"

"Under one minute, between one and two minutes, over two minutes… though I think the last one's unlikely."

A thin boy beside him immediately pulled out his meal card.

"I bet under one minute!"

"The Demon King cleared it in fifty-seven seconds yesterday—he's even better today! Bet a week's cafeteria meals! Anyone else in?"

The fat boy reacted instantly.

"No way!"

"I wanted to bet under one minute too!"

The fat boy scanned the crowd.

"Anyone betting one to two minutes? Come on, take the bet!"

At that moment,

One of his dorm mates stepped forward.

"I'll join you then."

"This dungeon's called 【Raging Beast Abyss】—all monsters have high defense and high HP, plus maze terrain."

"Even if the Demon King deals insane damage, he'll still need two minutes."

The boy spoke with certainty.

"I'll eat your week's cafeteria meals."

Hearing someone take the bet,

The fat and thin boys beamed.

"Hahaha! Good brother!"

"You said it!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth—

The spatial fissure rippled.

All eyes turned toward it.

【Fastest Completion Team: Lin Mo, Ye Kong, Han Mengyao, Chu Lingxuan, Wang Dawei…】

【Final Completion Time: 50 seconds】

In an instant,

The entire hall erupted.

"Fifty seconds!!!"

"What the hell?! Fifty seconds?!"

"Navigate the maze? Pfft! The Demon King just flattened the whole labyrinth!"

"Unbelievable!"

The fat and thin boys jumped up in excitement.

"Hahaha!"

"Thanks for the breakfast, brother!"

"Bro, tomorrow morning I want pork buns from East Cafeteria!"

The boy's lip twitched.

He couldn't help but slap himself.

Why the hell did I take that bet?