A colossal tower loomed in the sky, casting an imposing shadow over the landscape.
"The giant tower pierces the heavens!"
Ning Yiyi whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lin Moyu felt a surge of astonishment as well. Since his arrival at Xiajing Academy, he had not encountered God Shata, and now, to see this figure materialize above them was both unexpected and awe-inspiring.
The tower's spire emitted a brilliant ray of light, enveloping Qianlong Academy.
In an instant, the students found themselves transported to the trial site. The teleportation lasted more than ten seconds, hinting that their destination was far from Xia Jing Academy.
The sound of crashing waves reached Lin Moyu's ears, a familiar sound that he couldn't mistake. Xihai City was near the sea, and the trial site must be by the coast.
As his feet touched solid ground, Lin Moyu's vision gradually adjusted, the dazzling sunlight pouring down. For a fleeting moment, he felt as if he had returned to the seaside of Xihai City.
Ning Yiyi looked slightly pale, her small hands gripping Lin Moyu's arm tightly. Her lips formed a small pout, expressing her discomfort. "I feel dizzy; long-distance teleportation is really uncomfortable."
Jiang Taotao chimed in, "You'll get used to it after a few teleports. It's like that at first."
She cast a surprised glance at Lin Moyu, noting his composure. "Could it be that he rides the teleportation array often?"
A fleeting thought crossed her mind, softening her earlier judgment of him.
As Lin Moyu surveyed their surroundings, he realized they were on an island. Behind them stretched a sandy beach, with waves lapping at the shore.
In the distance, a shimmering light curtain almost enveloped the entire island. They stood outside this barrier, through which many monsters could be seen roaming within.
Before them floated a glowing stone.
"It's a mission stone!" Jiang Taotao exclaimed, her experience kicking in as she reached out to take the stone in her hands.
Lin Moyu followed suit, and the moment he grasped the stone, the nature of their trial task became clear.
They were on Mermaid Island, a place teeming with sea monsters. At the island's center lay a dungeon known as Mermaid Tears.
Their mission was to navigate through Mermaid Island, reach the dungeon, defeat the final boss, and retrieve Mermaid Tears.
Three critical points outlined their trial mission:
First, the average level of the team entering Mermaid Island must be at least level 20. It was an average requirement, not individual ratings. Teams could consist of no more than six members. Given the challenge posed by the boss, the knight's level would naturally be higher. Thus, to balance the levels, a lower-level member would need to be included, which had stirred Ling Zhen's resentment toward Lin Moyu for taking his brother's spot.
Second, Mermaid Tears could only be obtained from dungeons at nightmare difficulty. Hence, the team's overall combat strength must be considerable; otherwise, success would be unattainable.
Lastly, only three Mermaid Tears would drop, awarded to the top three teams that successfully conquered the dungeon.
Lin Moyu furrowed his brow, puzzled by the secrecy surrounding the task. "Why the mystery? It's just a dungeon, isn't it? Could there be something special about the Mermaid Tears?"
Jiang Taotao, having finished reading the task details, spoke with gravitas. "I didn't expect this trial task to involve Mermaid Tears."
With her wealth of experience from previous trials, she shared, "The Mermaid Dungeon drops only three Mermaid Tears each year. These tears can be used to forge a rare type of equipment, which is incredibly valuable."
She continued, "Mermaid Island lies beyond the borders of our Shenxia Empire. Other nations also seek these tears."
"This time, our Qianlong Academy has dispatched ten teams, and we are Team No. 2. We will not only face our fellow students but also professionals from other countries."
Ning Yiyi inquired, "What should we do? Will we have to confront them? Are we expected to fight?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Lin Moyu, remembering his past deeds. The mention of violence made several team members tense, but Lin Moyu remained unfazed.
Jiang Taotao shook her head. "Normally, direct confrontations don't happen. Past instances show they simply guard the dungeon entrance rather than resort to killing."
A collective sigh of relief spread among them.
"But we must remain vigilant," she warned. "It's true that casualties have occurred in the past."
"Alright, let's head to Mermaid Island," she declared.
"Duan Gao, activate your buffs!"
Duan Gao nodded and immediately began channeling his skills.
A radiant aura enveloped each member, enhancing their strength, agility, and defense.
With the Prophet's blessings, their attributes surged significantly. Lin Moyu felt empowered; his strength, agility, constitution, and spirit all increased by 30%, while mage skill power rose by 20%. These enhancements would last an hour, making them formidable.
Yet, even with the Prophet's assistance, Lin Moyu felt his god-level talent overshadowed their efforts.
"What would happen if the Prophet's blessings were cast on my skeleton warrior?" he wondered, and with that thought, a skeletal warrior materialized beside him.
A chilling breeze swept through, dropping the temperature around them.
The sudden appearance of the skeleton startled the group. Its dark aura radiated, and its hollow eyes burned with an eerie fire.
Duan Gao, who had been enhancing their attributes, trembled at the sight, momentarily forgetting his task.
Miao Yu squealed and instinctively shrank behind Jiang Taotao.
"I can't believe it—a summoner of the undead!" Jiang Taotao gasped. "Lin Moyu, is that your summon?"
Lin Moyu turned to Duan Gao. "Could you buff it too?"
"Uh, y-yeah!" Duan Gao stammered, momentarily shocked before he collected himself and resumed his task.
The beach sparkled with light as each team member basked in their enhancements.
Lin Moyu understood what Baishen meant when he referred to the prodigies of Xiajing Academy. These individuals had been groomed within the academy, receiving the finest education and resources, far surpassing those available in the cities.
Ning Yiyi, who was the same age as Lin Moyu, had already reached level 19, showcasing her skill.
Jiang Taotao, just a year older, boasted level 23, a testament to her talent.
"Huh?" Duan Gao exclaimed, astonished. "I can't apply my buffs to your skeleton warrior."
The aura dissipated as soon as it touched the warrior, and his attempts yielded the same result.
Lin Moyu was not surprised; perhaps the power of his talent was simply too great, rendering Duan Gao's lower-level skills ineffective.
"You can't even buff it? Useless," Ling Zhen sneered, his disdain evident.
Lin Moyu glared at him, irritation flaring within. After repeated provocations, he was not without his temper.
The red glow in the skeleton warrior's eyes intensified as it turned its gaze toward Ling Zhen, its soul fire flickering ominously.
Ling Zhen shuddered, instinctively stepping back, and felt a chill run down his spine.
Jiang Taotao quickly interjected, stepping between them. "If you want to fight, let's finish this trial first."
Lin Moyu nodded, choosing to ignore Ling Zhen for now.
Taking a deep breath, Ling Zhen composed himself, though he couldn't shake the feeling of danger that had washed over him.
With a deafening roar, the trial commenced.
"Let's move! Enter the island!" Jiang Taotao commanded.
As the team formed, they passed through the light curtain, merging into one cohesive unit.
The average level was precisely 20, meeting the trial's requirements.
In a flash, they felt as if they had stepped through a shimmering water curtain, entering the world of Mermaid Island.