13: Questioning and ridicule

Lin Feng completely vanished in the shimmering light of the teleportation array, and the howls of the surviving wolves deep within the canyon were completely cut off.

The next moment, a sensation of weightlessness came over him, and the surrounding scenery rapidly faded and distorted like watercolors washed away, finally settling.

Lin Feng stood once again on the massive teleportation array platform in the center of the school square. The air was filled with the scent of sunshine, an environment starkly different from the oppressive feeling of the Dire Wolf Den.

However, this comfortable return brought no immediate peace.

“Look! Lin Feng is out!”

“My goodness, so fast? How long has he been in there? Ten minutes, maybe?”

“Ten minutes? I'd say at most seven or eight minutes! He must have been scared senseless and fled before even leaving the teleportation array, right?”

“Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter, he really is useless! What if he has the equipment given by School Beauty Qin? You can't carve rotten wood!”

“Exactly, exactly! Look at his cowardly appearance; he probably wet his pants the moment he saw a Shadowclaw Wolf!”

“Tsk tsk, Qin Yuyan must be blind. Silver-level armor! And a four-star potential pet egg! All for such a good-for-nothing? It's a waste of heaven's gifts!”

“Hey, Lin Feng! Be smart, quickly return School Beauty Qin's things! Don't hog the toilet without doing anything; you're not worthy!”

The Students waiting to enter the dungeon on the square were stunned when they saw Lin Feng reappear on the teleportation array so quickly, then burst into undisguised laughter and harsh discussions.

Gaze after gaze pierced him like needle tips, filled with disdain, schadenfreude, and undisguised jealousy.

They automatically imagined Lin Feng's comical, pathetic flight in the dungeon, convinced that he had given up early due to extreme fear.

Lin Feng was expressionless, ignoring the noisy taunts.

He didn't even step off the teleportation array, merely casting a calm gaze over the crowd, looking towards the teacher responsible for maintaining order and activating the teleportation at the edge of the array—Chen Yuxing.

“Teacher Chen, I want to re-enter the novice dungeon.”

Chen Yuxing had clearly noticed Lin Feng's unusual “early departure.”

He frowned slightly, not even clearly hearing what Lin Feng was saying.

Just as he was about to routinely ask Lin Feng if he confirmed giving up the novice dungeon challenge, his gaze inadvertently swept across the inconspicuous black wristband on Lin Feng's wrist.

Identity token?!

The token's screen was still lit, not immediately dimming after leaving the dungeon.

Several lines of text were clearly displayed on it:

【Novice Dungeon: Dire Wolf Den (Easy Mode)】

【Clearance Status: Completed】

【Quest: Collect 30 complete Shadowclaw Wolf fangs (Completed)】

【Hidden Achievement: Unintended Consequences (Achieved)】

【Final BOSS: Blood-Eyed Wolf King (Killed)】

Chen Yuxing's pupils suddenly constricted!

Completed?

Cleared?

And even killed the final BOSS?!

Moreover, it only took... He subconsciously glanced at the crystal hourglass next to him, which recorded the teleportation time.

Nine minutes and forty-seven seconds!

How is this possible?! Chen Yuxing's heart pounded uncontrollably.

As the teacher responsible for activating and managing the novice dungeon teleportation array, he knew too well the difficulty of “Dire Wolf Den (Easy Mode).”

Even Students with 5-star or even 6-star talent, teamed up and well-prepared, would take at least half an hour to complete the basic quest.

Not to mention killing a Black Iron Level Six BOSS!

Clearing it within ten minutes?

This shattered Chen Yuxing's shortest record in his understanding!

And, it was completed solo!

He looked up, incredulously staring at the young man in front of him, who was being mocked by everyone as “useless.”

Lin Feng's expression remained calm, his eyes deep, showing no hint of pride or excitement after completing such a feat, nor any shame from being mocked by the crowd, only a nearly indifferent composure.

Chen Yuxing opened his mouth, a strong urge welling up in his heart; he wanted to ask immediately.

How did you do it?

That BOSS... did you really kill him?

What method did you use?

Could the identity token be wrong?

But the words caught in his throat. Looking at Lin Feng's unruffled eyes and the growing, malicious clamor around them, Chen Yuxing forced himself to swallow his questions.

The identity token was a crucial item for entering dungeons and obtaining dungeon quests; the possibility of error was minuscule.

Moreover, as a mentor, publicly questioning the authenticity of a Student's token, especially in such a hostile environment, was not only against the rules but could also bring greater trouble to the Student.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the tumultuous waves in his heart, and regained his outward seriousness, while also remembering what Lin Feng had said when he looked at him just now.

“Student Lin Feng, are you sure you want to re-enter the novice dungeon?”

He deliberately did not mention “clearance,” “quest completed,” or “adjusting dungeon difficulty,” merely stating the rules in a businesslike manner.

He needed time to digest this information, and he also needed to observe.

Lin Feng nodded, as if he hadn't detected the faint abnormality in Chen Yuxing's voice.

“Teacher Chen, I want to re-enter the Dire Wolf Den.”

His voice was not loud, but it clearly cut through the surrounding noise.

Instantly, the entire edge of the teleportation array square seemed to have been muted.

After a brief silence, an even more surging wave of mockery erupted!

“Pfft—! Did I hear that right? He wants to go in again?”

“Hahaha, is this good-for-nothing scared silly? Getting scared once wasn't enough! He wants to go in and pee himself again?”

“Does he think the dungeon is his backyard? Just going for a stroll?”

“He definitely feels like he lost too much face and wants to go in and put on a show to save some face? It's hilarious!”

“Hey, Lin Feng! Don't try to be brave! It's more important to return School Beauty Qin's armor and pet egg!”

“Exactly! Activating the teleportation array consumes energy crystals, and someone like you who goes in and instantly retreats is just a waste!”

Taunts rose and fell, splashing over him like dirty water.

Everyone thought Lin Feng's behavior was simply incomprehensible and self-defeating.

Chen Yuxing's gaze, however, grew more solemn.

Re-enter?

He instantly understood Lin Feng's intention.

Dungeons all have difficulty options!

Above Easy Mode, there were Normal Mode, Hard Mode, and even... Nightmare Mode!

Since Lin Feng had already cleared Easy Mode, his re-entry must be aimed at a higher difficulty!

Chen Yuxing gave Lin Feng a deep look and said no more unnecessary words.

He walked to the core control pillar of the teleportation array and placed his hand on it.

As professional energy was injected, the control pillar glowed faintly, instantly establishing a connection with Lin Feng's identity token.

【Identity Confirmed: Lin Feng.】

【Dungeon Selection: Dire Wolf Den.】

【Detecting that this Student has successfully cleared “Dire Wolf Den (Easy Mode).”】

【Currently selectable difficulties: Normal Mode, Hard Mode, Nightmare Mode (High risk, not recommended to attempt).】

【Please select...】

Chen Yuxing's thought lightly touched “Normal Mode,” and at the same time, the shock in his heart surged again.

Indeed! He really cleared the Dire Wolf Den in Easy Mode!

What secret is this Student hiding, after all?

Could that unbelievable clearance speed and BOSS kill not have been a fluke?

“Teleportation preparing, target: Dire Wolf Den (Normal Mode)”

“Student Lin Feng, do you confirm entry?”