90: Chapter 9 Meeting Chen Yuan!

A piercing, bone-chilling cold crept up Lu Yin's spine.

He saw something moving faintly within the twisted shadows, entities that defied description.

Their forms were in constant flux, sometimes humanoid, sometimes bestial, yet completely alien to any known life form.

Their wails didn't travel through the air but drilled directly into the mind, tearing at the sanity of any living being.

"This is..." Lu Yin's pupils contracted slightly.

"Fragmented memories from the Wailing Land."

Chen Yuan's voice seemed to come from a great distance, carrying a calmness that bordered on cruelty.

"What I brought back from there is more than just this scar."

The illusion suddenly sharpened.

Lu Yin saw several blurred figures battling those shadows amidst ruins.

Their attacks landed on the shadows but vanished without a trace, like stones sinking into the sea.

One figure, ensnared by a shadow, contorted at an impossible angle, letting out a scream that was anything but human.

After the scream, the figure's limbs splayed out spider-like, crawling on the ground.

In a posture that utterly defied human biomechanics, it lunged at the nearest companion.

The crisp sound of snapping bones was starkly clear in the dead silence, accompanied by the nauseating noise of tearing and biting.

Finally...

They actually merged together, transforming into an even more horrifying form.

That physically revolting scene churned Lu Yin's stomach, making him feel nauseous.

But in the very next second, the illusion abruptly ceased.

Lu Yin gasped sharply, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

His heart hammered violently; those sights and sounds still echoed in his mind.

Chen Yuan sat back on the stone stool and took another swig of wine. "This was just the periphery of the Wailing Land. Now, do you still think you can complete this mission?"

Lu Yin was silent for a moment, then raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his temple.

His face was somewhat pale, but his eyes were unusually bright.

"Of course. High risk, high reward."

Chen Yuan stared at Lu Yin's exceptionally bright eyes and suddenly snorted with derision.

"High risk, high reward?"

"Kid, for years, arrogant youngsters have all shared the same thought as you."

"But now... now not even their bones can be found."

"Tell me, why do you think you can come back alive from there?"

Lu Yin met his gaze and said calmly, "Because I am stronger than them."

Chen Yuan's pupils contracted slightly, clearly not expecting such a blunt answer.

But in an instant, his surprise turned into a hint of mockery.

"Strong?"

"Those who died there, weren't they all geniuses who thought themselves strong? Weren't they all the proud sons of Mythic-level Professionals?"

"But their 'strength' was worth nothing in the Wailing Land!"

Chen Yuan abruptly stood up, taking a step closer. The smell of alcohol and blood emanating from him washed over Lu Yin.

"Do you know what true terror is?"

"It's not blades at your throat, not powerful enemies surrounding you!"

"It's that everything you've learned, your level, your skills, all become a joke in a place like that!"

"Your power will be twisted, your sanity will be corroded!"

"In the end... you won't even be able to tell what you've become!"

Chen Yuan's voice carried a suppressed, almost broken intensity. Clearly, even mentioning those memories caused him immense pain.

A deathly silence fell over the courtyard, broken only by the rustling of wind through bamboo leaves.

Lu Yin stood quietly in place, waiting for Chen Yuan's emotions to settle slightly before speaking slowly.

"Senior, I understand everything you've said, but I am not a blindly arrogant fool."

His voice was soft yet carried an undeniable firmness.

As he spoke, Lu Yin gently removed his earring.

"This is a divine artifact, the dream god earring. I want to ask you, senior."

"Have you ever heard of any other Professional at my level who passed a Gods Arena challenge and gained divine recognition?"

Chen Yuan's gaze fell on the earring in Lu Yin's hand, his pupils contracting slightly.

"The dream god earring..."

Chen Yuan's voice was low and hoarse, tinged with disbelief.

"You defeated the Dream God in the Gods Arena?"

"Yes," Lu Yin replied calmly.

Chen Yuan slowly sat back on the stone stool, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of the wine jar.

He suddenly tilted his head back and took a large gulp of wine. The harsh liquid burned his throat but couldn't suppress the hoarseness in his voice.

"Hah, when I challenged a deity, I had already completed my second turn."

"Not only were all my bones shattered in the arena, but I also lay unconscious for a full seven days."

He slowly set the wine jar down, the mockery in his eyes gradually replaced by a complex scrutiny.

"You, kid, haven't even completed your first turn, yet you passed the Gods Arena... You do indeed have the capital to be arrogant."

"You're wearing the limit-breaking necklace now, right? Bring me a Yanhuang Horn within three days, and I'll let you join the Hidden Dragon Academy."

After saying this, Chen Yuan no longer looked at Lu Yin.

He simply raised his head and drained the remaining wine in the jar, then casually tossed the empty jar onto the stone table with a dull thud.

Hearing this, Lu Yin reattached the dream god earring, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth. This meant Chen Yuan had acknowledged him.

As for the Yanhuang Horn, it was a high-tier material.

The location where it dropped was precisely a large team Dungeon within the Holy Hall Academy.

"No need for three days. I can bring it to you today."

Leaving Chen Yuan's courtyard, Lu Yin wasted no time and headed straight for the Holy Hall Academy's Dungeon Hall.

The Dungeon Hall was bustling with noise. Students in various academy uniforms gathered before the mission screens, their clamor almost lifting the dome.

"Level 25 Spider Mine, Nightmare difficulty, 50 points for a carry!"

"Level 30 Lava Cave seeking healer, priority to those who've completed first turn quests!"

"..."

Lu Yin passed through the crowd, ignoring the recruitment calls around him.

His gaze continuously scanned the displays at the entrance of each Dungeon.

The Holy Hall Academy truly lived up to its reputation as the top academy in the Heavenly Dynasty Alliance.

At a glance, Dungeons ranging from level 15 to 70 were all available.

Furthermore, each level had multiple Dungeons of different types, almost meeting any leveling need.

Lu Yin went directly to the Dungeon where the Yanhuang Horn dropped. A string of information appeared on the side display.

"[Yanhuang Desert (Large Team Dungeon)]"

"[Level Restriction: Lv30-Lv40]"

"[Recommended Party Size: 4]"

"[Dungeon Difficulty: Normal/Hard/Nightmare]"

"[Entry Cost: 100 points]"

"[Main Drops: Yanhuang Horn, Quicksand Robe, Petrified Heart...]"

"[Fastest Clear Record: Canglong Academy: 3 hours, 28 minutes, 59 seconds. Team Leader: Zhao Wuji. Team Size: 4]"

In addition to the basic Dungeon info, there was also a display of dropped items—quite user-friendly.

"Even the fastest 4-man team took over three and a half hours. Seems the Dungeon intensity is decent."

Lu Yin muttered to himself. But just as he was about to enter the Dungeon, a call suddenly came from behind him.