Chapter 73 – Stone-Condensing Secret Realm

After making up his mind, Lin Ze immediately headed to the place where tasks were posted.

Both exchanging supplies and accepting academy tasks were handled at the Logistics Department, just in different sections.

Secret Realm exploration was also categorized under academy tasks.

Before long.

Lin Ze found the place.

Entering the building, he was greeted by a spacious and brightly lit lobby.

Scanning the area, Lin Ze walked to the nearest counter, tapped lightly on its surface, and said to the middle-aged man sitting behind it:

“Hello, I’d like to accept a Secret Realm exploration task.”

“Student ID.”

The middle-aged man looked up at him and said flatly.

Lin Ze took out his student ID and handed it over.

The middle-aged man took the ID and glanced down at it.

When his gaze landed on the Year column, his brow immediately furrowed.

“First Year? Secret Realm tasks are too early for you. You should pick a different task…”

Mid-sentence, the middle-aged man suddenly paused, staring wide-eyed at the name column of the student ID.

For a long moment.

He abruptly looked up, staring at Lin Ze in utter astonishment.

“You—you’re Lin Ze?”

“Yes.”

“The Top Freshman, the one ranked first in combat?”

“…Yes.”

The middle-aged man drew a sharp breath, and after snapping back to his senses, he immediately shot up from his seat, a beaming, enthusiastic smile spreading across his face.

“Hello, hello, Student Lin Ze, I’ve heard so much about you!”

The stark contrast in attitude made even Lin Ze pause for a brief moment.

But he quickly smiled wryly to himself.

The experiences of these past few days had given Lin Ze a clear understanding of his own reputation.

To be honest, he didn’t particularly like it.

Being stared at like a rare animal wherever he went was hardly a pleasant experience.

The middle-aged man, unaware of Lin Ze’s thoughts, continued to fawn with a flattering smile:

“Student Lin Ze wants to accept a Secret Realm task, right? Please wait a moment, I’ll print out the list right away.”

Had any other First Year student come asking about Secret Realm tasks, the middle-aged man would have brushed them off and sent them away.

After all, First Year students typically didn’t meet the requirements for accepting Secret Realm tasks.

But Lin Ze was different.

Top Freshman, first place in the Glory Virtual Realm sparring rankings, owner of a Tier 5 Pet Beast…

Any one of these titles alone commanded respect.

Let alone Lin Ze, who bore so many accolades at once.

A student destined to become a peak powerhouse in the future—whether or not he could accept the Secret Realm task, he deserved enthusiastic service.

Soon.

The middle-aged man printed out the task list and handed it to Lin Ze, while enthusiastically explaining:

“The academy currently opens three Secret Realms to students. Two of them only allow Second Year students and above to enter. The only one First Year students can access is this Stone-Condensing Secret Realm.”

Lin Ze focused his gaze on the list.

It contained information about the Stone-Condensing Secret Realm.

Including the types and levels of Ferocious Beasts.

There were no fewer than a hundred species.

The lowest were Tier 3, and the highest reached Tier 6.

“Although the Stone-Condensing Secret Realm permits First Year students to enter, it requires possessing at least one Tier 3 Pet Beast.”

“Additionally, entry must be made in a team format, with a minimum of five members.”

The middle-aged man continued explaining.

Hearing this, Lin Ze couldn’t help but frown.

He hadn’t expected there to be so many regulations for entering a Secret Realm.

A Tier 3 Pet Beast was manageable.

But a five-person team was a bit troublesome.

Including him, there were only five First Year students in total who possessed Tier 3 Pet Beasts.

Among them, Lv Gang had a falling out with him, so he was completely out of the question.

His relationship with Tan Yong and Li Pengyun was also quite ordinary.

Only Guo Xinyi could be considered somewhat of an acquaintance.

Under such circumstances, forming a team was easier said than done.

The middle-aged man had clearly seen this kind of situation many times. One look at Lin Ze’s expression told him exactly what was troubling the young man, so he immediately offered a suggestion.

“It’s unlikely that First Year students can form an exploration team on their own. If you’re set on entering the Secret Realm, why not try joining an upperclassmen’s team?”

“An upperclassmen’s team?”

Lin Ze was slightly taken aback.

“Would they be willing to take in a lowerclassman?”

The middle-aged man smiled.

“An ordinary First Year student certainly wouldn’t qualify, but for you, Student Lin Ze, I think quite a few Second Year students would be more than happy to have you on their team.”

Are you kidding? This young man before him had easily defeated even Luo Han.

His strength far surpassed that of the vast majority of Second Year students.

He could probably rank in the top five without any problem.

Second Year students would have to be blind to refuse such a powerful combatant joining their ranks.

Lin Ze nodded in understanding.

The rules were what they were, and he had no choice but to give it a try.

After thanking the man, Lin Ze left the hall with the list in hand.

“A Second Year team… that’s what they say, but where exactly am I supposed to find one?”

Just as he muttered to himself, a delighted cry suddenly reached his ears.

“Lin Ze!”

Lin Ze paused mid-step and turned to look in the direction of the voice.

Not far away, Guo Xinyi was jogging toward him, her face brimming with joy.

“I finally found you!”

“I went to the classroom and the Virtual Combat room, but you weren’t in either place. I didn’t expect you to be here.”

Lin Ze asked in confusion, “Did you need something from me?”

“Uh, well, I do have something…”

Guo Xinyi hesitated.

Although Senior Liu Man had urged her to come find Lin Ze, she still wasn’t sure how to broach the invitation.

Just as she was hesitating, her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the list in Lin Ze’s hand.

After reading its contents, she froze for a moment, then a flash of delight appeared in her eyes.

“You’re planning to go to the Stone-Condensing Secret Realm too?”

Too?

Lin Ze’s expression shifted slightly, and he immediately nodded.

“That’s right, I’m planning to go to the Stone-Condensing Secret Realm, but the academy requires entry in a team formation. I was just worrying about where to find teammates.”

Guo Xinyi’s heart leaped with joy upon hearing this, and she quickly said:

“If you don’t mind, why not join our team?”

“Your team?”

Lin Ze was taken aback for a moment, then quickly caught on.

“Upperclassmen?”

Guo Xinyi nodded.

“It’s from our club. Besides me, the other three are all Second Year students.”

Lin Ze fell into brief contemplation.

He had heard Guan Ning mention before that Guo Xinyi had joined the Dragon Heart Club.

As the name suggested, the Dragon Heart Club was a gathering of Beast Tamers who possessed Dragon-type Pet Beasts.

Dragon-type Pet Beasts were renowned for their formidable combat power, far surpassing most Pet Beasts of the same Stage.

Because of this.

The members of the Dragon Heart Club were basically the cream of the crop among their peers.

Teaming up with them wouldn’t be a bad choice.

Without deliberating for too long, Lin Ze quickly came to a decision and nodded in agreement.

“Alright, I’ll join your team.”

Guo Xinyi’s eyes immediately lit up, an uncontrollable smile spreading across her face.

“That’s wonderful!”

Only after she finished speaking did she realize her reaction had been somewhat excessive. Unable to help herself, her pretty face flushed, and she let out a light cough before speaking.

“In that case, come with me first to meet the other senior sisters.”

Senior sisters?

Lin Ze was taken aback, but didn’t say much, simply nodding and leaving with Guo Xinyi.