I gain permanent defense when attacked; even gods and demons can't hurt me.

The next morning, the whole city was in an uproar.

Lin Yuan was jolted awake by his phone ringing.

"Buzzing!!"

"What the heck?!"

Lin Yuan took out his phone and looked at it.

Good guy!

Lin Yuan casually clicked on a latest news push notification.

A copy of the "Awakener's Daily," published by Tianhai City's largest gossip newspaper, instantly ignited public opinion.

The front page headline, written in bold red letters, read:

[A miracle! A peerless prodigy has emerged at Tianhai No.1 High School!]

[Leveled to level 20 in six days! Soloing Hell difficulty dungeons is a breeze!]

[Breaking the record for the fastest level-up in Tianhai City's history!]

Although the report did not name names, anyone who is not blind can recognize the distinctive dark green armor and giant shield.

"Wow, I've become a legend?"

At Tianhai No.1 Middle School, the plaza was in an uproar.

"Holy crap! Did you guys see the news? That amazing guy looks like Lin Yuan from our school?"

"No need for 'seems,' it's him! My brother saw him with his own eyes yesterday at the entrance to the dungeon outside the city!"

"Level 20?! My god, I've only just reached level 8! Is he cheating?"

"Is this the true value of a hidden profession? I'm in love!"

"Oh no, now Chen Xiaoman is really made a clown?"

"Bullshit! Lin Yuan is the school heartthrob, while Chen Xiaoman is just a class beauty. She shamelessly pursued Lin Yuan back then, and he never agreed. She was the one who claimed to be his girlfriend!"

"But on the day of the awakening, when they saw Lin Yuan awaken a pure tank class, their attitude instantly changed. They couldn't bear to wait even a few more days. Now that he's become a clown, he deserves it!"

"Hahaha—this is absolutely hilarious!"

"Chen Xiaoman is probably kicking herself now!"

"If you ask me, Lin Yuan and Ouyang Xue are a perfect match, one is the school heartthrob and the other is the school beauty."

Meanwhile, inside the beginner dungeon.

"Whoosh"

Panting heavily, Wang Hao waved his staff, managing to land a fireball on a level 8 [Swift Wolf].

"Brother Hao, hang in there! This wolf is almost dead!"

Zhao Ming (the Sword and Shield Knight), the lackey standing next to him, was holding up his shield and howling as he was bitten by wolves, yet he still didn't forget to flatter them.

"Shut up!"

Wang Hao cursed in frustration.

They've been spending several days in this beginner dungeon.

Although I have money to buy equipment and potions, without a powerful carry, my leveling speed is still as slow as a tortoise crawl.

He envied Xia Chen and Ouyang Xue's professions; their monster-killing speed in the early stages was much faster than his, a mage.

In addition, since he was in a team of three, the experience he gained was spread out, making him even slower!

He heard that Ouyang Xue and Xia Chen must have obtained some kind of opportunity, and their levels jumped to level 15 overnight!

I went out to grind monsters in the wild early this morning!

Why didn't his family have such an opportunity!

hateful!

After finally wearing down the wolf, Wang Hao glanced at his experience bar.

Damn, I'm still a little short of level 10!

Wang Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling completely drained.

When Wang Hao finally reached level 10, he left the beginner dungeon.

Wang Hao's three-person team instantly attracted a lot of attention.

Zhao Ming, who was standing nearby, went to find out what was going on and exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh my god!"

"What's wrong? Why are you so easily startled?" Wang Hao asked, frowning.

"Brother Hao, check the class group chat."

Wang Hao took the phone, glanced at it, and froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

On the screen, the glaring message "Lin Yuan Level 20" and the picture of Lin Yuan soloing the Hell Dungeon felt like a resounding slap across his face.

"Level 20"

"How is this possible?!"

Wang Hao's voice became shrill and distorted, filled with disbelief and jealousy.

"We're still killing level 8 wolves in the school dungeon, working ourselves to the bone just to level up to 10."

"He actually soloed the Hell difficulty dungeon and reached level 20?!"

"Why should I?!"

"How can a tank like him level up so fast?!"

Wang Hao completely lost his composure.

He slammed the bronze staff in his hand to the ground with a sharp crack.

"I'm a rare class, the Frost Mage! I'm the chosen one!"

"Who does Lin Yuan think he is! A piece of trash who only knows how to get beaten up!"

However, no matter how much he roared or how impotently furious he became, it was all in vain.

The facts are right in front of us.

The students passing by no longer looked at him with the same envy and awe as before.

Instead, it was full of mockery and ridicule.

"Hey, isn't this Young Master Wang? Still refreshing the game?"

"I heard Lin Yuan is already level 20, why hasn't Young Master Wang left the city yet?"

"Tsk tsk, is this the value of a rare profession? It doesn't even level up as fast as a tank."

These sarcastic remarks were like knives, stabbing Wang Hao mercilessly.

Standing behind him, Chen Xiaoman felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, her eyes filled with tears of regret.

She stared blankly at the picture of Lin Yuan's back on her phone.

That figure, though clad in heavy armor, remained as upright as a pine tree.

She's only at level 8.

If she hadn't left Lin Yuan back then, if she had chosen to believe that boy.

Is she one of those people who are now at the center of attention and enjoying the admiration of thousands?

She might even be wearing top-tier equipment and have easily leveled up to level 15 or higher.

She might even be wearing top-tier equipment and have easily leveled up to level 15 or higher.

Lin Yuan: Impossible, absolutely impossible.

Unfortunately, no if.

She personally pushed away the man who could have taken her to the clouds, picked up Wang Hao, a sesame seed, and lost Lin Yuan, a big watermelon.

Now, all she can do is watch that man's figure grow ever more distant in this dark and hopeless newbie dungeon.

Until it becomes unattainable.

the other side.

Lin Yuan, who was at the center of the storm, had no time to pay attention to these idle gossips.

He quickly washed up, ate breakfast, and headed straight for the city lord's mansion.

Now that he's already level 20, the [Irontooth Ant Nest] dungeon outside the city doesn't offer him much experience gain, except for farming materials and gold.

"It's time to get some gear up."

Lin Yuan touched the heavy [Ancient Ant King Shell] in his backpack.

"With the college entrance examination just around the corner, the quality of our equipment must keep up."

"While bronze-grade items are durable, their attributes are ultimately lacking."

"With this pseudo-gold-grade main material, plus the silver materials I had previously accumulated..."

Lin Yuan smiled expectantly: "Elder Zhou, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you again this time."

The City Lord's Mansion, Reception Room.

The moment Lin Yuan stepped into the hall.

Ouyang Lingyun, who was drinking tea, and Old Zhou, who was studying blueprints, both looked up at the same time.

The next second, their expressions froze, as if they had seen a monster.

"Lin Yuan, you're really level 20?"