He was resurrected indefinitely and handed over to the state by the headmistress.

As soon as Lu Chen stepped into the instance's light curtain, he felt a slight sense of weightlessness, as if he had instantly passed through some kind of membrane.

This feeling lasted only a moment before the grounded sensation returned to my feet.

He steadied himself and looked around.

Before me lies a vibrant forest.

Towering ancient trees rise from the ground, their branches and leaves so lush they block out the sun.

Only sparse sunlight filtered through the layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The air was filled with the scents of earth, grass, and faint flowers.

The faint sounds of birdsong and animal roars drifted from afar, making everything seem so real.

[Ding! Welcome to the beginner dungeon - Dark Forest!]

[The candidate 'Lu Chen' has been detected. Team information has been automatically generated for you!]

[The team's points panel is now open; you can view it using your mind!]

[Friendly Reminder: This is a one-time dungeon. Once you exit, your score will be permanently frozen!]

Wishing you a smooth upgrade and that you get into your dream school soon!

A clear and mechanical voice rang out directly in Lu Chen's mind.

"integral?"

Lu Chen was slightly taken aback. He touched it with his mind, and a semi-transparent panel immediately appeared in front of him.

The above shows:

Team Name: Lu Chen Squad

Current points: 0

Information such as "Team members: Lu Chen, Shangguan Hong, Chu Yu, Qian Mengmeng"

"Why is there a points ranking system?"

Lu Chen was somewhat puzzled. He only knew that the beginner dungeon was a place to fight monsters, level up, and obtain equipment.

Seeing this, Shangguan Hong immediately stepped forward and explained:

"Mr. Lu Chen, the beginner's dungeon is also known as the 'mini college entrance exam'."

Besides basic upgrades and equipment acquisition,

The system will calculate the score based on the team's performance in the dungeon, the number and strength of the monsters killed, and the progress of exploration.

After the dungeon ends, the scores will be ranked nationwide.

Top-ranked teams will not only receive additional treasure chest rewards from the dungeon itself,

There is also a high chance that they will be noticed early on by top universities or even directly recruited.

"Oh! I see!"

Lu Chen suddenly realized that this was equivalent to a nationwide preliminary test and a showcase.

However, he glanced at himself, then at the three clearly well-trained Black Rose Squad members beside him, all of whom were above level 20.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"This ranking... feels like a 'gilding' game for those with connections and resources."

How could an ordinary student possibly have the opportunity to be closely protected by an elite military squad while farming dungeons?

"Mr. Lu Chen, monsters may appear at any time in the dungeon, please make sure you stay behind us!"

Shangguan Hong interrupted Lu Chen's thoughts, her tone serious.

She stepped forward, subtly shielding Lu Chen behind her.

At the same time, she looked at Qian Mengmeng beside her, "Mengmeng!"

"Yes, Sister Hong!"

Qian Mengmeng immediately understood, and patted the fluffy head of the iron-eating beast Xiao Tie beside her.

"Xiao Tie, clear the way! Be on guard!"

In response, the iron-eating beast, Little Iron, let out a low growl and shook its head.

With its strong limbs, it moved cautiously at the front of the group, like a small, moving mountain.

Its nose twitched slightly, and its ears perked up, alertly sensing the slightest movement around it.

Shangguan Hong, Chu Yu, and Qian Mengmeng quickly adjusted their positions, forming a stable triangular shape to firmly protect Lu Chen in the middle.

The four people and the bear maintained a tight formation.

They began to slowly advance through this unfamiliar, dark, and dense forest.

The forest was quiet, with only the rustling of footsteps on the fallen leaves and grass.

And the occasional bird calls from afar. But this silence only heightened one's vigilance.

After walking for about ten minutes, just as they crossed a relatively sparse clearing in the woods,

"call out--!"

A sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out!

A rough wooden arrow, carrying a sharp momentum,

It shot out from the dense forest to the side and front.

Their target was Lu Chen, who was positioned in the center of the group!

"Xiao Tie, stop them!"

Qian Mengmeng reacted very quickly and immediately let out a sharp cry.

"roar!"

The iron-eating beast, Little Iron, roared, its massive body displaying an agility disproportionate to its size.

With a sudden sidestep, the enormous bear paw whistled through the air.

He struck the arrow with pinpoint accuracy!

"Crack!" The wooden arrow snapped and fell to the ground.

However, this is just the beginning!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!"

Immediately afterwards, more whooshing sounds came from all directions!

Dozens, even hundreds, of identical wooden arrows rained down like a dense downpour.

They burst forth from the shadows of the surrounding trees, covering the entire team!

"Enemy attack! It's a ranged attack!"

Shangguan Hong's face darkened, she gave a low shout, and assumed a stance to block.

Qian Mengmeng clenched her fists nervously, ready to direct Xiao Tie's defense at any moment.