The pink magical glow faded away, the entire process taking no more than ten minutes.
Lin Xiyue stared into the mirror at her long hair, which had returned to its original ink-black color, and let out a long sigh of relief.
The next second, her eyes lit up.
"Sis! This feature is amazing!"
She excitedly grabbed Lin Qingyue's arm, as thrilled as a groundhog discovering a new continent.
"It takes just one second to dye my hair pink, with no toxins or side effects, and it automatically reverts after ten minutes!"
"This is practically magical hair-dyeing black technology!"
Lin Qingyue looked at her younger sister, a muscle in her face twitching slightly.
"...Isn't your focus a little off?"
She reminded her, "And it can only turn pink."
"Pink is fine! It's the trendiest color right now!" Lin Xiyue declared righteously.
"This is zero-cost, zero-damage, instantly reversible magic hair dye! Do you have any idea how much trouble it is to dye your hair at a salon?"
She was already fantasizing about the future.
"Pink hair for the opening ceremony, pink hair for the school anniversary, pink hair for New Year's... Even if it's just one color, pink never goes out of style!"
Lin Qingyue fell silent for three seconds, then decided to give up on trying to reason with her sister.
"Fine, as long as you're happy."
After all, this "side effect" of the Cleanse Spell was indeed quite miraculous.
Even if the color wasn't optional.
-
At 6:30 AM the next morning, the two sisters arrived punctually at Beidou Plaza.
More than thirty young trainees, each with a distinct aura, had already gathered in the plaza. They were the elites of this year's Special Training Camp.
Lin Qingyue scanned her surroundings. Just as Zhou Kai had said, those selected were no ordinary individuals.
Unlike the eccentric upperclassmen at Tianshu Academy, most of these new trainees wore solemn expressions and carried themselves with a calm, steady demeanor, like unsheathed swords waiting to strike.
At the edge of the plaza, a boy stood with his eyes closed in deep concentration. The air around him stirred without a breeze, faint currents of energy flowing through it.
Not far away, a girl slowly flexed her wrists, each movement precise and fluid, her gaze intensely focused.
Further off, several students were quietly discussing tactics, their speech rapid and their logic sharp.
"...Sis, they all seem so strong," Lin Xiyue whispered, instinctively straightening her posture.
At precisely 7:00 AM, not a second late, a figure appeared on the high platform in the plaza.
Chen Jing.
Today, she wore a sleek black training uniform, her hair tied back neatly in a high ponytail. Her gaze swept across the entire plaza from behind her glasses.
Under her scrutiny, the faint murmurs that had filled the plaza instantly evaporated.
"I am Chen Jing, the instructor for this Special Training Camp. Before we officially begin, there are three things that must be made clear."
She raised one finger.
"First, all Dungeons—including the one from your College Entrance Exam—are fragments of real worlds."
"They originate from other dimensions, other planes, torn away and fallen for various reasons, temporarily adhering to our world."
"If we fail to locate and purify the Dungeon Core in time, the Dungeon world will forcibly merge with our own, causing a catastrophe for both."
As she spoke, several trainees gasped, their faces paling.
"Second," she raised a second finger, "the kind of Dungeon you faced during the College Entrance Exam, with no additional restrictions, is the simplest type: a 'Vanilla Dungeon.' Most Dungeons have their own unique rules. Our task is to fight within those constraints, find the Dungeon Core, and purify it."
She paused, her gaze briefly and almost imperceptibly sweeping over Lin Qingyue.
"Furthermore, conventional firearms are useless scrap metal in most Dungeons."
"Third."
Chen Jing raised her final finger, her tone becoming exceptionally grave.
"Life-saving talismans are not foolproof. Dungeon rules can interfere with their activation. When you sense mortal danger, don't hesitate—crush it immediately! I'd rather you withdraw than have to collect your corpses."
"Your mission for this training is to enter an unknown Dungeon. Your objective is to find and purify the Dungeon Core within two weeks. You will scavenge for necessary supplies within the Dungeon."
"You will form teams of four, and each team must include a Healer. I have already prepared a preliminary grouping."
A holographic display materialized in Chen Jing's hand, listing the team assignments.
"If you have any special requests regarding teammates, you may state them now."
Before she had even finished speaking, Lin Qingyue immediately raised her hand.
"Instructor, I have a request."
Swish—!
In an instant, every eye in the square locked onto her.
Their gazes were a mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, and a faint, indescribable... fear.
After all, the legend of the "Pink Demon" who had "healed" an entire team of top-tier Assassins to social death was no longer a secret among the new students.
Chen Jing pushed up her glasses, the lenses glinting coldly.
"Speak."
"My healing skills," Lin Qingyue said, her expression calm and her voice clear, "forcibly apply a persistent visual effect that cannot be bypassed by any stealth or invisibility skills."
She didn't specify what the effect was.
But a few well-informed students nearby had already begun to imagine the sky filled with fluttering pink hearts, their faces turning pale.
Within the crowd, several students with shadowy auras—clearly experts in assassination and stealth—stiffened and took half a step back.
They looked at Lin Qingyue as if she were a walking, area-of-effect natural predator designed specifically to counter them.
"Therefore," Lin Qingyue added with a faint smile, "for the sake of team harmony, please do not assign me any teammates who specialize in stealth or invisibility."
Chen Jing pushed up her glasses, a flicker of understanding in her eyes.
"A reasonable request."
Her finger swiped across the holographic display, locking onto several names.
"Lin Qingyue, Lin Xiyue, your teammates are—Su Wan, an Elemental Mage, and Xia Lian, a Ranger."
As she spoke, two girls stepped out from the crowd.
The one in front was a tall, aloof beauty with icy blue eyes that held a detached indifference. She wore a finely tailored mage's robe, its cuffs embroidered with intricate ice crystal patterns.
She walked up to the sisters, gave a slight nod, and spoke in a voice as cool as her magic.
"Su Wan, Level 23, Ice Specialization."
Her words were concise, her tone as cold as her magic.
Following Su Wan was a petite girl with short chestnut hair and large, round eyes. She was nervously pressing her lips together, but her gaze was clear, evidently sizing up her new teammates.
"H-hello, I'm Xia Lian, Level 22, Ranger. I handle scouting and traps."
Her voice was quiet, but her words were clear and organized.
Her gaze flickered over Lin Qingyue for a moment before she quickly looked away, focusing on the team formation.
She seems easily flustered, but her professionalism is solid, Lin Qingyue thought.
Chen Jing's voice cut in at the right moment. "Su Wan is a top-tier Ice Mage, and Xia Lian is a versatile Ranger. With you two sisters, this is a standard, well-balanced team for both offense and defense."
Lin Qingyue smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Teacher."
An aloof Ice Mage and a shy Ranger?
Paired with her and her sister—the "Pink Priest and Shield of Despair" duo...
On the surface, at least, the team's dynamic seemed relatively normal.
If one ignored her own... less-than-normal skills.
"The teams are set. You have ten minutes to get acquainted," Chen Jing said, glancing at the time. "After ten minutes, reassemble here to teleport into the dungeon."
Before turning to leave, she added one last thing.
"Remember, the rules inside a dungeon might seem absurd, but no matter how ridiculous they are, within the dungeon, they are absolute truth."
"Don't challenge the rules with common sense, unless you want to be eliminated early."
The crowd dispersed, and each team began discussing tactics with professional efficiency.
Lin Qingyue took the initiative, extending her hand. "Lin Qingyue, Level 22 Priest. This is my sister, Lin Xiyue, a Paladin, also Level 22."
Su Wan lightly shook her hand. Her fingertips were ice-cold, and she withdrew her hand almost immediately. But then, uncharacteristically, she added another sentence.
"I chose you."
Lin Qingyue froze.
Su Wan's ice-blue eyes met hers, her tone still flat. "Your healing effects have significant strategic value."
Meanwhile, Xia Lian shook hands earnestly, speaking quickly but clearly. "It's a pleasure to work with you. My scouting range is about three hundred meters, and setting traps requires ten minutes of prep time. Please let me know in advance if you have any special terrain requirements."
Lin Xiyue turned to Su Wan, trying to start a conversation. "Su Wan, what's the maximum range of your ice spells?"
Su Wan's reply was concise: "Forty meters."
After that, she fell silent, standing quietly in place. But her ice-blue eyes remained locked on Lin Qingyue, as if studying a fascinating artifact.
Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
Chen Jing reappeared, cradling a crystal that shimmered with a chaotic luster.
"The Teleportation Crystal is activated. Dungeon coordinates locked. Now, enter in team order."
She looked at Lin Qingyue's group of four. "First team, you're up."
The crystal erupted in a dazzling white light, and a swirling portal materialized in the center of the plaza.
Within the portal, distorted light and shadows twisted, emanating an ominous and unknown aura, as if leading to some indescribable world.
Lin Xiyue stepped forward without hesitation, her figure vanishing cleanly into the warped curtain of light.
Lin Qingyue followed close behind.
Su Wan and Xia Lian flanked her, moving in perfect sync.
The moment Lin Qingyue passed through the portal, she felt her body lighten, and the scene before her shattered and reassembled like broken stained glass.