The moment the four of them stepped into the portal, space and time distorted, and their vision was swallowed by streaming light.
The next second, the sensation of solid ground beneath their feet returned.
Their surroundings were no longer the technology-filled hall of Tianji Pavilion, but a vast and boundless pure white plain.
Beneath their feet was a bizarre material as smooth as a mirror, and above their heads was a hazy gray canopy. There was neither sun nor moon, only an even, soft light that illuminated the entire space.
"Is this the Time-Light Training Ground?" Lin Xiyue curiously stomped her foot, and the ground returned a sensation of ultimate sturdiness.
"It feels... so empty."
"Watch out, there are energy fluctuations," Su Wan's voice suddenly sounded, laced with vigilance.
Almost the instant her words fell, the white ground a hundred meters away began to churn violently like boiling water.
Green creatures with wrinkled skin, wielding rusted weapons, burst out from the ground, letting out sharp, gibbering shrieks.
They were Goblins.
Goblin Miners, Goblin Spearmen, and even a few Goblin Shamans wearing bone masks...
Densely packed, their numbers were likely no less than a hundred.
Swaying their ugly bodies, their small, mung bean-like eyes flickered with greed and cruelty. They turned collectively, locking onto the four of them as their targets.
[Goblin Soldier Lv.25]
[Goblin Shaman Lv.26]
"Serving up the main course right off the bat, huh." Lin Qingyue whistled, showing no signs of tension on her face, but rather an eagerness to get started.
"Their levels are about the same as ours, and there are plenty of them. This is a massive wave of free EXP."
"Individual Goblins aren't strong, but they excel at group charges. The Shamans in the back will buff them with berserk and healing."
She calmly analyzed, "We must prioritize taking out the Shamans, otherwise this will never end."
Her gaze shifted to her younger sister. "Xiyue, push forward and hold the aggro steady."
"Leave it to me!"
Lin Xiyue gave a low shout. She slammed the [Immovable Mountain] shield down in front of her, and Holy Light erupted!
Transforming into a golden meteor, she activated [Holy Shield Charge] and crashed straight into the densest vanguard of the Goblins!
"Xia Lian, the Shamans are yours. Su Wan, prepare your specialty," Lin Qingyue methodically laid out the tactics.
"What about you?" Su Wan couldn't help but ask. She was already accustomed to this Priest Captain's unconventional methods.
"Me?" Lin Qingyue grinned, flashing her white teeth.
"I'll relieve the pressure on Xiyue, and while I'm at it... create a big scene."
As soon as she spoke, Mem on her shoulder let out a lazy yawn.
Swiping its little paw seemingly at random, a pink Halo flew out and landed precisely on Lin Xiyue, who had already clashed with the Goblin Vanguard, transforming into a sturdy bubble shield.
Divine Aegis.
"Clang! Clang!"
Several rusted spears thrust into the shield, but the pink bubble only rippled slightly, remaining as steady as a boulder.
"This shield... is so thick?!" Lin Xiyue shouted in pleasant surprise. "Sis, this is almost stronger than your own!"
Immediately after, Mem's tiny body radiated a soft life Halo, enveloping all four of them like a warm tide.
[Life Aura: Allied units within range continuously Renew health, and gain a 20% bonus to attack speed/casting speed.]
A warm current flowed through their bodies, invigorating the three girls.
"This... what a strong aura!" Su Wan felt the increased circulation speed of the Magic Power within her body, surprise flashing in her eyes.
This little guy could not only act cute, but its support abilities were ridiculously strong!
Right at this moment, Lin Qingyue made her move.
She didn't take out that pink staff, but instead issued a command to the System in her mind.
"Use, Noelle Character Card!"
In an instant, a soft yet heavy brownish-yellow light soared into the sky, completely enveloping her.
"Here she goes again!"
Even as Lin Xiyue knocked over a few Goblins with her shield, she couldn't resist excitedly turning her head to look back.
Within the light, Lin Qingyue's Priest robes dissolved inch by inch.
Replacing them was a magnificent Maid Knight armor of alternating silver-white and dark gray, its armored skirt fluttering!
A massive, door-sized greatsword almost as tall as a person appeared out of thin air, firmly gripped in her powerful hands.
"This is... going straight for Heroic Spirit Possession? So extravagant?"
Xia Lian and Su Wan were both dumbfounded.
One second she was a Priest, and the next she became a fully armed, explosively spectacular heavily armored knight.
"Mm, leave it to me, I will clean this place up."
The moment the transformation was complete, Lin Qingyue (Noelle Ver.)'s back straightened uncontrollably. Resting her left hand on the armor over her chest, she spoke clearly in a gentle yet undeniable tone, full of dedication and a sense of responsibility.
"So cool..." Xia Lian's cheeks flushed red, whispering in amazement.
Su Wan's mouth twitched, silently retorting in her heart: "Clean up? With a sword the size of a door?"
She finally understood what Lin Qingyue meant by "creating a big scene."
"The weight of rock... is reassuring!"
Another line blurted out.
Rich Geo Elemental Power moved at her voice, forming a tough amber shield around her.
At the same time, Lin Qingyue tightly grasped the Favonius Greatsword with both hands. Facing the massive flood of Goblins rushing at her, she swung the giant sword, carving an arc of ultimate steadiness and ferocity!
"Boom——!!!"
There were no fancy techniques, just a pure, destructive arc of light!
The sharp screech of compressed air even drowned out the roars of the Goblins.
The Goblins charging at the very front didn't even have time to scream. As if hit by a speeding dump truck, they instantly exploded into clouds of green blood mist!
The Favonius Greatsword was unstoppable, forcefully plowing a "vacuum zone" several meters wide straight through the Goblin army!
Su Wan's breath caught in her throat.
The visual impact of this extreme aesthetic of pure power was simply too exaggerated!
Wait!
Lin Qingyue's own heart skipped a beat.
The power of this strike... is nearly twice as strong as that time in the College Entrance Exam Dungeon! I was Level 20 back then, but now I'm Level 25, plus I have two pieces of equipment that give all-attribute bonuses...
Her heart leaped as sudden realization dawned on her.
So that's how it is! The Character Card's strength isn't fixed; it provides amplification based on my own attributes! The higher my attributes, the more ridiculous my combat power becomes after transforming!
This discovery made her heart burn with excitement.
"I will mind my manners!"
Lin Qingyue twisted her waist and spun. The heavy Favonius Greatsword felt as light as a feather in her hands, turning into a devastating silver-gray afterimage as she took the initiative to charge straight into the flank of the Goblin army!
"—Sweeping Time, begins!!!"
Accompanied by this declaration that completely shattered Xia Lian and Su Wan's worldviews, Lin Qingyue transformed into an absolute battlefield meat grinder.
Sweep!
Vertical slash!
Upward cleave!
Windmill spin!
She didn't care about defense at all. It was just the purest, most unreasonable overwhelming strength, smashing her weapon wherever the Goblins were most densely packed.
Every swing would smash several or even a dozen Goblins into a shower of scattered parts.
Lin Xiyue had originally been waiting in full readiness, prepared to face a bitter battle.
But the monster wave on the left flank had been completely upended by her Sis, unable to form any effective offensive.
She only needed to hold the line against the pressure from the front.
"This... division of labor is quite clear, isn't it?" Lin Xiyue muttered to herself, watching her Sis mow down the enemy horde like a one-woman army.
Su Wan was already poised to strike. She raised her staff high, ice-blue Magic Power gathering into a storm around her!
"Blizzard!"
A massive snow cloud laced with sharp ice crystals appeared out of thin air directly above the densest cluster of the Goblin army!
In an instant, countless icicles and freezing air poured down, covering nearly a third of the Goblin horde!
Squeaking and squawking shrieks merged into a cacophony as massive swaths of Goblins were frozen into ice sculptures, only to be smashed to pieces by the ensuing barrage of icicles.
Su Wan looked at her masterpiece, then glanced at Lin Qingyue, who was still swinging the door panel, and a barely noticeable smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
They all spent the Credits together; how could she let her steal all the spotlight!
At the same time, Xia Lian's figure roamed the edge of the battlefield like a phantom.
The bowstring of the [Dark Night Starwhisper] in her hands vibrated continuously. Arrows, devoid of trajectory and sound, shot with absolute precision across the chaotic battlefield toward the dancing, chanting Goblin Shamans in the rear.
Every arrow accurately pierced a throat, bringing the coalescing green healing lights or berserk Red lights to an abrupt halt.
The four-person squad displayed astonishing synergy at this moment.
Lin Xiyue was the main tank—an iron wall and the team's most secure cornerstone.
Su Wan was the main DPS—an AoE turret and the most efficient board-clearing machine.
Xia Lian roamed about, sniping like a ghost, snuffing out all variables.
And Lin Qingyue was the sub-DPS and part-time Berserker, responsible for creating chaos and breaking enemy formations, maximizing both visual effects and actual lethality.
Under Mem's leisurely shield buff, a seemingly perilous hundred-monster siege unexpectedly turned into an orderly "harvesting" performance.
Time ticked by.
30 minutes later, Lin Qingyue felt a hint of exhaustion from her body.
Based on past experience, with her 175 points of Constitution and equipment bonuses, the Noelle Card could only be used for 33 minutes at most.
But strangely, she felt that although her internal power consumption was high, her fatigue was much lighter than expected. She could fight for at least another 20 minutes.
It's [Moonlight's Embrace]!
She understood in her heart. A 2% stamina Renew rate per minute was quite considerable!
Not just that! There's also the Breathing Technique given by Rex Lapis!
Her body had been subtly getting stronger, with her endurance and recovery steadily improving.
The transformation time of the Permanent Card has been extended!
This discovery filled her heart with joy, and she swung her Great Sword even more vigorously.
Stronger, longer-lasting!
As the last Goblin was cleaved in two, the chaotic battlefield suddenly fell silent.
"Phew... finally cleared them out." Lin Xiyue leaned on her shield, panting heavily.
They had only one minute to rest.
A minute later, the entire White Plains began to tremble slightly as a muffled rumble echoed from deep underground.
"Roar——!!!"
Accompanied by deafening roars, Minotaurs over three meters tall, wielding giant stone axes and covered in bulging muscles, climbed out of the rifts!
[Minotaur Shaman Lv.28]
[Minotaur Berserker Lv.27]
Once again, there were over a hundred of them!
"Holy crap, after beating the slimes, now we get Minotaurs?" Lin Xiyue looked at the menacing hulks, feeling her scalp go numb.
"Don't panic, it's no big deal." Lin Qingyue stabbed the Favonius Greatsword into the ground, letting out a loud clang.
She looked up at the herd of charging Minotaurs, her eyes brimming with battle intent.
"Our eight hours of training have only just begun!"
"Look alive, sisters!"
-
Eight hours later.
The four of them walked out of the Time-Light Training Ground, exhausted.
"Sis, are you saying your Moonlight's Embrace has become an aura effect? No wonder I don't feel that tired despite fighting for so long."
Lin Xiyue muttered softly, "Your support abilities are getting more and more ridiculous."
Lin Qingyue smiled without saying a word. She guessed that if she continued to grind affection points with Ilanier, this Renew percentage might continue to increase.
The senior outside had been replaced by a female senior, who raised an eyebrow in surprise upon seeing their state.
"Oh, you actually stayed the full eight hours? Are this year's rookies really this competitive?"