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

However, despite what their father said, Xia Chen and Ouyang Xue still assured each other on the phone that they would definitely make time to go back on New Year's Eve and have a warm reunion dinner with their family.

After all, Chinese people still deeply value the traditional ritual of "family reunion during the Spring Festival."

Even if it's just rushing back for a meal on New Year's Eve and then going back to school on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, it's still worth it.

As for Lin Yuan, he no longer has any blood relatives in Tianhai City.

He's all alone, so whether he goes home for the New Year or not is really irrelevant to him.

Even if he's eating dinner alone in his apartment on New Year's Eve, he feels quite comfortable.

However, at the earnest and repeated requests of Xia Chen and Ouyang Xue, her two best friends, she agreed.

Lin Yuan couldn't refuse any longer, so he finally decided to go back to his hometown of Tianhai City with the two of them on New Year's Eve.

Go to their house and enjoy a hot New Year's Eve dinner.

And on the very first night of the official holiday.

Inside a luxurious private room at an upscale hot pot restaurant near the War Academy.

Lin Yuan's ten-person team also gathered together after a long time for a lively end-of-term dinner.

Actually, ever since the last secret realm trial ended...

They didn't disband the new student team; instead, they kept it.

However, they each have their own cultivation tasks and academic plans from their mentors while they are in the academy.

So, in addition to the agreement that everyone must get together to team up for the next dungeon every two weeks.

Most of the time, they follow the university's curriculum plan.

Among them, Lin Yuan, as the team leader, was actually the one who teamed up with them the least.

Apart from the large team-building event that was scheduled every two weeks, Lin Yuan basically didn't team up with anyone else.

They were all alone, grinding monsters in various dangerous, hellish single-player dungeons.

Lin Yuan knew very well that teaming up for raids was actually the least efficient way for him to develop his character.

Teaming up not only splits the experience gained from clearing the level, but most importantly, with teammates around, the monsters can barely hit him.

He won't be able to efficiently farm defense points!

The only correct way for this stat-boosting monster to level up and become stronger is to solo those dungeons and be surrounded and beaten by thousands of monsters!

Lin Yuan's teammates all expressed their understanding of his "lone wolf" behavior.

After all, Lin Yuan's [Unbreakable Barrier] class is indeed quite peculiar and abnormal.

He can level up and improve his attributes much faster by soloing monsters than by teaming up with them.

As Lin Yuan's own level increases and the shared defense is strengthened, the benefits to his entire team will naturally become even greater.

Inside the steaming hot pot private room.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, everyone had enjoyed a meal.

Chu Tianxing, holding his wine glass, looked at Lin Yuan and said with some emotion, "Brother Lin, let me toast you, but speaking of which..."

Chu Tianxing gave a wry smile: "The speed at which you're leveling up is just too damn fast!!"

"It's only been one semester, and you've already reached the 40th grade mark!!"

Upon hearing this, a collective gasp filled the private room. The first semester of freshman year had just ended, and Lin Yuan had already jumped to level 40!

This is an extremely groundbreaking record in the entire history of China!

This isn't a no-go, it's a recommendation for the treasure book "Permanent Defense Increased When Hit, Gods and Demons Can't Damage Me":

Xia Chen, standing nearby, also picked up a piece of tripe and echoed with envy, "Yeah, yeah! Brother Yuan, your leveling speed is like a rocket!"

"Level 40 is a significant turning point for professionals!"

"Shouldn't you be preparing for your second job advancement quest now?"

Xia Chen asked curiously, "I wonder if the second job advancement quest for your unique, hidden class is ridiculously difficult?"

Sitting opposite Lin Yuan, Ji Qingyue's beautiful eyes swept over him as she softly analyzed:

"Lin Yuan's initial profession was already the only hidden-level [Undying Barrier], and its rank was already the limit."

"It's probably impossible to forcibly raise your class rank by another level through the level 40 second job advancement quest. I've never heard of it before."

"So, I guess the only way to enhance the second job advancement is to grant some special second talents."

"However... I am genuinely curious."

"What kind of second talent will Lin Yuan awaken after completing his second job advancement?"

Upon hearing Ji Qingyue's words, Ye Cang chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

"Hey! Qingyue, you're just worrying for nothing."

While gnawing on a lamb chop, Ye Cang mumbled, "Our captain's original primary talent, [Eternal Destruction], was already incredibly powerful!"

"I feel that even if he awakens his second talent after the second job advancement, no matter how monstrous it becomes, it won't be much stronger than his current counter-attack and defense."

"At most, it's just icing on the cake, adding some resistance or health regeneration speed, but it's unlikely to cause any qualitative change."

Listening to my teammates praising and speculating about me.

Lin Yuan interrupted them with a smile, saying irritably, "Alright, alright, we're all out to eat, so let's not talk about me here."

Lin Yuan looked around at everyone and said, "To be honest, you guys have been leveling up pretty fast this semester!"

"I remember when school started, you were all in your twenties, and now you've all climbed to around thirty-six, haven't you?"

Hearing Lin Yuan's praise, Zhao Kuo blushed and scratched his head awkwardly, saying, "Oh, Brother Lin, don't be so modest."

"The reason we've leveled up so quickly is because of your powerful support, Captain!"

Especially us scoundrels!

Zhao Kuo pointed to himself, then to the few support-type girls sitting in the corner quietly eating meat: Chen Xiaoman and Liu Mengli.

Then, gratefully, she continued, "If it weren't for you, Captain, leading us through the next dangerous high-level Hell raid every two weeks..."

"With your invincible defense and damage mitigation, the ten of us can clear out all the monsters in the raid without any pressure every time."

"We got so much experience from killing monsters way higher level than us because of you!"

That evening, the atmosphere in the private room of the hot pot restaurant was very lively.

Lin Yuan and his teammates, who had gone through thick and thin together, spent a rare relaxing night chatting and joking with each other.

Everyone seemed to have temporarily forgotten the cruelty of the abyss, and were just a group of ordinary college students.

Early the next morning.

Lin Yuan had just finished washing up when Su Ya was already waiting downstairs on time.

Today, she will personally lead Lin Yuan to one of the most central buildings in the War Academy: the Career Advancement Center!

……