Because the matter concerning the Faceless Mask was resolved so quickly, Chu Fu asked Laoji Fuli whether they could enter the dungeon ahead of schedule.
Laoji Fuli naturally had no objections.
Chu Fu and the others boarded Shen Chi’s mech and headed for the entrance to the dungeon “The Necromancer’s Conspiracy.”
It was a desolate, deathly silent mountain surrounded by a fog of death that prevented players from approaching.
The moment anyone stepped into the fog, a prompt would appear: “Would you like to enter the dungeon ‘The Necromancer’s Conspiracy’? Please select a difficulty.”
Since the town defense battle in Region 001 had ended nine days ago, and experts from Region 009 had also reached Level 20, “The Necromancer’s Conspiracy” could be considered a mainstream dungeon in the top tier.
Of course, the very best players had already reached Level 30, and Laoji Fuli was no exception.
The moment Chu Fu and the others arrived, they caused an uproar among the surrounding players.
After all, this was a super-sized mech. Even Level 20 players couldn’t help exclaiming at the sight of it.
The group didn’t even climb down from the mech. They simply waited there, clearly underestimating how famous they had become.
“Holy crap! That looks like the top team from the Thorny Guild—the Rocket on a Wheelchair super-sized mech!”
“My God, it’s huge! It looks like Optimus Prime.”
“Why didn’t I choose Mechanic? The longer I play, the more hopeless I feel. Those S-rank players are just too strong.”
The conversations constantly reached the group’s ears, and everyone wore a different expression.
Suture Saint said, “We entered the game a month later than everyone else, but we’ve finally caught up with the main force?”
The corners of Xie Lin’s mouth lifted as he analyzed the situation rationally. “The true main force is actually at Level 30, but most players are indeed around Level 25. Let’s try to reach Level 30 within ten days! I’ve studied Lu Xing’s leveling method, and I think we can replicate it!”
Chu Fu pondered this.
Her brother, Chu Feng, had a very simple leveling method: farm high-level bosses!
He rarely entered dungeons. After reaching Linjiang City, he used the teleportation arrays to travel around at breakneck speed, killing world bosses.
World bosses were completely different from map bosses.
Every one of them was an existence capable of destroying the world.
Their combat strength was terrifying, and each one had more than a hundred million HP.
“The only problem is that it might cost an enormous amount of money. We’ll have to use teleportation arrays. We can’t rely on flying for everything, can we?”
Chu Fu shook her head. “But I think our advantage lies in large-scale area attacks and clearing out monsters. My new ability is also better suited for fighting monsters.
“Once we reach the cities, the map will be fully unlocked. We’ll be able to farm higher-level monsters. The experience might not be any slower than constantly running back and forth, and we’ll also gain achievement attribute points.”
Xie Lin thought she had a point.
“That works too. Lu Xing’s method is actually rather likely to offend people. The other cities have their own local guilds, and they want to farm bosses as well! Just look at that enormous red name of his. Still, it’s incredibly cool!”
Xie Lin felt that, in terms of sheer style, he was still no match for Lu Xing.
However, catching up to the truly top-tier players was merely a matter of time.
He didn’t believe he was inferior to anyone.
That was the confidence of an esports player.
Everyone was equal.
As they chatted, quite a few players came over to take photos and ask whether they could join them in fighting monsters.
Chu Fu naturally turned them all down, saying that they were waiting for someone.
Before long, seven players bearing the title “Military Spirit” rode over on brown warhorses.
Warhorses could be rented in Linjiang City. They were not as fast as copper-hide rhinos, and despite being called warhorses, they would panic and throw their riders off the moment combat began.
They were not combat mounts at all.
Once they arrived, they naturally spotted Shen Chi’s mech.
Since they couldn’t see Chu Fu and the others, they could only crane their necks and wave up at Shen Chi.
“Wheelchair Boss, Laoji sent us to run the dungeon with you!”
Shen Chi crouched down. The hatch in the mech’s chest opened, and one of its arms extended downward to serve as a staircase.
“Come on up!”
All seven received a party invitation from Chu Fu.
They then entered Shen Chi’s mech, unable to hide their excitement.
A high-tech special-class player whose abilities surpassed modern technology was simply too cool.
Chu Fu said, “Since this is your first time running a dungeon with us, let me explain the rules first.
“Because you paid to come along, you won’t need to take action at any point during the dungeon, and your contribution won’t be counted.
“You may participate in auctions for all the loot dropped throughout the dungeon, but you won’t have any right to share in the profits.
“Each person pays ten gold coins for one all-attribute point. Payment is settled after every run.
“Understood?”
The seven players were clearly displeased by this, but they were disciplined—and they also wanted to prove themselves.
A player with the ID Vanguard Edge said, “Plant-Lady, the seven of us are among the finest members of the Military Spirit Guild. I currently have the S-rank Vanguard talent, which increases all attributes by 100 percent. My physical fitness and overall combat ability are both extremely powerful.
“I hope to run this dungeon with you so that I can learn more. Afterward, I can lead the other warriors in our guild and help us set even better records.
“If you don’t let us fight, the educational value of this experience will be greatly reduced.
“Besides, what if the damage we deal and our contribution are higher than those of your team members?”
His gaze swept over the most famous members before settling on Shafu Liangu, Zhimengzhe, Bitter Melon King, and Dream King.
His attention lingered especially on Dream King. Although he was also a member of the Thorny Guild, he had not participated in the battle in Region 009.
He was not well known.
Dream King immediately blew his top.
“Why are you looking at me? I have an S-rank talent too! And it’s completely original—I’ve never used an Enhancement Stone!”
“Isn’t that better than all you A-rank players?”
He directly displayed his “Psychokinesis (S)” talent.
Another special-class player.
Chu Fu smiled helplessly.
Fortunately, Dream King had already joined the Esports Academy.
Otherwise, even this little piece of information would certainly have been recorded and specifically studied.
“What you said makes sense. Fine, give it a try.”
“Wheelchair Brother, let’s go!”
Shen Chi sealed the cockpit and headed toward the dense fog of death.
Chu Fu received a system prompt.
“Please select a difficulty: Normal, Hard, Nightmare, Hell.”
Chu Fu selected Normal difficulty.
The next moment, the mech and all twenty people vanished from the spot and entered the dungeon.
Their vision went black. When it returned, they found themselves in another land of death.
The fog had dispersed. Withered grass covered the ground, and bare trees rose all around them. Crows perched on the black branches, staring at the enormous mech that had appeared out of nowhere with blood-red eyes.
In the distance was a wandering horde of skeletons.
There were roughly two hundred of them.
Yet Shen Chi showed no intention of letting the others out to fight the monsters. With a deep mechanical hum, the mech charged toward the distant mountain.
The entire dungeon covered an area ten kilometers across. Even running through the whole place in five minutes and twenty-three seconds would be extremely difficult.
Therefore, while studying the strategy, the strategists, commanders, and recruited guide-team players of the Military Soul Guild all agreed that Lu Xing was incredibly fast, possessed the ability to turn invisible, and knew a secret route leading to the boss.
But none of that needed to be taken into consideration when it came to the Thorn Guild’s team.
Because they could fly.
Shen Chi said calmly, “I hope you can learn a few useful strategies from this!”
