Chapter 40

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

After he contacted Yang Yongle and the others and they knew that Lao Yao had successfully reached Level 15, Yang Yongle and the others were instantly overjoyed and hurriedly called him back to the city for a face-to-face meeting.

However, the journey to the Swamp of Death was still quite far. Lao Yao did not have a return scroll, so he could only rely on his legs to run back. When he returned to the city, Ning Jing was already impatient.

“Hey, perverted uncle! What’s wrong with you?! Didn’t you bring a Return Scroll when you went out to level up?” Ning Jing scolded him the moment she saw him.

Return Scroll: Teleport back to the nearest city. Cannot be used in battle. Release duration: 20 seconds.

Lao Yao rarely played online games, so he naturally didn’t know that such a convenient thing existed. In addition, he had always been training alone. If there was nothing else, he usually didn’t return to the city. Even when he went offline, he would leave directly from the leveling area…

“Alright, alright!” When Yang Yongle saw Lao Yao’s confused look, she understood what was going on. Hence, she came out to help him out. “It’s good that you’re back. Now, let’s discuss how to clear the dungeon!”

After saying that, she looked around and said, “There are too many people in the city. Let’s go offline and discuss!”

Everyone nodded and went offline.

In the living room, all the members of the Silver Maple Leaf Studio had arrived. Yang Yongle found a small blackboard and a white chalk and started drawing on the blackboard. Lao Yao and the girls also went over and looked at the drawing she had made.

“This is a map from various materials. After combining them, I’ve already drawn a map of the entire dungeon!” Yang Yongle said, “Let me explain it to everyone!”

“This Hissing Cave dungeon is actually an abandoned mine. Although the map is not big, there are many forks. If you don’t figure out the way, it’s easy to get lost!” Yang Yongle pointed at the map and said, “Other than the small monsters, there are also many elite monsters in the dungeon. They are distributed in four directions. Here, here, here, and here!”

As Yang Yongle explained, she circled a position on the map. Finally, she drew a large circle on the map and said, “This is the range of the last Boss. It’s not fixed in one place. We need to find it! Everyone probably knows the settings of the dungeon. If we can’t pass it, there won’t be any rewards. It can only be considered a waste of effort. Therefore, we have to make the best preparations and try to pass it in one go.”

At this point, Yang Yongle glanced at Lao Yao and said to everyone, “This is my suggestion for the team composition this time. Don’t bother about the previous main team composition. Let’s make some changes. Jingjing! As the only Warrior, you have to participate! It’s up to you to tank the monsters and attract aggro!”

Ning Jing nodded obediently. “Okay, Sister Lele!”

“Keke!” Yang Yongle called her name again. “You’re participating too!”

“Alright!” Wang Ke replied indifferently and did not say anything else.

“Lao Yao! And you!” Yang Yongle smiled and said to Lao Yao, “You are the strongest DPS I have seen so far! How can we do without you?”

Lao Yao was a little surprised by Yang Yongle’s arrangement. “A team of two Assassins? Will that work? Then how will the remaining professions be arranged?”

“I plan to assign Priests to the remaining three positions!” Yang Yongle’s words were shocking.

“No way! Sister Lele!” Before Lao Yao could speak, Ning Jing raised an objection. “The remaining three positions are all Priests. How can we do that? Without a Mage or a Hunter, how can we lure the monsters!”

“I have my reasons for doing this!” Yang Yongle explained, “Based on the information we have, the final Boss, the Swamp Lizard, is a monster with high physical and magical defense. One more Mage and Hunter won’t be of much use. It’s better to have them all as Priests to increase the healing effect!”

Yang Yongle looked at Lao Yao and said, “Lao Yao! I’ll rely on you this time! The three Priests will focus on you. Wang Ke and Ning Jing are mainly to help you lure the monsters away at the critical moment. It can be said that this team is all for you alone!”

Lao Yao and the group of girls were all stunned. They had not expected Yang Yongle to place all her bets on Lao Yao.

Seeing that Ning Jing was about to say something anxiously, Yang Yongle interrupted in advance, “Jingjing, don’t panic first!”

After saying that, she said to Lao Yao, “Lao Yao, actually, I’ve already noticed it the last time. If I’m not wrong, you don’t have a high critical strike rate. Instead, you can control the critical strikes at will, right?!”

This sentence stunned all the girls present. To be honest, although they were also amazed by Lao Yao’s frequent critical damage in the past, they had never had such thoughts like Yang Yongle. Now that they suddenly heard Yang Yongle say this, they all found it unbelievable.

Control the appearance of a critical hit? Was that possible?

Lao Yao also knew that even if he hid this matter from the girls for the time being, it would be exposed in the future. Hence, he simply nodded and admitted it.

“That’s good!” Yang Yongle revealed a knowing smile. Ignoring the other girls’ shocked expressions, she decided on her own. “It’s settled!”

It seemed like Yang Yongle wanted to use his powerful damage output as a gambling stake! Lao Yao stroked his chin and smiled. However, he still felt very happy in his heart. Although Yang Yongle lacked a little courage when it came to dealing with interpersonal relationships, he could still tell that this girl was very smart and talented when it came to arranging the strategy of the dungeon. What he had to do was to follow her arrangements and work hard to build her confidence through this dungeon. Only by strengthening her expectations step by step would her style of handling things slowly change.

After the discussion, everyone returned to their rooms and went online again. The time limit for the entire Instance Dungeon was four hours. They had to hurry up to complete it within the limited game time. Otherwise, they would have to stop the progress of the Instance Dungeon because the game time set by the system was up. It would be a pity.

This time, they still needed to make the necessary preparations. As Yang Yongle was not participating in this dungeon, she brought the other girls to help Lao Yao and the rest buy potions. Although the potions sold in the shops were expensive and had low effects, in order to successfully complete the dungeon, they could only bear the pain and pay the price.

The location of the Hissing Cave was at a corner of the southeastern map of the main city, the Sorrowful Plains. It was not far away, so Lao Yao and the rest rushed to the Dungeon first. Yang Yongle and the rest of the logistics team would rush over later to bring them the potions. What Lao Yao and the rest had to do now was to wait there first.

On the way, Ning Jing asked Lao Yao curiously, “Hey! Uncle! Can you really control the appearance of critical hits at will?”

Lao Yao nodded and said, “Yes, that’s a feeling! An inspiration! Back then, I was constantly familiarizing myself with the scene of the critical hit. Then, I imagined reenacting the scene from my own hands. Only then was I able to control it. If possible, you guys can also try and see if it works!”

Wang Ke turned around and glanced at Lao Yao, who was at the back, but did not say anything. However, Lao Yao clearly saw a hint of surprise in her eyes, as if she felt that it was very unbelievable for him to tell everyone the secret of this game, right?

Lao Yao smiled and didn’t say anything else, leaving Ning Jing alone. As she walked, she pondered over the meaning of Lao Yao’s words. As for whether she could comprehend it or not, it was up to her.

When he arrived at the location of the Hissing Cave, Lao Yao realized that this should be an abandoned mine of the Dark Elves. There was a slanted mine that emitted a blue-black glow. This was the entrance to the Dungeon.

Around the mine, there were still many players who were preparing to enter the Instance Dungeon. It was bustling with activity, and the abandoned mine that was originally dead silent was filled with people.

“I’m a Priest at Level 15 who has learned Resurrection! I’m looking for a party to enter the dungeon!”

“Five waiting for one! We’re still short of a powerful main tank Warrior! If you think your skill level is not bad, please apply! Fools, get lost!”

“Powerful Assassin, super DPS! Looking for a team to enter the dungeon. I’ve experienced three dungeons! I’ll definitely pass this time!”

These players who were shouting were usually independent players. They did not have a fixed team, so they could only find people to form a team on the spot. Whether it was in terms of teamwork or team composition, it was probably not ideal. If such a team was challenging an ordinary Instance Dungeon, it was possible to pass. However, if it was really as difficult as the forum said, these players would probably waste their efforts again…

These solo players would be potential customers of the studio in the future. If Lao Yao could successfully bring the girls to clear the dungeon, after giving the equipment they obtained to his own people, he could sell some to these players to increase their chances of clearing the dungeon.

This was how the game was. Those who were capable were at the front, while those who were not could only stay at the back and drink soup…

If solo players were like this, then what about the organized guild members and clans? These people were the complete opposite of solo players. They didn’t shout loudly, but chatted in their respective friend channels, leisurely waiting for their teammates to meet up and then enter the Instance Dungeon. They all had fixed teams. If there was anyone who was most likely to pass the Instance Dungeon first, it would definitely be these guild and clan players.