In the afternoon, around four o'clock.
As a shower of golden light descended, Lin Zhao, by relentlessly grinding monsters, finally reached level 49. His level still surpassed that of other players in Yunshang County, with the second-ranked Fan Wang Zhi Xue only at level 47. The others were far behind. Just then, a bell's chime echoed through the air, causing all players to look up, their faces filled with shock—
"Ding!"
System Announcement: Players, please note that the top-tier map of the county city, [Chaos Temple], will open tomorrow at precisely 12:00 PM. All players are advised to prepare. The map entrance will spawn randomly in any of the wilderness maps within all county cities. Upon entering the Chaos Temple, players can challenge powerful monsters, bosses, and have a chance to obtain top-tier dark gold weapons, equipment, and the most advanced skill books currently available for all classes!
...
"Damn!"
In the Scarlet Moon Knights' squad, Ding Chi frowned, "They're opening the top-tier map of the county city... What should we do? Should we prepare properly? This is a major event."
"We need to prepare."
Chen Xue smiled, "Everyone arrange your time. Be online by 12:00 PM tomorrow after finishing your meal. Drink less water. Once inside the Chaos Temple, there might not be much time to go offline."
"Mhm, mhm!"
Rong Xing, Lu Li, Qing Ning, and others nodded in agreement.
"Lin Zhao."
Chen Xue said, "Can you reach level 50 before noon tomorrow? If so, try to reach level 50 as soon as possible. After completing the first-turn quest and learning the official skill, you should become even stronger, potentially greatly enhancing the strength of our Scarlet Moon Knights. This might make things smoother for us in the Chaos Temple map."
"Got it."
Lin Zhao replied, "I've already started grinding level 55 monsters. I'll do my best."
Chen Xue chuckled, "Mhm, alright!"
While everyone was chatting in the team channel, Lin Zhao opened a private message with Chen Xue.
"What is it?" Chen Xue asked with a smile.
"I want to discuss something."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "The Chaos Temple is just one map, after all. No matter how big it is, it's not infinitely vast. We have fewer numbers, and once we enter, our survival space will inevitably be severely compressed. Sheng Shi Mu Dan has a large population. Once they enter a small map, they can overwhelm us with sheer numbers. Therefore, we need to plan ahead."
"What are your thoughts?"
"An alliance?"
Lin Zhao suggested, "Currently, there are two major powers among the players in Yunshang County: Sheng Shi Mu Dan and the Azure Knights. The only one we can try to win over is the Azure Knights. Last time, Li Cang Hai wanted to recruit me and have the Scarlet Moon Knights join them, but I refused. However, times have changed. Now that the top-tier map is opening, we can't completely ignore the Azure Knights guild anymore. How about… you try to negotiate? See if we can form an alliance with the Azure Knights, have them counter Sheng Shi Mu Dan, and we Scarlet Moon Knights can carve out some map resources in the interim."
"Mhm!"
Chen Xue nodded seriously, "This is indeed something we need to consider. I'll contact Li Cang Hai now and see if we can negotiate. I can't guarantee success, but I'll do my best."
"Good."
Lin Zhao nodded, "It might be a bit difficult for you. Li Cang Hai is a very cunning strategist."
"Don't worry, I understand."
...
Chen Xue, holding her great rock spear, killed the monster in front of her with a stab and then, using a stranger's identity, found the leader of the Azure Knights, Li Cang Hai, and sent a message: "Alliance Leader Li Cang Hai, are you there?"
"Yes."
Li Cang Hai immediately opened a video call and, squinting with a smile, said, "Isn't this Miss Xue Qiancheng? Changed your ID?"
"Mhm."
Chen Xue smiled, "Changed my ID, changed my mood. I'm contacting you this time because I want to discuss an alliance between our Scarlet Moon Knights and the Azure Knights. After all, the Chaos Temple map is about to open. Once we enter the map, it would be best if we don't fight each other. If our two guilds form an alliance, we won't let Sheng Shi Mu Dan benefit from all the map resources."
"Indeed!"
Li Cang Hai smiled slightly, "You Ling Wang's personality is too ostentatious. I actually don't like it... Forget it, let's not be so hypocritical. It's not that I don't like it, I find that person extremely disgusting. Since Miss Xue Qiancheng is personally here to negotiate, there's nothing more to say. Let's directly discuss the details of the alliance."
"Mhm."
Chen Xue stated, "This is what I propose: once we enter the Chaos Temple map, if either of us is attacked by Sheng Shi Mu Dan, the other party cannot stand idly by and must offer assistance."
"This..."
Li Cang Hai couldn't help but laugh, "Doesn't this seem like our Azure Knights will be at a disadvantage? After all, once we enter the map, everyone will be frantically trying to grab monsters and bosses. Who would want to PK? But your Scarlet Moon Knights have a mortal feud with Sheng Shi Mu Dan, and Sheng Shi Mu Dan will definitely cause you trouble. At such a time, for our Azure Knights to stop grinding and help PK, it's not justifiable, is it? The loss would be too great, and I wouldn't be able to explain it to my guild members..."
"Is that so..."
Chen Xue smiled faintly, "If you talk like that, it's not interesting. Although our Scarlet Moon Knights are small in number, we are elite. By tomorrow, our average level will be at least 46. Our alliance leader Bai Yi might even reach level 50, becoming the first player in Yunshang County to officially turn. At that point, our strength should at least not be completely ignored by other guilds, right? Alliance Leader Li Cang Hai, if you speak like this, aren't you afraid I'll humble myself and apologize to You Ling Wang, forming an alliance with Sheng Shi Mu Dan to suppress your Azure Knights in the Chaos Temple?"
"This..."
Li Cang Hai chuckled heartily, "Wouldn't that be bad? If we follow that logic, actually, our Azure Knights can make an agreement with Sheng Shi Mu Dan to completely crush the Scarlet Moon Knights in the Chaos Temple map first, and then divide the map resources. Wouldn't that make your attempts to play both sides a joke?"
"That's not how it works."
Chen Xue retorted, "Although You Ling Wang's brain is a bit problematic, he always understands the magnitude of profit. If he has to choose between dividing half the map resources and monopolizing the entire map resources, do you think he wouldn't know how to choose? Moreover, although You Ling Wang truly hates our Scarlet Moon Knights, we are ultimately just a ten-person small guild. Sheng Shi Mu Dan's biggest enemy in Yunshang County is still the Azure Knights. In this situation, do you think You Ling Wang wouldn't subconsciously use our Scarlet Moon Knights as a useful pawn, even as a vanguard, which would be enough for your Azure Knights to handle?"
"Damn..."
Li Cang Hai held his forehead, a helpless smile on his face, "Xue Qiancheng is indeed Xue Qiancheng. You've truly mastered this art of 'vertical and horizontal alliances.' If that's the case... then shall we form an alliance?"
"Mhm, alliance!"
Chen Xue declared, "Upon entering the map, the Scarlet Moon Knights and the Azure Knights will maintain mutual support, jointly attacking and defending. At the same time, both sides guarantee that if one party encounters a boss first, the other party will not interfere or snatch it. Is that acceptable?"
"This..."
Li Cang Hai pondered, "Our Azure Knights have a large population. Using the logic of a certain shameless country from the past, based on strength, our Azure Knights should also gain a bit more advantage, right? This agreement should be revised."
"Alright."
Chen Xue smiled slightly, "Except for the final top-tier boss, as long as the Azure Knights desire it, we will do our best to yield."
"Deal!"
Li Cang Hai gave a thumbs-up, "Miss Xue is a sensible person. That's settled, a promise is a promise!"
"Okay!"
...
After confirming the alliance, Chen Xue opened the chat interface with Lin Zhao again.
"Done."
She pursed her red lips, "Li Cang Hai agreed. In the Chaos Temple map, we will provide mutual assistance, but we've made a concession. Except for the top-tier boss, if we see any other resources together, the Azure Knights will have priority."
"Got it."
Lin Zhao frowned, "Do you think the Azure Knights will really assist us?"
"No."
Chen Xue shook her head directly and smiled, "Saying it is one thing, doing it is another. But with this alliance secured, my objective is that within the map, the people of the Azure Knights, even if they don't reinforce us, will absolutely not attack us. After all, since we're allied, our only opponent will be Sheng Shi Mu Dan. With the Azure Knights containing Sheng Shi Mu Dan, we can try to quickly harvest map resources. This is my plan. What do you think?"
"It's excellent!"
Lin Zhao gave a thumbs-up and chuckled, "That's very impressive. This is almost the optimal solution for our Scarlet Moon Knights. Otherwise, being crushed by two large alliances would likely be even worse."
"Mhm."
Chen Xue smiled, "So, you work hard today and reach level 50 and complete your turn before 12:00 PM tomorrow. Then, while the two major alliances are catching up, we'll be ahead of them, plundering the map. This will also make our resource acquisition legitimate, leaving Li Cang Hai with nothing to say."
"Mhm, mhm!"
Lin Zhao smiled slightly, "Enough talk, I'm going to level up."
"Alright."
...
Subsequently, Lin Zhao diligently ground monsters. At nine o'clock in the evening, he obtained the coordinates of a level 44 golden-tier boss from Mo Yin and went to solo it, gaining a large amount of experience. Then, at half-past ten, he obtained the coordinates of a level 38 golden boss from Mo Yin again and gained another chunk of experience, using the experience from soloing bosses to narrow the gap to level 50.
Even so, it was still too difficult to level up.
He continued grinding until past two in the morning, logging off when he couldn't fight the drowsiness any longer. His experience bar was at 94%. After another hour of intense grinding the next day, he should be close to his goal.
Lin Zhao was the hardest worker in the entire studio that day.
When he logged off, Ding Chi and Zhang Jun had already finished their late-night snacks and gone to sleep. Chen Xue was downstairs playing with her phone. Seeing him log off, she quickly heated a bowl of congee for him. As Chen Xue, with her slender figure and light steps, brought the bowl of congee to him, Lin Zhao shook his head, "Do you know? The way you carry congee actually looks quite awkward..."
"Ah!?"
Chen Xue's delicate mouth parted slightly, and she quickly looked at herself. Her inner wear hadn't fallen off, and the zipper of her hot pants was up. Nothing seemed wrong.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Lin Zhao pursed his lips, "You really don't look like someone who manages daily life, so the way you're holding congee is a bit funny."
Chen Xue rolled her eyes. She should have asked Luo Man to stay and serve this demanding guest. But she was afraid something might happen, after all... that guy seemed to have a liking for this alliance leader brother.
She sighed. When did her timid nature of fearing wolves and chasing tigers appear? It was truly strange.