"This combined turret strategy is one of the best cooperative methods."

A group of people walked over.

It was the third-floor players led by Li Shuwen.

At this point, no one had any further opinions about the first-floor players.

Damn it!

The higher-ups are all in cahoots!

Classic case of those at the negotiation table not needing to go to the battlefield, holding no grudges, and being able to drink together after the fight.

This reality was too pungent!

"Yeah, lots of benefits... well, in the conventional sense, that's true. But for players like those on the tenth floor, I don't think it's necessary. Just stack combat power turrets." Zheng Kai also came over with the eighth-floor players to join the excitement.

Xu Lang nodded slightly at the two of them.

The third-floor and eighth-floor players all looked warily at the Rakshasa players.

The male Rakshasa players were tall and imposing. Although there were only four female players, including Ayiguli, each was stunningly beautiful. Under extreme survival pressure, ordinary players had no time to appreciate exotic charm. At this moment, they only felt waves of fierce, baleful aura assaulting them, and their breathing involuntarily weakened.

The players who could stay by Li Shuwen and Zheng Kai's side were not weak. On an ancient battlefield, they could easily take on a hundred enemies each. But now, they still felt tremendous pressure.

Xu Lang stroked his chin. For floors like the tenth, eighth, and third—strongly controlled by the floor leaders' dorms—it seemed everyone really did discuss and agree on what facilities to install. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He looked at Su Yuan and asked, "Do you have any thoughts on this?"

"This requires some planning time, but it's absolutely worth it!" Su Yuan said excitedly. "Reasonable turret planning can increase a floor's combat power by at least 20%, and it can save funds!"

The actual combat power increase was probably more than 20%.

If Su Yuan, a not-very-proficient ordinary player, could make such a bold claim, then some experienced players putting it into practice could probably raise the effectiveness another notch.

Xu Lang pondered and said, "I remember there are a few 'planners' on the fifth floor, right? You can go discuss it with them together."

Planners were the kind of people who came up with ideas. They might not produce top-tier designs, but they were certainly better than ordinary players.

It was said those planners on the fifth floor were all excellent talents from big companies, with very sharp minds.

He approved of my suggestion! Su Yuan was overjoyed and said, "Right, that's what I was thinking too."

"Follow what Su Yuan says. You all don't quite understand the dormitory building's rules yet," Xu Lang said to Ayiguli.

"As you command!" Ayiguli nodded, her gaze towards Su Yuan carrying an extra measure of seriousness.

The Rakshasa players precisely needed such a veteran player to lead them.

If the tenant slots weren't already full, she would have wanted to recruit Su Yuan.

"Lang Ge, I'd like to borrow your name to make things easier," Su Yuan said hesitantly.

"Fine." Xu Lang nodded in agreement, giving off a distinct vibe of an old-fashioned landlord allowing his lackeys to do shady things. He added a serious warning: "Don't ruin my reputation!"

Su Yuan: "..."

Huh?

Lang Ge, you still have a reputation?

Su Yuan's mouth twitched, and he acknowledged with a sound.

"Alright, you all can go down now." Xu Lang waved his hand.

Ayiguli turned around, a trace of worry flashing in her enchanting, affectionate eyes, as if she still had something unsaid.

"Great King Xu Lang, is Royal Advisor Gu Ya still alive?" White Sand took a deep breath, her pearly teeth parting slightly, asking on behalf of Ayiguli.

"She's alive. You'll see her tonight," Xu Lang replied.

Upon hearing this, the Rakshasa Country players' spirits all lifted.

White Sand was overjoyed and pressed further: "What about Blazing Heaven..."

"Everyone else is dead!" As Xu Lang spoke, his Nightmare Eye observed Ayiguli. Finding she harbored no resentment or hatred, he continued, "However, if you perform well, I can also arrange for you to meet them, in soul form."

The Rakshasa Country's view of life and death seemed quite different from modern civilization.

Whether it was due to religious reasons or the logic of grassland tribes seizing enemies' wives and daughters, Ayiguli not holding a grudge against him was something Xu Lang was quite satisfied with.

"Thank you, Great King!"

The Rakshasa players left, full of gratitude. Su Yuan also departed.

Xu Lang turned to look at Li Shuwen and the others. "Have you all bought your facilities yet?"

"Not yet." Li Shuwen shook his head, exchanged a glance with Zheng Kai, and said, "Zheng Kai and I came over actually because we have something to discuss with you."

"What is it?" Xu Lang raised an eyebrow.

Li Shuwen looked around. The third-floor players consciously formed a perimeter, driving other players away.

"We want to join forces with you to pioneer and occupy a stronghold," Li Shuwen stated. "I went to the Pioneering Hall first and accepted the first task."

As he spoke, he shared the task with Xu Lang.

[Task "The First Puzzle Piece" (Nightmare)]

[Task Content: Occupy the first stronghold of the Mad King Building]

[Reward: Dorm Owner Token · Mad King Building Basement Key, 1000 Silver Coins]

"This is currently the only task in the Pioneering Hall, and it can be accepted repeatedly," Li Shuwen said with a smile.

"But there's only one set of rewards, right?" Xu Lang asked.

A Dorm Owner Token had appeared. He absolutely had to get this thing.

"That's correct. We also know we can't complete this task ourselves. So, our meaning is, whenever you go pioneering, we'll follow behind you," Li Shuwen revealed their true intention.

"Just reaping the benefits?"

"Of course we'll help too. The stronghold is deep within the Blood Mist. Big monsters definitely have smaller ones around them. We can help you clear them. But you also can't let us suffer too severe losses."

A certain amount of loss was acceptable to Li Shuwen.

The surrounding players didn't see anything wrong with this either. You gain some, you lose some.

Following behind Xu Lang was better than going pioneering alone.

"Alright."

Li Shuwen didn't expect Xu Lang to agree so readily. A smile of being trusted appeared on his face. "Thank you for your trust!"

Zheng Kai and the other players were all delighted to hear Xu Lang agree.

"At that time, it might be a collective action for our entire Mad King Building. Most players will probably go," Li Shuwen said with a smile. "We want to boost our combat power as much as possible within these three days, so we don't suffer losses when we encounter Twilight Building players."

"That's all up to you. Anyway, when I go out pioneering, I'll let you know," Xu Lang said indifferently.

"Lang Ge, roughly when? So we can make arrangements!" Zheng Kai asked.

He still fondly remembered the experience of retreating with Xu Lang last time, loaded with loot.

"Within three days," Xu Lang replied.

Next, without further pleasantries, everyone bid farewell and prepared to leave.

"Dad, I still want to look around the supermarket," Li Wenwen spoke up.

Li Shuwen's throat hitched. "Be careful," he instructed.

"Okay!" Li Wenwen nodded obediently.

The moment Li Shuwen stepped out of the facility area, he heard the girls' sweet voices calling "Lang Ge," "Lang Ge." His old face darkened a few shades again, and he took a shallow, deep breath.

Huff... The Dorm Survival Game's pace is so fast. Opportunities to get stronger are available every moment. Develop properly, and I might not be without the chance to surpa... stand shoulder to shoulder... exchange a few moves with Xu Lang!

By then, I'll also have the confidence to discipline Wenwen properly!

For a man, strength truly is the most important thing in the end.