Chapter 181: Xue Jiuling: I have Li Yao, what do I have to fear?

"Retreat quickly!"

Xu Fei's expression changed drastically.

Everyone immediately retreated and ran downward.

Over a hundred mountain ape monsters rushed down from the mountainside, completely blocking the path Li Yao and the others had chosen!

These mountain apes were clearly different from those at the foot of the mountain.

Their bodies were much larger, and their fur was slightly purple, making them extremely conspicuous against the white snow.

Visibility was very low.

Li Yao could only barely see several black shadows standing on the mountainside behind these apes.

Luring this group of monsters here would take quite a bit of time.

How could these people be so much faster than them?

Li Yao was a bit puzzled, but he didn't dwell on it, following the team as they ran down the mountain.

Their team was actually quite lucky.

When they discovered the mountain apes rushing down, they weren't very high up, allowing them to dodge the encirclement in time.

As for the teams above Li Yao—including professionals from the Dragon Kingdom and other countries—they were quickly surrounded by these purple mountain apes.

They kept releasing skills, attempting to break out.

But there were simply too many monsters, and it was an encounter battle; most of them couldn't break through the encirclement.

One by one, white light erupted from their bodies as they teleported away.

The Sorrowful Underworld Snow Mountain was a Master-level dungeon; as long as it wasn't Purgatory-level, one could use an Escape Scroll.

An Escape Scroll cost about a million Dragon Coins, and these top professionals from various martial arts academies all had stock on hand for emergencies.

Li Yao and the others hid on a platform near the foot of the mountain.

Beside them were several other professional teams that had luckily escaped; most of the teams were incomplete, and some even had only one person left.

Xu Fei realized something was wrong and frowned: "How could they have the time to lure so many monsters over?"

Xue Xue Jiuling asked in a low voice: "Could it be because of the spawn points?"

"Impossible."

Xu Fei shook her head, asserting:

"Each team's spawn point might be different, but the distance to the summit must be the same."

"The Sorrowful Underworld Snow Mountain is a competitive dungeon; once inside, everyone is at the same starting line. It's impossible to have such a huge gap!"

"Hey, I say,"

beside them, a professional wearing heavy armor suddenly spoke up:

"You guys wouldn't happen to be here for the first time, would you?"

"That's right."

Xu Fei looked over: "But what does that have to do with them climbing the mountain so fast?"

The heavy-armored professional sneered: "No wonder you don't know anything."

"I can only say that you students from Some Jingyu are really rich; you dare to spend so many points to enter Master-level difficulty without knowing anything."

Hearing this, Xu Fei was somewhat dissatisfied.

"Although it's our first time entering, I checked the guides on the Star Network. I wouldn't say I know it like the back of my hand, but I should know the simplest parts."

"We couldn't just miss this opening time because we hadn't been here before, could we?"

"Heh."

The heavy-armored professional gave a disdainful snort.

"You know it all?"

"The Master-level level cap is raised to just under the Third Rank; you know that, right?"

"Level 40 A-grade or higher Array Masters can learn a small-scale teleportation array; you know that?"

"Level 40 S-grade or higher Space-type Mages can learn the Space Shift skill; you know that?"

"Master-level difficulty only restricts Third Rank professionals; Level 40 professionals can enter the dungeon as long as they don't complete their rank-up quest."

"Stop looking at those free guides; the real stuff all costs money."

The group listened, stunned.

Xu Fei's face turned even redder.

As the team leader, checking guides was her primary duty.

But she really hadn't thought about checking the paid ones.

Level 40, which is the Third Rank boundary; some professions can comprehend professional skills upon reaching this level.

She hadn't considered this at all.

Array Master.

Li Yao recited in his heart.

He remembered that guy from the Classmate Yuwen family in Jiangzhou seemed to have transferred into this profession.

But because of some resources, that guy had sent people to assassinate him.

His whole family had been sent to the border to fight by the Shang family.

If that hadn't happened, he supposed that guy would have been recruited by the major martial arts academies and trained as special personnel, right?

"Alright, I didn't say all this just to chat."

The heavy-armored professional spoke again, smiling: "Let me introduce myself: Zhang Yi, a second-year student at Saint Forest Academy, S-grade Knight-type profession."

Second-year students at Saint Forest were at the same level as Some Jingyu team members.

Both required contribution and strength to reach a certain level before they could be promoted.

The four major martial arts academies all used this model.

It wasn't that you were automatically promoted when the time came.

"I originally wanted to come in and climb to the summit to exchange for some contribution points, but I didn't expect those Indian professionals to be so insane. They let in a Level 40 SS-grade Priest profession, and not only did they teleport to the summit, but they also don't intend to let anyone else reach it."

"Now you see it too; I'm all alone, my other teammates were crushed by that group of mountain apes and left the dungeon using Escape Scrolls."

"To avoid wasting points, before I left, I told them to spend a lot of money to hire an Array Master to come in. Since so many people left with Escape Scrolls, there are vacancies in the dungeon quota, and they should be coming in soon."

"How about it? Including the Array Master, our team is still short four people. Want to come over?"

"Of course, you need to help me cover the points spent on hiring the Array Master. It's not much, five thousand points per person for the four of you. As for the academy contribution for reaching the summit, that depends on your own ability."

"I'll join!"

Before the other party could even finish speaking, Fu Hong said anxiously.

This small chapter isn't over yet, please click the next page to continue reading the exciting content!

Paying an extra five thousand points to reach the summit—no matter how you look at it, it's better than being blocked here by monsters and wasting ten thousand points for nothing!

He glanced at Li Yao and said with a cold laugh: "I've long since been tired of being a babysitter for this kid. He does nothing and just sits comfortably in the team acting like a big shot!"

Xue Xue Jiuling immediately scolded: "What are you saying?! Without Li Yao, who would lure the monsters away? We might all still be at the foot of the mountain right now!"

"Besides,"

"leaving the team halfway without encountering danger is a huge taboo for professionals; it's no different from being a traitor. Think clearly; once this gets out, who will dare to team up with you for dungeons in the future?"

Fu Hong looked completely disdainful and said with a chuckle: "If I leave alone, maybe it would be like what you said."

The two lackeys stood behind Fu Hong without hesitation, looking at Xue Xue Jiuling with extreme arrogance:

"There are so many monsters on the mountain; isn't this encountering danger?"

"Get out? Who would believe that? We have four people!"

"Nonsense!" Fu Hong feigned anger and tapped the two of them. "We have four people!"

"Captain Xu, how about it? Want to come over with us?"

"You!"

Xue Xue Jiuling was anxious and angry, hurriedly looking at Xu Fei.

If she left too, she and Li Yao would really have no way to clear their names!

And to obtain academy contribution, one must ensure at least a fifty percent survival rate, meaning three people in the team.

If Xu Fei left, even if they reached the summit later, they wouldn't be able to get any contribution.

Fu Hong ignored Xue Xue Jiuling entirely, looking instead at the heavy-armored professional: "Brother Zhang Yi, let me make it clear first, to avoid letting some irrelevant people mix into the team."

He pointed at Xue Xue Jiuling and Li Yao.

"This woman is a Knight profession, which conflicts with your profession, and this kid..."

"A Level 26 Summoner!"

"Haha, tell me, isn't it ridiculous? Level 26 and he dares to come participate in a Master-level dungeon. He must be crazy for contribution!"

"Oh?" Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow.

He looked Li Yao up and down, feeling he looked a bit familiar, but didn't pay much attention.