Chapter 262: Defeating the Hidden Boss that crushed Xue Xue Jiulan!

"Student Li Yao?"

A soft, gentle voice drifted over.

Shang Shang Yana trotted over to Li Yao: "Why are you here so early?"

Li Yao retorted, "That's the line I should be asking you, isn't it?"

Because he wasn't sure how much time the 【Heavenly Crane Divine Altar】 would take,

to avoid being late,

Li Yao had arranged to meet Shang Shang Yana at eleven in the morning.

"Wait!" Li Yao suddenly realized.

Every time he'd run dungeons these past few days, Shang Shang Yana had arrived first.

Could it be that she had been arriving this early every single time?

"Asking me?"

"Since it's our first time running the 【Abyssal Fortress】, I was afraid of getting lost, so I came early,"

Shang Shang Yana explained.

"I'd have to be a ghost to believe that."

Li Yao grumbled, then announced in a clear voice:

"Abyssal Fortress, Purgatory difficulty, 2 spots open for 18 people. Same old rules: you take the experience, everything else goes to me."

"Finally! We've been waiting for Captain Li Yao to say that!"

"Should be my turn to get in today, right?"

These students had been waiting for Li Yao to speak!

They immediately crowded around,

forming a long line in front of Shang Shang Yana.

Every student Li Yao had led knew:

aside from killing monsters, Li Yao left every other matter to this impossibly beautiful young lady.

After these past few days, everyone was extremely practiced at this.

Those who saw they were past the 18th spot

would consciously leave, not causing trouble on the sidelines.

They were neither annoyed nor complaining.

Dean Xue had once said:

to prevent students from becoming complacent,

each student could only enjoy being led by Captain Li Yao once a week.

Once a week—it was considered a benefit Li Yao provided to everyone.

Shang Shang Yana said with a beaming smile:

"Dear seniors,"

"no one has led a team through the Abyssal Fortress on Purgatory difficulty yet."

"The market rate for Nightmare difficulty is 800 points."

"How about I charge everyone 2000 points for Captain Li Yao to lead a Purgatory run?"

Though she sounded like she was asking for their opinion, there wasn't a shred of room for negotiation on Shang Shang Yana's face.

"Hey, hey, isn't that going a bit too far, Junior!"

"2000 points could buy a piece of Gold-tier equipment. How about 1200 points?"

"That won't do," Shang Shang Yana shook her head. "You all should know that the experience gain in Purgatory difficulty is significantly boosted."

"And the Abyssal Fortress is an extremely rare dungeon."

"I estimate that one Purgatory run will net you the same amount of experience you'd normally get in a week!"

"Two thousand points to pull ahead of other students—I think it's a great deal."

Li Yao just stood quietly to the side.

*It really has to be Xiao Na!

Ever since Shang Shang Yana took charge of recruiting students,

Li Yao hadn't had to worry about points at all.

Whether it was the S-tier attribute spirit items his chess pieces needed,

or the high cost of refreshing dungeon cooldowns,

he didn't even need 'relief' from home.

Li Yao could even save quite a surplus!

You tell me, isn't that infuriating!

"Captain Li Yao, say something!"

"This price is too high!"

Li Yao turned his head away.

*Hmm.

*I didn't hear anything.

Shang Shang Yana wore a faint smile,

step by step breaking down the students' psychological defenses.

"On the Purgatory difficulty leaderboard, there are currently only six clear records."

"In other words, the entire Some Jingyu Academy only has six teams capable of clearing Purgatory difficulty."

"You can imagine the difficulty for yourselves."

"I believe the experience gain will far exceed your imagination!"

"2000 points is really not expensive!"

At this point,

everyone calmed down and began to think carefully.

Shang Shang Yana wasn't wrong.

A rare dungeon like the 【Abyssal Fortress】 couldn't be compared to the 【Sea Floor Labyrinth】.

Most students who came here had already run the 【Abyssal Fortress】.

The experience gained from Difficult and Master levels was already quite substantial.

Purgatory difficulty would likely be extremely exaggerated!

However,

a question arose in many people's minds:

Can Captain Li Yao really lead 19 people to clear Purgatory difficulty?

The reputation Li Yao built leading 【Sea Floor Labyrinth】 runs had made them overlook this issue before.

"Captain Li Yao, are you sure you can lead us to clear Purgatory difficulty?"

"If you're sure, I'm willing to pay 2000 points."

Someone asked.

Purgatory difficulty was not like other difficulties.

Escape scrolls could not be used.

Only expensive teleportation items could get you out alive.

Without teleportation items,

once a clear failed, it was a matter of life and death!

It was no laughing matter!

Li Yao naturally wouldn't joke with the students' lives.

Before this,

he had asked his teacher.

The final boss of Purgatory difficulty was a level 50 Named-tier monster.

Although it was level 50, its attributes and skills were not as strong as the Life Sovereign Li Yao had once defeated.

His teacher told him to go ahead and lead the team with confidence.

The only thing to watch out for

was not to do anything outside of clearing the dungeon.

If a hidden boss were triggered, they must choose to evacuate immediately!

According to his teacher,

when she led a team into the 【Abyssal Fortress】 years ago,

she didn't know what she did to trigger a hidden boss.

The entire team wasn't even a match for a single blow, and most were killed or injured!

If not for her having a teleportation item, she might have died in there too!

Thinking of this,

Li Yao said calmly: "If you trust me,"

"I can guarantee a successful clear."

Before he could finish,

a voice came from the room's entrance.

A female student in heavy armor walked in, leading a group of students.

"Captain Li Yao, allow me to ask,"

"what are you using to guarantee a clear?"