Chapter 57: Snowfield

"This instance is called ’Snowfield,’ one of the large-scale instances created by Yun City, built a long time ago. It often becomes the venue for some major events."

"The environment is a snowfield.

This time, they’ve modified the instance so that experience and equipment are converted into points. I heard they even invited a few high-tier array professionals to make the changes."

"Entering this time doesn’t require a fee. The monsters inside are all ranked by level for points."

"The total survival time of the four players, as well as the total points, will be used as the criteria. Specifically, survival time is calculated first, and if the difference in survival time is no more than one minute, then ranking is based on points."

Fang Yuan explained the team competition in detail.

"Got it."

Shen Fei ate a small steamed bun and then casually offered one to the drowsy Su Muyu, who didn’t mind and started biting into it right away.

"Once we enter, they’re definitely going to team up against us. Even Lu City First High School won’t be an exception. After all, both you and Su Muyu are too strong."

"I know."

Shen Fei nodded.

Isn’t this quite normal?

Yesterday, before they went out for a meal, they saw the reception room full of people coming and going, probably already discussing strategies.

"They might even manipulate the monsters inside to attack you. Anyway, all information is that positions are initially random. Before they can join forces, you should clear out as many as possible."

"Don’t worry."

Shen Fei took a bottle of cola from the fridge.

"Hmm."

Shen Fei suddenly remembered: "If all the teams are knocked out at the same time, their scores are all at second place, right?"

"Huh?"

Fang Yuan was stunned by Shen Fei’s question.

All teams knocked out at once?

"Probably not, because there are still points involved."

"Oh, right."

Shen Fei nodded and continued asking: "Hey, if I manipulate the ranking, it shouldn’t go against the competition rules, right?"

On the hovercar.

Fang Yuan heard Shen Fei’s words, was silent for a moment, and shook his head: "It doesn’t."

"I see, then at that time, I’ll see who I like and give them second or third place, that shouldn’t be too overboard, right?"

"What are you up to?"

"I remember the points for the team competition are higher than the individual competition. As long as one school can get second place, wouldn’t the second place have to make room for another school?"

Shen Fei laughed.

"Geez, if that’s the case, Jiangling First High School and Qinghe First High School will probably hate you to death."

"If they plan on teaming up against me, they should expect such results."

Shen Fei continued eating his steamed bun, while Lin Yang and Jiang Zhirou looked at him with admiration.

Manipulating competition results—this is the captain’s strategy?

...

The hovercar quickly drove out of Yun City, soon arriving outside of it. Although it wasn’t as remote as the buffer zone, it was still desolate, and on the way, Su Muyu had awoken.

She gave Shen Fei a side glance; this guy was moving a lot while sleeping last night.

She originally slept, then was awakened. Turning her head, she saw that this guy slept quite well.

"I’ve heard about the Snowfield Dungeon; it’s said to have been made using the residual abyssal breath after an abyss invasion was repelled."

Su Muyu looked out the hovercar, seeing they had reached the mountains.

"This shouldn’t have an abyss invasion happen again, right."

"Very unlikely. These older instances don’t have the abyss pollution’s breath anymore. Unlike newly built instances, so many new instances have stronger people repeatedly clearing them several times first."

Fang Yuan explained.

Hovercars landed one after another, with each establishing outposts, and in the distance from the outposts was a massive swirling entrance, which was the entrance to the Snowfield Dungeon.

Many school principals, along with students, disembarked from the hovercars, but they were relatively silent at the moment.

Their gazes focused on a hovercar still descending, bearing the ’Shencheng First High School’ label on its side.

The hovercar landed.

Fang Yuan led Shen Fei and the others out.

Vaguely, all other students, with Bai Qingzhao, Tang Yann, and Wuu Yuan as leaders, formed a massive alliance, opposing Shen Fei’s group of four.

"Being watched by them is quite stressful!"

Lin Yang licked his lips, realizing that their opponents in this team competition were the top four geniuses from the other fifteen schools.

And three are unique professions.

Honestly, if not for the captain, it would be rare to see such a spectacle.

"Let’s go prepare, we’ll watch in the monitoring room." Fang Yuan whistled, leaving the spot with a smile, pulling along a few friends who had grim expressions, chatting as they went.

"Soon, everyone will stand in front of the instance entrance. This instance is specially made, with no experience or equipment inside, only points."

"Landing positions will be random, death means you won’t drop experience, just reappear outside!"

"You can exit the instance at will, and those who do so will have their survival time and earned points reset to zero!"

"Any objections?"

Yun Tianming loudly announced this competition’s rules.

This is both a team competition and a battle royale, as it’s the first time so many schools are participating in an exchange competition.

If it were just a duel, it would be too boring.

They’re cultivating students not just for them to perform in duels, but to have the capability of tackling dungeons and the abyss. This is the first experience of the new format.

It even received support from the top.

"Understood!"

With that said.

Yun Tianming left the area.

All students walked to the instance entrance, with Shen Fei’s group at the center.

Wuu Yuan said quietly nearby, "This time, you need to be careful."

"Careful of what? You?" Su Muyu tilted her head, puzzled, "If not for Zhou Xun, do you think you could have fought me that long?"

"You—!"

"Alright, just a word of advice—if you’re going for points, get them quickly. Don’t end up blocking and messing up your own rankings."

Shen Fei squeezed Su Muyu’s hand, looking at Whu Xiang, grinned, and said, "And you, Shimen First High School. It’s best you are eliminated by others earlier, or if you really fall into my hands.

The outcome can only be to exit by yourself.

Since it’s an instance, no matter how we torment you, nothing serious will happen."

Iron Defense’s face turned extremely sour.

Shen Fei’s words already amounted to a threat.

Either reset your score or be tortured if caught by them.

"Also, if you’re interested in second and third place in this competition,

feel free to come talk to me.

After all, the rewards for second and third place are quite plentiful. Even if you don’t win in the individual competition, taking second in the team competition still earns you second place."

Shen Fei said quietly.

"You’re too arrogant; who knows who’ll win or lose?" Wuu Yuan said coldly, "If we managed to seal Su Muyu once, we can do it again!"

"Talking so big, it’ll be embarrassing if you fail."

Tang Yann also felt uncomfortable with Shen Fei’s direct ranking-deciding tone.

"Hehe~ I’m just giving a heads-up."

Shen Fei glanced over, "Since you’ve chosen to unite, I can also sow discord. But my discord has tangible benefits. Besides Qinghe and Jiangling, what benefit does cooperating with you bring to other schools?

In the end, isn’t it still nothing..."

"We just can’t stand how arrogant you are!"

Wuu Yuan was small but had a big temper.

"You band together and call me arrogant."

Shen Fei shook his head, saying no more.

And at that moment.

The large swirling portal in front of them began to spin, releasing a special power, and simultaneously ancient runes appeared beneath Shen Fei and the others’ feet, starting to glow.

In an instant.

All students remaining there disappeared.

[Instance—Snowfield, Open!!]