Li Rui was quite anxious.
To test his actual combat abilities, he fought with Wu Sun outdoors and lost.
"I'm already level 6, yet I still can't beat a level 15. Truly useless!"
He felt very frustrated, but there was nothing he could do. Whether you've changed jobs or not makes a big difference.
Once your job is determined, the types of attribute points increase. For example, Wu Sun's job is Hunter, adding a skill and two basic attributes: insight and recovery ability, besides the scent specialization talent.
With these benefits, Li Rui sparred with Wu Sun three times and couldn't win even using the Shenxiao Thunderbolt Heart Scripture. Because even if he managed to inflict some damage on the opponent with speed, Wu Sun's impressive recovery ability would let him quickly bounce back in battle.
So now, Li Rui really wanted to level up to 10 quickly and complete the job change.
After three matches, Wu Sun was a bit tired too, sitting on a rock outdoors, gulping mineral water.
"For a level 6 to achieve this is already quite good. If you change jobs, I definitely can't beat you."
"Besides, there's no point in rushing, the next dungeon is in Gu Xuan Town, and you're only level 6. The experience it offers won't get you to level 10."
While drinking water, he chit-chatted, "It's really strange. Just yesterday, I mentioned to the group leader; the second dungeon you encountered is only 6 stars."
Li Rui glanced sideways at him, "Brother Wu, don't think you can fool me, I've read the materials. A 6-star dungeon isn't low difficulty. The most common ones are 2 to 4 stars."
"That's right, Gu Xuan Town is indeed a high difficulty dungeon. But the problem is, you beat up the admin!"
Wu Sun said, "Based on past experience, people who somewhat offended him would face high difficulty tasks for at least the first three dungeons. Maybe it's not as exaggerated as yours, usually about 5 or 6 stars, but you're different. I'm guessing for you, at least your first few Secret Realm dungeons would be 10 stars to be normal."
"Can't you wish me some good luck?"
"I'm just stating the facts."
The two of them chatted as they moved towards the highway, getting ready to drive back.
Wu Sun's reasoning wasn't unwarranted, but neither he nor Li Rui knew one thing.
That was, the puppet admin had no authority to adjust Li Rui's dungeon difficulty. Drawing the Demon Wind Temple as the first Secret Realm was purely due to his unlucky disposition at work, and this trait doesn't activate every moment.
Getting into Wu Sun's car, he drove along the highway towards the city.
"But let me tell you this, drawing Gu Xuan Town also counts as bad luck. The dungeon is notoriously low in cost-efficiency, with a 6-star difficulty and rewards equivalent to a 4-star Secret Realm. Once we go back, we'll check the strategies; I'll train you."
Li Rui asked, "Have you been to Gu Xuan Town?"
"Yes, the dungeon isn't low difficulty, and you can't just charge through it like before; you'll need to use your brain. With the right operation, perhaps you can lower the difficulty somewhat."
"Need to solve puzzles?"
"Kind of has that element..."
Saying this, they returned to Guotong Mansion to check the strategies.
These are all experiences left by predecessors, including the flow of different main tasks and ways to trigger various side quests. Of course, they can't guarantee 100% coverage, but for a fairly popular Secret Realm, the information is quite rich.
Li Rui also valued strategies greatly. Last time, he was lucky—or rather unlucky—to encounter Chongxuzi, clearing the events in Demon Wind Temple and jumping directly from level 1 to level 6. This time, he must think of ways to complete as many side quests as possible while ensuring the main task is completed.
Otherwise, the experience gained would be very little; in the worst-case scenario, he might only reach level 7. His current experience bar is 550/2100; the experience required for each level increases.
While they were discussing by the computer, Wang Ba passed by.
"Li Rui, your next Secret Realm is Gu Xuan Town, right?"
"Yes."
"Come over; I have something to tell you."
Li Rui was a bit puzzled and followed Wang Ba into his office. As a team leader, he naturally had a fixed workspace.
"It's like this: we received news that from the countdown, someone will be entering the same dungeon with you this time."
Wang Ba sat in his chair with a tone that didn't sound happy nor heavy.
Li Rui asked, "Is it a member of the Baili Association?"
"Yes, otherwise, I wouldn't know."
Wang Ba said, "As long as it isn't an extremely dangerous dungeon, Secret Realm agents typically won't deliberately time their entries together. Whoever you team up with achieves glory for the group."
Li Rui asked, "Brother Ba, but your tone sounds a bit off."
Wang Ba chuckled, "Think why I'd know? Obviously, the one entering the dungeon with you is someone unusual."
"Let me begin with familiar people. Firstly, there's Zhang Xiaoguang from the same group; he just reached level 10 for job change, and you have some ties with him. That day in Celestial King Town, Bull Head Mountain, he was at another current plane break.
"Let me introduce another person; I need to explain beforehand. Our Secret Realm agent organization, from the provincial level institutions, comes under the Superpower Division. Before I've mentioned, some forces from the Extraordinary World also have an influential impact."
"So, within the Baili Association, every provincial branch's management institutions are under the committee; the chief member is appointed by the Superpower Division, while others mostly hail from different forces."
"This time, the one entering the dungeon with you is a person named He Chengli. The Hee family, rooted deeply in nearby Wuyun Province, holds great power; every committee term has members from their family elected. This He Chengli is a junior from the Hee family; probably his main family, but I'm not too clear on the specifics."
Li Rui thought for a moment, somewhat enlightenedly nodding his head, "I guess…. Superpower Division is dissatisfied with these entrenched, deep-rooted families, so they want me to eliminate this guy in the Secret Realm?"
"Not at all.... what nonsense!!! How can you think that way?"
Wang Ba helplessly shook his head, "What it means is, for you to take care of him after entering, that kid isn't very old, seemingly the same year as you, only level 9."
Having a level 6 person take care of a level 9 might sound absurd, but for a level 6 agent who can one-shot level 10 monsters, it's reasonable.
Li Rui replied with an "oh," "As long as he doesn't get in my way."
"Why would he trouble you?"
Wang Ba clicked his tongue, "You enter the dungeon as teammates, cooperating to pass."
Li Rui nodded and suddenly frowned, "Leader, asking me to take care of the rich second generation and not offering any assistance from the organization?"
"You brat! This task was personally instructed by the top to Chairman Wu, who asked me to convey it—it's an opportunity! Why are you only thinking about benefits?"
Wang Ba was both amused and exasperated, "However, we always encourage potential newcomers. Chairman Wu said, depending on your performance this time, you might be rewarded with high-rare, non-soul-bound equipment."
Li Rui became delighted, pondered a bit, then asked, "Brother Ba, truth be told, doesn't the special note mean you're worried I'll beat him after entering?"
"..."
"No, no way."
Wang Ba quickly denied but broke into a cold sweat.
How did this brat figure it out?