The guild set foot in the online game, boosting the team's reputation and uniting fans were crucial, but the most important aspect was scouting potential new recruits. Finding promising newcomers to replenish the team was essential to avoid a decline after the main players retired.
For instance, Lu Xiang, discovered by the Hua Xia team in the game, was recommended to the Hua Xia training camp and encountered Liu Chuan, becoming a prodigy within a year!
Xiao Sijing, the captain of Seven Star Grass, possessed foresight, and their guild's training camp was highly formal. Many outstanding players in the training camp were talents discovered by the Seven Star Grass guild in the game.
When the three members of Pitcher Plant suddenly changed their attitude, Liu Chuan guessed it – the guild leader must have noticed his skill and sent them to recruit him.
The saying "soft-mouthed and short-handed" applied. If he rejected the guild's red envelopes, it wouldn't be polite. Moreover, the guild leader was personally involved this time, and he had to give some face. Refusing had to be tactful.
Liu Chuan thought for a moment and said, "Guild Leader, thank you for your kind offer. As someone who tends to stir up trouble, joining your guild would surely attract a lot of resentment. So, let's forget about it..."
Duan Changcao candidly said, "Worried about resentment? We're a professional PvP guild; we've never feared anyone. Whoever your enemies are, once you join, they become our enemies too."
Liu Chuan couldn't help but find it amusing!
Do you know who my biggest nemesis is? It's the captain of your Seven Star Grass team!
If Xiao Sijing finds out that you've recruited the archenemy Liu Chuan into the Seven Star Grass guild, he'll definitely punch you to death...
Liu Chuan helplessly said, "Joining the guild isn't feasible. How about this, Guild Leader? You're surely interested in the level 40 world boss, right? I'm interested too. Let's collaborate; I'll help you defeat the boss. What do you think?"
Duan Changcao was shocked by this message.
World boss? Was he seeing things?
Duan Changcao asked seriously, "World boss? Bro, are you kidding?"
Liu Chuan chuckled, "No jokes; I'm serious."
Duan Changcao was left speechless.
The world boss, roaming on the world map, with random spawn times and considerable difficulty – the kind of top-tier boss that could wipe out players effortlessly. The level 40 world boss in the Southern Frontier region was the traitor elder of the Five Poisons Sect, Elder Thousand Spiders. His most twisted trait was summoning countless spiders to entangle and poison players to death, making it extremely challenging.
The value of such a boss wasn't something measured in a mere few thousand gold coins; world bosses were the tycoons of the game. All players participating in the kill received a reward package, containing random items like equipment, materials, gold coins, elemental stones, and even the possibility of obtaining rare mounts!
Defeating a world boss was not only difficult; the battle for it between guilds before the fight was a fierce and bloody battleground. Every time the world boss spawned, the entire map was teeming with players from various guilds, engaging in intense battles.
Any guild that managed to secure a world boss usually had a sharp commander with a broad perspective leading the charge; chaotic fighting wouldn't cut it.
Duan Changcao couldn't believe it, "Are you confident in defeating the world boss?"
Liu Chuan sent a smile, "I've commanded before, and I know the strategy for each boss. However, taking down a world boss isn't just about fighting; it also depends on the competition between guilds at that moment. I need to understand first, which PvP guilds are present in this area?"
Tangmen turned out to be an exceptionally rare strategic talent? He even commanded a world boss before?!
Duan Changcao's excitement surged, and he quickly sent over some information, "The major guilds in this area are: Seven Star Grass, Bronze Sparrow Platform, Hua Xia, Falling Flowers Farewell, Shengshi Tang Dynasty, Chang'an Phantom Night, Flames and Wolves, National Beauty, and..."
The eighth finalists of the ninth season's playoffs!
Liu Chuan was speechless, "All eight finalists are here?!"
Duan Changcao sent a row of tearful emojis, "Yes, quite lively, isn't it?"
Liu Chuan replied, "..."
Duan Changcao continued, "Anyway, the news will be officially announced soon. I won't hide it from you. Starting from the spring season next year, the league will expand the team size, adding two more team slots. Many guilds entered the new zone this time, aiming to discover potential newcomers and infuse fresh blood into the teams."
Naturally, Liu Chuan knew this; most skilled players from the old zones were already recruited by major teams. So, with the league expanding, guilds were rushing to the new zones to find promising talents.
However...
All eight top teams arriving might be a bit exaggerated.
Liu Chuan questioned, "With so many guilds entering the new zone, why is the world channel so quiet? The dungeon records only show National Beauty achieving a little over fifty thousand points. That seems a bit low... What are the other guilds' raid teams doing?"
Duan Changcao helplessly explained, "Because there are too many entering guilds, guild leaders who know the information prefer to stay low-key. No one wants to be the first target! On the first day, everyone is in a wait-and-see state. National Beauty's record will soon be broken; elite teams from several guilds are preparing to enter dungeons. Starting from level 40, the real chaos will begin with guild escort missions and the competition for world bosses."
Liu Chuan was quite speechless for a moment, "With all eight top teams here, it will be tough to compete for bosses..."
Duan Changcao was very frustrated, "Not only that, some guilds even brought their guild leaders and elite teams from the old zones."
Liu Chuan questioned, "How do you know all this so clearly? Did you send undercover agents to all major guilds?"
Duan Changcao sent two embarrassed emojis.
Liu Chuan laughed, "Don't be embarrassed; other guilds probably have undercover agents in Seven Star Grass too."
Duan Changcao sent a handshake emoji, "It's good that you know. Being a guild leader isn't easy! This zone is extraordinary, coinciding with the tournament reform. I estimate that major teams have already discussed with guilds; everyone wants to take advantage and recruit more newcomers..."
Liu Chuan asked, "When Seven Star Grass came to the new zone, did Captain Xiao give instructions?"
Duan Changcao said, "No, Captain Xiao doesn't deal with the guild side; it was Sister Sanse's directive."
Liu Chuan now understood.
Seven Star Grass guild's overall leader, Sister Sanse Fengjingcao, was indeed a farsighted and sharp individual.
In previous years, there wouldn't be so many guilds entering simultaneously. This time, coinciding with the tournament reform, with the addition of two team slots in the spring season next year, many skilled players from the community would seize the opportunity to join professional leagues. Every time the league added new teams, it was a bloody battle; new teams rose, and many old teams would be eliminated, causing a reshuffle in team rankings. It wasn't surprising that major guilds were so nervous.
Sending guilds to the new zone to recruit players was indeed a well-thought-out strategy.
It was better to have skilled players join one's own team than being absorbed by newly formed teams from the community.
As the saying goes, skilled individuals emerge from the masses. In such a vast country like China, who knows when a dark horse might emerge...
After considering for a moment, Liu Chuan said, "Well, let's see how it goes when the time comes, Guild Leader. We'll play it by ear, and I'll try my best to help you secure it. If I can't, there's not much I can do."
Duan Changcao laughed and cried, "Brother, let's put aside the world boss for now. I sincerely invite you to join our Seven Star Grass guild. You're a skilled player, and you should understand that this zone has many major guilds. Our guild's strength is among the top in the league. If you're interested in participating in professional leagues, I can recommend you for an interview at Seven Star Grass's training camp."
Interview at Seven Star Grass's training camp...
Are you sure that me going for an interview won't scare Captain Xiao away?
Liu Chuan smiled and said, "Thanks for the Guild Leader's kind offer, but I'll pass."
Duan Changcao was frustrated, "Skilled brother, is it that you look down on our Seven Star Grass guild?"
Liu Chuan explained, "No, it's just that I'm used to being a free agent, and I have a few friends and relatives. We prefer forming our own team to tackle dungeons. I don't want to owe you any favors, so let me help you snatch bosses. Let's settle on that."
Duan Changcao had no other option but to nod, "Okay. If you can come help with the level 40 boss, I'll thank you in advance!"
Liu Chuan said, "You're welcome, let's see if we can grab it!"
Duan Changcao had to temporarily give up on recruiting the skilled player.
The Guild Leader personally making the invitation was already giving him face. This skilled player clearly had no intention of joining a guild, and there was nothing Duan Changcao could do. At least the skilled player continued to maintain his free-agent status, not being lured away by other hostile guilds. It was still a decent outcome!
As Duan Changcao was planning to retreat, a message from a Tangmen expert popped up in the lower-left corner: "By the way, Guild Leader, could you do me a favor?"
Duan Changcao was puzzled, "What favor?"
Liu Chuan grinned, "Since Seven Star Grass is a professional PvP guild and doesn't compete for dungeon records, right? I'm currently forming a team for a dungeon, short of two people. Could your guild spare me two players?"
Duan Changcao responded, "..."
What the heck! I haven't successfully recruited you, and now you're trying to take players from my guild?
Liu Chuan said, "Just those three Grass members! I remember there are two Wudang players with decent skills. Borrow them to help me set a dungeon record."
Duan Changcao hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll ask them."
As one of the largest guilds, Seven Star Grass indeed never contested dungeon records.
This was because Xiao Sijing once said, "Why bother with dungeons? Such a waste of time."
The management team was directly defeated! Captain Xiao's words were authoritative, leading Seven Star Grass to no longer pursue dungeon records. It transformed into a professional PvP guild, specializing in recruiting sharp players for the arena. The guild's cohesion was exceptionally strong, and it had numerous violent players who excelled in battles. They rarely faced defeat in large-scale faction wars. However, they were relatively weaker in dungeons, as most members of Seven Star Grass didn't enjoy them.
Pitcher Plant, Shy Grass, and Moon Grass – these three individuals in Seven Star Grass had average skills, not considered experts, but more like seasoned players. However, even if their skills weren't exceptional, handling a level 30 dungeon shouldn't be a significant problem. After playing for several years, their awareness and skills should be decent.
After some consideration, Duan Changcao quickly made up his mind and invited the three members into the team.
Pitcher Plant sent a confused emoji, "What's going on, Guild Leader?"
Duan Changcao said, "Remember the Tangmen expert from before? He needs help with a dungeon and asked if you two Wudang players could join."
Moon Grass said, "Sure, I have some free time."
Shy Grass said, "I'm fine too!"
Pitcher Plant, feeling a bit left out, muttered, "Aren't you picking me?"
The Guild Leader heartlessly replied, "They have a Shaolin in their team, and you're also from Shaolin."
"..." Little Piglet classmate silently coughed up blood and stepped aside.
Duan Changcao said, "Well, the skill level of this Tangmen expert is still uncertain for me. He claims to have commanded world bosses, and I want to see his capabilities. Huanxiu, private message me your account and password. I'll use your account to run a dungeon with him."
Upon the Guild Leader's request, Huanxiu immediately nodded and sent her account and password via private chat.
Duan Changcao opened another game window to log into his account. "Send me the mobile verification code."
"597747."
Successfully logged in, he said, "I'll return your account after a few runs."
Huanxiu sent a smiling face, "No problem! Guild Leader, enjoy playing. I was planning to sleep anyway. You can return the account to me tomorrow!"
This account happened to be friends with the Tangmen player. Duan Changcao directly right-clicked to request joining the team, and it was quickly approved. In addition to the previous Tangmen, Wudu, and Shaolin members, a Wudang player named "Qingfeng Daochang" joined. Duan Changcao, feeling puzzled, arrived at the entrance of Mingjian Pavilion.
Li Xiang recognized a familiar face and greeted, "Is it Three Grass? Did you bring them over, Captain?"
Liu Chuan smiled, "Rather than calling unreliable strangers from around the world, it's better to bring them. At least their operation is more reliable."
Li Xiang asked, "What about that little pig?"
Moon Grass said awkwardly, "He's from Shaolin..."
Li Xiang gleefully commented, "Oh, I'm from Shaolin too. We don't have a spot for him in our team, and he won't get any dungeon rewards either."
Moon Grass took a screenshot of this message and sent it to Little Pig, who continued to silently cough up blood.
Liu Chuan chuckled and said, "Alright, the two newcomers, gather. Let me explain how to fight. After entering the dungeon, start the fight directly and see how far we are from the record."
Liu Chuan carefully explained the dungeon strategy to the two new Wudang players. As they listened, they became increasingly shocked.
This strategy was completely unheard of!
During the first stage, everyone was safe on the roof. In the second stage, the guardians were controlled by Tangmen and Wudu. The two Wudang players just needed to focus on maximizing their damage output with brainless DPS...
Moon Grass couldn't help but privately message his guild leader, "Guild Leader, I've never heard of this strategy."
Duan Changcao frowned, "Neither have I. This Tangmen seems interesting. Let's go in and try a round."
Liu Chuan was still patiently explaining, "Ranged sects are more suitable for this dungeon. Both new Wudang players should switch to the Qi sect, organize your equipment and skills, and if everything is fine, we'll enter the dungeon."
Having coordinated three times before, Liu Chuan and his team were already highly efficient. With the strategy he devised, as long as ranged classes stood in the right positions, they wouldn't receive much damage. The most pressure fell on the Shaolin player, who needed to control the rhythm perfectly, enduring and timing the use of healing items...
Duan Changcao anxiously watched as the Shaolin master's health stayed at 5%, teetering on the brink of death. It was nerve-wracking!
They were doing a dungeon without a healer?!
Although he was a professional PvP player and not fond of dungeons, he at least knew that the usual configuration was one tank, one healer, and four DPS! This bizarre team didn't have a healer, and the poor Shaolin was self-healing with red potions, struggling for 30 seconds each time he consumed one. A slight distraction could lead to his death!
To make things more perplexing, while the Shaolin was struggling on the verge of life and death, he even had time to type...
"Hey, that Wudang, you wasted your skill! Don't daydream! Take the record seriously!"
Duan Changcao almost sprayed blood.
Being educated by a newbie while being a guild leader...
The front-yard mobs were killed in suspense, and the first phase of the boss was easily passed by dodging the chases. The mobs in the backyard were wiped out in a single AoE attack, and the guardians who healed the boss were seamlessly pulled away by Tangmen and Wudu. The Shaolin stabilized the boss in the middle of the area, while the three Wudang players crazily output damage. The speed at which the boss's health dropped was like a hemorrhage...
Soon, the dungeon was smoothly completed in 20 minutes, with a score of 45,000. Liu Chuan smiled, "45,000, not bad! The current record is 52,000 from Guose Tianxiang guild. Let's adjust and try another round. Huanxiu, make sure you're not slacking off."
Using Huanxiu's account, the Guild Leader replied, "..."
Liu Chuan chuckled, "Alright, the four of us have used up our attempts for today. Let's regroup and start again at 12 o'clock."
Duan Changcao exclaimed, "Isn't the daily limit for attempts five?"
Liu Chuan replied, "Before you joined the group, we had already run it three times."
Duan Changcao muttered, "Four of them? They ran heroics? Four people without a healer ran heroics? And they successfully cleared it three times?"
The Guild Leader's old blood got stuck in his throat once again...