Chapter Thirty-One: A Surprise for My Little Brother

Ye Yu’s command came early enough to give everyone time to prepare their next actions. Although the Six-Armed Ape Spider was level 35 and combined the base attributes of five hundred players, its attacks remained deadly to those below the required level.

With the group’s coordinated assault, they struck directly at its exposed weakness. In an instant, another 30 points of its health vanished. At that moment, alongside the spider’s weakness status, a new state appeared: Weakened—On the Brink of Death.

This status signified that the monster was teetering on the verge of death, its attributes drastically reduced. But it also meant the possibility of sudden, unpredictable events—such as a desperate final attack.

Yet the appearance of this state had little impact on Ye Yu and the others. Under Ye Yu’s and Qingxian’s precise control, the team launched relentless attacks, each burst of damage immense. Before long, the Six-Armed Ape Spider’s health dropped to 20.

Seventeen.

Fifteen.

Twelve.

Ten.

As its health dwindled, Ye Yu’s vigilance grew. The lower its health, the more terrifying its death throes could be.

Guildmaster Liáng Yè sent a warning: “Pay attention to that status—its last stand is coming. If you get hit, you’ll be thrown out of the dungeon.”

Seeing Ye Yu’s reminder, everyone’s spirits tensed, bracing themselves for the spider’s final retaliation.

The spider’s health continued to fall, reaching 3 in the blink of an eye. Ye Yu watched intently, wary of a lethal strike.

Just as this thought crossed Ye Yu’s mind, his eyes narrowed—a cold glint flashed across his gaze.

Suddenly, a dreadful red light surged around the Six-Armed Ape Spider. Under the dazzling crimson glow, everyone sensed a tidal wave of energy erupting from within its body, fierce and overwhelming.

Liáng Yè shouted, “Defend! Fall back!”

Ye Yu’s timely command was crucial. Everyone immediately withdrew, with Ye Yu—closest to the spider—retreating a full hundred meters. The spider’s body began to crack, sinister fissures spreading across its form. With a blinding flash, beams of red light burst from those cracks.

A thunderous explosion followed.

The Six-Armed Ape Spider’s body was obliterated, reduced to dust by the terrifying blast.

Ye Yu’s eyes narrowed. In truth, he hadn’t intended to slay the spider just yet. Once it entered its death throes, its combat power plummeted severalfold, posing little threat to a force of five hundred. And after all, this was only the first minor boss of the Heaven’s Snow Lake dungeon.

Despite that, the rewards and loot were generous—each member received a share. Liáng Yè addressed the group: “Most monsters here are just small fry. Don’t waste time on them, or unnecessary status effects could cripple us.”

Ye Yu’s earlier actions had earned him high praise for his leadership—even those who were initially skeptical fell silent, recognizing that Liáng Yè truly had the makings of a guildmaster.

Yet Ye Yu never intended to hold that position. He planned to hand it over to Luo Feng or Zhiren Lengnuan, but both chose to serve as vice-masters instead. Zhiren Lengnuan even told Ye Yu he need not worry about guild affairs—leave it to him and Anyè; only Ye Yu could truly lead.

Understanding this, Ye Yu accepted the role. Helping Nuǎnliáng that once had thrust the name Purple Mirage into the spotlight. Soon, new guilds would emerge, and competition would be fierce.

Liáng Yè continued, “This guild dungeon is different from main story instances. We must slay every target to finish. But there’s no need to fight every single one—prolonged combat will exhaust us. If we pick up unnecessary negative statuses, we’ll have to stop and recover.”

Guild dungeons were timed, and while the limit was usually generous, Ye Yu knew that didn’t account for downtime to recover from debuffs.

Compared to others, Divine Fall was far more challenging, which is why it drew such attention. A game with infinite potential was bound to be loved by all.

The death of the Six-Armed Ape Spider sparked cheers among the guild. Overcoming such a power gap was exhilarating.

With the beast dealt with, Ye Yu glanced around. Everyone had received experience, loot, and a fixed 100 points of guild contribution. A gentle smile tugged at his lips. After all, this was just a game—as long as everyone enjoyed themselves, winning or losing hardly mattered.

Liáng Yè called out, “Stay sharp, everyone. Our actions likely caught the next guardian’s attention. Their intelligence may be limited, but they’re not mindless. You’ll notice tiny monsters, no bigger than ants, along the road—don’t touch them. If they’re harmed, another Six-Armed Ape Spider could appear, which would waste time better spent on real rewards.”

Everyone understood. If, at first, they joined for the guild’s reputation or simply because it was the first, now they truly respected Liáng Yè’s ability. An outstanding support not only guides teammates to dodge and defend but also calculates every variable. Liáng Yè had the Six-Armed Ape Spider entirely figured out.

Under such a commander, everyone could perform at their best.

Finding such a leader was no easy matter.

The group of five hundred pressed on for several kilometers, encountering many obstacles, but none more difficult than the Six-Armed Ape Spider. Under Liáng Yè’s direction, they advanced smoothly.

Yet, the unexpected still occurred. Some members engaged the minor monsters, triggering negative statuses. Liáng Yè had to adjust the plan: all five hundred sat down on the spot to rest and recover.

Meanwhile, in front of the male dormitory building—

A woman, about one meter seventy-eight tall, stood by the entrance. She wore an off-shoulder blouse and denim shorts, a custom chain bag slung across her back, its lower right corner adorned with distinctive lettering. On her feet were pristine white sneakers.

Her bright eyes sparkled with intelligence, clear as autumn water. Her cheeks were fairer than snow, her neck slender and graceful, her figure elegant and poised. She was flawless from head to toe.

The surrounding boys couldn’t help but stare. Even without a trace of makeup, her natural beauty eclipsed anything cosmetics could offer. She possessed a lively, ethereal charm, as if untouched by the dust of the world, with a hidden brilliance all her own.

She walked slowly to the dorm manager’s office, resting her fair, slender arms on the windowsill. A faint curve appeared at her lips, a gentle smile blooming. In that moment, a unique presence radiated from her—an innate aura.

The dorm manager looked up in surprise. “What wind has blown you back here?”

Her smile deepened. “It’s been a long time. I came back, and naturally, I’m here to see someone.”

“You know the rules—girls aren’t allowed in the boys’ dormitory.”

Hearing this, her expression didn’t change much. She stood with casual grace, her face serene yet tinged with a languid indifference. Though the brilliance in her gaze softened, she remained impossible to ignore—as if she didn’t seek attention, but still drew all eyes effortlessly.

“You know, if I really wanted to go in, nothing would stop me.”

Her tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty, as if everything would unfold just as she wished.

“Still threatening an old man like me, even at your age?”

The dorm manager had known her for years—he was once her teacher, and after retiring, took up this relaxed post at the school.

“I wouldn’t dream of threatening you, sir. I’m here to see someone.”

“Who could possibly bring you to the dormitory?”

“My brother, of course. I’ve come to surprise him.”