Big Sister's Challenge

"I know this is a bit difficult in a siege—but that's the price of getting stronger. Ordinary players might need a lower-level substitute, but top players shouldn't be unable to learn it, right? And practicing within a fixed framework is always better than trying to understand it in real-life life-or-death situations, isn't it?"

Lu Xiu realized that everyone was looking at her.

It's not that I'm a coward.

But I do have some doubts. "Otherwise, what do you think a dungeon is? Isn't it just a practice run? Why do you think the system gives high ratings and good rewards? You think you can just easily clear it and get good rewards? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Shen Nian recalled her experience of beating Sekiro and seemed lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qiu hardened her fist.

A little?

Prediction? Observation?

In that situation? Surrounded by a bunch of super-powered enemies with deadly attacks, in that life-or-death situation—players are required not only to accurately capture the movements of enemies from all directions, but also to instantly prioritize and plan their battle, and finally execute a flawlessly fluid Neutralize with an absurdly short judgment window?!

Is this even human language?!

Is it really just a little bit?

Does this person even realize how outrageous their casual remark was to the other players?!

Real-world simulation – This real-world simulation is just too outrageous!

She couldn't hold back any longer and said, "But isn't that a bit too outrageous? Just because you can do it doesn't mean we can!"

"

Lu Xiu glanced at the unfamiliar mature woman, and upon hearing her accusation, replied, "Resident Evil is the Ordinary Person's Courage, Sekiro is the Loser's Obsession, Titanfall is the Pilot's Certificate, and Outlast is about surviving."

The current Sifu is Mortal Martial Arts, using a mortal body to fight against the extraordinary.

To achieve a high rating, the theme and the overall flow of the instance need to be well-matched.

To get good rewards, you need to push the dungeon process to a certain extreme.

This is the underlying logic of Constructed Instance.

It's indeed not easy to do what I just said under siege conditions; even as Architect, I need to practice for a long time—I know I don't need to pay a price, but there's really no way to change the ticket price right now.

Even top-tier gamers can't afford this price?

Or are you saying you can easily clear the system's SS-rank dungeons? Just because unofficial dungeons are created by players, do you think you can clear them effortlessly without any practice?

True geniuses might be able to, but none of us are; we can only grow step by step.

"But----"

Jiang Qiu was momentarily speechless. "But it doesn't have to be that outrageous! Even relaxing the standards a bit! Adding some other mechanisms would be fine!"

That's a lower-level dungeon.

Lu Xiu looked at her. "--The rating system isn't just for show, is it? Or do you not need top-tier dungeons? I can create lower-tier dungeons, add more mechanics, and make the difficulty lower."

But I also need to be able to protect myself, so I'm pushing myself to the limit with high-difficulty dungeons—that shouldn't be wrong, right?

"I----"

Jiang Qiu was speechless again.

"Ah, sorry—I seem to have been a bit prejudiced. Aren't you someone like Jian Li?"

Lu Xiu thought of a possibility and added, "You got tricked in the dungeon because you misjudged its difficulty? Then I can only apologize. Also..."

Although community-created dungeons are man-made, the ratings are real. The Survival Points Ticket itself is one of the entry barriers, and I can't change that now. If you can't afford to consume a large number of Survival Points Tickets, don't easily attempt high-difficulty dungeons. That's not gradual progress; that's gambling. Gambling on high-difficulty dungeons is easy.

But that possibility is extremely slim—even if I create a dungeon that doesn't require any combat, it would still take you a lot of effort to figure out the rules. If this Sun Yi isn't up to par, I'll create a lower-level alternative dungeon. How about we wait patiently for a while?"

----They've come knocking on our door.

The lack of entry requirements for unofficial copies is really troublesome.

The action is clearly stated in the type field.

Given the cautionary tale of Sekiro, would any average player lacking the Survival Points dare to challenge it directly?

Is this person a manager from the Coordination Bureau?

As Lu Xiu pondered, she continued, "As for this time, I can only apologize. Director Yan told me that after the Strategy Group finishes, they need to make it available to the soldiers on the front lines. I can't just turn it into a private instance. Next time you see my instance, take a close look at the rating and entry fee, then think it over carefully and act according to your ability."

Jiang Qiu was even angrier!

But for a moment, I really didn't know what to say!

This moment.

Actually, she had some doubts as well.

Why am I so angry?

The system's SS-level dungeon is clearly not easy either.

It seems that seeing Lu Xiu's fluid and graceful movements gave her a vague feeling that she could do the same.

However, the difficulty of the dungeons was beyond imagination, and since these dungeons were created by players, there was always a feeling that they could have been made easier.

Therefore, my mindset is slightly unbalanced.

I felt really resentful.

That's all I can say in short.

Lu Xiu didn't say anything more, but looked at the stunned Sun Yi again. "We've gone off-topic. That's all I can say about dungeon construction. As for the rest, you'll have to find it in Sifu's dungeon yourself—the plot, the theme, and all sorts of other random things. I'm still holding the Goddess Blade Title."

"Anyway, good luck. It would be great if you could create a lower-tier alternative."

That way, she won't have to do it herself.

Lu Xiu wasn't exactly fickle.

But even after you've already Neutralize, having to do the same type of dungeon, or even a lower-level alternative, is indeed a bit troublesome and takes up too much of your time.

Moreover, it's a good thing that other Architect are developing.

It's a good thing for everyone.

That's why she was willing to talk so much.

Upon hearing Lu Xiu's words, Sun Yi suddenly came to his senses.

Although I was shocked by everything I had just heard.

Although he felt that he would most likely never be able to Constructed Instance like Lu Xiu in his lifetime.

But at this moment, Sun Yi truly understood what a top-tier Architect is! How to properly construct a dungeon!

Framework, ideas, theme, pushed to the limit----

So after the initial shock and bewilderment subsided, what followed in Sun Yi's heart was an indescribable gratitude.

He knew his own limitations very well.

At this moment, he was just an unknown person.

Lu Xiu —is a legend who has consecutively completed five highly difficult dungeons.

This Architect, standing at the highest level, not only didn't kick him out for trying to get something for nothing, but patiently explained so much essential, fundamental knowledge to him in detail.

It's really----

"Miss Lu Xiu!"

Sun Yi suddenly straightened his back with utmost seriousness and bowed deeply. "Really—thank you so much for your guidance!"

I will remember every word you said today!

Lu Xiu was taken aback by his sudden and generous gift.

Is such a grand ceremony necessary?

Since they're being so nice, I might as well go all the way.

"Um--

Yuan Lu Xiu responded, then thought for a moment and said, "Let me give you a few more specific directions."

Sun Yi suddenly raised his head.

"If you're going to create a lower-level alternative, you need to increase the margin for error. Don't make players fight superpowered enemies bare-handed from the start."

"You can add some simple weapon systems in the early stages as a transition."

"Of course we can't give the protagonist a fixed weapon, otherwise it would become Swordplay Instance, which would completely conflict with the theme of the entire dungeon—although I don't know what theme you want to set."

"But hand-to-hand combat can also allow the protagonist to interact with the environment."

"For example, a broom by the roadside, a long wooden stick on the ground, a bottle on the bar, or even a folding chair and a crowbar that you can just grab."

"Use these everyday items as temporary weapons, the kind that break after use—this increases the player's margin for error, reduces the difficulty, and retains a certain degree of hardcore feel, while the rewards should be decent."

"Of course, the specific design will depend on the theme, which you'll have to figure out yourself."

Sun Yi's eyes widened instantly.

Lu Xiu continued.

"On the other hand, to offset the high difficulty brought by the Neutralize mechanism, you can add a focus skill to indirectly lower the threshold."

"For example, add a focus energy bar. Players can accumulate energy by attacking in battle. Once it's full, they can unleash a guaranteed hit ultimate skill, such as the simplest ward placement."

"Once released, the enemy will be severely stunned, giving the player an extremely valuable opportunity to catch their breath and counterattack."

Lu Xiu paused, then added, "But this is just an idea. How to make it compatible with the dungeon theme and how to maintain a balance need to be carefully considered, otherwise the dungeon rating will be very poor."

Interactive environmental weapons!

Focus on your energy bar and your finishing move!

Swish-

Sun Yi's mind went blank. He suddenly brought up the System Panel and then frantically started recording with the frenzied typing speed of someone who had been single for thirty years.

It was as if they were afraid their brains would forget those things.

Lu Xiu looked at him as he took notes and placed high hopes on him.

Although it was common knowledge that was commonplace in the gaming industry in my previous life.

But it should be able to help.

Give it a try.

If all else fails, she can just do the lower-rank dungeons herself.

But deep down she still sincerely hoped that Sun Yi could do it. Because of the Goddess Intervention, it was basically impossible for her to communicate with players about the dungeon content, and doing lower-level dungeons might not necessarily become a stepping stone for her [Sifu].

On the other side.

The expressions on Li Shengkai, Jiang Qiu, Jian Li, and Shen Nian's faces could no longer be described as complicated.

They glanced at Sun Yi's notes, then at Lu Xiu, who had casually offered a hint.

"

No wonder someone like that could create such a torturous dungeon.

Li Shengkai sighed. He casually rattled off a self-consistent set of branching gameplay ideas.

Mechanisms that others rack their brains to the point of losing all their hair but can't figure out are as easy for her as picking out cabbages at the market, a bunch of them she can just throw out at will.

This talent is simply unreasonable.

On the other side...

Top-tier players.

Jiang Qiu, Jian Li, and Shen Nian all had the same thought.

No wonder someone like that could create such a torturous dungeon.

But things changed afterward.

Jiang Qiu looked at Lu Xiu with disbelief on her face.

Isn't it because we know how to reduce the difficulty?!

Then why—why is the "Sifu" dungeon still so ridiculously difficult?!

Does pushing oneself to the limit necessarily mean going to that extreme?

Are you really that confident?! Aren't you afraid you won't be able to win?

Besides swords and halberds—are you also so confident in your hand-to-hand combat skills?

"Miss Lu Xiu."

This moment.

Jiang Qiu recalled her struggles in the dungeon and Lu Xiu's smooth and effortless movements in the verification clip, and a variety of complex thoughts welled up in her mind.

She couldn't help but take a step forward, and then blurted out, "Can I challenge you?"

"Ah?"

Lu Xiu was slightly taken aback and looked over. "Didn't you get your Survival Points stolen by your Sifu?"

"No! I don't care about those few Survival Points."

"Then why did you just now—"

"I just think your copy is too outrageous."

Jiang Qiu replied, "I know my request is abrupt, but I'm genuinely curious about your expertise in papermaking—"

Shen Nian interrupted her, whispering a reminder: "That one—that one is pronounced 'zaoyi' (造诣)."

Jiang Qiu's fighting spirit, which had been brewing for a while, seemed to be about to materialize and ignite.

The words vanished instantly as Shen Nian whispered her correction.

An awkward silence fell over the corridor as everyone turned to look at her.

Jiang Qiu's beautiful face flushed bright red in an instant, the blush spreading all the way to her ears and fair neck.

Lu Xiu followed and looked over.

I can't help but wonder—illiterate?

Is this older sister really that pretty? Doesn't she study? Does she only think about fighting and killing all day?

blessing