This Is Efficiency

Just as Jian Li and Shen Nian transformed into Bai Guang and entered the instance, Lu Xiu, after resting for a while, felt bored and also entered the Construction Space to construct a new instance at the same time.

On the other side.

Inside the Monster Hunter dungeon.

The combined squad of Ulysses and Kasumi of the Red Tide is undergoing what can only be described as a long and arduous ordeal.

After five waves of teammates who either couldn't handle the pressure or were simply not good enough, this team, which was equivalent to the strongest in Red Tide, finally wore down the arrogant Nergigante after countless Felyne Cart and retrying.

After defeating Nergigante, Ulysses was completely exhausted.

He no longer dared to be as naive as he was after defeating Anjanath, thinking that the rest of the dungeons would be a smooth ride.

A copy of Nine Provinces!

It's impossible to guess using common sense!

That Architect is insane!

And the reality was indeed as cruel as he had predicted, even more so.

The Nergigante just fallen.

Various heavyweight Ancient Dragon followed one after another.

The Kushala Daora's frequent leaps into the air create wind pressure, making it incredibly difficult for melee fighters to approach.

The Teostra, with its fiery aura, is prone to explosive damage.

And the Vaal Hazak, which directly reduces the maximum HP and also deducts HP from the battlefield.

But this is not the end.

After they stumbled and fell across the three Ancient Dragon mountains...

What awaited them was the Xeno'jiiva, whose health was devastatingly high.

Four whole days.

Ulysses and his companions faced one obstacle after another in the dungeon.

The new Lu Xiu dungeon is almost finished.

They had only just defeated the Xeno'jiiva ----

but.

It's finally over.

As the final blow landed, Xeno'jiiva plunged into the Abyss.

With a loud bang.

Ulysses immediately threw away all the weapons he was holding.

He collapsed to the ground without any regard for his image, his eyes already somewhat glazed over.

After a while.

Ulysses finally recovered, lying on his back with bloodshot eyes. "Finally, we beat it! Just how much does this Nine Provinces Architect love dragons?! How come there are so many dragons? And this dungeon—why is it so long?! But is the investigation into the truth about the Elder Crossing finished? It should be over now, right? Dungeon cleared, right?"

Not far away.

A woman stood quietly, panting, but unlike Ulysses, she didn't disregard her image.

She is another top player in Red Tide.

Xia.

This is a very tall woman, taller than many men, nearly two meters tall, which, combined with her voluptuous figure, makes her very eye-catching.

Hearing Ulysses's wails, Xayah didn't even turn her head, simply saying, "I don't think it's that simple."

Ulysses' heart skipped a beat. "What does that mean?"

Xia turned to Ulysses: "The instance explicitly mentions the existence of master-level quests, but our investigation this time shouldn't be Master Rank Quest."

Ulysses froze, a sense of foreboding rising within him. "----This isn't Master Rank Quest? This quest should be the Master Rank Quest, right?! All we have to do is go back, turn in the quest, and go through the process to complete it, right?"

Xia remained noncommittal.

Ulysses' other two teammates exchanged bewildered glances.

Clutching at their last glimmer of hope, the four dragged their weary bodies away and returned to the Astera to hand over their mission.

I thought that with the submission of the quest, I would receive a notification that the dungeon was cleared, or a CG animation announcing the end of the investigation.

The good news is...

The investigation has indeed been completed.

But the NPC stood before them with a solemn expression.

Ulysses ' heart sank to the bottom.

"Hunter, unusual ecological phenomena have appeared in the Ancient Forest again. We need you to investigate immediately."

Not again?!

Ulysses practically gritted his teeth as he accepted this so-called new investigation assignment.

And then they stepped into the Ancient Forest once more.

Ulysses and the others, along with the NPCs, witnessed hordes of Legiana flying away from the Ancient Forest in large numbers.

This unusual large-scale migration was highly unusual, and in order to find out the cause, the Research Commission decided to launch a follow-up investigation.

Ulysses and his three companions once again served as pawns.

An investigation revealed that the destination of the Legiana's migration was an unknown continent that had never been recorded before.

----Another unknown continent!!!

The more Ulysses advanced the mission, the more confused he became.

The stronger the ominous premonition, the better.

This doesn't look like clearing a dungeon at all.

And then they returned to Star Base.

Ulysses's anxious heart finally died.

The Commander, standing before the map, waved his hand dramatically and declared, "Gentlemen! Based on the migration routes of the Legiana and the traces of the Ancient Dragon you brought back, we have discovered a completely unknown New World in a hot air balloon!"

"That's a frigid land covered in ice and snow; we call it [Hoarfrost Reach]!"

"In order to investigate that continent, the Research Commission has decided that all Hunter must prepare immediately! We will establish a brand new outpost in that frigid land— Seliana!"

Get ready for the real challenge!!! Many unknowns await us in this New World!!!

Listening to the Commander's passionate pre-battle mobilization.

"Watching the Master Rank Quest unlock notification slowly pop up on the System Panel."

Ulysses stood there, his lips trembling slightly.

The next second.

Everything went black.

He lay down on the ground.

How long is this dungeon? How long is it? How long is it???

In fact, it wasn't just Ulysses who experienced a sudden blackout.

After so many days.

Strategy Group.

Many High Sequence players in Nine Provinces have also fought Xeno'jiiva.

Most of these were members of large guild Strategy Group who had previously been tormented by Lu Xiu's dungeons and were skilled at studying the dungeon system; even the dragons following the Nergigante couldn't stop them.

only.

Like Ulysses, they thought the dungeon would end after the Xeno'jiiva.

After all, this dungeon was already incredibly large up to the point of defeating the Dark Spirit Helm Breaker —it had already exhausted them.

Even with rest mechanisms, they were still exhausted.

They also thought that after defeating the Xeno'jiiva, they would be greeted with flowers and applause for clearing the game, as well as the coveted rewards for completing it.

As a result, when they returned to the Star Base full of excitement to hand in their mission...

However, it was a devastating blow from [Hoarfrost Reach] and [Master-level Quest].

Everyone's vision went black.

Nine Provinces Forum.

[Help! How big is this dungeon?! I thought I'd get the rewards after defeating Xeno'jiiva, but the NPC tells me to pack my bags and go to the Iceborne?! What kind of Constructed Instance is this?!]

[When the Commander waved his hand and said the real challenge had just begun, I immediately coughed up blood right there in the base.]

[Please, Lu Xiu, stop this nonsense! This isn't how you play a dungeon! It's like something out of Second Life!]

[I'm desperate, there's a Master difficulty level now—what were we doing before? A tutorial?!]

[To be honest, Lu Xiu really doesn't treat us like outsiders. This dungeon is huge; after we finish one continent, there's another one, and it's even buy-one-get-one-free! The Survival Points tickets were totally worth it (gritting teeth)!]

Yes, she certainly doesn't treat us like outsiders, but she doesn't treat us like human beings either.

[This is torture! The monsters are getting more and more monstrous, the mechanics are getting more and more absurd, and now there's a Master-level one—I have a feeling the rewards will exceed expectations, but the torture will also exceed expectations.]

[----]

The entire forum was filled with lamentations.

The ordinary players who were hoping to get big rewards from the top players were all dumbfounded when they saw these posts.

At the same time.

Jade Capital Frontline.

Zhou Zhenyue was sitting in his office rubbing his temples.

The window in front of him also displayed forum messages.

He also saw information about the Hoarfrost Reach and Master-level quests in the Monster Hunter dungeon.

"So."

Zhou Zhenyue, a veteran general who had experienced countless battles, took a while to catch his breath before looking up at Chu Huai and saying incredulously, "Lu Xiu's dungeon is far from being a level that can be cleared?!"

Chu Huai stood to the side, nodding with a wry smile, "According to the information sent back by the Strategy Group the Coordination Bureau—that's indeed the case. The Xeno'jiiva is only the High Rank Quest; there's still Master Rank Quest following the dungeon, and the size of the Hoarfrost Reach isn't—"

Smaller, and the monster mechanics are even more insane.

Yan Fushou said that most of the elite Strategy Group were so exhausted they almost needed to see a psychiatrist—there was simply no way to come up with a strategy guide in a short time.

Zhou Zhenyue fell silent upon hearing this.

He had previously thought in the real-world Astera that he was being a bit greedy and couldn't expect Lu Xiu to immediately conjure up a new instance.

Fortunately, there is a backup plan. Perhaps in half a month, once the Coordination Bureau has produced the Monster Hunter strategy guide, the frontline soldiers can follow the guide to strengthen their capabilities.

But now it seems...

He underestimated the skill of Architect Lu Xiu —he greatly underestimated the terrifying nature of the Monster Hunter dungeon!

"

"

Thinking of this...

Zhou Zhenyue felt a deep sense of powerlessness wash over him.

The Strategy Group is so frustrated they need to see a therapist.

Even if the soldiers on the front lines had a strategy guide, it would be too late, wouldn't it?

He sighed, then thought for a moment and asked, "How many soldiers are currently on rotation for rest?"

Chu Huai glanced at the window in front of him. "About sixty percent."

"What are most of them doing, aside from those who are resting?"

"Apart from a few people who haven't yet run the old Lu Xiu Lu Xiu, everyone else is running the system dungeons. However, the Strategy Group's focus for the second half of the year is entirely on the Lu Xiu dungeon, resulting in very poor performance."

"

Zhou Zhenyue fell silent again, and after a long while, he said, "Chu Huai, do you still remember the update countdown mentioned in the new expansion?"

"Remember."

Chu Huai's expression turned serious. "There are still twenty days until the system's prediction of increased monster mutations on the front lines."

Twenty days.

Zhou Zhenyue stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray, hazy Jade Capital Defense Line in the distance. "We don't know what the monsters will be like by then. We can't put all our eggs in one basket with those High Sequence players—and we can't let the soldiers waste twenty days of their precious free time."

Chu Huai was silent for a moment, then said, "How about I ask Miss Lu again? Ask her if we can make a new dungeon or something?"

"That's not very realistic."

Zhou Zhenyue shook his head.

He figured it out five days ago when he left the Astera.

To solve the problem.

It's unrealistic to expect Lu Xiu to lead the soldiers through the Monster Hunter dungeon; the only option is for her to create a new dungeon.

But doesn't a new dungeon need a walkthrough?

Should we ask Lu Xiu to create a custom copy?

Lu Xiu is highly capable.

But ultimately, she's not a god, so you can't exploit her.

This states the request, and it's good that the other party fulfilled it.

If she fails to deliver, some people might be disappointed, or even think she hasn't done her job well enough.

Zhou Zhenyue had seen far too many things like this.

certainly.

Most importantly, Zhou Zhenyue felt it was unlikely—having Lu Xiu create a dungeon that soldiers could clear without a guide in the remaining twenty days would be incredibly difficult.

Ultimately, she's just a girl who's not even twenty years old, and the burden of problems falls on such a young girl's shoulders.

Then what's the point of having adults?

Zhou Zhenyue himself felt bad about it.

"Go contact the Coordination Bureau. Since a strategy guide for Monster Hunter can't be produced in a short time, let some members of the Strategy Group work on the system dungeons. It can't take another ten days or half a month to come up with a strategy guide, can it?"

Zhou Zhenyue pondered for a moment and said, "Let the soldiers with the previous system dungeons and clearance counts clear them. Recently, the front line has almost entirely relied on Lu Xiu's dungeon rewards and doesn't care much about the system dungeon rewards anymore. But the situation is special now, let them put aside their prejudices and strengthen the team as much as possible."

Chu Huai nodded. "Okay."

"If there really isn't a suitable copy, then let's hold a competition."

Zhou Zhenyue continued, "Even if we can't get a direct boost to our attributes at the system level, it's still good to hone our combat skills in high-pressure combat."

"Understood, I'll go right away—"

Chu Huai's expression turned serious, and he was about to nod in agreement.

The communication panel in front of him suddenly popped up.

Chu Huai glanced down and paused, momentarily stunned.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Zhenyue asked, looking at him.

"Lu Xiu's communications."

Chu Huai replied, "Let me take this first."

Zhou Zhenyue: "Yes, ask her what she needs, and you can agree to anything."

Chu Huai nodded and connected the call.

soon.

Lu Xiu's voice came through. "General Chu, may I ask you something? Are many soldiers on the front lines currently being rotated out for rest?"

"

Zhou Zhenyue and Chu Huai were both stunned.

"Hello, General Chu?"

Chu Huai realized what was happening and said, "Yes, many soldiers are currently resting. Is there anything you need, Miss Lu?"

Lu Xiu continued, "Then find me a top-notch soldier—one with excellent marksmanship, strong mental fortitude, and the ability to remain calm in any situation."

"

Chu Huai subconsciously glanced at Zhou Zhenyue beside him.

----You need to be a good shot, have strong mental fortitude, and be able to calmly face any major situation.

This sounds like there might be some special operation going on?

Zhou Zhenyue nodded slightly.

"That's definitely not a problem."

Chu Huai replied, "Many of the soldiers who have retired and are currently resting meet your requirements. How many do you need?"

"Um... didn't I just say one is enough? What would I need so many for?"

"One person?"

Chu Huai was puzzled upon hearing this. "Then, if I may ask, what do you intend for this person to do?"

one person.

Testing equipment or weapons?

Chu Huai speculated.

until----

"----Verified successful dungeon entry."

Lu Xiu's voice came through. "Currently, there are three of us, including Shen Nian and Jian Li, but the new dungeon requires four people. This new dungeon was originally prepared for frontline soldiers, so I was thinking of asking a soldier to join us."

7

"

Chu Huai's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this.

Zhou Zhenyue's breath hitched.

The office fell into a deathly silence.

Lu Xiu's words began to echo in their minds.

The new dungeon was originally designed for frontline soldiers.

Prepared for frontline soldiers----

The two had just been worrying about what to do with the soldiers on the front lines.

Now Lu Xiu is saying—a new instance has been prepared for the soldiers on the front lines???

ah?

Zhou Zhenyue was speechless.

One minute ago.

He even felt that this was making things difficult for Lu Xiu.

Unexpectedly----

Is it true or false???

A full five or six seconds passed.

There was no response for a long time.

Lu Xiu spoke again, "Can you hear me?"

"I can hear you!!!"

Chu Huai suddenly snapped out of his daze, "Miss Lu—you just mentioned a new instance? Or a new instance specifically prepared for the frontline soldiers?!"

"Yes, but it hasn't been verified yet. We'll only know how the frontline soldiers feel after it's been verified."

Lu Xiu explained for a moment, then asked, "So, can you lend me someone?"

"Borrow!!!"

Before Chu Huai could answer, Zhou Zhenyue interrupted him loudly, "I am Zhou Zhenyue. So, Miss Lu, about this new instance you mentioned—how long is the learning period? Do the soldiers need a guide to enter?"

"General Zhou is here too."

Lu Xiu paused for a moment, then replied, "Theoretically, no. This is a pure survival dungeon, unlike Monster Hunter has so many complex systems. It mainly tests the players' teamwork and their use of modern firearms—but everything will have to wait until we pass the test."

In short, if they're willing to lend me people, that makes things easy. Please have someone come to the Astera to find me this afternoon.

----afternoon???

Chu Huai:

Zhou Zhenyue:

"

"

Five days ago.

Zhou Zhenyue realized something: no matter how strong Lu Xiu was, she wasn't a god.

Just a few minutes ago.

He kept telling himself that Lu Xiu could never conjure up a zero-threshold training instance out of thin air in less than twenty days.

But now.

Lu Xiu told him that she had not only completed the dungeon, but that she could even verify her completion that very afternoon?!

ah?