Intervention at the East Gate

Lin Shenyue, however, didn’t quite grasp the intricacies of warrior aggro mechanics. Therefore, she began explaining the concept of aggro to Xu Linglong directly within the party, hoping Ye Jue would fill in any gaps she might overlook.

Ye Jue deliberately slowed the pace at which he drew aggro, allowing the others to focus on different tasks. Aside from casting a timely heal, Lin Shenyue spent most of her time explaining aggro control methods to Xu Linglong. Naturally, as a backline healer, there were certain aspects she couldn’t fully elaborate on, which Ye Jue, a frontline warrior, readily supplemented.

Embracing the Moon, Clear Breeze, who was dishing out damage nearby, was astonished. Divine Wind, unaware of Xu Linglong’s true skill, still harbored a slight disdain for her. In his mind, her abysmal aggro awareness meant she was only in the team because of Lin Shenyue.

He wisely kept these thoughts to himself, knowing that some things were better left unsaid as a team member. Embracing the Moon, Clear Breeze’s perspective was entirely different. He knew Xu Linglong possessed terrifying combat awareness.

When the two of them tackled difficult dungeons, the pressure rested more on the tank than on their damage output. Xu Linglong’s exceptional positioning allowed her to evade roughly 80% of the boss’s attacks, which was the key to their success in those challenging instances.

He had initially assumed Xu Linglong was some unknown master, yet her current performance suggested she was merely a novice, new to the game. Still, for a beginner to reach such a level in such a short time, Xu Linglong’s talent was truly formidable.

Divine Wind’s initial disdain for Xu Linglong gradually transformed into solemn respect as time wore on. In less than half an hour, Xu Linglong had evolved from an aggro-ignorant beginner into a stable secondary damage dealer capable of managing aggro effectively.

What particularly struck Divine Wind was Xu Linglong’s damage rotation. She maximized her output while also perfecting the timing of her attacks. Her movements flowed seamlessly, without a single pause in her assault. It was clear that Xu Linglong’s technique was already on par with any warrior he knew.

Unaware of the tumultuous thoughts churning in Divine Wind’s mind, the other four continued to systematically clear monsters. As time passed, the number of monsters Ye Jue pulled steadily increased.

To ensure better synergy, Ye Jue truly showcased his prowess, drawing in nearly fifteen moles. Although each mole’s attack power was low, their sheer numbers meant Ye Jue endured at least five mole attacks per second.

This was even after Ye Jue had skillfully used precise footwork to trap the moles behind him, preventing them from attacking him for a short while.

Despite their individual weakness, the sheer number of moles caused considerable trouble for Lin Shenyue’s party. Some moles, after failing to attack Ye Jue for an extended period, would drop aggro and rush the backline, creating minor disturbances.

Fortunately, even in the backline, both Xu Linglong and Embracing the Moon, Clear Breeze demonstrated excellent positioning. Lin Shenyue’s own position was relatively safe, and her aggro remained low, meaning no moles could reach her.

Thus, the small commotions within the party quickly subsided.

As time passed, everyone gained one to two levels, even Ye Jue, who reached level 13. Lin Shenyue, in particular, was at 50% experience for level 13. Progressing from level 13 to 14 required 3.5 million experience points.

Xu Linglong and Embracing the Moon, Clear Breeze, who had just reached level 10, gained over two levels, reaching halfway to level 13.

By this point, it was the final eight hours of the fifth in-game day. Lin Shenyue and two others still had their daily experience-gaining time unused. Xu Linglong and Embracing the Moon, Clear Breeze had spent over three hours reaching level 10, leaving them with less than five hours remaining.

Nevertheless, Xu Linglong and Embracing the Moon, Clear Breeze chose to follow along. At this stage, a little extra experience wasn’t their priority; quickly refining their teamwork was paramount.

The five of them arrived at the East Gate. As the game entered its fifth day, Vermilion Bird City’s population had noticeably grown. The area outside the East Gate, in particular, teemed with unguilded players. Consequently, conflicts over prime grinding spots were common.

Just as Lin Shenyue’s group observed, two parties were already clashing directly at the main entrance. Judging by their members’ condition, one team was clearly at a disadvantage.

Ye Jue initially intended to ignore the conflict and move on, but he paused upon spotting a particular individual. Lin Shenyue, curious, understood Ye Jue wasn’t one to meddle, yet he seemed inclined to assist the struggling team.

After a moment of hesitation, Lin Shenyue asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ye Jue frowned, his gaze fixed on someone in the crowd. “Intervene. Help the team that’s losing ground.”

Seeing that Ye Jue offered no explanation, Lin Shenyue didn’t press further. She simply stated, “Prepare for battle.” As the party leader, it was her duty to command.

The other three asked no questions, falling silent as they moved towards the fray. In that brief interval, the disadvantaged team lost another member—a shield warrior. Both of their front-line tanks were now dead, and the enemy warrior was charging straight for their backline.

Ye Jue’s expression hardened. With a precise Charge, he intercepted the advancing warrior. Due to Ye Jue’s superior strength and the fact that both were in a charging state, with Ye Jue hitting from the side, the enemy warrior was sent sprawling sideways.

Ye Jue’s initial impact dealt little damage, only a modest 80+. However, the combined speed of the two Charges caused the warrior to lose nearly 200 health from the fall alone.

The two warring factions reacted swiftly. The disadvantaged team immediately counterattacked, their backline now safe from the primary threat. With virtually no assassins present in most teams, merely stopping the enemy warrior was enough to secure their position. As for the enemy’s secondary tank, without a Charge ability, they posed no immediate threat.

Moreover, the opposing team’s attention was now entirely captivated by Ye Jue’s group, leaving them no time to bother with the original conflict.

The captain of the interrupted team snarled, “Who are you people? Why are you meddling in our fight?” Most players at the East Gate belonged to small to medium-sized guilds or were unguilded. His group, for instance, represented some of the strongest individuals within a small guild.

Larger guilds, recognizing their inability to monopolize the main entrance, wisely chose to occupy spots adjacent to the city gates. Ye Jue remained silent, quickly rushing towards another knight and blocking their attack.

He knew that in such moments, words only granted the enemy a chance to recover. The opposing main tank had already been thrown several meters back, now entangled in a dense horde of skeletons. Ye Jue understood that villains often perished due to excessive chatter. Thus, he charged the knight directly, signaling that no pleasantries were needed—it was time to fight.

The captain’s face contorted. He could only glare furiously at Lin Shenyue’s group of five, coldly declaring, “Our Monarch Overlooking the World Guild will remember you.”

Against a formidable team like Lin Shenyue’s, even the elites of their guild stood no chance. Furthermore, having lost their formation at the outset, they were easily encircled and eliminated by Lin Shenyue’s party.