Card Room

Yu Hanjiang agreed. "Yes, the challengers have cards and people who can reach this level in the survival room are all experienced. They can quickly find the weakness of the bugs and learn to use fire to destroy them."

Shao Qingge understood Xiao Lou's meaning. "Professor Xiao, are you saying that the number of high level bugs should be related to the number of crises created by the challengers? It is only when we create these crises that the bugs will merge?"

Xiao Lou nodded. "These days, most of the challengers are fleeing and won't take the initiative to trouble the bugs. However, if the bugs come to the door then they will all take measures in advance. They will use explosives, gasoline, alcohol and all types of inflammable and explosive products to deal with the bugs. This will induce their fusion."

Ye Qi heard this and couldn't help interjecting. "I remember that there should be around 30 challenger teams in this secret room?"

Xiao Lou nodded. "Yes, but in the first two or three days, the challengers suffered heavy casualties. Many people didn't realize the bugs' weakness of fire. Several teams were wiped out by the bugs. Only the challengers who survived have the skills to destroy the bugs. This also catalyzed the integration and upgrading of the bugs. According to my inference, apart from the bug queen, the number of level 9 bugs after 10 days if guerrilla warfare should be around 100."

His reasoning was based on the characteristics of the bug family.

Bugs like to live in groups but they didn't randomly merge with each other. After all, every bug had its own consciousness, thoughts and memories. Even if it was weak, it was an independent individual and didn't want to be swallowed by their own kind.

It was only when it was extremely dangerous and the bugs couldn't protect themselves that they would quickly merge and upgrade with their surrounding companions. This was probably their survival instinct.

The city residents were infected too quickly and wouldn't have created a crisis that panicked the bugs. Therefore, the number of times the bugs fused was similar to the number of troubles caused by the challengers. There could be only one level 10 queen and there shouldn't be many level 9 bugs. For example, 80% of the bugs at the warehouse that day burned to death from the gasoline. Out of the remaining bugs, two or three at most would become level 9 bugs.

These days, the challenger teams had created big crises but the number of times the bugs fused shouldn't be too much. The 100 he speculated was an overestimation. Maybe some challengers wouldn't fight but would just hide when encountering the bugs.

Shao Qingge heard Xiao Lou's conclusion and frowned. "According to Professor Xiao, if we consider there to be 100 high level bugs then we have no absolute certainty of winning. I can't directly suppress those who are equal to me with willpower. I need everyone's cooperation and arrangements in advance."

Yu Hanjiang thought about it carefully. "I have a way." He looked at Xiao Lou with a question in his eyes. "It is just that this way requires us to work with Gao Xiaoyi's team."

Xiao Lou reacted quickly. "You want to use their physics and chemistry cards to set up a trap and then activate the traps to blow them up after the bug queen comes?"

Yu Hanjiang nodded. "We have the advantage when dealing with the high level bugs. It is as Chief Shao said just now. First, we aren't afraid of fire. Second, we have cards. It is only when these two advantages are fully utilized that we will have a chance of winning this tough battle."

He added, "In the beginning, we didn't dare cooperate with other challengers because we were afraid the infected people in their team would suddenly attack us. However, Chief Shao is a level 9 bug. Even if there are infected people among the other teams, Chief Shao can perceive the existence of the bugs. This concern can be completely eliminated. Therefore, we can try to cooperate."

Ye Qi was worried. “Will they be willing to cooperate? After all, there are only three days left until the instance is cleared. If they hide and avoid the bugs then they will pass this instance more safely. Facing the bug queen with us is very dangerous.”

Yu Hanjiang replied, “We will talk to them as soon as possible.”

Xiao Lou fully supported Yu Hanjiang's decision and nodded. "Okay, we will talk to them."

The night the temporary challenger alliance came to them, Yu Hanjiang had remembered the direction they left in. It was further east and he guessed Gao Xiaoyi might've brought these people back to the warehouse.

There had been a big battle near the warehouse and the raging fire produced by gasoline burned countless bugs. Since bugs were naturally afraid of fire, they wouldn't want to go back to that place.

At that time, Yu Hanjiang had controlled the flames in the outer circle and the warehouse wasn't affected by the gasoline explosion. There were many fruits and vegetables inside. It was indeed the best choice if the challenger alliance wanted to find a temporary base.

Yu Hanjiang glanced at Shao Qingge. "I will hand this place to Chief Shao. Professor Xiao and I will talk to them."

In the past, he was still worried about handing their teammates to Chief Shao for protection. Now dealing with ordinary bugs would be easy for Shao Qingge unless the bug queen personally came here. In addition, Xiao Lou had handed the card Tao Yuanming to Shao Qingge. If he encountered a problem that couldn't be solved, he could open the Peach Blossom Spring, teleport inside as a group and hide there for three hours.

Shao Qingge told them earnestly, "Don't worry, I"m here. Go quickly and pay attention to safety."

Yu Hanjiang hugged Xiao Lou's waist with a single arm and took Xiao Lou away with the light footwork and teleportation cards. The two men moved continuously through the air and soon arrived near the warehouse. The fire had burned all the surrounding trees and the ground was littered with bug limbs. It looked miserable.

Xiao Lou threw Ye Qi's eavesdroppers into the distance and then whispered, "There are people inside the warehouse."

Yu Hanjiang nodded and flew to the door of the warehouse with Xiao Lou. Xiao Lou knocked gently on the door and cried out, "Is Gao Xiaoyi inside? We have something to discuss with you."

Inside the warehouse, Gao Xiaoyi's eyes widened with surprise when she heard Xiao Lou's voice. The girl stood up, asked her teammates to be on guard and replied from a distance, "What is it?"

"Can you step outside to talk?"

Gao Xiaoyi came to the door and maintained a safe distance from Xiao Lou. "You say it."

Xiao Lou lowered his voice. "We want to gain a perfect clearance and need your help. I don't know if you have any interest?"

Gao Xiaoyi was slightly surprised. "A perfect clearance?"

Yu Hanjiang stated, "According to the setting of the secret room, eliminating the bug queen will lead to a perfect clearance."

Gao Xiaoyi's face instantly turned as white as paper. "Don't joke around. Do you know how powerful the bug queen is? We formed a temporary alliance because we met her!"

Gao Xiaoyi's voice rose so her teammates heard her words.

The glasses wearing man from the physics department walked over. "We saw a flying shadow while escaping. The bug queen seems to have the ability to fly. She actually flew from one tall building to another. In addition, there are many high level bugs around her. If we didn't have the group teleport card, we would've been wiped out."

Gao Xiaoyi added, "Yes, the bug queen's ability is very terrifying yet you want to destroy her? You must know that she isn't alone when fighting. There are dozens of high level bugs and thousands of bug soldiers under her. How can we destroy her with our strength?"

Xiao Lou softly persuaded her. "Don't underestimate your abilities. No matter how powerful she is, she is still a bug in nature. Her fear of fire won't change. Moreover, she is only physically strong. Her climbing and jumping abilities have increased to the limit but we have cards in our hand. We can control her."

The boy pushed up his glasses. "Your words made sense but it is too risky to do so. We can hide and pass the instance after three days. Is it necessary to take this risk?"

Yu Hanjiang hit the nail on the head. "Don't you want a perfect clearance? It is only 8 of Spades but you don't dare to challenge the bug queen who has obvious weaknesses. Do you want to keep hiding when you get to J of Spades or K of Spades?"

Xiao Lou agreed. "That's right. The risk when obtaining a perfect clearance is high but the benefits are great. After you get an S-grade score, you can draw a powerful S-grade card. This is also helpful for future secret rooms."

Seeing that the boy's attitude was slightly shaken, Xiao Lou continued, "We only need your help in arranging the traps. You can entrust us with the dangerous task of fighting the bugs. There is the queen and many high level bugs. It is really difficult for us to destroy them with just the eight of us? Cooperating to clear the instance is good for everyone, isn't it?"

Yu Hanjiang continued, "Besides, your captain Cheng Ziyang is dead. Based on his strength, it is impossible for him to return from the 8 of Spades Nightmare Room. Your team also needs to increase its combat effectiveness and draw more good cards. Think about it."

The two people were like 'husbands singing and following each other'. They had a tacit understanding.

Gao Xiaoyi glanced at her teammates.

She was about to open her mouth when she heard the female captain of the Luoying Pavilion suddenly say, "I'm willing to help."

The neat girl walked up to Xiao Lou with a cold expression. "Those of us in Luoying Pavilion will pursue a perfect clearance in every secret room but it is too difficult to pass this level perfectly. Since you are willing to work together, I can provide card assistance."

Xiao Lou nodded at her. "Thank you."

Xiao Lou remembered the scene when the female captain burned her teammate to death. This captain was iron-blooded and really quick and decisive. Xiao Lou gained a bit more confidence with such an ally.

At present, there was no competitive relationship between the challengers and there was no need to be afraid of the infected people stabbing them in the back. As long as everyone was willing to join forces, the number of cards increased and it would naturally be safer to kill the queen. It was a mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

Seeing the people from Luoying Pavilion taking the initiative to join, Gao Xiaoyi also gritted her teeth. "Okay, we will also try it."

Xiao Lou's gaze swept over the others.

The bearded uncle from the Eternal Kingdom smiled. "We won't join. We are only pursuing an ordinary clearance. It isn't necessary to take risks for a perfect clearance. Good luck to everyone."

This guild had always been laid-back and only did the World Weekly. Xiao Lou had previously wondered why they suddenly came to such a difficult room like 8 of Spades. However, he couldn't guess their purpose from the bearded uncle's smiling attitude.

Xiao Lou nodded and no longer tried to persuade them. The two teams who were willing to join were brought back to the temporary base by Xiao Lou and Yu Hanjiang.

The Distant Association had 10 people, Luoying Pavilion had 11 people and Xiao Lou's group had 8 people. Their three teams added up to less than 30 people.

However, they were going to face the level 10 bug queen, around a hundred level 9 bugs and countless bug soldiers! This battle was extremely risky but in order to perfectly pass the level, draw stronger cards and go to more difficult secret rooms, everyone could only grit their teeth.

Xiao Lou told them, "If we can't beat them, we will think of a retreat route to make sure that we aren't destroyed."

The female captain of Luoying Pavilion simply nodded. "Okay, say it. How to arrange it?"

Xiao Lou smiled and took out a piece of paper. "We want to turn this community into a maze of fire."