"Alright, let's do it that way." Xu Lang nodded.

Anyway, before thoroughly investigating Rust Lake's secrets, he had no intention of going to the lake center pavilion.

And even after investigating, it would be better to let others dive into the lake to retrieve things... just in case there was a hidden boss behind a hidden boss behind yet another hidden boss.

"Perfect timing since we're taking over the laboratory later, no need to waste energy here." Xu Lang chuckled lightly, opening his private message with Tang Ze, saying: "I'll talk with Tang Ze about exchanging Rust Lake Park for the laboratory."

Xu Lang not only wouldn't approach Rust Lake, but would also stay away from the entire Rust Lake Park.

The laboratory was close to the dormitory building, safe, and convenient for Luo Lin to research Evolution Serum later.

Cao Yaxuan didn't know what she thought of, suddenly giggling.

"Sister Yaxuan, what's wrong?" Tong Qi played along dutifully.

"I remembered a saying, XX frowned and positioned everyone in front for protection." Cao Yaxuan laughed heartily.

Xu Lang glanced at her - she wanted to be the main damage dealer again.

...

[Xu Lang: Are you in charge of the biochemistry laboratory area?]

Tang Ze was currently in his dormitory having fun with a female tenant when he suddenly saw this private message pop up, scaring him so badly he went soft immediately.

Damn, he's robbing me now!

[Tang Ze: What's up, please tell me what you need]

[Xu Lang: I'll trade you Rust Lake Park for it]

[Tang Ze: Are you lacking disposable damage items? I can sell you some at low price]

Tang Ze breathed a sigh of relief - so it was about this.

The most commonly spawned high-value items in the biochemistry laboratory were things like poison gas bombs.

[Xu Lang: You don't want to trade?]

Shit!

Why does this guy talk so arrogantly?!

Tang Ze immediately got angry.

[Tang Ze: Okay, brother, when are you coming? I'll have the stationed people withdraw] 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

It's not that he, Tang Ze, was cowardly!

He, Tang Ze, had been around for ten to twenty years, and before entering the Dorm Survival Game, he was a self-made furniture and lumber factory owner with extremely rich life experience. Handling a college student like Xu Lang should have been easy.

But, that was already in the past.

Now, even if Xu Lang was a college student, or even an elementary school student, he would still offer cigarettes!

Just thinking about Xu Lang's eerie long blade made his neck feel chilly!

[Xu Lang: Let's trade now, but don't say I didn't warn you - there's danger at the bottom of Rust Lake, better not go there]

Hearing this, Tang Ze didn't feel cheated at all - instead, his eyes lit up.

Danger was good, danger meant there were monsters, and monsters meant there was equipment.

But after all, he was a Veteran Player and knew the Dorm Survival Game was ever-changing, so he truly wouldn't be reckless enough to personally take the risk.

And he couldn't cheat his own people either.

So that only left sending Mercenaries to scout the path!

With various thoughts running through his mind, Tang Ze quickly finished his business, pulled up his pants, and headed to the laboratory building with his underlings.

...

Tang Ze made quite a scene, with dozens of players standing with him under the laboratory building, waiting for Xu Lang's arrival.

Streetlights cast slanted illumination, stretching their shadows long, making them look like a group of menacing monsters.

They weren't all standing together, but were spread out in staggered positions.

This positioning had purpose - it effectively avoided being wiped out by a single high-level damage item.

Before long, Xu Lang's group arrived.

When Tang Ze saw Xu Lang, he immediately put on a smiling face: "Xu Lang, you're here."

"Mm." Xu Lang nodded, walking forward completely unguarded, smiling: "Pleasant cooperation."

"Pleasant cooperation!" Tang Ze laughed heartily.

Both sides stopped when three meters apart - this was best for everyone.

"This is the list, it contains the item catalog spawned in the laboratory building, take a look." Tang Ze took out a list and tossed it to Xu Lang.

Xu Lang glanced over it, finding things like syringes, microscopes, etc., his eyes slightly brightening as he nodded in satisfaction: "Very good."

Tang Ze waited a while, and seeing that Xu Lang's side didn't hand over any list, knew the latter wasn't fully prepared.

Rust Lake Park's total area was much larger than the dormitory building, so even if the material quality was somewhat inferior, he wouldn't lose much.

He laughed heartily and said to Xu Lang: "How about we gather sometime, have hot pot together? To be honest, I really want to know your views on the future."

"What plans do you have?" Xu Lang looked up at Tang Ze.

This question actually stumped Tang Ze momentarily.

Players discussed short-term futures the most every day, and long-term futures the least, and Xu Lang's tone seemed to be asking about the latter.

But Tang Ze wasn't some young kid after all - with a turn of his mind, he adopted his past business negotiation style.

To put it simply - painting a grand vision.

Tang Ze coughed, his brow seemingly carrying the weight of experience as he frowned and said:

"First, we need to survive."

"Second, we also need to explore outward - the Blood Mist World can't trap us forever!"

"And to achieve these two points, we must unite together, work with one heart!"

"There are too many bad people in the Dorm Survival Game!"

"I want to turn the Mad King Dormitory Building, at least the fifth floor, into a mutually supportive community!"

"If we can cooperate with the tenth floor, that would be even better!"

After this impassioned speech, many fifth-floor players were moved.

After listening, Xu Lang nodded repeatedly: "That's a good idea, I can help connect you with Wu Huihui."

"Okay, after I finish organizing the fifth floor, I'll contact her." Tang Ze knew this was Xu Lang's polite refusal and didn't push it.

"About the meal, let's talk next time, we still need to do Floor Sweeping." Xu Ruyan said at this point.

Tang Ze looked at Xu Lang, and seeing he didn't say anything, understood clearly.

This was also Xu Lang's intention.

However, he didn't take his leave just yet, but sighed and said: "I estimate new players will arrive tomorrow morning, not sure what quality they'll be, but there will definitely be fighting over them then."

"That's a good thing." Xu Lang smiled.

Tang Ze was immediately stunned.

Had he encountered a battle maniac? He just wanted to form alliances!

"Hehe, Xu Lang, you're too good at joking." Tang Ze laughed awkwardly.

Xu Lang neither confirmed nor denied, bid farewell, and led everyone into the laboratory building.

Using common sense, they knew the laboratory building had definitely been hastily looted by Tang Ze's group, so Xu Lang's team didn't bother searching for supplies. After familiarizing themselves with the layout, they announced the news of taking over the laboratory building.

"Lang Ge, there's some trouble here - the experimental equipment has all been dismantled, and even the intact pieces can't be started." Tong Qi looked at Xu Lang, speaking with concern.

"No matter, this place will spawn corresponding blueprints and raw materials anyway. First, inform Luo Lin about the laboratory's information." Xu Lang shook his head.

The Dorm Survival Game had a playstyle called the creation path.

A certain player in the Blood Mist Mutual Aid Society who hadn't been online for a while was on the creation path, specifically making talismans for sale.

Reportedly, this required very high-level life skills.

Although these creation path players didn't focus on combat power, once their system took shape, they became money-printing machines!

Rainy Night Blade had also said that such players were the backbone of the Dorm Survival Game, capable of greatly improving dormitory building quality.

"Okay." Tong Qi responded.

Xu Lang walked down from the podium, about to say something, when suddenly a private message popped up.

[Su Yuan: Lang Ge, can you come save me? I'm being door-camped]

[Xu Lang: How many people?]

[Su Yuan: Three]

[Xu Lang: Okay, I'm coming right away, don't let them escape!]