In the distance, Wu Tong reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

On the third-floor corridor, Li Shuwen gave Li Wenwen a few words of advice. The latter's gaze towards Zhai Ren immediately became solemn.

At the same time, numerous gazes were withdrawn from Zhai Ren's figure.

"This Zhai Ren really has some skill. He acts decisively and isn't afraid of incurring Blood Grudge," Xu Ruyan said gravely from the tenth-floor corridor.

Xu Lang leaned against the Dragon-Hunting Crossbow, his gaze meeting Zhai Ren's from afar.

Although Zhai Ren had just killed someone, his state of mind seemed quite calm, with only placidity in his tiger-like eyes.

Xu Lang raised a hand and gave him a casual wave, a simple greeting.

A flicker of surprise crossed the other man's face, and he actually nodded in acknowledgment towards Xu Lang.

"His judgment is quite good. Daring to go head-to-head just now, he probably has some kind of prediction-type skill, with absolute confidence in his own attacks. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked breaking a leg to kill Li Hu," Xu Lang withdrew his gaze and explained to Cao Yaxuan and the others.

"Then, Brother Xu Lang, who's more powerful, you or him?" Xu Xiaomeng asked a somewhat naive question.

"Don't know," Xu Lang shook his head. "Zhai Ren seems to be that type of physical-build player; his close combat ability isn't poor."

Brother Xu Lang is probably still a bit stronger!

Xu Xiaomeng nodded, thinking to herself.

Xu Lang's group turned and headed back to their room. Sherry scratched her head and said, "Wouldn't it be better if we gave him the Black Fish-Scale Armor?"

Instantly, everyone's eyes turned to her.

Xu Lang ruffled Sherry's smooth hair and said, "You still haven't fully integrated into the atmosphere of our dorm, huh."

Not giving Zhai Ren the equipment earlier, and now giving it to him after he's already purchased his own gear and demonstrated his strength? Wouldn't that make us look like complete clowns?

Furthermore.

If Zhai Ren really wanted to pick a fight, would Xu Lang be afraid of him?

What a joke!

Xu Ruyan stared at Sherry and said seriously, "Letting Zhai Ren wear the Black Fish-Scale Armor would be too much of a blow to Xu Lang's face."

'Blow to his face'—this reason sounds laughable, something only brainless villains in TV dramas would say.

Yet, this is the reality.

If Xu Lang backed down, his authority would fall behind Zhai Ren's. In other words, his words wouldn't carry as much weight as Zhai Ren's.

The most direct difference would be: when players get good items they can't use themselves, who would they give them to first? Definitely Zhai Ren, not Xu Lang!

Ordinary folks wouldn't understand why important figures are so concerned about saving face.

Because it's a genuine struggle for tangible benefits.

"Oh~ I think I get it a little now," Sherry said, suddenly enlightened.

In her mind, holding onto the Black Fish-Scale Armor was useless, and the Golden Pillar Jade Toad Door required Copper Coins to repair its Durability. Wouldn't it be better to sell it to Zhai Ren to recoup some losses? Save Copper Coins while also reducing a potential enemy.

But she hadn't considered: if Zhai Ren really had designs against Xu Lang, wouldn't this be aiding the enemy?

Time slipped by. Zhai Ren had clearly become the number two figure under Xu Lang, his influence subtly surpassing even Li Shuwen's.

After all, Li Shuwen was only a five-cycle player.

Besides his own strength, Zhai Ren's dorm wasn't ordinary either; it was a Level Five dorm, meaning he had placed in the top ten five times.

However, his dorm configuration was relatively poor, seeming to confirm Xu Lang's guess that he was a physical-build player.

...

The hotpot bubbled with steam. Xu Lang glanced at the chat room.

【Chat Room 188/200】

The Mad King Dormitory Building was only twelve households away from being full. The situation among players probably wouldn't change too drastically.

The candidates for the ten floor leaders were basically all decided.

Tenth floor: Wu Huihui; Ninth floor: Yun Yun; Eighth floor: Zheng Kai; Seventh floor: Nie Kong; Sixth floor: Zhou Shen; Fifth floor: Tang Ze; Fourth floor: Zhai Ren; Third floor: Li Shuwen; Second floor: Zhao Liang; First floor: Wu Tong.

Apart from the seventh, fourth, and first floors, the other seven floors all had their old floor leaders.

After all, they were established powers with the first-mover advantage of having many interpersonal connections.

Xu Lang frowned, pondering for a moment, and then discovered a problem.

"It seems that among these nearly two hundred people, very few are beautiful. The only one with a ninety-four Comfort Level is someone else's wife."

The living conditions of five or six-cycle veteran players were a bit better than those of bottom-tier players. More people wore nice clothes, and the overall quality was rising. However, very few met Xu Lang's standards.

A moment later, Xu Lang shook his head.

Thinking about this problem now was a bit premature.

Although he had the Nightmare Lord Sequence, he couldn't just mess around recklessly.

The most important thing right now was to figure out how to coast through the next game cycle.

Based on the types of items players had found, the next game cycle would involve a lot of supernatural elements. Signature items included a Level Six pumpkin head, a Level Six witch's broom, and a Level Six substitute strawman.

It was worth mentioning that the Level Six substitute strawman was currently in Xu Lang's possession!

【Substitute Strawman】

【Type: Item】

【Level: 6】

【Effect: Exempts user from one fatal injury】

【Upgrade Condition: 1000 Nightmare Coins】

【Description: Hehehehe, this is a Halloween gift for the little ones—the Fear Strawman】

A second-floor player had found this. Wanting to maximize profit but afraid of provoking Zhao Liang, he directly sent Xu Lang a private message.

Xu Lang didn't shortchange him either, offering a price much higher than the market rate.

"Xu Lang, I feel the next game cycle will probably have a Halloween theme," Cao Yaxuan said casually, picking up a slice of parboiled beef and placing it in Xu Lang's bowl.

"I think so too," Tong Qi chimed in, biting her chopsticks. "Someone in the chat room just summarized the top ten Halloween taboos. I think it's crucial."

Xu Lang nodded. "Everyone should take a look."

As he spoke, he took out the True Ancestor's Manuscript.

The content of this book updated daily. Xu Lang, like a reader following a serial, took it out to read every day and discussed it with Cao Yaxuan and the others.

【Tragedy, tragedy, tragedy!!!】

【Three of my favorite giant blood slaves ran away today!】

【Heavens! In this Blood Mist World, how will they survive without me?】

【It's truly heartbreaking!】

【Come back, my brave and fearless Blood Servant Giants!】

Xu Lang and Sherry leaned in to look, then relayed the content to Cao Yaxuan and the others.

"This True Ancestor's mental state is, as always, not quite normal..." Wang Yazhi's cool face showed a flicker of strangeness.

"Vampires are probably all crazy," Cao Yaxuan nodded repeatedly.

"I think she's a bit chuunibyou. Probably a cute vampire girl on the outside, and she keeps saying she's sixteen, but she might actually be a thousand years old," Tong Qi said very seriously.

"Hey, do you think giant monsters might attack our dormitory building in the future?" Sherry suddenly had a wild thought.

"Teacher Sherry, don't jinx it!" Tong Qi said fearfully.

Everyone started discussing the matter. Amidst the chatter and laughter, they finished the hotpot.

If your life was relaxed and comfortable enough, then the Mad King Dormitory Building wasn't boring at all.

The type of the next game cycle was always an evergreen topic of discussion. Floor leaders and powerful players also served as substitutes for celebrities, providing fodder for conversation after meals.

Moreover, there were many violent conflicts here; there were more juicy scandals than one could possibly keep up with.