Outside the dormitory on the square, the crowd surged, with the sounds of private whispers and clamor incessantly filling the air.

More and more players were converging towards the square.

Xu Lang swept his gaze over the scene and noticed a significant difference between this gathering and the last one.

The last major gathering was when the Mad King building summoned the players' relatives and friends.

This time, the players were countless times more elite than that occasion. Although each was dressed in bizarre and varied outfits, their eyes held a fierce, ruthless glint. They wouldn't seem out of place in a maximum-security prison.

Environment truly can change a person.

Even in a peaceful society, many people develop mental issues due to the pressures of work and studies, let alone here.

Wu Huihui was also downstairs. Seeing Xu Lang, she waved and called out, "Lang Ge!"

Everyone else who heard this looked over, then instinctively stepped back.

"It should be fine, right? It's game time now. Xu Lang probably won't kill people indiscriminately."

One player retreated a step, then, clinging to some stubborn notion, stepped forward again, "earning" that step back.

"Hui Hui, Xiao Zhu, Ting Ting!" Cao Yaxuan waved in greeting.

Wu Huihui's team somewhat resembled the classic "iron triangle" from novels: Nie Xiaozhu devised strategies, Wang Tingting managed internal affairs and diplomacy, and most importantly, there was Wu Huihui herself, the anchor. The three were inseparable.

"I didn't expect you guys to come to the assembly either." Wu Huihui jogged over, looking a bit embarrassed. "I thought you weren't coming, so I didn't call you."

This matter was a big deal. Almost all players had come, including those "strong players" whose dormitory setups were no weaker than a Floor Leader's.

And Dorm 200 was the exception.

Because they could no longer be described merely as strong players; the general momentum couldn't sweep them along either.

Xu Ruyan shook her head. "Hui Hui, you misunderstand. We're not here for the assembly."

The players from the tenth floor had the strongest cohesion, so they were all in the square now. Hearing Xu Ruyan's words, they immediately started chattering.

"Sister Ruyan, where are you guys going?"

"To the supermarket? If you want to buy something, we can get it for you!"

"Lang Ge is so handsome!"

Cao Yaxuan's eyes scanned the crowd, secretly making a mental note of that infatuated girl.

Xu Ruyan didn't answer but instead looked at Xu Lang.

"We're going out to search for supplies. Do you want to come?" Xu Lang asked.

He hadn't intended to hide his purpose anyway; otherwise, he would have come out alone wrapped in black clothes.

"We just searched recently. There probably aren't many supplies left now," Wu Huihui replied.

The period right before the game started was when players scavenged supplies most aggressively.

"Doesn't matter. We're idle anyway," Xu Lang said, spreading his hands.

"Then you guys go ahead. We'll still pass," Wu Huihui said, shaking her head.

They had agreed earlier in the chat room that all Dorm Owners should bring their players. She didn't want to go back on her word.

"Alright." Xu Lang nodded and led his group away in a grand procession.

Although it couldn't be said that Xu Lang was currently surrounded by beauties or had a harem of three thousand, he certainly had quite a few lovely ladies around him. Many people were whispering about it.

The most popular among them was Zhen Lu.

After all, she was a newcomer.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Xu Lang and the others hadn't revealed the real-world Mutations to the other players. So, everyone's perception of Zhen Lu was that of a sudden outsider, a beautiful ordinary person.

"What's the deal with her white hair?! Dyed? I heard from Clear Sky University students that it's natural."

"That girl is so ethereal, like she's untouched by the world's corruption. She doesn't seem like a player at all."

"I wonder if Xu Lang has a thing for white-haired girls."

"..."

Zhen Lu's senses were sharp. Hearing these words, she subtly clenched her fists, tiny blue veins visible on her fair knuckles.

Her hair color was due to a rare disease. This illness had brought her immense suffering since childhood, with more than half her life spent in a hospital bed. She would have died long ago if not for her family's wealth.

Xu Lang noticed her emotional shift. He was about to say something when he saw Zhen Lu suddenly whirl around, her cherry-red lips letting out a roar, "Hey, you lot! This lady's hair is silver! If you dare gossip about me behind my back again, watch out or I'll rip your mouths off!"

All the players were stunned by Zhen Lu's outburst. No one expected the ethereal, fairy-like girl to be such a "fierce woman."

Even Xu Lang was somewhat surprised.

Although he had entered Zhen Lu's body, it seemed he hadn't yet entered Zhen Lu's heart.

The players fell silent, no one daring to respond.

Zhen Lu narrowed her eyes and swept her gaze over the players for a moment longer before turning back around.

"Sister Zhen Lu, you're so imposing," Tong Qi whispered.

"I just can't stand people calling me 'white-haired.' Are those people blind? My hair is clearly silver," Zhen Lu huffed.

"Hehe, but I think it looks white too," Cao Yaxuan teased.

"Ya Xuan, you've become bad!" Zhen Lu bared her teeth, then transformed into a tiger and swiftly bounded away.

Xu Lang quickened his pace, a strange thought popping into his mind.

Zhen Lu currently only had beast form and human form. He wondered when she would develop a human-beast hybrid form.

The Comfort Level might increase then...

...

As it approached 11 PM, Xu Lang and his group returned to the dormitory.

Cao Yaxuan and the others were very happy.

They had hardly ever spent such a long time "hunting" outside before and found it incredibly novel, clamoring to go again tomorrow.

After opening Treasure Chests for several hours, everyone's harvest was quite good, equivalent to over a hundred or two hundred thousand Copper Coins.

It was worth noting that Xu Lang's current daily commission from Li Wenwen was only about that much.

Of course, Li Wenwen's value would continue to rise.

The later it got, the higher the enhancement fees.

Xu Lang had also inquired about Forging Path players from Rainy Night Blade and others. Although not as lucrative as Creation Path players, they were the Backbone for a dormitory building's prosperity.

If Building Wars happened in the future, and your building had no Forging Path players while the opponent did, the gap wouldn't be small.

It's worth mentioning that Rainy Night Blade had already experienced Building Wars and reaped substantial rewards.

Time passed, and soon it was midnight.

Cao Yaxuan, Tong Qi, Wang Yazhi, and the others snapped out of their cultivation.

Then, they all heard a voice in their ears, and system text appeared before their eyes.

[You have been selected as a Monster Player. Please choose from the following transformation forms...]

"Interesting. So the flower has fallen in our garden. Are we supposed to kill all the players?" Xu Lang's lips curled into a smile, a low chuckle escaping his throat.