After hearing Priest Buyu Xiaye say that, Jimo Ruxue didn't offer any rebuttal. She simply lowered her head, turned around, and left, chasing after Shi Feng.
The Ranger Tian Wang narrowed his eyes, thinking about Shi Feng in his trash equipment. He couldn't understand what method Shi Feng had used to make Jimo Ruxue follow him — to the point that she didn't even care about clearing the Silent Forest.
"Boss, forget about that idiot Jimo Ruxue. We can always recruit more people. There are plenty of level-two players now," said the Shield Warrior Yi Zhan Daodi dismissively, watching Jimo Ruxue walk away.
The Ranger Tian Wang nodded. Jimo Ruxue's departure meant nothing in terms of loss for their squad. As for a level-one Shi Feng trying to form a party to enter the Silent Forest, nobody would bother joining — let alone clearing it.
In front of the entrance to the Silent Forest, Shi Feng and Hei Zi were continuously calling out to recruit.
"Silent Forest party forming! Any veteran players welcome, no strict requirements. We need four more!" Shi Feng shouted.
Upon hearing this, quite a few level-two players came running over. After all, Shi Feng's requirements were extremely low. Most parties checked equipment first — you needed at least a few pieces of Common gear to qualify. But in the early game, where would anyone get that much Common equipment?
"Pick me! Pick me! I'm a Priest, already level two!"
"Pick me! I'm a level-two Shield Warrior, and I have a level-one Common plate armor gauntlet."
Before long, Shi Feng had filled four spots.
The four had initially been quite happy — out of more than ten people present, only they had been chosen. But the moment they saw their party leader Shi Feng's level, they were furious and immediately left the party.
"Damn, turns out it's a total noob. Only level one and you dare come to the Silent Forest? You want to clear a Dungeon on your own? Go ahead, I'm not playing along."
"No wonder there were no party requirements — you just wanted us to carry you. Not a chance."
The four were visibly angry, practically shouting so loud that every player in the Silent Forest could hear.
"Heh, a mere level-one player dares to talk big about clearing the Silent Forest? He's obviously just trying to leech experience and gear. Good thing I didn't go over there."
"There are all kinds of people in this world. Who would be stupid enough to team up with a level-one rookie for a Dungeon? That's just asking for a beating."
The other level-two players all mocked Shi Feng for his overestimation of himself and his stupidity.
"If you don't want to join, get lost. Nobody begged you to come," Hei Zi snapped angrily. He had already been won over by Shi Feng's skill. These people calling Shi Feng a noob? A noob who could kill a level-two Rare Elite at level two, and kill a level-five Leader at level zero? They were a bunch of idiots looking down on people.
"Wow, I've learned something new. A level-one noob puts on airs when recruiting. I'd love to see how you actually fill your party," the Priest who had just left sneered.
Just then, Jimo Ruxue came running over. She looked at Shi Feng and said urgently, "Expert, add me to the party! I want to join you in the Silent Forest. I have two pieces of Common plate armor — my defense is twenty-four."
"Sure," Shi Feng sent a party invitation right away.
Hei Zi hadn't expected Jimo Ruxue to actually leave her original squad and come to them. He immediately felt a bit more favorable toward her, clapped her on the shoulder, and laughed, "You've got good instincts! Don't worry — sticking with Brother Feng is always the right call."
"Oh, it's nothing," Jimo Ruxue said, though some worry still lingered in her heart. She couldn't understand why the farming spots Shi Feng had casually pointed out to her had helped her reach level two so quickly, while he himself was still level one with absolutely terrible equipment.
The onlooking players were dumbfounded. Someone had actually agreed to party with a level-one noob for a Dungeon run — and this person's equipment wasn't bad at all. The brand-new plate armor and the fresh boots were definitely Common gear, not trash.
Even though Jimo Ruxue had joined the party, Shi Feng spent over ten minutes recruiting and still not a single other player came forward. With only three people, clearing a Dungeon was simply impossible.