After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

Chapter 709: 497, Ancient City opens, gathering of heroes

South Rock City, inside a vacation manor.

“Hahaha, with this [Gospel] water, Phoenix Tail Flower is nothing but a joke! The advantage is mine!”

Bear Ji held a test tube filled with black liquid, ecstatic beyond measure.

It was a gift from Lady Bai Mian, specially developed for adventurers at Dragon’s Rest Tomb. Consuming [Gospel] could temporarily increase one’s level.

Bear Ji, already at level 45, would be boosted to at least level 48 using this magic potion called Gospel.

Though Lady Bai Mian had been vague and cryptic, leaving an ominous sense that the potion could have severe consequences, Bear Ji had long since become entwined with the Demons and could not extricate himself.

If this was the case, then he might as well look ahead!

Bear Ji thought to himself that once he eliminated Lin Da and offered his Deed of Commitment, he could formally join Dragon’s Rest Tomb.

Becoming a cadre someday wasn’t out of the question.

“Who knows, I might even owe Lin Da some thanks. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet Lady Bai Mian.”

Bear Ji chuckled at the thought.

Meanwhile.

On the Devil’s Continent, inside an eerie castle.

A skeleton clad in a purple wizard’s robe sat on a throne, each pale finger adorned with gemstone rings, holding a magic wand shaped like a human skull in his right hand, with icy-blue soul fire flickering in his eye sockets that sent chills down anyone’s spine.

A young girl with long purple hair knelt respectfully before the skeleton’s feet.

“Father, the Demon King’s Castle has issued an announcement. At noon tomorrow, the 20th floor of the Great Mystery will open. Your daughter has been appointed by Hunting Hall to investigate the tracks of that mysterious Light Rank.”

“Go forth, Sani, and slaughter those weak and disgraceful adventurers.”

With a wave of his skeletal hand, a radiant, solid fragment of a Tear Pearl fell into the young girl’s hand.

“This is… a fragment of the Life Tear Pearl?”

Sani was overwhelmed with joy as she clasped it tightly: “Thank you for your gift, Father!”

Though this was not a complete Life Tear Pearl, even its fragment was immeasurably valuable, capable of healing severe injuries below Sacred Rank—such as severed limbs and damaged magic circuits. With this magical item, it was purporting to grant nearly an extra life.

Sani felt her father’s deep affection towards her.

She thought to herself: “As the third-ranked among the Twelve Belongings, daughter of Skeleton Sarel, I must kill numerous adventurers and uphold my father’s grand reputation.”

Leaving the castle, Sani gazed at the eternal crimson moon hanging in the night sky. She placed her right hand on her chest and said softly: “After this battle, I must express my feelings to my elder brother.”

The young girl spread her wings and flew towards the city center, where the imposing, black, sky-reaching tree—the Demon Realm Tree—stood!

The Demon Realm Tree had fifty floors, offering rewards from the goddess with each floor cleared. The Great Mystery was interconnected with the World Tree of the Mystic Continent.

The members of Hunting Hall had already pitched their tents before the Demon Realm Tree.

Sani joined their ranks.

Now, they simply waited for noon tomorrow to conquer the 20th floor!

…

Since the Adventurers’ Guild issued a call, White Dove City had entered an atmosphere of tense solemnity.

Black-armored knights stationed themselves in formation before the World Tree, their steel armor and cold blades radiating a chilling aura. Each knight emitted an overwhelming magical power, all uniformly at level 49.

That morning, the Phoenix Tail Flower team arrived early at Secret Realm Square.

Aside from those grim and cold-eyed black-armored knights, Lin Da also caught sight of many unfamiliar faces.

They weren’t part of the [Judgment Knight Order]; instead, they had come seeking the mysterious Light Rank—or were enthusiastic individuals intent on hindering the Demons.

Of course, anyone who remained enthusiastic under such dire circumstances was undoubtedly among the elites of the adventurers from various places.

Reporter Kami carried a magic-guided camera, snapping photos furiously, her eyes nearly popping out in shock.

“Ranked 308 this month, [Big Snake] Wim!

Ranked 297 this month, [Joker] Harriet!

Ranked 255…

Ranked 196…

Wait, are those two… the Ten Stars rookies of Ice Abyss this year?

Ranked 66 and 69 this month, [Cast Steel Wolf Spirit] Volgan and [Magician] Romanli!

They’re here too!

And over there—the shirtless guy with just an iron-shell helmet—he’s [Wrestler] Mavi from the Royal Capital! Isn’t he ranked 15 this month? The man who wrestled an adult Forest Dragon and won!”

Kami was utterly dazed.

All the big shots she had seen in her lifetime didn’t amount to one-tenth of those present here.

Her entire field of vision was filled with top-ranked experts.

It seemed that if you weren’t on the monthly ranking charts, you weren’t even qualified to take part in the investigation of the mysterious Light Rank.

Even the observing adventurers were astounded.

Though White Dove City prided itself on the Phoenix Tail Flower Adventure Team, among this group of elites, they were merely lower-tier by comparison.

The breadth of the Mystic Continent never ceased to amaze—there was always someone greater, and everyone was left in awe.

Lin Da led his team to the base of the World Tree.

While most others were here to investigate, Lin Da’s Phoenix Tail Flower team had their sights set on Romanli Ancient City.

Some people knew Phoenix Tail Flower was a participant in this trial and cast admiring glances in their direction.

To face such peril and still press forward—this was nothing short of commendable bravery.

“Good luck.” A burly man wearing an iron bucket-style helmet patted Lin Da on the shoulder.

At 1.8 meters tall, Lin Da still had to crane his head to look up at the man.

What an odd outfit.

The man wore pants on his lower half, leaving his upper half exposed to showcase muscular build, with an iron bucket helm drilled with two eyeholes, his gaze powerful and vigorous.

Lin Da clenched his right hand, placed it over his chest, and slightly bowed in the standard adventurer’s salute: “We’ll do our best.”

“Mm. Don’t worry about the Demons from Hunting Hall—we, the good-hearted ones, will join hands with the Judgment Knight Order to escort you into the ancient city.” The iron-helmeted man rumbled: “There must be priceless treasures within—fight to the death if you must, but don’t let those damned Demons take them.”

“Yes, senior.”

Lin Da replied with measured respect.

Reflecting on this iron-helmeted man’s feats, it was hard for Lin Da to stay composed. [Wrestler] Mavi—vanquisher of the Forest Dragon, infiltrator of heretic lairs, and the one who tore the eleventh-ranked [Angry Bear] from the Twelve Belongings in half.