After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

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Lin Da and the others transformed into pale blue lights.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

With the help of a World Tree leaf, they vanished from Dark Night City and entered a pitch-black 'Transit Space'.

The Transit Space is located between the gap of the fourth and fifth layers.

Here, adventurers can choose to continue climbing or to return to White Dove City.

In front of Lin Da, there were three circular Teleportation Arrays, each a different color.

White led to the fifth layer's Public Grand Secret Realm.

Green led to the sixth layer's hunt-oriented Mystic Realms.

Blue could take them directly back to the city.

Naturally, Lin Da wanted to go to the fifth layer, where he could harvest the unique resources of the Great Mystery Continent. Moreover, the Goblin King's Lair was also located on the fifth layer.

However, the Teleportation Array that represented the Great Mystery Continent appeared gray.

It would not activate until a few days later.

In the meantime, it was the perfect opportunity for Lin Da to change his equipment and commission the blacksmith to forge the 'Magic Dragon Soft Armor'.

"The fifth layer, huh..."

He muttered to himself.

More precisely, the hidden BOSS of the fifth layer, known as 'Goblin Prince,' was not yet of age.

A fully grown Goblin King would be at least level 40.

It was a foe currently beyond the means of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team to conquer.

But even the somewhat weaker Goblin Prince was not to be underestimated.

In his mind, Lin Da conjured up the stats for the Goblin Prince:

Level: 25.

A Two-Star Epic Monster (with the highest being five-star, like dragon-type Magical Creatures).

Health points: 400,000!

The overall attributes of Epic Demon Creatures were significantly higher than those of the Orange Level.

Accordingly, the attributes of the equipment they dropped were incomparable to the Orange Level.

This lair required a six-person adventure team to band together for the challenge.

Lin Da would also have to bring Lulu along.

Even adventurers who had already passed the Public Grand Secret Realm could return to gather resources.

Lulu, level 27, Frost Wolf Warrior.

She was currently the strongest overall damage dealer in the Phoenix Tail Flower Team.

But even with Lulu, that only made four.

Lin Da considered that he would have to hire two more adventurers to join them in hunting the Goblin Prince.

The Phoenix Tail Flower Team's four members could also try on their own, but the risk would be too high.

Lin Da would rather spend money to hire help than take that risk.

'With the current combat power of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team, contending with the hidden Magical Creatures of the sixth, seventh, and eighth layers is not a problem, but the ninth layer will be quite troublesome.'

Lin Da thought, one of the conditions for achieving the Ultimate Clear of the ninth layer included this: [Ten Second Quick Kill a hidden Magical Creature].

For safety's sake, Lin Da decided to first hunt the Goblin Prince and see if they could drop an Epic Level main weapon.

The team member who got that main weapon would become the leading damage dealer against the ninth layer's hidden Magical Creatures.

Although Lin Da could consider not aiming for the Ultimate Clear, the game settings required achieving 90% of the Ultimate Clears to qualify for drawing the Sword of the Brave.

An adventure team unable to do this would, even if they reached the top floor, miss out on the Sword of the Brave.

It could be said that the sword was intended for Lin Da.

He had traveled to this world specifically to draw the Sword of the Brave and to vanquish the Demon King.

Moreover, only if he could achieve 90% of the Ultimate Clears and then draw the Sword of the Brave, would he have the strength to challenge the Demon King.

Otherwise, if one were to just scrape by in every layer and then barely draw the Sword of the Brave, how could such a champion possibly stand against the Demon King?

"There are still a few days until the fifth layer's Great Mystery Continent opens. The team members are also tired, let's relax for a bit first."

Lin Da turned towards his two teammates.

These days in Dark Night City had been hard on everyone, and it was time for a rest.

And there was another matter that Lin Da found somewhat challenging.

They had reached level 20.

According to the customs of the Mystic Continent, when adventurers hit level 20, they must throw a 'Promotion Party,' inviting adventurers from the city who are above level 20.

Similar to a 'graduation party,' it also served the purpose of gathering some money.

Through this party, everyone became acquainted.

Afterwards, when meeting in the Great Mystery Continent's resource areas, there would be no need for conflict; resources could calmly be distributed.

If they encountered adventurers from a rival city or members of the Doomsday Sect, they would join forces to drive the intruders away.

In a sense, the Promotion Party was an opportunity for adventurers to solidify relationships over drinks.

Lin Da needed to invite various Rock-level Squads and the White Dove Adventure Group to his villa for the party.

At the same time, he would showcase the various trophies and team members of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team.

To give others an initial impression: just what kind of strength did the Phoenix Tail Flower Team have?

This task may seem childish, but it was actually very effective.

It could effectively prevent established adventure teams from underestimating the strength of new teams, boasting foolishly, and then getting humiliated...

The performance of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team would also determine their initial territory when entering the tenth layer's resource area.

Lin Da thought to himself: The resource area of the fifth layer was still not very competitive; being low in magic power, it did not produce many 'Fruit of the World Tree'.

But starting from the tenth layer, the resource area would periodically replenish with 'Fruit of the World Tree'—a rare resource that could be used from level 0 to level 100.

Fruit of the World Tree, a rare orange-level item.

In the game, it served to increase the speed at which characters gained experience points, and there was also a chance to obtain Skill Points and Attribute Points upon consumption.

```

Even more, they learned new Ultimate Skills.

Players joked among themselves, "Fruit of the World Tree remains more valuable than money."

From this, we can see just how precious a resource it was.

Lin Da naturally hoped that when he reached the tenth floor, he would be able to secure a resource-rich area.

This would require the support of the various Rock-level Adventure Teams.

Adventurers had developed their own set of rules over thousands of years. Newbies rushing to grab resource areas was taboo, and would be ousted by everyone.

To ensure that the Phoenix Tail Flower Team got a substantial resource area on the tenth floor, Lin Da needed the recognition from other Rock-level Squads.

'This party isn't for eating, drinking, and merry-making, but to showcase the strength of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team to the adventurers of White Dove City,'

Lin Da sighed to himself.

In plain terms, it was a show of muscle.

With the current strength of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team, they should rank among the strongest in the Rock-level Squads.

Thinking of this, Lin Da felt determined.

Unlike other leaders who advanced to level 20 with trepidation, worried about being looked down upon by established teams,

Hosting a party only to have a mere handful of people show up... Such an occurrence would definitely not happen to the Phoenix Tail Flower Team.

Just from Isa's side alone, there were ten people.

"Let's return to the city,"

Lin Da said and, with his teammates, approached the blue Teleportation Array that signified "returning to the city."

A flash of light.

They reappeared, already back in the Secret Realm Square of White Dove City.

The Phoenix Tail Flower Team emerging from the World Tree immediately attracted the attention of a crowd of adventurers.

It was noon, and the Secret Realm Square was full of adventurers - many recognized the three 'celebrities.'

In the battle against the Monster Tide, the Phoenix Tail Flower Team, Snow Goose, Ice Flower, Valiant... all gained fame by making the headlines of the White Dove Morning News.

"It's the Eye of True Knowledge, Lin Da!"

"The Great Bear Thief Kafni, love it!"

"Monica, here is some candy for you from uncle!"

A crowd swarmed around them, causing Lin Da and his teammates to look uncomfortable.

Some with ill intentions even took advantage of the chaos, reaching out to grope the two beautiful female members of the team.

"Looking for death, aren't you! Who's the Shar Pei touching my bear!"

Kafni's eyelids twitched violently as she burst forth with Battle Qi of level 21.

On the square, most adventurers were around level 10.

Under the pressure of a higher level, they backed away in fear, their eager gazes replaced by awe.

Just like Ice Flower and Snow Goose before, as they entered the Adventurer's Guild, everyone made way and stood aside, no one daring to chat or bother them.

An adventurer needs to command respect,

Otherwise, fans will follow them everywhere they go.

Especially in the case of female adventurers.

Even going out to buy something small becomes a big problem.

Truly top-tier adventurers are met with respectful gazes, rather than people crowding around and pestering them.

For the Phoenix Tail Flower Team, Monica was already socially anxious and now being fed candy by a group of uncles had her head buzzing with confusion, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.

"Make way."

Continue reading on empire

Lin Da's expression remained stoic as he released his Magic Power.

His level 21 Magic Power overlapped with Kafni's Battle Qi, forcing the crowd to back away.

"We've felt your enthusiasm," the Phoenix Tail Flower Team appreciates it, "but please do not disrupt our lives, especially by harassing the female members of the team."

"If anyone else dares to attack our members' chests or feed them suspicious candy... Phoenix Tail Flower will make sure they pay a heavy price."

Lin Da gave a nod to the crowd and, with his teammates, left the Secret Realm Square.

It was a good while after they had left that the adventurers recovered from the pressure of the level gap.

Someone was the first to sense something amiss: "The Phoenix Tail Flower Team has broken through to level 20?"

"Level 20? No wonder I found it hard to breathe just now!"

"Looks like White Dove City is going to have another Rock-level Squad."

The news of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team's promotion to level 20 spread rapidly in the Secret Realm Square.

...

Upon returning to White Dove City, Lin Da's first order of business was to go to the Adventurer's Guild.

He needed to 'private message' his doubts in front of the World Tree Goddess's statue.

Why would the Dark Night City on the fourth floor be invaded by Anthropomorphic Demons?

Such occurrences should not happen below the 20th floor.

And then there was the issue of Dark Night City, a peculiar Mystic Realm appearing in the World Tree; could it be that the World Tree Goddess had some eccentric taste?

Arriving at the guild hall of the Adventurer's Guild, Lin Da, to avoid a situation like the one in the square, directly released his team's level 21 power with his teammates, deterring fervent fans from coming close.

It wasn't that the Phoenix Tail Flower Team had become haughty.

On the Mystic Continent, adventurers believed in the supremacy of strength; the strong bore greater responsibilities, such as vanquishing high-level Magical Creatures and repelling Demon Adventurers...

It was their existence that ensured the peaceful lives of lower-level adventurers and having some privileges; this was completely understandable to everyone.

Therefore, when Lin Da and his team emitted their Level Aura, nobody thought they were getting ahead of themselves; rather, they regarded the Phoenix Tail Flower Team with awe!

Looks of admiration were cast towards Lin Da and his team.

When they were at level 19, people felt the two groups were close and on the same layer; but as soon as they reached level 20, it was as if they belonged to separate strata.

All sorts of privileges and conveniences were now open to level 20 adventurers.