After a full night's rest, everyone was in optimal condition.
The Dark Tree Fruits were divided into three portions and placed in each person's waist pouch, ready to replenish Battle Qi at any time.
Before setting off, Lin Da gave his final motivational speech.
He looked at the two of them, his expression grave:
"Given the strength of the three of us against a Moon Rank, it will definitely be a grueling battle.
But I hope you understand that we've put in a lot of sweat for this day, cooperating and training together, and even refining our new fusion finishing skill of wind and fire.
Moon Ranks are worthy of awe, but they are not invincible, especially when the opponent is an injured Moon Rank. Latest content published on ⓝovelFire.net
Be confident, but not arrogant.
Disdain the opponent in your heart, but take them seriously in battle!
This is a struggle for survival, but in the end, victory will surely be ours.
Lia, don't you get cocky in this battle!
Tasya, there are things you should use when you need to, and I'll help you with the purification afterward.
Do you all understand?"
Lin Da was like a stern instructor, his normally gentle face replaced with seriousness, his eyes wide like brass bells, watching them intently.
Lia felt her spirit ignite, and she said loudly and energetically, "Understood, victory will definitely be ours!"
Tasya nodded calmly, a trace of fighting spirit surfacing in her usually placid eyes.
Pleased, Lin Da nodded and led the two in a leap onto a large tree.
They moved through the trees like ninjas, heading to the place in Lia's memory where Hu Er lived.
The sun turned a dark red, and a chill began to spread through the forest.
They found a wooden hut.
Inside, dead leaves blown in by the wind littered the floor, no pots sat on the stove, and the bed was empty.
Clearly, the owner had long since departed.
"It's going to be troublesome if he's hiding."
Lin Da rubbed his temples.
The Lunar Tier possessed the Battle Qi Twin Wings, able to attack and retreat, so the initiative was not with them.
What sort of plan could he come up with to lure that fox out...
Inside the hut, Lia vented her anger by smashing furniture, cursing Hu Er without much venom—more like a primary schooler in a quarrel.
Calling him an idiot, a fool, and the like.
Tasya was feeling along the walls and the floor, checking for any hidden passages.
This isn't a solution, thought Lin Da.
In five more days, the Great Mystery Continent would open.
Hu Er could just spread his Battle Qi Twin Wings, fly out of Dragon Forest, and return to South Rock City using the Teleportation Stone.
By then, the enemies Lin Da would face wouldn't just be Hu Er, the Moon Rank.
But also the Sun Adventure Group and the Bear Roar Adventure Group, supported by Hu Er.
"Whatever it takes, we must find Hu Er."
Lin Da murmured to himself.
"What business do you three have with me?"
A voice tinged with a cold, mocking tone suddenly sounded behind Lin Da.
Lin Da's skin crawled, a cold sensation rapidly covering his back.
He turned his head and saw an orange fox leaning against the doorway with an easy smile, toying with a short dagger.
A bright blue, crystal-clear blade that looked like it was made of crystal. Your is on My Virtual Library Empire
This weapon revealed Hu Er's fighting spirit attribute: Water-based Fighting Spirit, best known for healing after Recovery Magic Power and the Light Series.
An adventurer who liked to toy with his prey, yet utilized Water-based Fighting Spirit—an ironic twist.
Hu Er looked much healthier than the last time they met.
"You damned fox, take a hit from Miss!"
Following the tactics they'd rehearsed in advance, Lin Da cast the Verdant Shield around Lia, and she immediately launched a "Flame Slash," her great sword ablaze with large flames, swinging it towards Hu Er!
"Miss Lia, it might be better to clear something up beforehand.
I, Hu Er, don't like you at all; quite the contrary, I find you disgusting—immeasurably disgusting. Just having you 'Little Mossy Girls' appear in my sight is revolting.
You dared to reject my advances and didn't obediently let yourself be deceived and toyed with..."
Hu Er completely shed his disguise, his typically affable face twisting into a snarl with sharp teeth, his forehead creasing with ugly wrinkles.
"You three Star Ranks dare to overestimate yourselves, do you think this boss's injury hasn't healed? Lin Da, face? You, a mere Star Rank dare to ask me for face? Die, all of you die!"
Dodging Lia's Flame Slash with a sidestep, Hu Er then struck Lia in the abdomen with his elbow at an unbelievably fast speed!
Intense pain caused Lia's eyes to widen, acid rushing to her mouth as she flew backward like a sack.
In a critical moment, Lin Da used the Dark Whip to catch Lia.
Lin Da quickly chanted a healing spell, and a green array lit up above Lia's head.
Surging recovery magic power poured into Lia like a vast ocean.
Lia, with an injury one second and flooded by Recovery Magic Power the next, was almost sent into a white-eyed faint by Lin Da's Intermediate Healing Spell.
"Your healing amount, it's way too much!"
Despite being in the midst of fierce combat, the three present were still shocked by Lin Da's action.
The wariness in Hu Er's eyes grew more evident.
The elbow strike he had just delivered, although not a skill, had used most of his Battle Qi with the intention to kill Lia in one blow.
But the result was that the Verdant Shield absorbed at least eighty percent of the damage, and Lia was only lightly wounded.
Hu Er had long heard of Lin Da's thick shield, but actually witnessing it now completely redefined his concept of a shield.
An attack that could have killed a Star Rank outright only managed to break Lin Da's shield.
And now, Lin Da's dark green healing spell made Hu Er's eyelids twitch uncontrollably.