Chapter 687: 485. Lia’s Lover?! (No Green)
The brightly lit living room hosted a gathering around the table, where everyone ceased their actions.
It was beneficial to know beforehand that every individual present was bound to face the 20th floor of the Great Mystery Continent.
Lin Da spoke earnestly, “The perimeter of Ten Thousand Mountains is divided into the Nine-layered Mountain Region.
The average level of the Demons we encountered with Abner reached 45.
The one named Difeng among the Demons even possessed a Legendary Weapon.” Follow current novᴇls on noᴠelfire.net
“Ah?” Lia’s face changed, “Are the Demons that formidable?”
“That’s why I suggest you all not go next month to the 20th floor.” Lin Da shook his head, “Ten Thousand Mountains are dangerous by themselves, and because of that mysterious Light Rank, top Moon Rank from both Mystic Continent and Devil’s Continent flock to area 175.
Someone like you, a newly advanced level 40, would be caught and sold by the Demons in no time.”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
Lia, stubborn, wanted to argue further but was silenced by a knock on the head from Lin Da, who said in a serious voice:
“I’m not joking with you. I suggest Snow Goose first cultivate in Ice Abyss for a year to reach the senior Sunrise Level before considering entry.
Although the resources of the 20th floor of the Great Mystery Continent are abundant, Ice Abyss has the ‘Cultivation Points’ rule.
With sufficient points, the speed of cultivation won’t be inferior to entering the 20th floor, perhaps even faster.”
Seeing Lia still hesitant, Lin Da said helplessly, “Remember the Sterry siblings from Proclamation Wind City? Their adventurer ratings were Eight Stars and Seven Stars respectively; they were stronger than both you and me in the past.”
“But now, miss here is at a Nine-star Rating. My Rare Technique, Flaming Slash, and the evolution of my Super Charge from the Buti Tree, are highly regarded.”
Lia proudly puffed out her chest, “The next Ten Stars could very well be me.”
Lin Da was so frustrated his eyebrows twitched violently, unable to comprehend how this individual could be so oblivious.
With many guests around today, he refrained from lashing out at Lia, and patiently said: “Sterry’s Sunshine Adventure Team lost half its members.
If it hadn’t been for Abner and me stumbling upon them, they would have been wiped out.
Snow Goose, even if a bit stronger than them, wouldn’t be by much.
Not to mention you all lack a rogue in your party.
Without [Scout], you’d be at a big disadvantage on the 20th floor.”
“What, the Sunshine Adventure Team almost got wiped out?”
Lia, taken aback, finally realized the gravity of the situation.
“Sterry, I recall, is a very strong Swordsman,” Isa said gravely.
“That’s why I’m advising you all to first cultivate in Ice Abyss.”
“What about you? Is Phoenix Tail Flower doing the same?”
“No, I have a compelling reason to enter the 20th floor.”
Lia frowned, “And you’ll be fine?”
“I have some measures. Let’s not talk about this, let’s drink,” Lin Da vaguely said.
Since he dared to go in, he was fairly certain of success.
Once Phoenix Tail Flower cleared the 23rd floor, they could be promoted to the senior ranks of Sunrise Level.
That made them at least a notch above Snow Goose.
Lia, suspicious, took a sip of wheat beer and muttered quietly, “You never used to hide things from me.”
Lin Da gestured with his finger, pretending not to hear.
Without the partnership, they were merely friends.
The secrets of the Phoenix Tail Flower Adventure Team, why would he share them with outsiders?
Lin Da felt somewhat annoyed, gulped down a large glass, and Lia, head bowed, also drank, her gaze gradually becoming hazy.
Unknowingly, it was eight o’clock in the evening.
Most guests had already left, only Snow Goose’s acquaintances remained.
Lia, surrounded by several basins-sized barrels of beer, staggered to her feet and pointed at Lin Da, “You accompany me upstairs, Miss here, has something to say to you.”
This was the first time Lia initiated conversation with Lin Da after the topic of the 20th floor had been discussed.
The party in the previous two to three hours was mostly filled with casual chats between Lin Da, Snow Goose, and old teammates.
Teaching Phyllis about the hidden traits of Magical Creatures, catching up with Klyne, reviewing Chloe’s sketchbook, and even receiving baked cookies from Aiko.
Everyone appeared blissfully harmonious, showing no signs of estrangement.
The only one not engaged in conversation with Lia seemed to exclude her.
It wasn’t that Lin Da was deliberately avoiding this short person; Lia emitted a “I’m very annoyed, stay away from me” type of morose aura that repelled others.
“What’s the matter, can’t you just say it here?” Lin Da replied.
Lia stubbornly looked at him, “Let’s go up to talk.”
“Oh captain, just listen to her this once, Lia won’t do you any harm, right?” Anna grinned, standing up and pushing the two towards the stairs.
Lulu and others showed worried expressions.
They had no idea what Lia wanted to discuss privately with Lin Da.
“I’ll go and see,” Oru said innocently.
Aiko held back Oru, quietly sipping her orange juice. If she tried to stop them forcefully, it would only lower Lin Da’s opinion of her.
Moreover, she didn’t see Lia as a threat.
Lia, being short, moody, and not the brightest, competed as well as a roadside goose.
Aiko was more concerned about the Werewolf girl, Lulu.
Lulu, being the first member to join Phoenix Tail Flower, held a position akin to a “main wife,” and not even the mysterious Heavy Armored Warrior, Anna, could replace Lulu’s standing.
In comparison, the best Lia could hope for was to silently cry at the foot of the bed while watching her own little cherries.
“If Lulu’s competitiveness is 10, I’m 9, Lia is probably a 0.1. A self-loathing jester, no need to concern ourselves,” Aiko thought secretly, how could a dimwit like Lia ever compete against someone as theoretically experienced as herself?
She had even toyed with Lin Da’s “Magical Sword,” marking it as her own.
Lia would probably faint outright.
From the perspective of Great Sage Dawen’s Evolution Theory, Lia was someone unfit for survival, destined to be weeded out by nature.