After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

"Are we still short on Flame Glazed Stone..."

Looking at the abundant materials on the table, Lin Da contemplated for a moment and said, "President, even if the price exceeds the market value by double, please make sure we gather them."

The most crucial material for crafting the fire-resistant potion was the Giant Ape Stiff Hair and the Flame Glazed Stone.

If other materials were missing, substitutes could be used with roughly the same effect.

However, these two items were absolutely indispensable.

With the fire-resistant potion and combining his max-level Group Healing, the Phoenix Tail Flower Team could easily withstand the frequent area attacks of the Flame Giant.

The pressure on healing would be greatly relieved.

According to Lin Da's strategy, all members taking the fire-resistant potion was a prerequisite. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire

Without a powerful five-star water character, the current lineup of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team was the baseline for a perfect clear.

Anything less would degrade the rating from perfect to extreme.

Although extreme also had a chance to drop a legendary weapon, perfect was 100%, whereas the latter was only 50%.

Hearing Lin Da's words, Weylon sighed and said, "It's not about the price. The Flame Glazed Stone only appears in places affected by volcanic eruptions. It requires decades of sedimentation by fire elements to form.

In Cangqing Province, mainly plains are predominant, with no volcanoes.

I have arranged for people to search in the eastern Ao Tie Province.

If there's any progress, they should be back soon."

"I see," Lin Da nodded helplessly.

"By the way, I heard that the Bloody Baron has one," Weylon's eyes flickered. "Upon knowing that you need the Flame Glazed Stone, Augutuo announced in the newspapers that he would give it for free, but you have to go to Red Heart City alone."

"Augutuo?" Lin Da frowned and said, "Dawen mentioned in his letter that Augutuo's power has reached the Moon Rank."

"Taking you there alone might be plotting something sinister," Weylon said gravely. "You shouldn't fall for this. After the 15th floor raid battle, your reputation in Red Heart City plummeted to an extreme, and many even think you planned the murder of Slo to justify an open invasion of Red Heart City's resources. Going there now, the risk is immense."

"We'll discuss this matter later, let's continue to collect it at a high cost for now," Lin Da said. "I'm here for another matter as well."

"A Light Mage, right? I was just about to tell you," Weylon smiled. "We've found someone, and it seems like she's a fan of yours."

"That's great."

Lin Da slapped his thigh, his face brightening with joy.

He had been waiting for this day too long.

Conquering levels 16 and 17, and even the 18th level won't be a challenge for today's Phoenix Tail Flower Team; he can now aim directly for the Flame Giant.

"What's her level? And her combat experience? Where is she now? Which city is she from?" Lin Da asked impatiently.

Secretary Nora handed over a list: "Mr. Lin Da, here's the resume of that adventurer."

Lin Da excitedly caught the list.

However, the photo showed a young girl with a golden ponytail, cute and lovely-looking, smiling while making a peace sign.

"Level 35, graduated from the Mage Department at Proclamation Wind City Public Adventurers' University, strategy progress up to the 15th layer, skilled in the spell 'Condensed Light Bomb'," Lin Da read softly.

"Wait, is this person... from the Academic Faction?"

After reviewing the resume, Lin Da's face looked sour, and he scratched his head, saying, "Is she the only choice?"

What he needed was not a freshly graduated university adventurer but a battle-hardened, ironclad worker.

"There's no one else," Weylon spread his hands awkwardly, saying, "Honestly, your requirements are too strict. Only progressed to the 15th layer and must be level 35 or above, and a Light Series. This young lady mainly came because of your reputation from the Eye of True Knowledge; if not for that battle on the 15th layer in the Great Mystery Continent, she might not have come."

In short, Weylon meant that although Lin Da wanted to recruit someone strong, those who are strong wouldn't care about that bit of gold coins. The weak ones… Lin Da wouldn't be too keen on them...

"Why not give it a try?" Weylon suggested. "Proclamation Wind City Public Adventurers' University has a good reputation, and the girl was an adventure committee member in the class, having certain practical abilities. Plus, with your experienced team guiding, even an Academic could clear the 16th layer."

Lin Da propped his chin, sinking into thought.

Indeed, with the strength of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team, they could pass level 16 with their eyes closed.

What they were lacking was just the output of the Light Series.

This inevitably brings up Shar Pei's game design and the conditions for passing levels.

To encourage players to spend money on drawing cards, they imposed many attribute restrictions.

Pure Light, Pure Darkness, Water Fire... If players don't draw cards, they can't hope for a Perfect Clear.

"Alright, let's give it a try."

Learning that the girl was in a nearby hotel, Lin Da decided to gather his team members and set off immediately.

...

An hour later.

World Tree, Level 16, White Bone Desert.

"This is totally not working! When we were outside, wasn't the spellcasting speed very fast? Why is it slower than a snail now?"

In a world made of sand, Lin Da massaged his temples with a headache.

Glancing sideways at his watch, only 3 minutes were left out of the 20-minute timer, and they had just completed half the journey.

If they exceeded the time, 3 stars would be deducted from the level completion.

10 stars were needed for a Perfect Clear.

Not to mention a Perfect Clear, even an extreme clear wouldn't be possible.

"How long do I have to suppress it?"

Lulu hugged a bucket-thick red sandworm, using both hands and feet, like a judo master locking an opponent.

Monica, Tasya, Kafni, all looked towards the sixth person present: a girl with a ponytail named Sally.

The battle plan was simple, the members of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team would bind the magical creatures, and Sally just needed to handle the output.

But the problem was, Sally's spellcasting speed was getting slower and slower, frustrating everyone.

Kafni shaded her eyes from the sun with her hands and craned her neck to look towards the desert ahead.

There was a green flagpole there, engraved with the World Tree totem.

Reaching there and defeating the Secret Realm Guardian near the flagpole would count as clearing the level.

"Hey, can you do it or not? Are you trying to muddle through and take our reward money?"

Kafni walked up to Sally, fierce and terrifying, and forcefully poked the latter's cheek with her finger.

The twenty-something girl's face was full of collagen, extremely pliable, and Kafni's poke made a small dent in it.

Sally stayed motionless, letting Kafni "bully" her.

"Wuu wuu wuu, I didn't do it on purpose, I'm trying my best," Sally said in her white Mage Robe, her legs nervously pressed together.

She looked anxious, glancing at the members of Phoenix Tail Flower as if looking at a bunch of villains.

She had thought this would be an easy and enjoyable outing on the sixteenth floor, led by the "Eye of True Knowledge", but after Sally entered, she realized she had been completely wrong.

Lin Da and the others didn't attack the magical creatures at all; they tied them up and left all the output to her.

Even if her legs trembled from exhaustion, no one stepped forward to help her.

And they were all complaining about her being too slow.

This reminded Sally of her elementary school days when older students took her toys and formed a circle, tossing her toys around and mockingly watching her flustered figure.

Sally seriously suspected that the people of Phoenix Tail Flower were bullying her!