After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

Lin Da's heart skipped a beat.

Favorability 90 plot—[Please Let Me Maintain Your Cucumber]!

The plot goes like this: the player buys a seemingly magical item, a stone cucumber, at a roadside stall. After being noticed by "that character," she voluntarily offers to help clean it.

A pair of soft, snow-white hands like mutton-fat jade spread the slippery slime oil, meticulously cleaning the stone cucumber until it's spotless.

This plot… let's just say those who understand will understand.

Driven by his passion for researching characters, Lin Da maxed out her favorability, unlocking all CG scenes.

This was "Mystic Continent" 1.0 version's New Year-exclusive card pool, the Five-star Character from the Light and Dark twins.

Lin Da stared blankly at the screen, his ominous premonition growing stronger by the second.

The woman hugging the Dark Shadow from behind had the tips of her wings exposed. Black and white feathers swayed up and down in the corner of the light screen.

Bailuo realized the truth, his expression changing dramatically.

Gradually, Taige recognized her too.

"It's her! That lunatic!"

Taige's hair stood on end, as he crawled over to Bailuo's side in a panic.

The New Moon Knight looked at Lin Da, then at the black-and-white wings partially revealed on the screen, sinking deep into thought.

No one expected that her background could be this intertwined...

Klrona pouted, speaking discontentedly: "You all know something, don't you? Spit it out!"

Years had passed. Klrona, now a grown young woman, was taller than she had been in White Dove City.

A single pink ponytail hung behind her, and she wore white socks and a short skirt, brimming with youthful energy.

Hand-in-hand, she and Monica sat together, both staring at the screen in confusion.

—Monica, who had been among the first batch of members kicked out of the team, didn't recognize the woman on the screen either.

Lin Da didn't answer but remained fixed on the scene ahead.

The woman's hands were stained with red dye as she traced ominous marks onto the Dark Shadow's mask, painting a sinister Hexagram Array.

Soon, an identical formation illuminated the desert.

The area seemed to span kilometers.

At the center of the array lay the Dark Shadow.

"Soul Summoning Array."

The purple glow of the formation brightened the entire desert, reflecting within Lin Da's pupils.

Pressing his brow, Lin Da exhaled heavily.

He seemed to understand.

Why he had come to Another World.

And the true identity of the head of the Four Heavenly Kings, "Angel."

"Let me explain." Anna spoke with a serious expression.

Now that Evelyn had lifted the Silence Contract, there was no reason to hide the truth anymore.

"Six years ago, when the captain went missing, I searched the 35th floor but found nothing, so I sought help from the Coldmoon Duke.

The Coldmoon Duke generously assisted me and even used Retrospective Moonlight.

The scenery revealed by Retrospective Moonlight… was what you're seeing now.

The mastermind behind all of this became apparent under Retrospective Moonlight.

None other than the Primordial Vice-Captain, [Hell's Judgment] Tina!

Tina's profession is a Fallen Angel. Light and Dark originate from the same source, and her specialty lies in soul-related spells. The Soul Summoning Array on the screen is a formation used by the Witch Demons in ancient times.

The Witch Demons would refine Dragon Bone and use the Soul Summoning Array to gather the dragon souls of Dead Giant Dragons, ensuring these servants retained full combat capabilities."

Anna sighed helplessly, saying: "I suspect Tina realized the captain was nothing but an empty shell—everyone has seen how the captain looks during the night, right? Like a powerless Magic-guided Puppet. It's hard not to suspect that someone has been controlling him secretly."

After her words settled, the room fell silent, eerily quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Monica, Tasya, Mingli… they all showed signs of contemplation.

Finally, their gazes converged on Lin Da.

If Anna's statement was accurate, didn't that mean the one controlling the Dark Shadow was Lin Da himself?

"As for my origins, let's leave that for another time. I'll reveal it to you when the moment is right."

Lin Da took a deep breath and said, "What's clear is that Tina failed. The Dark Shadow's 'empty shell' should still be in her possession. I can only temporarily take on the Dark Shadow's form using a special ability."

"We have to take it back!" Taige said anxiously. "Who knows what Tina might do with your body?"

Everyone's hearts felt heavy.

If the Dark Shadow's body were to appear, none of them knew if they could bring themselves to strike it down.

On the screen, the purple glow of the Soul Summoning Array lasted for a full minute before dissipating. The Dark Shadow collapsed onto the ground. The woman, her back to the screen, observed for a long time.

She murmured regretfully, "Still unable to transfer into the shell… Never mind. As long as it's somewhere on this continent, I'll find it sooner or later."

Taking the Dark Shadow along, she soared into the sky.

And with that, the recording came to an end. The screen shut off automatically.

Inside the house, the room was filled with quiet contemplation, a stillness broken only by the ticking of a wooden clock on the wall.

"Kid, your identity absolutely can't be exposed."

The New Moon Knight suddenly interjected: "The Angel is a complete lunatic. To claim the position of leader among the Four Heavenly Kings, she killed two Heavenly Kings and five members of the Twelve Belongings!

Even I don't dare defy her.

If she learns of your existence, I fear she'll leave the Royal Capital at once to hunt you down."

Lin Da rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then said slowly: "Indeed, Cyan City is incredibly dangerous right now. We must leave as soon as possible."

The enemy shrouded in mist was gradually becoming clear.

The culprit behind his forced journey across worlds and the disbandment of the Daochu Adventure Team was none other than Tina, the vice-captain.

According to the New Moon Knight, Tina's power was terrifying—so much so that even someone at Level 95 Legendary Rank dared not challenge her.

As the Demon King's proxy and strongest wielder under the Demon King, Tina bore the title "Angel" and had reached an astonishing Level 99.

"The next steps should be obvious, right?"

Kafni stood up, her usual lazy demeanor vanishing.

Her gaze was resolute as she stared at Lin Da: "Kill that Witch, liberate the Royal Capital, and save this continent! You'll do that, won't you?"

"You think I might falter and side with my old teammate instead?"

Lin Da shook his head. "Tina was indeed a cherished teammate of mine, but her actions are utterly wrong. As the captain, I must shoulder this responsibility.

If she insists on standing in my way...

I'll cut her down without hesitation."

Upon hearing this, Kafni's expression softened. She smiled and patted Lin Da's shoulder: "Let's end this final quest together."

Lin Da nodded.

He then turned his attention to Evelyn: "What's your plan?"

"I'll lead the remaining members of the Cold Moon Adventure Group to the Elf Forest to fortify the barrier alongside the Elf Queen."

Evelyn said: "The barrier of the Elf Forest was established 10,000 years ago by ten peak Legends working together. Even if the Demon Lord's Army marches upon us, breaking through it won't be easy.

The current Legendary Rank members will maintain the barrier, while the others must focus on climbing the World Tree.

The Elf Forest's Life Tree reaches up to 49 layers, enough to ascend to Legendary Rank."

"I don't intend to go to the Elf Forest." Lin Da deliberated for a moment before replying.

"What?"

Evelyn's face turned expressionless: "Every adventurer bears the duty of climbing the World Tree. I won't allow anyone to shirk it."

"I understand, but there's a place I must go."

Lin Da opened his Space Ring, taking out a cerulean-colored key.

The key bore intricate wave-like patterns, exuding a palpable aura of the sea.

It was none other than the [Sea Secret Key].

Under the puzzled gazes of the others, Lin Da explained: "The Destruction Law belongs to the Dark Shadow. As for me, I still wield only the most basic Magic Law.

I must visit a certain place to discover a Law that belongs to me."

Evelyn furrowed her brows: "Is it absolutely necessary to go?"

Having finally reunited with her newest subordinate, Evelyn naturally wished for Lin Da to join her at the Elf Forest.

Given Lin Da's potential, it wouldn't be difficult for him to ascend to Legendary Rank within three years, at which point he could help share Evelyn's burden.

But Lin Da's expression remained resolute, and his voice was unwavering as he declared: "I must go."

Evelyn stared at him for a long while before finally yielding, sighing lightly: "You must be chasing after that legend, aren't you? At the farthest edge of the sea lies a mysterious island, where the Deity left their power behind."

"I know that legend as well." The New Moon Knight scoffed. "Pretty boy, I should warn you: countless people have ventured out to sea seeking that mystical island over the millennia, but not a single ship has returned—all lost in the vast ocean.

The sea encompasses over half of Mystic Continent's area. Many Forbidden Domains within the deep sea are so dangerous even Legendary Rank adventurers dare not approach.

A Heaven Rank like you, even if you transform into the Dark Shadow and gain Law Tier abilities, has no chance of finding that island.

No—forget finding it—you'll likely be devoured mid-voyage by sea monsters, never to return."

The New Moon Knight sneered, her tone dripping with disdain.