After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

Lin Da felt a very strange sensation deep inside when the World Tree Goddess referred to him in such a manner. To be addressed as a superior by the Mother of All Things, the will of the world, seemed incredibly thrilling.

He boldly lifted his head, gazing directly at the mature woman with lush green hair before him.

The World Tree Goddess, named Tricia, was barefoot with her pure and pretty feet, her hands elegantly intertwined in front of her like a noble and dignified lady.

Her bosom, seemingly capable of nurturing all living beings, was adorned with a faint smile, exuding a sacred and inviolable noble aura.

A thousand words coalesced into three in Lin Da's heart.

So big!

They were like two ripe grapefruits hanging from a delicate fruit tree.

If this were reality, one glance would scream fake, absolutely filled with silicone.

But this is another world, where it's quite normal for things to be oversized.

Lin Da diverted his gaze, worried his body might act indecently.

He coughed once and got to the point.

"Lady Tricia, I have a question I hope you can answer."

"As a Chosen Hero selected by the beings of the Divine Realm, what would happen if I obtained another Hero's Stone within the World Tree Secret Realm?"

"Please don't worry," Tricia did not become angry due to his disrespectful gaze, but said with a light smile, "The Hero's Stone cannot override your class, but it will transform into magic power and enter your body. Please try to obtain as many Hero's Stones as possible to strengthen yourself."

"I see."

Lin Da nodded his head and then somewhat sheepishly said, "Is it possible for you to lend me more assistance? As a Chosen Hero, my current power feels quite inadequate to confront the Demon King."

"Chosen Hero... are you, asking me for help?"

Tricia's surprise was evident as her mouth opened slightly; she hadn't expected this Hero to be so greedy.

Having received a skill of exceptional caliber like 'Blessing of the World Tree Goddess' and still not satisfied, he was asking for more from her.

"I am sorry, Chosen Hero, but I cannot grant you any more power."

"According to the rules between planes, the predetermined ten thousand Hero's Stones are already the greatest assistance I can offer to this world. All I can do is watch silently and bless you as you seek to reach the deepest part of the World Tree."

"Is that so."

Lin Da felt a tinge of regret and after thinking for a moment, said, "How about this? I happen to have a Goddess on my side, could I trade her with you?"

"I believe that your assistance in the battle against the Demon King would be greater than hers."

"Eh...?"

Tricia blinked, remaining speechless for a while, emitting an embarrassed sound from her throat.

"Chosen Hero, that won't do."

For the first time in millennia, Tricia, as the will of the world, felt a disturbance in her calm emotions.

"I can't trade?" Lin Da said with disappointment, "Then, I have another question I hope to have answered."

Lin Da's expression grew serious.

"Could you tell me the whereabouts of my sister, Lin Xi?"

This was his true objective.

With his sister Lin Xi missing inside the World Tree, it seemed only logical that Tricia, as the World Tree Goddess, would know something.

However, the other party fell silent for a moment.

"Although I cannot answer your question, what I can tell you is that on the fourth layer of the World Tree, you will find the answer you seek."

"Please show your abilities and conquer the World Tree Secret Realm as soon as possible."

The figure and voice of Tricia became more and more faint, eventually disappearing with a breeze.

Lin Da's consciousness also returned to his body located in the halls of the Adventurer's Guild.

The voice of the World Tree Goddess echoed in his mind, his heart pounding wildly.

Just as he suspected, the fourth layer of the Secret Realm indeed held clues about his sister's disappearance.

The long-sought answer, seemingly within reach after three years of painstaking search, stirred excitement in Lin Da.

Having learned both his sister's possible location and the purpose of the Hero's Stone from this conversation, Lin Da's goal had been achieved.

His spirits lifted considerably, he was full of anticipation to form a team and return to the day when they would revisit the World Tree.

Just as he was about to leave the statue, Tricia's voice rang out in his ear again:

[Chosen Hero, there is one thing I forgot to remind you. Remember, do not let anyone know the identity of the Chosen Hero, otherwise, it will be detrimental to you.]

"I understand,"

Lin Da replied in his mind.

Among those Magical Creatures from the Demon Realm, there were many skilled in hypnosis and interrogating souls with evil methods.

Even if the secret of the Chosen Hero were told only to those he trusted the most, there was still a risk of exposure.

Therefore, concealing his identity was the safest option for him.

After waiting for a moment, Tricia's voice did not sound again—she must have left.

Lin Da returned to Kafni's side with the hot water.

The other gazed at him with a deep look: "Where did you go?"

"Fetching hot water," Lin Da panicked for no reason, feeling a chill at the back of his neck.

"You're hiding something from me; you met with that guy, didn't you?" Kafni pointed at the World Tree Goddess's statue and said indignantly, "Have you made clear your stance, why does the hero I chose go to pray to another? You should be praying to this Goddess!"

Thankfully, it was late at night with few people around, and even if someone heard, they took Kafni's words for drunken ramblings.

Lin Da hurriedly poured the hot water down her throat, to stop Kafni's mouth.

Spilled liquid trickled down Kafni's pure white neck and into her cleavage. Drunk as she was, she remained completely oblivious to her disheveled appearance and partly exposed snowy white shoulder.

"Pray, pray at home. What if spies from the Demon Realm spot us here?"

Lin Da, sweating profusely, hoisted the tipsy Kafni onto his back.

...

By the time they returned to the rental house, it was 1 AM.

Lin Da dumped Kafni, who was limp as mud, onto the couch.

This girl, she should recover after a night's sleep, he thought.

He hoped she wouldn't drag him down during tomorrow's fight against Magical Creatures.

Lin Da sighed softly.

When he got to bed, he found his mind active and alert, unable to sleep.

Perhaps it was too much anticipation for the morrow,

he simply sat up and began his meditation.

He'd claim his 'guaranteed Experience Points' for the day first.

Come to think of it, this was his first time cultivating since leaving the group…

Having experienced leveling up the Healer to level 15, Lin Da found this time easier.

Knowledge about cultivation flashed through his mind:

Absorb the Magic Energy Group from the air into the body, refine it, and then channel it into the core within the spiritual world, bit by bit strengthening its power.

This was the foundation of all adventurers, whether Battle Qi or Magic Power, both were carried by the core.

Lin Da closed his eyes, focussing inward.

Gradually, he arrived in a pitch-black spiritual world.

Looking up, he saw a lonely, diamond-shaped verdant core hanging in the sky.

Using the core as an 'eye,' a monstrous ouroboros, colossal as mountains and beasts, was coiled in phantom.

As Lin Da's body operated the Meditation Method, a dim star lit up around the core—the 'eye' of the ouroboros.

This was Lin Da's Class Totem.

A behemoth symbolizing strength and wisdom, Ouroboros.

In the Mystic Continent, every profession has its own symbolic totem and a corresponding Star Map within the spiritual world.

When an adventurer gains a level, an additional star lights up around the core.