Chapter 22-“Li Yao Is Too Narrow-minded? Nightmare Difficulty Clear Announcement!

Yuwen Hao's voice was low.

But everyone nearby was a professional, and if they wanted to listen, they could hear it clearly.

Qin Yue and her group stood at a distance, but they still caught the entire conversation.

Uncle Wu sighed with some regret.

"No wonder Li Yao chose to enter the Nightmare difficulty—he wanted to stand up for himself."

The Qin family's business was focused on equipment.

The Silver Wolf Guild, the strongest guild in Jiangzhou, had cleared countless dungeons and had the closest business relationship with the Qin family.

Their personal ties were strong as well.

They had even considered arranging a marriage between Li Yao and Qin Yue, strengthening their alliance through marriage.

But once Li Yao became infatuated with Jiang Ningyu, that idea was abandoned.

Uncle Wu let out another sigh.

"First, Young Master Li had his resources coveted by Jiang Ningyu, and now he's being targeted by Yuwen Hao. It's no surprise that he'd act impulsively."

"But luckily, the Li family should have given him an Escape Scroll, so at least his life won't be in danger."

"If you ask me, he's being childish. Someone takes his things, and he just rushes into a dungeon without thinking? Does he really think he can clear it to prove himself?"

Another of Qin Yue's followers spoke up.

"Well, you can't put it that way. He's just a kid. Getting his stuff stolen and being powerless to fight back—doing something drastic is understandable."

"It's just bad luck for Li Yao. Of all the possible choices, he had to pick Summoner."

"A real shame. The Silver Wolf Guild finally had a gifted talent…"

Qin Yue listened to their discussion carefully.

Then, she suddenly asked seriously, "How long did we take to clear the Hard difficulty just now?"

Uncle Wu replied, "Miss, about two and a half hours."

"Then did any of you see Li Yao come out?"

Uncle Wu was momentarily stunned.

Because their lady was curious.

Before they entered the Hard dungeon, they had specifically instructed the servants here—if Li Yao was teleported out, they were to inform her so she wouldn't have to wait around.

Yet now, Li Yao still hadn't appeared.

"What if…"

"No. No what-ifs."

Uncle Wu quickly dismissed his wild thoughts. Clearing a Nightmare dungeon solo? He didn't even dare to think about it.

Li Yao was probably just hiding in the spawn area, stalling for time to avoid the embarrassment of being teleported out too soon.

"Haha, Miss, you're giving Young Master Li too much credit."

"If Young Master Li actually manages to clear… Never mind, clearing is impossible. But if he even kills a single monster, I'll do a handstand—"

Suddenly,a system announcement, like a bombshell, exploded across their system panels.

[Congratulations to the adventurer team 'None' for clearing Goblin Nest (Nightmare)!]

[Congratulations to the adventurer team 'None' for setting a new Goblin Nest (Nightmare) clear time record!]

[Clear Time: 3 hours, 47 minutes, 21 seconds]

[Team Leader: Li Yao (Game Master)]

[Team Members: None]

[Rewards: Adventurer Level +1, First Clear Package (Goblin Nest - Nightmare), Title Reward: Abyssal Lone Walker (Unique)]

[Goblin Nest - Hell difficulty is now unlocked. Level 20-25 adventurers who have undergone 'Perfect Second Advancement' may enter for the challenge.]

[Note: Hell difficulty prohibits the use of Escape Scrolls.]

[Good luck!]

Silence.

No one spoke.

Some people opened and closed their panels repeatedly, trying to refresh them, as if they had misread the message.

Not just the people present—every adventurer who had ever run the Goblin Nest dungeon received the same announcement at the same time.

"…Uh… did the system… mess up?"

Someone finally broke the silence, whispering hesitantly.

No one answered.

The only response was the sound of sharp intakes of breath and people swallowing hard.

Then—

A chorus of shocked "Holy shit" echoed in succession.

The system making a mistake? Impossible!

That system was the foundation of all adventurers. It was an omnipotent force, the will of heaven itself!

For countless years, it had never once been wrong.

That meant…

There was no mistake.

"How is this possible?!"

"Li Yao cleared the Nightmare difficulty?"

"A Summoner… Alone… ALONE?! Is this a joke?"

If just one person had seen the message, they might have thought they were hallucinating.

But when everyone in the area—and even the entire city of Jiangzhou—saw it at the same time, there was no denying it.

"The Summoner class, the one nobody thought highly of… actually cleared a Nightmare dungeon?"

"I feel like I'm dreaming."

Someone muttered, then slapped the person next to him.

"This doesn't feel real."

"Is a talent really that powerful?"

"Talents are strong, but not to the point where a Summoner can solo Nightmare difficulty. I bet he got an SSS-rank Summon Skill Book."

"You think SSS-ranks are cabbages? Forget seeing one—I've never even heard of one. You think they'd just hand one out?"

"Who knows? Maybe Li Yao is secretly the son of the Dragon Nation's leader."

"That's not the point. The point is—Li Yao is a Summoner, right? Wasn't Summoner supposed to be the weakest class? How did he clear a Nightmare dungeon?"

"Either way, nobody thought he'd amount to anything before."

Of everyone present, the one who seemed most accepting of this fact was Qin Yue.

Right now, she was smiling like a flower, blinking playfully at the follower who had just spoken about doing a handstand.

"I remember someone saying if Young Master Li killed even a single monster, they'd do a handstand?"

"Come on now, let's see it! I'd love a show!"

"Miss…"

"I only said if he killed a single monster! I never said anything about him clearing Nightmare!"

"Oh, really?"

Just as Qin Yue was about to press the issue—

That follower hurriedly changed the subject.

"You know, I actually feel sorry for someone."

Qin Yue was intrigued. "Who? Yuwen Hao?"

"Yuwen Hao is actually fine. Sure, Li Yao clearing Nightmare makes his Master difficulty clear look like a joke, and he paid a hefty price for it—but he's still the young master of the Yuwen family. He doesn't need anyone's pity."

"Then who?"

"Jiang Ningyu."

"Li Yao's ex-girlfriend?"

"Exactly! Look at her face right now—such a pretty girl, gone pale as a sheet."

"Pfft."

Qin Yue covered her mouth, unable to suppress her laughter.

She had heard plenty about Jiang Ningyu and Li Yao.

She never liked that girl.

Not because of her looks—

But because she had never truly liked Li Yao, yet still accepted so many gifts from him.

Her other followers couldn't hold back their laughter either.

"Haha, I can't—I need a moment!"

"A Nightmare Abyss dungeon… Forget our generation—how many people in the entire country can solo that? And she dumped a boyfriend like that, one who adored her?"

"Pfft! And you still feel bad for her? She broke up with him the moment she saw he picked Summoner. Who else is to blame?"

"Haha, Miss, look! She looks so weird right now."

"I see it too."

"She looks like a lost puppy."

"Hey, hey, don't talk behind people's backs," Qin Yue reminded.

At that moment, Jiang Ningyu had no idea she was being laughed at.

Even if she knew, she wouldn't have the energy to care.

Her once-radiant face was completely drained of color.

Even Yuwen Hao's furious shouting beside her faded into the background.

Li Yao… cleared the Nightmare difficulty?

How was that possible? He was just a Summoner!

Why… why did he choose to be a Summoner just to deceive me?

Jiang Ningyu was unwilling to accept it.

She had even forgotten how she had sabotaged Li Yao in the dungeon.

His image grew larger and larger in her mind, filling her entire vision.

A tidal wave of regret surged over her.

"Li Yao… why would you do this to me?"