Chapter 13: Strong and Weak Combination

Hearing Ian’s words, Sophia’s fiery red eyes sparkled as if filled with starlight.

“Right, how did my friend not think of that?” Sophia said excitedly.

She looked at Ian with admiration. “Thank thee for thy advice. I shall pass it on to my friend.”

“Got her.” Seeing Sophia fall completely into the trap set by him and Flora, Ian celebrated inwardly.

But Lilian, watching Ian and Sophia whisper, felt a pang of discomfort.

Lilian stepped behind Ian, tugging at his clothes and saying softly, “What are you doing, Ian?”

“Second Young Miss, I’m helping you eliminate a competitor. Trust me, this time I’ll definitely get you alone with Aetherina.” Ian explained.

“Even if Jesus came, it wouldn’t help.”

“Jesus? Who’s that?” Lilian asked, puzzled.

“Not important. Just know I’m absolutely loyal to you.”

Hearing Ian’s explanation, Lilian finally relaxed. “I thought you were planning to help someone else again.”

“How could I? I’m a man of my word.” Ian said.

As Ian and Lilian talked, Sophia suddenly spoke up. “Since ye know my strength, I shall take on the task of searching for the pearl alone.”

Sophia shot Flora a smug, gloating look, as if thinking Flora had shot herself in the foot.

In Sophia’s mind, Flora’s move gave her a perfect excuse to search for Aetherina’s pearl alone.

Wasn’t this creating an opportunity for her to prove her independence?

Flora, seeing Sophia’s gloating expression, wasn’t annoyed but delighted.

“I shall take my leave first, everyone.”

Before Aetherina could respond, Sophia set off to find the pearl.

Though Flora didn’t know what Ian said to Sophia, her departure was undoubtedly a win.

If she could now get Ian and Lilian to form a team to search for the pearl, her plan to be alone with Aetherina would succeed.

With this in mind, a smile spread across Flora’s elegant face as she prepared to speak.

But Ian beat her to it. “For the next two teams, let’s have the stronger ones pair with the weaker ones.”

Based on Ian’s understanding of Aetherina, she wouldn’t let the heroines take risks.

The reason she didn’t stop Sophia from going alone was, as Flora noted, Sophia’s Phoenix bloodline being a natural counter to demons.

If Ian recalled correctly, Sophia’s Phoenix bloodline development was over 10%.

In *Dragonblood Rose and Her Poem of Fate*, whenever bloodline development crossed a multiple of 10, strength surged dramatically.

Each multiple of 10 allowed one to learn a skill from an ancestor with the same bloodline.

Sophia’s first skill, Divine Phoenix Flame, was learned from her so-called Phoenix God.

This skill was incredibly powerful, dealing double damage to demons.

Aside from the Saintess family, the Kingdom’s Phoenix bloodline dealt the most damage to demons.

But Lilian, with her Saintess bloodline, was too weak to take the lead.

So letting Sophia go alone was the best choice.

In truth, Aetherina wanted to search for the pearl alone.

Since it was stolen by a demon thief, it was her issue, and involving so many girls meant ensuring their safety first.

But Sophia left before she could object.

Now, with four people left, the goal was to find the demon without anyone getting hurt.

The best approach was pairing the strong with the weak, right?

Aetherina’s strength needed no explanation—a prodigy in the original story with rapid cultivation.

Ian didn’t even know her current bloodline development percentage.

But it couldn’t be lower than Sophia’s.

As for Princess Flora? She likely wasn’t far behind, probably at 10% too.

However, Flora lacked Sophia’s strong anti-demon effect.

Since both were likely around 10%, they were stronger than Ian and Lilian.

Ian’s male body had only reached 8% bloodline development, still short of 10%.

Even if he hit 10%, his weaker bloodline wouldn’t compare to the main cast.

Ian wasn’t sure if he could learn skills from his past-life ancestors.

And if he could, what powerful skills could an orphan’s ancestors offer?

If his ancestors were strong, he wouldn’t have been an orphan.

Perhaps Ian’s demon form could surpass the heroines, but it had just awakened, with only 1% development and minimal strength.

As for Lilian, her strength was even worse.

Due to the Saintess bloodline’s nature, she was locked at 3% until passing the first trial.

Though she could train, her bloodline wouldn’t progress until she cleared it.

“Not good.” Flora thought, hearing Ian’s words.

If Aetherina followed Ian’s suggestion, her plan would completely fail.

But she had no good counterargument.

Admit she wanted to pair with Aetherina and let the two weaker ones team up?

That was her plan, but she couldn’t say it outright.

If Aetherina knew her intentions, her favorability would plummet.

Flora faltered, wanting to oppose Ian’s proposal but unsure what to say.

Aetherina, hearing Ian, considered the idea’s feasibility.

Ian pressed his advantage. “Lilian’s weaker, so let her team up with Aetherina.”

Lilian’s eyes lit up, as if saying, “Nice one, Ian.”

But after brief excitement, she grew nervous, fearing she’d do something rude and make Aetherina dislike her.

“As for me, I’ll team up with this lovely elf lady to search.” Ian smiled at Flora. “I’m sure this beautiful, generous elf wouldn’t refuse, right?”

Flora glared at Ian—if looks could kill, he’d be dead a hundred times.

But in front of Aetherina, she couldn’t openly object.

Her persona was always elegant, kind, and refined.

“At least it’s not Ian with Aetherina, or I’d be worried.” Flora glanced at the naive Lilian.

The proposal didn’t seem entirely unacceptable.