Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 257: Area Boss
Anchor - HLFB#0227
Several minutes passed as the group of Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect continued with their exploration, after thwarting another ambush in a wide chamber that they found themselves in, Jiang Jianxin held the [Allseeing Compass] steady.
The needle twitched, then spun, locking onto a specific direction. Her eyes narrowed as the artifact vibrated slightly as if something was interfering with it.
With a wave of her hand, she covered it with her spiritual energy and filtered the foreign energy saturated in the air.
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"We're on the right path. It's still pointing northwest." She said, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "Over there should be where the passage is to the next area."
Li Ruo nodded. "Understood, Senior Sister…Killing these creatures is truly beneficial to our cultivation… I feel like I'm at the threshold of the mid Foundation Establishment."
Jiang Jianxin's gaze flicked to Li Ruo, noting the faint shimmer of spiritual energy coalescing around the younger disciple. The foreign energy's integration was subtle but undeniable, a double-edged gift from the Anchor's depths. And it's not just Li Ruo, everyone in their group had already noted the absorption of foreign energy from the creatures they killed.
Jiang Jianxin was even more puzzled by how the creatures would just dissolve into nothingness after being killed and had their foreign energy extracted. Would they experience the same fate if they died inside this place?
The Deacon never mentioned the remains of the disciples who went in with him. It was too chaotic for him that he could only focus on his survival.
"Good. Consolidate it later. Don't let it distract you now. This place preys on the careless."
Elder Shi grunted, his broadsword still dripping with purple blood from the last skirmish. "I've been at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage for so long. These creatures are fodder, but their essence is potent. I may finally be able to form my Golden Core on our return."
Jiang Jianxin felt the same. It's different from the insight she gained from the Tower. Here, her cultivation base was forcefully rising. It wouldn't be long before her Perfect Foundation began producing her Golden Core.
"If the Shopkeeper's selling tools to navigate this maze, he's sitting on a gold mine. Is this pre-planned? Jianxin, what else did he say about this Anchor?" Elder Shi continued, his tone also carrying a hint of skepticism.
Somehow, despite Lin Mo's constant mention of spreading convenience, it was inevitable to be a little suspicious that the promised convenience was truly working in a dangerous, unexplored place like this Anchor.
Jiang Jianxin's lips twitched, a fleeting shadow of Lin Mo's wry grin crossing her mind. "Only that it's a dimensional foothold, likely tied to an outer realm planning to mount an invasion on us. His store's products are likely produced in anticipation of this. The Shopkeeper himself likely knew next to nothing about them and like us, he's possibly going to explore a similar place soon. Or perhaps, he already did."
Elder Shi stared at her for a few seconds before giving up latching onto his skeptical thought. "Indeed. How can a mere Spirit Condensation Stage cultivator be aware of something beyond him? He's just another chess piece on a larger board."
The group advanced to the next passage with a tight formation. Jiang Jianxin sparingly used her Sword Will, only controlling two swords with her [Flying Sword Technique]. The disciples whom she handed the other Celestial Duel Gears she bought have already tested their efficiency.
They were effective in surprising the ambushers. And with how effective they were against foreign creatures like Lin Mo advertised, those disciples didn't even need to suck on a [Spirit Replenishing Candy] to maintain their Celestial Fields.
As for the Sword Fairy, she had yet to activate hers as she could still deal with threats with her sword skill.
After passing a few smaller chambers with ambushes set up by the green-skinned creatures, they eventually found themselves traversing into a passage that twisted sharply towards the northwest, where the compass was pointing.
Eventually, the passage opened into a vast chamber. It was twice as large and thrice as bright as the places they passed by.
At the other end of the chamber, a huge door could be seen, its structure wrapped with dark branches with withered leaves as if they were there to prevent anyone from opening it.
At the center of the cavernous chamber, a pillar wrapped in similarly dark branches could be seen. Standing around it were more than two dozen green-skinned creatures, their bone weapons held in their hands with no signs of them preparing for an ambush.
It's like they were waiting for an order from an authoritative figure.
And sure enough, Jiang Jianxin's attention was drawn to the lone, hulking figure sitting atop the pillar.
It's the same green-skinned creature, but taller and bulkier than the ones they had encountered for the past few hours.
Its brawny frame was wrapped in crude armor of bone and metal. It was looking at them like a predator watching their prey step into their trap while leaning against its weapon, a sledgehammer made from a hind leg of a large beast.
The [Allseeing Compass] vibrated violently, its needle spinning before snapping to the blocked door. That was exactly the place they needed to pass. The objective of this first area.
Suddenly, a red panel popped up in front of her and her group.
[Area 1 Boss: ??? (High-tier)]
[Threat Level: 34 (Early Core Formation Stage)]
[Abilities: ???, ???, ???]
[Note: Insufficient Data. Clear the Area and use the dropped Area Core to extract information.]
Jiang Jianxin's eyes narrowed as questions popped up in her head. "What's this? The Deacon didn't mention anything about this. Did he also defeat an Area Boss?"
Elder Shi grunted next to her, "Either he forgot, or he exited this place using a different method. We can still turn back, Jianxin. Those below can be handled by us but that one sitting proudly above the pillar is stronger than us. We must not challenge it carelessly."
Jiang Jianxin's grip on her sword tightened. She arrived at the same conclusion. It's even stronger than the Floor 3 Guardian of the Jade Hollow Plains Conduit Tower.
While she could ignore the lack of information regarding its abilities, she's not alone. There were disciples behind her who wouldn't survive against it.
"Elder, we're here to uncover the Anchor's secrets, not to run at the first true test. Take everyone and use the [Emergency Escape Talisman]."
"What?! Are you insane? Throwing your life away for a challenge? Tsk. Your master will not like this."
"I apologize…"
"Shut up. If you wish to challenge it, go ahead. We'll clear the space while you do so."
Li Ruo also stepped forward, her voice as low as possible.. "Senior Sister, should we deploy more store products?"
Jiang Jianxin turned to her and nodded. "Utilize the store products. We bought and brought it here for a reason."
Upon saying that, the Sword Fairy stepped forward, raising one of her arms, pulling back the sleeve of her robe. The [Celestial Duel Gear] on her wrist pulsed with her spiritual energy as it activated, her Celestial Field spread out from beneath her feet.
"Activate your [Celestial Duel Gear]." She ordered, her gaze locked on the boss. "Elder Shi, I'll leave them to you. Don't hesitate to use the store products too. They're efficient. I'll target the boss directly."
The group nodded, their movements swift and disciplined. Li Ruo and the other three disciples also opened up their Celestial Field and summoned Level 2 and 3 Units pulled from their starter deck.
At their appearance, the green-skinned creatures below the pillar shrieked and charged to ward them.
On Li Ruo's front, a [Crimsonshadow Archer] was summoned, a Level 3 Unit from the [Crimson Battle Spirits].
It drew its bow and aimed at the approaching figures. Arrows of condensed crimson light shot forth, striking two of the smaller creatures and scattering the rest into a frenzied charge. Their bone weapons gleamed with viridescent energy as they swarmed toward the archer and Li Ruo.
Elder Shi intercepted them with his [Mountain-Cleaving Strike]. His broadsword carving a wide arc, bisecting three and sending their green mist spiraling into the air.
And while that was happening, Jiang Jianxin moved like a silver phantom as she rode one of her swords, propelling herself toward the pillar. Her Celestial Field followed her, a Level 2 Unit materializing from her deck. [Camellia Sword Maiden] of the [Arcane Blossom Court] deck.
Together, their sword trajectory pointed at the Area 1 Boss, grinning menacingly at their appearance.
