Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 346: Clearing Area 2
Back at the Anchor, Lin Mo watched as Jiang Jianxin and Liu Xiaoyu, a formidable pair of cultivators, cornered the Area 2 Boss. The large, blackish-green goblin shaman-like creature, despite its surprising agility and bone-shaman spells, was slowly being worn down.
Its sickly green mist attacks, once capable of causing momentary weakness in Xiaoyu, were now shrugged off with ease thanks to the [Spirit-Infused Respirator], aura enhancements and buffs from the Card Talismans.
Jiang Jianxin's flying sword formation sliced through its rudimentary spiritual wards as if they were made of paper as she gracefully supplemented it with her own sword technique, fully utilizing her Sword Intent. Meanwhile, Xiaoyu's crackling punches relentlessly hammered its bulky form as she also began using some of her techniques like the one she had just learned recently.
Meanwhile, Xiaoping, with Lin Mo's lazy assistance, was diligently sweeping up the smaller, chanting shamans that attempted to reinforce their chieftain. His gauntlets, coupled with the swift-winged falcon [Spirit Embodiment Sticker Seal], made him a blur of motion, silencing the casters with precise, powerful blows.
[Area 2 Boss: Unknown Entity (High-Tier)]
[Threat Level: 33 (Early Core Formation Stage)]
[Abilities: Boneforge Regen, Mystic Curse (Disruption), Elemental Wave (Poison/Earth)]
Surprisingly, Lin Mo found that the information about the Area 2 Boss had been updated after the two women started fighting it. It seemed their assumption was correct.
The large shaman-like creature was indeed a caster. Its Mystic Curse could temporarily disrupt one's spiritual flow, while its Elemental Wave could release a burst of poison and earth qi, blanketing the whole chamber.
Neither were particularly lethal thanks to their store products, but they were annoying to deal with as they weakened them.
"You're doing great, Xiaoping! Keep them from chanting!" Lin Mo called out, launching a [Starcoil Thrust] that pierced through a skirmisher trying to flank Xiaoping. The wisp of foreign energy gathered around him, adding another drop of spiritual energy into his dantian.
Xiaoping grinned, his movements precise and efficient. "Got it, Shopkeeper Boss! No more enchantment for them!"
The sound of chanting abruptly ceased as the last small shaman crumpled under Xiaoping's gauntlet.
The Area 2 Boss, now isolated with its reinforcements deleted, let out a frustrated roar.
It unleashed a desperate wave of energy, a swirling vortex of green and brown that seemingly pulsed with malice, encroaching upon the whole chamber.
Lin Mo couldn't help but frown at how suppressive it was, considering he's at least two stages lower than it.
But it was too late.
Jiang Jianxin's [Five Indomitable Sword Formation] became a dazzling display of honed sword intent, converging on the Area 2 Boss. Five shimmering swords, each a streak of azure light, pierced its body simultaneously, carving intricate patterns of destruction followed by her personal sword, the Ethereal Cloud Edge, magnificently displaying [Silent Moon Swordplay] interlaced with the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect's [Cloudstep Sword Arts].
At the same time, Liu Xiaoyu roared, a fierce battle cry erupting from her lips. Her gauntlet glowed with blinding light, her Nine Heavens Exquisite Body enhanced her spiritual pressure to its peak state.
A single, focused punch, infused with both lightning and wind qi, slammed into the Area 2 Boss's chest.
The combined assault was overwhelming. The Area 2 Boss convulsed, its blackish-green skin rippling before it exploded into a torrent of green mist, leaving behind a scorched crater and a lingering scent of burnt bone.
The system panel then flickered to life, filling in the identification of the Area 2 Boss.
[Area 2 Boss: Decrint Tribe Grand Shaman (High-Tier)]
[Threat Level: 33 (Early Core Formation Stage)]
[Abilities: Boneforge Regen, Mystic Curse (Disruption), Elemental Wave (Poison/Earth)]
Then, a circular core rolled out from its body before its body dissolved into a green mist of foreign energy that seeped into their bodies.
[Area 2 Cleared]
[Scanning the Area Core…]
[Multiple options have been generated regarding the use of Area Core].
[Option 1: Extract the Area Core data. Permanently provide Area 2's information and the complete map of the area, along with Exit Zones and Hidden Chests for future explorations.]
[Option 2: Dissolve the Area Core to permanently enhance the cultivation base. Grants a one-time boost equivalent to one minor realm advancement for all party members (limited to Foundation Establishment Stage or below).]
[Option 3: Sacrifice the Area Core to further destabilize Anchor - HLFB#0227. Reduces Foreign Energy Saturation by 30% and temporarily closes the bridge between the Anchor and the Outer Realm by 72 hours. (Note: This action may provoke retaliation from higher-tier entities in subsequent areas and may result in the Outer Realm pouring more resources to raise the difficulty in navigating towards the Anchor Core)]
[Additional Note: The Anchor has been designed to have Outer Realm entities stationed in each area to gradually raise the Foreign Energy Saturation needed to complete the Dimensional Bridge between the Realm of the Nine Heavens and the Anchor, allowing the Outer Realm entities to spill out. Abrupt rise in saturation can also destabilize the Anchor. Hence, the need to scatter their forces across multiple areas to maintain balance.]
For Lin Mo, he was seeing these options for the first time but it wasn't that hard for him to understand them. Meanwhile, Jiang Jianxin, who cleared Area 1 during their previous exploration, saw that it wasn't that different from before.
Other than the additional word 'further' on Option 3, everything was the same. Furthermore, she still believed that the best use of it was to extract the data.
Liu Xiaoyu landed lightly beside him, her chest heaving slightly, a triumphant grin on her face. "See, Boss? Piece of cake! These greenies are no match for the Divine Convenience Store's strongest assistant!"
Jiang Jianxin landed gracefully, her swords returning to their silent orbit around her. Her face remained impassive but her lips stretched into a thin smile, "Shopkeeper, it was quite easy this time. And these options… I'll let you decide what to do with them."
Lin Mo shook his head as he picked up the dark-green core. "Don't forget the Sword Fairy's peerless skills, Xiaoyu. Alright, let's see what we've got here."
"So, three options. Extract data, get a cultivation boost, or destabilize the Anchor. Xiaoping, what's your take?"
Xiaoping's eyes widened at being addressed directly. He glanced at the core in his hand, then at the options, a thoughtful frown on his young face. "Shopkeeper Boss, the cultivation boost sounds good for you, me and Big Sister! We could get stronger quickly. But… the data would help us in the next areas, right? And destabilizing the Anchor might make things harder later."
"Smart boy," Lin Mo praised. "Xiaoyu, what about you?"
Liu Xiaoyu pouted, kicking at a loose rock. "I want the cultivation boost, Boss! Imagine how strong I'd be after two more areas! But… if the data helps us find more treasure chests, then that's good too."
Ending that with a playful wink, Lin Mo felt the urge to flick her forehead again. He held back since the girl contributed the most.
Besides, he knew she could dodge his flicks anytime, yet she always took it like a champ.
"Always with the treasure chests. Miss Sword Fairy, your wisdom?" freёweɓnovel_com
Jiang Jianxin stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the core. "Shopkeeper, as I experienced in Area 1, the data extraction is invaluable. Knowing the entities, their abilities, and the environmental hazards ahead allows for strategic planning. We weren't ambushed and we're the ones who ambushed these foreign creatures. The cultivation boost, while tempting, is a fleeting advantage compared to comprehensive knowledge. As for destabilizing the Anchor, the note clearly warns of retaliation. It's a short-term gain for a potentially long-term disaster."
She paused, then added, "My master always emphasized that foresight triumphs over brute strength. Extracting the data will illuminate our path and allow us to continue to progress systematically."
Lin Mo nodded, his decision already made.
"Alright, then. Data it is. We need to understand this Outer Realm and its inhabitants if we're truly going to turn this invasion into a 'treasure-hunting field trip' for our customers. Besides, Xiaoyu and Xiaoping are already strong enough. No need for a quick boost that might make them complacent."
Liu Xiaoyu grumbled playfully. "Hmph. You just don't want us to become even stronger than you, Boss!"
Lin Mo merely grinned, then tapped [Option 1: Extract the Area Core data].
The shimmering core pulsed, then slowly began to shrink, its energy flowing into Lin Mo's Store Token. The interface was updated, detailing the newly acquired information.
[Area 2 Data Extracted: Decrint Tribe Shaman Outpost]
[Primary Inhabitants: Decrint Tribe Shamans (Spellcaster variants of the green-skinned creatures. Still relying on Boneforge Technology and Decrint Dark Spells and Curses]
[Area 2 Map: Complete. Next Area Passageway (1), Exit Zones (3), Hidden Chests (3) marked.]
—
[Anchor Interference Protocol extracted additional data.]
[Foreign Energy is now designated as Highland Energy. Can be converted to Dimension Essence.]
[Primary Trait: Elemental]
[Secondary Trait: Corrupting]
[Note: Prolonged exposure to concentrated Highland Energy can cause spiritual and physical degradation in non-native species.]
Reading through all that, Lin Mo's forehead creased. "Elemental and corrupting traits? There are no elves then? What are those Long-eared species in their murals, then? Dark Elves?"
New novel chapters are published on fr(e)ew𝒆bnov(e)l.com
