Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 347: We still have a store to open

With the experience they gained from the previous areas, the exploration on Area 3 went smoother despite the slight increase in difficulty because of the new unit appearing alongside everything they encountered before.

Skirmisher. Bone-archer. Bone-shaman. They were the most common creatures of the Decrint Tribe.

Chieftains and Grand Shamans were like leaders for them. Perhaps an evolved form.

The new unit in Area 3 was akin to a warrior. It was taller and bulkier than the first three units but smaller than the leaders or Area Bosses. They held a huge bone club and a shield made of hardened hide and bone.

Their skin was a darker shade of green, almost an olive, and their movements, while still brutish, possessed a surprising weight and defensive posture.

They were called Bonecrushers, and their primary ability, 'Bone Armor,' made them incredibly resilient to frontal assaults.

Still, despite their seemingly more sturdy appearance, Liu Xiaoyu made short work of them. She took it as a challenge to take down one in less than five seconds and destroy both their clubs and shields. Instead of wide, sweeping attacks, she focused her lightning-infused punches to find the weak points in their rudimentary bone armor, often shattering it with a single, precise strike.

On the other hand, Jiang Jianxin found them a suitable challenge for honing her newly enhanced sword techniques. Her [Silent Moon Swordplay] proved particularly effective, its precise, almost invisible strikes bypassing the Bonecrushers' heavy shields to target their unarmored joints.

Lin Mo and Xiaoping continued their efficient clean-up at the rear, occasionally launching a [Starcoil Thrust] or a [Dragon Crescent Sweep] to assist when the Bonecrushers proved too stubborn.

The consistent flow of Highland Energy from defeated creatures continued to be a welcome addition to Lin Mo's spiritual reserves, reinforcing his progress towards Foundation Establishment. Unlike Sword Fairy or Xiaoping, he and Xiaoyu weren't at any discomfort absorbing the foreign energy.

Xiaoyu had the Nine Heavens Exquisite Body, while he had Heaven's Favor, which enhanced the adaptability of his pair of Silent Stream techniques and the Starflow Meditation Manual.

Area 3's terrain also showed a visible shift. From winding caverns, it turned into more open, yet still claustrophobic, tunnels choked with strange, glowing fungi and large, calcified bone structures that seemed to grow from the cavern floor itself.

In Lin Mo's observation, it was due to the permeating Highland Energy that the Anchor adapted. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

He used summons from the Celestial Duel Platform to test those out. The fungi were mostly traps that would expel poisonous fumes, while the bone structures would raise spiked floors and walls.

With that knowledge, the Decrint Tribe creatures couldn't use the terrain to their advantage anymore, making it a quick tour to the Area 3 Boss Chamber.

To their pleasant surprise, the Area 3 Boss had its details already unlocked. It wasn't obscured by question marks anymore.

Lin Mo's theory was that the closer they get to the Anchor Core, the easier it is to resist its influence.

[Area 3 Boss: Decrint Tribe Warleader (High-Tier)]

[Threat Level: 35 (Mid Core Formation Stage)]

[Abilities: Iron Will, Berserk Charge, Shield Wall (summons lesser Bonecrushers)]

The Warleader was a behemoth, nearly ten feet tall, its body covered in crude but effective bone plating. It wielded a massive, serrated bone greatsword and a tower shield adorned with grotesque carvings. Its roar echoed through the chamber, summoning several Bonecrushers to its side, forming a defiant wall.

He didn't magically summon them. They were the ones scattered across the area, rushing over after the Warleader activated his skill.

Lin Mo and Xiaoping tried blocking them but they got pushed away instead.

"Boss, this one's tougher!" Xiaoyu grinned as her gauntlet crackled with a storm of lightning and wind qi. "Looks like it's time to show off the [Celestial Duel Gear] properly!"

"Alright. Go ahead. Sword Fairy, you too. Xiaoping and I will provide support and cover again." Lin Mo nodded as he also activated the special artifact on his wrist.

As their individual [Celestial Field] spread beneath their feet, Xiaoping, the only one who didn't have a [Celestial Duel Gear] yet, watched on with glittering eyes.

"Whoa… Shopkeeper Boss, I also want one of those later!"

"Sure. Tell your sister to buy it for you before we open the shop in the morning."

"Okay!"

With that, Lin Mo pulled one of the five initial cards drawn to his hands and summoned a Level 3 Unit, the [Azure-winged Griffin], from the [Celestial Beasts] deck.

Xiaoyu summoned the [Sapphire Melody] from the [Celestial Idols] deck.

And Jiang Jianxin summoned the same unit she used back then, the [Camellia Sword Maiden] from the [Arcane Blossom Court] deck.

Contrary to the expectation that it would be a hard-fought battle, the addition of the summoned units lowered the difficulty posed by the durable Bonecrushers.

The Warleader's [Iron Will], despite making them resistant to most spiritual attacks, couldn't cope with the destructive power of Xiaoyu's lightning qi that created a storm of sparks. Its [Berserk Charge], which supposedly could level a small building, was also stopped by Jiang Jianxin's combined swordplay with her summoned unit, targeting its hind legs.

When the Warleader tumbled down, even Xiaoping joined them in pummeling it to the ground until its bone plating shattered into dust. Xiaoyu delivered a final, thunderous punch that left a fist-shaped crater where its chest once was, followed by the Area Core rolling out of its body.

After taking a quick breath and popping a few more candies and drinking refreshing sodas, Lin Mo chose to extract the Area 3 data again.

[Area 3 Data Extracted: Decrint Tribe War Camp]

[Primary Inhabitants: Decrint Tribe Bonecrushers (Heavy melee units, resilient armor), Decrint Tribe Elite Shamans (Advanced spellcasters, stronger curses/buffs)]

[Area 3 Map: Complete. Next Area Passageway (1), Exit Zones (3), Hidden Chests (3) marked.]

—

[Anchor Interference Protocol extracted additional data.]

[Highland Energy detected a new trait: Corrosive]

[Note: Direct contact with highly concentrated Highland Energy (Corrosive trait) can cause rapid spiritual and physical decay.]

Elemental, corrupting and corrosive. The Highland Realm seemed to be a grim place. Should they still stage a counter-invasion if they get the chance in the future?

—

Area 4 was the final stretch to the Anchor Core. The map of the area, while still mostly obscured, has already marked its precise location as if telling them they could make a beeline towards it and forget exploring the place.

As they traversed its passages, the walls once again became lined with strange, glowing murals depicting the Decrint Tribe's defeat and enslavement by the long-eared beings. They also showed their ultimate devotion to a towering, multi-limbed entity. Possibly a Deity from their place.

Surely, beings similar to immortals and divine beings also exist in their realm. Otherwise, they won't have the ability to set up an invasion against the Realm of Nine Heavens.

[You have entered Anchor - HLFB#0027]

[Area: 4 of 4]

[Threat Level: High]

[Current Entities: Unknown (High Concentration)]

[Environmental Hazard: Highland Energy (Corrosive – depletes spiritual energy rapidly), Ancient Traps (Potent – high damage)]

[Note: This area serves as the primary outpost for the Decrint Tribe's higher command. Expect heavy resistance and powerful entities. The Anchor Core is located at the center of this area, guarded by the highest-ranking Decrint Tribe members.]

"High concentration of corrosive energy… great," Lin Mo sighed. "This will put our respirators to the test."

Jiang Jianxin's expression became grim. "Shopkeeper, is it still possible for us to clear this place? Unlike the Conduit Towers with set challenges, this place is set up by intelligent foreign species."

Lin Mo put a hand on his chin as he thought about everything he had learned so far about Anchors.

It may be set up by the Outer Realm forces, but he's certain it is forced to abide by certain rules of the Realm of Nine Heavens. Hence, the possibility of clearing it despite the restriction on cultivation. Otherwise, it won't be allowed by Heaven's Will of the First Heaven.

"Indeed, but remember, Sword Fairy. We're not the invaders. This space, which they're using to build their Dimensional Bridge, is still part of our realm even if it becomes tainted by their energy. The Realm of Nine Heavens will naturally allow its cultivators to repel them, no matter how powerful the invaders are."

He then glanced at Liu Xiaoyu. "Xiaoyu, how are you feeling? Is your Heavenly Physique still resistant to the high concentration of their energy?"

Xiaoyu wrinkled her nose. "It's annoying, Boss. Like a constant itch, but I can handle it. Just drains a bit more spiritual energy." She pulled out another [Energy Replenishing Candy] and popped it into her mouth. "Good thing we brought a ton of these."

"Xiaoping, how about you?" Lin Mo asked, looking at the boy who was also frowning.

"It's... cold and sharp, Shopkeeper Boss. Like tiny needles. But I can fight through it!"

Jiang Jianxin also showed a faint flicker of discomfort. "The corrosive trait is indeed potent. It's affecting my spiritual flow more than anticipated. My Sword Will is becoming more restrained."

Lin Mo nodded, taking a deeper breath from his [Spirit-Infused Respirator]. "Alright, then. We proceed with extreme caution and reset the Anchor Core. We still have a store to open."

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦