Chapter 32: A True Windfall!

[Brave Apostle, you raise your scepter and begin chanting…]

[The Bloodblossom Siren seems enraged by your actions. Countless thick, gnarled roots surge toward you…]

[The roots recoil in fear from the White Moon’s glow radiating from your weapon and dare not approach.]

[A flash of red light—Corrupted Sunlight strikes the center of the massive flower head!]

[The Bloodblossom Siren appears gravely wounded. Its crimson eyes flare brighter. The “seeds” in its floral disk—twisted, malformed human heads—are fired at you in a barrage…]

[You chant calmly while deftly pulling the reins, maneuvering your Turkoman Bloodhorse to dodge the incoming assault.]

[A flash of red light—Corrupted Sunlight again blasts into the heart of the massive flower head.]

[The Bloodblossom Siren takes near-fatal damage. It rears back and slams its entire flower head downward…]

[You continue chanting, steering your warhorse to narrowly avoid the crushing blow.]

[A final flash of red light…]

[You have defeated the Bloodblossom Siren—Serina. Experience massively increased.]

[Power surges within your Shell. “Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop” Shell level up! Current Level 13 (+3).]

The combination of White Moon enchantment and mounted mobility had worked perfectly to dodge the boss’s attacks.

Lin Xun had expected to need multiple casts of his ultimate skill, but thanks to the enhanced Shell quality, three well-placed blasts of Corrupted Sunlight were enough to send the so-called Rose of Saint Rance crashing into the dirt.

“A mage on a warhorse really is just a mobile artillery unit.”

[You received Unknown Trace of Spirit ×1]

[You received Tainted Essence Crimson Sunflower Seed (Rare Item)]

[You received Count Fox’s Castle Storeroom Key (Key)]

[You received Yellow-Robed Bishop—August’s Disciplinary Manuscript (Item)]

[You gaze upon the Bloodblossom Siren—Serina’s Shell…]

[Bloodblossom Siren—Serina’s Shell: For reasons unknown, Countess Serina fused with a giant crimson sunflower. This bloated monstrosity consumed the bodies of countless people as nourishment. Her massive form withered only after the floral core was incinerated by a scorching energy blast. Compatibility 41 (+35%)]

Lin Xun grinned from ear to ear—four loot drops in one go. That was a true windfall!

The boss’s low compatibility was understandable. After all, it was essentially a giant mutant sunflower with half a woman sticking out of it. Even calling it a “plant person” would be an insult to actual plant people.

Not bothering with Serina’s Shell, he opened his inventory to examine the spoils:

[Unknown Chunk of Spirit (Item): A faint essence lingering on an unknown Shell. Grants 300 Spirit upon use.]

He saved the item for now. With 505 Spirit already used and 510 more in reserve, his total had hit 1,015 Spirit points.

[Tainted Essence Crimson Sunflower Seed (Rare Item)]

He had received this before and initially tried applying it again to the Yellow-Robed Bishop’s Shell.

[This Shell has already used this item. Further use will yield greatly diminished effects.]

After brief thought, he applied it to the Paladin of Discipline Shell instead.

[You have used “Tainted Essence Crimson Sunflower Seed (Rare Item).” The Paladin of Discipline’s Shell defense has greatly increased.]

The Paladin was now officially his designated tank.

Next, he looked at:

[Count Fox’s Castle Storeroom Key (Key): Unlocks the engraved golden lock on Count Fox’s Castle Storeroom.]

His eyes sparkled. He could finally access that locked room he had passed earlier.

And finally.

[Yellow-Robed Bishop—August’s Disciplinary Manuscript (Item): A detailed account of Bishop August’s “training” methods for the Countess. Eye-opening reading. Use to unlock the Yellow-Robed Bishop’s True Name.]

!!!

“Now this is a jackpot!” Lin Xun nearly leapt off his chair.

Another True Name unlocking item. With this, he could manifest the Yellow-Robed Bishop’s Shell in reality—perfect timing for tonight’s mission.

Without hesitation, he used the item.

[You have used Yellow-Robed Bishop—August’s Disciplinary Manuscript (Item).]

[You have unlocked the Yellow-Robed Bishop’s True Name.]

[You may now manifest this Shell in the real world.]

After a long moment calming himself, Lin Xun resumed the game.

Having defeated the Bloodblossom Siren, the rooftop yielded no new paths. This was clearly the end of the castle area.

He returned to the second floor, heading straight for the storeroom next to the library.

[You proceed down the second-floor corridor and arrive at Count Fox’s Storeroom.]

[With the key in hand, you unlock the golden engraved lock on the door.]

[Inside, you find mountains of gold and jewels—wealth extorted from the citizens of Saint Rance by Count Fox.]

[At the center sits a giant golden treasure chest.]

[Do you wish to open the chest?]

Lin Xun instinctively moved to click [Yes], but a shiver ran down his spine—he remembered being devoured by a Mimic in a similar situation.

Not this time.

He launched a test attack at the chest. No response.

Only then did he open it.

“Am I getting treasure chest PTSD?”

[You have opened the massive golden chest.]

[You received Intermediate Forging Stone ×1]

[You received Dragonhunter Lance (Fine+ Grade Weapon)]

[Broken Dragonhunter Lance (Fine+ Weapon): A legendary dragon-slaying weapon. Even as a replica, it retains thunderous power. However, this version is broken in half—the golden spearhead attached to only part of the shaft. Reforged with its missing half, it may regain true draconic might.]

He had found the other half of the Dragonhunter Lance!

With both halves in hand, he could reforge the complete weapon.

Ecstatic, Lin Xun switched to the Corrupted Blacksmith Shell, and a new prompt appeared:

[You now possess both halves of the Dragonhunter Lance.]

[Would you like to reforge them using the Master Forging Art?]

Had he followed the normal storyline, raising the blacksmith’s favor enough to forge this weapon would’ve cost a fortune.

But now? He was the blacksmith.

Self-sufficient from materials to crafting to quality assurance—full vertical integration.

Free crafting makes everything better!

He confirmed: [Yes].

[You raise your “Family’s Fine Steel Forging Hammer” to begin reforging the weapon.]

[Reforging in progress…]

Then the text stopped updating.

After nearly thirty minutes of real time, the next prompt finally appeared:

[Lucky Apostle! The attention of an unfathomable presence has triggered a miracle. “Family’s Fine Steel Forging Hammer” has activated a rare mutation effect!]

[Mutation Effect: Fusion. You may fuse another weapon into the reforging process. The higher the quality of the fused weapon, the greater the final result.]

[The new weapon will inherit traits from both sources. Please choose carefully.]

[You may also cancel the mutation and reforge the Dragonhunter Lance normally.]

Lin Xun, sitting quietly in the rest room, blinked in surprise.

So he was being given a chance to fuse two weapons into a new one?

He stared at the screen—a whole new decision to make.