Chapter 37: The Saint Rance Sewers

As a seasoned gamer, Lin Xun naturally knew what the words “hidden map” meant.

Treasures, side quests, bonus events, hidden NPCs—all kinds of rewards awaited.

Just like in World of Warcraft, where players used a bug to cross the sea to a hidden island, only to find a gravestone that summoned a GM…

In short, hidden maps always held content outside the main progression—and the key to defeating the Sea Dragon Boss was definitely hidden here!

For a moment, Lin Xun’s eyes gleamed.

He quickly began manipulating the controls, preparing to head south again and lure the Sea Dragon Boss into breathing another blast of dragonfire.

Then he remembered—he was still possessing the Yellow-Robed Bishop Shell.

“If I’d known, I would’ve gone back to the church and picked up the Choir Sister Shell.”

Sending in the nun as a decoy to bait the boss’s attack? Couldn’t be more fitting.

But now… the nun’s Shell had evaporated along with the safe zone.

Left with no better option, he muttered.

“Alright, it’s up to you now—Blacksmith, I choose you!”

[You have possessed the Shell of the ‘Corrupted Blacksmith.’]

Fortunately, Lin Xun had recalled his warhorse just in time before the church was destroyed—saving it from becoming collateral damage.

He summoned the steed again and mounted it using the Blacksmith Shell.

[Which direction do you wish to go?]

[You begin heading south.]

[You arrive at the end of the road. A colossal figure looms before you…]

Seeing the Sea Dragon Boss again, Lin Xun expected to get another batch of ridiculous options like melee taunt, begging for mercy, or using a skill and running.

But instead—

[The ‘Corrupted Subspecies Sea Dragon’ lets out a furious roar the moment it sees you. Its foul jaws open wide, gathering a searing red light within!]

Come on! I changed disguises—how do you still recognize me?!

Three new options appeared.

[Doomed Apostle, where will you flee to?]

[1. Back toward distant Fox Castle.]

[2. Toward the bloodstained tower in the east.]

[3. Toward the ruins of the Clocktower in the west.]

He slammed the third option.

[You gallop toward the west at full speed. Just as you reach the Clocktower ruins…]

[A red Dragon Breath fills your entire vision.]

[You died!]

Perfect. Mission accomplished.

Lin Xun nodded in satisfaction. The Blacksmith and his warhorse had died gloriously—for the greater good.

[The feeble wandering soul revives in the familiar small chapel…]

He possessed the Yellow-Robed Bishop again and returned to the crossroads near the White Moon Church.

The game text had changed for the westward path.

[To the west: The rubble of Saint Rance’s tallest landmark—the Artemis Clocktower—has been leveled by a world-destroying force. The small mountain of bricks and debris has been reduced to flat, scorched earth.]

[You discover a ‘new road’ among the ruins.]

[Would you like to proceed?]

A hidden map—confirmed!

Lin Xun pumped his fist in excitement and pressed “Yes.”

[You follow the ‘new road,’ eventually reaching the outskirts of Saint Rance.]

[The area is desolate and lifeless. After some searching, you discover a metal hatch in the ground.]

[You lift the metal plate and find a stairway descending underground.]

[Foul crimson wind wafts from the dark hole. You can faintly hear dripping water and running streams. This appears to be the entrance to the ‘Saint Rance Sewers.’]

[Do you wish to enter?]

Sewers, huh?

Just hearing the name told him there would be monsters inside—probably disgusting ones too.

Still, Lin Xun didn’t hesitate and pressed “Yes.”

[You cover your nose and mouth and descend the steps into the dank, dark sewers.]

[The ‘Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear’ in your hand glows with golden light, illuminating your surroundings.]

[The sewers are cramped and narrow. The arched ceiling is barely half a Shell’s height above your head. Pungent, black sewage water rises to your ankles.]

[You follow the curved tunnel forward.]

[From the darkness ahead, you hear a slithering, crawling sound. Do you want to investigate?]

Heh. You think you can bait me with this cheap scare?

Knowing this cursed game’s usual antics, “investigating” probably meant a red ‘YOU DIED’ message.

Without bothering to find out what kind of abomination lay ahead, Lin Xun opened the skill menu and cast Corrupt Sunlight straight into the darkness.

[Cautious Apostle, you raise your staff-spear and begin chanting…]

[A red flash!]

[A piercing, agonized scream echoed for a long time through the cold, damp sewers.]

[You have defeated the ‘Corrupted Crawler.’ Experience increased slightly.]

[You obtained: Foul Dungstone (Junk).]

[The crawling sounds have ceased. You carefully move forward, guided by your weapon’s light.]

[The Shell of the ‘Corrupted Crawler’ is a deformed humanoid torso crawling on all fours. Once covered in writhing maggots, it died from a searing blast of energy. The stench is nauseating—but it oddly smells like cooked meat.]

Why doesn’t this thing have a Compatibility rating?

Reading further, Lin Xun realized—this creature had only an upper body, which didn’t meet the full-body requirement for Shell possession.

He quickly dismissed the idea of possessing it. Even if it did have compatibility, there was no way he’d use such a revolting Shell.

[As you examine the corpse, fragmented memories stir within your Shell…]

[Before the Blood Sun’s corruption reached Saint Rance, there were already believers of the Blood Sun cult living in Moonlight’s Hometown. Under the orders of Yellow-Robed Bishop August, they were executed by the White Moon Church’s Guardian Knights—cut in half and discarded into Saint Rance’s sewers, left to rot and be forgotten.]

Oh—so these mobs are my doing? Never mind then.

Satisfied, Lin Xun selected the option to move forward.

[You step over the rotting corpse and continue onward.]

[Up ahead, you spot a familiar flicker of light.]

[You hurry toward it and discover a large, floating page at the tunnel fork ahead.]

[You have found a missing page of the Book of Salvation—Resting Page!]

So it’s a respawn point. He had been hoping for a treasure chest or something.

[You reach out to touch the Resting Page. The residual divine power makes your soul tremble. The feeble soul and the page resonate strongly.]

[You have bonded with the Resting Page of the ‘Saint Rance Sewers’…]

Lin Xun set the new respawn point, then refreshed by resting once.

Immediately, he turned back to continue farming the Corrupted Crawlers.

Grinding EXP? Totally valid strategy.

After killing a few waves of small mobs, Lin Xun noticed two diverging paths behind the Resting Page.

“Looks like it’s a maze-style layout, just like the mines.”

Thanks to past experiences, he got up from bed and began mapping his routes on the computer—just in case he got lost or missed any areas.

Sure enough, as he explored further, the Saint Rance sewers turned out to be just as he suspected—full of twists, turns, and mobs.

Besides the Corrupted Crawlers, there were also Corrupted Giant Rats, Corrupted Twisting Worms, and Corrupted Red-Eyed Bats.

However, none of these monsters dropped anything particularly valuable—mostly junk like dungstones. Only a few yielded spiritual essence items.

Despite cutting down dozens of creatures, the Yellow-Robed Bishop still hadn’t leveled up. It seemed experience requirements became massive after level ten.

Still, Lin Xun wasn’t in a rush. Once the sewers were fully explored, he’d return to the Resting Page and happily grind EXP again.

[You continue forward and discover a slightly ajar wooden door on the tunnel wall. Faint orange light flickers from within.]

[Do you want to open the door and enter?]

Oho? Something’s happening!

Lin Xun’s eyes lit up…