Chapter 119 - 114: Watchtower Map

Chapter 119: Chapter 114: Watchtower Map

Fen Huo was only visiting the Safe Zone for the first time, but Chen Baichuan was already a veteran of the place, an official member.

After hanging around the Safe Zone for a while, Baichuan deeply understood one principle: In the Safe Zone, the prices of goods and the cost of using facilities were not the most important things. The most crucial factor was... first come, first served—the quick-handed got it, the slow-handed missed out.

If you were too slow in renting a Witchcraft Flying Eye, they’d be gone. If you were too slow in booking the Training Ground, you’d have to wait in a long queue. Without a doubt, this applied to the newly opened Curse Art Library as well.

The cost of contemplating a Spell Scroll once was not cheap. It also required a substantial amount of Safe Zone Contribution Points, which shut out some Dream Descenders who possessed strong financial power but few Contribution Points. Like Captain Fen and his team. However, the Safe Zone still had no shortage of experts who possessed both wealth and contributions.

By the time Chen Baichuan hurried out of the hall and strode along the stone-paved path to the front of the Curse Art Library, more than a dozen Dream Descenders had already gathered there. Among them were several official members. Veteran members like Profound Sword, Xi Xue, and Li Wei were impressively present among the crowd.

Chen Baichuan narrowed his eyes. "This is a bit tricky. They have more seniority and arrived earlier than me. If there really are any Rare Level Curse Art Scrolls, it probably won’t be my turn."

But there was nothing he could do about it. He could only wait. He hoped the store would have more Spell Scrolls and restock them, though this was just wishful thinking on his part.

The Curse Art Library hadn’t opened its doors yet. At this moment, Hair Ghost stood in front of the door and announced, "The Curse Art Library is divided into two sections. The cost of using an Ordinary Level Cultivation Quiet Chamber is one hundred grams of Dream Dust for two hours. Staying inside aids in meditation, contemplation, and learning."

It was like a rather special study room. The Dream Descenders quickly understood the function of the Cultivation Quiet Chambers, but that wasn’t why they came. Every single one of them eagerly awaited Hair Ghost’s next introduction.

Hair Ghost continued, "Secondly, there are the Spell Scrolls. Comprehending an Ordinary Level scroll once requires ten Dream Crystals and one hundred Contribution Points, while a Rare Level scroll costs three times as much. Naturally, you can only comprehend Spell Scrolls inside the library’s Quiet Chambers. You are not allowed to take the scrolls out of the premises."

The Dream Descenders did some quick mental math. Ten Dream Crystals? That wasn’t expensive at all—in fact, it was extremely cheap! That amount could only buy two to three Complete Level Curse Objects. For Ordinary Dream Descenders, ten Dream Crystals were naturally a massive fortune. But for everyone present here, it could only be considered a moderate or small sum.

The truly expensive part was the one hundred Contribution Points! Even a membership qualification only required one hundred points. Of course, once a person accumulated enough Contribution Points, they could exchange them for a membership with the Manager, and spending points did not affect this exchange or their future promotions. But even so, it was obvious that half of the non-member Dream Descenders present would have no fate with the Spell Scrolls.

They couldn’t really complain. Contribution Points were often practically "given away for free" by the Manager; they only needed to conquer Nightmares to earn them. Reflecting on it, their lack of Contribution Points was simply because they hadn’t worked hard enough to conquer Nightmares lately.

"Let’s go, let’s go. Time to conquer Nightmares! Anyone want to team up?"

"There are still too few ways to earn Contribution Points right now. I hope the Manager issues more quests. My inner workhorse is already itching for action."

Compared to these Dream Descenders with limited contributions, Profound Sword and the others didn’t feel the price was expensive at all. As the members with the most seniority, every one of them held several hundred Contribution Points. However, they also thought to themselves, "From now on, I need to do more quests that reward Contribution Points!"

It was just that such quests were truly too rare. Currently, the easiest channel to obtain Contribution Points was still conquering Nightmares. But the benefits of conquering Nightmares went directly to themselves. Profound Sword couldn’t shake the feeling that he was basically freeloading the Manager’s Contribution Points, and it made his conscience uneasy. He hoped the Safe Zone would soon release quests that would allow him to truly contribute his light and heat to the cause.

***

Before long, the Curse Art Library opened for business, and several members walked inside. Immediately, they felt a sense of mental tranquility, as if all their usual anxiety and restlessness had been blocked outside the door.

Among the first batch of people who came to the Curse Art Library, some members were ultimately persuaded to hold back. Hair Ghost had explained it very clearly. "If your Curse Art proficiency is not high, training in the Training Ground is the most cost-effective method. There is no need to waste an opportunity on comprehension here."

Profound Sword, the first to enter, chose the "Rare Level Curse Art: Rising Dragon Slash." He took the scroll and headed toward one of the Quiet Chambers. Xi Xue, the second to enter, chose the "Rare Level Curse Art: Curse Armor." As for the remaining Rare Level Curse Art Scroll... well, it was currently in Shi An’s hands.

Inside Quiet Chamber No. 1, a scroll engraved with the profound patterns of "Fleeting Shadows" hung on the wall. This was a Body Technique Curse Art, practically an advanced version of Phantom Step. Once cultivated to a profound level, one could even tread across water, moving like a fleeting shadow within the light. He also planned to cultivate the Curse Armor, but there was no need for the Rising Dragon Slash. Shi An had a very clear positioning for himself: prioritizing his own survival above all else.

"By staring at the Spell Scroll for more than ten seconds, one’s mind will immerse into it and begin comprehension." Shi An took a deep breath and began to gaze at it.

Instantly, the profound patterns continuously rotated and transformed in his eyes, like a shifting kaleidoscope. He had the urge to look away but managed to restrain himself. He was the dignified Manager, after all!

Shi An calmed his mind. Without him noticing, his chaotic thoughts vanished, leaving only the profound patterns of Fleeting Shadows in his eyes. Unknowingly, the Curse Power within Shi An’s body began to circulate. His brain became incredibly clear. Complex formulas and pathways unexpectedly clicked together all at once.

He understood it in an instant. He had reached the Entry Level of the Rare Curse Art, Fleeting Shadows.

"Reaching the Entry Level on the first try. I really am a genius," he thought as he awoke from his immersive comprehension.

He put the scroll away and glanced at the situation in the other Cultivation Quiet Chambers. Several members were currently comprehending, while over a dozen other Dream Descenders were meditating in their Quiet Chambers. There were more people than Shi An had expected. Perhaps this anxiety-free state of mind was indeed highly attractive.

As sparks of thought flew from the Dream Descenders’ minds, specks of Spiritual Light floated up and sank into the Curse Art Library.

After a long while.

[Prompt: "Spell Scroll: Light Feather Step (Ordinary)" is condensing...]

[Prompt: "Spell Scroll: Instantaneous Sword (Ordinary)" is condensing...]

[Prompt: "Spell Scroll: Lifebound (Ordinary)" is condensing...]

The "Spell Scroll: Lifebound" was a type of scroll that showed a thousand different forms to a thousand different observers. Its effect was effectively improving one’s proficiency in their Lifebound Curse Art. Although the magnitude of improvement couldn’t compare to other Spell Scrolls, it was suitable for the vast majority of people.

Looking at the current progress, Shi An estimated that these few Spell Scrolls would finish condensing in another two or three days. The Spell Scrolls in the library would only multiply as more people used the facility. The members’ worries about not being able to snag a scroll were completely unfounded. In fact, as the number of users and experts in the library grew day by day, it would even be able to condense Rare Level Curse Art Scrolls in the future.

***

The appearance of the Spell Scrolls sparked a new wave of enthusiasm for conquering. Dream Descenders continuously conquered quests and mapped out areas. Some rather wealthy Dream Descenders opted for the pay-to-win approach, such as Captain Fen Huo of the Countermeasures Bureau. There were also many members and provisional members who frequently camped out in the Quest Hall, hoping to snatch a high-level quest.

Shi An did indeed issue one high-level quest that rewarded Contribution Points.

—[Guard the Watchtower Under Construction]!

The construction time for the Watchtower was much longer than Shi An had anticipated. It took a full twenty-four hours. He had Zhuo Ling take the blueprints and head to the central area of the Ruins Nightmare to build it. The Ruins Nightmare had already been conquered, meeting the requirements for construction. Once built, the Watchtower possessed defensive capabilities, and it seemed it could even suppress the resurgence of Nightmares in its specific region.

But the construction time was very long. During the Watchtower’s construction process, it would also attract attacks from aberrations in the surrounding Nightmare Areas. Thus, Shi An issued this defense quest. Experts among both the members and provisional members swarmed to accept it. And that was even with Shi An restricting the number of people who could accept it. There was no need to waste too much manpower here. If too many experts were stationed on defense, there would be fewer experts available to conquer Nightmares elsewhere.

In the first hour, the defense squad slayed two incoming aberrations. In the second hour, the defense squad slayed another two aberrations. By the sixth hour, Shi An cast his gaze over, because at this time, the Ruins Nightmare experienced a resurgence. He had Zhuo Ling and Little Blood prepare themselves to intervene if necessary.

Ultimately, the aberration that manifested after the Nightmare’s resurgence was not the Black Armor Leader, but merely an Elite Level aberration. Elite Level aberrations were actually quite strong; back then, Long Niu had clearly been at a disadvantage when facing the Black Crow aberration. However, under the righteous gang-beating of this group of escort experts, this Elite Level aberration was buried on the spot less than ten minutes after its resurgence.

Another six hours later, the Elite Level aberration experienced a second resurgence and was buried a second time. Yet another six hours later, the Elite Level aberration experienced a third resurgence and was buried a third time. It had practically transformed into a Treasure Delivery Boy.

When the twenty-four-hour countdown reached zero, an invisible fluctuation rippled outward. The member experts vaguely felt that something had changed in this Nightmare, but they couldn’t put their fingers on exactly what it was.

***

[Prompt: The Watchtower has been established. Watchtower Map unlocked.]

In Shi An’s eyes, just like when he had previously ascended dimensions, his field of vision infinitely elevated, as if he were overlooking the Sea of Nightmares from a higher dimensional plane. He saw the entirety of the Ruins Nightmare, as well as the Nightmares of the surrounding areas. One piece after another, patched together.

From the western side of the ruins area, heading down a deep and dark tunnel, one would arrive at an eerie forest. On the other side, after crossing through three Nightmare Areas, Shi An saw dilapidated skyscrapers under drifting gray fog. It seemed to be that area he had seen before.

The forest and the Wasteland—both of these Nightmares were incredibly massive, and the Watchtower could only illuminate a single corner of them. But in reality, Shi An noted, "The total area illuminated by the Watchtower is equivalent to the sum of a hundred small Nightmare Areas. It’s not small at all."

Shi An looked toward another region. That was where the Safe Zone island was located. Several Nightmare Areas around the island were also illuminated, though the scope was much smaller than that of the Watchtower. "The Watchtower’s construction is complete. Next, those High Tier Refining Realm experts active deep in the Nightmares, or even Extraordinary Beings, might become provisional members or official members of the Safe Zone."

Shi An still didn’t even know what an Extraordinary Being looked like. However, he hadn’t expected that after the Watchtower was established, a "map" would unlock, its light illuminating piece after piece of the gloomy regions.

It was as if...

"While the Nightmare is invading reality, I am reverse-invading the Nightmare?"