Chapter 174 - 142: Extraordinary Branch Traits, Observations Outside the Camp

Chapter 174: Chapter 142: Extraordinary Branch Traits, Observations Outside the Camp

The path of a Dream Descender was fraught with pitfalls and peril at every step. This remained true even after reaching the Extraordinary Tier. Crossing into the Extraordinary Realm was a life-or-death trial, and even after a successful promotion, one still couldn’t relax.

In the past, Chen Jianghuai shouldered the lives of dozens of villagers in the Elk Camp all by himself. He never dared to relax, let alone take risks to experiment or break through. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t even use his Extraordinary Abilities casually. As a result, his strength had barely progressed since the city-falling disaster.

But now... he had access to a training room where he could experiment with his abilities freely. Bathed in the Lighthouse’s glow, the camp’s safety far exceeded what it once was. Moreover, they now had the Safe Zone backing them up—a massive pillar of support.

"Damn it, I finally don’t have to walk on eggshells anymore! Feels great!" Chen Jianghuai exclaimed. "I can even try exploring the Nightmare World as the Guardian. The Manager actually gave me two days off a week?"

Chen Jianghuai found it completely absurd. Back in the Present Realm, he used to be the one approving leaves. But ever since entering the Nightmare World, the concept of a vacation had nothing to do with him—or anyone else, for that matter.

In reality, his absence for a day or two wouldn’t negatively impact the Lighthouse Camp. Its stability was more than ten times greater than the Elk Camp’s. And that wasn’t all.

"In the past, even if the camp was secure, I didn’t dare venture too far," Chen Jianghuai thought. "The Nightmare World is constantly changing. Sometimes, a gust of gray mist blows past, and in the blink of an eye, the entire landscape transforms. It’s easy to get lost if you stray too far from the camp. Even with items to guide the way and anchor coordinates, it could take half a month just to find the way back."

Given the Elk Camp’s previous situation, let alone half a month, leaving for even two or three days could have resulted in a disaster.

But now...

Chen Jianghuai looked at the Member Card in his hand. Finally casting aside his worries, he ventured deep into the Nightmare World. He still didn’t dare to conquer a Nightmare. However, an Extraordinary Powerhouse putting his full effort into exploration was more than capable of charging through a horde of ghosts and snatching away Treasures directly.

Sweeping for Treasures—this was the true purpose of an Extraordinary Powerhouse’s exploration!

Chen Jianghuai was so terrified of being poor that he practically left no stone unturned. In just two or three days, he hauled back numerous original Treasure Medicine plants to the Lighthouse Camp, even digging up several tons of fertile soil to bring back with them. These Treasure Medicine plants might not survive the replanting process, but to Chen Jianghuai, even if only one out of ten special plants took root, it would be well worth the effort.

Shi An marvelled at the haul. "Is this the sheer initiative of an older generation Extraordinary Powerhouse? Truly terrifying!"

He headed to Training Room One. After witnessing Extraordinary Abilities firsthand, he had gained a much deeper understanding of the two Excellence Level Curse Objects in his possession.

With a mere thought, the Shadow spread out to a distance of twenty meters, continuously shifting its shape from afar. At times, Dark Shadow spikes shot out; at others, it morphed into a giant hand to grab its target.

"Isn’t this long-distance manipulation characteristic very similar to an Extraordinary Ability?" Shi An wondered. "Perhaps wielding an Excellence Level Curse Object is equivalent to being a Half-Step Extraordinary?

"After all..."

Previously, Shi An had assumed that Excellence Level Curse Objects were simply rarer, scarcer, and higher-tier Dream Curse Objects. But now, as his horizons broadened, he realized the truth. "I’m afraid that among Tier One Curse Objects, those of the Excellence Tier simply do not exist!"

Tier One Curse Objects were those extracted from Ordinary ghosts. They were mostly Complete Level Curse Objects, though a few powerful ghosts might drop Rare Level Curse Objects. As for Incomplete Level Curse Objects? Those were merely the scraps of ghosts, or products formed from condensed cold energy.

Extraordinary Curse Objects dropped by Extraordinary ghosts were usually Rare Level Curse Objects (Tier Two), and in rare cases, they might drop Excellence Level Curse Objects (Tier Two).

"Dream Descenders cannot refine Excellence Curse Objects at all. In fact, they shouldn’t even exist!" he thought.

It was only because Shi An had exploited a loophole and used cheats that he was able to wield the power of Excellence.

Shi An’s second Excellence Curse Object, the Fearless Insect Armor, didn’t possess the flashy abilities of the Night Shadow Mask. The Curse Object was essentially just a single bug. However, this bug could continuously devour metal, growing stronger with every bite. The Curse Object could transform into Insect Armor harder than gold and iron, and it could also summon an Insect Swarm. It could even break its user’s body down into countless bugs, scattering in all directions to preserve their life.

However, Shi An couldn’t use this third Skill.

It all came back to the same principle: he commanded half of an Extraordinary Ability, but because he still had a mortal body, he couldn’t unleash the remaining half. Still, just having the Insect Armor cover his body provided an endless surge of power. He could easily punch a leopard to death. Such was the physical boost brought by fusing with the Insect Armor!

"The Shadow! The Insect Swarm! These are incredibly potent abilities with massive potential!" Shi An thought. "However, for the Extraordinary Realm, the three Lifebound Curse Objects refined during the Refining Stage only serve as a foundation. Although the Lifebound Talent obtained through Extraordinary Awakening is related to the Curse Stones, only one can be awakened."

Shi An didn’t know what kind of ability he would awaken in the future. But he was absolutely certain he would refine three Excellence Curse Objects. No matter which of the three Excellence powers he might have to give up, he wouldn’t be able to accept it.

...

...

While Zhuo Ling, Little Blood, and the third ghost were temporarily stuck at the Extraordinary Ceremony and unable to break through, the powerful members in the Safe Zone experienced a wave of minor breakthroughs over the past few days.

Many Elder Level Members had originally been stuck at the Peak of First Refinement Realm. Blessed with excellent aptitude, abundant resources, and the sheer courage to conquer Nightmare after Nightmare, they naturally couldn’t be held back by this small bottleneck for long. Their breakthrough was simply a matter of course.

"I’ve reached the Second Refining Realm!" an ecstatic member exclaimed. "With this, there will be no more delay in using my two Lifebound Curse Objects, and I can start preparing for the Refinement of my third Curse Object!"