Stormbearer Mountains is considered an extremely high-risk area in Mondstadt.
Even merchants hoping to gather rare materials rarely dare to enter.
Most adventurers avoid it as well.
The reason is simple:
There are minor ley lines here.
The energy leaking from them makes the beasts and monsters of the mountains abnormally powerful.
As Jiang Chen described it:
Monsters above Level 20 exist here.
After resting for the night, the group entered Stormbearer Mountains early the next morning through a hidden mountain path.
Beside the trail stood a small abandoned human camp.
There were simple tents, a cooking pot over a fire pit, and stacked firewood.
But nobody remained.
Diluc explained.
"That was an Adventurers' Guild outpost."
"Normally people stay here to monitor monster activity in the mountains."
"But recently monsters have become too active."
"They probably withdrew."
"So things aren't very peaceful around here."
Jiang Chen said calmly.
His gaze shifted toward a large rock further ahead.
"Even this hidden path is occupied by monsters."
Near the rock—
A large Pyro Slime bounced energetically.
Three smaller ones followed it.
Occasionally flames splashed from their bodies.
This dry terrain was the perfect environment for Pyro Slimes.
Thanks to them, no vegetation survived nearby.
Jiang Chen smiled.
"Barbara, your ley line energy has arrived."
Barbara looked at the slimes nervously.
Especially the big one.
She grabbed Jiang Chen's hand and shook her head repeatedly.
"Big Brother Jiang Chen… I can't beat them."
To absorb ley line energy, one must personally defeat monsters and generate aggro.
If someone else delivered the finishing blow, the reward would be minimal.
Two nights earlier, Diluc had only destroyed hilichurl shields.
The real aggro had been generated by Noelle.
Because her attack power was still low, she had fought the hilichurls for quite a while before finishing them off.
Jiang Chen reassured her.
"Your Hydro projectiles can react with their flames."
"The Vaporize reaction will suppress their Pyro attacks."
"Once their flames disappear, they'll only be able to attack by ramming."
"Let Noelle block them."
Hydro versus Pyro was basically bullying.
"I'll handle the defense!"
Noelle said confidently.
Her voice was reassuring.
"Wait."
"Barbara, use this catalyst."
Jiang Chen stopped them and pulled an item from his system inventory.
It was a jade-carved catalyst.
Small, elegant, and finely crafted.
In Liyue, it was known as the Emerald Orb.
Emerald Orb
Besides being a strong defensive catalyst, it also worked as a beautiful accessory.
"It increases elemental damage and reaction effects."
Jiang Chen explained.
Barbara's eyes sparkled.
She loved how pretty it looked.
"Thank you, Big Brother Jiang Chen."
She infused it with Hydro energy.
The jade orb floated beside her.
"Well then… we're going."
With the catalyst, her confidence improved slightly.
Barbara stepped into attack range.
She gathered energy and jumped lightly.
A soft melody echoed in the air.
Hydro energy formed a colorful ring beneath the slimes.
A massive water projectile burst upward.
Sparkling droplets scattered everywhere.
Steam hissed loudly as vapor filled the air.
The fiery red bodies of the Pyro Slimes dimmed rapidly.
They noticed the enemy.
Boing! Boing!
They bounced toward Barbara with tremendous force.
"Breastplate!"
Noelle stepped forward immediately.
Her Geo shield blocked their impact.
Barbara jumped again.
Her dress fluttered as she unleashed another Hydro charged attack.
Diluc watched from the side, arms crossed.
"Elegant, but…"
"Does she have any explosive attack methods?"
He asked.
Jiang Chen rolled his eyes.
"You seem to misunderstand something."
"She's a church priest, not a frontline fighter."
The enemies were:
One Lv15 Pyro Slime
Three Lv13 small slimes
Barbara was only Lv5.
Even with the Emerald Orb boosting her power, it would still take time.
"And besides…"
Jiang Chen added.
"As long as she's cute enough, she's invincible."
Diluc fell silent.
"…."
Annoyingly enough—
That statement was impossible to refute.
"Jiang Chen…"
Lumine tugged his sleeve.
"What's wrong?"
"I… also want more chances to fight."
She said quietly.
Her amber eyes showed a trace of unease.
Since Barbara and Noelle joined the team, Jiang Chen had shifted part of his attention toward them.
Lumine wasn't jealous.
But she wanted balance.
Jiang Chen finally noticed.
He gently patted her head.
"No need to worry."
"I prepared a ley line energy gift package for you."
"A gift package?!"
Paimon's ears perked up immediately.
Lumine blushed slightly under the head pat.
"What does that mean?"
"You'll see when the time comes."
"It's meant to be a surprise."
Jiang Chen said mysteriously while watching the battle ahead.
If Noelle encountered danger, he would need to step in immediately.
"Okay."
Lumine nodded.
Her earlier anxiety disappeared.
She secretly glanced at Jiang Chen's handsome profile.
Feeling her cheeks grow warm—
She quietly lowered her head.
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