Chapter 179: Treasure Hunt in the Abyss and the Chimera Guides
Originally, Lumine and Paimon were only helping out in Amphoreus out of friendship; they still had their own important journeys and commitments back in Teyvat.
Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng were completely understanding, reassuring them to focus on their business in Natlan. The exploration tasks, they insisted, could be fully entrusted to the rest of the team.
Lumine sent a message to the group chat. "Thank you all for being so understanding! We'll try to finish up as quickly as possible and rush back over!"
"Mhm! We'll definitely be back soon!" Paimon added, her own message popping up right after.
After sending the texts, Lumine and Paimon didn't even have time for a proper breakfast. They grabbed some simple dry rations, hurried out the door, and made their way toward the agreed-upon meeting place with Xilonen.
Along the way, Paimon was still flitting about anxiously. "What should we do, Traveler? Do you think Xilonen will be really angry? We totally stood her up..."
Lumine, too, felt a headache coming on. She tried to recall their recent acquisitions. "I remember... when we did that ten-pull on the gacha before, didn't we get a catalyst called the [Stoneheart Hammer]? That sounded like a specialized tool for forging."
"Oh, right!" Paimon's eyes lit up as the memory surfaced. "That hammer was so shiny and looked super powerful! We can give it to Xilonen as a gift! Maybe she'll calm down and forgive us!"
This seemed like their most feasible plan. The two quickened their pace, praying that Xilonen would accept their belated apology and peace offering.
Meanwhile, back in Amphoreus, the remaining members of the exploration team were already prepared.
Everyone gathered in Stelle's private bathhouse—which had become their default common room—and after a simple breakfast, they habitually opened the chat group's activity page to check the day's guide.
[System Announcement: World Activity "Amphoreus's Temporary Stelle" Daily Exploration Theme has been updated.]
[Today's Recommended Exploration Area: The Abyss of Destiny]
[Activity Content: Searching for scattered [Activity Treasure Chests] and defeating [Minions of Strife] within the area will effectively increase exploration progress.]
[Activity Tip: Please be careful. Teaming up for this activity is recommended.]
"The Abyss of Destiny?" March 7th blinked. "Why did the location change today? Weren't we exploring Okhema before?"
Stelle folded her arms, analyzing the update. "The chat group probably thinks we've explored enough of Okhema City, so it's time for a new dungeon. Anyway, the Abyss of Destiny is still part of Amphoreus, so it makes sense."
Dan Heng's tone was serious. "That place is now almost desolate, infested with numerous Minions of Strife. The environment is complex, and the danger level is far greater than that of Okhema City. Everyone must remain on high alert and never act alone."
This last part was mainly directed at Wise and Belle.
Everyone nodded in understanding. Fortunately, when Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th had first arrived in Amphoreus, they had already placed numerous Domain Anchors along the main paths of the Abyss of Destiny, which would save them a great deal of travel time.
Using the anchors, the group of six teleported in a flash of light, reappearing within the vast, dilapidated, yet still grand megalithic structures of the Abyss of Destiny.
The gasps of wonder that Wise and Belle might have uttered upon first seeing such a sight had now been replaced with calm observation. They were gradually adapting to the sheer scale of this world. However, a new problem immediately presented itself.
"This place... it's really huge..." Belle gazed at the complex, seemingly endless network of sky-bridges, halls, and ruins stretching out before her, sighing softly.
"It's not just huge," Wise calmly pointed out the practical difficulty. "In such a vast and topographically complex area, how are we supposed to accurately search for a few deliberately hidden treasure chests? It's no different from looking for a needle in a haystack. The efficiency will be abysmal."
Just as everyone was staring out at the sprawling ruins, wondering where to even begin, a soft rustling sound came from behind a broken pillar up ahead.
"!"
Dan Heng and Stelle reacted the fastest. In an instant, his Cloud-Piercer spear and her signature baseball bat were in their hands. They shifted their bodies slightly, shielding the others behind them as their sharp gazes locked onto the source of the sound.
Two furry, peculiar-looking creatures timidly poked their heads out from behind the pillar. They had soft fur, large, innocent eyes, and a pair of small horns, giving them a somewhat endearing appearance.
"Eh? Chimeras?" Stelle paused, recognizing the creatures, and lowered her bat.
"Relax, relax. They're not enemies," she explained to Wise and Belle. "They're a native species of Okhema. They have a very gentle nature and are usually more common in the Garden of Life area."
Dan Heng, however, did not relax his guard. His brow furrowed even deeper. "Chimeras usually inhabit the Garden of Life. The Abyss of Destiny has a harsh environment and chaotic energy. They shouldn't—and wouldn't—actively appear here. Something is definitely not right."
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, the chat group interface flickered to life for everyone simultaneously.
[System Prompt: Treasure Hunt Assistant is in place. The Chimeras will guide you to treasure chest areas or monster gathering points. Please follow their guidance.]
So that was it. A wave of understanding washed over the group. These two Chimeras were actually "navigators" assigned by the chat group.
Dan Heng slowly made his Cloud-Piercer vanish, though the caution in his eyes had not completely faded. "It seems today's exploration will require us to split into two groups. One group will follow one Chimera, allowing us to search different areas for higher efficiency."
The team distribution was natural. Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng formed one team—the Astral Express crew, with their excellent cooperation. Wise, Belle, and the experienced, powerful Zhongli formed the other.
The two Chimeras seemed to understand their mission. They trotted over to their respective teams and began to affectionately rub against their legs.
"Wow! So cute!" Belle's eyes instantly lit up. She couldn't help but squat down, gently stroking the soft fur of one of the Chimeras, her face beaming with pure affection.
March 7th, on the other side, had a similar reaction. She was already happily playing with the Chimera that had come over to her. "Hehe, so fluffy! And so well-behaved!"
Stelle stood by, arms crossed, watching her two companions become completely engrossed in petting the creatures. She pouted. "Hmph, they're cute, I guess... but compared to cute partners, I definitely prefer cooler ones!"
Only under the helpless urging of Wise and Dan Heng did Belle and March 7th reluctantly stand up.
Zhongli calmly stated, "Since that is the case, we shall proceed to explore the Silent Darklands and the southern region. The three of you have scouted that area before, so it is relatively familiar. The potential dangers should be fewer, making it a suitable place for Wise and Belle to gain experience."
"Alright! Then we'll go check out the northern temple area!" Stelle declared, deciding the Astral Express crew's route with a grand, sweeping gesture.
However, as Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng followed their Chimera guide, enthusiastically preparing to explore the northern temple area, the creature suddenly stopped just as they were about to arrive.
Immediately following, a translucent, very game-like dialogue box abruptly appeared above the Chimera's head.
[The area ahead... let's explore it later.]
Stelle: "???"
March 7th: "Huh? We can't go there yet?"
Dan Heng: "..."
Stelle stared at the familiar, déjà vu-inducing prompt box, speechless for a moment. "No way, Group Chat. We just assigned tasks and you're hitting us with an 'area not yet open' message? Are you messing with us?"
Unwilling to give up, she looked at Dan Heng, hoping the ever-resourceful man might have a clever way to bypass the restriction. "Dan Heng, do you have a way? Like, to get around this or something?"
Dan Heng shook his head. "We can go through anytime we want. The problem is, to get the rewards and increase our exploration progress, we probably have to follow the Chimera's guidance."
"Alright..." Stelle deflated. Though annoyed, she knew this was the most logical conclusion. She grumpily opened the chat to contact the other team.
[Stelle: @Wise @Belle @Zhongli Unexpected situation! The temple area isn't explorable yet. We'll have to re-plan our tasks.]
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