Chapter 15: Divine Command

【Ding, your level +1, Spirit +5, Constitution +2】

Having breached the central courtyard, Wang Shikong leveled up to Rank 3.

The vitality essence dropped by the Iron-tier monsters was exceptionally generous, especially given Wang Shikong’s initially low level.

"Now we enter the rear courtyard. It’s probably the final stage of this instance."

"The rear courtyard will be far tougher, but with the Captain leading us, it should be manageable."

Heartened, the team advanced toward the rear courtyard. Wang Shikong gazed at its shadowy expanse, his eyes flickering.

The rear courtyard was indeed the instance’s finale—known among players as the "Damnable" family. This stage had tormented countless cultivators.

Entering the manor’s rear courtyard unassailed, the five saw buildings on either side engulfed in flames. At the farthest end, within a fire-scarred house whose door and windows had burned away, five figures stood facing them.

At the center sat the manor’s master, his body decayed, clutching a long spear.

Beside him: the specter of the mistress, wielding a staff; two youths flanking them—one armed with blade and shield, the other with a longsword; and a female specter holding a staff.

This was unmistakably the decaying manor’s master and his family.

"Aren’t these five the instance’s final bosses?" Yao Yi eyed the group ahead.

"That middle-aged man... a Bronze-tier monster! Gods! And judging by their formation—a complete combat squad!" Tiancheng, the spellcaster, tensed as he watched. "This all depends on the Captain now."

Corrupt Manor Master (Bronze): Level 6

HP: 2000/2000

Constitution: 70

Spirit: 25

Skills: 1. Thousand Sweep; 2. Shadow Spear Thrust; 3. Sudden Strike; 4. Earthen Armor

Equipment: Umber Long Spear (Bronze); Obsidian Scale Armor (Iron)

"The others are manageable—Iron-tier. But this manor master... 2,000 HP, 70 Constitution, four skills, and Bronze equipment..." Lao Hu grimaced, turning to Wang Shikong. "Captain, are you confident?"

As a physique cultivator at Level 5, Lao Hu’s own Constitution was only 35. Even with Wang Shikong’s earlier buff, it wouldn’t reach 75. Factor in skills and gear? A single skill-infused spear thrust from the manor master could kill him instantly.

"More than five." Wang Shikong spoke calmly, gaze fixed ahead.

"Huh? More monsters?" Startled, Lao Hu scanned the surroundings.

"Hidden in the dark?" Yao Yi also tensed, senses straining.

"You see the family portrait behind them?" Wang Shikong asked.

"Family portrait?" Everyone looked.

The portrait mirrored the manor family’s poses, except—

The team froze, eyes locking onto the mistress’s arms in the painting.

Cradled there was an infant wearing a jade pendant.

That infant was nowhere in sight.

Where was it?

"No way... another one?" Jing Shan gasped.

"How fucking vile is this instance? If another one ambushes us mid-battle, we’re doomed!" Tiancheng’s face darkened.

Closing his eyes, Wang Shikong tried to sense its location, but the infant of this "Damnable" family remained elusive at this distance. Yet he knew: this hidden infant was a support-type spellcaster. It would heal and buff its kin, cast restraints—a truly insidious foe. Worst of all? The infant matched the manor master’s tier.

All "players" assumed a 5v5 final clash. A logical assumption.

But this enemy squad had a hidden support unit.

"Account for this sixth boss," Wang Shikong opened his eyes. "Engage. I’ll buff you. Once buffed, I can’t fight. You five take them."

"Even buffed... it’ll be tough," Jing Shan worried. "Captain, do you have another plan?"

Wang Shikong met his gaze. "Against these five? That’s your task."

"This..."

Lao Hu hesitated, then squared his shoulders. "We’ll handle it."

"Good."

Wang Shikong nodded.

Lao Hu’s group advanced. At thirty meters, the manor family’s eyes snapped open.

"God commands—" Wang Shikong intoned from behind: "Divine Encouragement!"

Holy light bathed Lao Hu’s team, surging their combat power. Tiancheng immediately began chanting.

"Intruders! DIE!" The manor master rose, spear in hand, charging with his sons.

"No holding back! Kill them!" Lao Hu suddenly produced two scrolls. Ripping one open, he unleashed a torrent of water that enveloped his allies in liquid armor.

[Water Armor Scroll: Grants Water Armor to allies within 5 meters. Absorbs 500 damage. Duration: 1 minute.]

He didn’t hesitate with the second scroll.

[Wood Armor Scroll: Grants Wood Armor to allies within 5 meters. Absorbs 500 damage. Duration: 1 minute.]

[Water nourishes wood! Combined armor absorbs 1,500 damage! Duration: 90 seconds!]

Prompts flashed. Lao Hu, having activated the scrolls, stared at the final effect.

"Amazing, Uncle Hu! Those scrolls are insane!" Jing Shan exclaimed.

"Stronger than I expected," Lao Hu grinned fiercely. "Go!"

"Scrolls? Tiger Vanguard indeed, acquiring such rare gear." Surprise flickered across Wang Shikong’s face.

Elemental scrolls were invaluable. Basic ones cost over 1,000 unit coins; premium versions soared beyond 10,000. Yet their power was undeniable—a strong scroll could swing early-game battles instantly. Even later, their instant elemental activation remained a trump card for many. Yes. Elemental scrolls counted as aces.

"My subclass could be an Elemental Weaver. But becoming one... nearly impossible." The thought crossed Wang Shikong’s mind.

Unlike Alchemists or Blacksmiths who bought training, Elemental Weaving was a rare hidden subclass with steep requirements. In his past life, only a few became renowned Weavers. Though none reached true mastery, super guilds prized them. Ning Qingya recruited one early on, investing heavily... only for the Weaver to betray her contract for a super guild. She raged at the injustice for months.

Becoming a Weaver was brutally hard, making their status far exceed Blacksmiths or Alchemists.

His attention snapped back to the battle.

Under twin scroll buffs, Lao Hu, Yao Yi, and Jing Shan became terrors, surging toward the manor family. Now amped, their stats rivaled the manor master’s—surpassing the manor mistress and her specter daughter.

But the skill gap remained.

[-150]

[-200]

[-140]

Damage numbers flashed—some theirs, some the enemies’.

The Wood Armor soaked up the hits.

"You have shields. Trade blows. Aim for heart and head—weak points yield bonus damage," Wang Shikong instructed calmly.

"KILL!" Yao Yi’s war cry echoed as her swirling long blade struck the eldest son’s head. Lightning flared—deadly to undead.

[-240] A high value popped.

[-330] Her Wood Armor absorbed it, shield bar dropping by a fifth.

"Thousand Sweep!"

Instantly, the manor master unleashed an AOE skill, hammering all three.

[-500] Each took the blow. Yao Yi’s Wood Armor thinned dangerously.

"SHIT! Too strong! We can’t tank this!" The trio staggered back. Panic edged Jing Shan’s voice.

No respite came. The manor family pressed their assault. From the rear, the mistress and specter daughter loosed spells.

"Yao Yi! Drop!"

"Jing Shan! Shield up! Lao Hu! Cover behind him! Tiancheng! Disrupt the women!"

Wang Shikong’s hands rested on his wheelchair, commands precise.

No hesitation. Yao Yi’s team obeyed instantly.

"SWISH!" An arrow whistled past Yao Yi’s head.

Dark fire struck Jing Shan’s shield, followed by a sword slash.

"Yao Yi! Roll right! Blade lifted 45 degrees—UPWARD SLASH!"

"Lao Hu! SPRING OFF Jing Shan! DOUBLE-HANDED OVERHEAD CHOP!"

"Jing Shan! FOLLOW! SHIELD CHARGE LEFT—65 DEGREES!"

No time for shock. They executed his orders flawlessly.

Yao Yi’s roll-slash hacked the eldest son’s ribs. A damage number burst.

Lao Hu’s leap-chop landed square on the manor master’s skull. [-300] flashed.

Jing Shan’s charge slammed the second son off-course, protecting Lao Hu.

All three connected. Whirling around, they gaped at the figure calmly seated in the wheelchair—paralyzed, motionless, yet utterly in command.

"Yao Yi! Sword-guard face! DEFLECT and ROLL—SLASH ARM!"

"Jing Shan! CHARGE MASTER! INTERRUPT SKILL CAST! NOW!"

Sand seemed to swirl in Wang Shikong’s eyes, commands icy.

Lao Hu and Yao Yi’s talent was top-tier; Jing Shan, while weaker, was competent.

After a dozen exchanges under Wang Shikong’s orders, the manor master and sons’ HP plummeted—down eighty percent.

Lao Hu’s team? Wood Armor intact.

Hope flared on their faces.

"They’re almost down!" they roared.

Then Wang Shikong’s gaze sharpened. "There you are."

Behind the manor master, a grotesque infant levitated. Blood-red eyes radiated light, washing over the manor family.

Corrupt Manor Junior Master (Bronze): Level 6

HP: 1000/1000

Constitution: 18

Spirit: 80

Skills: 1. Tainted Blood Blessing; 2. Dreadful Wail; 3. Constricting Watersnake; 4. Darkwater Aegis

Equipment: Blood-Eye Jade Pendant (Bronze)

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT! Another boss! BRONZE LEVEL!"

"URGH! Their HP! REGENERATING FAST! It’s OVER!"

Horror blanched Lao Hu’s team.

"Tiancheng! Stand before me! TANK the damage." Wang Shikong watched the infant appear, unruffled.

"Huh?" Tiancheng blinked but obeyed instantly.

A watersnake speared toward him. Instinctively, he flinched down.

Wang Shikong frowned slightly, sensing two more attacks flying at him from the right. He cut off Divine Encouragement.

Water, Wood, Fire, Earth—converged.

"Earth Shield!" The strikes hammered the barrier, shielding him.

But for Lao Hu’s team? Catastrophe.