"I've cleared plenty of hilichurls before…"
Amber asked curiously,
"Why didn't I ever get this kind of energy?"
"Have you ever fought strong hilichurls near Mondstadt?"
Jiang Chen replied helplessly.
"You need to fight the kind you can barely handle."
Amber's face turned red.
Thinking about it, she really hadn't met many hilichurls she couldn't defeat individually.
Compared to the ones in the temple today, those outside were practically weaklings.
The only times she had to run were when she accidentally provoked an entire hilichurl camp.
"Let's move forward."
Jiang Chen pressed himself against the wall and peeked into the hall ahead.
"Three wooden-shield hilichurls, two archers, and one slime hilichurl."
"Should we lure them out?"
Amber asked.
If they ambushed them at the entrance, it might work.
"No."
"I'll separate the two archer hilichurls."
"Lumine will deal with the slime hilichurl."
"The three shield hilichurls—Amber, you handle them."
"M-me? One against three?"
Amber was startled.
"Kiting enemies is what archers are best at."
Jiang Chen said as if it were simple.
If it were Fischl, even shielded hilichurl brutes wouldn't pose a problem.
She could eliminate them without taking a scratch.
"I… I'll try…"
Amber didn't feel very confident.
Golden Geo energy began to spread around Jiang Chen like flowing sand.
Amber and Lumine were both shocked.
"G-Geo element?!"
Paimon flew farther away in surprise.
"Isn't Boss Jiang Chen an Anemo user?"
"Can you find an Anemo Vision on me?"
Jiang Chen pointed toward the hall and spoke calmly.
"Stone Wall."
Rumble!
A massive rock wall suddenly rose from the ground, dividing the hall into several sections.
The two archer hilichurls were instantly cut off behind it.
"Yayaika!"
The hilichurls immediately noticed them.
"Lumine!"
"Yes!"
Lumine responded instantly.
Without time to be shocked, she dashed forward with her sword angled at her side.
She rushed straight toward the hilichurl holding a Pyro slime.
The slime hilichurl was a support-type enemy.
It threw explosive slimes at enemies fighting shield hilichurls.
In a one-on-one fight, it was actually easier to deal with than shield hilichurls.
Lumine planned to eliminate it quickly, then circle around the stone wall to deal with the archers.
"This side is yours, Amber."
Jiang Chen remained surrounded by Geo energy but didn't attack.
The energy was prepared to protect Amber if she got into danger.
Amber had no time to be shocked by Jiang Chen's dual-element control.
The three shield hilichurls were already charging.
She fired a charged Pyro arrow.
The arrow struck one shield and ignited it.
"!"
The hilichurl panicked from the heat, frantically waving its shield to extinguish the flames.
Amber rolled across the ground, widening the distance between herself and the others.
She drew another arrow.
Pyro energy gathered on the arrowhead.
Thud!
Another hilichurl blocked it with its shield.
Amber glanced at the first hilichurl she had ignited earlier.
The flames had already weakened.
Judging from the shield's condition, it would take at least two fire arrows to destroy one shield.
Amber groaned internally.
She ran constantly, trying to avoid being surrounded.
"Is Jiang Chen really not helping?"
Paimon asked curiously.
"If I help, I'll have to share the energy."
Jiang Chen shook his head.
He needed his trainees to break through to level up.
The dragon energy and ley line energy themselves didn't help him.
Meanwhile—
Amid the flames from exploding slimes, Lumine's Favonius Sword traced elegant arcs in the air.
She finished her attack and sheathed the blade behind her.
On the ground lay the burning corpse of the slime hilichurl.
After confirming she absorbed the energy, she moved around the rock wall toward the archer hilichurls.
She could feel herself growing stronger.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
As she entered the area behind the rock wall, she couldn't help glancing back toward the entrance.
Toward the man standing there.
"Did she level up?"
Even without looking directly, Jiang Chen could see the system notification.
Meanwhile Amber had only destroyed two shields.
She was still being chased everywhere by the three hilichurls.
She had no time to charge arrows.
Jiang Chen sighed and snapped his fingers.
Another thick stone wall rose instantly, separating Amber from the hilichurls.
Amber glanced toward him, her eyes suddenly lighting up.
Hearing the hilichurls' footsteps approaching around the corner, she prepared a charged Pyro arrow.
She aimed at the corner of the stone wall.
Then released the string.
At that exact moment, a hilichurl stepped into view.
BOOM!
The arrow exploded directly on its head.
The shield-bearing hilichurl had no time to react and was blasted far away.
Amber stepped back and began charging another arrow.
Then she ran in circles around the stone wall, fighting the three hilichurls.
After a lot of effort, she finally defeated them.
"That felt like breaking through a challenge."
Amber stuck out her tongue.
Sweat covered her body.
Her hair clung to her cheeks as she breathed heavily.
Her hands were still trembling slightly.
Even her voice was unstable.
Despite that—
She felt amazing.
A bright smile appeared on her cute round face.