Nightmare Paradise : Starting as a Doctor

Chapter 165: Pollution and Purification Ritual

Clearing the makeshift table of scattered rocks, Lynn carefully organized the items from his workspace, methodically storing them in his cluttered inventory, already brimming with extraordinary ores.

The second task, which had consumed a significant portion of the dark hours, involved meticulously harvesting and extracting the glowing mineral deposits embedded in the cavern walls.

Grabbing one of the irregular chunks, he studied it with keen eyes, his [Spiritual Vision] enhancing his perceptions. The mineral looked like normal iron but radiated a faint, earthy luminescence.

[Earthbound Iron]

[Grade: Common]

[Evaluation: A peculiar iron-based ore that gradually absorbed potent energies and forces from the depths of mountains. Its enhanced composition offers increased durability and exceptional spiritual conductivity.]

"To think this unassuming material holds such supernatural properties," he mused, playing with the rough fragments. Based on his analysis, they were the cause of the mutation that had infested the area.

Even the spiders appeared to feed on these deposits, which might explain the toughness of their carapace and the severity of their corruption. However, the drive to excavate every visible piece stemmed from the lucrative opportunity they represented in the [Trading] section of Nightmare Paradise.

When his inventory was overflowing, he directly started selling the excess. With each deal, he raked in a staggering amount of nightmare coins, his earnings multiplying with every transaction.

Without the threat of attracting attention and the imminent dungeon mission, he would have gladly leveled the entire mountain, convinced even richer veins of the ore lay buried deeper beneath the surface.

"I cannot change the situation," Lynn shook his head, reluctant to waste the opportunity. With a final sweeping, he surveyed the now-empty table, ensuring nothing was on it for what was about to unfold.

His hand reached for the leather-bound journal, forgotten and gathering dust in his inventory space - a relic from the previous dungeon with the twisted merchant Knott. The mere sight of it stirred a sense of unease within him.

The diary had long remained untouched, a silent reminder of the pollution that had seeped into its pages, tainting it with a dark, wicked aura. Initially, he had intended to find a way to cleanse the item, believing it could yield valuable insights.

However, his perspective shifted after acquiring the tamer knowledge from the monster whispering manual and completing his recent sublimation. Its value had diminished significantly in his eyes, making it no longer worth spending money and resources on the purification as he pursued more pressing matters.

"But with the systemic understanding and the possibility of using tamer abilities, the requirement to purify this book has become easier," he murmured, his fingers drumming contemplatively against the rocky surface.

As a [Flesh Stitcher], he now possessed the tools and knowledge to tackle the issue of spiritual corruption head-on. The techniques and rituals detailed in the ancient tome had unlocked a new realm of possibilities for him.

His gaze drifted to the cluster of spider eggs resting nearby, a faint gleam of interest flickering in his eyes. Finding them had been the catalyst for his choice to tackle and purge the tainted book.

These unhatched offspring were the keys to the ritual he had in mind. Lynn carefully plucked one of the fragile, oval-shaped shells from the pile, cradling it in the palm of his hand. Its translucent surface pulsed with a faint, mystical glow, hinting at the extraordinary life contained within.