The Gamer who traveled to Honkai: Star Rail

After some playful banter, the group pressed on. Shutting down the furnace had alerted the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, who began mobilizing their forces along with a horde of beasts to stop Pei Guang's team.

But the disciples and their beasts were no match for players. Every skirmish ended with the beasts being turned into materials and the disciples being dealt with efficiently.

One by one, the furnaces were shut down.

The first, the second, and finally, the third.

With all three furnaces deactivated, the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, Dan Shu, realized things had gone awry. Hearing the screams of her subordinates, she hastily gathered all remaining forces around herself.

Stelle, looking ahead at their destination, commented, "Well, that's all the furnaces shut down. Looks like what's left is the main group over there."

Pei Guang nodded. "Exactly. Let's go clear out the small fry and mini-bosses before we wrap this up!"

He then led the group up the stairs, their weapons at the ready. As the smoke dissipated, the battlefield became clear, and everyone could see the bodies of the fallen Disciples of Sanctus Medicus piled to the side.

At the top of the stairs stood Dan Shu, looking out at the scene. She turned her gaze toward the approaching group, who were clad in the grotesque forms of the Abundant Ebon Deer gear, resembling Abominations of Abundance.

Dan Shu's voice rang out, sharp and angry. "Who are you, and why do you stand against us?"

Hearing her voice, Stelle paused, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. She looked toward the floating figure at the top of the stairs, her eyes obscured. "Dan Shu? Is that you?"

Dan Shu froze for a moment before replying, "Ah, little one. It's you. I see you've taken the medicine I left for you."

Stelle frowned. "Medicine? What medicine?"

Dan Shu's tone grew softer, almost patronizing. "The reward I left for you in the courtyard when you vanished. Tell me, how does immortality feel?"

Stelle's face twisted in disgust. "What are you talking about? I never took any reward from you! Wait… Are you saying that the medicine you left for me would've turned me into a mara-struck soldier?"

Dan Shu's calm demeanor cracked. "Then why are you like this?"

She gestured toward their current forms, the Abundant Ebon Deer gest, making them indistinguishable from true abominations of Abundance.

Pei Guang chuckled, sensing the opportunity to drop the pretense. "Looks like we've finally come face-to-face with the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. That saves us the trouble of searching further."

He turned to Stelle. "So, you accepted a mission from her that was obviously a setup to turn you into one of her mara-struck lackeys. If I'd been with you back then, we might've caught on and taken her out earlier. Oh well. Better late than never."

He then addressed Dan Shu directly. "You're Dan Shu, right?"

Dan Shu's expression hardened. "Yes. That's me."

Pei Guang grinned wickedly. "The mercy of Sanctus Medicus, the Ambrosial Arbor's new growth! That's the phrase, isn't it?"

Dan Shu's confusion grew. "Who are you people?"

Pei Guang didn't let her finish. "Let me clarify. We're not your people. Not even close. You're the head of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, right? Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Pei Guang, a player, and my profession is Trailblazer. Since arriving in Exalting Sanctum, my companions and I have systematically eliminated every member of your organization in Cloudford, the Divination Commission, the Artisanship Commission, and the Alchemy Commission. Oh, and we learned all about your secret signals and passwords."

Dan Shu's body visibly trembled with fury. "It was you? You ruined everything!"

Pei Guang nodded smugly. "Yep. And another thing—we've also figured out how to mimic your little Sanctus Medicus monstrosities. Not bad, huh?"

Dan Shu's fury exploded. "You scum!"

Her anger boiled over as she finally understood why the Divination Commission had been unstoppable, why every branch of her organization had gone silent. It was all because of the group standing before her.

Pei Guang pressed on, rubbing salt in the wound. "Oh, by the way, those strange beasts you sent our way? I dismantled them all and turned them into materials. Here, let me show you."

He pulled out various pieces of processed material—bones, hides, and meat harvested from the beasts. As the items appeared, the remaining beasts accompanying Dan Shu recoiled in primal terror, some even attempting to flee.

Seeing this, Dan Shu didn't waste time speaking further. Instead, she raised her hand and unleashed an attack. "Blessed by the Abundance! Hear my call!"

A surge of dark purple energy shot toward Pei Guang and his companions. This energy wasn't ordinary; it carried a parasitic quality, capable of draining life to strengthen the user.

Pei Guang, already prepared for such a confrontation, stepped forward and used his now-infamous trash can to block the attack. The confined staircase gave the group a significant advantage, and Dan Shu's straightforward assault revealed her lack of combat experience.

"This isn't even true Abundance energy," Pei Guang noted, analyzing the attack. "It's more like a twisted imitation, designed to steal life for the user."

Behind him, his companions braced themselves. 

The battle against the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had begun!

Pei Guang used the Aegis of Preservation skill to block all of the corrupting attacks. When these corrosive forces collided with the trash can, the can seemed to sense its dignity had been grievously insulted.

As a trash can, it lacked consciousness or words to express itself, but nothing infuriated it more than people throwing garbage at it instead of properly disposing of it inside. It felt its dignity being trampled upon.

The Dignity of the Trash Can was triggered, and combining the power of Pei Guang's player attributes, the attack was reflected entirely back at Dan Shu. The impact hurled her through the air, leaving her dazed. She tried to react, but the reflected damage from the trash can left her utterly incapacitated.

The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus standing by her side hesitated to step forward. When Pei Guang hoisted his trash can and Dan Heng readied his Pink Bunny, their courage faltered, and they instinctively stepped back.

Seeing this, Pei Guang smiled and said, "Oh? You're retreating? I see now—you're afraid."

Pei Guang and Dan Heng advanced, and the battle turned entirely one-sided. Despite Dan Shu possessing the power of the Ambrosial Arbor, her complete lack of combat experience left her vulnerable. Furthermore, the duo's combined assault targeted both physical and mental vulnerabilities, which she simply couldn't withstand.

While Pei Guang and Dan Heng pressed their advantage, Stelle, March 7th, and the others ascended the stairs at a leisurely pace. As they did, Tingyun—no, Phantylia, the Lord Ravager—smiled sinisterly as she followed behind March 7th.

Welt and Seele noticed Tingyun's proximity and were about to intervene, but when they saw March 7th's subtle movements, they held back.

Phantylia, hidden in Tingyun's guise, had resolved to give Pei Guang a nasty surprise before confronting him. Channeling her destructive power, she formed a concentrated force in her palm—a force capable of converting any target into a Voidranger. Her plan was simple: touch March 7th and watch her become a Voidranger.

She relished the thought of seeing Pei Guang's expression when one of his closest allies, possibly even someone he harbored feelings for, was turned into an unrecognizable enemy.

Phantylia was confident that by the time anyone noticed her move, it would be too late to save March 7th.

The surge of destructive energy was palpable. Even Bailu, hidden inside her trash can, and Silver Wolf, who had been peeking out, noticed the shift. Yet, no one moved to stop Tingyun. Not a single person shouted in alarm.

Even Pei Guang and Dan Heng, who sensed something was wrong, merely exchanged glances without turning back.

Pei Guang, using his player interface, confirmed March 7th's status. She had activated Divine Descent, which rendered her immune to all non-physical damage, control effects, and debuffs, and Six-Phase Ice Barrier, which could nullify most physical attacks. Additionally, Pei Guang was prepared to step in and block any physical attacks aimed at her.

The rest of the team noticed March 7th's mischievous yet confident smile. Everyone knew what tricks she had up her sleeve, so they simply watched the scene unfold, unconcerned. With Pei Guang ready to intercept and March 7th's invulnerable setup, not even the Aeons themselves could breach her defenses in the next five seconds—let alone Phantylia, an Emanator specializing in psychic powers.

Even an Aeon spectating this debacle might find their head spinning at the absurdity of the situation. For a mere five seconds, March 7th was untouchable, invincible against even divine interference. Phantylia's ambitions, it seemed, were about to meet an unexpected end.

She thought of a possibility, and an icy chill ran through her—not out of fear, but a genuine, physical coldness. At that moment, she noticed March 7th, walking ahead, smiling as she turned her head 45 degrees.

"Hey~ Miss Tingyun, what are you planning to do to me? Oh my? Such powerful energy. Let me guess—are you thinking of turning me into one of your allies and using my body against Ah Guang?"

March 7th's expression shifted from a smile to something gradually more menacing. Seeing this growing intensity, the Lord Ravager Phantylia instinctively took a step back, only to find her body encased in the Six-Phased Ice Barrier.

March 7th reached out and effortlessly crushed the destructive energy Phantylia had gathered. Watching her power be obliterated in an instant, Phantylia's face twisted in pain. Yet March 7th, her expression now fierce, wasted no time—she raised her hand and slapped Phantylia across the face.

Why? Because a voice in her head told her: "Go ahead, slap her. This slap will give you bragging rights for a lifetime."

As for why March 7th looked so fierce? It was because when she turned her head to strike a cool pose, she accidentally twisted her neck—it hurt.