Chapter 1 Hearing the Truth

Hearing his uncle's words, Zhang Yuanqing had a flash of inspiration, "Are you saying that the Vatican's treasury is like the Abyss in the Five Elements Mystery dungeon?"

Chairman Xiao smiled, "The two dungeons are exactly the same."

Zhang Yuanqing also laughed. "That's right, even if we empty the treasury, Lingjing Xingzhe won't react."

Five Elements Mystery: Also at level 7, the dungeon also hides demi-god level power... But when Zhang Yuanqing opened the Abyss entrance and saw Bu Liangshuai, and took the key fragment from Bing Ge's pocket, Lingjing Xingzhe didn't react at all.

This is because the Five Elements Mystery dungeon was formed because of Bu Liangshuai in the Abyss, but Bu Liangshuai is not part of the dungeon's road, not a main quest.

It's not a hidden plot either. Similarly, the Knight's Twilight dungeon was also formed because of the Vatican's treasury, but the Vatican's treasury is not part of the dungeon.

Anything they do to the treasury will not affect the operation of the dungeon.

Therefore, Lingjing Xingzhe will not impose any penalties.

Zhai Cai looked at Yuan Shi Tianzun, then at Chairman Xiao, and clapped his hands. "Although I don't understand at all, it seems like the problem is solved."

Chairman Xiao pressed his hands on their shoulders, thought for a moment, and then retracted one hand, saying, "You two hold hands."

Zhai Cai and Zhang Yuanqing reluctantly took each other's hands. Chairman Xiao nodded in satisfaction and raised his free hand, snapping his fingers, "Banishment!"

Without any spiritual energy fluctuations or spatial distortions, the three disappeared instantly.

The surrounding passersby completely ignored them, as if they had never seen the three of them here.

When he could see clearly again, he was in the middle of ruins – no, more accurately, a city of ruins.

As a fan of European and American dramas, Zhang Yuanqing immediately recognized it as a European city in the 20th century.

Based on the time of the Vatican's destruction, it was during World War I.

Seventy percent of the city's buildings had been reduced to rubble, and the remaining structures were covered in charred marks.

The scene was desolate, and it seemed even the dogs had died out.

In the distance were historical, spire-topped churches, with a huge clock tower standing out.

The residents of this city have already fled, and the enemy forces have chosen to withdraw for special reasons, without occupying the city.

Zhai Cai said, "A war that mortals dare not set foot in."

Zhang Yuanqing was full of vigilance. "Will there be Demon Seeds here? Speaking of which, I have some connection with that guy."

Zhai Cai shook his head. "The highest combat power in this dungeon is Cardinal Grey. Sava, an eighth-level late-stage Thunder Mage... The Pope, the cardinals, and the Holy Knights are background figures. I've never seen the first two, but I often see the Holy Knights. However, I haven't seen him fight, so I don't know if he has demi-god level combat power."

In the real history, the Vatican's war of destruction had demi-gods falling, and more than one. But this is, after all, a dungeon. Once the main quest is completed, it's over.

Zhai Cai hadn't experienced the demi-gods in real history, and didn't know if the dungeon replicated that history.

Theoretically, it's unlikely to be that strong.

"Don't worry, there are no demi-gods in this dungeon." Chairman Xiao conjured a tattered wide-brimmed hat and a damaged leather jacket from the void.

He tossed the two items to Zhai Cai and Zhang Yuanqing. "Put them on."

Zhang Yuanqing chose the wide-brimmed hat. Information appeared as he held it: [Name: Explorer's Hat]

[Introduction: The explorer's hat. Wearing it will cause the surrounding creatures to unconsciously look away, ignoring the wearer's existence. As long as you don't actively attack the target, it will never see you.]

[Note 1: It is one of the components of the Explorer's Set. The remaining two pieces are clothes and boots. With the Explorer's Set complete, you can roam freely in this vast world!]

Chairman Xiao said, "This is a set I collected when I was young, so I'm giving it to you to use. I don't need it anymore."

Zhai Cai's face was full of excitement.

"No, I'm lending it to you." Chairman Xiao snorted. "I'm sentimental. Although I don't need it, I can keep it as a souvenir. Back then, I spent all my savings to snatch the Light Compass, and it took me several years to find them back."

"Good stuff, it's better than invisibility without being invisible!" Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but think of Mr. Bill from the Merchant Guild, who had recommended the "Scavenger's Hat" to him.

That thing can reduce the wearer's sense of presence. The effect is the same as the hat his uncle gave him, and the ability to escape and survive is the same.

"The Void profession is the best in the world. I should collect a high-quality merchant item. Chairman Xiao, when the treasure vault is opened, I want to use the harvest inside to exchange for a teleportation or concealment item." Zhai Cai said expectantly.

"Didn't you say that the Knight's destiny is sacrifice?" Zhang Yuanqing took the opportunity to strike.

"Sacrifice and survival are not contradictory." Zhai Cai glanced at him sideways.

Zhai Cai curled the corners of his mouth and chuckled. "No need for your reminder. A knight's promise is harder than diamond."

However, the hardest thing in the world is an eighteen-year-old high school student. Well, this is not what I said, it was Rogue Pan who said it. Zhang Yuanqing looked at his uncle.

"Let's go." After the two put on their equipment, his uncle pressed Zhang Yuanqing's shoulder.

This time, Zhai Cai tactfully took the hand of Tianzun. The three of them disappeared together and reappeared outside a magnificent and ancient church.

Knights in silver armor stood guard at the church entrance, and nuns with solemn expressions shuttled between the buildings.

Inside the church, a cardinal was leading the priests in solemn prayers.

Sunlight shone through the amber glass into the church, and the statue bound to the cross slightly lowered its head, looking at the believers with pity.

People were focused on their own tasks, completely unaware of the three uninvited guests who had entered the church.

Chairman Xiao led them to a prayer room and said, "Take out the Holy Disk fragments." Zhang Yuanqing took out a fan-shaped copper piece with exquisite relief patterns. Zhai Cai took out three pieces and handed them all to Chairman Xiao.

Chairman Xiao took the four fragments and put them together. The fragments firmly adhered to each other, forming a complete Holy Disk... The patterns combined to form a blooming lily.

Chairman Xiao held the Holy Disk. Deep blue symbols appeared in his eyes under the silver mask, as if his gaze was penetrating space.

Searching for something in the void, he said after more than ten seconds, "Found it!"

With that said, Chairman Xiao released void symbols from his hand, which poured into the Holy Disk.

The Holy Disk then lit up with a bronze light, reflecting arcs of electricity. It automatically flew up and "branded" itself in mid-air.

Rotating rapidly, a vortex appeared in mid-air with the rotation of the Holy Disk, its interior deep and dark, connecting to an unknown space.

Chairman Xiao let out a soft breath. "The door is open." He took the lead and plunged into the vortex.

Zhang Yuanqing and Zhai Cai rushed in after him.

Passing through the vortex, the three entered a space of pure darkness. Zhang Yuanqing, who had night vision, didn't need light. Instead, the lack of oxygen made him feel uncomfortable.

He immediately took out the Gale Gauntlets and used the vortex connecting to the outside world to create a gust of wind.

The air quickly became fresh.

Chairman Xiao conjured an ancient gas lamp from the void, and the dim yellow light illuminated the space.

Zhai Cai looked around with the warm light. The secret chamber was about a thousand square meters.

On the wall to their left hung knight longswords, a wind and thunder staff, and interspersed among them were weapons from various professions in the First District.

This was a wall for hanging weapons. These weapons were the Vatican's stock, used to reward internal members, offer bounties, and trade with other organizations.

Just as Zhai Cai raised his foot to walk over, he heard Chairman Xiao say.

"They're all Purple Transcendence items." Zhai Cai withdrew his gaze unenthusiastically.

Transcendence items were useless to him, especially for a rogue cultivator like him without an organization. Even if he had them, they would be useless. If a large organization took them, they could reward their members. Zhang Yuanqing then opened a pile of bronze boxes next to the wall. Inside the boxes were various defensive materials.

There were also potions that had lost their potency over the years. Among them, Zhang Yuanqing found silver nails, crucifixes, and mercury.

"Huh, how can the Vatican have these things?" he said in astonishment.

These things had no item attributes and looked like ordinary objects.

Zhai Cai came over and took a few glances, also frowning. "These things are for dealing with vampires, but vampires originated in the Middle Ages. During the Vatican era, ancient cultivators and monsters had already died out, and vampires had become legends. What is the Vatican preparing these things for?"

Of course, this wasn't worth tracing back to the source. The three of them walked along the wall and quickly reached the end. The wall at the end also hung weapons, but the number had sharply decreased to only twenty or so, all of which were Saint-level items.

The defensive materials in the boxes were also Saint-level. The warehouse manager separated the different levels of materials and arranged them in an orderly manner.

Based on the arrangement of the items, the demi-god item they were looking for was likely on the opposite side.

There seemed to be a sealing level in the wall, but the three of them weren't in a hurry. Zhang Yuanqing and Zhai Cai didn't collect any items or materials, silently noting the quantity and following Chairman Xiao along the wall.

Touring the Vatican's treasury, they turned around and walked along the wall. After only a few steps, they saw a silver coffin placed against the wall, with silver mercury poured into the gaps between the coffin lid and the coffin.

In addition, a hexagram array was drawn under the coffin. Zhang Yuanqing had seen this kind of array in the "Horror Cruise" dungeon, which was the Vatican's exorcism array.

"This is the Vatican's exorcism array." Zhai Cai also obviously recognized it, examining the coffin with a slight frown.

"It seems to be sealing something inside."

"The Vatican has demi-gods. What is it that demi-gods can't kill and need to seal?" Zhang Yuanqing also frowned, his gaze becoming cautious.

Zhai Cai shrugged. "I'd like to know too. Want to open it and see?"

He looked at the Void demi-god carrying the gas lamp.