Chapter 188 Treasure Chest

After clearing out all the demon hyenas nearby, Nie Yan and the others sat down to recover their health.

The corpses of demon hyenas were scattered everywhere within a radius of three or four hundred yards, making for quite a spectacle.

"Guild Leader, there's a treasure chest."

Undying Scoundrel's voice attracted Nie Yan's attention. Everyone looked in the direction Undying Scoundrel was pointing. There was a steep rock more than thirty yards high. The top of the rock was a flat area covered with vegetation. A treasure chest was hidden in the bushes, barely visible. If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't be able to find it at all.

"You've got good eyes, to be able to see that," Nie Yan said, glancing at Undying Scoundrel with a smile.

Undying Scoundrel scratched his head and grinned.

"I'll go open the chest," Nie Yan said. He went to the rock, looked up at it, examined the terrain, activated his Climbing skill, and nimbly climbed upwards. Soon, he reached the top of the rock. He took a look. The treasure chest was very small. He didn't know what material it was made of, but it had been eroded beyond recognition.

In this dark world, time was as long as eternity. He didn't know how long it had been lying here quietly.

He checked its level and found that it was actually a Sub-Legendary treasure chest.

This discovery surprised Nie Yan. He didn't expect to have such a harvest.

He squatted down and began to open the treasure chest.

System: Treasure chest opening in progress, completion 10%...30%...

Time slowly passed. With a click, the treasure chest was opened.

Nie Yan reached into the treasure chest and groped for a moment. His hand touched a very hard object. The touch was smooth. His heart skipped a beat. He took it out. It was a white, round egg, about the size of a soccer ball.

He didn't know what kind of egg it was, whether it was a pet or a flying mount. It still needed to be identified back in town. The egg's level shouldn't be low.

Nie Yan jumped down and landed steadily.

"Guild Leader, what is it?" everyone asked, gathering around.

"A pet egg, or a flying mount?" Brilliant Cutlass and the others focused their gazes on Nie Yan's right hand.

"I don't know yet. We'll see when we get back. If any of you need it, take it," Nie Yan said. His Golden Earth Dragon and Darkwing Dragon were already the strongest, so there was no need to replace them.

Although he was curious about what creature was inside the pet egg, no one could identify it now, so he had to give up for the time being.

They had just stood up, ready to go to the next location.

"I've got a discovery over here. There's a thatched hut," King of the World said in the team chat.

Hearing King of the World's words, Nie Yan's heart jumped. He asked, "What's your location?"

"Coordinates 23790.28503.838."

Nie Yan looked back at the team members and said, "Let's go take a look."

Everyone stood up and headed in the direction of the coordinates King of the World mentioned. Along the way, they encountered two groups of demon hyenas and cleared them out. Finally, the group met up with King of the World.

Nie Yan looked into the distance. There was actually an open space halfway up the mountain. The surrounding barren ground occasionally had some thorny bushes growing. In the center of the open space was a thatched hut. It was very dilapidated, but the area in front of the door was very clean, as if someone lived there.

When King of the World saw Nie Yan and the others coming, he revealed his figure and walked over. "A barrier has been set up next to this thatched hut. I can't enter."

When everyone approached an area about a hundred yards from the thatched hut, they felt a force pushing them away. As they continued to move forward, the force became stronger and stronger, and it became even more difficult for them to move forward. In the end, it was impossible for them to take another step.

"What kind of barrier is this?"

"I don't know. It should be something similar to a dispel spell."

Just as everyone was being blocked by this barrier, Nie Yan didn't feel anything at all. He walked straight forward for more than ten steps without any obstruction.

"I guess it's related to my quest. I'll go in and take a look," Nie Yan said, turning his head.

"Okay, Nie Yan, be careful."

Everyone set up camp outside, watching Nie Yan walk towards the thatched hut.

Nie Yan walked to the door of the hut and slowly pushed it open with his right hand. A ray of light shone in, and the thatched hut seemed very dark.

A figure appeared in front of Nie Yan. His heart skipped a beat. When he saw the other person's face clearly, Nie Yan discovered that the other person was an old man, already very old. He was wearing a silver-gray mage robe and was sitting cross-legged on the ground. His long white hair fell down, and his clothes were covered in dust, like a statue of a dead person. As if hearing the sound, he opened his eyes, and a flash of divine light appeared in his eyes.

This NPC was definitely not simple. Nie Yan felt a strong pressure.

Nie Yan cast a Detect on him.

Mephisto: Legendary Mage, Level ???.

The old man was exactly Mephisto that Nie Yan was looking for. He didn't expect him to be a legendary mage.

"You've come," Mephisto's deep voice rang out.

"Yes," Nie Yan nodded.

Mephisto stood up.

Nie Yan was surprised to find that Mephisto had actually split into two. The Mephisto on the ground was still sitting cross-legged as before. The one who stood up was actually Mephisto in a soul state, like a phantom floating in the void.

"Don't be confused. Hundreds of years ago, I already died. What's left here is a fragment of my remaining soul." The Mephisto in soul state showed a kind smile.

"Respected Mr. Mephisto, is there anything I can do to help you?" Nie Yan said respectfully.

"Your strength is too weak. The next quest will be too difficult for you. If you're afraid of death, leave here quickly." Mephisto's expression was very calm.

Many quest clues flashed through Nie Yan's mind, and he immediately understood something. He said firmly, "I'm not afraid of death."

"That's foolish behavior. Do you know who you're about to face? The betrayer, Di拉克鲁 (Di Lakeru), he has been controlled by demons and has already become a level 180 Great Demon. Do you think you can kill him? Seeking death is not brave, but foolish." Mephisto shook his head.

"God will bless every pious believer. It's not that I have no hope. Truly brave people dare to seize any fleeting opportunity, and they don't cower in the face of death before they've even tried. Since I've come this far, I won't shrink back," Nie Yan retorted without hesitation.

Mephisto didn't know how to refute Nie Yan's words. After a long while, he said, "Alright, young man, you've convinced me."

"Then, respected Mr. Mephisto, can you tell me where he is?"

"At the entrance to the volcano, where there's scorching lava everywhere. He was chained to a stone pillar by me. If you don't kill him, after some time, he will break free from his restraints. Then, disaster will descend. Young man, even knowing this, do you still decide to go?"

"Yes, respected Mr. Mephisto, God tells the world that when you think something is right, you must bravely do it, and you must never give up halfway, even if it means death without regret."

"Alright, I hope you remember what you said today, and I wish you success in completing the quest."

"Thank you, Mr. Mephisto."

"I will activate the Paternoster Warhammer for you. It has a strong hatred for the betrayer, Di拉克鲁 (Di Lakeru). If you can awaken it, it will help you defeat the betrayer, Di拉克鲁 (Di Lakeru)." Mephisto waved his right hand, and the Paternoster Warhammer in Nie Yan's bag suddenly appeared, floating in the air, emitting a blazing white light. The entire room was shrouded in white light, as if he had entered another world.

Mephisto chanted in a murmur, "Ancient spirit of God, please awaken..."

As if performing some kind of ritual, Mephisto's incantation lasted for about thirty seconds before it slowly stopped. The Paternoster Warhammer slowly fell, landing back in Nie Yan's hands, becoming extremely quiet.

Nie Yan seemed to feel a soul awakening within the Paternoster Warhammer. The Paternoster Warhammer seemed to have come to life.

"A brave heart will awaken it. This is all I can do," Mephisto said with a faint smile. His figure was gradually fading away. He looked at Nie Yan with a kind gaze, "Begin your new journey. The mission is complete. I will leave and go to the world that belongs to me."

Just as Nie Yan was about to say something, Mephisto's figure twisted and disappeared into the air completely.

It was like a dream. Nie Yan looked clearly at the surrounding scene. Mephisto's body on the ground was still sitting cross-legged, but his eyes were closed tightly, as if he had never opened them. Everything just now gave him a feeling of unreality.

He looked around the thatched hut. It was very simple, with nothing inside. In the corner of the room, there was a wooden box, somewhat dilapidated. He didn't know what was inside. It wasn't an ordinary treasure chest. There might be something good inside. Nie Yan thought for a moment and carefully retreated, leaving everything in the house as it was.

Searching the home of a dead person was a very disrespectful act to the dead.

Nie Yan was very principled in this regard, because if he coveted small advantages, he might trigger something very dangerous. It would be fine if he encountered traps or something like that. He was confident that he could run away. What he feared most was being blacklisted, his respect value dropping, and causing a series of bad consequences.

Nie Yan retreated from the thatched hut and carefully closed the door.

Just as he made this move, he suddenly received a system notification.

System: You have received Mephisto's Soul Blessing.

Seeing this system notification, Nie Yan was stunned. He didn't know what effect Mephisto's Soul Blessing had. He looked at it. Mephisto's Soul Blessing, Divinity +1.

Divinity! Seeing this attribute, although it was only +1, it made Nie Yan moved.