Chapter 1 You've Arrived

"You've arrived." Yao Yao revealed a pure, radiant smile, her clear eyes as crystal and translucent as gemstones.

Looking at Yao Yao, Nie Yan felt a little dazed. He had an illusion, the shadows of Xie Yao and Yao Yao overlapping. But after thinking about it, he smiled self-deprecatingly. How could such a coincidence be possible? In his previous life, he had met Xie Yao first. Only after graduating from high school did he play Faith and meet Yao Yao. The process of meeting Yao Yao was extremely coincidental. Zhai Hao's friend's girlfriend introduced Yao Yao into the team. They did a few dungeons together and leveled up a few times.

At that time, Nie Yan was a little depressed and decadent. After getting acquainted with Yao Yao, they maintained a special relationship. Yao Yao cared about Nie Yan, which moved him greatly. Later, in an accident, the two were adventuring in a secret room in the dungeon, and they had a relationship. After the relationship, Yao Yao became indifferent to him, and the two of them slowly returned to being ordinary friends. Nie Yan felt a little guilty towards Yao Yao. In the secret room of the dungeon, he was the one at fault, but Yao Yao didn't explicitly refuse. In that situation, not refusing was tantamount to indulgence, and that's how Nie Yan made a mistake.

Nie Yan walked to the steps and said to Yao Yao, "Let's go in."

"Mm." Yao Yao nodded, looked at Nie Yan's profile, and revealed a sly smile. Nie Yan in the game was a bit too serious, a little different from him in reality.

The two walked to the entrance of the sanctuary. The gate of this ancient temple was made of heavy giant wood, covered with mottled cracks, giving people a sense of ancient vicissitudes.

Nie Yan slowly pushed open the sanctuary gate, and a wide hall appeared before his eyes.

Candlesticks were distributed on both sides of the hall. Bundles of candles flickered, and in the firelight, a red carpet stretched forward. NPCs stood on both sides, more than twenty in total, extending into the distance. Nie Yan could name most of these NPCs. Nie Yan's eyes locked on one of the NPCs.

That NPC was wearing a gray-white robe, the left sleeve was empty, and the index finger of the hand holding the staff was cut off.

Nie Yan and Yao Yao walked towards Kals together.

Kals looked over.

"Respected Mr. Kals, hello." Nie Yan gave Kals a standard greeting.

"Demon Hunter, Great Scholar, hello." Kals nodded.

Nie Yan's current status was incomparable to Kals, so he had to abide by certain noble etiquette.

Seeing Kals using such a title for Nie Yan, Yao Yao was slightly surprised, but after thinking about it, she didn't find it strange. Nie Yan could always create one miracle after another.

Nie Yan glanced at Yao Yao next to him and said to Kals, "I request to assist this lady in doing the next task. Does Mr. Kals agree?"

Kals looked at Yao Yao and said, "Her beauty is as dazzling as a diamond. The lady can enjoy such privileges."

"Thank you, Respected Mr. Kals." Nie Yan said to Kals. When female players receive tasks that they cannot handle, they can apply for the help of one or two teammates. This is allowed, but the level of those players must not exceed their level by more than three levels.

Yao Yao was already level thirty-one. Nie Yan's level hadn't recovered after that level drop and was currently only level 29, so it definitely met the requirements.

Kals's gaze fell on the 'Holy Edict of the Ten Paladins' medal on Nie Yan's left shoulder, and his gaze paused slightly.

"Demon Hunter, Great Scholar, is your medal the 'Holy Edict of the Ten Paladins'?" Kals asked. He looked at Nie Yan, his right hand trembling slightly, showing the excitement in his heart.

"Yes, Respected Mr. Kals, it is the 'Holy Edict of the Ten Paladins'. May I ask if you know its origin?" Nie Yan asked tentatively. He had to carefully ponder these mission dialogues.

A strange look flashed in Kals's calm eyes, revealing an expression of longing, and he sighed, "That was a very long time ago."

Seeing Kals's expression, Nie Yan's heart stirred. Kals definitely knew something!

"I am tracing the history of that time because I once received a commission, Respected Mr. Kals. Can you describe those things from that time?" Nie Yan asked. He also had a mission about the legend of the Ten Paladins, to find out what happened back then, what exactly happened to those ten people.

"I have lived for thousands of years. I can't remember how long it has been. People can never see through their desires, but to me, it's like smoke passing through my fingers. A thousand years in this world is like a moment to me. I know I am not a good recorder, but I like to look back on the path I came from more than anyone else. I keep looking back, pausing, but time throws me down and rushes forward with a bang. In the past thousand years, events have been as numerous as the stars, but I still haven't forgotten that in the distant dark ages, I followed Lord Kavana and fought on the vast land of Glennming, swearing an oath with blood to declare the will of light..." Kals recounted slowly.

Kals witnessed the oath of the Ten Paladins, and then Bruin's betrayal, telling everything one by one.

"After Lord Kavana passed away, Bruin betrayed the will of God. He imprisoned the other eight princes in the Rose Marsh and the deep caves of the Laurent Mountains, guarded by hellhounds. Respected warrior, if you can rescue the eight princes, Kals is willing to become your servant and be loyal to you for life," Kals said emotionally.

Nie Yan was slightly surprised. He didn't expect Kals to be a servant of Kavana. In the sanctuary, Kals was a pivotal figure, and his right to speak was no less than that of several cardinals. Since the position of Pope was currently vacant, Kals's support was very important if any of the three cardinals of the sanctuary wanted to become Pope.

This was some background information about Faith, and Nie Yan knew a little about it.

It was said that only those who could collect all six volumes of the thirty-six Chapters of Order were qualified to become the Pope of the sanctuary.

If he could get such a servant as Kals, who was so important, it was unimaginable.

In Faith, after the guild level reached level eight, the guild leader had the opportunity to get an NPC servant. This servant could be a recruited NPC mercenary or other NPC.

As a formidable legendary mage, Kals could blow up a fortress with a forbidden spell!

However, Nie Yan also understood that this mission was not something he could do at his current level. Not to mention the powerful and terrifying Bruin, just the hellhounds guarding the eight paladins were not something he could deal with now. As a level 300 Great Lord, its strength was quite fierce, and it would take at least a thousand-man team of level 170-180 to deal with it.

Moreover, Kals's description was a bit different from what he knew. It wasn't just Bruin who betrayed the paladins. He had other helpers to trap the other paladins. This may be a side quest buried in the mission.

More events may occur in the future. This mission has only revealed a little bit.

Listening to Nie Yan and Kals's conversation, Yao Yao was confused. A large part of Kals's speech told the story of the grievances between the ten paladins, and it also involved a dragon girl. It was all too chaotic and complex.

Nie Yan continued to talk to Kals. Regarding the legend of the Ten Paladins, Kals provided him with a clue: go to Silent Gulf to find the dragon girl, Benita! Ask her for some information.

"Do you understand?" Nie Yan smiled at Yao Yao after finishing the conversation with Kals.

"I understood the general idea. Did you receive a legendary mission?" Yao Yao asked. This was a bit astonishing. Legendary missions were rare, and they involved the history of the Dark Ages.

Nie Yan nodded and said, "It should be considered a legendary mission. This mission will take at least a hundred levels to do, so let's help you with Kals's blessing first."

Nie Yan said to Kals, "Respected Mr. Kals, I will continue to pursue it until I rescue all eight princes."

Kals revealed a grateful expression and said to Nie Yan, "Thank you, Respected Demon Hunter, Great Scholar, Nie Yan."

Kals had to call him Demon Hunter, Great Scholar, which made Nie Yan feel very awkward, but this was the setting of the main brain. The title must be placed in front of the name as a prefix.

This exchange with Kals gave Nie Yan a great harvest, making him even more determined to do this mission. If he could get such an NPC servant as Kals, the Mad Rogue Tribe could almost walk sideways in the future, not to mention that this mission had other rewards.

In fact, after the sealed history was opened, level one hundred was not far away for the players, at most half a year. It was very different from his previous life.

After saying goodbye to Kals, Nie Yan and Yao Yao walked out of the sanctuary.

"Let's go to the Valley of the Cursed." Nie Yan said. He had a very simple method to get the Black Lotus of the Cursed. "Have you learned Holy Light Guard?"

"Mm."

"What level is Holy Light Guard?"

"Level three Holy Light Guard. What's wrong?" Yao Yao asked doubtfully. Was this mission related to Holy Light Guard?

"That's convenient. The most effective skill to enter the Valley of the Cursed is Holy Light Guard, which can dispel the darkness of the Valley of the Cursed." Nie Yan explained. In fact, in addition to Holy Light Guard, you also need a Feather Fall Gem, but Nie Yan already had a Feather Fall Gem, which was enough.

After preparing some necessary consumables, the two walked towards the teleportation array of Carol City. Their destination this time was the Dark Cave in the Valley of the Cursed!

Ordinary players generally only wandered around the periphery of the Dark Cave. In fact, it was a place full of countless legends. And the goal of Nie Yan and Yao Yao was one of the many legends of the Dark Cave, the Black Lotus of the Cursed!