Chapter 1 The 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, a rather spectacular sight.

"Boss, there's a treasure chest."

Undying Scoundrel's voice caught Nie Yan's attention. Everyone looked in the direction Undying Scoundrel was pointing. There was a steep rock more than thirty yards high. At 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, being able to see that," Nie Yan said, smiling at Undying Scoundrel.

Undying Scoundrel scratched his head and grinned.

"I'll go open the chest," Nie Yan said. He went to the rock, looked up, examined the terrain, activated his Climbing skill, and agilely climbed upwards. Soon, he reached the top of the rock. He looked around. The treasure chest was very small. He didn't know what material it was made of, but it was completely corroded.

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

He checked its level. It was actually a sub-legendary treasure chest.

This discovery surprised Nie Yan. He didn't expect to find such a treasure.

He squatted down and started to open the chest.

System: Treasure chest opening, completion rate 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. Where his hand touched, there was a smooth feeling. His heart stirred. He took the thing out. It was a white, circular 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. He needed to go back and identify it. This egg's level shouldn't be low.

Nie Yan jumped down and landed steadily.

"Boss, what is it?" everyone asked, gathering around.

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

"I don't know yet. Let's go back and take a look. 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 they were curious about what kind of creature was inside the pet egg, no one could identify it now, so they had to give up.

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

"I've found something. There's a thatched cottage here," Wang Zhe Tian Xia said in the team chat.

Hearing Wang Zhe Tian Xia's words, Nie Yan's heart skipped a beat. He asked, "Where are you?"

"Coordinates 23790.28503.838."

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

Everyone stood up and moved towards the coordinates Wang Zhe Tian Xia said. Along the way, they encountered two waves of demon hyenas, which they cleared out. Finally, the group met up with Wang Zhe Tian Xia.

Nie Yan looked not far away. There was actually an open space on the mountainside. The surrounding barren ground occasionally had some thorny bushes growing. In the center of the open space was a thatched cottage, which was very dilapidated, but the area in front of the door was very clean, looking like someone lived there.

When Wang Zhe Tian Xia saw Nie Yan and the others coming, he revealed himself and walked over, saying, "There's a barrier set up next to this thatched cottage. I can't enter."

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

"What kind of barrier is this?"

"I don't know. It should be similar to an expulsion spell."

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

"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 camped outside, watching Nie Yan walk towards the thatched cottage.

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

A figure appeared in front of Nie Yan. He was startled, but when he saw the other party's appearance clearly, Nie Yan found that the other party was an old man. He was very old, wearing a silver-gray mage robe, sitting cross-legged on the ground. His long white hair fell down. His clothes were covered with dust, like a dead statue. As if hearing a 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 threw a detection spell at him.

Mephisto: Legendary Mage, Level ???

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

"You've come," Mephisto's deep voice sounded.

"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, but the one who stood up was Mephisto in a soul state, like a phantom floating in the void.

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

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

"Your strength is too weak. The next task will be too difficult for you. If you are 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 am not afraid of death."

"That's a foolish act. Do you know who your opponent will be? The betrayer Dilakru, he has been controlled by demons and has become a level 180 Great Demon. Do you think you can kill him? To seek death is not brave, but foolish." Mephisto shook his head.

"God will bless every devout believer. It's not like I have no hope. The truly brave dare to seize any fleeting opportunity, and do not cower before death without even trying. Since I've come this far, I won't shrink back," Nie Yan retorted without hesitation.

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

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

"At the entrance of the volcano, there is scorching lava everywhere. He was chained by me to a stone pillar. If he is not killed, he will break free from his restraints after a while. At that time, disaster will come. Young man, even if you know, do you still decide to go?"

"Yes, Honorable Mr. Mephisto, God tells the world that when you think something is right, you must be brave and do it, and never give up halfway, even if you die without regrets."

"Okay, 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 Dilakru. If you can awaken it, it will help you defeat the betrayer Dilakru." Mephisto waved his right hand, and the Paternoster Warhammer in Nie Yan's backpack suddenly appeared, floating in the air and emitting a blazing white light. The entire room was shrouded in a white light, as if he had entered another world.

Mephisto chanted softly, "Ancient spirit of God, please awaken..."

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

Nie Yan seemed to feel a soul awaken inside the Paternoster Warhammer. This Paternoster Warhammer seemed to have life.

"A brave heart will awaken it. This is all I can do." Mephisto smiled faintly, his figure gradually fading away. He looked at Nie Yan with a kind gaze, "Begin your new journey, your mission is complete, I will leave and go to my world."

Just as Nie Yan was about to say something, he saw Mephisto's figure twist and dissipate in the air, completely disappearing.

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, as if he had never opened them. Everything just now gave him an unreal feeling.

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

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

Nie Yan was very principled in this regard, because if he coveted petty gains and triggered something, it would be very dangerous. If he encountered traps or something, he was confident that he could run away. What he feared most was being blacklisted, having his respect value drop, and causing a series of bad consequences.

Nie Yan retreated from the thatched cottage 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 the effect of Mephisto's Soul Blessing was. He took a look. Mephisto's Soul Blessing, Divine Power +1.

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