After clearing all the Dark Hyenas in the vicinity, Nie Yan and the others sat down to recover their health and mana.
All around, hundreds of meters in any direction were the corpses of the Dark Hyenas. It was quite a shocking sight.
"Boss, there's a treasure chest over there."
Undying Scoundrel's voice attracted Nie Yan's attention. Everyone looked over to where he was pointing. At the top of a 30-meter tall cliff was the outline of a chest hidden behind some shrubbery. If one weren't looking closely, it would be impossible to discover.
"Nice find. You have some pretty good eyes," Nie Yan said with a smile.
Undying Scoundrel scratched his head with a bashful smile.
"I'll go open the chest," Nie Yan said. He walked over to the bottom of the cliff wall and looked up. After examining the terrain, he activated his Web-Crawler Ring and started nimbly climbing up. Before long, he reached the top. Looking at the chest, it was pretty small and made out of a material he didn't recognize. Its surface was already badly corroded.
The World of Darkness was ancient beyond compare. Nie Yan had no idea how long this chest had sat here for.
After examining the chest, it turned out to be Sub Legendary.
Nie Yan's eyes lit up in pleasant surprise. He didn't expect to obtain this kind of harvest.
He bent down and started opening the chest.
Opening chest… Progress: 10%... 30%...
Eventually, the lid popped open with a click.
Nie Yan reached his hand inside and started digging around before making contact with something solid and smooth to the touch. His heart trembled. Taking the item out, it was a white egg about the size of a soccer ball.
He had no idea what kind of egg this was. Whether it was a flying mount or pet, he had to get it appraised first, but he could be sure it wasn't low rank.
Nie Yan leaped down from the top of the cliff and landed firmly on the ground.
"Boss, what was in it?" The team members walked over and gathered around Nie Yan.
Their eyes almost instantly fell on the egg in Nie Yan's hand. "Is that a pet egg or flying mount egg?"
"No idea. We'll have to get it appraised when we get back. If any of you want it, just let me know," Nie Yan said. His Golden Dragon and Darkwing Dragon were already the strongest pets in the game. There was no need to swap them out.
Even though everyone was curious about what was inside the egg, no one here could appraise it right now. So, they could only drop the subject.
They got up and were about to set off to the next location, when someone spoke in voice chat.
「I found something. There's a thatch hut here,」King of the World said.
Nie Yan's heart trembled.「What's your location?」
「My coordinates are 23790.28503.838.」
Nie Yan looked over to the team members behind him. "Let's head over and take a look."
Everyone headed over to the coordinates King of the World provided. On the way there, they encountered two packs of Dark Hyenas. After clearing them away, they finally met up with him.
Nie Yan gazed up ahead. There was a cleared piece of land halfway up the mountain with an old thatch hut in the center. There were a few bramble bushes left to grow unchecked in the surrounding. But the entrance was kept tidy. It appeared someone was living here.
Seeing Nie Yan and the others coming over, King of the World dispelled his stealth. "There's a barrier surrounding the thatch hut. I can't get through it."
When everyone walked within 100 meters of the thatch hut, they encountered a repelling force. As they took several more steps forward, the force grew stronger and stronger until they could advance no more.
"What kind of barrier is this?"
"I don't know. It seems similar to the Repel spell."
While everyone was being pushed back by the barrier, Nie Yan didn't feel anything. He continued walking forward without meeting any obstruction.
Nie Yan turned back to face the others. "I think this is related to my quest. I'm gonna head inside to take a look."
"Alright, keep us updated."
Everyone sat down outside the barrier, watching Nie Yan walking over to the thatch hut.
Nie Yan arrived at the entrance and pushed the door open, allowing some light to enter through. The inside was quite dark.
A silhouette appeared within Nie Yan's eyes. His heart trembled. After getting a clear look, he discovered the other party was an old man, teetering on the edge of doddering. He wore an ashen silver robe and sat cross-legged on the ground. He had a long, flowing gray beard, and he was covered in a layer of dust, looking like a mummified monk sculpture. After hearing the door being opened, he opened his eyes, which flashed with a profound light.
This NPC definitely wasn't simple. Nie Yan could feel an overpowering pressure.
Nie Yan inspected the old man with Transcendent Insight.
Morphest: Level ???
Titles: Legendary Mage, Magister
This was precisely the NPC Nie Yan was looking for. He didn't expect him to be a Legendary Mage.
"You've finally come," Morphest said in a gloomy tone.
"Yes." Nie Yan nodded.
Morphest stood up. Rather, his soul did. His physical body was still very much seated on the ground. Nie Yan was surprised to find himself face to face with an astral projection.
"There's no need to be so surprised. My body passed on to the other side hundreds of years ago. This is all that's left, a small fragment of my soul." Morphest's soul remnant showed a kind smile.
"Sir Morphest, how can I be of help to you?" Nie Yan asked respectfully.
Morphest shook his head. "You're too weak as you are right now. The challenge you'll be facing is too difficult. Your death is assured. I suggest you turn back now."
All the clues Nie Yan had found so far flashed through his mind as he came to a realization. "I'm not afraid of death," he said decisively.
"How foolish, my child. Do you know the enemy you're about to face? The traitor Drakuru. He's already allowed the demon in his heart to take control of him, becoming a Great Demon. Do you think you can kill him? There's a difference between being brave and throwing your life away," Morphest dissuaded.
"God will care for his believers. I don't have any extravagant hopes. The truly brave can grasp any opportunity, no matter how fleeting. Death should never be an obstacle. Since I've already come all the way here, I won't cower now," Nie Yan said without any hesitation.
After hearing Nie Yan's words, Morphest didn't know how to refute. Sinking into silence for a long while, he finally said, "Alright. I've been convinced by your spirit."
"Then, sir Morphest. Can you tell me where Drakuru is hiding?"
"At the summit of the volcano, surrounded by lava. I've chained him to an obelisk. If you don't kill him, he'll eventually escape one day. At that time, a disaster will sweep through the continent. Child, despite knowing you're about to walk to your death, are you still willing to go through with this?"
"Yes. God told his people, if you believe what you're doing is right, you must see it through to the end."
"Alright, I hope you remember your words today and I pray for your success."
"Thank You, sir Morphest."
"I'll help you unlock Paternoster's Warhammer. The weapon spirit within possesses great hatred for Drakuru. If you awaken its spirit, it will aid you in defeating him." Morphest waved his hand, pulling Paternoster's Warhammer out of Nie Yan's bag. It floated in the air, emitting a blinding radiance which illuminated the room into a world of pure white.
Morphest started chanting, "Ancient spirit of God, hear my request. Please, awaken from your slumber…"
Like some kind of ceremony, Morphest's chant lasted for roughly 30 seconds. As the last words left his mouth, Paternoster's Warhammer slowly fell into Nie Yan's hands. After which a peaceful silence fell over the room.
Nie Yan seemed to feel a spirit awakening within Paternoster's Warhammer, as if it were alive.
"Only the fearless heart of the brave can awaken its spirit. This is the best I can do for you." Morphest faintly smiled, as his figure started fading. He looked at Nie Yan with kind eyes. "Begin your new journey. I've finished mine. It's about time I pass on to the other world."
Nie Yan wanted to say something, only for Morphest's figure to completely disappear.
It all felt like a dream. Nie Yan looked around the room. Morphest was still sitting on the ground in a meditative position with his eyes closed, as if they'd never opened. He started to wonder whether his eyes had played a trick on him, whether any of it was real.
Nie Yan looked around the room once more. It was very simply decorated. The only thing of some interest was a shabby looking chest in a corner of the room. He didn't know what was inside. Perhaps within he'd find a peerless treasure, it definitely didn't look ordinary. However, after careful consideration, he opted to leave the thatch hut without touching anything.
To go through the belongings of a dead man would be an act of great disrespect.
In this respect, Nie Yan was very principled. Besides, blind greed for something small could bring about great and dangerous consequences. He didn't fear setting off a trap, confident he'd make it out alive. What he feared the most was that it'd result in him being blacklisted, losing all his reputation, and having karma coming back to bite him in the ass.
Nie Yan walked out of the thatch hut and carefully closed the door behind him.
At this moment, Nie Yan suddenly received a notification.
System: You have received Morphest's Soul Blessing.
Nie Yan was taken aback, staring blankly at the notification for a moment. Morphest's Soul Blessing? What was that? He checked his status.
Morphest's Soul Blessing: Divine Power +1
Divine Power! Seeing this property, though it was only +1, Nie Yan couldn't help but feel moved.