Chapter 284: Legendary Mission

“You’re here.” Yaoyao’s face lit up with a pure and radiant smile, her clear and sparkling eyes shining like precious gems.

Looking at Yaoyao, Nian Yan felt a bit dazed. He had an illusion that Xie Yao and Yaoyao’s images overlapped, but then he smiled wryly at himself. How could such a coincidence really exist? In his previous life, he met Xie Yao first, and it wasn’t until after high school graduation that he started playing Faith and got to know Yaoyao. Their acquaintance was quite coincidental. Introduced by a girlfriend of Zhai Hao’s friend, Yaoyao joined their team and played together through several dungeons and leveling sessions.

At that time, Nian Yan was somewhat depressed and aimless. After getting to know Yaoyao, they developed a special relationship. Yaoyao cared deeply for Nian Yan, which moved him greatly. Later, during an accidental adventure in a dungeon’s secret chamber, they ended up having a physical relationship. Afterward, Yaoyao became distant from him, and gradually their relationship reverted to that of ordinary friends. Nian Yan felt a bit guilty toward Yaoyao. In that dungeon chamber, he was in the wrong. However, Yaoyao hadn’t firmly rejected him, and her lack of refusal at that moment amounted to encouragement, leading him to make that mistake.

Nian Yan walked up the steps and said to Yaoyao, “Let’s go in.”

“Okay.” Yaoyao nodded, looking at Nian Yan’s profile with a sly smile. The Nian Yan in the game was somewhat serious and formal, quite different from his real-life self.

Arriving at the entrance of the cathedral, the ancient temple’s massive wooden doors, covered with weathered cracks, gave off a sense of ancient solemnity.

Slowly pushing open the cathedral doors, Nian Yan found himself facing a vast hall.

On both sides of the hall were candelabras, with flickering candlelight illuminating a red carpet that stretched forward. Along the carpet stood over twenty NPCs, most of whom Nian Yan could recognize by name. His gaze locked onto one particular NPC.

The NPC wore a gray-white robe, had an empty left sleeve, and held a staff in his right hand, missing the index finger.

Nian Yan and Yaoyao approached Kales together.

Kales looked their way.

“Respected Mr. Kales, greetings,” Nian Yan performed a standard greeting gesture.

“Greetings, Demon Hunter, Scholar,” Kales nodded.

Nian Yan’s current status was far from matching Kales’, so he had to observe proper etiquette.

Seeing Kales address Nian Yan with such titles, Yaoyao was slightly surprised but then thought nothing of it. Nian Yan always managed to create miracle after miracle.

Nian Yan glanced at Yaoyao beside him and asked Kales, “Mr. Kales, may I request assistance for this lady with her upcoming tasks? Would you agree?”

Kales looked at Yaoyao and replied, “Her beauty is as captivating as a diamond; she may enjoy such privilege.”

“Thank you, respected Mr. Kales,” Nian Yan said. When female players received tasks they couldn’t handle alone, they could request help from one or two teammates, which was allowed, provided the teammate’s level did not exceed theirs by more than three levels.

Yaoyao was now level 31, while Nian Yan, after a level drop, hadn’t fully recovered and was currently at level 29, so he definitely met the requirements.

Kales’ gaze landed on the “Holy Edict of the Ten Radiant Paladins Medal” on Nian Yan’s left shoulder, and his eyes lingered slightly.

“Mr. Demon Hunter, Scholar, is that the ‘Holy Edict of the Ten Radiant Paladins Medal’?” Kales inquired, his right hand trembling slightly, betraying his inner excitement.

“Indeed, esteemed Mr. Kales, this is the ‘Holy Edict of the Ten Radiant Paladins Medal.’ Might I inquire if you are familiar with its origins?” Nian Yan asked cautiously, needing to carefully interpret the mission-related dialogue.

A flicker of unusual expression crossed Kales’ otherwise calm eyes, and he sighed with longing, “That was a long time ago.”

Seeing Kales’ expression, Nian Yan’s heart stirred. Kales definitely knew something!

“I am tracing back the history of those days, as I have received a commission. Respected Mr. Kales, could you recount those events from back then?” Nian Yan asked. He also had a task related to the legend of the Ten Holy Knights of Light, to uncover what had happened in the past and the fate of those ten individuals.

“I have lived for over a thousand years; how long exactly I can no longer recall. The desires of men are but fleeting smoke between my fingers; a thousand years in this world are but an instant to me. I know I am not a great recorder, but I love more than anyone to look back on the path I have taken. I keep looking back, pausing, yet time leaves me behind, rushing forward in a grand tumult. Among those thousand years, countless events have occurred like stars in the sky, but I still have not forgotten the distant Dark Age, when I followed Lord Kavana, waging war across the vast lands of Glemming, swearing with blood, proclaiming the will of Light…” Kales recounted slowly.

Kales witnessed the oath of the Ten Holy Paladins and then the betrayal by Bruin, recounting all the events in detail.

“After Lord Kavana’s passing, Bruin betrayed the divine will. He imprisoned the other eight lords separately in the Roth Swamp and the deep caves of the Laurent Mountains, guarded by hellhounds. Noble warrior, if you can rescue the eight lords, Kales will willingly become your servant, loyal to you forever,” Kales said emotionally.

Nian Yan was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected Kales to be a servant of Kavana. Within the cathedral, Kales was an influential figure, his voice carrying weight equal to several cardinals. Since the papacy was currently vacant, Kales’ support was crucial for any cardinal aspiring to become the Pope.

This was part of the background lore of Faith, which Nian Yan was somewhat familiar with.

It was said that only those who could collect all six volumes of the thirty-six Scrolls of Order would be eligible to become the Pope of the cathedral.

Kales’ importance was immense; gaining such a servant was almost unimaginable.

In Faith, once a guild reached level eight, its leader could obtain an NPC servant, which could be an NPC mercenary or another NPC.

As a formidable legendary mage, Kales could unleash a single forbidden spell capable of destroying a fortress!

However, Nian Yan understood that this task was beyond his current level. Let alone the powerful and fearsome Bruin, even the hellhounds guarding the eight Paladins alone were more than he could handle. As a level 300 lord, its strength was formidable, requiring at least a thousand-man team of level 170-180 players to confront.

Moreover, Kales’ account differed slightly from what Nian Yan had previously known. The betraying Paladin wasn’t only Bruin; he had other accomplices who had helped imprison the remaining Paladins. This might be a branch of the task.

More events could unfold in the future, as this task had only just begun to reveal itself.

Listening to Nian Yan and Kales’ conversation, Yaoyao was puzzled. Kales’ lengthy narrative recounted the conflicts among the ten Paladins, including a dragon girl, making everything seem chaotic and complex.

Nian Yan continued his conversation with Kales. Regarding the legend of the Ten Paladins, Kales offered a clue: to seek out the dragon girl Benita at the Silent Bay and inquire for more details.

“Did you understand any of that?” Nian Yan smiled at Yaoyao after finishing his conversation with Kales.

“I got the gist. You’ve taken on a legendary task?” Yaoyao asked, surprised. Legendary tasks were rare and involved the history of the Dark Age.

Nian Yan nodded and said, “I suppose it counts as a legendary task. This task can only be completed at around level 100 or higher, so for now, let’s focus on completing Kales’ Blessing for you.”

Nian Yan addressed Kales, “Respected Mr. Kales, I will continue my pursuit until I have rescued all eight lords.”

Kales showed a grateful expression and said to Nian Yan, “Thank you, respected Demon Hunter, Scholar, Mr. Nian Yan.”

Kales always insisted on calling him Demon Hunter, Scholar, which felt awkward to Nian Yan, but it was a setting of the game’s main AI, requiring titles to be prefixed before names.

This conversation with Kales brought Nian Yan great rewards, further solidifying his determination to complete the task. If he could gain an NPC servant like Kales, the Bull Tribe would be unstoppable in the future, not to mention the other rewards this task might offer.

In fact, once the sealed history was unlocked, level 100 wouldn’t be far for players, perhaps only half a year away, which was quite different from his previous life.

After bidding farewell to Kales, Nian Yan and Yaoyao exited the cathedral.

“Let’s go to the Sinful Abyss Canyon,” Nian Yan said. He had a very simple method to obtain the Sinful Abyss Black Lotus. “Have you learned Holy Light Guardian yet?”

“Yes.”

“What level is your Holy Light Guardian?”

“Level 3. Why?” Yaoyao asked, puzzled. Was this task related to Holy Light Guardian?

“That’s convenient. The most effective skill for entering the Sinful Abyss Canyon is Holy Light Guardian, which can dispel the darkness in the canyon,” Nian Yan explained. In fact, besides Holy Light Guardian, he also needed a Feather Fall gem, but he already had one, which was sufficient.

After preparing some necessary consumables, the two headed toward the teleportation array in Carol City. Their destination: the dark cave of the Sinful Abyss Canyon!

Ordinary players usually only wandered around the outskirts of the dark cave, which was in fact a place filled with countless legends. However, the purpose of Nian Yan and Yaoyao’s journey was one of the many legends of the dark cave—the Sinful Abyss Black Lotus!