Nie Yan and Tang Yao entered the building. The earthen walls were cracked and seemed on the verge of collapse. Several NPCs stood inside, dressed in various desert dweller outfits, their faces hidden under hoods. They sold various items and raw materials, all desert specialties.
Nie Yan led Tang Yao past these NPCs, heading deeper into the building. They reached a secluded corner, pushed open a worn wooden door, and entered a narrow tunnel leading underground. Nie Yan walked down step by step.
“What are we doing going inside?” Tang Yao asked doubtfully. The underground passage was dim, and he couldn’t see the path beneath his feet, following only by instinct behind Nie Yan.
The dark, narrow passage led to an unknown destination.
“There’s an NPC selling scrolls inside. We’re going there to buy a few scrolls,” Nie Yan replied. His dark vision ability was high. In the darkness, his eyes narrowed into slits, emitting a faint blue glow, clearly revealing everything around him.
So they were only here to buy scrolls. Tang Yao relaxed, though this scroll seller was unusually secretive. Without deliberate searching, one would never find this place unless by chance.
In Faith, many secrets could be discovered in the architectural clusters of major cities and villages. For example, Nie Yan previously found the House of Sosomiro, and now the scroll master Davina. These NPCs usually sold items unavailable elsewhere.
Scroll master Davina was an eccentric woman. Many legends about her existed in this desert village, yet no one knew she resided underground. She had a peculiar temperament, and no one wanted to interact with her. Players could buy up to ten items daily from her. If you bought ten items and still wanted more, she would drive you away rudely. The items she sold were rare, occasionally including some rare treasures, which players often found valuable.
The two traversed the narrow tunnel for several minutes until they saw a dim yellow light ahead.
“We’re here,” Nie Yan said, walking toward the distant light. His pupils widened as he surveyed the surroundings. It was a small, cramped space, about 3×5 yards. Nearby stood shelves filled with various scrolls, many still unfinished. In the center was a desk, and the remaining space could barely accommodate two or three people. Scattered scrolls littered the floor, making it extremely messy.
Sitting in front of the desk was a person in a black robe, concealing her features. Only her pale hand holding a light gray fine brush could be vaguely seen. She carefully drew a scroll, strange patterns emerging from her brush.
She was nestled among piles of scrolls, her figure so lonely and isolated.
“Is this the scroll master?” Tang Yao asked, stepping forward toward Davina.
Nie Yan raised his hand to stop him, saying, “Wait! Don’t move!”
Halted by Nie Yan, Tang Yao’s foot remained suspended mid-air.
Nie Yan bent down, picking up each scroll from the floor, holding them in his arms, then walked to the nearby shelves, placing the scrolls neatly and carefully.
The scroll master Davina continued engraving scrolls at the desk, ignoring Nie Yan’s actions completely.
In past lives, some players walked through, stepping on the scattered scrolls. They not only failed to buy scrolls but were also driven away by Davina. This was a hidden condition; players had to show sufficient respect to Davina to purchase scrolls from her.
Picking up the scattered scrolls was Davina’s test for Nie Yan and Tang Yao.
Seeing Nie Yan organizing the scrolls, Tang Yao quickly understood and joined in.
Soon, the scattered scrolls on the floor were neatly arranged, making the place slightly tidier.
Nie Yan and Tang Yao approached Davina.
“What do you need?” Davina’s slightly hoarse voice sounded.
Nie Yan scanned the array of goods. There were about fifty to sixty different scrolls, including single-target magic scrolls, area-of-effect magic scrolls, and various rare magic scrolls.
Many scrolls were quite good. Some sold for hundreds of gold coins in the market were only priced at tens of gold here.
Players could buy up to ten scrolls daily from here. His gaze quickly locked onto one scroll.
Advanced Vine Wrap Scroll: Summons vines to bind enemies, leaving bound enemies in a weakened state. Area of effect 30×30 yards, duration 30 seconds. Scroll reading time one set of syllables. Price: 20 gold coins.
Nie Yan directly bought ten, paying 200 gold coins.
Spending so much at this crucial moment was a bit extravagant, but Nie Yan’s upcoming task promised rewards far exceeding 200 gold coins.
“What scroll did you buy?” Tang Yao asked, the scrolls above making his eyes dazzled. Each was a valuable item, though the price was a bit high, often costing tens of gold, some even hundreds.
“Ten Advanced Vine Wrap Scrolls,” Nie Yan replied. He came here to buy these scrolls primarily for completing a task.
“Ten Advanced Vine Wrap Scrolls, not buying anything else?” Tang Yao asked in surprise. There were so many scrolls here, each useful and valuable. Why only buy Vine Wrap?
“We’ll go next time and buy other scrolls,” Nie Yan said, leading Tang Yao out from Davina.
In past lives, few knew about the scroll master Davina. He learned about her from a friend. Since Davina only sold ten scrolls daily, many players rushed to buy them, leading to high demand and limited supply, making it hard to secure scrolls.
In past lives, Nie Yan rarely managed to buy scrolls from Davina, hence his vague impression of her. Only when nearing a task did he remember buying a few scrolls from here.
Nie Yan considered whether to ask Guo Huai to send people daily to buy scrolls here, even selling them on the market for profit. For example, an Advanced Vine Wrap Scroll could be sold for fifty or sixty gold without issues. The only downside was that such items on the market might attract many troubles. If rival players bought them and used them against their own people, it would be very frustrating.
He could store the purchased scrolls in the guild warehouse. If the Cowardly Tribe’s economy truly became unmanageable, they could sell them later.
Nie Yan notified Guo Huai to come here and purchase some Advanced Vine Wrap Scrolls. After leaving the town, the two summoned their horses and rode off into the distance toward the desert.
“Where are we going now?”
“To the central desert, the Corin Wastes,” Nie Yan replied.
The Corin Wastes was a death zone in the central desert. Nie Yan had heard some background about the Corin Wastes in past lives. It was said that the Corin Wastes were originally a desolate wasteland. A giant Corin airship built by goblins was flying overhead when it was shot down by the Griffin Knights of Glandor. The Corin airship crashed into this wasteland, scattering debris everywhere, creating some unusual “buildings” across the wasteland, with broken steel frames visible everywhere, indicating how magnificent the Corin airship once was.
There was a famous boss here, the Wandering Princess Aina, a level 60 lord creature. She herself couldn’t cast any attacks but could summon powerful evil mages, summoning two or thirty at a time. Princess Aina respawned daily. In past lives, many players came to fight the boss, often resulting in crowded scenes.
Looking ahead, the desert was littered with the wreckage of the Corin airship. Some debris was dozens of yards high, while others were just a few parts, scattered across the wasteland, showing how magnificent the Corin airship once was.
System: You discovered the Corin Wastes.
“It should be around here. Let’s dismount,” Nie Yan said, looking at Tang Yao. “I remember you have an acceleration skill. How is it now?”
“Wind Pursuit Technique, speed increase 80%, duration 120 seconds, can only be used on myself,” Tang Yao replied. It was his only notable acceleration skill.
A mage’s acceleration magic offered higher speed bonuses, but even an 80% speed increase might not match a rogue’s 30% speed boost. However, one Wind Pursuit Technique was sufficient.
“Wind Pursuit Technique? Not bad. Follow me and drink an invisibility potion,” Nie Yan said, entering stealth mode.
Tang Yao drank an invisibility potion and followed invisibly.
Shadows wandered in the distance, their faces blurred. Nie Yan kept about twenty yards away from them, not daring to use Super Insight to check these wandering souls due to the large level gap, fearing they might detect their presence.
Crossing a desolate area, seven large ghosts appeared on the open ground ahead, three yards tall, wielding giant hammers, looking fierce and formidable.
Famously known in past lives as wandering berserkers, these monsters were immune to physical attacks, elite level 60 creatures.
Wandering Berserker: Level 60 elite, HP 8000/8000.
Their HP was low, but they were immune to physical attacks. Warriors couldn’t hold their aggro, as they often charged at casters at the start of battle, killing all casters first. Then the remaining melee units would be doomed, as their attacks were ineffective against wandering berserkers.
Countless teams were wiped out before these seven wandering berserkers in past lives.
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