Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 179: Shattered Exile (4k2, second update!)
It turned out to be a crown fragment...the third crown fragment!

Luo Xiu was a little shocked inside, but on the surface he behaved as usual.

Ever since he obtained the second piece of "King Isol's Crown Fragment" from Red Maple City, he has not obtained any trace of the remaining crown fragments.

The corresponding panel of "Fragments of King Isol's Crown" also indicates that there should be a total of four pieces of crown fragments, but the whereabouts of the remaining two pieces are unknown.

I didn’t expect to see the third piece of crown fragment at this auction!

Luo Xiu thought with some pleasure in his heart, but at the same time he became more cautious.

Did the old man know about the "fragment of King Isol's crown"? And what was his purpose in displaying the fragment of the crown as a "commodity"...

The hostile stance towards the "Ancient Hermitage" forced Luo Xiu to think a lot in advance.

But one thing is certain - since the old man possesses the third piece of the "crown fragment", this means that he, or other members of the monastery behind him, must have defeated the "ancient existence" in the seal, but no one knows what kind of knight that is.

As these thoughts emerged in the depths of his mind, Luo Xiu had already arrived in front of the old man's seat.

The old man seemed to be asleep regarding the new guest in front of him. He did not even raise his head, as if he did not hear anything.

Luo Xiu's eyes also became deep at the same time. He also restrained his spirituality and tentatively reached out to touch the fragments.

Luo Xiu did not directly reach out to the "fragment of King Isol's crown" to avoid arousing suspicion. Just as his fingers were about to touch another fragment, the old man who seemed to be sleeping suddenly opened his eyes.

"You want to... buy something?" The old man narrowed his eyes and asked in a hoarse voice.

Seeing that the test was effective, Luo Xiu retracted his hand and said in a teasing tone and low voice:

"You woke up suddenly and scared me."

"..."

"So... are you going to buy something?" The old man did not respond to Luo Xiu's teasing, but repeated the previous question.

"Haha, I guess so." Luo Xiu smiled, nodded slightly, and said:
"I can feel that these things are very old."

"..."

"...Yes. They are...quite ancient," the old man replied.

The old man did not seem to be prepared to give too much introduction to these "goods". He just narrowed his eyes, with an attitude of willing to take the bait, waiting for the customer in front of him to push the "transaction" forward himself.

Luo Xiu pointed to a piece of debris beside him and said, "I am very interested in them. I want to know where you got them from and what they can do."

He did not point directly to the crown fragments, also out of caution.

"..."

"The thing you're pointing at... is from the Forest of Elves, a seal of an ancient... corrupt sage."

The old man spoke slowly, his voice was low and emotionless, as if he was just recounting something he had experienced:
"I killed that corrupt sage... This is a piece that I peeled off from the corrupt staff he used..."

"You ask what can be done with it? Collect it, or melt it down to make new things... It's all fine."

After saying this, the old man stopped talking and calmly waited for the next reaction of the guest in front of him.

Luo Xiu nodded, indicating that he understood, and then said:
"So that's how it is... But unfortunately, I have a friend with a destiny called [Intellect], and he probably doesn't want to see me collecting the relics of the 'Corrupted Sage'."

This is not a fraud, I do have an [Intellectual] friend! It's just that he is dead... Luo Xiu thought, while observing the old man's reaction.

The old man did not respond at all. He remained silent, giving people the feeling that he was a pool of stagnant water.

Luo Xiu then pointed to another piece of debris and asked the same question as before.

The old man then ended his silence and spoke again:
"This fragment came from the tomb of an ancient dragon warrior... It was originally a medium used by the dragon warrior to cast ancient dragon spells. After he died, this thing belonged to me..."

"Its use? It's still for collection... or as material for some ancient rituals..."

"..."

The old man's voice was still intermittent and hoarse, and when he finished speaking, he returned to silence again, as quiet as a corpse.

This time, Luo Xiu just nodded slightly, showing little interest. Then, he pointed to the "fragment of King Isol's crown" and said, "What about this one?"

"..."

"As for this piece...it comes from the seal of an ancient knight." The old man said slowly.

Sure enough! When Luo Xiu heard the old man say this, he understood that it must be one of King Isol's knights.

"That knight... no, I should say, that armor that was possessed by the evil spirit... I killed it. This fragment... should be its relic."

"..."

Armor possessed by resentment? So this is how the knights look in the eyes of this old man... Luo Xiu nodded and said:

"Ancient knights? I'm a little interested."

Finally, Luo Xiu showed some interest and asked the old man, "If I want to buy these fragments, how many gold coins do I need to pay you?"

"..."

"Gold coins? I don't want gold coins..."

The old man said slowly: "I am not interested in gold coins."

"But..." The old man suddenly changed the subject and said, "If you have obtained the 'ancient heritage' from the ruins or the ancient seal... share the 'heritage' you have obtained with me, and I can give you one of these fragments."

Is this... using knowledge instead of money? Luo Xiu thought about it, a smile appeared on his face, and he said, "I do have an 'ancient heritage', but how can I be sure that you haven't obtained the same heritage? Or are you willing to take the risk of obtaining an existing heritage?"

"……hehe."

The old man laughed hoarsely and said:
"It doesn't matter... These fragments... They are of no use to me. No matter what kind of 'ancient heritage' I get, I have not lost anything..."

"..."

"I understand." Luo Xiu nodded.

After a brief thought in his mind, he quickly determined what the "ancient heritage" that was going to be "shared" with the old man was.

"Do you have something that can record memories?" Luo Xiu asked.

The old man then reached into his arms, took out a piece of dark brown parchment and handed it to Luo Xiu.

Afterwards, Luo Xiu meditated on the relevant knowledge of "Demon-Destroying Flame" in his mind. At the same time, he lightly stroked the parchment with his fingers, and the spiritual patterns representing the knowledge of "Demon-Destroying Flame" were slowly imprinted on it.

Luo Xiu had his own considerations for choosing "Demon Flame of Destruction" as the ancient inheritance to share - this was a melee type of inherited skill, and if he gave it to an old man who was obviously a necromancer, if he met the old man as an enemy in the future, at least it would not be a threat to him.

After completing the copying of the knowledge of "Demon Flame of Destruction", Luo Xiu returned the parchment to the old man. "Okay." Luo Xiu said, "I can't guarantee whether you have the same or similar ancient inheritance. The 'Black Beast' is a witness. I have paid the stakes."

"..." The old man reached out and took the parchment with the printed pattern. He opened his eyes and stared at the spiritual patterns on it. The corners of his mouth slightly curled up, revealing a knowing smile, and said:
"Very good...very good. This is the 'ancient heritage' that I never had. With the 'Black Beast' as a witness, you can take a piece of it away."

"Okay." Luo Xiu nodded, picked up the "fragment of King Isol's crown", and then turned and left.

Not feeling the old man's gaze, Luo Xiu walked through the crowded crowd and returned to his seat on the left side of the auditorium.

"Huh..." Luo Xiu let out a long sigh. He sat back on the sofa, picked up the "piece of King Isol's crown", and looked at it carefully.

There was no doubt that it was a genuine crown fragment. Its style and shape were no different from other "crown fragments" he owned. The exquisite patterns on it could also be smoothly connected into the original complete symbolic engraving.

Just as Luo Xiu picked up the "crown fragment" and looked at it carefully, his panel jumped and new text content appeared.

[You have obtained: Fragment of King Isol's Crown (3/4)]

[“Land of Exile” has been opened]

[Trigger hidden tasks]

[Hidden Mission: Shattered Exile (Hell Difficulty)]

[Recommended level: lv.40, quadruple destiny and above]

[Task type: series of tasks]

[Task Description: You have obtained three pieces of "Fragments of King Isol's Crown" from the seals of "Immortal Rider" Grivil, "Wandering Rider" Miklos, and "Fallen Rider" Alpad.

Through the resonance between the fragments, you learned the location of the last fragment - a "land of exile".

The last piece of the crown fragment is in the hands of King Isol's chief knight, the "Exiled Knight" Mordred. 】

[Put the three pieces of the crown together to teleport to the "Land of Exile" and face the "Exiled Knight" Mordred.]

[Mission Objective: Defeat "Exiled Knight" Mordred and obtain the last piece of "Fragment of King Isol's Crown" from him]

[Completion Reward: Basic Experience +38000, Mordred's Legacy, "Lost Royal Court" Secret Realm Key...]

[Warning: After you have assembled the three pieces of the crown and teleported to the "Land of Exile", you will not be able to leave the "Land of Exile" unless you defeat the "Exile Knight" Mordred or die.]

【…】

"'Exiled Knight' Mordred..." Luo Xiu whispered the name in a low voice that only he could hear, and his eyes gradually became profound.

That should be the last "Knight Protector of the Nation", and Mordred is the "Captain of the Nation" of King Isol. His strength must be much stronger than the other "Knight Protectors of the Nation".

Previously, Luo Xiu had defeated the "Immortal Knight" Grievel and the "Wandering Knight" Miklos, both of whom had the strength equivalent to "Triple Fate". If the "Exiled Knight" Mordred was their leader, his strength should be four times the Fate, or even five times...

Luo Xiu thought so, and after collecting three pieces of "Fragments of King Isol's Crown" and triggering this new hidden task [The End of Exile], Luo Xiu added another item to his schedule.

After the matter in Songyuan City is over, return to Sina City and find the dwarf Mir to harvest the rare materials and broken hearts of the "Age of Gods" that he has found. After successfully signing a contract with a "god", teleport to the "Land of Exile" to fight the "Exiled Knight" Mordred...

Luo Xiu planned this, and at this moment, he didn't want anything else at the "Antique Auction" at the Black Sword Mansion.

He then began to enter a state of "meditation", subjectively accelerating the passage of time.

……

As Luo Xiu's meditation gradually deepened, the "Antique Auction" finally came to an end.

When the guests had each completed their desired transactions and returned to their seats, the graceful figure of the "Night Witch" Niafu appeared again on the podium in the auditorium.

Niafu bowed slightly to the audience, a beautiful and elegant smile appeared on her face, and she announced:

"Then, under the witness of the mansion, we have once again achieved the birth of many wonderful transactions."

"I think this should be a night worth remembering. Let us pay our highest respects to Mr. Gawain and salute the great 'Black Sword'."

"We look forward to seeing you all again after March."

After saying this, Niafu bowed to the audience again and then stepped down from the stage.

The curtains on the podium were closed, the charming lights became brighter, and more than a hundred waiters from the mansion entered the auditorium from the entrance and came to the seats of each guest.

The waiters bowed to the guests and then said politely: "Thank you for coming. Please follow the instructions and leave the hall with us and return to your accommodation."

Starting from the "VIP" seats in the front row, groups of three left the auditorium from the left, right and rear exits.

About five minutes later, the waiters led the three guests out from three exits. According to the rules of "Black Sword Mansion", this was to prevent people with ulterior motives from following them.

……

About an hour later, in front of Luo Xiu's seat, the waiter bowed deeply to him and said softly, "Sir, please follow me."

Luo Xiu nodded, stood up and followed the waiter.

The waiter led the way. He walked towards the exit on the left, and took a few obviously unnecessary detours in the outer corridor, and brought Luo Xiu out of the Black Sword Hall and to the villa where he lived.

When they arrived at the other courtyard, the waiter bowed to Luo Xiu and said:
"Thank you again for coming. Please rest assured. Someone will come to inform you of the subsequent payment process tomorrow morning."

"Okay." Luo Xiu nodded and said, "Thank you for your help."

"It's my duty, sir."

The waiter politely responded, "Then please allow me to leave first."

After saying that, the waiter bowed deeply to Luo Xiu again, then turned and left.

……

When the waiter left, Luo Xiu and Index returned to their room in the villa.

Luo Xiu locked the doors and windows, and borrowed the "Cat Soul Bell" from Index again.

——Ding-ling, the crisp sound of a copper bell rang, and Luo Xiu lifted the hint he had set for himself in advance and regained his normal memory.

The memory of [I have one million Nolan gold coins in assets] disappeared. At this moment, Luo Xiu clearly recalled his true asset level.

"So that's how it is..." Luo Xiu murmured, and he quickly understood the original intention of his doing so.

Then, the first problem Luo Xiu had to face was very clear -

He had to find a way to collect the total amount of 213,000 gold coins owed within three days.

(Also available at night)
(End of this chapter)