Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 201: Isol Abandoned the Royal Court

[Unlocked: Isol's Lost Court]

Such new content appeared on Luo Xiu's panel.

Luo Xiu looked at the "Apostles of the Holy Abyss" crawling in the middle of the hall, then raised his arm and looked at the back of his hand.

The red mark with the lower half being a dragon claw and the upper half being a sword blade kept flashing in Luo Xiu's field of vision, emitting a dazzling and eye-catching light that was slightly blinding.

"That is indeed the key..." Luo Xiu murmured secretly.

At the same time, he looked into the hall and saw marks with similar patterns appearing on the backs of his "apostles'" hands.

It was also a mark with a dragon claw on the lower half and a sword blade on the upper half, but its color was black, and it was thinner and darker.

Like himself, the apostles also obtained the "Secret Realm Keys"... However, those "Secret Realm Keys" were "sub-keys" compared to his own red mark. He could "seal" them or "erase" them at will...

Luo Xiu thought to himself, feeling the spiritual connection between the mark on the back of his hand and the marks on the backs of the apostles' hands.

At the same time, he began to look around, observing the interior layout of the hall.

He soon realized that he was currently in the "Lost Royal Court of Isol".

After looking around the surrounding environment and combining it with the content displayed on the panel before, Luo Xiu could easily guess these things.

This is the "secret realm". Luo Xiu, who had been to a similar scene in his previous life, knew that the so-called "secret realm" was the part that was different from the real world and belonged to the "inner world".

However, they are different from the "Spiritual Sea". Luo Xiu and his apostles who are in the "secret realm" are not in the state of souls at this time, but are truly in it.

The ground under everyone's feet is truly solid.

Just like the previous "Land of Exile", Luo Xiu and his apostles were teleported to a similar place again.

This space is closed and has boundaries.

The "Kingdom of Isol" once existed in the long history of the Apocalypse World. This "Lost Royal Court" is the part of the former kingdom that was "stripped off" by great power.

The Kingdom of Isor in the Age of Gods has now turned to dust.

But some powerful extraordinary beings in the old kingdom may want to leave something behind in this way, so that people in later generations can leave traces of their existence.

……

Let’s not think about it for now, what exactly caused the formation of this secret place called “The Lost Royal Court of Isol”.

Luo Xiu now only knows one thing.

Since being teleported to this secret space, Luo Xiu has been continuously radiating his perception outward, trying to find any other extraordinary spiritual fluctuations.

But apart from himself and the "Apostles of the Holy Abyss" who were prostrating themselves in the hall, Luo Xiu did not detect any other spiritual aura.

There aren't even any other "living people" here. It's just an empty, dead, and truly "abandoned" royal court.

This means that Luo Xiu, who is sitting high on the golden throne at this moment, is undoubtedly the new owner of this secret realm of "The Lost Royal Court".

……

After thinking for a moment, Luo Xiu stood up from the throne and walked towards the center of the royal hall.

At this time, Intis and the other "Apostles of the Holy Abyss" still didn't know what was going on.

They just bowed down to the Lord "Shura" as usual, waiting for the Lord to issue new instructions.

Click, click, click... Luo Xiu walked down the long steps. The crisp footsteps came rhythmically from the stone-inlaid steps and echoed on the golden beams and pillars of the hall.

In the solemn silence, the apostles finally heard their "Lord" speak:
"Arise, my shadows."

"Your battle has now paid off."

"My devout apostles, this is the new holy land of 'Holy Abyss'."

"..."

New...holy land? Listening to the words of the "Holy Lord", the apostles all grasped this most important and key word in their minds.

Index then stood up first, and stood in front of all the apostles with her eyes downcast.

After the other apostles stood up, Index asked respectfully to the “Lord” on their behalf:

"We are terrified... Lord. What does 'new holy land' mean?"

"..."

"right here."

Luo Xiu raised his hand, pointed his finger at the ground under Index's feet, and said slowly:
"This is the 'Lost Royal Court of Isol'. It is a 'secret place', a place that is more secretive and safer than the 'Promised Land'."

"I intend to use this place, the 'Lost Royal Court of Isol', as the foundation for the long-term development of 'Holy Abyss'."

"...!"

Intis and other "Apostles of the Holy Abyss" all had expressions of realization and excitement on their faces.

As for the concept of "secret realm", the "apostles" of the triple destiny had heard of it but did not know much about it.

But through the words of their "Lord", the apostles finally understood clearly that this would be their new, hidden and stable stronghold in the future!

Therefore, the "new holy land" mentioned by the "Lord" expresses this meaning...

"..."

Observing the reactions on the faces of the "Holy Abyss Apostles", Luo Xiu nodded imperceptibly.

Then he continued to say to the apostles:
"I promised you that as long as you pass the test, I will reward you."

As he spoke, Luo Xiu's hand had already rested on the bracelet on his right wrist, and he took out five pieces of "Master" quality extraordinary equipment from it.

These "master" quality equipment purchased from the "Black Sword Mansion" or obtained from the enemy were what Luo Xiu had already prepared to reward his apostles.

"Hunting Blade Undertaker, I grant you this Mithril Hunting Blade."

Luo Xiu looked at the assassin wrapped in shadow across from him and said calmly:
"It allows you to penetrate your prey's body more easily and leave indelible corrosive marks inside the prey's body."

When he heard the Lord call out his name first, the undertaker shrugged his shoulders slightly, walked to the Lord, knelt on the ground, put his hands forward, and took the hunting blade from the Lord.

"I will always be your sharpest blade. I will slit the throats of all enemies who stand in your way."

The undertaker said this piously, and Luo Xiu just nodded slightly and called out the next person's name.

"'Bloodthirsty Werewolf' Boozer, I grant you this 'Bloodthirsty Scimitar'."

"It is sharp because it is stained with blood. At the same time, it also has the ability to burn blood."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Buzer also walked up to Luo Xiu, knelt on the ground, and took the bloodthirsty scimitar with both hands.

"…Thank you, Lord."

Compared to the Undertaker, Boozer had nothing extra to say.

At the same time, Luo Xiu observed the expression on Buzer's face. When he took the scimitar, his eyes became more pious and more determined.

... "'Nature's Favor' Emera, I grant you the 'Staff of Eclipse'."

“It can strengthen your natural spells, making them have the effect of ‘corrosion’ and more powerful.”

"..."

"'Life-loving' Elena, I grant you the 'Emerald Staff'"

"It strengthens your spiritual connection with you, maximizing the effectiveness of your 'healing' spells."

"..."

"Piolet the Dream-Thief, I give you the Silken Puppet."

"It can create a new puppet that can use elementary illusions like you and emit the same spiritual fluctuations as you, confusing the enemy's perception on a real level."

"..."

After giving the "Holy Abyss Apostles" several treasures purchased from the previous "Black Sword Auction" and the "Phantom Staff" looted from a Black Fang, they prostrated themselves before Luo Xiu again to show their loyalty.

After receiving Luo Xiu's signal, the apostles stood up again and returned to their respective positions.

"Now, you are the 'Holy Abyss', the true 'original' apostles."

Luo Xiu walked through the middle of the apostles on both sides, walked to the entrance of the hall, turned around, and said in a gentle voice:
"Before, I restricted you and asked you to act as secretly as possible and expose the existence of the Holy Abyss as little as possible."

"But things are different now, my shadows."

"Now, we have a new secret realm, a new holy land."

"'The Lost Court of Isol' will become the new harbor, new city, and new home of 'Holy Abyss'."

"From now on, I allow you."

"You can now look for and try to recruit potential companions who may be willing to join the Holy Abyss."

"At the end of every month, bring them to this royal court. I will examine them to see if they are qualified to become followers of the Holy Abyss."

After a pause, Luo Xiu continued:

"Okay, now..."

"Follow me, I will show you the true appearance of this lost royal court."

……

Luo Xiu then walked to the entrance of the hall, and the other apostles of "Holy Abyss" followed closely behind him.

The apostles were still immersed in the words of the "Lord" before, and different thoughts emerged in their minds.

The "Holy Lord" allowed them to look for talents outside the "Holy Abyss", which meant that they were given the power to develop their own subordinates... Until now, the apostles finally felt that they had "made it" in their hearts.

In the apostles' respective original camps, those who already had a "triple destiny" all had more or less extraordinary people with a single or double destiny under them, so they already had a certain power base.

Long before, the apostles had thought about "introducing" some trustworthy subordinates into the Holy Abyss, allowing them to accept the Holy Abyss's protection and become new believers of the Holy Abyss.

However, the apostles, who were only ordinary "apostles" and were asked by Luo Xiu to remain as secretive as possible, could only suppress such thoughts, and no one exceeded the rules set by the Lord.

Until now, the "Lord" personally promised them that they would be able to find and recruit new members... This is very good news for the apostles.

The apostles thought excitedly as they followed the Lord's footsteps and arrived at the vestibule of the Lost Royal Court.

……

After completing the task of rewarding the apostles and upgrading their positions in the "Holy Abyss" to "Original Apostles", Luo Xiu was finally able to put the affairs of his apostles behind him and instead carefully patrolled and observed the general structure of this secret realm, the "Lost Royal Court of Isol".

Only when he walked out of the royal hall, came to the front yard and looked back at the entire hall, was Luo Xiu able to see its entire picture.

It was indeed a huge building with a Byzantine cathedral-like structure similar to that in the previous life.

It was a huge dome-shaped palace with spires standing all around it, and in the towers stood four statues of ancient knights in the style of Isol.

The knight statues hold different weapons in their hands, pointing to the northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest respectively, which seems to represent some symbolic meaning of the royal family of Isol.

And looking at the appearance of the four knight statues, Luo Xiu suddenly felt a strong sense of familiarity.

Soon, Luo Xiu recognized them - three of the knight statues were the "Immortal Knight" Grivil, the "Wandering Knight" Miklos, and the "Exiled Knight" Mordred... The only knight statue that Luo Xiu could not recognize was the "Fallen Knight" Alpad. Luo Xiu roughly guessed that it was.

Among them, the statue of "The Exiled Knight" Mordred is the closest to the front. He is in the first position with his sword pointing to the southwest, which seems to represent his identity as the "Knight Chief of the Protectorate".

Compared with the real Byzantine holy church, the Palace of Isor appears much more solemn and magnificent.

On the six huge columns on the outside of the hall, gilding technology is widely used in the exquisite reliefs between the columns, and totems of various exotic beasts or gods are carved in them. Those are the "guardian gods" once worshipped by the Kingdom of Isol.

While admiring these arts from the Kingdom of Isol during the Age of Gods, Luo Xiu was thinking about many things.

From the style and scale of the buildings, as well as the strength of the three national knights he had met before, Luo Xiu roughly judged that in the distant Age of Gods, the Kingdom of Isol should have been just a small country.

Their strongest representative, the "Exiled Knight" Mordred, after being eroded by the abyss, his strength only reached about the "fifth level of destiny", and during the existence of the Kingdom of Isol, he was roughly at the peak of the fourth level of destiny.

Mordred has become the "Knight Commander of the Kingdom" of the entire kingdom. Even if he is not the strongest in the Kingdom of Isol, he is definitely at least one of the top fighters in the kingdom.

The other "Knights Protecting the Nation" only have the third level of destiny, which is also the upper level of combat power among the extraordinary people in the kingdom.

In addition, the Kingdom of Isol should also have extraordinary people in ancient professions such as court mages. They have different functions from the "Knights Protecting the Country", but they also have a corresponding complete system of powers and responsibilities.

Luo Xiu thought to himself that these were just his guesses.

In his previous life, when he "descended" into the Apocalypse World as a player, it was already an era when the gods had returned to their respective kingdoms and no longer walked the earth. Luo Xiu only had some fragmentary knowledge about the history of the "Age of Gods", and his understanding of that ancient era was still very vague.

Now, as the new owner of the "Lost Royal Court of Isol", I can take this opportunity to learn more about the knowledge and secrets of the Age of Gods.

As Luo Xiu was thinking about all this, he stopped looking at the magnificent royal palace and turned around to look at the scenery in the front yard of the royal palace.

A large open space is located in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by several gardens on both sides.

And in the open space in the front yard stands the largest statue.

It is a statue of "King Isol" over ten meters tall, wearing a crown and holding a scepter. He is dressed in gorgeous robes, with a solemn face, revealing the heroic and kingly temperament from the inside out.

On the base of the statue of King Isol, there is a relatively small stone platform that is almost the same height as Luo Xiu.

There are four circular grooves on the top of the stone platform, and the front is in the style of a stone tablet with ancient inscriptions engraved on it.

Luo Xiu didn't recognize the words on it, but the universal panel had the function of translation.

Light and shadows floated on the panel, and the contents on the stone tablet were quickly translated.

Luo Xiu glanced at the first paragraph of the inscription.

It contains the following content:

[Seventy-sixth year of the God's Fall—]

[The Kingdom of Isor was destroyed by the disaster. ]

……

(End of this chapter)