Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 257 Delivery and Settlement (5k5)

Hearing this, Alvan's eyes lit up.

He immediately stopped the experiment in his hand, walked to the inner room, and changed into clean robes.

Elfan came out later and said to Luo Xiu with surprise:

"You said you have already helped me complete the sampling?"

"What kind of monster is that?"

"What is in that forest?"

"..."

Alvan asked Luo Xiu several questions in a row. Luo Xiu just smiled slightly, reached out to the bracelet leisurely, and took out the bottle of medicine containing Epiros' blood sample.

"There is indeed an 'ancient seal' in that coniferous forest, but the original owner of the seal is no longer there, and the place is occupied by unknown monsters."

Luo Xiu said to Erfan, "If you are interested, you can send someone to investigate. I have preserved some traces of the original owner."

"As for the ones I have in my hand..." Luo Xiu shook the potion bottle in his hand and said:
"It came from a monster with three bull heads. It was a 'Disaster' level monster, and it exuded the same deep and terrifying aura as those hyena monsters before."

"You said...it was a 'natural disaster' level..." Alvan couldn't help but take a breath when he heard Luo Xiu say this.

This news was enough to shock Alvan. He couldn't wait to think carefully about how Luo Xiu survived the claws of that monster, and directly took the three bottles of potion from Luo Xiu.

This is a sealed bottle made of special materials. Even though the original body of the "Three-Headed Demon Bull" Epiros has collapsed, the blood sample sealed in the bottle still retains its activity as when it was just taken out, and has not been affected by the death of Epiros.

Alvan looked at the blood sample in the bottle from outside the bottle. The dark red to black liquid seemed to be very thick, with dense bubbles floating on the surface.

The tiny bubbles on the surface of the blood sample did not burst quickly, but instead kept wriggling on the surface like maggots, appearing twisted and weird.

"...It has a very strong aura." Erfan said with a stagnant look in his eyes, "I can feel that its original owner must be very powerful."

"Thank you, Mr. Luo Xiu. This way, I can conduct a more in-depth study on those monsters."

Elvan finally thanked Luo Xiu, and then he accepted the three bottles of medicine containing Epirus' blood samples, but a troubled expression appeared on his face.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" Luo Xiu asked with a smile, but saw that Alfan just shook his head slowly.

"I just...don't know what to give you in return."

Erfan said: "After all, Lord Luo Xiu, the harvest this time has exceeded my previous expectations."

"Oh... I see. Sir Irfan, you don't need to rush to repay me."

Luo Xiu smiled and said, "This is just something I can do for you. If I need Fangbeiyuan to do anything for me in the future, please help me as well."

"Okay." Irfan nodded, "Then consider it as, I owe you a favor."

This conversation did not last long. The absent-minded Alvan said goodbye to Luo Xiu and walked into a deeper room with three bottles of potion.

The blood corpse hyena that was previously embedded with the improved version of the "Slave Ring Fake Heart" was left behind by Irfan. His research focus shifted in this short period of time.

After Alvan left, Luo Xiu did not stay long. He took Colen out of the Tower of General Knowledge, left the Square Monument Courtyard, and returned to the church.

……

Red Maple City Church, Glorious Church.

After letting Colen return to the mission station by himself, Luo Xiu also returned to his high priest residence.

He went straight to the holy room, sat down in front of a chair, and pulled up the golden barrier.

After delivering the blood samples to Elvan, Luo Xiu had completed the mission requirements of [Seal Hidden in the Forest].

Just as he had planned before, he was ready to start settling the mission rewards and the rewards for killing Epiros, the "Three-Headed Demon Bull"!
He began his routine ritualistic "sacrifice", but it came to an abrupt end halfway.

"..." Luo Xiu, who originally wanted to sacrifice Connor to be single, suddenly realized that he and Connor had not had any contact for a while.

Although Connor did participate in all the tasks of the Holy Inquisition, he was still in the "Second Destiny"... Anthony had mentioned Connor's recent state to him. He seemed to have found some inspiration to be promoted to the third level, but he was still a long way from the real promotion...

I can talk to Connor when I have time, ask him about his recent situation, and help him find out what the "promotion mission" is... Luo Xiu thought.

Even though it was just a ritualistic verbal sacrifice, and did not have any real supernatural effect without the assistance of a real "curse" prayer, Luo Xiu still changed the object of his "sacrifice".

"——I sacrifice Anthony's ten years of singleness..."

He silently carried out this "vicious curse", then opened his own task panel and gave instructions for the settlement of [Seal Hidden in the Forest].

【…】

[Completed the hidden mission: The Seal Hidden in the Forest (Nightmare Difficulty)]

[You have completed the investigation of the seal in the coniferous forest outside Red Maple City, and delivered his commission to the acting dean of "Fangbeiyuan", Elvan.]

[Completion reward: Basic experience +28000, "Rare" quality specialty "Wandering Explorer" *1]

【…】

[Obtain expertise: Lost Path Explorer (rare)]!
[Wrong Path Explorer (Rare): You find more possibilities in the "wrong path".]

[Your "Luck" attribute gains a 12-point basic correction, and you gain the "Wrong Path Exploration" ability - when you gain new skills, abilities, or expertise through settlement, you will not only have the two options of "Confirm Settlement" and "Reject Settlement", but you will be able to regenerate the settlement result once every three days.]

【…】

...fuck, a kind of plant.

Before the mission was completed, Luo Xiu did not know what the effect of this "rare" quality expertise was.

But now, Luo Xiu's eyes suddenly became bright - he had calculated something good!
——Recalculate! This ability that can effectively avoid "invalid card draws" can actually be obtained through this hidden task...

When Luo Xiu had previously drawn such "unique" specialties as "Cursed Arms" and "Beast Tamer's Eyes", he had thought about obtaining some abilities similar to re-calculating.

Originally according to Luo Xiu's plan, that would be after he was officially promoted to the "Fifth Destiny" and became a "Saint" - then he would be able to accept a hidden mission, and the reward would be an "epic" quality expertise. The effect was that at each settlement, the number of selectable skills, techniques or expertise would increase by one!

But with the "Lost Path Explorer", this plan can be temporarily postponed, as Luo Xiu already has a lower-level replacement with the same ability.

This also allowed him to more confidently and boldly settle the reward for killing Epiros, the "Three-Headed Demon Bull".

Luo Xiu then closed the task panel and opened the mailbox panel.

The reward for killing Epiros, which had turned into a red dot, lay there quietly.

Luo Xiu immediately gave the "settlement" instruction, and the flickering red dot disappeared in an instant, and a flash of light and shadow appeared on the panel.

[Kill "Three-headed Demon Bull" Epiros (lv.53), gain 12147 basic experience points]

[“Three-headed Demon Bull” Epiros (lv.53) is 13 levels behind you]

[Kill above your level! Gain 130% extra experience points...]

["Burning Soul" takes effect, gain 20% additional experience points]

["Evil Soul" takes effect, gain 30% additional experience points]

[Rewards settlement, actual experience points gained: 34012! ]

【…】

[“Three-headed Demon Bull” Epiros is a disaster-level boss]

[Rewards for killing the disaster-level boss are being generated...]

[Kill rewards generated]

[Obtain the expertise "Epyros - Mad Body (Legend, Special)", free attribute points*10]!
[Epyros·Frenzy Demonic Body (Legend, Special): After thousands of years of blood-thirsty killing, the abyss beast Epiros acquired an extremely tough demonic body.

Your "Constitution" attribute gains a basic correction of 40 points. At the same time, your health is increased by an additional 50%, and an additional calculation base of 20 times the value of the "Constitution" attribute is obtained.

When you enter a battle, you will acquire a "frenzy" state that cannot be purified or removed - your physical attack will increase as your health decreases and time passes, and your sanity will also decrease. When your health drops below 50%, or the battle lasts for more than 30 minutes, you will completely lose your sanity, and gain an additional 50% damage reduction and 50% total damage increase.

【…】

"It's the template expertise..." Luo Xiu pondered.

"And it's a template feat of 'Legendary' quality!"

The expertise "Epyros - Frenzy Demon Body" undoubtedly provides a considerable improvement.

But the side effects are also quite obvious - "frenzy" will gradually erode sanity, and eventually turn into a completely mad monster that has lost its mind... This specialty is suitable for the berserkers of [Red Lotus], who can turn the negative effects of frenzy into positive gains, but this obviously does not suit me... Luo Xiu thought.

Moreover, the "physique" attribute was not his main attribute. Although the "legendary" quality template expertise was hard to come by, Luo Xiu finally decided to give up on obtaining it.

He just happened to be able to use it to test the ability of "Wrong Path Explorer", so he chose to settle again. ——Buzz! At the moment of giving the new command, Luo Xiu felt as if a buzzing sound surged into his mind.

A flash of light and shadow appeared on the panel in front of Luo Xiu, and new content began to be generated as a reward for killing Epiros.

[Rewards for killing the Disaster-level boss are being regenerated...]

[Kill rewards have been regenerated]

[Obtain the expertise "Epyros Ancient Bloodline (Legend)"]!
[Epyros Ancient Bloodline (Legend): Epiros is a magical beast that has existed since ancient times. Its bloodline carries the ancient source of power.

Your "Strength", "Constitution" and "Resistance" attributes gain a basic correction of 20 points. At the same time, your "Health" gains an additional calculation base of 10 times the value of the "Constitution" attribute, your "Physical Attack" gains an additional calculation base of 2 times the value of the "Constitution" attribute, and your "Defense Reduction" gains an additional calculation base of 3 times the value of the "Constitution". 】

【…】

Simple and crude... Looking at the new "legendary" level expertise appearing on the panel, Luo Xiu fell into deep thought again.

This "Legendary" feat is not a template feat, and does not have the negative effects like the previous "Frenzy Demon Body", but it is a pure numerical improvement for Luo Xiu.

The three basic attributes of "health", "physical attack" and "defense reduction" have been greatly improved, which is not bad... Luo Xiu confirmed the results of the settlement with satisfaction, then closed the panel and began to carefully experience the unique feeling that the "ancient bloodline" brought to him.

Every bit of his flesh and blood, and even every cell seemed to be leaping for joy - a surge of power emerged from nowhere, and the tearing pain only lasted for a short moment, followed by a refreshing feeling like bathing in a hot spring.

In a trance, Luo Xiu seemed to feel that the color of his skin seemed to have become slightly darker, and the surface of his body seemed to have more clearly defined muscular contours.

After feeling the changes in his body, Luo Xiu stood up from the chair and removed the golden barrier that covered his residence.

After completing the two settlements, he prepared to proceed with his subsequent schedule.

——Go to the "Authentic Dwarf Blacksmith Shop" and find the dwarf Mil to hand over the Horn of Epirus and ask him to help forge new equipment.

This schedule did not require the accompaniment of clergymen. Luo Xiu then left the church and headed for his destination.

……

Red Maple City, Mill's Forge Manor.

As soon as Luo Xiu arrived at the main gate of the manor, he heard a series of clanging sounds of iron hammering.

Mir's new forging apprentices were working on the assembly line in the courtyard of the manor. Mir seemed to have received many new forging commissions recently, and the whole manor was filled with a busy atmosphere.

Luo Xiu walked straight into the manor. A young apprentice came up to him and greeted him:

"Hello, guest. Are you here to commission forging? You may need to wait a moment..."

——Pa! A middle-aged blacksmith came up from behind the apprentice and slapped the apprentice on the head, causing the apprentice to stagger.

"Can't you recognize him, you bastard?" the middle-aged blacksmith scolded. "This is Master Mir's close friend. You have no sense, so go back to your work."

"Yes, I'm sorry..." The apprentice hurriedly apologized to Luo Xiu, then trotted away and returned to a smelting furnace.

Mir's forging manor is developing well. Luo Xiu looked around the scene in front of him and didn't pay attention to the previous episode.

He derived some other information from what he saw, such as that Mil had recruited several more senior blacksmiths and blacksmith apprentices, and the manor had become much more lively than the last time he came.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Carlos, for making a fool of myself..."

The middle-aged blacksmith apologized again, and then solemnly introduced himself to Luo Xiu: "I am Canard, Canard Vimas, one of the first blacksmiths hired by Master Mir. You can just call me Canard."

"Are you here to see Master Mir? He is in there, and he mentioned you to us a few days ago. I'll take you to see him."

"Then thank you for your help." Luo Xiu nodded with a smile, and stretched out his right hand, making a "please" gesture.

Afterwards, a middle-aged blacksmith named Canard led the way, took Luo Xiu into the villa, came to a plain-looking room on the second floor, and knocked gently on the door.

"——I'm busy!" Soon, an angry voice came from the room, "Stop asking for new orders! Damn it! How many times have I told you! I—am—busy—!"

That was undoubtedly Mil's voice... Hearing this familiar foul mouth, Luo Xiu inexplicably felt like laughing.

Canard turned around and smiled at Luo Xiu awkwardly, "Master Mir is like this..." Canard said, and then he whispered to Mir in the room:
"Master Mir, it's Mr. Carlos, Mr. Carlos from the church..."

"..."

With a "creak", the door of the room was slowly opened.

Mir poked his head out from the crack in the door, glared at Canard, and then glared at Luo Xiu.

"Come in." Mir snorted, then retracted his head back into the door, "Remember to close the door."

"Mr. Carlos, please come in." Canard bowed slightly to Luo Xiu and said, "Then I will go down first. I hope you have a pleasant chat with Master Mir."

After saying that, Canard ran downstairs as if escaping, leaving Luo Xiu standing in front of the slightly swinging door.

Luo Xiu then pushed the door open and saw Mil, who was standing on a low stool and lying on the table fiddling with rune carvings.

"I still like to see you being rebellious." Luo Xiu greeted Mil with a smile.

"...Get out of here."

Mir raised his head and glared at Luo Xiu, a look of anger flashed across his face, but he forced himself to hold it back.

"So, what are you doing here?" Mil asked casually without stopping the carving in his hand.

"I'm here to submit a forging commission." Luo Xiu replied immediately.

"But you can see that I really don't have time—"

Mir sighed and said tiredly:

"After the war between the Empire and the Principality broke out, the number of orders for my 'Authentic Dwarf Blacksmith Shop' increased exponentially - not only from your church, but also from the Border Court, the Square Monument Court, and even from civilian armed organizations. There is no way to forge all the forges, no way..."

"We are old friends, Luo Xiu. Let me be honest with you - I still have six 'epic', 18 'master', and more than 100 'rare' quality orders that need to be delivered. If I can't complete them within the specified time, I will have to pay a huge penalty."

"...So why do you accept so many commissions?" Luo Xiu asked with a smile.

"I didn't pick it up! Those damn craftsmen did!"

Mir said unhappily:

"I just finished a day's work, and when I woke up the next day, there were a lot of new commissions. Those were all taken by the craftsmen under me! It's also because I was lazy and left these things to them..."

"I should have met with those clients in person first. Damn it, although the commissions during the war are indeed much more rewarding, but with such a large number of forging commissions, even for me, it would be difficult to complete them in a short period of time..."

"..."

While drawing the runes at hand, Mir complained to Luo Xiu.

As the boss of the "Forging Manor", Mir could not say these words to his craftsmen. Instead, Luo Xiu's arrival allowed Mir to temporarily obtain a good tree hole.

Listening to Mil complaining about these things, Luo Xiu just listened with a smile and did not interrupt.

Only after Mir finished complaining did Luo Xiu say to him:

"It's okay. The forging commission from the church can be postponed. I'll talk to the missionary office and they won't charge you a penalty for overdue payment."

"Well, can you first listen to me and tell me what I will entrust you to forge?"

“…” Mir was silent for a moment.

"...It's not impossible." Mir nodded, and then said, "Tell me about it."

"I got a new material." Luo Xiu said with a smile, "The material of a 'natural disaster' level monster."

"..."

Mil stopped engraving, raised his head, and looked at Luo Xiu with a fixed gaze.

"What material?"

"Materials for 'Natural Disaster' level monsters." Luo Xiu repeated.

"I want to forge a weapon of 'legendary' quality. I will provide the main materials, and you can help me select the secondary materials."

Luo Xiu said: "You can have plenty of time to design and forge it, and you don't need to rush to deliver it. I know that perfect works require time investment."

"So, what do you think? Do you consider taking this commission?"

"..."

Without any hesitation, Mir said:
"I'll take it."

……

(End of this chapter)