Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 258 The executioner has arrived!
He hadn't even taken a look at what the material dropped by the "natural disaster" monster was... Luo Xiu looked at the dwarf in front of him and couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Even for a "Quadruple Destiny" blacksmith like Mir, the materials for "Natural Disaster" level monsters are difficult to obtain, and being able to forge "Legendary" quality equipment with one's own hands is also a huge temptation for Mir.

At this time, Mil's eyes were fiery, and he was staring straight at Luo Xiu, waiting for Luo Xiu to take out the materials or make some other requests.

Seeing this, Luo Xiu took out the "Horn of Epirus" from his storage bracelet - it was a crescent-shaped horn of a monster wrapped in oilcloth.

Luo Xiu pushed it in front of Mir, and Mir couldn't wait to remove the oilcloth, wanting to see the true appearance of the "natural disaster" monster material as soon as possible.

Until the obsidian-like, hard and twisted horn appeared in front of Mir, a solemn expression appeared on Mir's face.

"...Such a strong and deep aura." Mir whispered, "Where did you get it from?"

"In an 'ancient seal'."

Luo Xiu answered immediately, and then he spread his hands and said, "But the owner of this horn is not the original owner of the seal. It is just a monster that has taken over the magpie's nest."

"Did you kill it? And pick up its dropped items yourself?" Mir asked again.

"Yes." Luo Xiu nodded.

Afterwards, he saw Mir heaved a sigh of relief and said:
"...That's good. I can sense that there is a deep ominousness hidden in it."

"As you know, followers of Lost, Red Lotus, or Nothingness often engage in similar bewitching practices."

"Since you obtained it yourself, I can forge it with confidence."

After a pause, Mir asked Luo Xiu:
"So, what do you want to forge it into?"

"..."

After hearing Mir's question, Luo Xiu thought for a moment and replied:
"I need a melee weapon. It could be a rapier, a short sword, or a scythe. I'm leaning towards the latter."

The "Moon-Cutter's Scythe" had been used for too long, and even though it had been enhanced to the "Master" quality, it could no longer keep up with Luo Xiu's speed of strengthening. However, Luo Xiu was already proficient in using the "scythe" shaped melee weapon, so he simply raised this request directly to Mir.

"...You are a priest and you don't use a staff?" Mir was a little surprised and asked back.

"I'm still using 'Poison Bite', Master Mir." Luo Xiu replied with a smile, "I don't need a new staff for the time being. And, as you can see, this material is not suitable for making weapons like staffs."

"That's true." Mir nodded. He touched the surface of the magic horn, feeling the temperature and texture of this "natural disaster" monster material.

After Mir was immersed in it for a while, he raised his head and said to Luo Xiu solemnly:

"Okay, then I will help you forge a new 'scythe'. But I cannot guarantee that the quality of the final product will reach 'legend' - that is affected by many factors."

"The materials used for forging, the degree of perfection of the craftsmanship, and even the changes in the temperature of the quenching furnace will have a significant impact on the final product. I can only ensure that the quality of the finished product reaches the level of 'Legend' as much as possible - at worst, it is a top-grade product among 'Epic'."

"How about it? If you can accept it, just leave it to me and I will do my best to help you complete the forging."

After giving Luo Xiu this necessary "vaccination", Mil stopped talking and just stared at Luo Xiu, waiting for his reply.

Luo Xiu pretended to think seriously, then nodded and said:

"Okay, I believe you, Master Mir."

"You just need to devote all your skills to forging it. If you have any difficulties, send someone to the church to find me."

As Luo Xiu spoke, he took out another exquisite money box from his bracelet and pushed it to Mir.

"These are the deposits, a total of one hundred platinum coins. Once you finish forging, I will make up the remaining difference."

In Luo Xiu's estimation, the total price of the auxiliary materials needed to make "legendary" weapons should exceed this figure, or at least be on par with it.

Mir took the money box, opened it, took a look, then closed it and put it away. He said with a smile on his face:
"One month... No. Give me half a month."

"I will give you the finished product in half a month."

……

After completing the commission to deliver the forging to Mil, Luo Xiu left the forging manor and returned to the church.

For the time being, he had no urgent schedule to complete, so he went to the Holy Office to handle some church affairs, and then went to the holy room in his residence to practice some skills.

During this period, the "envoy" of the border court, Lord Nelson, visited the church again, asking on behalf of "Grand Inquisitor" Baines about the results of the previous investigation into the seal in the forest.

Just as Luo Xiuhe had described the results to Elfan of Fangbeiyuan, he told Nelson the results of the investigation in a selective manner and asked Bianting to send more people to investigate when he had time.

After receiving such positive feedback, City Lord Nelson seemed quite happy. He flattered Luo Xiu, and then made a "holy donation" of 3,000 gold coins to the church in the name of the city lord's mansion and the border court. Then he said goodbye to Luo Xiu, left the church, and returned to the border court to report to Baines.

……

Two days passed in a flash.

Early in the morning, when Luo Xiu was dealing with the day's church affairs, his spirit suddenly trembled.

That was the spiritual transmission from his "followers" - from Index.

Luo Xiu immediately stopped the work in his hands, stood up, left the bishops' room and the Holy Office, and returned to his high priest's residence.

He went straight back to the bedroom, set up the "Golden Barrier", and summoned the "Shadow Raven" Wu Ye.

The room was suddenly shrouded in thick black fog. Luo Xiu then gave Wu Ye instructions to create his own "real phantom".

The black fog dissipated, and a figure exactly like Luo Xiu appeared in front of Luo Xiu.

The "True Phantom" will stay in his residence for a while instead of him. Luo Xiu then raised his right hand, and the dragon claw mark on the back of his hand suddenly lit up.

A crimson circle appeared at Luo Xiu's feet. His figure quickly faded away, and a moment later he was transported to the "Isol King's Court".

……

The Court of Isol.

In front of the high, huge, golden throne, Luo Xiu's figure never appeared.

Below him, a slender figure had been waiting for a long time.

That was the Faceless Intis. When she saw the Lord coming, she immediately knelt down before Luo Xiu and performed the etiquette of a servant.

Luo Xiu nodded slightly, and then Index stood up and said to Luo Xiu:

"I have completed what you asked me to do, my lord."

As she spoke, Index took out two exquisite small cash boxes from her bracelet.

"Here are four hundred platinum coins in total. Vice President Gonzalo personally handled the withdrawal procedures."

Two days ago, after Luo Xiu paid the deposit to Mir, his cash was almost exhausted.

——Going to the "Golden Country Bank" in Songyuan City to withdraw money is the most important task that Luo Xiu gave to Index.

Outside of the "Isol Royal Court", because it was not suitable for Intis to appear too often in the Red Maple City Church, Luo Xiu simply arranged for her to go to Songyuan City and set up a base alone -

It would be convenient for Luo Xiu to contact Index who was active in Songyuan City. At the same time, they could also hold secret meetings and exchange materials through the "Isor Royal Court" to achieve the ultimate effect of "cross-city express delivery". Luo Xiu stood up from the throne, walked in front of Index, and took the cash box from her.

The weight of four hundred platinum coins pressed heavily on Luo Xiu's palm.

That was about one-fifth of Luo Xiu's current deposits in the Golden Country Bank, which was enough for him to use for a while.

"Very good, Intis." Luo Xiu nodded, indicating his praise, "You did a good job."

He then reached out and gently pressed his palm on Index's smooth forehead.

Afterwards, he activated the power of the "Spiritual Fountain" and transformed 20,000 experience points into spirituality and "infused" it into Index's body.

Feeling the new "power" surging into her body, Index's face showed enthusiasm and joy, and she began to "enjoy" the pleasure of becoming stronger in an instant.

In fact, this has become the most convenient and quickest way for Luo Xiu to "reward" his capable subordinates.

The naturally generated experience points stored in the "Fountain of Spirituality" alone can replace material rewards - the growth of "spirituality" has an irresistible attraction for all extraordinary people, especially for Index and others.

When the "Granting of Spirituality" ceremony was over, Index knelt down to Luo Xiu again and thanked him sincerely:

"Thank you for the power, my Lord."

Her level has reached lv.28, and after this "bestowal of spirituality", she will be promoted to level 29, and is getting closer and closer to the threshold of promotion to the "quadruple destiny"... Luo Xiu was thinking about this while browsing Index's real-time panel.

Index had gone through a lot of life-and-death battles recently, and the prerequisites for promotion to the hidden profession "Shadow of Slaughter" had all been completed as planned. Now all that was left was to raise her level to the threshold.

When she completes another mission and has the opportunity to be "rewarded" again, or when she breaks through the shackles herself, I will guide her on how to advance... Luo Xiu thought to himself, and then he heard Index say:
"My Lord, there is one more thing."

"'Guillotine' Bagli, he has something important to report to you in person."

"Bagri?" Luo Xiu's pupils shrank slightly, he stopped thinking and remembered something else.

What is it that cannot be reported remotely via "Mist Shadow" and must be reported here in the royal court... After thinking about it, Luo Xiu could only think of one possibility.

"Yes." Luo Xiu nodded and said to Index:

"Send him over. I'll stay a while."

"..."Intis did not respond, but just took a step back.

Then, on the ground between Index and Ross, a red circular magic circle emerged from nowhere, and the figure of "Guillotine" Bagli slowly appeared.

The moment he was teleported to the palace, he knelt down before Luo Xiu and reported in a hoarse voice:

"…'Executioner' Koros."

"He has arrived."

……

Outside Hongfeng City, 25 miles away from the border area.

The dark vanguard army, which had dispersed and retreated due to the defeat in the decisive battle, finally regrouped here and set up a temporary camp.

At this time, the dark soldiers in the camp all had listless expressions on their faces, and seemed a little absent-minded.

The failure of the previous decisive battle undoubtedly severely dampened their morale. No matter how the "commander" Afatak tried to boost their morale, it didn't have any good effect.

Of the original three "commanders" and three "chiefs", now only Afatak himself and "Guillotine" Bagri are left.

The soldiers really saw no hope - the "high priest" of the Red Maple City Church was too powerful and had shattered most of their original naive fantasies.

Until this day, around noon.

Several figures wearing dark cloaks broke into the core tent and surrounded Afatak, the only "commander" of the vanguard army.

Afatak vaguely sensed what was happening, and suddenly a bad feeling arose in his heart.

Then, a sharp voice sounded from outside the tent:

"Afatak... Fafnir would let you be the 'executioner'. This is simply a joke."

The sound of footsteps came from outside. Afatak looked out of the tent with deep eyes, at the blurry figure that was approaching.

——"Executioner" Koros!

Afatak had already recognized who the other person was, but he didn't expect that he would come so quickly.

This was about three days earlier than the time Afatak had expected that the "Executioner" Koros would arrive.

This is not good news for Afatak.

"You actually led the vanguard and suffered such a shameful defeat..."

Koros's sharp voice continued to be heard, and his figure became clearer and clearer in Afatak's vision.

Afatak saw a figure wearing gorgeous armor.

The "Executioner" Koros was stroking a complexly patterned snake-shaped cone blade in his hand, and wearing a colorful mask with a howling expression on his face.

Just above the mask, in the eye sockets, Koros' eyes were looking at the giant in front of him with interest.

"You are... Lord Koros..."

Afatak greeted him tentatively, and he knelt down to Koros at the same time.

Afatak knew deeply what the early arrival of "Executioner" Koros meant to him.

He led a humiliating defeat - a defeat that no "executioner" or even the "chief executioner" could tolerate.

There were only two choices before Afatak - to achieve a victory that would offset his previous defeat, or to accept the punishment imposed by the executioners.

Afatak originally wanted to strive for the former - just before the "Executioner" Koros actually arrived, he should at least plunder the surrounding villages and towns once, which might help him save his life from the punishment of the executioners.

However, the "Executioner" Koros arrived early!
"Please...please give me another chance..."

Afatak begged for mercy from Koros with a trembling voice:

"We still have a chance! Yes, we still have a chance... As long as we kill the 'high priest' of the Red Maple City Church and capture this fortress, it will be a short while..."

The complete pronunciation of "moment" did not come out of Afatak's throat.

Koros just smiled coldly, then flicked the snake-shaped cone blade in his hand.

A bell curtain suddenly descended from the sky, completely trapping Afatak inside.

——Sizzle!
Countless spikes protruded from the bell curtain and pierced through Afatak's body at the same time.

……

(End of this chapter)