novelraw Chapter 104-1: Artifact – Visage of the Leader! (1)
Chapter 104-1: Artifact – Visage of the Leader! (1)
The Librarian offered three types of bookmarks: Invasion Bookmark, Guardian Bookmark, and Revenge Bookmark, each with a remaining stock of two.
Oddly, Lin Xun noticed none of them had price tags.
[The Librarian explains that Apostles need healthy competition to unlock greater potential. Thus, he provides these bookmarks free of charge.]
[However, unrestrained conflict turns competition into chaos. Therefore, the bookmarks are limited in number.]
[Of course, if you find the competition insufficient, you may choose to pay a small price to obtain more…]
These bookmarks couldn’t be bought or sold through the Book of Trade, they were only tradable in person.
With only two of each bookmark in stock, once taken, any additional ones would require Spirit Essence to refill.
If you didn’t want to pay, bookmark stock would refresh upon clearing a chapter.
Seeing they were free, Lin Xun didn’t hesitate. He immediately claimed all three bookmarks.
Once the stock was emptied, a “replenish” option appeared for each bookmark. He clicked to replenish an Invasion Bookmark.[Do you wish to spend 100 Spirit Essence to replenish an Invasion Bookmark?]
Invasion Bookmarks could unlock random Oath Reward loot boxes. Naturally, the more the better.
He spent 100 Spirit Essence and claimed two more Invasion Bookmarks.
Then he clicked replenish again.
[Do you wish to spend 1,000 Spirit Essence to replenish an Invasion Bookmark?]
???
Lin Xun slowly typed three question marks.
The first refill cost 100, and the second suddenly jumped to 1,000.
Would the third one cost 10,000?
This Librarian’s kindly face was clearly a disguise for an extortionist heart!
He tried refilling the other two types, but all three shared a universal price increase.
Any further refills would now cost 1,000 Spirit Essence each.
He hesitated, then decided to stop for now.
Instead, he opened his inventory and clicked on a long-forgotten item.
[Librarian’s Monocle (Rare Item): One of countless replicas worn by the Librarian’s avatars. Even mass-produced, it remains precious. Return it to the true Librarian in the Library after completing the chapter for generous rewards.]
[Do you wish to give the Librarian’s Monocle to the Librarian?]
[The Librarian appears surprised as he accepts the monocle. He looks you over, clearly not expecting you to have acquired it.]
[He tells you that in exchange, he will grant a minor enhancement to your invasion privileges.]
[He murmurs an incantation softly. Crimson invasion light flickers across your body…]
[Your invasion permissions have been slightly enhanced!]
[When you invade or are invaded, defeating the opposing Apostle will now guarantee the acquisition of one item from their inventory.]
Lin Xun was thrilled.
At this stage, most experienced Apostles already knew how to safeguard their Spirit Essence.
Random invasions usually yielded very little.
But now, with enhanced permissions he could loot items from anyone he defeated. It was a dream come true for any red-named player.
[The Librarian explains: in later chapters, exceptionally gifted Apostles may occasionally encounter his avatars. Complete their quests, and your invasion privileges will rise again.]
Lin Xun now had four Invasion Bookmarks total. With one left over from before, he could invade five times.
More than enough to unlock his exclusive item: Visage of the Leader.
He stepped forward and touched the Book of Arena.
[You step forward and touch the Book of Arena. A resonance forms between your feeble wandering soul and the book.]
[You may now use the Book of Arena’s PvP functions.]
[Would you like to choose a Direct Invasion or a Public Duel?]
Public Duels required both Apostles to be present in the Library and agree to battle, a format unsuited for Oath invasions.
[You have consumed one Invasion Bookmark. Please select your invasion type.]
In addition to Random Invasion and Targeted Invasion, there was now a new option: Oath Invasion.
Oath-invaded opponents were unlikely to be total newbies, since early chapters offered no opportunity to join an Oath.
Based on chapter progress, he’d most likely be matched with Tier 1 Apostles, and Tier 2 was already a stretch.
After thinking a moment, Lin Xun swapped to his Earth Giant Shell and equipped his freshly forged Ancient Dragonfang Greatclub.
Even when hunting rabbits, use a lion’s strength.
[You have chosen Oath Invasion. Now matching you with an Apostle from an enemy faction…]
[Invasion in progress…]
[Invasion successful!]
[You have invaded an unknown Apostle’s chapter.]
—
In the dark of night, a pitch-black bedroom.
Xu Zhi curled up under the covers, the glow of his phone screen illuminating his anxious face.
[Three Corrupted Militiamen have surrounded you and cruelly torn you to pieces…]
[You are dead!]
“F
k! I clearly joined the Corrupting Blood Sun Oath faction, so why are these mobs still hacking me to pieces?!”“And this Chapter 321 is absolutely broken! In the other Tier 1 chapters, even if I couldn’t kill the boss, I could at least handle regular elites.”
“Why can’t I even beat three normal mobs in this cursed chapter?!”
Xu Zhi was beginning to suspect this damned game had glitched again.
[A feeble wandering soul is reborn inside a ruined house…]
Looking at the familiar Resting Page before him, his finger hovered over the ‘End Chapter’ button.
If he ended the chapter, he could return to the Library and pick a new one.
He clenched his fists and hesitated for a long while.
Then he clicked: Reshape Shell…
“I won’t give up that easily!”
“This chapter is clearly harder than any other Tier 1 chapter, and the rewards are also way better. If I quit now, I’m throwing away a golden opportunity to power up…”
Pep-talking himself, Xu Zhi picked up his spirits.
He stepped out of the Resting Page’s safe house, ready to fight back and show that he wasn’t a quitter.
[A red glow flashes in your vision, and the world trembles faintly…]
[You are being invaded by an enemy Oath Apostle!]
Xu Zhi froze.
“What the hell? Enemy Oath Apostle?”
He remembered that when he joined the Corrupting Blood Sun, the system had displayed Radiant Crescent as the enemy faction.
So the invader must be from Radiant Crescent.
Xu Zhi took a deep breath and clenched his fists.
Surely the invader was another Tier 1 Apostle…
“Then let me show you what it means when two enemies meet, the brave wins!”
[A towering figure, glowing crimson, looms over you like a mountain. With each step, the earth quakes. You crane your neck upward, and the sky-darkening behemoth is none other than the invading Apostle, dragging a monstrous spiked club as he approaches…]
What the hell was this thing? This was a player?!
Are you sure that’s not a world boss?
“Cursed game, you’ve bugged out again!”