Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest

[Countdown to the start of the internal test: 3 days]

[……]

January 22, 768 Tianqi calendar.

Fanol continent, the border of Songyuan Territory of the Nolan Empire, Hongfeng City.

In the Glorious Church.

Early in the morning. Luo Xiu woke up from the rebuilt, new residence.

According to the previous requirements for the reconstruction of the residence, although Luo Xiu's promotion to the "fifth destiny" and becoming a "saint" has not been made public to the clergy, the reconstruction of the "high priest residence" has been rebuilt according to the standards of the "bishop's seat".

This is also a kind of forward-looking consideration-the older clergy of the church all know that their "presiding high priest" has completed the fourfold destiny, and promotion is a matter of the near future.

And three days ago, the new "bishop's seat" had also been rebuilt. Compared with the previous "high priest residence", the "bishop's seat" is much wider inside, has a larger courtyard, and the number of floors has been expanded from two to three.

The outer "Golden Barrier" has also been repaired, and it resonates with the "Great Sun Golden Barrier" covering the church, and its defensiveness has been significantly enhanced.

Luo Xiu is very satisfied with the results of the reconstruction. In addition to the "Bishop's Seat", the reconstruction of other damaged buildings in the church has been completed in recent days.

The residential area built for the clergy has doubled the area and the number of houses than before. The current church is enough to accommodate 500 clergy. Although the current number of clergy in the church is less than one-third of this number, Luo Xiu has also left enough space for the future expansion of the church.

Even the capacity of 500 people is still too small in Luo Xiu's eyes-three days before the "Adventers" are about to descend, another project that Luo Xiu had already arranged was finally completed.

As early as three months ago, Luo Xiu asked Maiyev to buy 100 acres of land in the suburbs of Hongfeng City.

After paying 1.2 times the land price to the local residents, the church built a series of small manor-style houses there, and expanded the living capacity of nearly 1,000 people.

Because the church paid enough and there were relevant senior architects to provide design and supervision, the speed of house construction was quite fast.

After completion, it was considered a subdistrict of the church in the far suburbs. Some clergy of the church applied for the right to live in the suburban manor, but Luo Xiu rejected it - because this "district" had other uses in Luo Xiu's plan.

After the parish manor was built, Luo Xiu asked the clergy to block it. He planned to open it to the "descenders" after they came, as a "welcome gift" for players to join the church.

This is one of the benefits that the church will give to players.

——"Home"! Luo Xiu knows how tempting "property" is for an orthodox RPG player.

And this was in the early days when the "descenders" were newbies with nothing in their pockets. The cost of buying a property is not that big for Luo Xiu now. It is a worthwhile deal for Luo Xiu to win over a large number of players in this way.

Although players will consider exchanging for properties in better locations after their wallets are sufficient in the later stages, that is also a matter for the later stages. At least in the early stages, Luo Xiu has already come to the forefront of the various camps' efforts to win over the "Adventers", so he will not worry about too many other things for the time being.

When he thought of the players who would "descend" soon, Luo Xiu felt excited, but also a little nervous.

He knew that they were a group of chaotic neutral individuals, because he had been one of them. In addition to the "benefits" that had been prepared for the players, Luo Xiu was also "on guard" against them.

In the past ten days, "Executioner" Koros and his men no longer made any major moves. The clergy of the church were divided into two groups, one responsible for vigorously developing the church's infrastructure, and the other conducting rounds of patrols in Red Maple City, clearing out any remnants of the enemy they found.

Although the "patrol" was openly for judging pagans, it was also secretly a drill for patrolling the "players".

Luo Xiu, who had memories of his previous life, clearly remembered that some conservative extremists among the players, the first thing they did after "coming" was to kick doors and rob houses one by one, and gather players with the same "gaming habits" to try to massacre the city.

Although their atrocities were quickly suppressed by the city guards and their weekly refreshed resurrection times were emptied, this incident still caused great panic and also made the "descenders" labeled as "natural disasters".

However, this incident is ultimately an exception. Because it will damage the gaming experience and interests of more players, other players will mark such extremist players as red names in the world channel and order them to be hunted down.

The natives of the "Apocalypse World" often give generous rewards to those who hunt down those "red-named" players, which to some extent achieves a balance of interests between players.

…

Luo Xiu, who knows that players are a "double-edged sword", recalled all these things while wearing the robes of the high priest and walked out of the "Holy Seat of the Bishop".

He came to the inner courtyard, and several clergymen who passed by stopped in front of Luo Xiu and saluted him respectfully.

Luo Xiu nodded in response, and the clergymen returned to their posts, while Luo Xiu went to the Holy Office to prepare for today's work.

When he walked into the Holy Office and the "Bishops' Room", he saw another familiar figure waiting for him in the Bishops' Room.

"You are here, Luo Xiu." "Holy Deacon" Hubert nodded to Luo Xiu and greeted him, "I have been waiting for you for a while."

Hubert came to the church? As the "guiding priest", Colen did not tell me, which means he came here by himself... Luo Xiu's mind turned slightly, and a smile appeared on his face, and he responded: "Hello, Lord Hubert. I am preparing to deal with today's holy affairs."

Although Luo Xiu and Hubert are now at the fifth level of the "Holy Court", Hubert is a senior after all, so Luo Xiu still calls him "Lord".

This is also a kind of human relationship. Hubert comes here almost every three days, most of the time to ask about the new developments of the "Executioner" and the "Hidden Elder", and by the way to see if Luo Xiu has adapted to the power of the "Fivefold Destiny".

The moment Luo Xiu walked into the room, Hubert felt that the spiritual surge emanating from Luo Xiu was much more stable than the last time they met.

This shows that he is indeed gradually mastering the new power... Hubert nodded lightly.

After that, he said:

"I just received the instructions from the Archbishop, Luo Xiu. According to your wishes, you will continue to stay in Red Maple City and join the war as a 'bishop' on the front line until the end of the trial war."

"Also, the Archbishop also approved the plan you mentioned to send a 'priest'. Moreover, he decided to send three."

Hubert first told Luo Xiu the reply he got from the Archbishop.

Then he changed the subject and continued to Luo Xiu:

"Then there is another thing. I have investigated the hiding place of the 'Dead Bishop' Passaro, and what he is planning."

In the past few days, Hubert was mainly investigating matters related to the "Dead Bishop" Passaro. With Hubert's joining, the church's investigation of Passaro will be much smoother.

But Luo Xiu clearly saw that Hubert's face was not very good.

"What happened?" Luo Xiu asked Hubert, "What is Passaro planning?"

"..." Hubert was silent for a while, then said seriously:

"I must tell you, Luo Xiu. We successfully stopped Koros and Baberon before, which was more critical than we expected."

"——'Bishop of the Dead' Passaro, he was originally the third link in the invasion plan arranged by Koros and Baberon."

"Koros and his 'Fang Heads' and 'Black Fangs' carried out the killing in the city, Baberon attracted attention outside the city, and the dead souls killed by them were collected by Passaro and put into the 'Divine Embryo' condensed by the weak divinity of [Original Mother]!"

Hubert's face showed a look of fear, and said: "Let the 'Death Born God' come to the world, that is their ultimate goal! And if Passaro really succeeds, Red Maple City is now a dead city!"

...Death Born God? When Luo Xiu heard this word, his pupils shrank slightly.

He did know what the "Death-born God Heir" was - a "God Heir" was a life born from the true divinity of the gods, while a "Death-born God Heir" was born from a large number of deaths, which accelerated the birth of the "God Heir", but also distorted their roots.

Born from death, they hated and resented everything they saw. They were also very powerful with the direct power of the gods. Their appearance often meant the destruction of one or even several cities.

In Luo Xiu's memory, the Death-born God Heir of the [Lost] Pillar God - [Original Mother] did appear in Songyuan Territory in his previous life. But that was not in Hongfeng City, but in another city.

Soon after the "Death-born God Heir" was born, news of the destruction of that city came. Afterwards, the Department of Justice, the Holy Court and the Tower of Sages simultaneously sent dozens of saints to suppress it, and only then did the disaster disappear.

And now, the "Death-born God Heir" has appeared in Hongfeng City... Is this also a butterfly effect caused by himself? Luo Xiu couldn't help but think of these.

"But fortunately... the 'Death Birth God Heir' that Passaro tried to feed, He didn't absorb enough death."

Seeing the astonishment on Luo Xiu's face, Hubert continued:

"Now, the 'Death Birth God Heir' has awakened. He will no longer sleep, but will try to devour all the individuals around him who gather 'spirituality' to supplement his own strength."

"You mean..." Luo Xiu's face showed an understanding, "You mean, Passaro..."

"Well, it's what you think." Hubert nodded slightly and said, "The first target of the 'Death Birth God Heir' is Passaro. Although Passaro has imposed many seals on the 'Death Birth God Heir', they are under some kind of secret agreement and 'share the same life', and they will eventually exchange the death of one of them for the true rebirth of the other."

"I know." Luo Xiu nodded, "Then how long will it take?"

He knew what the most important thing to do in this situation was. The "Deathborn God Heir" and the "Dead Bishop" will consume each other's power. When one of them is killed by the other but not yet devoured, that is when they are at their weakest.

Just wait. Luo Xiu knew this, and Hubert quickly answered him.

"Three days, four days at most." Hubert said.

...

After Hubert left the Holy Office, Luo Xiu sat in a chair with a thoughtful look on his face.

The countdown to the "Adventers" was also three days, which made Luo Xiu think about what the "Deathborn God Heir" would do to him.

That was his first battle to establish his prestige in combat power in front of the players.

While thinking, Luo Xiu has opened his character panel.

Thinking about the upcoming battle, Luo Xiu once again checked his panel.

The sum of his various attributes maintained a level above the average of the "Fivefold Destiny", and the "Skill Creation" he had done before also added some new things to the skill bar——

[Glorious Cross of Annihilation (Glorious, lv.5): All sins are buried in the cross glow. ]

[Summon two cross glows of ten meters long and wide, and slowly move towards the target. "Glorious Cross of Annihilation" cannot be blocked and will annihilate all flying objects on the path. Each cross glow causes 1200% physical attack + 1200% spell attack "holy light" attribute damage to all targets on the path, and continues to cause 100% spell attack "holy light" attribute dot damage per second to the target that has caused damage, lasting 10 seconds. ]

[……]

[Golden Starburst (Glorious, lv.5): For the sinners, the starburst of cleansing sins is born. 】

【The upper skill of "Golden Meteor", which can be learned after mastering "Golden Meteor". After a long time of chanting, a large piece of "Golden Meteor" falls in the specified range. "Golden Meteor" bombards for a total of nine rounds, causing a total damage of 1800% physical attack + 1800% magic attack "holy light" attribute damage, and the damage can be stacked on multiple targets. Each round of meteors hits the target, and 5% defense reduction penetration effect is stacked, up to 5 layers. 】

【……】

【Holy Annihilation Sword Formation (Glorious, lv.5): Cut off the sword of all evil, and form a circle formation here! 】

【The upper skill of "Holy Annihilation Sword", which can be learned after mastering "Holy Annihilation Sword". After releasing the skill, six small "Holy Annihilation Swords" are condensed around the body, and they attack in coordination in battle. Each "Holy Annihilation Sword" slashes and causes 640% physical attack + 450% magic attack "holy light" attribute damage. After the slash is executed, the "Holy Annihilation Sword" disappears. 】

【……】

【Return of Divine Glory (Glorious, lv.5): Divine Glory protects and returns evil thoughts. 】

【Standby skill, obtain the permanent "Return of Divine Glory" state after completing the prayer. After obtaining the "Return of Divine Glory" state, the first attack will enter the 2-second "Divine Glory Charged" state. After the "Divine Glory Charged" state ends, the damage received during the period will be completely offset, and 50% of the basic damage received will be converted into "Holy Light" attribute damage and returned to the opponent, and a shield of 50% of the basic damage will be obtained. After executing "Return of Divine Glory" once, the "Return of Divine Glory" state disappears, and the "Return of Divine Glory" skill enters a 10-minute cooldown period. 】

【……】

In the previous "Skill Creation", Luo Xiu has four more skills that meet the strength of "Five-fold Destiny". He is now confident that he can at least be invincible in most battles of the same level.

After checking, he closed the panel and started a day's work.

But just as he took a file and was about to spread it out, his spirit suddenly trembled.

That was his "follower" - Intis conveying information to him.

Connecting to Intis's spiritual transmission, Luo Xiu heard a vague but clear voice:

"According to your instructions, I have participated in the antique auction of the 'Black Sword Mansion'."

"--I have obtained the complete divine heart of the 'Spirit of Heavenly Fire', my lord."

...