Chapter 14: Ten-Thousandfold Amplification, Eye of Heaven!
“If that kid Lin Han really has a Black Card, then he must be hiding something valuable.” The bald man was well aware of the significance of a Black Card—he’d once had the privilege of seeing the President’s own. Only those of a certain status and wealth could ever acquire one. He never would have imagined that a mere level-10 first-ascension priest would possess such a treasure!
“But boss, if Lin Han is carrying something like that, doesn’t it mean he might have some powerful backing?” Du San mused after a moment’s thought.
“It doesn’t matter.” The bald man dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. “Lin Han is just a level-10 first-ascension Life Priest. What threat could a support-type class possibly pose to us? Once we’re inside the dungeon, no one will care who’s behind him. If we kill him and take his treasure in there, we’ll be set for life!”
At these words, the mercenaries’ eyes glittered with anticipation. They were nothing more than low-level members of the Serpent Trio. Their wages consisted of whatever profit they could scrape from odd jobs—barely enough to get by. But if they could seize enough wealth, their lives would change for the better.
...
Meanwhile, Lin Han had found a place to rest and pulled out the skill books he’d just purchased. One in particular intrigued him: Sense.
[Name]: Sense
[Type]: Skill Book
[Grade]: Intermediate
[Description]: Active skill. Allows the user to sense everything within a three-kilometer radius, but at great physical cost. Excessive use may result in severe or even catastrophic harm. Use with caution.
Without hesitation, Lin Han murmured, “System, amplify by ten thousand times.”
[Skill book amplified successfully. Host, please check details.]
[Name]: Eye of Heaven
[Type]: Skill Book
[Grade]: Forbidden Spell
[Description]: Passive skill: Permanently grants malicious intent detection, instantly warning the host of any impending danger. Active skill: Grants the user a god’s-eye view.
Joy welled up in Lin Han’s heart. This was nothing short of miraculous. No danger could ever approach him unnoticed; the moment he sensed a threat, he could activate the skill and instantly locate anyone nearby. Compared to the previous Sense skill, the Eye of Heaven was a quantum leap forward—with no drawback or cost at all.
After familiarizing himself with the skill, Lin Han wasted no time. He found a teleportation array and set off for the dungeon.
...
The Dungeon.
Upon arrival, Lin Han saw officials stationed beneath an archway, collecting entrance fees. Money was no concern for him now; after paying, he entered the dungeon.
He had expected a barren, desolate place, but the bustling scene before him was almost unbelievable. The dungeon was far more prosperous than he could have imagined.
“You must be a first-timer, right? For just fifty Star Dragon Coins, I can give you a full tour,” a man sidled up to him, a crafty glint in his eyes.
“Deal.” Lin Han tossed him fifty coins. As a newcomer, he needed a guide to save himself unnecessary trouble.
After counting the coins, the guide grinned. “You’re generous, boss. My name’s Liu Wei. Anything you want to know, just ask.”
As they walked, Lin Han remarked, “A dungeon should be crawling with monsters. Why is it so lively here, with merchants setting up shop and all?”
Liu Wei explained, “At first, the dungeon was indeed swarming with monsters. Even the entrance was teeming with all kinds of dangerous creatures. But as humanity grew stronger, the monsters near the entrance were all wiped out. Now, every dungeon has a safe zone, protected by the most powerful mages’ wards and patrolled by armies and guilds. That way, people can rest up and gather information inside.”
“By the look of you, I’d guess you’re here for your second ascension quest, right?”
Lin Han raised an eyebrow, curious. “How did you know?”
Liu Wei smiled knowingly. “It’s obvious you’re new to a big instance like this. Beginners never come somewhere this dangerous just to grind. So it’s not hard to guess you’re getting ready for your second ascension quest.”
“That’s right.” Lin Han was straightforward. “My quest this time is Apostle of the Abyss.”
“Apo... Apostle of the Abyss?” Liu Wei stammered in shock. “You look so formidable, boss, I didn’t expect you to be a support?”
“How did you figure that out?” Lin Han asked.
Liu Wei continued, “The Apostle of the Abyss quest is an S-rank second ascension quest—one of the deadliest and most likely to fail. The thing is, this quest is most often assigned at random to support classes. So, when a priest gets it, it’s almost a guaranteed failure—unless they’re rich and can hire mercenaries to help them get the Heart of the Abyss. You seem well-off, boss. Want me to put you in touch with some reputable mercs? I’ve got contacts in all three major guilds.”
Liu Wei was clearly no stranger to this—acting as a middleman for new players was a profitable side business for him.
“No need,” Lin Han declined. He’d just offended some mercenaries from the Serpent Trio—not that he was afraid, but even a small threat could prove troublesome.
“Liu Wei, do you know any information brokers? I need to know the spawn times and locations for the Apostle of the Abyss.”
“Boss, no offense, but you seriously plan to solo that quest?” Liu Wei was incredulous. For a level-10 first-ascension support class to solo such an instance was suicide. Lin Han seemed sharp enough—why was he so reckless?
“Yes.” Lin Han replied simply. “Just tell me if you know anyone who can get me the info.”
Realizing he couldn’t change Lin Han’s mind, Liu Wei sighed. “I happen to know someone. I’ll take you.”
The two of them made their way deeper into the dungeon, stopping at a certain stall. Liu Wei sat down and rapped on the table.
“Old Liu, wake up! Got a client for you. He wants information on the Apostle of the Abyss. Hurry up and don’t keep the boss waiting!”