Volume 6: Fighting for the World Chapter 298 Reward Opportunity
What surprised me was not only Kreta's endless words of praise that made me feel guilty and embarrassed, and his positive attitude that attached great importance to preserving the artifact, but also what surprised me was that after talking to me for a long time about the undead wizard's past, Kreta actually arranged for me to enter the separate "Temple of God" where I met the dead old man. He said that this achievement I had made was a milestone not only for me personally and the resistance alliance, but also in the history of the development of the undead wizard profession. It should not be taken lightly, and the event itself should not be viewed in isolation and one-sidedly, thereby underestimating the impact it had. Therefore, before I came to the "Castle of the Dead", after consultation, he had applied to Lord Death in the name of the twelve dead spirit magicians. In addition to the normal professional merit rewards, he hoped that Lord Death could also grant me extra rewards to praise me as the most outstanding talent in the new generation of dead wizards, and inspire other dead wizards to actively strive for progress in the future struggle, to overthrow the white terror rule of the Church of Light in the human world, and to restore the former glory of the dead wizard profession. The old man also attached great importance to this matter, and quickly made a reply, agreeing to the request of the twelve dead spirit magicians and agreeing to accept my audience. Obviously, he would definitely be able to seek some other benefits from it, which finally made me feel comfortable and completely recovered from the heavy casualties of the dead souls of my subordinates because of this tragic battle. I no longer cared about the loss of personnel - facing the pursuit and interception of the light players who had an absolute advantage in numbers, the dead souls I summoned. Especially the limited number of giant magicians and dragon knights who are difficult to train can be said to have suffered heavy casualties. After the battle of destroying the Flower City, they were hit hard again, which has always made me feel distressed. After all, those words of praise are empty and have no help to my own strength. I felt a little better when I learned that there would be extra professional merit rewards for personally protecting the dark artifact. Now I have the opportunity to seek extra rewards from the dead old man. It should not be a little more professional merit, but it is likely to be some other benefits. I can't help but be more looking forward to this unexpected audience.
I entered the "God's Temple" alone. After a while, a black light flashed in front of my eyes, and the old man appeared in front of me. After greeting each other and exchanging a few pleasantries, I had to patiently listen to the old man talking about meaningless gossip there - I haven't got the benefits yet, I don't know what they will be, and whether there is room for choice, but I didn't dare to interrupt him rudely, lest I make him unhappy and refuse to give me the most favorable treatment. NPCs also have certain floating permissions. This is almost an open secret, and you can't treat them as non-human. A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. I am no longer the ignorant and fearless rookie. I have dealt with so many NPCs of all kinds, and I have accumulated a lot of basic experience. What's more, my current worth is different, and I can't afford losses. Naturally, I dare not do those stupid things that harm others and myself.
After waiting for the old man to vent enough, he finally got to the point. "Well, considering that you have achieved a representative achievement for a necromancer, and saved the undead artifact that was very likely to be lost, and prevented Michael, the birdman, from taking advantage of it, I will give you another chance for an extra reward in addition to those professional merit rewards through Kreta's request for merit in the name of the Twelve Undead Holy Spirit Magisters. This opportunity is rare, and I hope you can seize it and try your best to gain the greatest benefit from it."
"Oh, I wonder what kind of reward Lord Death is going to give me?" I finally got to the point. I was increasingly exhausted but had to force a smile while chatting with the old man. I was afraid that he was still not finished talking and would bring up some other things or truths, so I hurriedly asked a follow-up question at the right time to guide him not to stray from the topic.
"Well, originally it wasn't the right time, so there shouldn't be a chance for reward this time. However, saving the artifact that was very likely to be lost is indeed a big deal. In addition, the twelve Undead Holy Spirit Magisters, including Kreta, have tried their best to commend you, so we have to give them this face. Moreover, as the person involved, you have made outstanding contributions and made many extraordinary achievements. You are one of the most outstanding and indispensable talents who have made major contributions. According to the relevant provisions of the Regulations on Handling Emergencies, you are eligible for a certain reward. I wonder how much professional merit you are willing to pay as a price in exchange for the opportunity of a corresponding reward?"
"Pay professional merit as a price? What's going on? Aren't you going to give me extra rewards? Why do you want to deduct my professional merits? Isn't this a disguised purchase? Can it still be called a reward for me?" It's really incomprehensible. This is naked exploitation, this is shameless fraud. It's not easy for me to earn this little bit of professional merit. They are all earned with my blood and sweat. You want to use some of them no matter what you do, and you don't even let go of the opportunity to be rewarded. This is a bit too cruel.
The old man was still smiling at my excitement, and he didn't show any dissatisfaction. "Don't be excited, Dumb. This is an abnormal event. It was not originally included in the planned reward. It just triggered some related hidden connections, which unexpectedly exceeded the normal meaning and influence. Considering various factors, we decided to give you an extra reward. This is not entirely your own credit. It can be said that it is quite reluctant. In order not to violate the basic operating rules, we have to refer to other relevant regulations and let you pay a certain amount of professional merit in exchange for the opportunity to get extra rewards. This is a fact that cannot be changed. We can only handle it accordingly. Of course, the initiative is still in your hands. No one can force your will. You can choose to accept it or give up and leave. This is your legitimate right. You should think about it carefully. As long as you don't leave this 'Shenlin Temple', the reward will still be valid. I have plenty of time to accompany you, so don't worry."
The right to choose? Do I really have the choice to play such a word game every time? The display gave me a considerable temptation. As long as the price is not too outrageous and within my affordability, I actually have no choice. Basically, any enterprising player would not give up the opportunity to get extra rewards like this, so they had no choice but to accept it. "How much professional merit do I need to pay?" Let's hear the specific price first, I hope it's not too dark.
"It is divided into several levels. It depends on how much you are willing to pay. Of course, according to the rules, there are certain restrictions. Refer to this incident and your personal situation. The minimum is 10% of your current merit points, and the maximum can reach 75%. Paying different merit points can exchange for opportunities for rewards of different levels. The higher the price paid, the greater the chance of getting greater benefits. However, I need to remind you that what you are exchanging now is just a chance for a reward, not a real reward. Opportunities need to be seized. Once you fail to seize the opportunity, you will not be able to get a reward, and you may get nothing in the end. If you want to gain benefits, you need to bear corresponding risks. You must be mentally prepared to face unexpected results and make a decision after careful consideration."
The maximum amount I have to pay is 75% of my merit points. I was shocked when I heard it. It was just a lion's mouth. Then I remembered the prefix - "what I currently have", and I breathed a sigh of relief. The professional merits I earned from the battle to save the artifact were only promised to me, but they have not been actually issued yet, so they should not be included. The professional merits earned from the battle to destroy the Flower City have been given to me, and the amount is not small, but they were used to exchange for a "Soul Collection Finger" and to cultivate the growth of the "Gate of the Yellow Springs". There is not much left. Even if you add some of the remaining before, although it is not a small amount, paying 75% is still within my ability to bear. The professional merits earned from saving the artifact this time will be issued in two days, which is enough to maintain my daily merit consumption, and will not have much impact on my normal development. If you have the ability, you can try it. Such an opportunity must not be missed. After all, opportunities are not easy to come by, and they will never come back. Professional merits will have many opportunities to earn in the future.
To be on the safe side, I asked the old man for confirmation and confirmed that the merit points I paid did not include the part that had not yet been actually issued. Only then did I make up my mind to invest 75% of my existing professional merit points in exchange for the corresponding reward opportunities. However, I still have to try my best to get more favorable conditions for myself. "Before I make a choice, can you let me know what kind of reward opportunities I can get?"
The old man shook his head. "Since it is called opportunity, it is random and fleeting. There is no way to grasp it in advance. Opportunities do not appear out of thin air. You can only have a chance if you do it. You have no other choice, and you can't take shortcuts."
It was like this almost every time. It seemed like there was room for maneuver, but I always had no choice. I didn't have much hope at first, I just wanted to do my best. "Okay, then, I decided to pay 75% of my current career merit points in exchange for the corresponding reward opportunity."
"Are you sure?" The old man asked again according to the procedure.
"I'm sure!" I answered firmly without any hesitation.
After a series of specific operations, 75% of my existing merit points were deducted. After confirming that it was completed, the old man told me the specific content of the reward, "According to your 75% professional merit value, you will get a reward called 'Promotion Pill'."
"'Advancement Pill'? What does it do? Can it help me advance to the tenth level?" I was immediately cheered up and quite overjoyed. With my current progress, to qualify for advancement to the tenth level Undead Holy Spirit Mage, I still need to go through a long struggle and meet many conditions. At least it is not possible this year. If I have the opportunity to advance to the tenth level earlier than other Undead wizards or even players of other professions, and have stronger strength first, I can naturally gain a lot of advantages.
The old man rolled his eyes at me and said unhappily, "Don't dream. There are only twelve places for the tenth-level Undead Holy Mages. Only the best Undead Holy Mages can advance. They need to go through fair assessment and selection. Only those who win in fierce competition can do so. There is no shortcut."
"What is the 'Promotion Pill' used for? Whose level does it improve?" I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"Don't underestimate the function of the 'Promotion Pill'. Are you the only one who needs to upgrade your level? Don't forget that you are a necromancer. In addition to yourself, you also have many undead subordinates who follow and assist you. They also have level limits. Increasing their levels will also help you to enhance your strength to a certain extent."
"Oh, so the 'Promotion Pill' is used to upgrade the level of the undead subordinates I have subdued?" I immediately became interested again.
The old man nodded. "Of course. If it wasn't so precious and had such extraordinary functions, why would you pay 75% of your current professional merit points just to get a chance to get it?"
"What is the specific function of the 'Promotion Pill'?" I suppressed my surprise and first found out the details of the "Promotion Pill". I guess it will not be too cheap for me. There should be a lot of restrictions. It is impossible to let the undead subordinates increase their levels unlimitedly. It is better not to have too high expectations for it.
"'Promotion Pill' can help undead creatures shave their hair and cleanse their marrow, and be reborn. It depends on the innate qualifications of the undead creatures that take it. As long as they reach a medium level or above, they can usually be promoted to the third level, which is the first level. Even if the qualifications are poor, they can at least be guaranteed to be promoted to the first level, no matter what level they were at before. It will have the same effect. It is possible to be promoted from the ninth level to the tenth level, or it is possible to be promoted from the fifth level to the fifth level. The level is promoted, and it is not linked to the specific strength. The success rate of taking it is 100%, there is no danger in the process, and the effect is fast. It is generally completed within 24 hours, and the longest will not exceed 36 hours. There is no need to delay too long, which is much simpler than the normal evolution process of undead creatures. Moreover, the scope of application of 'Promotion Pill' is also extremely wide. As long as it is an undead creature, it can be taken, even if it has not been subdued by you and is a wild species, as long as you are willing to give it, it can still play a role and improve its level."
"Of course, the use of 'Promotion Pills' also has certain restrictions. Any undead creature has only one chance to take the 'Promotion Pill' in his lifetime, which means that he can only use the 'Promotion Pill' to upgrade his level once. No matter if he upgrades by one level or one stage, he cannot take the 'Promotion Pill' again. Taking more than one time will be ineffective. At the same time, there is also a side effect - the level that is upgraded after taking the 'Promotion Pill' is a fixed level for life, and it is impossible to obtain upgrades through other means. In other words, even if an undead creature has the attribute of growth and evolution, if it takes the 'Promotion Pill', it will lose this attribute and can no longer continue to upgrade its level through natural growth and evolution. Therefore, it is necessary to use it with caution when dealing with such undead creatures. Don't be greedy for small gains and lose big gains. Doing something that forces growth by pulling up seedlings will easily ruin their future. In addition, the 'Promotion Pill' can only raise the level of undead creatures to the upper level of level 10 at most. If an undead creature that is originally the upper level of level 10 takes it, it will not have any effect at all. It is absolutely impossible to cultivate an undead creature that exceeds the upper level of level 10. Don't waste it easily."
As expected, there are many restrictions, which makes me lower my expectations for the "Promotion Pill". However, I have already spent 75% of my professional merit points in exchange for this reward. Even if it is not ideal, I certainly cannot return it. And it is also quite practical. After all, the tenth-level upper-level undead are also rare species in the "Dead Soul Space" and are not easy to find. I have been in the Mifu Continent for so long, and the tenth-level upper-level undead subordinates I have conquered are also very few. Even if I am promoted to a tenth-level professional undead holy mage in the future, unify the "Hell Volcano", completely defeat Hades, the Hell Nether Dragon King, and conquer the Hell Nether Dragon Clan, I will only have a dozen or so tenth-level upper-level Hell Nether Dragons under my command. Tenth-level upper-level undead subordinates of other races and uses will still be relatively scarce, and I am afraid that they will not be enough for use. I can have more level 10 subordinates, and I can also evolve those undead subordinates above level 9 to level 10. This will give me much more choices. Maybe I can cultivate a few more practical individuals, which will be of great help to improving my overall combat effectiveness.
"Then how many 'Promotion Pills' can I get this time?" Since the quality has been determined and cannot be changed, the quantity issue becomes the top priority. Naturally, the more the better. If I spend 75% of the existing professional merit points and work hard for a long time, but in the end I only get one pill, it would be a bit uneconomical.
"'Promotion Pills' are so precious. Of course, I can't give them to you in bulk." Hearing this, my heart sank. Fortunately, the old man changed the subject and said, "But there is no limit on the specific quantity . As long as you seize this opportunity and successfully complete the relevant task requirements, you can get at least one 'Promotion Pill'. If you meet the specified conditions with high quality and high standards, it is not impossible to get three or five pills at once. Everything depends on your personal efforts. The more you put in, the more you may gain."
Phew, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I was definitely not satisfied with only one "Promotion Pill". Three or five were okay. As long as the system did not limit the number of pills that could be obtained, there was a possibility of getting more "Promotion Pills". With my strength, if I tried my best, I should have a good chance. I was quite confident about this. But there was another question that I had to ask, "One more question. Does this "Promotion Pill" have a set "shelf life"? "If I really got three or five or even more, it would be a kind of treasure anyway. It would be difficult to feed it to my subordinates casually to avoid wasting it. I would have to carefully screen it and select the most promising ones to take. It might not be possible to find suitable candidates who met the "Promotion Pill" and my requirements at the moment. If there was a time limit and the "shelf life" was too short, the efficacy would be discounted.
"Shelf life?" The old man was stunned at first, then he understood, "Well, this description is quite appropriate. Don't worry, there is no time limit for the use of the 'Promotion Pill'. It will not expire no matter how long you leave it. You can take it out at any time to feed the undead creatures."
That's good. If you think about it carefully, the "Promotion Pill" is actually a good auxiliary item. It can not only be used on the undead subordinates you have conquered, but also on other undead creatures. If you can really get a few more "Promotion Pills", in addition to keeping them for your own use, it should also be feasible to sell them to other undead wizards in exchange for money or equipment and other benefits. It has a high value. This exchange is definitely a good opportunity. However, after talking with the dead old man for a long time, I have almost found out the specific function of the "Promotion Pill", but I still don't know how to get the "Promotion Pill", what tasks I need to complete, and what requirements I need to meet. I hope it's not a too perverted task that makes it too difficult for me to complete. "Excuse me, Lord Death, how can I get the 'Promotion Pill'?"
"Of course you need to complete the corresponding tasks. First of all, you need a complete soul of a Level 10 Light professional. When the time comes, you can use this magic scroll to absorb his soul energy and refine it into the initial form of 'Promotion Pill'." As he spoke, the old man handed me a magic scroll.
I took the magic scroll casually, and a bad feeling emerged in my heart. "I need to refine the soul energy of the tenth-level bright professional. Aren't they our mortal enemies? Why would they let me control them? Could it be that this magic scroll contains powerful power that can scare them in one fell swoop and make them dare not resist?"
"Don't always have wishful thinking. The tenth-level light professionals are quite powerful. Even if I take action personally, I can't easily get rid of them, let alone using just a magic scroll. This is an undead magic scroll with the 'soul gathering' function. It can only be used when a tenth-level light professional dies. If the other party is alive, it will not have the slightest effect." The dead old man poured a basin of cold water on my head, making my heart feel even colder.
"So this mission means I must kill a Level 10 Light professional?"
"Of course, the 'Promotion Pill' is a reward for you. If you don't kill him, do you need someone else to do it? There is no such thing as getting something for nothing in this world. If you want to get it, you have to pay the corresponding price."
It's not that I don't want to pay, but the opponent is a level 10 light professional. It's probably too difficult for me to kill them at the moment. No one among the light players has been promoted to the level 10 profession. The people who occupy the position are all light NPCs. Not only are they extremely powerful, but each of them also holds a divine weapon. If I meet a cardinal, I may be able to tangle with him for a while, but I can't be a match for the Knight of Light. What's more troublesome is that they probably won't give me a chance to fight alone. Even if I don't travel with them, at least there are elite level 9 light NPCs as personal guards. How can I fight against them alone ? The dead old man's words seem to mean that I can't rely on others, so I can only act alone. Isn't this asking too much, and it's simply a task that I can't complete?
"Lord Death, you overestimate my strength. Even though I'm the 'number one undead wizard in the world', I don't have the strength to compete with a level ten light professional. Besides, they won't fight me alone. Unless I can seek help from my companions, make clever plans, and fight to the death, then there may be a chance of success. Otherwise, I will definitely not be able to kill a level ten light professional by my own strength." After repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, I had no confidence at all, so I had to tell the truth.
"That may not be the case. I remember that you have a record of killing a Level 10 Light Professional. How come you have forgotten it?"
Have you ever? I did have several encounters with Cardinal Sampras and Paladin Hanover, who were on a mission to block me in the Western Continent. I even teamed up with Long Xing Tianxia and others to ambush and kill them. However, the ones I killed were all level nine NPCs who were responsible for protecting them. Unless they fall into our heavy encirclement, it would be difficult to defeat them in a short period of time with their current full strength. I am not so arrogant as to overestimate my strength.
Perhaps seeing my confused face and still not remembering, the old man couldn't help but sigh, "How come young men nowadays have worse memories than us old people? When you were promoted to the ninth level of the Undead Holy Mage profession, didn't you enter the 'Tower of Faith' and kill a 'Scavenger'? Aren't they the tenth level of the Bright profession?"
Oh, so it’s Pirlo, the “scavenger” who calls himself the “Guardian of Faith”. In order to complete the task of upgrading to the ninth-level profession, I did break into the “Tower of Faith” and kill him. Although he is not the current cardinal and has retired, and has returned the artifacts granted by the system, and no longer has high-level equipment, his professional skills and other strengths are still retained, which cannot deny their identity as the tenth-level NPC of light. If the target is them, there is still some possibility of success.
