Chapter 48: Kneel Before the Frost Goddess
After leaving the Royal Palace, Liam began organizing the strategy for the Divine Grade Archer Hidden Class located in the Astral Capital. However, he had barely cleared the palace gates when a figure blocked his path.
It was none other than Corvus the Guide.
Corvus wore a solemn expression. She studied Liam for a long moment before she finally spoke. "Give me your terms, Liam. What will it take for you to keep that secret?"
Liam arched an eyebrow. "You move fast. Let’s stick to the request I made in the Great Hall: a Divine Awakening Stone."
Corvus frowned. "Every Divine Awakening Stone in the palace is logged. If the Queen gives you one, it will be impossible to explain."
Liam smirked. "There’s nothing to explain. I can officially join the Queen’s faction. Consider the Divine Awakening Stone my signing bonus."
Corvus shook her head. "At a time like this? No one in the Royal Palace would dare move to recruit you so openly." She stepped closer, her voice dropping. "You entered the Traces of the Frost-Corpse and cleared it. You should know that the god of the Stellar Empire resides there. You’ve earned her favor. In the Astral Kingdom, your influence among the nobility is now second only to the King."
Liam was momentarily stunned.
So that was it. Clearing the Traces of the Frost-Corpse didn't necessarily require killing Eira, the Frost Goddess. Earning her approval worked just as well. But Corvus assumed he had been granted her favor. He wondered how she would react if she knew he had actually slaughtered the remnant soul of the Frost Goddess to get out.
"Since you can't provide it, we’ll talk later," Liam said. "I only hold this secret for profit. You can rest easy—unless I’m backed into a corner, I won't be sharing it with anyone."
Corvus gave Liam a long, meaningful look. His words made sense, even if they were cold.
"Fine. If there is something else you desire, find me. I hope you keep your word."
Liam waved a hand dismissively and turned to leave. He wasn't in a hurry to hunt monsters outside the city. Instead, he headed straight for the Peach Blossom Pavilion in the Astral Capital.
It wasn't what it sounded like—well, it was exactly what it sounded like: a place filled with "wayward" young women. But Liam’s primary goal was to trigger the quest for that Divine Grade Archer Hidden Class. If he happened to "rescue" a few of them along the way, that was just a bonus. It was a full-dive virtual reality, after all; everyone understood the appeal.
At this stage of the game, few players could afford the Peach Blossom Pavilion. Even the elite high-rankers wouldn't waste their precious Gold Sovereigns on such pleasures this early on. Not everyone was like Liam, who had already amassed nearly a hundred thousand Gold Sovereigns in just a few days.
While players were scarce, the pavilion was packed with NPCs. Merchants frequently bought high-level memberships here to entertain the nobility of the Astral Kingdom, hoping to secure favorable deals. It was the classic strategy: give the man what he wants. After all, a woman bought with your own money is never as satisfying as one provided for free.
Liam cleared his throat and stepped into the Peach Blossom Pavilion. The Madam appeared to be in her thirties, still possessing a lingering, mature charm. She wasn't there to greet Liam, however. She was busy attending to a man who had entered at the same time—Viscount Flynn.
"Oh, Flynn! It’s been half a day since we last saw you. Cerise has been pining for you," the Madam cooed.
Flynn waved her off. "I’m not here for Cerise today. I heard today is the debut of the courtesan Aria Mist. I intend to be her first guest."
The Madam nodded with a practiced smile. "Aria Mist has been preparing, but many high-ranking lords are expected tonight..."
Liam’s eyes lit up when he heard the name.
Aria Mist! One of the Three Paragons of Beauty in the Astral Kingdom. That was a title bestowed by the players; if the NPCs were voting, they’d surely choose the King’s three daughters. But Liam knew better. While the princesses were stunning—easily on par with top-tier celebrities in the real world—they still fell a notch short when compared to the Three Paragons.
However, Liam recalled that in his past life, Aria Mist never actually "debuted." There were plenty of ceremonies, but no one ever met her impossible conditions. Eventually, people began to think her debut was just a marketing stunt to keep the Gold Sovereigns flowing into the Peach Blossom Pavilion.
Liam wasn't here for Aria, though she would be a nice sight. He found a seat, and a girl in sheer green silk immediately approached him.
Liam tossed a heavy bag of Gold Sovereigns onto the table. "Is the Nine-Phoenix Chamber available?"
The girl stared at the bag, her eyes wide. A night at the pavilion usually cost about a dozen Gold Sovereigns. This bag held at least a hundred.
"You’re in luck," she stammered. "The big spenders are all focused on Aria Mist tonight. The Nine-Phoenix Chamber is still open."
"Lead the way," Liam said.
The girl led him to the entrance of the chamber. As the name suggested, the room was serviced by nine beauties, each with their own unique charm, promising the height of luxury.
But Liam wasn't here for that. Pleasure could wait for later.
Once inside the Nine-Phoenix Chamber, Liam scanned the room. He quickly spotted a ceramic Miasma Vial, about half the height of a man, tucked away in a corner. According to the guides from his past life, a Quest Scroll was hidden inside that vial. Completing that quest chain resulted in the Divine Grade Archer Hidden Class.
In his previous life, a player had gotten a bit too rowdy and accidentally knocked it over, having to pay a hundred Gold Sovereigns in damages. A pittance, considering a Divine Grade class was priceless.
Just as Liam prepared to "accidentally" shatter the vial, an urgent voice drifted from the hallway.
"Kaelen! The Nine-Phoenix Chamber is already occupied..."
"I don't care who's in there! The Nine-Phoenix Chamber is mine today, and no one is stopping me!"
The door was kicked open with a violent bang. A fierce-looking man in heavy armor stomped in.
Liam frowned.
Kaelen scanned the room and locked eyes with Liam. "Kid, if you don't want to die, get lost."
"Get lost?" Liam chuckled. "What if I don't?"
"You don't?" Kaelen sneered. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
"Kaelen Thorne, the Grand Marshal’s top warrior," Liam replied calmly.
"If you know who I am, how dare you challenge me?!"
Liam took a slow step forward. "I know who you are. But do you know who I am?"
Kaelen Thorne paused, looking at Liam with sudden suspicion. Was this kid some hidden powerhouse?
He quickly suppressed the thought. He knew exactly who was untouchable in the Astral Kingdom, and this brat wasn't on the list. Besides, he was just an Adventurer. Kaelen had been away on a mission and hadn't been present for the recent events at court. If he had known what had transpired in the Royal Palace, he never would have dared to speak.
He was just here to blow off some steam after a long mission.
"I don't care who you are. Cross me, and I'll kill you where you stand."
While NPCs usually faced penalties for killing Adventurers in the capital, Kaelen had just returned as a war hero. He didn't care about a minor reprimand for killing one insignificant Adventurer. To him, the punishment was a price he was more than willing to pay.
He struck without hesitation. As a general of the Astral Kingdom, his strength was undeniable. Even a casual blow carried immense pressure.
Liam didn't dodge. He took the hit head-on.
-51,958
A single casual strike had ripped away over fifty thousand HP. The man was formidable.
[System: You have been maliciously attacked by a Capital City NPC. You are authorized to retaliate for the next 24 hours.]
Liam made no move to fight back. "You laid a hand on me. I wonder how the Grand Marshal and the King will punish you when they find out."
"Punish me?" Kaelen laughed scornfully. "You really are delusional. You think they’d punish a man of my rank for a nobody like you?"
"Oh? You don't think so? Then look at this."
Liam raised his hand, and his aura shifted violently. Behind him, a massive Apparition began to manifest. The moment she appeared, a bone-chilling frost radiated outward, threatening to freeze the very air in the room.
"This... this is impossible!"
Kaelen stumbled back in terror. It wasn't just him; everyone nearby who saw the Apparition was struck with disbelief.
Suddenly, throughout the Peach Blossom Pavilion, the NPCs—from the commoners and the girls to the high-ranking nobles—all dropped to their knees in a synchronized wave of reverence.
"Glory to the Goddess! May she rest in eternal peace!"
"Glory to the Goddess! May she rest in eternal peace!"
The shouts echoed through the halls as they bowed their heads. Kaelen Thorne, trembling with shock, followed suit and prostrated himself.
The Apparition behind Liam was Eira, the Frost Goddess. This was the Divine Apparition projected by the Blessing of the Gods. It provided no combat stats, but for intimidation, it was peerless. Liam had used the Avatar of the Frost Goddess to bring them all to their knees.
In the entire pavilion, only one person remained standing besides Liam.
Aria Mist, the star of the show.
To any citizen of the Astral Kingdom, refusing to kneel before the Frost Goddess was an act of ultimate heresy. But Aria Mist merely watched, a faint, cryptic smile playing on her lips.
"The Divine Blessing of Eira... to think a human obtained it. It seems her resurgence is at hand."
In her mind, Liam had clearly earned the Goddess's favor. To clear the Traces of the Frost-Corpse, one either gained her approval or defeated her remnant soul. Since he carried her blessing, the answer seemed obvious. She never would have dreamed that Liam had simply played the system. He was a con artist who even swindled the divine.
In the Nine-Phoenix Chamber, Liam looked down at Kaelen Thorne. "Still want me to get lost?"
Kaelen slammed his forehead against the floor, frantic. "I wouldn't dare! I didn't know you were the Divine Envoy! Please, forgive my insolence!"
Liam waved him off. "Get out. You've ruined the mood."
"Yes, of course! Right away!" Kaelen scrambled to his feet.
Liam looked at the nine women in the room. "You all leave too."
The women didn't dare hesitate; they scurried out of the chamber. Once they were gone, Liam finally relaxed. The girls were beautiful, but he knew they were a distraction. He was here for the Divine Grade Hidden Class.
Just as he reached for the Miasma Vial, a voice rang out.
"Frost Monarch."
Liam arched an eyebrow. Another interruption? He turned around and froze.
Standing before him was a woman with a figure so perfect and a face so exquisite that words failed him. But she wasn't kneeling. There was no reverence in her eyes. Instead, she radiated a sharp, unmistakable hostility.
No, it was more than that. It was killing intent.
Even after he had revealed the Avatar of the Frost Goddess, she wanted to kill him. That meant she wasn't a citizen of the Astral Kingdom. She was likely one of the Night-Walkers.
"Are you Aria Mist?"
Only the legendary courtesan could be this beautiful. In his past life, Liam had only heard of her. As a mere gold-miner back then, the five-gold minimum entry fee for the pavilion was far beyond his reach. He only knew the strategy because the player who succeeded had bragged about it later to gain followers.
"I am," Aria Mist said, nodding slowly. "You have the favor of Eira. It seems she is returning, which means we must leave this place soon. But before I go, I’ve decided to kill you once."
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