Vol.1 - Chapter 20 – Intruding Priest
The Seven Sacred Spirits are like a puzzle made of energy bodies, resembling constellations in the night sky.
Among them is a figure shaped like a weight, representing contracts and rules, known as the Spirit of Order. It grants all contracts clear binding force.
The Pact of Synergy is the weakest among dozens of contracts because it can be unilaterally broken without any punishment. Even mercenaries wouldn't sign this thing with their employers.
After the contract ceremony ended, Yveline curiously looked at her hand.
Most of her power was sealed, reverting her to level 1.
But the binding force was as thin as paper, and she could break through it at any time, returning to level 45.
As Xia Ya's level increased, her power would gradually recover until it reached level 45, then it would stop changing.
Because her limit was 45.
In Illusory Realm, most NPCs wouldn't experience drastic level changes. A few with special experiences and average talents would level up even faster than players.
Yveline would instantly jump to level 90 if she personally killed Luxe or learned the truth and completely turned to the Abyss, as if she had activated a cheat.
"I'm curious why you insist on doing this..."
"I'm just after your body," Xia Ya said.
Yveline rolled her eyes, not believing that answer for a second.
"Can you tell me the real reason now?"
"Right away," Xia Ya said, then looked up.
"What are you looking at?"
Just as Yveline asked, a loud rumble came from above!
The Howling Caverns shook violently, and sand and stones fell.
Yveline, worried about being buried alive, was ready to break the contract and force her way out, but Xia Ya held her back.
At that moment, a beam of sword-like golden light pierced through the cave ceiling, and moist earth fell along with fresh air. In the holy light, like a spotlight on a stage, a figure slowly descended.
The robes of the Church of Judgment's priests were white with red trim, simple in style.
However, this priest was anything but simple in terms of her bust.
She was exaggeratedly endowed, like a cow, with a cross pendant creating a deep cleavage on her soft priestly robes.
"A priest of the Church!"
Yveline was momentarily excited, instinctively wanting to run, but Xia Ya didn't let go.
"Don't worry, I'm here."
He gave the Dark Elf a confident smile and stepped in front of her.
"Honorable Priestess."
He bowed respectfully.
"I feel the blessing upon you; you are chosen by the gods."
The priestess's voice was sweet, like a young girl.
The light receded, revealing a delicate young face.
Mia, the level 50 priestess of Astan City, had a figure that made it hard to believe she was only eighteen.
In every sense, she was the most well-endowed priestess within dozens of kilometers of Astan City and even the entire Lugor Kingdom.
This angelic girl had a friendly initial impression of all legal citizens, even higher for the Chosen Ones.
If you met the early-rising Miss Mia on the streets of Astan City in the morning, she would give you a sweet smile and a defense-boosting blessing buff.
Xia Ya could already imagine her being worshipped as a goddess by players.
...
"Blessed child of the gods, please step aside. Behind you is a creature threatening this world, and I must purify her."
After smiling, Mia showed a determined expression.
Yveline started to panic, realizing that even if she broke the contract, she might not escape.
Why did a priest suddenly show up, and such a powerful one at that?
Was this damn half-blood waiting for this moment?
As she wavered, Xia Ya suddenly spread his arms and shouted:
"No, Priestess, I swear on my honor, she is kind and not corrupted by evil."
Mia tilted her head and cast a "Purification Spell" on Xia Ya.
This was far more impressive than Enke West's little drizzle, with golden light washing over him like bathwater.
Xia Ya stood fearless, head held high.
Mia covered her mouth in surprise.
"Huh? You're not charmed... But why are you defending a creature?"
"She is not a creature, Priestess, at least not anymore."
"But she..." Mia glanced at Yveline, her eyes suddenly wide and round, looking extremely cute.
"Eh, eh, eh! Why has she become so weak?"
"It's the contract, Priestess. We signed a master-servant contract." Xia Ya clenched his fist, full of emotion: "Through my persuasion, she understood true goodness and beauty, deciding to abandon evil power and start anew with me, pursuing happiness and freedom from the ground up! You see, even if she was once a creature, she has now been reformed by me, giving up all improper power. The gods have tasked you with reforming the world, doing good deeds, and I have followed that teaching, taking it upon myself to reform creatures, and now I have succeeded!"
What nonsense!!!
In Yveline's mind, it was as if eight hundred Tainted Beast Soldiers were running hand in hand towards the northern slope, dancing the "Riverdance."
Her expression was strange, and she had to lower her head to suppress the urge to laugh.
She was even more puzzled...
Did Xia Ya know the priestess would come, so he did this in advance?
If so, that was...
Terrifying.
On the other side, the priestess tapped her head, a bit confused.
This was her first time encountering such a situation.
She wasn't here by chance; a nearby village had sent a signal.
Yes, it was Xia Ya's birthplace, the Starter Village.
Sennia had rushed back to the village, handed the Arcane Energy Pearl to the Village Chief, who immediately used it to activate the village's central alarm beacon.
A pillar of arcane energy shot into the sky like a beacon, informing observers of the arcane energy source's location in a special way.
Normally, this would be the plot after Yveline died, and her spoils were discovered, so she had no idea about this.
Thus, Miss Mia, the chief priestess of Astan City, descended.
Xia Ya's timing was impeccable, not a minute off, not a second more.
Almost as soon as the contract was completed, the priestess arrived, not witnessing the contract's formation, only the result.
And the Pact of Synergy and the master-servant contract appeared the same—at least Yveline was very compliant now.
"In that case... you did the right thing... but..."
Mia bit her lip, looking pitiful.
"But how will Mia explain this..."
"That's simple!" Xia Ya patted his chest, turned, and opened Yveline's storage box, taking out all the spoils she had collected and throwing them on the ground.
"This should be enough!"
The Dark Elf watched, heart bleeding, secretly pinching Xia Ya's soft waist, smiling but gritting her teeth: "Master, you're so generous, hehe..."
"It's nothing!"
Xia Ya patted her head, like petting a cat.
"Eh, eh? These... but I still don't know how to explain to the governor..."
Mia tilted her head.
"People need to eat to live, right?" Xia Ya asked.
"Yeah, people need to eat to live."
"Eating costs money, right?"
"Uh-huh, yeah! Buying bread costs money, and there are many poor kids in Astan City who can't afford to eat!"
"Snap"
Xia Ya snapped his fingers, pointing at the equipment on the ground.
"These can be exchanged for money, and money can solve everything. Priestess, you just need to take them back, exchange them for money, and you can save more poor people!"
Mia blinked, "But, but what about the creature?"
"The creature ran away! You didn't see any creature when you arrived, only these spoils! If you chase the creature, these things will be taken by greedy people who hear about it, and they won't be able to be exchanged for money."
"Huh? Isn't that lying? Lying is wrong..."
"How is that lying?" Xia Ya looked righteous: "It's called flexibility! Reasonable flexibility! It's a philosophy of handling things. Before you is not a creature, but the Dark Elf Yveline, who, like me, is weak and has decided to start anew."
"But..."
"No buts, Priestess. Do you want to kill a weak, self-redeemed creature to uphold your beliefs, or be a little flexible and take back wealth that can save the poor? One side is meaningless slaughter, the other is real good deeds. What will you choose?"
This question was a no-brainer for Mia, and she chose the latter without hesitation.
The priestess nodded vigorously, her ample chest bouncing along.
"Yes, yes, yes! I understand!"
"That's good."
"What's your name?"
"Xia Ya, Priestess."
[Mia's favorability towards you has increased.]
"Don't call me Priestess, call me Mia!"
Mia tore open a return scroll, a blue portal appearing beside her, and then she walked in with a pile of items.
Before leaving, she poked her head out and said, "Bye-bye, Xia Ya, come find me in Astan City if you need anything!"
"No problem!"
After sending off the clumsy priestess, Xia Ya turned around to find Yveline looking at him with a complex expression.
[Yveline's favorability towards you has increased.]