Chapter 71 - 71: 71, Meet the princess, Shadow Priest Xi Fan 1
After Xue Wenli’s departure, Su Yu uses his magic to fortify the anti-theft door and windows then quickly dives into the game.
When he left the game, there was still a countdown of 30 minutes left for the sixth round of “The Glory of the Goldfinch Empire”.
Now, due to Xue Wenli’s visit, precious time has dwindled down.
Upon logging in, Su Yu appeared on the streets near the Scholar’s Temple.
Checking the countdown, he found there were only five minutes left.
“In five minutes, Dima probably couldn’t reach the Royal Palace.”
Su Yu sighed, looks like he had to run it himself.
After checking the double movement speed equipment on him, staking his racing car-like speed, Su Yu started running swiftly through the streets.
Five minutes later, at the palace gate of Goldfinch City.
Keerderon, clad in pale golden armor, came out from the palace interior into the waiting room reserved for summoning.
Just as he entered, he noticed the slightly panting Su Yu.
“What happened, Brother Nemesis? You look ghastly white and out of breath, did you go to Lark Street? The Elven female slaves there are indeed exciting!” Keerderon threw him a knowing look that every man would understand.
“Ahem, I’m a genuine Scholar. I won’t go to that sort of place.”
Su Yu wore the “Senior Scholar’s Badge” on his chest to prove the veracity of his words.
“This is… a Senior Scholar’s Badge?!” Keerderon’s eyes bulged out when he saw the badge.
Senior Scholars are no common commodity, within Goldfinch City, only a dozen or so would pass the assessment each year. Each Scholar is the jewel of the Empire.
Nemesis was a Senior Scholar!? And he was so young?!
Keerderon felt as if his position plummeted in front of Nemesis.
“Heh heh, I apologize for my previous rudeness, not knowing you are a Senior Scholar… Please come with me! Princess is waiting for you!”
Keerderon didn’t appear as arrogant as when he assigned tasks to Su Yu. He bows and flatters Su Yu, his voice filled with sheepishness.
“Lead the way.”
Su Yu’s expression didn’t change, he followed Keerderon towards the inner palace.
The Goldfinch Royal Palace was exceptionally deserted. Not even a ghost could be seen as they walked deep into the palace.
The dust fallen upon the roads and buildings within the palace seemed to symbolise the downfall of the Goldfinch Empire.
As they walked, Keerderon informed Su Yu about the current state of the palace.
The rebel vanguards outside are now only fifty to sixty kilometers away from Goldfinch City.
The Royal family doesn’t have enough soldiers to defend Goldfinch City.
Therefore, the Emperor and his family have already fled to Forest City, where he is rallying the lords and their armies to defend the kingdom.
Those left to defend Goldfinch City include Princess Alyssa and the Goldfinch City Defense Force.
However, the Princess is a mere figurehead, symbolically defending the city to reassure the citizens that they haven’t been abandoned by the royalty.
When the enemy forces arrive at the city, the Princess will lead her forces out of Goldfinch City to join the Emperor.
Of course, Su Yu was very much aware of this storyline, but he didn’t interrupt
Keerderon.
Hearing it again would solidify his impression.
As they progressed, occasional guards appeared along the way and guards’ density gradually increased.
In the hall where the guards were most densely packed, Su Yu saw Princess Alyssa.
Alyssa sat on a tall throne. She was a girl of about 14 or 15.
She wore an extravagant brown and white robe and a complicated headdress adorned with gems and pearls. However, her face was extremely cold. Upon seeing the princess, Keerderon immediately knelt down on one knee:
“Honorable Princess, this is the adventurer ‘Nemesis’ that I mentioned to you.
He was the one who relayed the news of Nemesis’s attack on Nolan Village. Moreover, Nemesis is a Senior Scholar.”
“Oh? A Senior Scholar?”
Upon hearing the title “Senior Scholar,” a flicker of interest appeared in Princess Alyssa’s eyes.
However, this flicker of interest was fleeting, her demeanor soon returned to indifference.
“Your Highness.” Su Yu slightly bowed his head as a form of salutation.
If it was before he received the “Senior Scholar’s Badge,” he would have had to kneel. But having received the badge, the ceremonies became much simpler.
Princess Alyssa fell silent for a while, then said:
“I am already aware of the situation with the Star-forged Dragon King. However, the Empire has internal and external troubles, and the Royal family is powerless even if we wanted to help.”
“Adventurer, go back and tell the village head that I already know about the situation. I’ll let the Foreign Affairs Department draft a severe letter of condemnation to be delivered to the Wind Chime Empire.”
The princess ended her speech.
Just then, a gust of black wind rushed in through the open palace doors.
The guards seemed accustomed to it and paid no heed.
The black wind formed a tornado in the center of the grand hall. The tornado converged, gradually shaping into a priest dressed in a black robe.
From Su Yu’s perspective, he could see a name floating about the priest —”Shadow Priest Xi Fan”.
After Xi Fan appeared, he gave the princess a salutation, then said: “Your
Highness, I heard an otherworldly adventurer has arrived?”
Without waiting for a response, he stared straight at Su Yu, his eyes resembling a hungry wolf staring at a lone, plump sheep.
“Heh heh, I’ve never seen the soul of an otherworldly adventurer before. What might it look like? Your Highness, how about rewarding him to me?”
Xi Fan moved his hand, and a lot of black fog rushed towards Su Yu, binding him in the middle.
“Stop, Xi Fan!” The princess frowned slightly, “He is a Senior Scholar from the Scholar’s Temple, each Scholar is a gem of the Empire!”
“Scholar’s Temple?” Upon hearing the name, Xi Fan scoffed even more, “If it were Silver Pine Tower, I would have some fears, but Scholar’s Temple? With those three old geezers from Sanctuary? Even if they all attacked together, they wouldn’t match up to me!”
Xi Fan continued his spell, the black fog surrounding Su Yu grew thicker and thicker.
Su Yu tried to use the “Senior Scholar’s Badge” to dissipate the fog binding him, but it was futile.
A feeling of soul-tearing agony washed over him and he briefly lost consciousness.
When Su Yu woke up again, he found himself in a soul form, standing on a platform that looked like a ring. The ring was surrounded by pitch-black fog.
Opposite him on the ring stood an archer, on his head was a name—”Master Archer Zode”.
Beneath his name were his character attributes.
“Master Archer Zode”
Level: 11
Blood Points: 2000
Description: Has a full set of archer skills, likes winning matches and eating ice cream.
At the same time, Su Yu’s main quest updated itself.
“Ding! Your main story has updated! “The Glory of the Goldfinch Empire (7/100) .
“Mission Brief: Your soul has been trapped within the ‘Soul Realm’ of ‘Shadow Priest Xi Fan’.”
“Mission Requirements: Defeat ‘Master Archer Zode’ and escape the ‘Soul Realm’! ”
“Mission Reward: Skill Scroll ‘Insight’ (Rare), Experience Points X1000..”