In the slightly dim underground passage, besides the sound of footsteps, only the uncertain light remained.
With a snap, a wall lamp on the stone wall went out.
"We're almost there."
The old priest was familiar with this place. After walking about a hundred meters, the passage noticeably widened.
A rusty iron door blocked the way ahead. The old priest stood in front of the door, looking sideways at Su Xiao.
Su Xiao turned away, and only then did the old priest feel at ease. He began to operate the mechanism on the iron door.
Creak, creak...
A grating sound that made teeth ache came forth, and as the iron door opened, a strange smell wafted out.
This strange smell contained many scents—mustiness, a faint sweet yet fishy odor, and the stench of decaying fish.
Su Xiao gazed into the iron door; inside was a small, cramped chamber.
"Wait for me here."
The old priest entered the chamber. In less than half a minute, he emerged, holding a piece of parchment, a test tube, and an old flintlock pistol.
With a resounding thud, the iron door closed. The old priest hurriedly walked down the passage, retracing his steps. A few minutes later, they returned to the church.
Sitting in a corner of the church, the old priest wiped the flintlock pistol in his hand, seemingly reluctant.
He handed the parchment to Su Xiao, and a notification from the Reincarnation Paradise appeared.
[You've obtained the Liumen Monastery Key: Demon Mountain Goat Skin.]
Demon Mountain Goat Skin
Quality: Blue
Type: Consumable (Quest Item)
Effect: This item can be used to find the hidden Liumen Monastery.
Rating: 70
Introduction: The demon mountain goat is not a creature but a type of familiar.
...
Handing over the 'Demon Mountain Goat Skin,' the old priest held the test tube and flintlock pistol in his hand.
"How about... we have a little sparring session?"
The old priest had thrown caution to the wind and actually suggested sparring with Su Xiao, likely to test his strength.
Su Xiao was speechless; the old priest was currently a neutral character in the Reincarnation Paradise's protection. It was impossible to spar.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
"Wait..."
The old priest quickly stood up.
"Get out alive and deactivate the 'Banishment Spirit Barrier' there. Don't even think about breaking that barrier. In a way, it coexists with Liumen Monastery and is nearly indestructible."
The old priest handed the vial of faint gold liquid in the test tube and the flintlock pistol to Su Xiao.
[You've obtained 'Holy Water (92% Concentration).']
[You've obtained Dawn Roar.]
[Holy Water (92% Concentration)]
Origin: Fate/Zero · Holy Church
Quality: Dark Purple
Type: Consumable (Single-use)
Effect: Can be consumed or splashed on enemies. Drinking restores 100% health and rapidly heals wounds. When splashed on enemies, inflicts 500 points of holy damage + 190 points of true damage to dark-type enemies and causes a potent burning effect.
Rating: 255
Introduction: Its purpose isn't consumption or splashing on enemies.
...
[Dawn Roar]
Origin: Fate/Zero · Vatican
Quality: Dark Purple (Originally Gold)
Attack: 1~3
Category: Flintlock Pistol
Loaded Bullets: 1 (Integrated Empty Crystal Ammunition)
Durability: 4/68 (Severely damaged)
Equipment Requirement: Strength 30, Intelligence 40.
Equipment Effect 1: Empty Chamber Bullet (Passive). The ammunition for this weapon is an empty crystal, which can be opened to add any liquid inside.
Equipment Effect 2: Dawn (Passive). In the loaded state, Dawn Roar will automatically accumulate power, increasing ammunition damage by 1% per minute, up to a maximum of 50%.
Equipment Effect 3: Gear Organ Array (Unavailable due to equipment damage)
Equipment Effect 4: War Roar (Unavailable due to equipment damage)
Rating: 240
Introduction: If you use it to fire lead bullets, you'll definitely be hit hard. This gun has been corroded by malevolent forces and is beyond repair. So cherish every shot it can fire, as that might be its last.
Price: 3500 Paradise Coins (Significant reduction due to equipment damage).
...
Looking at the Holy Water and Dawn Roar in his hand, Su Xiao immediately thought of infusing the Holy Water into the crystal bullet of Dawn Roar and charging it.
Against dark-type enemies, a close shot would leave them severely wounded if not dead.
"This gun is a relic left behind by someone. Repair attempts have been made, but unfortunately... ensuring it won't explode is already fortunate. Repairing it is impossible due to missing parts, and the arrays on it have failed. The difficulty of repair exceeds that of making a new one. As for its usage..."
The old priest gestured for Su Xiao to extract the bullet from Dawn Roar, which was a round crystal bullet with a small hole at the top for infusing liquids.
"If you infuse the bullet with Holy Water, you must use it within ten days, or the Holy Water will lose its potency. As for who to shoot with this bullet, that's for you to decide."
Following the old priest's guidance, Su Xiao infused the Holy Water into the bullet and reloaded it.
This thing must be important. While its power is nearly negligible against most creatures, it's no less powerful than a faint gold item against evil creatures.
"As for how to enter Liumen Monastery, take this parchment and go to the original site. You'll understand."
The old priest sighed, his gaze fixed on the flintlock pistol in Su Xiao's hand. It was once the sidearm of a female agent, and countless evil creatures had met their end at its barrel, saving numerous lives.
"I have one final question: Are you related to this Holy Grail War?"
The old priest's gaze was piercing; he had begun to sense something.
"Who knows? But if things go as expected, we won't be enemies."
Su Xiao's main mission was to touch the Great Holy Grail; obtaining it had never crossed his mind.
After experiencing several Holy Grail Wars, the current Great Holy Grail was no longer an all-powerful wish-granting device. It had been tainted by worldly impurities and the malevolent desires of Heroic Spirits. Making a wish with it was essentially seeking death.
So, Su Xiao had never thought about getting the Great Holy Grail. His primary goal was to complete his talent awakening mission, and if the opportunity arose, to complete the main mission.
He put away 'Dawn Roar.' The parchment, however, he carried with him. Su Xiao got up and left the church.
"May you return alive, young man, or perhaps you shouldn't go there at all and stay for breakfast."
Hearing the old priest's call, Su Xiao's steps paused.
"Thank you for your kind wishes. If I do come back alive, I'll definitely open that barrier, and also... be wary of those you consider reliable."
Leaving these words behind, Su Xiao walked out of the church.
"Ah, I wish you success."
Watching Su Xiao's departing figure, the old priest sighed.
"Oh, God, please forgive me for allowing a young man to step into hell. It was his choice, and he forced me."
It had to be said that while the old priest wasn't exactly a good person, he wasn't bad either. Upon learning that Su Xiao wanted to enter Liumen Monastery, his initial reaction had been to refuse.
It was hard to fathom how someone like the old priest could have a son like Yan Fengqili.
Su Xiao walked out of the church, his mood heavy.
With his Charm attribute at a mere 6 points, the old priest's attitude had been overly warm. This was by no means a normal occurrence. Furthermore, his aura clearly didn't align with the old priest's faction. Even so, the old priest had given him the key and a disposable weapon. And upon leaving, he had offered kind advice.
