Chapter 24: The Unveiling of the Divine and Demonic Factions (Part II)

Chapter 24: The God and Demon Faction Line Begins (Part II)

After roughly browsing through the forum threads related to the battle between gods and demons, Shen Ce began to form a suspicion—within "Dominion of the Heavens," all side quests for the god and demon factions are unique. Once a player or team accepts a quest, the NPC will not offer it to anyone else, unless the original player fails to complete it within the allotted time.

Clearly, the main questline for the god and demon factions is the largest piece of the pie at present, but with so many players vying for a share, how much can any one person truly enjoy? In Shen Ce’s view, triggering side quests was a more reliable path.

Shen Ce closed the forum and logged back into "Dominion of the Heavens." Since the conflict was named the Battle of Gods and Demons, and as a priest, he was a follower of the God of Light, perhaps he could find some clues by inquiring at the shrine in Lingshui City and speaking with the old high priest.

Upon entering the temple, Shen Ce immediately noticed that there were far more people coming and going than before. Although everyone wore similar priestly robes, the unique bearing of players made them stand out from NPCs. Could it be that becoming a priest had suddenly become a trend?

It didn’t make sense. Shen Ce found it puzzling—after all, in any game, support classes are never as popular as combat classes. What he didn’t realize was that this was all connected to him. After the video of his battle with Han Qishao and Crimson Wolf circulated, many players realized that with skillful play, priests could excel in PvP, which in turn triggered a wave of players switching to the priest class.

Following his usual routine, Shen Ce entered the sanctuary where the old high priest awaited. The aged man, white-haired and deeply wrinkled, fixed his gaze upon Shen Ce, his voice hoarse: “Child, what brings you to see me?”

For some reason, Shen Ce thought the old high priest looked even more worn than before—could it be because of the battle between gods and demons? He suppressed his doubts, bowed respectfully, and said in a solemn tone, “I have come because I’ve heard the demons intend to invade our territory. As a follower of the God of Light, is there anything I can do for this sacred land?”

The high priest regarded Shen Ce for a moment, clearly pleased. “My child, your heart is in the right place.” His eyes drifted toward the window, his expression tinged with unspoken sorrow. “Tell me, child, do you see the dark miasma shrouding this city?”

Shen Ce followed his gaze. Outside, the sky was clear, the sunlight dazzling—nothing like the darkness the priest described. He lowered his head in shame. “Please forgive me, High Priest; my powers are insufficient, and I cannot perceive it.”

The high priest sighed, then raised his heavily lined right hand, drawing a faintly glowing circle in the air. Looking through it, Shen Ce was astonished to see a visible layer of black haze lingering above Lingshui City—a dull, ashen color, utterly at odds with the brilliant sunlight.

“Is… is that demonic energy?” Shen Ce’s shock deepened as he saw a bird try to cross the darkness, only to be mercilessly dissolved.

The high priest dismissed the glowing circle with a wave, coughing weakly, his face pale. “What hangs above Lingshui City is not demonic energy, but a malicious deathly aura…”

He paused mid-sentence. Shen Ce looked at him, puzzled, and saw a trickle of blood appear at the old man’s lips. Quickly, Shen Ce cast a healing spell on him, concern in his voice: “Forgive my presumption, High Priest. Who injured you? Are you alright?”

“There’s no need for healing; it’s useless,” the high priest replied, wiping the blood away and waving his hand. “I don’t know who attacked me, only that it was a demon. I never imagined they would already have infiltrated Lingshui City. The deathly aura I mentioned was caused by the demon who wounded me. Most only know Lingshui City for its prosperity, but few realize that beneath it lies the ancient battleground of gods and demons, saturated with malevolent energy. Ordinary people cannot survive long in such an environment. Fortunately, the God of Light blessed us, granting the city a sacred relic to suppress the evil. But alas… alas…”

Seeing the high priest sigh again, Shen Ce guessed the answer. “Could it be that the one who injured you also stole the sacred relic?”

The high priest gazed sorrowfully out the window. “You are correct. After the demon stole the relic, the ancient battleground’s evil could no longer be contained. Although I sought help from the priests of the three other great cities and temporarily reinforced the seal over the battleground, it merely delays disaster. Without the relic, Lingshui City will eventually be consumed by this deathly aura, with consequences too dire to imagine.”

Listening intently, Shen Ce’s curiosity about the ancient battleground and the sacred relic grew. Since the high priest had chosen to confide in him, now was clearly the moment to trigger a quest.

“What does the relic look like? If it were recovered, could Lingshui City be saved?” Shen Ce suddenly knelt on one knee, his back straight as a spear. “Though I am young and weak, I am willing to do my utmost to retrieve the relic!”

The high priest turned his gaze back to Shen Ce, studying this young and valiant devotee. “It’s not that I doubt you, but your powers are still shallow, and the strength of those vile demons is overwhelming. I fear you may not be equal to the task.”

Shen Ce lifted his head, meeting the high priest’s eyes with the sharpness of an unsheathed blade. “I know my abilities are limited, but my faith in the God of Light is unwavering. Please, High Priest, grant me this chance.”

The high priest paced, sighing softly. “Child, you have a good heart. But searching for the relic is not merely a matter of resolve. Do you know how perilous the demon lands are? Sending you there may be condemning you to certain death.”

“For my faith, I do not fear a hundred deaths,” Shen Ce replied, his expression resolute.

The high priest took a deep breath, as if reaching a great decision. “Rise. Very well, we old men are no longer up to the task. Among the younger generation, you are the most gifted devotee I have seen. Since you are so determined, I will give you this opportunity. But first, you must prove your ability. If you wish to enter demon lands, you must first seek the God’s legacy at the ancient battleground. Should you succeed and grow stronger, it will be a sign of destiny’s favor. The battleground is saturated with evil; enduring it will also prepare you for your future trials among the demons.”

“The God’s legacy?” Shen Ce rose quietly. Was this legacy akin to a divine spark? But if a mortal obtained one, wouldn’t they transcend to divinity—could it possibly be so easy?

“Yes, but the legacies found in the battleground are faint and incomplete. Even so, the power they contain is overwhelming for mortals. To inherit it requires not just talent, but stamina and luck. Some spend their entire lives seeking divine recognition and fail; others, upon inheriting the legacy, die from the overwhelming force.” The high priest fixed his eyes on Shen Ce. “It’s not too late to turn back.”

To die from the overload? As a player, Shen Ce knew he had an innate advantage over NPCs; dying meant only losing a level or two. For NPCs, it meant being erased entirely.

Without hesitation, Shen Ce declared, “I have no regrets. Thank you, High Priest, for your trust.” At worst, he’d lose a level or fail the quest, but if he succeeded, he could become one of the top players in "Dominion of the Heavens."

The high priest’s voice was hoarse but solemn. “Since you insist, I’ll entrust you with this task. To be honest, I still worry about your strength. You may choose a trustworthy ally from the Light Faction to accompany you.”

“Ding—Congratulations, player, you have accepted the S-rank side quest of the God and Demon Conflict: Reclaim the Sacred Relic Stolen by the Demons. This quest can be completed by up to two people. Do not abandon the quest midway, or you will lose five levels, 1000 reputation, and 1000 faith points. If you fail, you will lose 500 reputation and 500 faith points.”

“Congratulations, player, you have accepted the first stage of ‘Reclaim the Sacred Relic Stolen by the Demons’: Successfully obtain the Divine Legacy from the ancient battleground. Quest background: The demon invasion has begun, the sacred relic of Lingshui City’s Temple of Light has been stolen, the high priest is gravely wounded, and the city is shrouded in deathly aura. In these troubled times, dear player Zero, show the courage of a true believer in the God of Light, drive out the invaders, and help the citizens of Lingshui City escape their plight.”

Stepping out of the temple, Shen Ce glanced up at the sky—still bright and blue, the sunlight dazzling with cheer, not a trace of darkness to be seen. Though he knew it was all an illusion, a surge of excitement was hard to restrain. He had expected this side quest to be at most A-rank—never imagining it would be S-rank. S-rank! The highest quest level in "Dominion of the Heavens." Even though the high priest hadn’t mentioned specific rewards, the value was self-evident.

Moreover, it was the first time Shen Ce had seen a quest panel warning that abandoning the quest midway would have severe penalties. The other losses were manageable, but losing five levels was a heavy price. By comparison, failing the quest was much less punishing. He hadn’t even taken the first step, but Shen Ce was determined he would not give up partway—after all, the allure of an S-rank quest was too great; he would give it his all!

Since the quest allowed for one more partner, Shen Ce began weighing whether to go it alone or find someone to team up with. The reward was fixed; with two people, it would be split, but solo, his strength might not suffice—especially since he would have to infiltrate the demon lands. With a partner, at least there would be someone to watch his back.

He quickly decided: he would find someone to partner with. He checked his messages, seeing that Sayros’s icon under the "Couple" tab was still grayed out.

Could Sayros be quitting "Dominion of the Heavens"? He hadn’t logged in for so long, and Shen Ce still had a batch of Red-crowned Twin-headed Serpent gear for him.

Other than Sayros, Shen Ce couldn’t think of a more suitable candidate. He’d considered Han Qishao, but had his own reservations—the latter represented the "Deity" guild, and as their leader, his resources and priorities lay with the group. If word of the ancient battleground got out, it would do Shen Ce more harm than good.

Though Sayros hadn’t logged in for some time, Shen Ce resolved to wait three more days. He sent Sayros a private message: “Sayros, I have an S-rank hidden quest for the God and Demon Conflict. Would you like to join me?”