After Lu Yao clicked yes, the screen went completely black.
After a vortex-like transition animation, the game interface changed into a wilderness.
The words [Golden Plains] slowly appeared at the top center.
Golden leaves, flowers, and grass covered the plains. Every plant swayed gently in the wind, brimming with life yet carrying a subtle sense of sanctity.
At the center of the screen stood a colossal tree that pierced heaven and earth. Its branches stretched across the sky, and light shimmered among its leaves. Lu Yao figured this had to be the Tree of Sylvanus.
He tried clicking the giant tree.
Three cards flew out of the tree, each bearing a different image and description.
[Apostle's Mark] was a white stone shard.
[Rune Robe] was a long robe woven from leaves.
[Treant Seed] was a brown fruit pit.
Lu Yao moved his cursor over the three items, and their respective traits and descriptions appeared.
[Apostle's Mark]: Select a willing target and convert them into an Apostle.
[Rune Robe Lv. 5]: A living ancient Incantation can be randomly obtained from the robe. Either command it, or be commanded by it.
[Treant Seed]: Plant it in a forest to harvest a loyal Treant.
Of the three treasures, Lu Yao first ruled out the Treant Seed. Isabelle had already created Treants, so getting another one did not mean much.
That left [Apostle's Mark] and [Rune Robe Lv. 5].
Deep down, Lu Yao preferred the Rune Robe.
This was the highest-level treasure he had seen so far. The Rune Robe even came with a "living Incantation," which sounded as though it could keep growing stronger.
But the latter half of the description made Lu Yao hesitate.
Either command it, or be commanded by it.
That meant the Incantation possessed an independent will and self-awareness. It might help a Novice God player, but it might also stab him in the back at a critical moment.
The uncertainty of this gacha choice left Lu Yao conflicted.
The only option that seemed guaranteed to bring stable returns was [Apostle's Mark].
With this special item, Lu Yao could gain another Apostle and find Isabelle an assistant, so she would not have to handle everything herself.
Wait...
A second Apostle?
Lu Yao right-clicked [Golden Plains] and temporarily exited the map interface.
He typed a line into the Dialogue Box above Isabelle's head, asking whether his idea was feasible.
"..."
Isabelle pondered seriously for a while before giving a cautious reply. "My lord, [Apostle's Mark] is a mark generated after a Wonder is completed. It is extremely precious."
"It can be used on the Blood Knight."
"However, converting him to your divine faction, as well as restoring his current lost sanity and crumbling sense of self, will consume a great deal of Power of Faith."
Lu Yao only looked at the important part.
It could be done!
He clicked back into [Golden Plains] and double-clicked [Apostle's Mark].
[Do you wish to select Apostle's Mark?]
Lu Yao clicked yes.
The white stone shard turned into a streak of white light and floated into the upper-left corner of the screen.
Apostle's Mark: 1
At the same time, the other two item cards flew back into the canopy. Lu Yao tried to stop them, but failed.
The giant tree on the Golden Plains scattered into countless pixel particles and vanished without a trace. Only endless golden fields remained on the ground.
A line of text appeared on the screen.
[The Tree of Sylvanus has fallen asleep.] [The forest longs to grow. Please cultivate a Forest Soul, and the Tree of Sylvanus will reward you with another treasure.]
Lu Yao remembered that Forrest could summon a Forest Soul. What exactly was this Forest Soul?
He asked Isabelle.
"My lord, a Forest Soul is born from Treants."
Isabelle explained, "It is a will condensed from Forest Elemental Creatures, a special form of life."
"Only in areas populated by a large number of Forest Elemental Creatures can a Forest Soul be nurtured. It will be born by merging into a Treant."
Lu Yao understood.
It was basically an elite monster among Forest Elemental Creatures.
It required many kinds of Trees, as well as Treants and a large number of Forest Elemental Creatures, before the conditions for its birth could be met.
That would have to depend on luck.
Lu Yao rubbed his hands together.
What came next was the most important part of the day.
He clicked [Apostle's Mark] in the upper-left corner and dragged it all the way above the Blood Knight's head behind Isabelle.
A notification popped up on the game interface.
--Converting him into an Apostle of your Temple will consume a large amount of Power of Faith. Would you like to spend 3,000 Faith Points to convert an Apostle? [Yes] [No]
Lu Yao clicked yes without hesitation.
He lacked everything except this little bit of Faith!
Besides, he was not building a Wonder anytime soon.
The Faith value in the upper-right corner plummeted again, leaving just over 1,000.
Two lines of text appeared on the screen.
--The lost Apostle has heard your call. Your Power of Faith has restored his broken shell and parched soul. He is rapidly awakening from the Sea of Lingering Souls. --[Apostle] Blood Knight Nevid follows your will, carries out your divine decree, and fights for your Flame of Faith.
The Blood Knight, who had been little more than a walking corpse, transformed in an instant. All the filth and dejection on him were swept away.
He knelt on one knee toward the screen where Lu Yao was, and a Dialogue Box appeared above his head.
"God above, Nivd offers you all his loyalty and faith."
[Your second Apostle has been born. The faith of the Garlic Tribe has become even firmer.]
Lu Yao eagerly opened Nivd's panel.
[Apostle Lv. 60] Blood Knight Nivd Health Points: 3850/3850 Mana Points: 937/937 Damage: 124 Defense: 68 Speed: 16 [Thick Hide] Naturally possesses high Health Points. [Indestructible] Has special resistance to ranged damage. [Mobile Casting] Can cast Incantations while moving in battle, at the cost of reduced speed. [Corruption Creation] (10 Mana Points) Uses corpses and salt to create Corruptors. The strength of Corruptors depends on the corpses. [Enchantment Level 25] (25 Mana Points/second) Attacks carry Mana Points damage. [Flesh is Weak Level 2] (150 Mana Points) [Nivd Exclusive Ability] Whistleblower grants Nivd the ability to form a Legion. Nivd can improve the ranks of Corruptors through training and Inspiration, evolving them into more elite Rotten Guards.
Lu Yao threw back his head and laughed, then excitedly performed a set of Wing Chun at the air.
A fully intact Lv. 60 Apostle was his!
This was the value and payoff of deeply cultivating the Novice Village!
In this Fragmented World that was still a Safe Zone, what did it mean to possess a Lv. 60 Blood Knight Nivd? Calling himself a minor invincible force would not be an exaggeration, right?
Lu Yao downed a cup of Ice Cola in one gulp, put on New Pants' Don't Ask Me What Disco Is, and danced wildly alone in his rented apartment.
The simple joy he had felt when he first started playing computer games seemed to have suddenly returned.
Of course.
Because he was invincible, he was happy.
His current invincibility had been built step by step through his own actions.
I, Lu Yao, made it this far entirely through my own hard work and staying up late!
Just as Lu Yao was savoring Nivd's panel data, another new notification appeared on the screen.
[Whistleblower has displayed hostility toward you.] [The Whistleblower faction considers you an enemy.]
Lu Yao sneered and played with the [Energy Staff] in his hand.
Nivd was already his, and this was his home turf. As long as I don't go out, what can you do? If you've got the guts, come over here!
Come onto the Garlic Tribe's turf, and do not let me see you. If I see your statue, I will smash it to pieces. I will slap you right in the face.
After gloating, Lu Yao felt a little uncertain again.
The Safe Zone... should be safe, right?
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