The Inside Story

"Do you still remember the intermediate mission I told you about before? To be honest, I need this money to release follow-up missions to others after 'that matter' begins."

"I still want to know about this matter." Since she had made her choice, Yun Xi wouldn't hesitate.

"Okay, I can tell you the basic information that triggers the mission for free. However, I also have some inside information related to this mission. Would you like to purchase it?"

"My inside information is 100% guaranteed to be true and extremely beneficial for you to complete the mission. If you don't believe me, we can even sign a shopping contract first."

"If I participate in this mission, won't we be competitors? Why are you still willing to sell me the inside information?" Yun Xi asked, confused.

"No, my goal isn't to complete the mission myself, but for someone to complete it. As long as someone can complete the mission, I can gain my freedom."

Yun Xi understood. The Alchemist wasn't considering the mission rewards now; what he wanted most was freedom.

"This information isn't expensive, only 500 Green Crystals. I guarantee the information will be worth more than its price. What do you say? Do you want to buy it?"

"How about 200 Green Crystals? I just paid off my loan, and I'm really out of money." Yun Xi naturally started to bargain.

As for whether his information would truly be worth more than its price, the shopping contract would tell her the answer.

"Alright, 200 Green Crystals it is."

"To show my sincerity, I'll first tell you the most important piece of information: the Goddess of Freedom has already fallen and become corrupted."

Yun Xi was stunned, unsure how to react.

A deity becoming corrupted, the implications were clear.

A corrupted creature above level 40?

As the auction officially began, the Alchemist sat beside Yun Xi and started revealing pieces of inside information without reservation.

"It's known that the Goddess of Freedom stayed in the Shuyu Plains for 1500 years. Combined with the cultivation time needed for her to become a god, her true age is at least 3000 years old."

"Demigods at level 41-50 have a lifespan of only 2000 years, so we can rule out her being within this power range."

"Lesser Deities at level 51-60 have a lifespan of 5000 years. The Goddess of Freedom might fall within this level range."

"In the worst-case scenario, the Goddess of Freedom is an Intermediate Deity at level 61-70, or even a higher-level deity."

Yun Xi...

Her money was well spent. Not only did she learn the approximate level of the Goddess of Freedom, but the Alchemist also revealed the level classifications for those above level 40.

What were Demigods, Lesser Deities, and Intermediate Deities... Did this mean there were also Higher Deities and even higher-level deities below them?

"Although the Goddess of Freedom's level is very high, I don't think the mission requires us to confront her directly, right?"

"That's right. The Goddess of Freedom will not directly participate in that mission. In this region, the divine ancestors of the three great duchies set up a restraining formation. Corrupted creatures above level 40 will be immediately expelled, so her true form is not here."

"However, the danger... won't be reduced by much. At most, it won't cause your instant death."

"Correspondingly, the mission reward is also very high. It's a unique inheritance set by the Goddess of Freedom with her last shred of clarity before she became corrupted."

"Originally, after the Goddess of Freedom became corrupted, she wouldn't pay attention to matters from her past life. But the problem is, she left something behind here."

At this point, the Alchemist's tone paused for a moment.

Then, a system prompt sounded in Yun Xi's ear.

[Special Mission: The Goddess of Freedom (Corrupted)'s Wish. Mission Content: Please go to the Goddess of Freedom (Divine) inheritance point, coordinates (***542, ***649), retrieve the Heart of Freedom, and deliver it to the Goddess of Freedom (Corrupted). Mission Deadline: No deadline. Mission Hint: There are 63 days until the next inheritance point opens. Mission Completion Reward: Goddess of Freedom (Divine) Inheritance or Goddess of Freedom (Corrupted) Inheritance. Mission Failure Penalty: To be determined based on the situation in reality.]

Receiving this mission prompt, what surprised Yun Xi the most was that this was a mission issued after the Goddess of Freedom became corrupted.

Considering the 'past life' mentioned by the Alchemist, could it be what she was thinking? That a deity would fall and become corrupted after death?

"Your mission should have been activated, right?"

"I don't think I need to say more about what happens next. I took on a mission before, and after failing, I lost my freedom. This is the punishment given by the Goddess of Freedom (Corrupted). Moreover, this punishment is permanent. As long as my strength doesn't surpass the Goddess of Freedom (Corrupted), I cannot regain my freedom, unless someone fulfills her wish."

"So, after you failed, you could still participate in this mission?"

"Yes, there's no limit to the mission time. Although I've lost my freedom, the Goddess of Freedom's inheritance point isn't far from here, barely within my range of action."

"Do you have more inside information?"

"Well... besides the two of us, there should be many other prodigies coming. You can prepare in advance."

"Oh, and another piece of information: the Goddess of Freedom's inheritance is limited to professionals under 100 years old. You haven't exceeded 100 years old, have you?"

Yun Xi shook her head.

"That's good. There are still two months until the next inheritance point opens. Prepare yourself well. Exploration-type resources are essential. Do you need me to craft an exploration-type equipment for you?"

"Is it expensive?"

"Not expensive, it's a friendly price. High-level equipment, around 100 Green Crystals."

It really wasn't expensive. Normally, high-level equipment would sell for several hundred Green Crystals.

Although she really wanted it, she had spent too much money recently, and it wouldn't be reasonable to spend more.

"Can I reserve it then? My living expenses will arrive next month," Yun Xi said deliberately, pretending she had someone backing her.

"Sure, it takes some time to refine anyway. May I be so bold as to ask which city you're from? Did you happen to come to Qinglan Town by chance?"

Yun Xi was unaware of the Goddess of Freedom (Corrupted)'s mission. Could she really be a young lady who came here for experience by chance?

The Alchemist's eyes held a hint of inquiry.

He hadn't learned the Appraisal Skill, nor did he use equipment to probe others' preferences. Therefore, when Yun Xi met him last time, even though she hadn't put on the Black Mist Stone Earring yet, he didn't know that Yun Xi was actually just an adventurer.

"I'm not from the Shuyu Plains. Even if I told you, you wouldn't know. It's a family tradition for us to go out and gain experience in distant lands."

Yun Xi wasn't lying. She did come from afar, and the Yun Family members now logged in every day to gain experience in different regions of the Godfall Continent. How could that not be considered a 'tradition'?