Wild Mare

The third task looked utterly ordinary: unlock the Soul Stone's seal and infuse it with energy. But it was rated S- Tier!

Who had set the Soul Stone's seal?

Farga, the Lionheart Empire's chief royal alchemist.

Bai Xiaowen could confirm this from Malgao's journal.

Of course, the Soul Stone had already been sealed before that, by the nuns of North County Monastery. After Farga stole the Soul Stone, he performed a forbidden ritual in the Plague Rat Burrow, broke the original seal, absorbed the Soul Stone's energy, and then sealed it again.

Even if alchemy was Farga's main profession and combat was his weak point, the seal he had set was definitely not something just anyone could undo by splashing around a couple basins of black dog blood. He would certainly have to find some major figure whose strength was comparable to Farga's.

But then another problem arose. Would someone capable of breaking the seal really fail to recognize it as the Soul Stone lost by North County Monastery?

If that person was even a little upright and reported it to North County Monastery, Bai Xiaowen would be greeted by a group of frenzied nuns—or a woman in a state of rage. Yes, he meant the royal knight Goliya. If I'd known I was coming to the Aaron Plane, I wouldn't have acted like such a hooligan. Bai Xiaowen sighed.

If that person was more ruthless, they might simply swallow the Soul Stone for themselves. Then Bai Xiaowen would be the one getting tossed into the Huangpu River to feed the fish, or encased in cement and sunk into the sea.

Even if he could break the seal, how was he supposed to infuse it with energy?

"This mission is so hard."

Bai Xiaowen muttered, “Locking onto the third mission,” and chose confirm! No guts, no glory. An S-Tier Class Change mission would definitely grant him a Hero Class if he succeeded! Besides, this mission was obviously based around the Soul Stone. Without it, this option would never have appeared!

Possessing the Soul Stone meant he already had the initiative. Only an idiot would refuse it!

Of course, accepting it might also make him an idiot.

You have selected a Class Change mission.

Class Change Mission: Black Soul Stone Opening.

Mission Objective: Unlock the Soul Stone's seal and infuse it with soul energy. Mission Limit: 10 days. Mission Area: Northern Frontier of the Lionheart Empire.

After mission failure, you may return at any time while outside combat.

Within Bai Xiaowen's field of vision, a string of numbers rapidly began to tick down—the ten-day mission countdown!

Although the Spirit Realm was rather dangerous, Awakened ones still had a high survival rate if they were careful. If they found a mission too difficult, they could voluntarily give up. As long as they were outside combat, they could leave the Spirit Realm.

Of course, that also meant this Spirit Realm expedition would yield nothing. Setting aside the losses from a Quasi-Awakened being unable to advance, even powerful veteran Awakened would effectively waste a "ticket" to the Spirit Realm and an opportunity to improve their strength.

Thus, few people were willing to abandon a mission unless they had no other choice.

Bai Xiaowen pushed open the wooden hut's door. The instant it opened, the light of Psionic Particles swept over his body.

Your appearance has been adjusted. Your language has automatically been converted into the Common Tongue of the Aaron World.

Please mind your words. If you expose your identity as a non-native resident of the Aaron World, you will bear the consequences yourself.

Bai Xiaowen was slightly taken aback, then said, "Display my adjusted appearance." Sure enough, the moment the words left his mouth, they came out in fluent Old Latin.

An illusory mirror unfolded before him, and Bai Xiaowen saw what he looked like.

Blond hair, blue eyes, sharply defined features—the very image of a handsome Nordic man.

Did they have to make me this handsome? Can't I just be ordinary? Please? Bai Xiaowen cried inwardly.

Each time you enter a world, your appearance is adjusted according to the attractiveness of your original appearance. It will not increase or decrease, so as not to affect an Awakened's Charm attribute.

"So you mean if my original looks were a hundred, then no matter how they adjust me, I'll still be a hundred?" Bai Xiaowen shamelessly stroked his chin. "Being handsome is a kind of trouble too. Right, why is there even a Charm attribute? Aren't there only four basic attributes?"

Luck, Charm, and Will are hidden attributes and will not be displayed.

By now, pedestrians in twos and threes were already passing Bai Xiaowen. From time to time, someone would turn back to look at him.

Bai Xiaowen also put away his relaxed mood.

"First thing first, I need to find a place where information gathers and figure out the situation in the Aaron World."

Only after gathering sufficient intelligence could Bai Xiaowen make use of his intelligence advantage and analyze the most promising way to complete the mission. Back in the Plague Rat Burrow, he had snatched the Soul Stone from between Goliya and Farga entirely because he had gathered intelligence well. Otherwise, with his little frame, either of those two BOSSES could have blown him away with a single breath.

This was a human town. The place with the most abundant and cheapest rumors was, naturally, a tavern. Without much effort, Bai Xiaowen found one with a banner that read "Wild Mare."

When he pushed the door open, a gust of cold wind came in with him.

Inside the tavern, flames danced in the fireplace. A bard played a flute, while several drinkers sat on a row of benches nearby. It was warm as spring indoors, utterly different from the cold outside.

"Welcome, traveler from afar." The tavern owner was a short, sturdy old man with a shaggy beard.

"How did you know I'm not from around here?" Bai Xiaowen asked.

"Haha, Old Hunter knows everyone in Elu City!" The tavern owner grinned proudly and pushed over a mug of ale. "Warm yourself up—the first mug is free. But if you want a second, have your gold coins ready! Hahahaha!"

Penniless, Bai Xiaowen immediately took a liking to the forthright Old Hunter. He slowly sipped his ale while chatting with him. From the old man, he obtained quite a bit of useful information.

The Aaron Continent had been ruled by the Lionheart Empire for more than three hundred years.

This was the Northern Frontier of the Aaron Continent, a remote region and the homeland of the Vikings. Three hundred years ago, the ambitious founding emperor Tiberon conquered the Northern Frontier and unified the Aaron Continent. But now, the Vikings had grown dissatisfied with Imperial rule and formed the Resistance Army. They had even captured Northshire, the Northern Frontier's capital, and killed the Imperial-appointed grand lord of the Northern Frontier.

Beset by troubles at home and abroad, the Empire hastily made peace with its foreign enemy—the High Elves—freeing its hands to send General Arinas into the Northern Frontier to wipe out the Resistance Army.

Arinas had once achieved brilliant victories, driving the Resistance Army from the capital, Northshire, and restoring the Empire's nominal control over the Northern Frontier. Glandis, the former grand lord's wife, succeeded to the position. However, after tasting the benefits of resistance, the various territories of the Northern Frontier had begun voluntarily aiding the Resistance Army.

The Imperial Army and the Resistance Army formed the two factions in the Northern Frontier. If the scope expanded from the Northern Frontier to the entire Aaron Continent, it would become a confrontation between the Lionheart Empire and the High Elves. But I only need to focus on the Northern Frontier.

As Bai Xiaowen listened to Old Hunter's rambling account, he gradually came to understand the situation in the Aaron World, and the plan in his heart became clearer and clearer.

Please add this to your favorites, and please recommend it! I'm begging you, really.