Chapter 1 If It Requires a Specific Task

If a specific task needs to be completed to open this treasure chest, and you want to open the lock, certain conditions must be met. If these conditions are not met, the treasure chest cannot be opened. Moreover, task-related items often appear inside.

Nie Yan was about to give up and think of other ways when he suddenly remembered the Magic Key in his backpack. He wondered if the Magic Key would work.

He took out the Magic Key from his backpack and aimed it at the lock. The Magic Key emitted a dazzling light and automatically changed shape according to the size of the lock, gradually shrinking.

The Magic Key accurately inserted into the keyhole.

Seeing this, Nie Yan was overjoyed. The Magic Key might be able to open this treasure chest!

After a while, about thirty seconds, a crisp system notification sounded.

System: Treasure chest opening... 8%... 12%...

Nie Yan was ecstatic that the Magic Key was actually useful. This was a sub-legendary chest, and with such a high-level lock, the items inside should be extraordinary.

Hopefully, it's not a quest item!

With a click, the treasure chest was opened, and a scorching heat wave erupted from it, almost blowing Nie Yan away.

Nie Yan steadied himself. A fiery red light emanated from the treasure chest, and a powerful aura radiated out, making people shudder. He reached inside and pulled out a large egg. The egg was enveloped in flames, completely red, but Nie Yan felt a strong, powerful heartbeat in his palm. He was certain that there was a living creature inside the egg.

-320, -316...

Flames burned damage numbers floated above Nie Yan's head.

System: Are you willing to accept the quest to resurrect the Flame Fire Phoenix?

Nie Yan glanced at the system notification and was stunned. Was there a phoenix inside this egg?

It's a flying mount! Nie Yan was moved. He didn't expect to get another flying mount.

"I got a pet egg. You take it," Nie Yan said to Xie Yao. The quest to resurrect the Flame Fire Phoenix should be quite difficult and require certain skills to complete. Moreover, pet eggs should always be kept by those close to you.

In his previous life, Nie Yan had never heard of anyone obtaining a phoenix. This map opened at levels eighty or ninety. It seemed that this sub-legendary treasure chest was added after the flying mount system was implemented.

Nie Yan immediately had many associations. Since he could open a flying mount pet egg, many other players must have opened them as well. The proliferation of flying mounts was inevitable.

"You don't want it?" Xie Yao asked.

"I already have the Darkwing Dragon. Each person can only have one pet," Nie Yan explained. This Flame Fire Phoenix egg couldn't be wasted.

"I see. Okay then," Xie Yao nodded, taking the Flame Fire Phoenix egg. As soon as she touched the flames emanating from the pet egg, damage numbers exceeding six hundred floated above Xie Yao's head. She quickly activated the quest to resurrect the Flame Fire Phoenix.

After accepting the quest, the scorching flames on the pet egg no longer harmed Xie Yao.

"After accepting the quest, my fire resistance increased by more than 80 points," Xie Yao said to Nie Yan. Her current fire resistance was already over one hundred and sixty. If she drank a high-grade fire resistance potion, it could reach over two hundred. This was astonishing at the current level. Even if she were directly hit by a Flame Giant's magic, she would probably only take about 20% damage.

The Flame Fire Phoenix is a fire-type creature!

Nie Yan continued to rummage through the treasure chest and pulled out a silver-white necklace. Touching the necklace inside the scorching red treasure chest gave off a cool, refreshing sensation that calmed the mind.

Nie Yan's heart suddenly tightened. Just from the feeling in his hand, he could tell that this item was definitely extraordinary.

After he took out the necklace, the treasure chest turned into flames and disappeared without a trace.

He checked the necklace's stats.

Mind Tranquility Necklace (Sub-Legendary): Special Item.

Attributes: Wearing this necklace grants immunity to mental control from charm, fear, and demonic voice effects within level eight.

Restriction: Limited to players with less than 1500 spirit.

"What's your spirit?" Nie Yan asked Xie Yao. This was the first time he had encountered equipment with such a requirement—those with high spirit couldn't use it, while those with low spirit could.

When players' spirit is below a certain level, the mental imprint attached to the Mind Tranquility Necklace can affect them. When spirit is too high, the mental imprint on the Mind Tranquility Necklace will have no effect.

"Xie Yao, what's your spirit?" Nie Yan asked. This necklace appeared here, likely related to the phoenix resurrection quest. If Xie Yao could use it, it would be better to give it to her.

"My spirit is already 2300," Xie Yao said, checking her stats.

"That high?" Nie Yan gasped, exclaiming in surprise. Ordinary players at Xie Yao's level would be doing well with around 1200 spirit. Reaching 2300 was simply unimaginable. With such high spirit, even without wearing the Mind Tranquility Necklace, she could partially resist charm, fear, and demonic voice effects within level eight.

"My three pieces of legendary set equipment all increase spirit," Xie Yao explained. Wearing three legendary pieces that increased spirit made it impossible for her spirit to be low.

"I see," Nie Yan realized, remembering that the spirit bonus from the Christina set was exceptionally remarkable, far surpassing other similar equipment.

Since Xie Yao couldn't use the Mind Tranquility Necklace, Nie Yan put it away. The effects on this necklace were still very practical, especially for melee units. Melee class players generally have lower spirit, making them susceptible to mental magic. Mental magic is an important tool for mage classes to deal with melee units.

The rewards were quite bountiful, especially the phoenix egg in Xie Yao's hands. If it could be hatched, the Niu Ren Tribe would have another flying mount.

"Let's continue farming Flame Giants," Nie Yan said.

"Okay."

The two continued to level up by farming Flame Giants. This increased their contribution points very quickly. They estimated that after a few days of farming, Xie Yao's contribution points would be sufficient to purchase a plot of land.

They needed to seize as much land in Hilton Fortress as possible, especially the golden areas. In the future, these plots of land would be gold-laying hens!

Nie Yan continued to lure Flame Giants. The two continued their monotonous grinding. Killing Flame Giants was not difficult using that terrain. Moreover, Xie Yao's fire resistance had greatly increased, making her even less afraid of the Flame Giants' magic attacks.

After about five hours, a system notification sounded, indicating that Nie Yan had leveled up to ninety-four. After claiming the extra experience reward at Hilton Fortress, he estimated that he would reach about 50% of level ninety-four.

"How many contribution points do you have?" After taking down another Flame Giant, Nie Yan looked at Xie Yao. In the narrow tunnel, Xie Yao's eyelashes curled high, and her black eyes, like black gemstones, shimmered with a charming light. From the side, one could clearly sense the moving curve of Xie Yao's profile.

"Let me see." Feeling Nie Yan's gaze, Xie Yao lowered her head shyly and said, "About twenty thousand."

Xie Yao's contribution points were accumulating very quickly. If ordinary players were to team up to farm monsters, it would take at least five or more teams to safely take down one monster. The contribution points gained from killing one monster would be split among each player, leaving very little. On the other hand, when Nie Yan and Xie Yao farmed, the contribution points gained from killing Flame Giants were only split between two people, making it quite substantial.

The contribution points Xie Yao and Nie Yan gained from killing one Flame Giant were more than fifty times the amount ordinary players would get from participating in a group to kill a monster. Combined with their decent farming speed, their contribution points soared like a rocket.

"I estimate that you'll be able to buy a plot of land in Hilton Fortress by tomorrow," Nie Yan said. Every plot of land purchased meant a large sum of money coming in.

"I'll go pick up the items dropped by the Flame Giant," Xie Yao said, walking forward. She had to pass by Nie Yan. The narrow passage made it very difficult to even turn around, so some physical contact was inevitable.

A faint fragrance drifted into his nose. Looking at the delicate and charming Xie Yao beside him, Nie Yan felt a sense of tenderness. Through the thin mage robe, Nie Yan could almost feel Xie Yao's smooth skin.

This was the virtual world, not reality. In the virtual world, Xie Yao, wearing a light blue mage robe, exuded a dreamlike beauty.

Nie Yan reached out and grabbed Xie Yao. In his mind, he couldn't help but think of the underground dungeon secret room from his previous life. He wondered how it was doing, and whether it was still the same as before.

In the narrow passage, Xie Yao could hear Nie Yan's heavy breathing. Her heart panicked. In her world, Nie Yan had occupied an increasingly important position. Their relationship had been established, but every time she was close to Nie Yan, she couldn't suppress the nervousness in her heart.

Xie Yao's fair and flawless face was close at hand, and her slightly uneven breathing revealed the tension in her heart.

"Nie Yan..." Xie Yao called out softly, trying to avoid falling into Nie Yan's arms and supporting herself on the rock wall with her hand, but the sensation on her chest still made her body stiffen.

Nie Yan's right hand was not well-behaved and rested on Xie Yao's chest. The soft, smooth silk robe conveyed a strange touch. Xie Yao's bust was quite full, so the bra inside was only a thin layer of fabric, giving it a firm and rounded feeling.

This was Nie Yan's first time having such intimate contact with Xie Yao in the game. It felt different. Standing in front of Nie Yan at this moment was Xie Yao, and also Yao Yao. They were the same person, but they had different stories with Nie Yan.