Chapter 696: A Test to Prove Value
Inside the Sacred Mission Hall.
The easiest tasks are D-rank tasks, which require professionals above level 120 to accept solo.
Starting from B-rank, tasks must be accepted by a team; solo acceptance is not allowed.
SS-rank tasks require a team leader at level 140, with all members over level 130, to be eligible to accept them.
Above SS-rank, there are three additional difficulty levels: SSS-rank, Earth Fiend rank, and Celestial Void rank.
Celestial Void rank tasks are so difficult that even a level-170 captain must join forces with other captain-level powerhouses to attempt them.
Perhaps due to prolonged exposure to the Ten Thousand Demons' miasma.
The wild monsters in the Sacred Continent are extraordinarily formidable.
Some mutated monsters, even at just level 60, can kill level-80 human professionals.
Thus, high-difficulty tasks in the Holy Knights are no joke.
Lucia's junior sister took on a Spirit Vault task, the most sought-after type of task in the Holy Knights.
As everyone knows.
Dungeon instances aren't all about killing monsters and clearing stages.
There are also resource dungeons.
The Spirit Vault is one such resource dungeon.
A Spirit Vault task involves venturing into a Spirit Vault dungeon to obtain a key treasure needed for the task. Completing the task then earns the reward.
Why are Spirit Vault tasks the most popular type in the Holy Knights? It's because everything obtained in the Spirit Vault can be kept for personal use.
Moreover, the resources in the Spirit Vault are truly abundant, ranging from S-grade, SS-grade, to even SSS-grade resources.
However, precisely because the Spirit Vault's resources are so rich, it attracts other factions on the Sacred Continent to compete.
Any team daring to accept a Spirit Vault task must be exceptionally powerful.
Some people think…
Why not skip the tasks and form a team to go to the location where the Spirit Vault appears?
Why must they accept a task?
You're not entirely wrong.
It's indeed mandatory to accept the task.
Because once the Spirit Vault task is accepted, the Mission Hall provides a Spirit Vault Key for a team of five. Only those with a Spirit Vault Key are eligible to enter the Spirit Vault.
Those without a Spirit Vault Key simply cannot enter.
If the Spirit Vault allowed unrestricted entry, it would be overwhelmed with people, and there wouldn't be enough resources to go around.
At the moment.
Lucia directly introduced a highly sought-after Spirit Vault task to Ling Zhan, leaving him somewhat puzzled.
After all, though this task is quite challenging, it's also highly desirable.
Even if her junior sister is short-handed, there's no need to have Ling Zhan—a newly joined Holy Knight who's still a level-105 non-specialist—join the team.
Such a task would surely attract a large number of qualified powerhouses with just a wave of her hand.
Still, for Ling Zhan, getting such a task is a dream come true.
Since the other party doesn't want a share of the reward, he'll treat it as a favor and remember it. When the opportunity arises, he'll repay it.
"Come with me. I'll introduce you to my junior sister."
Lucia stood gracefully.
Her direct recommendation of a Spirit Vault task to Ling Zhan wasn't without reason.
On the surface, it might seem like she's doing him a favor, but not just anyone can earn a favor from the vice-captain.
This unprecedented non-specialist, with his performance in the Ten Thousand Demons Tower, had left a strong impression on her.
Her keen intuition told her that this man hadn't exerted his full strength in the Tower because he handled each stage with ease.
Saying he had the combat power of a level-130 professional was probably an understatement.
He was at least at level-140 combat power!
A level-100 professional displaying level-140 combat power!
How terrifying would this man be if he reached level 190?
A level-190 non-specialist!
Of course…
All of this was based on his performance in the Ten Thousand Demons Tower and was merely speculation.
Whether this non-specialist was truly as strong as suspected still needed further observation.
This Spirit Vault task was Lucia's way of testing Ling Zhan's strength.
She wanted to confirm if her assumptions were correct.
If Ling Zhan performed poorly and showed no exceptional skills in this Spirit Vault task, she wouldn't bother with him further.
Harsh?
Yes, that's just reality.
Moreover…
Ling Zhan wasn't vain enough to think that this beautiful captain had fallen for him at first sight.
This was an investment on her part.
Ling Zhan had no resentment toward this.
Nobody is obligated to help someone else for free.
For Ling Zhan, this was a chance to prove his value.
...…
Upon leaving the room.
Lucia donned a white cloak and a veiling mask to cover her face.
This greatly reduced the influence of her succubus bloodline and innate charm on those around her.
Even so…
The people nearby couldn't help but glance at Lucia.
Even with her cloak and mask, people instinctively knew that this woman must be incredibly beautiful.
Ling Zhan followed calmly at her side, hands in his pockets.
It seemed the vice-captain's daily life was fraught with trouble.
Sometimes, having exceptional beauty and charm wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Instead of going to the Holy Knights' office building, Lucia led Ling Zhan to a guild arena outside the academy.
Ling Zhan recognized the guild's name.
"Eden."
There are ten tiers of guilds in the world.
Eden was clearly a top-tier, tenth-tier guild.
Eden's vice guildmaster was none other than Cathy, the Rotten Witch.
The guildmaster was also a supreme powerhouse above level 190, but their identity was extremely secretive. It was said only other supreme powerhouses had ever seen the guildmaster's face.
As a top-tier tenth-tier guild.
Naturally, they established their headquarters in the Sacred City of Asal.
Now, Lucia brought Ling Zhan to one of Eden's many arenas.
This arena gathered many citizens of the Sacred City, watching the battles between professionals.
People with personal grudges often came here to settle their scores.
Both sides could sign contracts that held legal weight under the city's laws.
"Ooooohhhhh!"
As soon as Ling Zhan entered the arena with Lucia.
He heard a wave of thunderous cheers from the audience.