Chapter 143-2: Relic Bookmark, Type-I Relic Fragment (2)

In Songjiang City, within a secluded estate.

The Fisherman brought the teenage boy with him into the dining hall. The decor was as extravagant as ever, resembling the feasts of old European nobility.

“Big Bro Fisherman, is our organization really this rich?”

The teenager was around sixteen or seventeen, still carrying a canvas satchel, glancing around wide-eyed like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden [T/N: Dream of the Red Chamber reference], taking in every detail of the dining hall.

The Fisherman ruffled the boy’s hair dotingly and said,

“Wealth is just a worldly possession. Don’t place too much value on it. When the New World arrives, each of us will be abundantly rich, in both spirit and material things.”

“So when I enter the New World, will I still have to take tests and the college entrance exam?”

“Ahem…” The Fisherman almost broke character, scolding, “Of course not!”

“With your talent, if you study the Book of Salvation carefully, you might even become the twelfth Disciple someday. Lord Bashir thinks very highly of you, don’t disappoint him.”

“Oh… Big Bro Fisherman, is my talent really that amazing?”

The young man sat at the dining table and began fiddling with the knife and fork.

The Fisherman smiled slightly. “Of course. Xiaoyuan, you’re an Apostle favored by Lord Bashir. Even without guides or resources, you managed to earn an S-rank evaluation in a Hell Difficulty chapter. To be honest, even Lord Bashir himself might not have achieved that back in the day.”

“And for Apostles with powerful talent, there’s no such thing as being stuck. All those with exceptional gifts grow rapidly without exception.”

“Perhaps in just a few more months, your strength will surpass mine… That’s why I say you have the potential to become the Twelfth Disciple.”

The young man, named Shang Xiaoyuan, looked a little puzzled. “But didn’t you say the organization currently only has ten Disciples? Why would I be the twelfth instead of the eleventh?”

The Fisherman shook his head. “Because the Eleventh Disciple is about to be chosen. Barring any surprises… that person will be Amos.”

Shang Xiaoyuan nodded thoughtfully. After finishing his lavish breakfast, he was escorted by the Fisherman to the room prepared for him.

It was a room inside the estate’s mansion, and under the guidance of a maid, the young man meandered through several corridors before finally arriving.

Gazing at the luxurious furnishings in the spacious room, he curiously touched this and stroked that.

Only after a long while did he remember what he was supposed to do.

He greeted the maid at the door, then closed the door behind him and tossed aside the satchel full of practice exams.

He flopped onto the brand-new large bed and pulled out his phone.

Book of Salvation, activate!

Meanwhile, in a tea room elsewhere in the estate.

The Fisherman bowed respectfully toward a middle-aged man clad in a black robe with gold embroidery.

“Lord Bashir, I’ve arranged everything for Shang Xiaoyuan.”

“Give him the brand tonight.”

“Yes, my lord!”

The Fisherman bowed once more, then exited the tea room.

Only Bashir remained.

He gently sipped from his teacup. “Once the brand is placed, he will see descending into the New World as his mission, and become a true member of the organization.”

—

Shang Xiaoyuan lay on the bed, staring intently at his phone screen.

[You have entered an Apocalyptic Chapter.]

[Chapter 93742]

[A feeble wandering soul awakens inside an escape pod…]

Once he possessed a Shell, he resumed his chapter progression.

As for what the Fisherman had said about the Disciple position, Shang Xiaoyuan hadn’t thought too deeply about it.

He understood clearly that this sudden, wonderful life was all thanks to the game on his phone.

If he wanted to keep living like this, he had to keep acquiring supernatural powers through the game and become an irreplaceable part of the organization.

Then he could say goodbye to practice exams and test papers forever!

[You have defeated the Corrupted Senior Operator. Your experience has increased greatly.]

[You have obtained ID Verification Card (Key)]

Done!

Shang Xiaoyuan made a gleeful ‘Yes’ gesture.

[At the end of the silver corridor, a metal sliding door blocks the way to the cockpit. Beside it stands an electronic device for identity verification.]

[Do you wish to use the ID Verification Card to open the door?]

Without hesitation, Shang Xiaoyuan was about to press ‘Yes.’

[A red light flashes before your eyes, and the entire world trembles faintly.]

[You have been invaded by an unknown Apostle…]

[You feel the relic bound to your soul begin to tremble, as if it’s about to break free.]

Shang Xiaoyuan froze.

What the hell?!

He’d been invaded once before in the first chapter during an encounter with the Librarian, and had managed to kill the invading Apostle in return, but that wasn’t the point.

The point was, the game text from that invasion didn’t look like this!

Seeing the current message on screen, Shang Xiaoyuan had a very bad feeling.

What did they mean by the relic being on the verge of detaching?

He had just cleared a Hell Difficulty chapter and exchanged for an S-grade relic fragment at the Library!

And weren’t relics supposed to be bound, unable to be traded, discarded, or dropped? How could it be shaking loose?

Then it hit him.

Without a second thought, he opened his inventory and clicked on an item.

[You used a Guardian Bookmark. This bookmark originated from Apostle: Immeasurable Sea]

[Attempting to summon this Apostle to help defend your chapter from the invader…]

[Summon failed! The invading Apostle used a special bookmark, making it impossible to summon allies to defend this chapter.]

“What the hell?!”

“Didn’t Big Bro Fisherman say I could ask him for help if someone invaded? Why isn’t the Guardian Bookmark working?!”

[A red-glowing figure looms, holding a giant club covered in fangs, but he doesn’t approach right away…]

[He pulls out a small instrument and gives it a gentle shake…]

[With a rustling rhythm, a stunning long-haired girl steps forth from the void, holding a giant longbow, with a pair of beautiful refined copper wings on her back…]

“A summoned creature?!”

Shang Xiaoyuan was stunned.

“Summoning pets in a fight? Shameless! Fight me one-on-one if you’ve got guts!”

[As your body glows white and trembles in fear, Apostle, what will you do?]

[1. Fall to your knees and beg for mercy, hoping your fellow Divine Chosen will show compassion and spare your life.]

[2. Raise your plasma cutter, pull the trigger, and fight to the bitter end, show them what it means to die with dignity.]

Seeing the choices, Shang Xiaoyuan already knew he probably couldn’t beat the invading Apostle.

He didn’t even bother selecting an option. He jumped to his feet and rushed out of the room with his phone.

Ignoring the startled stares from maids in the hallway, he sprinted while shouting, “Big Bro Fisherman, help me!”

[The red-glowing figure raised his giant club and advanced toward you…]

[The beautiful girl closed her eyes and drew her longbow…]

[You raised your Plasma Cutter and pulled the trigger with all your might, trying to resist…]

“Damn it! Too late!”

Shang Xiaoyuan cursed the massive size of the estate’s mansion.

Looking at the winding corridors ahead, he collapsed onto the wool carpet.

[Your vision goes black…]

[You are dead!]

[You were defeated by Apostle Lord of Cinders.]

[You dropped 3,450 Spirit Essence.]

[You dropped Plasma Battery *1 (Ammo)]

[You dropped Old Picture Frame (Junk)]

The phone screen continued to display:

[The relic bound to your soul has departed, now clinging to a more powerful Apostle.]

[You have dropped Type-I Relic Fragment (Deep-Space Dream Terror)!]