The Temple of the Goddess of Wealth in the western suburbs of Stan Town has now become a pile of ruins.
Not long after Ye Chui and Debbie left, the gravedigger from the nearby cemetery noticed the situation and quickly reported it to the town mayor, who then arrived with a group of guards.
Although the Temple of the Goddess of Wealth was not particularly significant, the structure had stood for five thousand years, perhaps longer. Despite previous investigations proving it held no special secrets, its sudden collapse was enough to draw attention.
“There’s a trace of magic, likely from some kind of teleportation array,” an elderly man with white hair and a beard said, standing amid the ruins with his hands outstretched, sensing the air. A magic book with a purple cover floated in front of him, its pages flipping rapidly. “I never expected a teleportation coordinate to be hidden here. I wonder where it leads.”
“Teacher Merlin,” a burly man beside him asked respectfully, “is this coordinate dangerous?”
The burly man wore iron armour with a large sword strapped to his back. He was a swordsman, exuding a powerful aura that commanded respect. His standard-issue armour marked him as the mayor of Stan Town.
“Who knows?” said Merlin, the old mage, pausing to think. “My magic book specialises in spatial magic, yet I never detected this coordinate before. It must be deeply hidden. This place was once a temple of the Goddess of Wealth, perhaps the last one on the continent, so it might connect to somewhere extraordinary.”
He paused, then continued, “Kas, this could be a coordinate to a ‘Relic of the Gods’.”
“A Relic of the Gods?” Kas, the swordsman, gasped. “This town has a coordinate to a Relic of the Gods? Teacher Merlin, can you activate it?”
Noticing the sudden fervour in Kas’s eyes, Merlin shook his head. “Give me some time, and I should be able to open it. But, Kas, if this truly leads to a Relic of the Gods, you won’t be able to handle it alone.”
“What do you mean, Teacher Merlin?” Kas asked, taken aback.
“Gather the town’s major guilds and mercenary groups to enter the relic together,” Merlin replied. “What you gain inside will depend on your own fortune.”
Kas showed a hint of reluctance. “Teacher Merlin, is that really necessary?”
“Absolutely necessary!” Merlin’s aged face grew serious. “After the gods fell, their divine realm shattered into countless fragments, forming dungeons and ancient halls filled with wealth and opportunities. These fragments connect to our world through coordinates, allowing entry via teleportation arrays. Such places are called Relics of the Gods. I once entered one myself.”
Merlin’s eyes gleamed with nostalgia.
“Every Relic of the Gods is fraught with danger. The spaces within are chaotic and disordered, like an impossibly complex underground maze. We can’t predict what we’ll encounter, and it’s easy to get lost. If you want to seize the opportunities, you’ll need everyone’s strength.”
Hearing this, Kas nodded reluctantly, accepting Merlin’s wisdom. He knew that before Merlin came to Stan Town to guard the Tower of Magic Books, he had travelled the continent extensively, far more experienced than the residents of this rural town.
“I understand. I’ll announce the coordinate’s existence. I’m sure the town’s magic guilds and mercenary groups will be eager to explore it,” Kas said.
Merlin nodded, his gaze returning to the flipping pages of his magic book.
Kas didn’t dare disturb him further. He quietly left the ruins, instructing the guards to secure the area and keep others away. Glancing back at Merlin, he felt a surge of excitement. Though he was the mayor, he still longed for the adventurous life of a mercenary. A Relic of the Gods, if he could explore it, even dying there would leave him with no regrets.
…
Meanwhile, in Ye Chui’s wooden cabin, Debbie, having devoured all his stored food, requested a bath. She had already made herself at home, treating Ye Chui as an adventuring “companion.” So, Ye Chui kindly heated water for her.
Now, Debbie was bathing in the next room, her naive, almost foolish humming drifting out, “Lalala, lalala,” singing something unclear.
Taking the chance, Ye Chui summoned his iPad-like magic book. When the temple collapsed earlier, he had stored it away. Now, he recalled that the [Map Navigation] had led him to a glowing point at the Temple of the Goddess of Wealth, clearly connected to the dungeon’s entrance.
Then, he noticed something surprising.
“New map pack discovered. Spend 300 points to unlock?” Ye Chui read the prompt on the [Map Navigation] interface, his face full of astonishment. “The new map pack refers to the dungeon’s map? If I unlock it with points, can I use my iPad to map out the dungeon’s layout?”
It was like unlocking a full game map.
But the catch was, “Points again? What even are these points?”
With a creak, the door to the small bathroom opened, and Debbie emerged amid a cloud of steam. She still wore her ornate robe, now fully repaired, though it was unclear how. Her face was flushed like a ripe apple, cute yet oddly alluring.
Wiping her wet hair with a towel, she let out a cheerful exclamation, “Your bathroom’s small and shabby, but after half a month without a bath, it feels amazing… huh?”
Her gaze landed on Ye Chui’s magic book.
“That’s your magic book?” Debbie said, incredulous.
Ye Chui rolled his eyes. “What about it?”
“Haha, sorry for bothering you so long. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be off,” Debbie said, heading for the door, as if forgetting her earlier camaraderie.
“What the hell?” Ye Chui said, annoyed. “Explain yourself!”
“Young man, you’re not cut out to be an adventurer. Just live a normal life,” Debbie said sincerely, glancing at his magic book. “I’ve never seen such a weird, cheap-looking magic book.”
“Says the one whose summoned magical creature goes on strike,” Ye Chui retorted, his mouth twitching.
“I have other powerful battle spirits, but summoning them comes at a huge cost. They’re strong, you know!” Debbie said, blushing as she pushed his hand away, her expression turning serious.
“Young man, how do you think I survived half a month in a dungeon?”
Her words stunned Ye Chui. He knew some rumours about the Relics of the Gods, said to be filled with dangers and lingering resentments from fallen gods. Surviving half a month there meant Debbie was no ordinary adventurer.
Seeing his expression, Debbie smirked triumphantly, ready to leave.
But Ye Chui stopped her, pulling out his trump card. “You ate all my food, bathed here, and I saved you earlier. If we’re not companions, you owe me. As an adventurer, you wouldn’t be unreasonable, right?”
“The Anduin family is one of the empire’s richest. I could bury you in money!” Debbie said smugly, reaching for her satchel, only to freeze. She realised she was penniless. Leaving Ye Chui’s house in this unfamiliar town, she’d struggle to eat or sleep. Stiffly, she turned back, giving Ye Chui an awkward smile.
“Hehe, my soon-to-be adventuring companion…”
