Chapter 42

Zhao Junyu left the palace and came to the hotel where Wu Xiaode was resting. In the hotel’s restaurant, he ordered a bottle of wine and quietly waited while drinking.

Wu Xiaode said he had some business to attend to in the outskirts of the city.

He was supposed to be busy until noon and would return.

However, it was now said that there was a communication issue outside the city, and he couldn't be reached for the time being.

"This kid... Never mind, I'll eat first."

Zhao Junyu snapped his fingers and called a waiter to order food.

He had just started ordering when a woman with a gentle and virtuous demeanor walked into the restaurant and sat down opposite him.

"Hi, Brother Junyu, it's been a long time. Do you still remember me?"

The woman said.

Zhao Junyu carefully examined the woman and uncertainly said, "You are—Dandan from the Ouyang family?"

"Yes, Brother Yu, you don't recognize me after a few years?" The woman pouted.

"What brings you here suddenly?" Zhao Junyu asked.

Just as he finished asking, another pretty girl walked into the restaurant and sat down next to him.

"Brother Yu, I'm Bingbing from the Yang family. I was just admitted to the capital university this year, so I came to add you as a friend."

The girl took out her phone.

Zhao Junyu glanced at a man not far away.

The man nodded almost imperceptibly.

The identity was correct.

In other words, this girl was indeed the legitimate daughter of the Wang family in the military.

However, he had heard that this girl was very proud and looked down on everyone. Why did she suddenly do this?

As he was thinking, another girl walked into the restaurant.

The girl met Zhao Junyu's gaze from a distance and smiled, "Brother Yu, do you still remember me?"

Zhao Junyu waved at her and smiled, "What a coincidence, what are you doing here?"

"Having a meal. I just happened to run into Brother Yu, why don't we eat together?" the girl said.

"Ha, sure, I'll go wash my hands first, see you in a bit."

Zhao Junyu greeted her, stood up from his seat with a confident and graceful demeanor, and quickly walked into the restroom.

As soon as he closed the door, he frowned.

"Something's not right... These families have always been indecisive, why would they suddenly show me favor?"

"Or—"

Zhao Junyu picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Sis, didn't you say we'd talk about matchmaking later?" he said in a low voice.

The usually cold female voice came from the receiver, "I didn't arrange anything for you."

Zhao Junyu was taken aback.

A strange feeling arose in his heart.

Each one of them was more beautiful than Sun Mingyue and had a higher status. Could it be—

My charm is finally widely recognized?

Zhao Junyu suppressed his thoughts and said, "Sis, I'm confident in my charm, but something feels off today."

"What's wrong?" the female voice asked.

"The number of people pursuing me has increased—these families used to keep their distance from us. I don't believe they really like me," Zhao Junyu said.

It must be true love.

He silently said to himself.

The female voice was satisfied, "Hmm, not bad. My brother isn't a fool. They are pursuing you because the power of our royal family has intimidated these indecisive families."

"Huh? What?" Zhao Junyu was confused.

"Something happened in the outskirts that I think you should look at—other families have also obtained this video."

"Father didn't stop it?" Zhao Junyu asked in surprise.

"His Majesty thinks it's fine to let everyone see it, so they were allowed to obtain it."

The female voice hung up after saying that.

Zhao Junyu was puzzled.

Why does my usually cold sister sound a bit amused today?

When did she have such a good mood?

As he was thinking, a video was sent to his phone.

Zhao Junyu tapped on it.

The video started playing.

After watching for a while, Zhao Junyu sighed, "Alright, this society is really pragmatic. I knew their feelings weren't pure..."

...

Swish!

Wu Xiaode detached from the mirror world and returned directly to the room in the martial arts hall.

He carefully felt for a moment and realized that his senses seemed to have become sharper, and many problems could be solved quickly when he thought about them.

Apart from that, there was nothing else.

...Nothing else?

Wu Xiaode hesitated for a moment, then suddenly set up a boxing stance and cleanly and crisply performed a set of Iron Wire Fist.

His reaction and judgment were much faster.

Some moves that he couldn't complete before could now be changed several times in succession.

In addition—

Clang!

He drew his sword and slashed hundreds of times in place, causing a strong wind to surge throughout the room.

The "Arcane Knowledge" improved his mental and reaction speed.

He had also obtained a "Secondary Dexterity (Passive)" ability.

This ability made him more agile and easier to dodge attacks in any battle.

One for the mind, one for the body.

Together, they significantly increased his combat effectiveness.

Because he was faster!

This change seemed ordinary and lacked power.

But—

Wu Xiaode knew it was a terrifying improvement.

—When others just started their attack, his attack was already finished.

This was a watershed in combat levels.

He looked up.

On the Book of the Dead, a few lines of ice crystals appeared:

"Notice:"

"You are faster, man."

"No, boy."

Wu Xiaode's lips twitched, completely ignoring the Book of the Dead, and instead picked up his long sword for a look.

He saw that the cracks on the blade had increased slightly.

As the ancestral spirit had said, this sword was only for temporary use.

Wu Xiaode couldn't help but shake his head and put the sword away again.

The sword was a minor issue.

He could find a better one later.

The important thing was that he finally saw a glimmer of hope.

As the mage had said—

If this armor could gather spirits.

Then, when the princess brought the armor to the Death Pit, it must have collected countless spirits!

Wu Xiaode pondered for a moment and said again, "There are two types of fairy magic. I've tried the first one. As for the second one, if I recite that spell, can I return to that moment?"

On the Book of the Dead, lines of ice crystals appeared:

"Correct, that is the only chance."

Wu Xiaode understood.

It was not the right time to use the second type of magic.

On the Book of the Dead, new lines of ice crystals appeared:

"The trial of the first type of magic has ended."

"From now on, you can use the power of the armor to go to the moments of the spirits' deaths at any time."

"Each use of the 'Mirror Save Refresh Magic' will cost you 1 point of soul power."

This armor was truly powerful.

He could use it to return to the Death Pit and face the Cyclops again.

And even if he died, he would only complete the predetermined deaths of those spirits and return to reality!

—There was hope!

Finally, there was hope to survive!

Wu Xiaode was somewhat excited and gently stroked the scales.

On the Book of the Dead, a line of ice crystals appeared:

"Each scale is attached to a spirit. When you need it, you can use the fairy armor to return to the moment of their death and take their place to fight the Cyclops."

Wu Xiaode rested for a while, waiting for his soul power to recover slightly, and then said:

"Add me."

Swish!

He disappeared from the room and the next moment—

He found himself standing in darkness.

Despite the deep red, dim light that obscured his vision, Wu Xiaode immediately knew where he was.

Yes.

This was the Death Pit.

With the help of the fairy armor, he had returned here.

Looking around.

He saw the Cyclops sitting on a pile of corpses, tearing apart the body of an unknown creature.

His appearance had changed—

He had become a fully armored man, holding a shield and a sword, carefully observing the surroundings.

This was a spirit who had died here.

Wu Xiaode understood and suddenly felt a pain in his head.

Countless memories flooded his mind, even scenes of training knightly skills appeared.

In an instant.

The pain disappeared.

Wu Xiaode gained all the memories of the living spirit.

He raised his hand, hesitated for a moment, and softly said, "Holy Light Protection."

A layer of holy light quietly appeared on his hand.

Not bad—

He had gained all the abilities of the knight, along with his own Iron Wire Fist and sword techniques.

But this situation would only last for this moment.

Once he returned, the knight's abilities would disappear, leaving only what he originally knew.

However, Wu Xiaode was not discouraged, and was even somewhat excited.

—Because the combat experience would not disappear!

Gaining so much knowledge and combat skills related to knights was already a significant gain.

Someone patted Wu Xiaode on the shoulder.

"How did we end up here? Anthony, what is this place?"

A man in armor, holding a sword, asked.

This knight was named Anthony.

Thanks to the previous "trial" experience, Wu Xiaode calmly said:

"I don't know, but I think we're in trouble."

The man followed his gaze and immediately saw the Cyclops on the pile of corpses.

"Monster..."

The man whispered.

"Yes, it seems to be a Cyclops from mythology, very difficult to deal with," Wu Xiaode replied.

He looked back and saw a small team by the wall, forming a battle formation.

The great mage he had seen before.

Several knights holding tower shields, completely covered in armor.

A few hooded preachers emitting a faint light.

Further inside were a few maids, cooks, and butlers.

The girl was protected in the center.

In the dim light, through the layers of blood-red mist, Wu Xiaode could only roughly see her figure.

But he was sure.

It must be her!

Wu Xiaode retracted his gaze, feeling a bit eager.

This was the beginning of the fatal destiny.

Although he was not a match for the Cyclops—

At least he had become a professional.

With the fairy armor, he could return to this moment in the Death Pit and leave at any time.

So—

Why not try his current strength?

Thud—thud—thud—

Heavy footsteps echoed from the depths of the cave.

The Cyclops!

It emerged from the darkness and mist, its fierce eye fixed on the knight and Wu Xiaode.