https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-72-The-Noble-Non-Player-Character/13676209/
Chapter 73: Crimson Scale Conqueror!
The four hurried forward along the Path of Flame.
Stuffed Bun’s face twisted into a sycophantic grin. He was determined to reclaim the Favor Level he’d lost to Singo’s misadventure.
"Ah, noble sir, what brings you to summon us? Speak the word, and I’ll serve you without hesitation—up mountains of knives, into seas of fire, no task too great!"
[Favor Level: 5]
[【Mysterious Dragonblood Sorcerer—Kai Xiusu】's Favor Level toward you: -10 (Mild Disdain)]
Stuffed Bun’s smile froze.
"Why’s it going down instead of up?!"
"Seriously, what kind of nonsense is this mysterious Non-Player Character pulling?!"
He seethed inwardly, cursing under his breath.
Kai Xiusu’s expression remained cool, a flicker of amusement barely visible in his eyes. You think I don’t know what you’re thinking? You’re probably cursing me in your head right now.
But aloud, he spoke with calm detachment:
"From the unknown realms, Stellarfallen. I did not summon you here to listen to idle chatter."
[You have issued a quest to Player 【I Eat Stuffed Bun】【Singo】【Xia Ye Qiu Yu】【Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang】.]
Singo responded simply: "Proceed."
The half-dragon Sorcerer looked down upon them, radiating an aura of overwhelming power. His golden eyes gleamed like molten suns.
"Since you were born in Bathor City, it is clearly fate’s design. Then go—learn of this land’s brief history. Or perhaps the older tales, of the Tieflings, of Ashen Hollow. You will uncover truths you never imagined."
The players’ Character Sheets updated instantly.
[Investigate the Tale of the Tieflings]
Task Description:
These beings known as "Devil’s Kin" were never meant to be here. Once driven out, hunted, slaughtered, they endured through sheer will. In just five years, they forged a city from the ruins of Storm Ridge—a land teeming with monsters. What happened five years ago? What drove them here, to join Ashen Hollow?
Reward: +500 【Ashen Hollow】Faction Contribution
"Ah… Faction Contribution again," Singo muttered, disappointment creeping into his voice. He bit back the rest of his thought—“Not even a dog would want this crap”—only because the NPC was clearly important.
Even Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang and Xia Ye Qiu Yu looked slightly deflated. They’d both read Singo’s guide. Faction Contribution had zero practical use so far. Sure, it might matter later—but in the early stages, it was just empty promise.
"Wait… look at this!"
"Quick, check the shop interface!"
Stuffed Bun’s voice trembled with excitement.
"Jesus, are you having a stroke?" Singo snapped, startled by the sudden outburst. Still, he reflexively opened his interface.
[【Mysterious Dragonblood Sorcerer—Kai Xiusu】 has opened a personal shop for you.]
Unlike the usual merchant NPC interface, this one was divided into three distinct modules:
【Platinum Shop】,
【Mithril Shop】,
and 【Common Shop】.
The Common Shop sold the usual trinkets—rusty iron swords, leather armor, potions, raw materials, food. Plenty of variety, but nothing special.
"Whatever. I can get better stuff."
But then he scrolled down.
And froze.
His eyes widened. His mouth hung open.
"...Holy shit."
From the Mithril Shop onward, everything changed.
Rare items—never seen since the Internal Test—filled the shelves.
【Whispering Greatsword】
【Jade Dragon Scale Sword】
【Inlaid Wood Wand】
【Hunter’s Longbow】
Hundreds of pieces.
Each one shimmering with a radiant magical aura, glowing with power.
Singo stared, breathless, reading the descriptions aloud, his voice rising with fervor:
"Whispering Greatsword—whispers from the roots of ancient trees grow from the hilt. When it strikes, it silences the target. A universal early-game artifact.
Dragon Scale Shield—emits a Dragon-Resistant Aura. The ultimate gear against dragon bosses.
Hunter’s Longbow—once aimed, it marks the enemy with a Hunter’s Mark. My ideal early-game bow for a Bow Warrior!"
But then he saw the prices.
Most items cost dozens of gold coins.
The rare early-game god-tier gear? Up to a hundred.
Even a seasoned pro like Singo couldn’t afford that. Only the wealthiest guilds could afford a single piece.
In truth, these overpriced items weren’t meant for solo players.
They were bait—crafted by Kai Xiusu specifically to drain the coffers of guilds.
But Singo noticed the shop’s description.
[【Mithril Shop】: Unlock requires 3,000 【Ashen Hollow】Faction Contribution.]
Singo sucked in a sharp breath.
"So… I was wrong. Faction Contribution is that important?"
Kai Xiusu’s golden eyes narrowed slightly. Let’s see how cocky you are now, kid. You mocked my Faction Contribution, made grinding quests unappealing. Now you’ll pay the price.
Once a mere overworked laborer from the past, Kai Xiusu now stood as a Chieftain of a faction. Power had changed him.
Now, as a boss, his only desire was to extract every last coin and effort from players.
First, the invitation: extract gold.
Then, the Faction Contribution lock: extract labor.
And the gear?
Players could always scrape together more gold.
"Need more?"
"Fine—just pay in installments. A little interest, daily payments. No problem."
After all, he wasn’t a Devil.
Just a plain, ordinary Red Dragon—willing to help every player chase their dream of legendary gear.
"Slave, check the Platinum Shop," Stuffed Bun urged, his voice flat with exhaustion.
Singo didn’t care about the insult. He focused on the interface.
[【Platinum Shop】: Unlock requires 10,000 【Ashen Hollow】Faction Contribution.]
Same familiar requirement.
But the Platinum Shop held only a few items—fewer than a dozen. And they weren’t priced in gold.
They were priced in Faction Contribution.
Singo stared at the descriptions, pulse racing.
Dragon Blood Elixir – Unlocks the Sorcerer Subclass 【Dragonblood Sorcerer】
Price: 4,500 Faction Contribution
Crimson Scales – Unlocks the Warrior’s advanced class 【Crimson Scale Conqueror】
Price: 9,800 Faction Contribution
【Crimson Scale Conqueror】
Requirements:
- Large Dragon Vein Beast Mount
- Dragon Bloodline
- Warrior Base Level 3
- +4 Equestrian Proficiency
Class Description:
When the distant roar of dragons echoes across the sky, Crimson Scale Conquerors ride forth on massive, brutal Dragonblood creatures, descending from the heavens to rain fire upon their enemies and bring them to utter ruin.
Stuffed Bun clenched his jaw, his eyes blazing with resolve.
"No one stops me. I’m becoming a Dragon Rider."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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