Chapter 384: Finally the Elf Holy Knight Appears, but He

Perhaps this world is just a huge trope, because only after everything settled in the cave maze did the field operative, dispatched to assist after receiving Cang Lang's request for help, barely arrive here.

Cang Lang was naturally very displeased; within the Kingdom, a single fief limits the number of players and lacks simple teleportation, so roaming the map is indeed not that free.

Yet there are clearly permanent staff locally, and he was specially trained to guard against factions stealing or destroying food and sabotaging production, so why is his work still so unprofessional?

"Dying here today is a minor issue; I can revive at will, but if the granary gets burned tomorrow, we'll all be hit hard by Director Zhao's heavy‑handed strike in reality!"

The fresh recruits, who were inadvertently granted eligibility and packaged into the game, heard that and were on the verge of tears, pulling out the notices they had received.

"Team leader, it's not that we're slow; this place is truly hard to find!"

Since the battle began, Cang Lang has either been fighting one‑against‑hundreds at high intensity or high‑intensityly fleeing, so he only has a brief window to send a reinforcement request.

And that brief moment is… he thought he'd sent a comprehensive location, but he actually only broadcast his current position.

But Yangyue World lacks the internet and satellite system, so there's no map software to provide automatic navigation.

And they are neither gifted players like Ji Ming nor professional types like Cang Lang.

Yesterday they were being taught by the old squad leader how to stack tofu blocks; today they expect you to solve everything at light speed.

Moreover, this place is a heavily concealed secret base, so the field operatives, like mountain‑pursuing thieves, can only grope around the hills.

In the end, one unlucky soul accidentally fell into a tunnel they'd dug, and a few others captured a small group of fleeing Evil‑God cultists, finally obtaining the exact location of the cave maze.

Afterwards they spent a long time as headless flies inside, cursing their luck, and only by relying on the mutually shared map vision did they painstakingly reach the deep cavern.

Having wasted so much time in between, of course everything had already settled.

Cang Lang: Ah, this.

"Alright, as long as people arrive…"

After the local garrison secured the situation, reinforcements from other regions also arrived at the cave maze and, in passing, informed Cang Lang of their big move tonight.

Cang Lang vaguely knew they had previously caught a big fish, but never expected that fish to belong to the Cold Iron Church, prompting the intel‑gathering field department to launch a top‑secret operation even he wasn't aware of.

Having heard that, Ji Ming probably also understood why the Cold Iron Deity is brazen, stirring trouble against the Holy Light God's territory even in a head‑wind.

—No mischief, no fun; after painstakingly holding seven or eight mines, they were taken in a single wave, so you're understandably anxious.

When this business was done and dawn approached, Ji Ming didn't linger and decided to leave Mai Xiang Territory with Cloi.

Cang Lang: "Huh? Leaving so fast? Tonight's work was a mess; why not stay a few more days to rest?"

Ji Ming: "Funny, I only had one meal and worked all night; if we stayed longer, I'm afraid this place would spawn the Demon Lord Soren!"

After saying goodbye to Cang Lang, the two continued their usual wilderness survival, living by the motto 'If I hit a main road today I'll die', but this time they were truly heading toward the central Kingdom.

Yet as they trekked through the forest, about to reach the plains, Cloi suddenly slammed on the brakes.

The wolf's back isn't a comfortable seat; if Ji Ming hadn't tied a rope around his waist, he'd probably have been thrown off.

He pulled back the wolf's fur.

"What's wrong?"

Cloi stepped back two paces.

"I smell someone ahead, and the scent is really pungent!"

Only a truly formidable, bizarre artifact‑level opponent could make a strange wolf's nose tingle.

Ji Ming thought briefly.

"Let's go, be brave; they're probably our own!"

Sure enough, after feeling their way forward, the dense forest was split by a stream, and on the bank stood a fine horse, presently drinking the sweet spring water.

If that were all, it would simply be a harmonious natural scene.

But if that horse had a single horn on its head and wings on its back, with a fully armed holy knight standing beside it, that would be different.

"Greetings, Chosen One, I'm glad to see you're so cautious."

Turning back and removing his helmet, beneath the faceplate was a strikingly handsome elf, and from the angle of his pointed ears backward, he seemed to be a golden descendant of the Sacred Nine Lineages.

Because of that, his armor was adorned with a plethora of refined gold filigree and mithril engravings; the uninformed might think it was ripped from some web game.

Amid the costly metallic clatter, he performed a Holy Light Salute.

"Allow me to introduce myself first: I am Grandmaster of the Pegasus Knight Order of the Holy Light Church, Haikemedia·Greygori·Erwin·Hu Tao, a blessed servant of the gods, and I extend my blessings to you."

Although his voice is pleasant, he's a Pegasus, not a unicorn, so naturally he's a man.

He doesn't seem very old either; unlike the sour‑faced elf matriarch and the kindly succubus matriarch, he exudes the vigor typical of youth.

As for the Hu Tao clan… hmm, it does match the profession.

Just like the Ebony clan, which excels in magic and cultivates sages, this clan, adept at taming and riding horses, is tasked with building elite cavalry for the Holy Tree Kingdom.

Unfortunately, the Walnut Iron Cavalry that once, ten thousand years ago, slaughtered the land like a golden storm, had, by the wars five hundred years later, become a troupe of performers so professional in both aerial and ground displays…

Perhaps for that reason, although Haikemedia strives to project an 'extremely professional' aura, he always carries a fragile vibe of 'what are you looking at, don't think a male elf holy knight can get away with the goblin lord.'

…*tsk tsk*.

"Greetings, Knight‑Commander, I am the Chosen One Ji Ming from Sunlight City, paying my respects."

After completing a brief observation and inference, Ji Ming also performed a Holy Light Salute and then said.

"Last night my two friends and I tried to encircle an Evil‑God base, but we were nearly attacked by the deity himself; I suppose you scared him off, didn't you?"

"Uh…"

Is that so?

The reason Haikemedia came here, besides greeting a colleague, was also to personally apologize to the Chosen One.

After all, all believers have the duty to protect the Chosen One; although they solved the difficulty themselves this time, his own tardiness was still a factual shortcoming.

Moreover, a pursuit that could have redeemed the effort failed due to the cunning of the Cold Iron 'earth mouse', leaving him a clown before even stepping onto the field.

If this isn't labeled, it's a case of 'plans depend on people, outcomes on heaven'; his escape ability is god‑defying, and what can a Pegasus knight do?

But if it is labeled… his true form's fate on your turf, plotting to kill your Chosen One, that's shooting arrows at your boss's face from both sides!

You let him get away like that?

It seems some people's loyalty, abilities, etc… really must be re‑examined, in case we can uncover something.

And if it were earlier, he could still take a gamble; if the Divine Selection's expedition didn't get the Holy See's approval, then, with his limited authority, even if he wanted to write his own volume it would be useless.

But now…

Haikemedia hesitated for a moment.

"Do you… do you think it's like that?"

Ji Ming nodded.

"I think it should be so."

"Then, of course, it is so."

After saying that, Haikemedia smiled voluntarily, and Ji Ming smiled along, reaching a silent consensus.

Ji Ming couldn't fully guess the little scheming in the elf's pointed ears, but he knew the other party was waiting here on purpose, certainly to make a friendly overture.

Since that's the case, he wouldn't just idle and conjure an enemy; later he'll still have to mingle in the Holy Light Church, and more friends mean more paths.

And Haikemedia, seeing Ji Ming proactively give him a stepping stone, naturally reported with doubled enthusiasm, and voluntarily briefed him on what happened at the Holy See last night.

Te Nisi's channel needs no explanation; the envoy used a Marquis family's teleport array in the kingdom's central region and returned to the Holy See in half a day.

At that time the Pope was having dinner; before he could swallow a bite of meat, a guard announced that the Archbishop had sent an urgent letter, requesting His Holiness to read it quickly.

What the Pope actually said is unclear, but the circulated version was—

"What's the panic? How do I usually teach you? Eating is the most important! We'll discuss any matters later!"

"Wait, which Archbishop… Archbishop Te Nisi? You should've said earlier! Bring it to me quickly!"

There's no way around it; after all, as half an immortal race, they've been mixing in the circles for several hundred years, and in fact the Pope himself was once mentored by them.

After the Pope magically speed‑read the letter and the accompanying guidebook, his eyes widened, and he immediately summoned all senior clergy of the Holy Light Church for a meeting.

There's nothing to say; just study it.

But learning isn't just reading; it requires time for inquiry, discussion, and comprehension, so even now that group remains locked inside.

Yet this single incident already proves the guidebook's value and its author's worth.

So Haikemedia's move here is like taking advantage of a nearby stage to get the moon first—serving the future top leader early, so future mishaps won't be crushed entirely.

And as a commander of a Holy See garrison army, he came here because the Pope ordered him to support Archbishop Te Nisi's operation.

—The situation this time looks terrible; if the evil‑god forces aren't eradicated, the Holy Light Church will truly lose its face.

"Farewell, I will convey your regards to her."

Watching Haikemedia flip onto a horse and vanish into the sky on a magical gale, Ji Ming hurriedly climbed back onto Cloi's back.

"Let's go; the ones waiting for us have been waiting long enough, they must be getting impatient."

Not long after traversing the forest, he heard a whooshing sound overhead—that was Xi Er Wei Ya chasing the trail.

The holy knights can't catch the god, but we angels can; as an angel, Xi Er Wei Ya has a variety of methods for pursuit and capture.

Thus she never, like Haikemedia, strained against the Han Tie Shen's avatar; instead she followed the trail, found its lair, and employed a strategy of waiting for the enemy to tire.

The just‑awakened Han Tie Shen: No way, I'm fighting an angel?

Even a peak‑level angel of over ninety ranks would be fiercely captured if Ji Ming fought it now, let alone a rustic minor god.

So now the Han Tie youngster has attained great enlightenment, opened his heart, lowered his brows and eyes, preparing to say something heartfelt to Ji Ming.

Looking at the cold‑aura, crystal‑like heart in Xi Er Wei Ya's hand.

"That's all that's left?"

"Yes. I rinsed it three times with pure Qi, then dried it three times with holy‑light wind, and after a thorough inspection, this is all that remained."

…Look, that's what you call professionalism.

The reason this frozen heart survived is that it is actually the Han Tie Shen's divine entity, containing the powers of blowing cold wind and digging tunnels.

According to Yangyue World's divine rules, a pure divine entity left after a god's death is like a seed; when a mortal uses it, they gain the chance to become the corresponding deity.

Although if one truly intends to rely on it to become the Han Tie Shen, not even Xi Er Wei Ya, but even Archbishops Te Nisi and Yin Ni would break into a cold sweat.

But if you decide to use it to become a coal boss, lead a construction crew, etc… I swear, I can't even imagine how many Ws you'd earn!

So Ji Ming, after weighing it repeatedly and feeling no need to hold back, listed it directly on the game store.

Then the game forum was, as expected, blown up.

【WTF, a divine entity?】

【Han Tie power? Sounds strong!】

【This must be the most useful thing in the soul‑spirit sale right now, right?】

Although Ji Ming has only listed a few items in the store, and when forging the second form he took everything down for personal use.

But the right to list items in a specific store section, he shared with everyone in the Production Team.

Thus, whenever Shu Ren Ge Rui Sen needs something, he'll list some self‑grown functional bonsai; dwarf Ai Ren Wei Er Mo occasionally lists some proud creations to fund his research…

But regardless of who or what, most are just idle second‑hand items like salted fish.

Although the big shots have gold spilling from their fingertips, players aren't the beggar guild from the closed beta that handcrafted everything; they've seen all kinds of storms.

After being listed and instantly sold out several times, they realized many were mass‑produced, so enthusiasm cooled a bit; at least they no longer hoarded them as precious treasures.

But this divine entity… that truly hasn't been seen before.