Hearing this unique nickna, Su Ming’an paused for a mont.
He took another look at the purple-haired girl’s appearance; she was indeed Yuan Shuangshuang who should have been in a coma in the basent.
"Yuan Shuangshuang?"
"I don’t like the na Yuan Shuangshuang," the purple-haired girl said. "You can call Xiao Ai."
Su Ming’an climbed the stone steps and saw her pair of violet eyes more clearly.
He saw the black crow mark on her arm.
She was definitely the First Guide, Yuan Shuangshuang.
Since Xiber has the nickna Cici, and Yuan Shuangshuang did not like her na, he would call her Xiao Ai then.
He communicated with Xiao Ai and learned that her most unique feature was — adventurers died, but as a guide, she would not lose her divine wisdom.
The last nine days, she said she was actually asleep, not truly bereft of divine wisdom. If soone attempted to kill her, she would wake up imdiately, and that was why Noel died.
...Although Su Ming’an did not understand how Xiao Ai’s appearance of lying in the basent with open eyes for the past few days could be called "sleep."
After the baptism of Xiber, he had learned to half-believe the words of NPCs, treating them all as liars unless their favorability was full.
Whether Xiao Ai’s words were true or false wasn’t important — what mattered was that she was the First Guide and possessed the Black Crow Authority, and she was standing before him.
"...If you have been asleep all this ti, how did you know my na has ’An’ in it?" Su Ming’an asked.
"I can still hear the outside world even when I’m asleep," Xiao Ai smiled. "Anjiang, I heard you negotiating with Cici earlier, saying that you’d wait for to die before taking the Black Crow Authority. Looks like your plan didn’t work out."
"Do you want to make a pact with ?" Su Ming’an asked. "I still have one last Silver Star Book."
He was very blunt because he felt that this girl wasn’t a normal character; the usual thods of communication wouldn’t work with her.
Cici was currently staying with the First Tribe and surely couldn’t join him for the Silver Star instance at dawn, so finding a guide on the spot was a good choice.
"Hmm..." Xiao Ai said, "Sure, if you’re not scared of the curse radiation I give off."
Su Ming’an was slightly stunned.
...That easy?
This was the legendary First Guide, who should be stronger than Fengchang. Had he succeeded just like that?
Although she was indeed emitting a curse and her previous adventurer had died because of not being able to bear the curse, compared to other players, his ntality Points were on a whole different level. The faint curse aura around them might kill other players, but it wouldn’t kill him.
He spent 100 Emotion Value to overlay a thin mbrane-like barrier around himself, which clung to his body like protective clothing.
This should be completely foolproof now.
Xiao Ai took the initiative to grab his hand, and with a flash of light, the guide pact was signed.
"By the way, Anjiang, do you need to teach you any abilities?" she asked again.
"...I do," Su Ming’an imdiately responded. "If possible, please also change the nickna."
"Okay," Xiao Ai smiled. "Ming’anjiang."
"..." Su Ming’an: "Let’s stick with the previous one."
...
[You have chosen to switch Guide· Number One·Curser "Xiao Ai"]
["Xiao Ai" imparts to you Curse Arcana (High-Level)]
[Your affinity with "Curse" is 80%, learning successful!]
...
[Detected that the "Curse" ability is highly compatible with your Emotion Infusion skill.]
["Emotion Infusion" effect enhanced: After infusing emotion into soone, you can plant a "Seed of Curse" within them. When the target dies, you can choose to detonate the "Seed of Curse" within their body, causing area damage and an environntal pollution effect.]
...
[Adventurers in the Eighth World can only receive teachings from three or fewer guides. Current number obtained: 2/3]
...
[Combat Power: 2610 40]
...
After Spacer Kael Nashe, Su Ming’an received skill tutoring from a second guide.
The Seed of Curse was a skill similar to Corpse Explosion and likely to have high explosive damage, potentially bringing negative effects such as corruption and erosion, which could enhance his group attack and control abilities.
However, he hadn’t expected that upon his first eting with Xiao Ai, she would not only sign a contract but also gift a skill. Her attitude, compared with Xiber’s initial deanor, was enough to move one to tears.
If only Xiber had been so compliant from the beginning, his journey wouldn’t have been so arduous...
"Oh right, this is sothing I picked up before." He took out an item.
...
[You have obtained the Catea Grass-Woven Bracelet (Special)]
[Catea Grass-Woven Bracelet: A bracelet dropped by the first guide. Returning this to her will earn her favor.]
...
[NPC ("Xiao Ai") Favorability: 95 (Initial Favor) 1]
...
Seeing this number, Su Ming’an’s eyes montarily lingered.
"Xiao Ai student, did you know before?" he asked.
"As for you, I probably don’t," Xiao Ai replied, taking the bracelet, "Okay, let’s not waste ti. You’re after the Black Crow Authority, right? I can’t give it to you just yet, but when the timing is right, I’ll make sure to hand it over to you..."
She said, walking away into the night, unfazed by the black mist that enveloped her. Her own concentration of the curse was higher than the mist itself, making her fearless in her nightti ventures.
Su Ming’an felt the urge to forcefully seize the Black Crow Authority from her since it was the only thing keeping him from a Perfect Pass.
But seeing the purple-haired girl’s light steps, and recalling Noel’s death, he refrained from acting.
A favorability of 96 points... and yet she claims not to know him...
...
[Eleven o’clock at night]
Surrounded by dark thorns, a seemingly ancient castle stood erect.
Like white roses, the flowers blood in abundance around the castle. They were all paper-made faux flowers, rely a false beauty, like a dream in this tainted world.
Lu was the first player to arrive; he pushed open the heavy door of the ancient castle and looked upon a grand hall.
In the very center of the hall stood a long white table, with ten golden chairs placed five on each side, facing each other.
Golden candlesticks and silver-shining dinnerware were arrayed on the table, while the slight "pop" of the fireplace could be heard, mixing with the sll of fruit and roast turkey in the air.
This was the battlefield of Silver Star Replica’s final instance, the point of decision.
Lu took his seat on a chair on the left side.
His guide, Mocha, stood next to him, the remote toy in her hand clicking "clack" loudly in the quiet nightti.
"...Qiongdi certainly has a unique artistic style," Lu interacted with the comnts in his live stream, their atmosphere always friendly: "Indeed, the Steam Engine Workshop is one thing, but even a Middle Ages castle is created, where eras blend together in quite an interesting way... Judging by the number of chairs, there should be ten remaining players? Yesterday’s system notification ntioned thirteen, so three have died? Must be the handiwork of the elders sent by the Number One Player...
...Hmm. Su Rin, it’s possible, too; he seems to have been missing in action. I’m looking forward to his showdown with the Number One Player.
...The first guide? To this point, still no news; if only we could see her..."
Suddenly, Lu heard a noise from outside the door.
"Seems I’m the second to arrive," Noel squeezed through the door gap.
He was covered in bloodstains, his white robes dyed crimson.
"What happened?" Lu asked: "Cross-dressing looks good on you, New World President."
"Almost got killed in retaliation," Noel replied: "Truly terrifying... that purple-haired guy. I hope Su Ming’an doesn’t get entangled with her."
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