Chapter 23: The Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop

Back when he was browsing strategies on the Apostle Forum, Lin Xun had already learned of the existence of Resting Pages in the game.

In Chapter 323, the location of the first Resting Page was supposed to be in the White Moon Church, where he had respawned countless times—that was his starting point.

But for some reason, there was no Resting Page in the White Moon Church.

Lin Xun suspected it had something to do with the starting chapter.

For other Apostles, the starting chapter was basically a beginner’s tutorial. But for Lin Xun, it had been set to hell difficulty right from the get-go.

Nothing could surprise him at this point.

Snapping back to the present, Lin Xun first clicked the first option to set this location as his new respawn point.

[You have successfully set ‘Fox Castle Inner Courtyard—Small Chapel’ as your new resurrection point.]

Then, without hesitation, he selected Option 3—he decided to check out the Library!

His heart held high expectations for this transfer-and-supply hub exclusive to Apostles.

[You have not yet completed the starting chapter and cannot return to the Library.]

“…”

Left with no other choice, Lin Xun silently clicked Option 2.

[You rest at the Resting Page. Your shell’s condition has fully recovered!]

He exited the small chapel and walked straight to the guardroom. Just as he suspected, the three mobs had respawned.

Blood Charge… Charge!

[You easily defeated the “Corrupted Castle Soldier.” Experience slightly increased.]

[You easily defeated…]

[You easily…]

[You obtained Rusted Iron Chunk (Junk)]

[You obtained Decayed Wood (Junk)]

He returned to the chapel, rested again at the page, then stepped back into the guardroom…

—

[You easily defeated the “Corrupted Castle Soldier.” Experience slightly increased.]

[Power surges within your shell. ‘Blood Sun Church Paladin of Discipline’ shell has leveled up. Current Shell Level: 10]

“Whew~” Lin Xun finally felt at ease after leveling up his shell.

He went back to the Resting Page to reset things once more. Upon returning to the guardroom, he found the three mobs had disappeared.

Once again, the ironclad rule was proven true: Each monster can only be farmed three times.

With all four areas of the castle’s inner courtyard fully explored, only the Inner Castle Banquet Hall remained.

[You exit the small chapel, push through the overgrown sunflowers, and head toward the Inner Castle Banquet Hall.]

[You push open the large doors and step inside the Banquet Hall.]

[The banquet hall was once used by Lord Fox to receive guests. Now it lies in dim lighting. A long dining table stretches lengthwise down the center. Plates and cups are in disarray. The once-fine delicacies have rotted and reek of a foul stench.]

[At the far end of the long table, a yellow-robed figure stands.]

[It has spotted you. It rises and walks toward you.]

[The figure wears a jewel-encrusted high crown, a bright yellow robe, and holds a silver staff. In the gloom of the banquet hall, its pupils emit a crimson gleam.]

[‘Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop of the White Moon Church’ raises its staff, chanting an incantation…]

“…”

What happened to ‘don’t fight your own people’?

They’re all believers in the same filthy Blood Sun. Can’t we just get along?

[What will you do?]

[1. While the Yellow-Robed Bishop is still casting, charge in and drive your blade through its mouth.]

[2. Say ‘Oops, wrong room,’ and exit the banquet hall—don’t forget to close the door on your way out.]

[3. Praise the Sun!]

Praise the Sun, my ass. This Yellow-Robed Bishop was obviously a boss-class monster.

What? Say “Praise the Sun” and it’ll let you go? Who are you trying to fool—a three-year-old?

The text on screen began bleeding into a blood-red font, suggesting the bishop’s spell was nearly complete.

Lin Xun activated his single-for-life hand speed and moved at lightning pace.

He opened the equipment menu and equipped the Broken Dragonhunter Lance onto his Paladin of Discipline.

Let’s not forget—the lance was still imbued with White Moon power, a known nemesis to Blood Sun monsters!

A Level 10 Paladin of Discipline, plus the Dragonhunter Lance, plus the added White Moon enchantment—

You tell me, how would you lose? Even a flying dragon wouldn’t stand a chance!

Lin Xun slammed the first option. A hardcore Apostle doesn’t skip boss fights.

Besides, this Yellow-Robed Bishop was obviously the mage class he’d been dreaming of—not one of those washed-up priests tossed into the meta dumpster, but a real spellcasting mage.

If he could just defeat this boss, he’d finally have a mage shell!

[You grip the ‘Broken Dragonhunter Lance’. The weapon radiates the pure power of the ‘Radiant New Moon.’]

[You charge at the corrupted creature before you…]

[A flash of red light.]

[You are dead!]

???

“Are you kidding me? The game’s bugged!”

That was Lin Xun’s first thought.

“How the hell did I lose when I had a divine weapon and a buff?”

He had been all set to claim that mage shell—and then this hellish game pulls something like that?

The screen had shown a flash of red light. The bishop had clearly finished casting its spell.

If a Level 10 Paladin of Discipline couldn’t survive even one hit, how powerful was this boss?

[You respawn as a wandering soul in the now-familiar small chapel…]

His current Soul Strength was down to 1 point—insufficient to reshape a new shell.

Setting his phone aside, Lin Xun closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

“Whew~”

“Guess it’s true what they say—never pop the champagne at halftime. A lesson soaked in blood from those who came before.”

“But still, I was fully geared up. How did I lose to that Yellow-Robed Bishop? Could it be that I’m missing some kind of item?”

Lin Xun quickly dismissed the idea. He had scoured the map from top to bottom. With the exception of the ‘Corrupted Subspecies Sea Dragon’ boss—which was just too strong to beat—he’d looted every possible place.

If map exploration had a percentage rating, his would be 100%.

Eliminate every impossible scenario, and whatever remains—no matter how unbelievable—must be the truth. You can call him Sherlock. Holmes. Lin.

Lin Xun’s gaze shifted toward his inventory.

If he hadn’t missed any items, then the key to defeating the boss must lie in something he already had.

A very special horn caught his eye.

[Summoning Horn — Turkoman Bloodhorse (Special Item)]

Lin Xun smacked his forehead. “How the hell did I forget you!?”

A knight without a steed—what kind of knight is that? Sure, Lin Xun personally preferred foot soldiers, but it was obvious now that mounted combat packed far more impact.

Now that he had found the missing piece, he felt his whole body relax.