The Arcane Light Hatchling was entirely pitch-black, with a faint dark mist constantly swirling around its body. Faint starlight flickered within the haze, as if it were the embodiment of the night itself. Its enormous wings spanned over twenty meters, and a single beat could whip up a violent gale, the sonic boom echoing throughout the entire courtyard.
These were true dragons, not some lesser draconic species. Even as hatchlings at only Tier-3, their strength surpassed that of Ancient Species at the same level — and three of them, all at Level 65, were heading straight for the garden.
If any of them spotted him, there wouldn't be the slightest chance of survival.
Fortunately, the hatchlings were still at a considerable distance, giving Shi Feng enough time to retreat from the herb garden.
It wasn't just Shi Feng who was leaving of his own accord. Even the several Moon Shadow Demon Bears that had been lounging beside the Moonlight Fruits scrambled out of the garden in a panic, not daring to stay a single moment longer.
Soon, the three Arcane Light Hatchlings landed in the center of the herb garden. Three figures leaped down from their backs — two of them were Tier-3, Level-70 demons clad in exquisite armor. Leading them, however, was a black-robed elder gripping a deep crimson staff.
Though the old man radiated no pressure whatsoever, Shi Feng, watching from afar, didn't dare so much as move, terrified of being discovered.
This elder was far more terrifying than the Arcane Light Hatchlings, and Shi Feng had heard of his name before.
The Dark Archmage Raymond — a legendary Tier-5 Holy Archmage. He had once been the grand marshal commanding the mage legion of the
In the previous life, Raymond the Dark Archmage had been the final boss of the Divine Realm's new expansion — "The Black Wizard King."
Back then, to defeat him, every major superpower had suffered staggering casualties, and in the end it took two of them joining forces to finally bring him down.
Shi Feng could never have imagined that simply doing a class-quest would land him in front of such a terrifying boss. No wonder the Arcane Light Hatchlings served as mounts — only a legendary Holy Archmage of that caliber would be worthy.
"This class quest really is nine dead, one alive," Shi Feng muttered, watching Raymond from the distance, completely at a loss for what to do.
A peak Tier-5 Holy Archmage!
If he was discovered, death would come instantly and absolutely.
If Raymond was the one guarding this herb garden, there was no point even attempting the quest. He might as well give up right now.
He watched as Raymond descended from the hatchling and began quietly harvesting herbs, flanked by the two Tier-3 demons standing guard.
Seeing this, Shi Feng let out a breath of relief.
Raymond was not only a Tier-5 Holy Archmage but also a Grandmaster-level Alchemist. He had presumably come to the herb garden to gather materials for his research.
While Raymond harvested the herbs, Shi Feng remained motionless in the undergrowth. A Tier-5 NPC's perception was extraordinarily sharp — even at a distance of over five hundred yards, moving risked detection. All he could do was wait quietly for Raymond to leave on his own.
Time crawled by, second by second.
After more than ten minutes of harvesting, Raymond finally prepared to leave. But just then, he pulled a fist-sized, seven-colored rock from his inventory and began chanting an incantation.
"You've got to be kidding me — the Seven-Luminaries Source Stone is in Raymond's hands?!" Shi Feng stared at the seven-colored rock in Raymond's hand and felt like the system had just played him for a fool.