Deep within a dark and silent mountain range, inside a colossal temple rising from a cave in a valley.
As the altar at the center of the temple flashed with a beam of black radiance, a figure stepped out from the light. That figure was none other than the Beast Emperor — the very one wrapped head to toe in bandages who had just been killed by Shi Feng.
At this moment, aside from his aura being somewhat weak, the Beast Emperor's level hadn't dropped in the slightest. He was still at Tier 4, Level 132.
"Black Flame! You thought you could cripple me with the Abyssal Soul Curse? Keep dreaming!" The Beast Emperor sneered as he recalled how Shi Feng had killed him in an instant. "I received the Evil God's blessing and obtained the forbidden art of the Undying Body. Killing me isn't that easy. Just you wait — the evolution of the Tier 5 Sacred Construct monsters is nearly within my grasp. Once I gather enough materials, I'll make your Zero Wing taste the fear of death before long!"
The Tier 4 forbidden art of the Undying Body allowed him to die and resurrect once per day, respawning instantly at the Evil God's Temple without paying any death penalty. He could even trigger his own instant death at will — something he could do even while bound.
This trump card had been prepared specifically in case he was ever captured by NPCs. If the NPCs got their hands on him, especially the War God's Temple, that would truly be the end of him.
It was precisely because of this forbidden art that he dared to walk around in the open, no longer needing to live in the shadows or fear the NPCs who wanted to apprehend him.
"It's a shame Lu Xingluo is beyond saving. If I'd had his help, the Tier 5 Sacred Construct monsters would have appeared much faster." The Beast Emperor sighed inwardly. "From here on, I'll have to rely on myself again."
Capturing him would be far too difficult for Shi Feng. A capture required considerable time, and as a Tier 4 Class holder, the Beast Emperor would never allow such an opportunity. But Lu Xingluo, a Tier 3 Class holder, was a different matter entirely — a Tier 4 professional could toy with him however they pleased. A simple restraint would leave a Tier 3 professional completely helpless, making capture effortless.
And since Lu Xingluo had already been tainted with a portion of demonic energy from his previous escape, handing him over to the War God's Temple would mean certain death — a full reroll. Even if he wanted to start over, he'd probably have to wait more than ten days...
"Still, so what if I'm on my own? With the great treasure I've obtained, forget about a thousand Legendary Sacred Constructs — even five thousand Legendary Sacred Constructs would be no problem, as long as I'm given enough time!" At that thought, the Beast Emperor opened his inventory, reaching to take out the great treasure.
But his expression quickly turned to panic.
"It's gone?" The Beast Emperor searched his inventory three times, unable to believe what he was seeing. "Did it... drop when I died?"
At that realization, his face went deathly pale.
"Black Flame! I will never forgive you!"
A heaven-shaking roar echoed through the silent valley from within the cave.
Meanwhile, at the same time the Beast Emperor was resurrecting, far away at the Tower of Secret Covenants, Shi Feng was already moving. A single Dark Bind followed by a Mobile Prison, and Lu Xingluo was locked away — given absolutely no opportunity to commit suicide or escape.
The entire process, from killing the Beast Emperor to imprisoning Lu Xingluo, had taken barely five seconds. The members of the Hundred Ghosts solitary party nearby felt a chill creep up their spines.
Because that single strike from Shi Feng before had been far too terrifying.
Even Zhu Fengying, a Tier 4 Shadow Dancer, had only barely managed to see Shi Feng draw his sword. The moment Shi Feng appeared before the Beast Emperor, that was when Zhu Fengying had finally reacted.
A blow like that — practically any Tier 4 that wasn't a defense-oriented Class would have been killed in a single hit...
However, with the Beast Emperor's death, the Sacred Construct army had descended into complete chaos. Hundreds of thousands of Sacred Construct monsters, now devoid of command, began fleeing in every direction. As for the Sacred Construct Destroyers who knew escape was impossible, all three hundred-plus of them converged on Shi Feng and the others, prepared to fight to the death.
"Futile resistance!"
Shi Feng watched as over three hundred Sacred Construct Destroyers charged toward him. He then reached into his inventory and withdrew the Ring of the Gospel.
After pouring five thousand magic crystals into it in one go, he immediately activated the Miniature World.
In an instant, centered on Shi Feng, all space within a five-thousand-yard radius was completely frozen. On top of that, a tremendous wave of oppressive force descended from above, making every single Sacred Construct monster on the battlefield feel an indescribable weight pressing down on their entire bodies. Their attributes plummeted across the board, and if any of them could even maintain half their former combat power, they were doing well.