A phrase instantly appeared in Xiao Jie’s mind.
The concept of an Instant Death Spell was not unfamiliar to Xiao Jie. Many games have similar skills where an Instant Death Spell can kill a player instantly, ignoring their blood volume and defense. Xiao Jie’s deepest impression comes from the Curse Frogs in Dark Souls and the Wormface in Elden Ring, both of which are quite disgusting monsters.
However, having such a skill in a permadeath mode game is a bit excessive, isn’t it?
Moreover, the death mist from the Curse Frogs at least has a process. It requires the curse bar to fill up before triggering the instant death effect. As long as one avoids staying in the mist for too long, they won’t die. But a skill that can kill in an instant without any warning is simply unreasonable.
Xiao Jie’s heart went cold. He had no idea about the rule of determination for this skill and was entirely unsure if he could withstand it.
He could only secretly pray that Wang Xie hadn’t noticed their existence.
Fortunately, at the moment, Wang Xie’s attention was fully drawn to the few escaping players, not paying even a glance in their direction.
Those few players, as if driven by desperation, scattered in all directions. The second farthest was a Flying Thief, who had witnessed the death of the assassin with his own eyes, and was so scared that he leapt into the air.
Exerting full Qinggong to escape, the Flying Thief’s Qinggong was indeed formidable. His form moved like a flying bird in the sky, leaping continuously to a height of sixty to seventy meters.
Seeing that he was far away from Wang Xie, the Flying Thief finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, he forgot that this was the base of the New Empire Army, filled with all sorts of high-level humanoid monsters besides Wang Xie.
The bastions, watchtowers, and walls around the Magic Altar were covered with archers, crossbowmen, Divine Archers, and Eagle Shooters... At this moment, his movement in mid-air made him the most conspicuous target.
Instantly, he attracted the attention of countless enemies, all of whom bent their bows and shot arrows toward the sky.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
A rain of arrows descended upon the Flying Thief, and in the mid-air, there was nowhere to hide. However, his Lightweight Body Technique was indeed superb; his form was as nimble as a sparrow, dodging most of the attacks with a series of agile turns and shifts.
Yet, no matter how good his Qinggong was, it wasn’t flying. Seeing as he couldn’t catch his breath and started to fall, the arrows remained dense like rain. The Flying Thief ultimately couldn’t continue dodging.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
In the blink of an eye, he was turned into a pincushion with arrows, and as soon as he fell to the ground, the surrounding guards immediately surrounded him.
Just then, Chen Tianwen was still incessantly sending private messages.
Wentian Wuji: Don’t move!
Wentian Wuji: Don’t move!
Wentian Wuji: For heaven’s sake, don’t move!
Xiao Jie thought, "Who would move?—Wait, just staying still won’t do!"
He watched the spot where the Flying Thief fell, which was only tens of meters away from them. Some guards were already charging toward the Flying Thief.
Xiao Jie thought if they were acting, it should be a trap. If they didn’t move, they would seem conspicuous instead.
"Brothers, seize these intruders! Kill them!"
Xiao Jie shouted, mimicking the surrounding guards, and charged toward the Flying Thief.
Of course, "charged" was more like edging forward. He didn’t dare get too close. The transformation effect of the Phantom Spirit Pearl could fool NPCs but not players. The name may have changed on the outside, but inside it hadn’t changed. If the other side realized he was a player, who knows what lengths they’d go to save themselves.
Therefore, Xiao Jie only hid behind other guards, following along with shouts and cheers.
Chen Tianwen reacted extremely quickly, rushing forward as well. The two mixed in among a group of guards and didn’t stand out awkwardly.
The Flying Thief, gulping down potions, fled madly, constantly activating various life-saving items and skills — now a Godspeed Talisman, now an Iron Wall Talisman.
Meanwhile, another assassin was slipping away from the other side of the Magic Altar. His speed was incredibly fast, all instant-speed skills activated and additionally pulling distance with Instant Body Technique, escaping Wang Xie’s casting range in almost no time.
As for the last Taoist, he wasn’t as lucky. Just after teleporting with Shrinking Earth Technique, he immediately caught Wang Xie’s attention, who took a step forward.
With another Shrinking Earth Technique, he was instantly upon the Taoist.
Although both used Shrinking Earth Technique, Wang Xie’s distance was far greater.
Wang Xie sneered, "Since you’re here, Daoist, why be in such a rush to leave?"
The Taoist was so scared he didn’t dare hesitate, immediately throwing out a golden talisman.
Escape Light Talisman!
This life-saving artifact, it was the first time Xiao Jie had seen someone use one.
In an instant, golden light surrounded the Taoist’s body, ready to escape in a flash of light.
Wang Xie sneered viciously, "Why run? Stay!"
God and Demon Disperse—Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry!
A High-level Exorcism Technique struck the Taoist, making the golden light on his body vanish in an instant. The Taoist, who was about to run away, was forcibly interrupted and couldn’t help but let out a desperate scream.
Sorcery—Soul Drawing Technique!
This Taoist is somewhat harder to kill than that assassin; the soul struggled within the flesh for a few seconds before being pulled out by Wang Xie. However, once the soul leaves the body, it becomes like a fish out of water, unable to struggle anymore, and Wang Xie crushed it instantly, turning it into smoke and dissipating it.
At this time, Xiao Jie and Chen Tianwen were still chasing that Flying Thief all over the place.
The Flying Thief used the Invisibility Talisman again, but the Imperial Army pursuing him had many Imperial Trackers with dogs, and he was bitten out instantly.
Nonetheless, the Flying Thief indeed had a lot of stock, suddenly using Qinggong to distance himself, and then deploying several Illusion Talismans, instantly producing three or four Avatars scattering and fleeing. The main body used the Invisibility Talisman again, and this time he wasn’t bitten out by dogs. After searching around, the Imperial Army ultimately couldn’t find him.
Hoo, seems like the storm has passed.
Xiao Jie breathed a sigh of relief, following other guards, hesitating in his heart whether to return to the post to investigate.
Wang Xie’s strength was a bit frightening. If discovered, he might not escape, but just leaving didn’t sit well with him, Wang Xie almost revealed his plan.
Hidden Moon Following Wind: Brother Tianwen, should we keep investigating?
Wentian Wuji: Without entering the tiger’s den, how can one catch a tiger cub? Besides, our transformation ability is far superior to mere invisibility. It should be fine.
Xiao Jie thought this fellow was truly daring, but well, let’s risk life and limb for him.
The two returned to their original positions and silently stood back at their post.
Just as they settled down, a private message suddenly appeared.
Dragon’s Illusion: Eh, Feng, why are you here too?
Xiao Jie was taken aback, glanced around, and didn’t need to ask, Dragon’s Illusion must be stealthily observing from somewhere, having seen his character’s name.
Hidden Moon Following Wind: Where are you?
Dragon’s Illusion: Outside the Array, what happened just now? The commotion was quite big.
Hidden Moon Following Wind: Someone came to investigate and got discovered by Wang Xie; two died, two ran away.
Dragon’s Illusion: Damn, this is bothersome; the guild leader tasked me with investigating the terrain. How should I manage? It’s safe there now?
Hidden Moon Following Wind: I don’t suggest you approach; Wang Xie’s Perception must be super high. If you must approach for investigation, you’re likely to be discovered, and discovery equals death. If you must proceed, keep a distance from me; don’t implicate me.
Dragon’s Illusion: Damn, Feng, you’re really ruthless.
Hidden Moon Following Wind: Come on, I’ve told you not to approach. How about this, you scout around, and I’ll help you survey the terrain here.
Dragon’s Illusion: Thanks, Feng, much appreciated.
Xiao Jie thought it was convenient anyway, so he captured images of the surroundings of the Magic Altar using his phone.
Due to limited angles, it couldn’t be exhaustive, but the Magic Altar was a symmetrical building, so there wasn’t much difference, and he sent them to the guild’s high-level group.
Just as he finished, Dragon’s Illusion’s private message came again.
Dragon’s Illusion: Not good, I saw Long Wushang heading towards you, be careful, his power surpasses Wang Xie!
Xiao Jie’s heart trembled, scanned around, and indeed saw a grand entourage of generals and guards, surrounding a domineering man in a golden dragon robe, approaching.
Xiao Jie’s adrenaline surged, hastily gave a heads-up to Chen Tianwen.
The two dared not make a single move, standing rigid like statues at their post on either side of the road, watching as Long Wushang led a large group of Bosses and Elites over, and of all roads, chose the one they were guarding.
Witnessing a group of High-Level Monsters along with a World Boss slowly approaching, Xiao Jie’s heart almost leapt out.
Fortunately, despite Long Wushang’s might, he adhered to game rules, completely overlooking the two with altered appearances, led the troops directly onto the Magic Altar.
"State Preceptor, what happened here just now?"
"Worry not, Your Majesty, merely some insignificant pests. The Alliance Army knows I’ve set up a Big Array, naturally sending scouts over. But my Array is profound and unfathomable; they will discern little."
Long Wushang nodded, standing on the Magic Altar, gazed around.
"Is this your foolproof plan, such an Array, truly able to repel the Alliance Army? I heard reports, the Nine Provinces Alliance is recruiting left and right, rallying reinforcements, nearly two hundred thousand strong."
Wang Xie wore an arrogant expression, "Hahahaha, Your Majesty should rest easy, my Ten Extremes Formation divides into ten arrays, each concealing the transformations of the Five Elements, mysteries of the Six Harmonies, interconnected and strategic, utterly flawless.
Once activated, even an army of millions entering will be like tigers in a cage, at my mercy, ensuring none return.
Your Majesty need only remain here within the central Magic Altar, overseeing the formation, directing troops, watching the Nine Provinces Alliance vanish into dust."
Long Wushang slightly nodded, learned and somewhat versed in formations, this Ten Extremes Formation indeed brimming with lethal traps, seamless—wait, there’s still one flaw.
He suddenly looked upward, the formation, however tight, couldn’t guard against the sky.
A tiny black dot within the clouds caught his attention; without a word, he stretched out his hand, a Dragon Bone Bow appearing in it. Long Wushang shot an arrow at the sky.
Moments later, a hawk’s cry followed by a scream echoed from afar in the sky.
My goodness, such might? Xiao Jie saw clearly; it was a Beast Tamer from the Wind Hunting Group, riding a giant eagle scouting, shot down in one fell swoop.
This was hundreds of meters high, such firepower!
Xiao Jie was stunned, this Boss is unbeatable.
At least, the intel was clear. Xiao Jie and Chen Tianwen didn’t linger, quietly leaving the Big Array unnoticed.