Chen Nian returned via private jet.
To spend more time with Xiaoqi while still making it back to Linhai City on schedule, he had no choice but to once again leverage his connections through "Buyu."
But it was already getting late.
[World Boss Raid Remaining: 00:60]
The final hour should suffice.
"Open the cabin door."
"Yes, sir."
Another black-clad steward on the upper deck complied.
Opening the aircraft door abruptly was an extremely dangerous maneuver, but the physical constitution of an extraordinary being surpassed that of ordinary humans, rendering it harmless.
The door burst open with a violent suction, yet Chen Nian's body didn't get blown away. Instead, he stepped forward calmly.
His expression serene, he leaped down.
Without a parachute or any protective gear, he plunged straight down from thousands of meters!
"Spell of Words, Ethereal Snake of Flight."
An invisible serpent materialized, coiling around Chen Nian's body as it carried him straight downward.
Protected by the serpent, Chen Nian could freely adjust his descent without suffering any harm.
He pierced through layer after layer of clouds, the earth below growing increasingly clear in his vision. Yet this alone was insufficient.
"Spell, Eagle Eyes!"
Chen Nian activated a second spell simultaneously.
His vision instantly sharpened severalfold, as if the entire world lay spread before his eyes!
He clearly saw the massive black barrier below—the domain of the World Boss.
He had already obtained intelligence on the World Boss.
The barrier could only be entered through its portal.
Wait...
Someone else in the air?!
Chen Nian's pupils contracted sharply, his heart sinking.
It's over. It's her... Ye Hongling.
...
Ye Hongling, known in Calamity as "Scarlet Spirit."
Her innate talent was the top-tier rare Flame Mage ability, "Scarlet Lotus Sorceress"!
Her current level: Tier 1, Level 95—even surpassing the world boss's level..... Her leveling speed was unmatched by almost anyone in the entire world.
A true goddess-tier female player!
A peerlessly elegant and sophisticated older sister type!
Her real-world identity was even more terrifying—the beloved daughter of the Dragon Nation's Defense General.
A formidable woman who embodied power, status, beauty, and wealth all rolled into one.
Though Xiaoqi was also powerful, to Chen Nian she was still a relatively easy-to-manipulate innocent. Ye Hongling was different—her methods were far more terrifying.
A significant portion of Chen Nian's preparations stemmed from his fear of her discovering his true identity..... ..
At this very moment, Ye Hongling hovered above the world boss zone.
Dressed in a striking crimson gown, she sat atop a flaming broomstick, her bare feet dangling lightly as she twirled a strand of wine-red hair.
"Bu Yu, are you even in this city?"
She had previously speculated that Bu Yu was in this city, having defeated a wild boss to obtain his first epic-tier equipment.
But it was only a guess. Now she was here to verify it.
"If he can't even handle monsters like this, then I must have guessed wrong. How boring."
A small fire fox named Huo Ling hovered on her shoulder.
Fire Spirit was puzzled: "Master, are players in this area this weak? If you stepped in, one spell would take care of it!"
"Too bad. I just helped another region take down a world boss yesterday. My power hasn't recovered yet, so I can't help."
Ye Hongling had already visited several regions, taking down three world bosses across different areas—the key to her rapid leveling.
"Time's running out. Let's keep watching. What if that guy's hiding and shows up last?".....
At that very moment, Chen Nian hovered above Ye Hongling's head, sweating profusely—a rare occurrence for him.
Only by using "Eagle Eye" could he track Ye Hongling in time.
What now?
If I take down this world boss, she'll definitely come looking for me... ahem...
Wait, I've got it!
A wildly audacious plan formed in Chen Nian's mind.
If executed successfully, it would not only defeat the world boss but also prevent his own exposure!
After slaying the world boss, his level would inevitably rise above 55, granting him the new Word Spirit "Shadow Concealment"—the ability to vanish instantly...
Must be a one-hit kill—take down the world boss instantly!
If I can't one-shot it, I won't level up, and if Ye Hongling catches up, I'm screwed.
"Accelerate."
Chen Nian suddenly accelerated his descent, simultaneously activating his third Word Spirit.
Word Spirit—Flame Burst.
Flames erupted from his body, transforming him into a massive fireball!
Plunging from the sky at breakneck speed, he streaked past Ye Hongling like a fiery meteor.
"...It's him... Chase!"
Flames erupted from her broomstick as Ye Hongling transformed into a blazing meteor herself, closing in from behind.
The people below were stunned by the spectacle.
"Look! Two meteors!"
"Holy shit, real? Meteors falling!"
They had no idea the meteors were actually two people in pursuit, mistaking them for genuine celestial bodies.
The pair drew ever closer to the ground, soon to collide with that black spherical barrier.
A captivating smile curved Ye Hongling's lips: "You've appeared before me—how could you possibly escape? "You think you can kill the boss right under my nose without being exposed? Don't be so naive, Yu."
"Even you can't pull that off!"
"Today, if you kill this world boss, I will catch you."
At that moment, Chen Nian unleashed his fourth Word Spirit.
Sequence 121—Judgment Golden Sword!
Ancient, obscure syllables erupted from his mouth.
Golden light flared in Chen Nian's pupils as the sword hovered above his head, like an emperor descending upon the world!
With a single strike, he cleaved a gaping hole through the black barrier!
"What?!"
Ye Hongling gasped in shock.
Even she was deeply unsettled.
This guy... he'd forcibly shattered the barrier protecting the world boss... Was he even human?!
Yet the more astonished she felt, the more delighted she became.
At least now it was certain—this man must be "The Silent One." He truly was hiding within this city. Heh.
You won't escape....
A hole had been torn in the black barrier!
The colossal fireball plummeted down, terrifying everyone on the ground.
What kind of monstrous meteorite could shatter the barrier protecting the world boss?!
Unbelievable...
But what followed was the most astonishing sight they'd ever witnessed.
The mountain atop the giant tortoise's shell collapsed with a thunderous crash!
That mountain, which had withstood attacks from thousands for an entire day without breaking;
that rock-solid mountain that nearly crushed countless hopes, crumbled like tofu.
Shards of rock shot skyward like massive fireworks.
At the mountain's base lay the giant turtle's "heart"—a yellowish-brown energy crystal harder than its own shell.
Yet as the Judgment Golden Sword struck down, it shattered into pieces!
The world boss was instantly slain.