Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Great Boss

Lia moved her lips as if to speak, but in the end, she said nothing. Her eyes, however, betrayed a hint of skepticism.

“My goal in joining this instance isn’t to complete any task, but simply to survive,” Xiao Zhang said, glancing at Zhao Bai. “What about the rest of you?”

Zhao Tai nodded. “Dog Bro, I’ll follow your lead.”

Zhao Bai didn’t even need to answer—he shook his head, then nodded anyway.

Marcus, pale-faced, sighed but said nothing.

Only Lia suddenly smiled. “In that case, let’s go together.”

At this moment, the group was battered and wounded; apart from Xiao Zhang and Lia, everyone else was injured. As for Zhao Bai, he could barely be considered a tagalong.

“Then... let’s break through,” Xiao Zhang said, drawing a deep breath. “I’ll clear the way!”

He strode forward, charging toward the line of minor monsters on the left.

To his surprise, after the Hydra glanced at him and waved its sword, the minions actually parted, granting Xiao Zhang a path.

Qi Guanbei seemed to regain a sliver of consciousness, golden light flickering across his body, though it was quickly suppressed by the swirling red glow.

“Insignificant insect, do not resist! Surrender your body to me!” the sinister voice hissed.

Xiao Zhang ignored the bizarre scene and broke into a run. Since the way had been cleared, when else would he have a better chance to escape?

Just as Xiao Zhang and his group exited, they collided with another party, led by none other than the previously vanished Little White Dragon.

This time, however, Little White Dragon was clad in a protective suit; had Xiao Zhang not seen him before, he would have mistaken him for a player. “Charge, brothers! The reward for killing the BOSS will be ours!”

Xiao Zhang was speechless. An NPC leading players to kill the BOSS?

The group paid them little mind and rushed straight in.

Trailing behind the crowd, Mo Xiaoxiao quietly led Tu Shan Bai away.

Mo Xiaoxiao was also dressed in black and wore a mask, so Xiao Zhang didn’t recognize her—until he saw the small figure beside her...

“Big brother!” Tu Shan Bai, also masked, leapt into Xiao Zhang’s arms.

He gently patted her head and motioned for silence. At this, the fear on Tu Shan Bai’s face faded, replaced by a timid smile.

Beside them, Mo Xiaoxiao removed her mask and could hold on no longer—she coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“What happened?” Xiao Zhang hurried to check her condition.

From their conversation, he learned that Mo Xiaoxiao had entered from the other side of the instance with Tu Shan Bai. Things had gone smoothly until a dispute over a dropped artifact led to conflict with several players.

“Big brother, you have to avenge my sister!” Tu Shan Bai pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.

“Alright, alright,” Xiao Zhang comforted her.

Lia, however, seemed uninterested in the sudden appearance of Mo Xiaoxiao. Instead, her curiosity turned to Tu Shan Bai. She pinched the fox ears poking out from the girl’s hair. “Little one, which world are you from?”

Frightened, Tu Shan Bai instinctively shrank behind Xiao Zhang, sensing that this big sister was terrifying.

As they spoke, chaos erupted inside.

Upon seeing Little White Dragon and his group charge in, the Hydra immediately thrust its sword at Qi Guanbei.

The sword pierced Qi Guanbei’s chest, opening a deep gash.

Already gravely weakened, Qi Guanbei could no longer suppress the White Dragon. The golden light on his body was quickly corroded by the red glow.

The last remnant of the White Dragon turned into a torrent of white light, surging wildly into Qi Guanbei’s body.

Then, he was utterly engulfed by the red glow...

Struggling, Qi Guanbei seemed to have a final shred of awareness, desperately trying to break free from his condition.

But the treacherous Hydra dealt him another sword strike.

Qi Guanbei’s eyes, still harboring a flicker of consciousness, glared at the Hydra before—

With a roar, Qi Guanbei’s body was wholly overtaken by the White Dragon.

The red glow gradually faded, and the two sword wounds on his body began to heal before their eyes.

Qi Guanbei’s face and form shifted dramatically—bones, muscles, hair—all reshaped as if kneaded by invisible hands.

His clothing burst apart, only to be enveloped by a cloud of red mist that coalesced into new robes.

Yet, his face abruptly returned to normal. “Tsk, this body is truly excellent. It seems I’ll need some time to fully refine it.”

Qi Guanbei languidly grasped the Hydra’s throat. “So, you were plotting against me?”

At that moment, all the shrimp and crab soldiers stood motionless, as if drained of all strength—statues frozen in place.

Deathly silence.

Not only inside, but even the terracotta warriors outside stood still, immobilized as if petrified.

Even the shrimp-headed guard locked in combat with the Long-Tongued Man was suddenly paralyzed.

Yorick’s expression twisted in confusion. “What... is happening?”

While the three of them stared in bewilderment, those outside had already stormed in.

Hearing the screams from the palace, Xiao Zhang knew they were done for—the real BOSS had awakened.

Several figures dashed out from within, all those who had lingered at the rear hoping to scavenge rewards; their position at the back had, ironically, spared them.

“Run, brother! The Shadow Isle crew inside have gone mad—they’re attacking everyone!”

With a thunderous crash, the Hydra was flung from within and slammed heavily to the ground.

Its original nine heads had been reduced to just three.

Then, two figures tumbled out, locked in battle—Yorick and Little White Dragon.

Both bore fresh wounds, but it was clear Little White Dragon held the upper hand.

Suddenly, Tu Shan Bai shrieked, looking behind her. “He’s coming, he’s coming! He...”

From the great doors emerged Qi Guanbei, clad in imperial dragon robes. The ancient, flowing sleeves gave him an almost ethereal grace as he walked.

With his long sleeves gathered and hands clasped behind his back, he strode from the palace hall like a master coming to greet his guests.

Yet, with each slow, measured step, those watching felt as if a mountain pressed down upon them—an invisible aura so chilling that every awakened one felt ice run through their veins.

Without a word, Xiao Zhang lashed out with a flash of silver.

Qi Guanbei merely raised two fingers and intercepted the strike with ease.

“Everyone, fall back!” Xiao Zhang immediately commanded.

Such a presence—such overwhelming power—this was unquestionably a top-tier BOSS. Lia, too, watched Qi Guanbei with a seriousness her face had never shown before.