A flash of silver light—A thunderous boom echoed through the battlefield. Half the face of the White-Haired Zombie exploded in a gory mess. Cheers erupted from the players. The zombie's massive frame trembled violently, but it didn't fall. The remaining half of its mouth let out an ear-piercing screech—shrill, wave after wave, drowning out every other sound on the battlefield.
Terror rippled across the players' faces.
"Beast, take my sword!"A figure shot toward the zombie like a streak of light, sword flickering like a storm of pear blossoms.
"That's Wu Hai! A rogue Bronze-tier expert!" someone exclaimed in shock.
Wu Hai wielded a three-foot-long Falling Star Sword, unleashing a barrage of dazzling thrusts—countless sword shadows filled the air, so fast they were indistinguishable from the real ones. The clanging of blade against body resounded like a rapid drumbeat.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew across the White-Haired Zombie's massive frame, lighting up its dark, fur-covered body. Players watching from afar were stunned. Wu Hai's speed had surpassed the limit of vision—no one could even tell how many strikes he had delivered.
The White-Haired Zombie roared in fury. It was clearly slower now after taking damage, unable to land a single blow on Wu Hai. The agile swordsman danced around it, striking even faster—but the keen-eyed could already see a problem: Wu Hai's flurry of attacks lacked impact. The zombie's fatal weakness was its head, which it guarded fiercely with its claws. Though riddled with wounds, its iron-hard body was mostly unaffected.
"Wu Hai, step aside! This is a job for me!"
Another figure leapt from the crowd, clad in gleaming armor, radiating brute strength. A round shield in his right hand, a broad-bladed Moonlit Sword in his left—also a Bronze-tier weapon.
Just by appearance alone, it was clear this man came from a privileged background. Most players would be ecstatic just to obtain a Moonlit Sword, let alone a full matching armor set. As expected, gasps of recognition rippled through the crowd.
"That's He Zhenfei, captain of the Silver-Ringed Viper Expedition Team! Another Bronze-tier expert!"
With two Bronze-tier players finally pinning down the White-Haired Zombie, the others took advantage of the opportunity to reposition and launch ranged attacks—especially the archers, who fired relentlessly. But this was a boss, not a regular mob. Even surrounded and under siege, it remained ferocious. Screams echoed around as players were torn apart—necks twisted, intestines ripped out, limbs shredded. The carnage was horrifying.
Not long after, Zhao Xiaolong—who had been knocked aside earlier—swallowed a Strength Seed to suppress his injuries, retrieved his Brightsilver Spear, and rejoined the battle. With three Bronze-tier elites and five or six Black Iron-tier experts joining forces, the tide finally began to turn. Though casualties still occurred, the pace of death had slowed.
The gaping wound on the White-Haired Zombie's head became the focal point of attacks. Blades and arrows struck relentlessly. Despite its ironclad defenses, it couldn't withstand the constant pressure. Its nose was sliced off, two of its four fangs shattered, and its twisted jaw, once able to close, now hung grotesquely open.
Unnoticed, the battle had shifted to within thirty meters of Liu Weian. Ever since landing the initial hit on the zombie, he had stayed still. With hundreds of players around, and only he and Lu Yan on his side, the odds of securing the final kill were slim—unless he struck with absolute precision. From the moment the zombie's skull was half-blown apart, he knew this creature wouldn't survive.
In Liu Weian's understanding, whether it was Rotwalkers, Shamblers, Zombies, or White-Haired Zombies, they were all once human. Though the transformation process was unclear, the essence remained humanoid. Curiously, each level of zombie seemed to be larger than the last. The White-Haired Zombie was over two meters tall—by far the largest he had encountered. Could it be that the larger someone was in life, the stronger the zombie they became? Or did zombies evolve and grow taller after death?
This White-Haired Zombie had muscle like stone and skin covered in white, fluffy-looking fur. But that fur was no mere decoration—it was harder than steel, forming a natural suit of armor. Worse yet, it was laced with deadly poison. One touch, and a player would dissolve into a puddle of blood within five seconds. Terrifying.
Another screech tore through the air. Liu Weian's senses sharpened—something was off. A faint red glow flickered in the zombie's eye sockets. A strange pulse began to emanate from its body.
Wu Hai, Zhao Xiaolong, and He Zhenfei all sensed the danger and disengaged immediately, their movements swift and decisive.
Two Black Iron-tier players also picked up on something wrong. Though unsure of the threat, their instincts made them back away. But they were a second too late.
Ssshhhhh!
A series of sharp, slicing sounds tore through the air.
The white fur on the zombie's body suddenly detached and launched outward—each strand like a deadly needle, capable of cutting stone and steel. The players nearby never stood a chance. Hit by the white quills, their bodies convulsed in agony before melting into pools of blood.
In mere seconds, over a hundred players were dead. Their screams were fleeting, their end absolute. Only one Black Iron-tier expert survived, shielded behind a half-body iron shield—yet even that shield was pierced through by dozens of quills.
Only Zhao Xiaolong and Wu Hai emerged unscathed. He Zhenfei had been quick, but his heavy armor slowed him down. One strand pierced his elite-tier armor, shattered three layers of defense, and stabbed into his left arm. Gritting his teeth, he sliced off the arm himself, his face contorted in agony.
"Now!" Liu Weian whispered sharply.
His Superior Grade Tuo Wood Bow let out a low hum—A rune arrow flashed forth like a thunderbolt.
Snap!
The moment the zombie shed its fur, a new layer began growing—spreading outward at lightning speed. The arrow was on target, aimed at its shattered skull, but the creature raised its hand in the nick of time.
The rune arrow exploded, taking two fingers with it. That was enough.
The second rune arrow whistled out—a hidden follow-up—threading through the brief opening and striking the zombie between the eyes.
Boom!
The White-Haired Zombie's head exploded into a bloody mess. Bits of brain and bone rained down, and within the carnage, a red crystal gleamed brightly.
Chain Shot.
Lu Yan appeared in a flash, snatching the crystal out of midair. Having consumed a Corpse Pill, she was immune to the zombie's toxins. She hoisted the corpse and made a swift retreat.
It all happened so fast. By the time Lu Yan had darted seven or eight meters away, the surrounding players finally reacted.
"Stop her!" Zhao Xiaolong roared.
Swish, swish, swish—
A storm of arrows flew toward them—Seven or eight players dropped instantly, each one struck cleanly between the eyes, dead before they hit the ground.
Lu Yan broke through the gap and landed behind Liu Weian. Behind them, players gave chase. When it came to killing the zombie, they hesitated. But now? Greed burned brightly in their eyes.
Liu Weian retreated while firing. His fingers danced between drawing arrows and nocking them with such speed they left behind ghostly trails. Just thirty meters away, the ring-shaped formation of archers had locked on, ready to fire.
He Zhenfei stepped forward, pale but resolute. Ignoring the corpses around him, he growled:
"Leave the corpse and the Strength Seed, and you live."
"I just want the Strength Seed," Wu Hai said coldly. Though alone, the presence of a Bronze-tier expert was overwhelming.
"Then I'll take the flesh sac," Zhao Xiaolong appeared on the left.
All three Bronze-tier elites had made their move.
Others dared not speak, either outmatched or outclassed. Some watched with calculating eyes, hoping the three would clash, so they could sneak in for a share. A Strength Seed or flesh sac—either one could make their fortune. Still others simply watched, curious to see whether Liu Weian would surrender—or fight back.
Either choice meant danger.
"Get lost!" Liu Weian's response was a single, crisp word.
"You're dead—" Before the Bronze-tiers could react, a Black Iron-tier player—the one who had survived the earlier quill attack—charged forward, furious.
Thwip!
No one saw the arrow leave the bow—only a blur.
Bang!The player instinctively blocked with his shield. It shattered instantly. A second arrow followed, piercing his throat.
Hrk—
He clutched his neck, staggered, and collapsed—he'd barely taken a step.
Too fast.
Several players involuntarily flinched. Eyes turned to Liu Weian, filled now with fear. Anyone capable of one-shotting a Black Iron-tier was no ordinary foe.
Liu Weian shifted his gaze. Another arrow launched like a meteor.
He Zhenfei raised his sword—too slow. Four arrows streaked toward him. He parried them, but a burst of sparks signaled failure. He grunted, staggered, and his Moonlit Sword was knocked aside. His guard was wide open.
In that instant—Flash!—A silver gleam streaked through the air and pierced his heart.
A transparent barrier flickered into view, stopping the fatal strike.
No joy crossed He Zhenfei's face—only dread. The arrow exploded, shattering the barrier. A final hidden shot flashed like lightning, piercing his heart.
His sword fell an instant too late. The light in his eyes faded.
Liu Weian scanned the crowd.His bow, drawn to a perfect full moon, remained taut and silent—But the message was clear.
Anyone who dared move—would share He Zhenfei's fate.
One man. One bow.And the entire battlefield stood still.