The same familiar scene: Lizardman statues and star diamond ore shimmering with brilliant light.
But it was clear that everyone's worries were unnecessary; there were no other leaders hidden behind the stone door.
"Strange," Leng Ningxue muttered. "Where else could that guy have gone?"
Everyone present was Guardian Level, and they all knew very well that there was no sign of life here.
Bai Cheng shook her head and said, "Ignore him. We'll mine the ore and leave. No need to waste time here."
"Alright."
Everyone quickly got to work.
Because they were already prepared, this time it only took them about two hours to collect all the ore here and transport it back to the train in one go.
The process was incredibly smooth, with no unexpected incidents.
The bone train also remained in place, with no one in sight.
During this time, Purple Iris also broke through to the King-grade, and her terrifying aura even made the entire deep underground pit precarious, as if it could collapse at any moment.
And with her entry into the ranks of the powerful, Purple Iris also formed her unique domain.
After listening to her explanation, Bai Cheng and the others generally understood.
A 'domain' is a special independent space formed by one's own power expanding outward and compressing the real world.
Within the domain, all of Purple Iris's attacks are guaranteed to hit, and the surroundings are accompanied by countless sword blade storms, capable of tearing apart any creature that enters her domain.
"Is this a King-grade powerhouse?" Yu Nian was greatly shocked. "It's completely different from the Guardian Level; it's too exaggerated!"
With her exclusive domain, Bai Cheng also understood that even if many Guardian Levels besieged her, a King-grade could easily handle them, even instantly killing them.
"What about subsequent breakthroughs?" Bai Cheng asked again. "Have you felt anything?"
Purple Iris, however, shook her head with a puzzled expression.
"Miss, Purple Iris is not sure. Perhaps it's still too far from the peak; I haven't felt anything yet."
"Alright," Bai Cheng stopped pressing the issue.
The King-grade breakthrough remained a mystery for now.
Of course, in addition to Purple Iris successfully advancing to King-grade, Qing Niao also completed his metamorphosis after absorbing the heart of immortality.
His appearance now had many changes compared to his previous bird-man form, the most significant being that his body structure was more human-like.
However, he still retained bird claws and °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° wings, coupled with the lightning leaping around his body, making him look more like the mythical Leizhenzi.
But this was not the biggest change; what surprised Bai Cheng most about this quality promotion was that Qing Niao could now speak human language, no longer requiring Chi Yan to translate.
She came to the screen, carefully examining the changes in abilities Qing Niao gained after this metamorphosis.
【Employee: Qing Niao】
【Race: Garuda Beast】
【Level: Guardian Third-tier (2%)】
【Quality: Immortal-grade】
【Trait 1: Thunder Incarnation: Controls lightning, transforms into lightning, possesses extreme speed and destructive power.】
【Trait 2: Thunderous Arrow Feathers: Its wings have endless feathers; the arrows shot can construct terrain seals, firmly binding enemies.】
【Trait 3: King of A Hundred Birds: Can control all birds, share their vision, and grant them lightning enhancement.】
【Trait 4: Sky Overlord: Combat power is reduced by 20% when fighting on the ground, and increased by 50% when fighting in the sky.】
"As expected, Immortal-grade means metamorphosis!" Bai Cheng looked at Qing Niao's information, a joyful expression on her face.
It wasn't just because of Qing Niao's changes, but his abilities; compared to the distinct characteristics of other employees, Qing Niao was almost exactly like Purple Iris—a complete combat machine, with all his traits designed for battle.
Bai Cheng could already foresee that Qing Niao would definitely be an invincible existence in aerial combat in the future.
Ground, sky, sea, support, and assistance—each employee's role was different, which could be said to compensate for the shortcomings in combat scenarios that Bai Cheng and the others faced.
"Good, let's prepare to leave!"
Everything was ready, and the train quickly started.
Then, a pitch-black vortex appeared directly ahead. As the train was slowly swallowed, everyone's vision spun, and when their sight refocused, they had reappeared on the calm desert.
This situation was clearly somewhat different from last time; last time, they hadn't even reacted.
"Is it because of that bone train?" Bai Cheng muttered to herself, but didn't think too much about it.
But what they didn't know was that after they left, a pitch-black figure slowly emerged from the darkness within the deep underground pit.
He appeared silently, not making any sound nor emitting even a trace of aura.
This was why Bai Cheng and the others hadn't discovered him, even after checking the bone train.
It wasn't that no one was there, but that the other party had been hidden there all along.
His emaciated body was shrouded in a black robe, and within his pitch-black face, two faint blue flames glowed eerily, constantly flickering.
Staring at Bai Mu and the others' departing figures, he seemed to show a hint of confusion.
Crack—the grinding of bones made a grating sound, and teeth clacked together.
A cryptic and hoarse voice then echoed within the empty, dark space.
"King-grade... there's already a King-grade... must..."
Before he finished speaking, his figure suddenly became transparent, along with the bone train behind him, vanishing in the blink of an eye, leaving only the lingering echo.
"Begin... sacrifice..."
Two days later, Bai Cheng and the others, who had been wandering in the Death Desert, completed the use of the last temple core.
She used all the overflowing star diamond ore to exchange for magic crystals on the exchange.
These ores were difficult to mine and limited in quantity, not to mention many who might have fled the Death Desert to save their lives and no longer had the opportunity to acquire ore.
Although it didn't sell as well as imagined, Bai Cheng still chose not to lower the price, quietly waiting for the Survivors who would arrive in the desert later to purchase them.
And the trading material was, of course, magic crystals.
After cultivating Purple Iris, her only King-grade, Bai Cheng's goal naturally extended beyond that.
Two days were completely enough to process most of these ores, at least preventing the train from being in an overflowing state.
After all this was done, Bai Cheng and the others naturally had no need to remain in the Death Desert.
The train moved at full speed, and the distance to the Station continuously decreased.
In the evening, a huge triangular canopy symbolizing the Station appeared at the end of the boundless sand sea.
However, on the eve of entering the Station, an illogical system announcement was suddenly issued.
It not only attracted the attention of Bai Cheng and the others but also surprised all Survivors located in various places.
The event announcement was not released precisely at midnight as scheduled.
【Fourth Week Event Activated!】
