F-class thief? Sorry, I can steal anything.

The tide of battle is turning in our favor.

The core power network of the Ten Thousand Hearts Demon Mother Tree was scorched by flames, plunging it into unprecedented pain and weakness.

The venom barrage that covered the entire field became sparse and no longer posed a deadly threat.

Mu Wanqing commanded the crumbling frost giants, forming a pincer movement with Zhao Hu's two shield walls, and gradually pushed the battle line forward.

The mage, having consumed the magic potion, experienced a brief burst of power.

One after another, explosive fireballs struck the joints of the flesh and blood vessels with pinpoint accuracy, blasting them into clumps of charred flesh and blood.

The archer with the broken leg also performed admirably, his arrows like leeches, aiming specifically at the pipe joints that were trying to repair themselves.

The scales of victory seem to have tipped in their favor.

"Give it a push! It's almost done for!"

Zhao Hu roared excitedly, his tower shield swung wildly, smashing several stray Venom Hearts into pieces.

The ecstasy of surviving the ordeal had everyone somewhat intoxicated.

They actually had a chance to turn the tide and defeat a King-level BOSS!

This record is something I can brag about for a lifetime!

"Don't let your guard down! Its vitality is still recovering!"

Mu Wanqing's cold voice interrupted the crowd's fervor.

Her face grew paler, and the blood trickled down the corners of her mouth.

Maintain the Frost Giant for an extended period and command the overall situation.

Her spirit was on the verge of collapse.

Everyone instantly calmed down.

Indeed, although the flesh and blood tubes scorched by the flames were completely blackened, a faint green light still stubbornly flickered deep within them.

The burned-out pipes are slowly but irreversibly reconnecting.

The vitality of a King-level BOSS is unfathomable.

If they fail to deliver a fatal blow before it repairs its core, they will face an even more frenzied revenge from this monster.

"We must find a way to completely destroy its foundation!"

Mu Wanqing looked at the writhing flesh and blood, a resolute glint in her eyes.

She was preparing to use her last trump card.

However, at that moment, the boy who had always been regarded as a "mascot" and "lucky star" spoke up again.

"Um... Boss..."

Chen Yifan's weak voice came from behind.

"I...I think I've discovered something else."

Mu Wanqing turned around abruptly, and everyone's eyes were once again focused on Chen Yifan.

"What did you find this time?"

Mu Wanqing's voice carried an expectation that she herself was unaware of.

"Right in the middle of that pile of charred pipes, there seems to be... a dark, murky rock."

Chen Yifan stretched out his finger, pointing tremblingly to the center of the firestorm.

"That stone seems to be absorbing fire... When the mage's fireballs hit it, they all shrank."

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed.

In the heart of the raging flames, nothing could be seen due to the distorted light and thick smoke.

"Nonsense! That's the core of my [Firestorm] spell, how could it be..."

The monk instinctively retorted, but he froze halfway through his sentence.

His [Flame Storm] should have ended long ago.

But now, the flames there have not only not been extinguished, but are burning even more fiercely, showing signs of getting out of control!

It's like... something is constantly "renewing" his spells!

Mu Wanqing's pupils suddenly contracted.

A possibility struck her mind like lightning.

The Corrupted Heart!

The black crystal hanging on the tree trunk as bait!

She subconsciously looked up.

really.

The hole in the tree trunk is now empty!

At some point, it moved to the underground core network.

Do not!

wrong!

Mu Wanqing immediately sensed that something was wrong.

The aura of the Corruption Heart is cold and sinister, and it is an absolute enemy of the fire element. How could it possibly "absorb fire"?

So, what exactly is that black stone?

"Zhao Hu!" Mu Wanqing made a decisive decision, "Use your shields to put out those flames!"

"Huh? We're going... to put out the fire?"

Zhao Hu was dumbfounded.

Use a shield to extinguish the flames of a B-rank spell?

What kind of joke is this woman making!

"That's no ordinary fire!"

Mu Wanqing's voice became urgent.

"The elements there are already out of balance! Hurry! It'll be too late if we wait any longer!"

Although Zhao Hu was puzzled, he was mindful of Mu Wanqing's identity.

Trust in judgment

Still, he gritted his teeth and charged forward with another shield warrior, shields in hand.

Just as they approached the flames.

Another anomaly has occurred!

The burning flame suddenly contracted inward, and then exploded with a bang!

A shockwave several times stronger than before, mixed with raging fire elements, swept across the entire area!

"puff--"

Zhao Hu and his shield were thrown back, crashing heavily against the wall, spitting blood and losing consciousness on the spot.

Even the mages and archers in the back.

It was also affected by the lingering effects.

It screamed and flew away, its fate unknown.

Only Mu Wanqing, who had activated the [Ice Barrier] scroll, and her cracked frost giant remained standing.

As for Chen Yifan, he had already disappeared from the spot as soon as he realized something was wrong.

The flames died down.

The true nature of the core area has been completely exposed.

In the center of the charred flesh and blood passages, a strange crystal, about the size of a fist, completely black, but with countless intricate golden patterns engraved on its surface, floated silently.

It exudes an indescribable aura.

It frantically absorbed all the energy around it, whether it was the tree spirit's life force, the element of fire, or even the spiritual energy floating in space.

It was this that caused the magic to go out of control!

"This is it..."

Mu Wanqing looked at the crystal and murmured to herself.

She didn't know what it was.

But she could sense that this thing's value... might far surpass that of the [Heart of Corruption]!

At that very moment, Chen Yifan, who had been hiding at the very back, made his move.

No.

To be more precise, it was the Myriad Hearts Demon Mother Tree that moved!

Countless intact roots, like black pythons, burst forth from the depths of the earth, coiling towards the black crystal, trying to reclaim it!

"Don't even think about it!"

Mu Wanqing let out a sharp cry and slammed her staff heavily on the ground.

The frost giant before her let out its final roar, its massive body transforming into a streak of blue light as it relentlessly crashed into the oncoming roots.

The absolute zero self-destruction bought Mu Wanqing a precious few seconds.

Mu Wanqing's figure also turned into a blur, rushing straight towards the crystal.

opportunity!

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

With everyone rendered unable to fight, both the BOSS and Mu Wanqing focused their attention on that crystal!

No one on the entire battlefield would pay him any attention anymore!

A terrifying glint flashed in Chen Yifan's eyes.

He didn't try to steal the crystal.

His goal, from beginning to end, has always been the same!

Stealing everything!

launch!

Objective—[Rule Fragment: Life Absorption]!

This time, I don't know if I just made a wish in my heart.

Luck was still on his side.

The [Thief God's Ring] on his finger flashed.

The moment the passive effect [Thief's Greedy Hand] is triggered.

"3. Option 3, Rule Fragment: Life Drain..."

In his heart, Chen Yifan roared with the most greedy desire!

[Theft successful.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained the Rule Fragment: Life Drain (Pseudo)]

[Note: You have stolen the core survival law of the Myriad Hearts Demon Mother Tree, which allows you to absorb the target's life energy to restore yourself. However, due to the target's extremely high rank and your own failure to reach the Transcendent rank, the effect of this law fragment has been greatly weakened and has undergone a mutation.]

Too high a rank?

extraordinary?

What is this?

There was no time to think about it.

The next second, a profound and mysterious realization flooded into Chen Yifan's mind like a torrent.

In his perception, the vast web of life connecting all things around him clearly emerged.

Now, he has the ability to forcibly "cut" a piece of wire from this network and attach it to himself!

And that was the very moment the theft was successful.

The massive body of the Ten Thousand Hearts Ghost Mother Tree, which had been fiercely competing with Mu Wanqing for the crystal, suddenly stiffened.

It let out a silent wail, originating from the depths of its soul.

At this moment, every beating heart stopped beating.

There is no life to draw upon.

The internal energy cycle that supported its existence was completely disrupted, causing it to collapse entirely!

Huge cracks spread out from the main trunk.

Countless eerie green life energies, like a flood bursting its banks, burst forth uncontrollably from the cracks!

The entire cave was bathed in an eerie green hue by the dissipating life energy.

Finally, after all its life energy was exhausted, the enormous tree of flesh and blood finally snapped with a "crack" and turned into a pile of lifeless, dry debris.

Only one true [Heart of Corruption] remains.

It fell from mid-air, rolled a few times on the ground, and made a crisp sound.

On the other side, Mu Wanqing, who had successfully snatched the mysterious black crystal, turned around and saw this unbelievable scene.

She was completely stunned.

died?

He just...died like that?

How could the King-level BOSS who just cornered them suddenly... collapse?

She looked around blankly. The battlefield was in complete disarray. Zhao Hu and the others had fainted, and the Frost Giant had turned into countless ice crystals.

Finally, her gaze fell on the boy not far away.

Chen Yifan remained in the same position, lying on the ground with a terrified expression.

He stared at the BOSS reduced to ashes, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg, his eyes filled with the ecstasy of surviving a catastrophe and... bewilderment.

"We...won?"

He asked Mu Wanqing in an uncertain voice.

Mu Wanqing did not answer.

She just watched him quietly.

After a long while, he looked again at the [Heart of Corruption] on the ground and the mysterious black crystal in his hand.

A thought arose in her mind for the first time—absurd, yet uncontrollable.

Isn't all of this... too much of a coincidence?