[[Announcement] (Otherworld): "Ding~ Congratulations to Dragon Nation player [Luo Chen] for slaying the Level 155 Emperor-Tier Boss [Hell-Swallowing Serpent·Zart]!"]
When this announcement rang out three times across all worlds and nations of the otherworld, including the Death Territory, it was undoubtedly like a heavy bomb falling from the sky, leaving an indelible wound across every country.
The whole world was thrown into an uproar.
"Nani? The Necromancer from Dragon Nation guessed right, the Ten Ferocious Beasts really are Emperor-tier bosses!"
"I thought 'Emperor-tier boss' was merely our humans' definition for a powerful boss. There actually exist bosses in the otherworld above King-tier?"
"So this boss codenamed 'Larva' actually has a proper name, Hell-Swallowing Serpent, Zart?"
"Looks like the other Ferocious Beasts must have their own names too, only we can't see them."
"No, am I the only one stunned by one question: this Luo Chen from Dragon Nation, he actually killed a Emperor-tier boss?"
No doubt, when the announcement appeared, even Zhang Yue, standing in the World 46, felt deeply shocked.
What stunned Zhang Yue was that the system had clearly classified the beast codenamed 'Larva' as a quasi-Emperor-tier boss.
So the question arose: in the otherworld's hundred-year history, Emperor-tier bosses had never appeared.
Or to put it simply: in the hundred years since the otherworld descended on Earth, nobody had ever slain these Ten Ferocious Beasts.
And indeed, they had been revived by the Demon Emperor Yu using the Resurrection God Stone.
That proved they were not newly born now, but had existed long ago.
If the Larva is a Emperor-tier boss, then the other nine Ferocious Beasts must also be Emperor-tier bosses.
Then, if these ten Emperor-tier bosses do not belong to the otherworld, where did they come from?
Zhang Yue couldn't wait to find Demon Emperor Yu and get answers from him.
Besides that, there was another thing that made Zhang Yue feel relieved.
At that moment, Ouyang Ling'er sent Zhang Yue a private message, ["Guild Master, I wanted to tell you earlier but you didn't want to hear it…"]
["Actually, the God of Desire three-piece set our guild lost was stolen… taken by Vice Guild Leader Luo Chen."]
Zhang Yue didn't fuss over gains or losses; he only said, ["The facts prove he's the most suitable host, right?"]
["That's how it is. I calculated data based on Vice Luo Chen's performance in normal combat, he's already utilized the Desire Source Stone and the Desire God Set's strength to at least 300%!"]
["300%?",] Zhang Yue murmured, ["That's not enough, still needs training!"]
After all, Chen Ziqin once pushed the Wrath Source Stone and Wrath God Set's strength, the wrath value, up to 500% at peak.
Since they're from the same manufacturer, the Desire Source Stone and Desire God Set on Luo Chen should have potential equal to the Wrath Source Stone and Wrath God Set.
Luo Chen only achieving 300% meant his desire wasn't intense enough yet.
For now, he hadn't unleashed the true potential of those items.
Then Ouyang Ling'er added, ["But I don't understand, why did Vice Luo Chen have to use… stolen means?"]
["That only proves one thing."]
As soon as Zhang Yue finished speaking, Ouyang Ling'er asked, ["What thing?"]
Zhang Yue said, ["He has already grasped the essence of the emotion of desire, and you haven't."]
["People must not be ruled by any emotion; they must become masters of their emotions."]
Ouyang Ling'er: ["Ah?"]
["What does that mean? I don't understand…"]
Ouyang Ling'er frowned and shared her conversation panel with Zhang Yue to Liyue beside her; Liyue shook her head as well: ["I don't get it."]
Ouyang Ling'er drooped her head and sighed lightly, ["Then serve us right for not getting such priceless treasure, we live on too low a plane."]
On Zhang Yue's side, not long after, he received a message from Luo Chen: ["Sorry Guild Master, I didn't report it, I used the guild's resources without permission."]
Zhang Yue saw his disciple's message and showed a comforting, fatherly smile: ["The rule I set was simple, whoever can master that three-piece set may keep it."]
["Since you can wield it, it belongs to you. That's only right; you don't need to apologize."]
Pausing, Zhang Yue then asked, ["But you probably didn't expect this, tell me, who taught you?"]
In the World 28, in the insect nest, Luo Chen was startled for a moment and asked back, ["How did you know—"]
The next second Luo Chen answered truthfully, ["Uncle Hidden Dragon told me. He said people shouldn't be swayed by their emotions; they must become master of their emotions to grow strong."]
Zhang Yue chuckled, ["So it was that old fellow!"]
["But the fact you could digest that teaching shows you didn't disappoint your master."]
Zhang Yue went on, ["What star rank is the Desire God Set now?"]
["32 stars,"] Luo Chen's reply left Zhang Yue somewhat shocked.
Keep in mind: Chen Ziqin's Wrath God Set has only just reached 40 stars so far.
And Luo Chen only recently obtained the Desire God Set, but he already managed to raise its rank rapidly to 32 stars.
That speed was simply unfathomable.
But in truth, Zhang Yue could more or less guess why.
Zhang Yue had watched the entire battle of Luo Chen vs. the Larva via the live video Ouyang Ling'er transmitted.
By normal logic, a Legendary-class profession like Luo Chen should not be able to kill a Emperor-tier boss at the same level.
After all, even Zhang Yue couldn't kill the Emperor.
If Luo Chen could kill a Larva of equal level, that meant Luo Chen's strength within that same-level Territory exceeded Zhang Yue's.
And the fact was: Luo Chen had completed the kill.
The Larva's large size and clumsy movements, unable to match the Emperor's exquisite micro-control, was one reason.
But if that were the only reason, it still wouldn't be enough for Luo Chen to slay the Larva.
Zhang Yue realized Luo Chen mainly relied on statistical supremacy.
Although both were level 155, Luo Chen's data, his attributes, far outclassed those of other same-level players.
And the reason for that gap? Equipment.
Equipment exists to raise a player's attributes.
The equipment rank cap in the World 28 is 25 stars, meaning within the 155-level Territory you can't obtain gear higher than 25 stars.
But that limit applies only to the World 28 and the 155-level cap, not to the upper limit of the Desire God Set.