"My Liege."
He gently placed the cupped core down.
As its outer shell continued to crumble, the last traces of the Emperor left in this world would also dissipate into nothingness.
Voom!
A pitch-black long spear materialized from the void.
Lu Xing gripped the equally battle-scarred Radiant Star tightly with both hands, the broken spear's body aimed straight at the Emperor's core.
"I shall respectfully obey your command."
The slowly raised arm was a farewell to a past he was reluctant to part with.
The heavily descending spear tip was the resolve to see his conviction through.
"Hiss—"
"Argh!!!"
The oppressive air rushed into his mouth, a savage roar reverberating through the rocks!
CRACK!!!
The brilliant crystal shattered resoundingly.
Judgement-class Honkai energy, unique to the Emperor, surged madly into Lu Xing's body!
"Your mission (Kill one Honkai Beast with strength superior to your own) has been completed."
"Your level has increased to Lv.51."
"Detecting holder's first kill of an 'Emperor'."
"Achievement 'Kingslayer' completed."
"Based on the type of 'Emperor' killed, you have unlocked a new function 'Thousand Forges'."
"[Thousand Forges: When the holder gains experience, corresponding attribute values will be increased based on the target's strength and the battle situation.]"
"Evolution conditions met. Beginning evolution to [Temple-class Honkai Beast]."
"Evolution commencing—"
BOOM!!!
Apart from the Honkai Crystal.
All other parts of his carapace shattered like exploding crystals, completely pulverized!
With the Judgement-class Honkai energy from the Emperor, now residing within him, as the primary component, all the energy within Lu Xing's body fused into one.
Energy so concentrated it had completely solidified.
It slowly approached the location of his Honkai Crystal.
Crack!
Lu Xing's Honkai Crystal.
Like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle slotting into place.
After combining the powers of himself, the Knight Captain, and the Emperor—a total of three Honkai Beasts—it was finally, completely whole!
DENG!!!
Boundless light surged forth from the crystal!
Lu Xing's body was reshaped amidst an unbelievably vast torrent of Honkai energy!
Clear crystals, deep as obsidian, with a rhombic structure identical to the Emperor's crystal, fitted and locked together piece by piece, gradually forming Lu Xing's main torso.
Breastplate, battle skirt, pauldrons.
Streamlined curves exuded elegance from every part of the full-body armor; eerie purple demonic veins pulsed with a subtle halo at their converging points.
A knight of pitch black, standing firm upon the earth.
Apart from the gem-like deep and translucent color, every detail of this Honkai Beast was distinctly different from an ordinary Temple-class.
Above his head, where there should have been nothing.
A resplendent, gilded halo, elegant and noble—its existence not only allowed Lu Xing to soar freely in the air but also greatly accelerated the absorption and utilization of Honkai energy.
The more exaggerated part.
Was the slowly rotating ring behind Lu Xing's head.
Ordinary Temple-class Honkai Beasts would condense a massive, detachable shield above their left shoulder, which could also function as a wing—Temple-class beasts typically used a spear and shield combination for combat, but when needed, they could also raise the large shield and attack with a one-handed sword hidden within!
Lu Xing lacked this structure.
The composition of his back was identical to the Emperor's, formed by sixteen rhombic crystals interlocked into a ring.
When not needed.
They would become armor plates attached to his pauldrons.
If facing attacks from multiple angles, the rhombic crystals could also directly transform into "flying swords," controlled by the Honkai energy halo, to launch mid-range attacks and defenses—as for the even more astonishing remote weapon/funnel function, Lu Xing did not yet possess the ability to control it.
The above.
Was the brand-new form Lu Xing now displayed!
————
"Your level has increased to Lv.52."
"Your level has increased to Lv.53."
"Your level has increased to Lv.54."
The System, very "considerately," saved the kill experience until after the upgrade, and the Emperor's legacy still had one last item remaining—
"Holder's 'Honkai Crystal' detected to be complete."
"Achievement 'This Body Complete Unto Itself' completed."
"You have unlocked a new ability 'Adaptive Growth'."
"[Adaptive Growth: Fuse two skills into a new skill adapted to one's own form. This skill gains the effect of 'Grade +1'. Skills that have reached the highest grade cannot be further fused.]"
His level skyrocketed like a rocket.
Having completed a series of evolutions, Lu Xing, in terms of raw power alone, was definitely no inferior to the deceased Frost Lightning.
He still had a small problem to solve.
Just as ordinary Knight-class beasts came with their own mounts, the spear and shield combination used by Temple-class Honkai Beasts was equipment bound to them from birth.
But these two weapons... Lu Xing didn't have them.
That's right.
The power inherited from the Emperor.
It gave Lu Xing an "aura" with immense potential, capable of various fancy applications.
But for the Emperor, whether in its "Ice Emperor" or "Divine Giant Soldier" form, it had no experience fighting with weapons. After Lu Xing inherited this legacy, the Temple-class beast he evolved into also channeled all its vast energy into constructing the aura. Spear and shield...
They were completely out of consideration.
With [Frost's Lament] already shattered and [Radiant Star] covered in scars.
Lu Xing didn't even have a usable weapon left...
But it didn't matter.
With his level having risen again, Lu Xing still had an unactivated random mission.
The advancement of his Knight Lance could still continue—
Deng!
————
Mission: With Thy Heart, Forge Thine Own Spear
Reward: All attributes +1, Level +1, [Radiant Star] Grade +1.
————
Perhaps it was due to the change in Lu Xing's mentality.
The random mission, departing from its usual style, had taken on an iron-blooded tone.
"Cheche."
Without needing to move his limbs.
Having advanced to Temple-class, Lu Xing's control over gravity was no longer limited to merely reducing his own weight for acceleration.
Controlling gravity within a short distance to mimic "telekinesis" for retrieving objects was no longer a difficult feat for him.
Cheche's Honkai Core slowly floated before Lu Xing.
Undoubtedly.
The moment this mission appeared, Lu Xing, who had already sensed something in the unseen, raised his shattered long spear without hesitation.
Even if the form had changed.
Cheche could still fight alongside Lu Xing!
"Once more, I'm in your care!"
BOOM!!
A blade of profound blackness, a spear shaft of tranquil, orchid-blue.
Like a flower bud on the verge of blooming, yet possessing a soul-stirring, terrifying sharpness.
Radiant Star and the core fused perfectly together, a knightly lance resembling a nascent "tree," now stood silently thrust into the ground before Lu Xing.
Step forward! Draw it out! A clear, elegant spear-song!
This was—
"Your mission (With Thy Heart, Forge Thine Own Spear) has been completed."
"Your level has increased to Lv.55."
"You have obtained the item [Midnight's Black Light]."
————
Name: Midnight's Black Light
Type: Weapon
Grade: Honkai (Purple, Epic)
Effect: Ride forth, Krishna!
————