Sun Temple

On the crimson lake, the numerous rushing water elementals stirred up waves that crashed against the murloc nest.

Waves as tall as a person swept through the entire murloc nest, destroying a large number of small wooden huts.

Hundreds of murlocs within the nest went berserk, shrieking and yelling as they grabbed their weapons, leaped into the water, and charged toward the cavern beneath the nest.

Double insurance? Shi Feng looked back, startled.

Hundreds of water elementals weren't enough; there were hundreds of murlocs following behind them. Even two or three elite parties wouldn't be enough to handle this.

Shi Feng had no choice but to accelerate into the cave; it was his only glimmer of hope.

However, Shi Feng's speed underwater was very slow. He couldn't compare to a Druid in seal form, who gained a 50% movement speed increase; instead, his own movement speed was reduced by 50%.

He could see he was still 20 yards from the cave entrance, but the enraged water elementals were closing in rapidly, getting closer and closer.

42 yards... 28 yards... 20 yards... 10 yards...

Just as Shi Feng was 5 yards from the entrance, the water elementals caught up to him, swinging their massive, icy water fists toward his head.

The water elementals' attacks carried a freezing slow effect; once hit, he would be stuck by the elementals until he died.

Shi Feng hurriedly turned and used Parry, blocking the first water elemental's fist. He used the elemental's immense strength to propel his body backward, but the remaining water elementals continued to rush forward.

It looks like I'm heading back to the city. Seeing the hundreds of water elementals before him, Shi Feng felt powerless.

Just as Shi Feng was about to give up, he drifted into the cave entrance. Inside, he saw a humanoid ghost wandering about, roughly 30 yards away.

Shi Feng stopped caring about the consequences—the further he died, the better, as he might gain some intel to prepare for his next attempt. He used Wind Chasing Sword and charged forward. His speed surged, sweeping past like a gale. At the very last second, he shook off the water elementals and rushed onto the shore of the cave.

Once they left the water, the water elementals' speed dropped sharply, and they couldn't catch up to the sprinting Shi Feng.

After escaping the water, Shi Feng rushed toward the humanoid ghost. Just as the Abyssal Walker was a hair's breadth away from slicing across the ghost's neck, Shi Feng suddenly realized this translucent figure wasn't actively attacking him.

He immediately shifted his blade, brushing past the ghost's body without drawing its aggro.

That was close. Shi Feng broke into a cold sweat after seeing the ghost's data.

Hero Froy, Great Lord, Level 25, HP 360,000/360,000.

If he had actually attacked this Hero and drawn its aggro, he wouldn't have enough lives to survive, even if he had a hundred.

In God's Domain, a Hero's strength was second only to a Legend. They held a higher status in the kingdom than a Marquis, ranking just below a Duke. Even as a ghost, such a figure was a Great Lord-ranked monster—an overlord among monsters.

Without a 100-man elite party of level 30s, it would be impossible to take down this ghost Hero.

Could he be the guardian? Shi Feng wondered to himself, looking at Hero Froy.

Usually, where there was treasure, there was a guardian. The murlocs and water elementals outside were, at best, guard dogs; they weren't worthy of guarding important treasures.

Shi Feng didn't dare linger, as a massive horde of monsters was still chasing him, so he hurried toward the depths of the cave.

The cavern was vast, with a staircase passage leading straight into the deep underground. Following it down should lead him to the Philosopher's Stone.

Just as Shi Feng reached the stairs, he discovered a massive swarm of water elementals and murlocs rushing up, as if they were determined to kill him.

"Lowly creatures dare to defile this sacred place? Accept the holy judgment, all of you." Hero Froy's eyes suddenly erupted with fury. He drew the dark gold greatsword from his back, emitting a surging, murderous aura as if he were the sole master of heaven and earth.

He raised the dark gold greatsword high, and the surrounding air grew heavy.

With a roar, Hero Froy swung his hands with force. A powerful wind rose, and a sword light swept through the bodies of all the water elementals and murlocs, turning them into dust. The cave entrance collapsed instantly.

"So strong!" Shi Feng exclaimed.

He had severely underestimated this Hero's strength. This single strike would have wiped out a 100-man elite party of level 30s; it would likely take 300 elites to even put up a fight.

He hadn't expected those water elementals and murlocs to be unworthy even as guard dogs; they had been wiped out instantly.

Shi Feng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. It was fortunate he was human and not a "lowly creature," or his fate would likely have been the same as those elementals and murlocs.

"That was ruthless. I have no choice but to keep going down." Shi Feng glanced at the collapsed entrance; not even an earthworm could crawl out of it.

The staircase leading underground was spiral-shaped. There was some kind of light magic on the rock walls that illuminated the entire path. However, the stairs were incredibly long. Fortunately, there was no danger. Shi Feng walked for a full half-hour before reaching a wide hall at the very bottom.

The hall was the size of a football field and resembled a temple. It was magnificent and golden, with various pictures and text carved on both sides. At the very back of the temple stood an altar, upon which sat a golden treasure chest. Two golden statues holding greatswords stood on either side of the chest.

System: Player has discovered the Sun Temple.

The Sun Temple? This was the first time Shi Feng had ever heard of it. In his previous life, there had been no information regarding the Sun Temple; he guessed no player had ever unlocked it, which was why it had never appeared on the official website. Judging by the situation, it was likely very dangerous.

However, Shi Feng didn't care about that. He walked toward the golden altar. His goal was the Philosopher's Stone, and the golden chest before him should contain it.

As Shi Feng stepped onto the altar, he clearly felt a chill. This coldness emanated from the two massive golden statues. He didn't know what the consequences of taking the Philosopher's Stone would be.

But he had no choice; the entrance was blocked, so he had to take the stone first.

He slowly opened the golden chest. It erupted with a golden radiance that illuminated the entire temple. As the light gradually faded, Shi Feng saw three items inside. Without a second thought, he collected them all.

"Damn it, no way. How did the Philosopher's Stone end up like this?" Shi Feng looked at the blood-red stone the size of a thumb in his hand, feeling incredibly disappointed.

Philosopher's Stone (Fragment)

Epic-rank special item (Always drops upon death)

An alchemical holy relic capable of turning stone into gold and resurrecting the dead, among other miraculous uses. It was destroyed by Sword Emperor Shunaite and shattered into five pieces. However, the Philosopher's Stone possesses great power; as long as all five pieces are collected, its full power can be restored.

Usage effect: Because it was destroyed, it possesses less than one-tenth of its power, capable only of alchemical transmutation and Elemental Refining.

Although the effects were drastically reduced, Shi Feng was still satisfied. With these two functions, he could accomplish many things.

The remaining two items were an Adamantite Grade level 10 golden greatsword and a Magic Teleportation Scroll.

"What a massive treasure." Shi Feng looked at the golden greatsword in his hand, unable to contain his excitement. Aside from Magic Weapons, this item was absolutely the best equipment available. If he were to equip this greatsword, he would surely be invincible among level 10 players.

At this moment, the statues on both sides began to tremble, their eyes glowing with a crimson light as they locked onto Shi Feng.

Shi Feng immediately used the Magic Teleportation Scroll. Golden magic runes instantly enveloped him; the spell had a three-second casting time and could teleport the player to a designated coordinate.

Although this magic scroll was extremely precious and there were not many in the entire God's Domain, dying here would be a far greater loss.

Seeing the golden statue swing its massive sword down, Shi Feng vanished from the temple with a whoosh.

PS: Thanks to Just Bookworm for the tip.