After the Sakast Emperor, Naren Sakaste, had completely dissipated, a notification appeared on his retina.
[You witnessed the phantom of the "Sakast Emperor"] [Attack +1 million]
Although Zhou Heng had guessed early on that witnessing an NPC of this caliber would give him a boost, he had not expected the increase to be so enormous compared with when he had witnessed Hero King Karenna. The latter had given him only +100,000 Health, whereas the Sakast Emperor had directly given him attributes equivalent to the sum of all random attributes from level 71 to level 81. One million Attack put Zhou Heng's base damage output on par with ordinary players above level 81.
Just as everything had settled and Zhou Heng had to leave this dark Dead Zone, light suddenly appeared within it. It gradually coalesced, becoming a flight of white stone steps reaching straight toward the heavens. It spiraled upward at a 45-degree angle, forming a single-helix White Light Spiral Staircase. Zhou Heng was somewhat surprised. He did not know why this change had occurred. But he did not dwell on it. Fate had given him no hint, so it could not possibly be a bad thing. With that thought, Zhou Heng followed the White Light Spiral Staircase upward...
Zhou Heng walked and walked and walked... After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly noticed black objects beside the staircase, contrasting with its white light. He did not know exactly what they were, but they hung in fine strands, a little like hair. But if they were hair... Zhou Heng looked up the staircase, unable to see its end. If those fine black strands really were hair, how long would that hair have to be?
Zhou Heng held his breath and focused, clearing his mind of distractions as