Chapter 343: Sacrifice

Chu Feng was tempted. He really wanted to climb the altar, but he knew it wasn't that simple. The pressure in this place was too immense; even an evolutionist of his level felt a suffocating heaviness upon approaching it.

The entire altar was magnificent and colossal, standing before them like an ancient city. On the jade offering table at its peak, various sacrifices radiated brilliant light.

At this moment, someone roared and rushed forward. Upon nearing the altar, they attempted to ascend the stone steps directly, but were so suppressed that blood seeped from their lips and their body trembled.

Ultimately, the person tumbled back down, their body shaking uncontrollably, their spirit unstable, and their face ashen.

Now, all the powerful individuals were envious. Who could remain unmoved by the treasures on the altar?

"I'll try!"

Another person strode forward, eager to ascend the altar.

Even Master Qianjia, the old monk from Bodhi Gene whose body glowed with a faint golden luster, was stirred to action.

If even a centenarian monk like him felt this way, there was no need to mention others.

The temptation here was simply too great!

What were those items? Golden seals, Nine Cauldrons, Vermilion Fruits... all were astonishing.

For instance, the vibrant red and crystalline Flat Peaches, even after many years, still shimmered with crimson light within their vessels. Even the old Daoist priest was drooling.

Such items were true treasures for evolutionists.

According to legend, in ancient times, before Earth's complete decline, evolutionists would hold Flat Peach banquets at regular intervals, enjoying these miraculous treasures of heaven and earth.

These fruits included varieties that bloomed once a year, once every decade or century, and even some that bloomed only once every three thousand years.

Of course, the legendary mother tree had been withered for many years. Perhaps it only thrived and bore abundant fruit during Earth's most prosperous era, when it ranked eleventh in the cosmic sea.

"Flat peaches! Items only ancient terrestrial immortals could enjoy," someone sighed, their eyes filled with fervent desire. "These fruits even appear in folk legends about the Queen Mother of the West."

Alas, they could only look, but not ascend the altar.

"Brother Chu Feng, do you have a solution? You are currently the strongest force field researcher on Earth; only you can lead us up there."

Someone spoke, looking at Chu Feng with a hopeful expression.

Chu Feng shook his head, explaining patiently, "There's truly no way. This place isn't just about force fields. More importantly, it possesses a 'mountain and river momentum.' Ancient ancestors performed sky sacrifices here, imbuing this place with an aura that suppresses heaven and earth, overpowering all strong individuals."

He told everyone that, strictly speaking, there were currently no destructive force fields here, and everyone could ascend the altar to enjoy the offerings.

However, the momentum of heaven and earth here was too terrifying. The very top of the altar was a place bordering on divinity, imbued with a solemn and grand "momentum."

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

In just that brief moment, some people moved!

They didn't necessarily believe Chu Feng, but they had received orders and were compelled to climb, tasked with probing the area.

Many people from various major conglomerates and top powers were present, each with more than one king-level expert. Some were now responsible for scouting ahead.

Unfortunately, as these individuals approached the altar, they were all obstructed. Climbing the stone steps felt like carrying mountains on their backs; their bodies hunched, and sweat poured from them.

Finally, they all groaned. Some stumbled backward, some coughed up blood, and others tumbled down like rolling gourds.

Chu Feng left some things unsaid. This so-called "momentum" could be considered not a force field, or it could be considered one. It wasn't caused by carving symbols onto magnets.

This momentum directly guided the power of mountains and rivers, condensing the essence of ley lines and renowned mountains, and communicating with the fields of heaven and earth, thus forming a more complex "field energy."

This kind of phenomenon could be deciphered, but it required the intervention of a force field master. Alternatively, one could choose not to decipher it, not to treat it as a force field, and simply endure this "momentum" to directly ascend the altar.

It exhibited no variations; it was quite singular, without lightning, wind, or fire. It simply exerted a comprehensive suppression on any approaching living being, making them feel utterly crushed.

"Brother Chu Feng, is there really no way?" someone from a conglomerate asked, feeling utterly unwilling to give up. The offerings were not far, yet unattainable.

Chu Feng shook his head and said, "My cultivation is too shallow; I certainly can't budge this altar right now."

"Everyone find your own way," the old Daoist priest said. "He's right; here, it's all about individual strength. Whoever gains good fortune can only rely on their own destiny."

"Everyone, move aside!"

Just then, the old woman whose body had been half-burnt suddenly moved, rising into the air and leaping towards the altar's stone steps, casting aside her soft stretcher.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Her movements were incredibly swift. She wasn't truly flying, but rather touching the ground with her hands and moving rapidly upward.

Even she couldn't remain still. Faced with the offerings on the altar, she was willing to take a risk to seize them.

Because she saw a strange fruit resembling a human, snow-white and crystalline, in a jade vessel on the altar. Her heart stirred with excitement; it was something that defied heaven!

She believed that if consumed, it could allow her body to regenerate, rapidly boost her strength, and enable continuous evolution!

The old woman's strength was extraordinary. No one had expected that, even after being burnt and crippled, she could still ascend so quickly, as if walking on flat ground.

"Whoosh!"

At the most crucial moment, her palm glowed, and she brought out a peculiar artifact: a jade ladder, not very large, less than a palm's length.

However, this small ladder glowed and emitted runes, spreading upward along the altar's stone steps as if paving a road. It was very strange.

"What is that?!"

Everyone was stunned. The old woman, following the light emitted by the jade ladder, moved rapidly upward along the steps. Could she actually go up?

A group of people's eyes turned red with envy!

"Sky-Reaching Ladder!" the old Daoist priest exclaimed.

Chu Feng's heart stirred. He had learned from the undersea stone carvings that some force field masters could create such items, transforming the terrain of renowned mountains for their own use, making it feel like flat ground.

Force field researchers who reached this level were truly formidable.

"No, wait, it's just a low-level product, still in its rudimentary form," the old Daoist priest murmured.

Clearly, the old woman was going all out; using such an item to brave a renowned mountain was truly astonishing.

Chu Feng frowned. The last time at Purple Gold Mountain, the old woman definitely hadn't carried this artifact, or she wouldn't have ended up so miserably.

He observed secretly, wondering if the old woman could still cross using the Sky-Reaching Ladder after he set up his force fields.

"Crack!"

Suddenly, the jade ladder in the old woman's hand cracked, then its emitted light scattered. The old woman let out a muffled groan, and subsequently, fell from the altar.

It was as if a massive force had struck her, pushing her down until she crashed with a thud at the foot of the altar.

The artifact in her hand was destroyed; she couldn't cross over.

Chu Feng secretly nodded, understanding. This so-called Sky-Reaching Ladder was far from perfect, merely the crudest entry-level product. With a bit of study, he could set up a few force fields to block it.

"Now it's this humble Daoist's turn!" The old Daoist priest smiled, stepped forward, and shot up the altar's stone steps, attempting to ascend.

He first ran quickly using his own strength. Only when a grand force began to suppress him did he bring out an item.

It was a small stone arch bridge, only about a foot long, which he took from his sleeve. With a whoosh, light spread, and the runes emanating from the small stone arch bridge also paved a path, like a bridge, ready to carry him forward.

Chu Feng was speechless. This was still a creation of a force field researcher, carved from materials like psychic jade and magnetic crystals, named the "Boundary-Crossing Bridge."

Its function was similar to the Sky-Reaching Ladder!

Unfortunately, the legendary finished product was extremely difficult to create. Once successfully made, it would be regarded as a rare treasure by all sects.

Both the old woman's Sky-Reaching Ladder and the old Daoist priest's Boundary-Crossing Bridge were rudimentary and severely flawed, far from being finished products.

"People from outside realms truly possess many treasures, specifically prepared for renowned mountains and great rivers," some people marvelled.

"Go, Grandpa!" the problematic young girl shouted from below, cheering on the old Daoist priest.

It had to be said, the old Daoist priest's methods were advanced and truly extraordinary. He charged straight up in one go, nearly reaching the altar.

Finally, he flung open his sleeve, aiming a distant strike at the offerings on the altar, generating a powerful gust of wind.

On the altar, one of the nine bronze cauldrons nearest to him was disturbed, emitting a bronze hum, followed by a grand ripple that spread outwards.

With a bang, the Boundary-Crossing Ladder in the old Daoist priest's hand shattered. He let out a strange cry and tumbled down, looking disheveled but unharmed.

Everyone was horrified. The moment the bronze cauldron hummed, many people's souls palpitated, and some king-level experts even trembled uncontrollably, nearly collapsing to the ground.

"How terrifying!"

Everyone was astonished; that was just one of the Nine Cauldrons, yet it was so extraordinary. The sacrificed items were simply too frightening.

"Alas, if this were back in the day, everything on this altar would be mine!" the old Daoist priest sighed, feeling helpless.

Everyone felt an intense itch in their hearts, watching helplessly. There were numerous divine objects on the altar, but they had no way to approach them, only to gaze with envy.

Some people once again sought out Chu Feng, asking him to find a solution.

"I'll give it a try. You all help me in a bit." Chu Feng stood near the altar, continuously pondering, then began to carve symbols onto magnets.

If he could truly decipher the altar's "momentum," he would absolutely not act now. He had no obligation to lead a mixed group of kings up there; he could do it himself.

Soon after, he enlisted the help of a group of king-level experts to simultaneously throw some inscribed magnets high into the air. They arranged themselves in order, forming a force field in mid-air.

He was merely experimenting, cautiously probing, not truly making a decisive move.

The effect was astonishing. Once the force field formed, it caused the altar to roar. The "momentum" of the place consequently exploded outwards, suppressing fiercely.

In the sky, all the magnets shattered into dust.

However, when the altar roared, the items on the jade table became unstable, and some rolled off.

"Oh! Good idea! Something fell down! Keep shaking it!"

People were first stunned, then pleasantly surprised, feeling that it was very possible to shake down some offerings.

Chu Feng tried again, having people throw magnets from different directions into the air, instantly forming a force field there.

As a result, the momentum on the altar erupted again, crushing down and obliterating the force field runes, causing all the magnets to explode.

Upon seeing this, some people picked up large rocks and threw them, but it was completely useless. Before they even got close, they were repelled, while the altar remained completely still.

Only a force field could draw upon the altar's "momentum," causing it to roar.

Chu Feng's heart pounded. During this process, the small, unstable grinding disc within him began to spin wildly, as if calling something down.

He felt a little regretful, thinking he shouldn't have acted so casually. If he truly managed to get a treasure from the altar in plain sight, he estimated it would make everyone extremely envious.

However, his fear came to pass. The small grinding disc inside him was too peculiar; it unconsciously formed a pulling force, dragging something from the altar down.

In just that brief moment, something fell!

"That's..." People were dumbfounded.