Chapter 479: Invincible Scroll

On the altar, Chu Feng sat cross-legged, silent and motionless, no longer communicating with the outside world.

High-quality energy mist shrouded him, his figure hazy and still.

Within him, however, there was no calm. A tremendous upheaval was underway as the source of dozens of broken shackles erupted like a volcano, energy surging like a flood, washing over every inch of his flesh and blood, refining his bones and sinews.

If one could see inside, his body was like boiling hellish magma, filled with destruction and impact, on the verge of losing control.

He had already broken through the cage, advancing into the Free Realm!

But this sensation was agonizing, as the sheer number of shackles he had opened meant the boiling energy, collectively surging, was almost tearing his body apart.

Others achieved a leap in life essence by breaking twelve shackles, but he had dozens more, making the comparison impossible.

Moreover, to "ink and paint" his own path, he had to obliterate all this restlessness, facing unimaginable resistance.

As time passed, Chu Feng began to tremble. The rapid evolution of his physical body resulted in such intense changes that his body nearly burst apart.

To "ink and paint" his masterpiece, he had to return to his primordial state, flawless both inside and out, eliminating the special abilities corresponding to each shackle location.

This process was incredibly painful!

Chu Feng's body felt like it was undergoing a massive explosion internally, unable to maintain tranquility any longer. Blood spurted from his pores; the "painting" of the Free Realm was not easily sketched.

Of course, this was mainly due to the unique nature of his path, having opened an intimidating number of shackles.

"Boom!"

The lightning symbol in Chu Feng's left palm exploded. Internally, thunder interwove, spreading up his left arm and surging into his torso.

The external manifestation was equally astonishing: blood gushed from his left hand, scarlet drops spattering onto the altar.

This was just the beginning. All the near-divine abilities gained from breaking shackles throughout his body had to be severed, utterly reduced to nothingness. Only by rendering his body almost "chaotic" could he "paint" his path.

Next, a fiery light shot skyward from Chu Feng's right hand, intensely bright and burning fiercely; his entire palm glowed a terrifying red.

A surge of vital energy shot up from his right palm and then ignited, as if Chu Feng's very essence were burning.

Another special ability was eliminated!

This process was extremely painful, even harder than breaking the shackles themselves. It constantly threatened his life, causing severe internal depletion of both his physical form and spirit.

Yet, Chu Feng had no choice but to persevere. He had already taken the step; there was no turning back. To reach the peak, one must endure the pain; to wear the crown, one must bear its weight!

Next came his feet. Chu Feng hesitated, wondering whether to discard his divine movement ability, but finally gritted his teeth and decided to obliterate it.

This was because, according to his understanding, there were many secret techniques, such as the Art of Terrestrial Swiftness and Horizon's Reach, that could achieve excellent results if one had the opportunity to cultivate them.

There were even secret techniques like the divine movement ability itself, which were more mature and complete than what he currently possessed.

In an instant, Chu Feng's feet glowed like two small suns, then burst forth with beams of blood and energy. His face twisted slightly; this destruction was too painful.

Next was Chu Feng's spine, which was now a faint golden color, like a dormant golden true dragon.

At this moment, his spine seemed to explode. A golden weapon, sometimes appearing as a dragon sword, sometimes transforming into a dragon spear, lay dormant there, its golden light dazzling.

The weapon shattered, then was ground away, finally reverting to primordial energy, surging intensely!

Chu Feng's spine emitted crisp sounds, and his body became spattered with blood.

Next, he turned his attention inward to his heart. He hesitated slightly but still chose to obliterate it. The shackle opened there had granted him astonishing regenerative abilities, a huge benefit.

He had asked the Yellow Ox and consulted Yao Yao, learning that there were secret techniques that could replace it.

For example, the Bronze Gecko's Tail Severing Art, Silver Silkworm Regeneration Art, or Immortality Art could all serve as replacements; mastering just one would suffice.

Naturally, these rare secret manuals were exorbitantly expensive and almost impossible for ordinary people to obtain.

However, not long ago, Chu Feng saw a way out: he could sell divine sons or have people bid for saintesses, exchanging them for what he needed from beings deep within the starry sky.

Before this, he wouldn't have dared to easily give up the regeneration art corresponding to his heart; now, he felt confident.

A tearing pain emanated from his heart, and Chu Feng coughed up blood. This was what he had to face to advance to the Free Realm; others only needed to endure for a while.

Chu Feng had broken too many shackles, and there was more suffering to come.

When the Geng Metal Sword Qi nurtured in his lungs instantly dissolved, it felt as if his lung lobes were being self-severed, destroying his internal organs. Chu Feng's breathing grew ragged, and his chest heaved violently.

In this manner, he obliterated one special ability after another, enduring various torments.

Several areas he saved for last, such as his kidneys. Chu Feng frowned and resolutely broke them open, causing kidney essence to instantly gush forth, and energy to revert to its primordial state.

He let out a muffled groan and hurriedly inspected his interior, fearing damage to his vital essence.

Afterward, Chu Feng steeled himself and carefully guided the special energy back into another critical yet vulnerable area of his body.

Discordant noises emerged from the Primal Beast Platform. Someone exclaimed, "The number of shackles this kid has opened is a bit terrifying. Have they all been thoroughly penetrated? What is he staring at now? I feel like it's his crotch area?!"

"Heh heh, with all this obliteration, he might accidentally cripple himself!"

Fortunately, Chu Feng could neither hear nor see anything now, completely cut off from the outside world. Otherwise, he would surely have "gone mad."

He exhaled deeply. Everything had returned to its origin, unified inside and out, like primal chaos.

His eyes, however, were an exception. Fiery Golden Eyes was the only ability Chu Feng retained and did not obliterate. This eye technique was simply too heaven-defying; how many could master it and gaze across the starry sky?

Many people who opened their eye-related shackles only gained abilities like "Spirit Eyes" at best!

Fiery Golden Eyes, this eye technique, was known as a forbidden art. There was no manual to follow for its cultivation; it was naturally formed!

"Finally, my body is shrouded in a mist, like chaos, with various energies intermingling. I can now meticulously construct my evolutionary path," Chu Feng murmured to himself.

Having returned to his primordial state, his body was like a blank sheet of paper, or a chaotic, unformed state.

Some said it was best to obliterate all divine abilities to render the body flawless. Others argued that the more one pursued perfection, the more imperfections arose, leading to a tradition of retaining one special ability.

Before "inking and painting" his path, Chu Feng had his own plans for retaining his Fiery Golden Eyes. He had a certain deduction, allowing him to attack when advancing and defend when retreating.

Chu Feng sat cross-legged, contemplating silently once more, confident he had missed nothing.

He took a deep breath, calming himself.

By this point, he was covered in blood, even his forehead. A blurry, small figure wielding a halberd, newly formed from his spiritual energy, had also been completely dissolved.

Just before Chu Feng was about to begin, he felt a sudden palpitation!

He sat upright, divine light shooting from his eyes, and ceased all movement.

Hunger, exhaustion, and a feeling of severe internal depletion washed over him.

In an instant, Chu Feng became unbearably hungry. The terrible side effects of tearing dozens of shackles and then simultaneously pushing through to the Free Realm finally erupted.

Before arriving, he had eaten Star Core Turtle Eggs on Mount Longhu, establishing a solid foundation, but now the effects were manifesting.

This time, the sheer number of shackles he had torn through, combined with his sudden breakthrough into the Free Realm, was akin to a desperate struggle, refining his very lifeblood and spirit.

Under normal circumstances, this would take years. His intense transformation in such a short time, condensing years of progress into a single day, was incredibly audacious and a gamble with his life!

Doing so would lead to complete exhaustion!

The sub-divine beast eggs indeed had a unique quality, allowing Chu Feng to last until now.

Although Yao Yao had downplayed the Star Core Turtle Eggs, the truth was they contained an incomparable life essence.

Turtles are long-lived, and Star Core Turtles, in particular, were practically a sacred tonic.

Without these divine eggs, Chu Feng certainly wouldn't have endured; such fierce and rapid evolution would have prematurely aged him, leaving him withered to death.

Before arriving, he had eaten three eggs in total. One had been digested, while the essence from the other two had been infused by Yao Yao into various parts of his body.

Now, like a bursting dam, all his cells were starving. The refined essence from the other two sub-divine beast eggs was instantly absorbed.

He had essentially consumed future sub-divine beasts!

After a brief palpitation, he was nourished again, and his form and spirit did not wither.

It was like experiencing death!

Chu Feng regained tranquility. Silver light radiated from his cells, vibrant with life, surging throughout his body. His bleeding arms, feet, forehead, and other areas healed, completely recovering.

His expression was calm as he looked at the Suppressing Domain Seal beside him. A dark light enveloped the area, ensuring peace and safety.

Since activating this seal, he knew his earlier worries were unnecessary. The Suppressing Domain Seal was undoubtedly a powerful artifact in ancient times; each use could last for more than ten hours.

For him, time was ample, allowing him to proceed calmly.

He took out his optical computer and carefully read the electronic notes Lin Qi had given him—ancestral hand scrolls scanned onto the device.

He aimed for perfection, to do his absolute best, leaving no regrets or flaws.

"In a sense, I worried too much. Secret manuals for energy body analysis aren't strictly necessary. For instance, the Buddhist clan's supreme energy body – the Sixteen-Foot Golden Body – was an invincible 'painting' sketched by their geniuses when they entered the Free Realm. It was continuously refined over the years, manifesting unparalleled power."

Chu Feng nodded, a realization dawning on him.

He then read through scroll after scroll of ancient sages' notes, all incredibly precious, whose elucidated views shared commonalities.

"No wonder Yao Yao told me to sketch my own 'painting' and didn't emphasize energy body analysis too much. So that's how it is."

Chu Feng felt that the manifestation of energy just needed to suit himself; he could completely create his own.

As for things like the Other Shore Flower and the Supreme Banana Leaf, he could reference and use them as embellishments after "inking and painting" his own path, rather than needing to acquire them beforehand.

"There's no conflict with my own 'painting.' I'm ready."

After reading, Chu Feng became even more composed and at ease.

He suddenly stood up on the altar, surveying his surroundings.

Within him, various energies churned and surged, as if chaos was being opened. He was sketching, "inking and painting" his path.

A golden sun rose within his body, illuminating the sky, growing larger and larger, then enveloping and covering him.

As he brandished his fists, he seemed like an awakened Sacred Emperor, his fist imprints bursting with dazzling light, his hands appearing to push a sun across the world!

"Using the great sun as a foundation, grand and magnificent!" Below the altar, the divine sons and saintesses were moved. This was an overbearing "painting."

On the Primal Beast Platform, many people were shaken to their core. The reason was simple: this was a "painting" once created by an existence who had "illuminated all heavens."

How many would dare to imitate a supreme expert of that level? It was akin to seeking death!

In the cosmic starry sky, many famous "paintings" were public, but one couldn't necessarily imitate them. Those who failed to forge their own path often met with defeat and demise.

Following a sage's "painting," and "inking and painting" along their path, would be fatal.

And the "paintings" created by beings at the "illuminating all heavens" level were even more terrifying, practically death warrants. If future generations were to fully commit to them, they would be cutting off their own path to survival!

Many exceptionally talented individuals, refusing to believe, met tragic ends, bringing about their own destruction.

A famous saying once encapsulated everything: "Those who learn from me shall live; those who imitate me shall die!"

One could draw upon their experiences and ponder their ideas.

But blind imitation was suicide!

However, next, the golden great sun dispersed, and swathes of golden light returned to Chu Feng's body.

"He gave up!" Chen Rong said with a cold glint in her eyes.

"He knows himself well. He clearly understands he can't control it. If he were to force it, he would certainly fall apart!" White-haired Lieshan chuckled. He had evolved from a silver pangolin, with a somewhat elongated face and sharp teeth.

Amidst rustling sounds, mist enveloped Chu Feng. A pond appeared, followed by one green lotus after another, seemingly a manifestation of the sole lotus pond from the time of creation.

"This is an ancient scroll! An expert who 'illuminated all heavens' once regarded it as their very foundation!" Prince Qi Yu of Great Qi was instantly alarmed, revealing a hidden worry for the first time.

Because if Chu Feng truly succeeded, his achievements would be astonishing.

This kind of "painting" was renowned throughout the starry sky, coveted by all prodigies.

It was rumored that the one who "inked and painted" this invincible "painting" was a supreme expert from one of the top ten largest planets. The era in which he "illuminated all heavens" was terrifyingly ancient!

In later generations, many imitators, all exceptional talents, attempted this, but successful cases were virtually unheard of, most merely mimicking others poorly.

However, nothing in the world is absolute. Ultimately, three individuals, in different eras, successively managed to sketch it successfully.

Those were truly world-shaking events, and the individual battle records of those three were terrifyingly glorious!

With a soft sound, at the final moment, the Chaotic Lotus Pond disintegrated. Everything once again returned to nothingness, and Chu Feng, surprisingly, gave up yet again.

Some expressed regret, truly wishing he had tried to see if he could succeed and thus forge an unbeaten path. It was a pity he withdrew.

Others felt relieved, displaying understanding expressions. How many now dared to attempt such a "painting"? There were too many bloody lessons, too many deceased geniuses.

In the star sea, many were eager to see how Chu Feng would choose and what kind of "painting" he would sketch.

Chen Rong, Yuwen Feng, Lieshan, and others whispered, secretly conferring, their gazes malicious as they stared at Chu Feng on the altar.

On the altar, Chu Feng's waist-length hair gleamed like silk. His eyes sparkled, and with a booming sound, page after page of golden paper appeared around him.

These were sutra scrolls!

This once again elicited gasps of astonishment, as it was one of the universe's peerless "paintings." In the past, someone had manifested page after page of heavenly books around themselves, devoid of text or markings.

These golden pages could be used to capture various laws existing between heaven and earth, plunder various forms of creation, and inscribe them onto the blank golden sutra scrolls—an incredibly heaven-defying ability.

It was rumored that the Hundred Transformations Breathing Method of Saint Yuwen Chengkong originated from this very path, or more precisely, one of its branches.

One could imagine how heaven-defying this "painting" was!

At this moment, the golden pages were remarkably real, like genuine wordless heavenly books, arrayed around Chu Feng. Their faint golden luster made him appear ethereal and transcendent.

"He's constructing it very realistically; this 'painting' is likely to succeed!"

On the Primal Beast Platform, there was an uproar.

People were astonished that Chu Feng actually possessed such a method, to "ink and paint" this particular "painting"!

Below the altar, Yuwen Feng, who was secretly plotting and discussing how to eliminate Chu Feng, wore a sinister expression. The "rebel seed" in his eyes was actually "inking and painting" this very design.

It was well known that the rise of their clan was precisely because their Saint Yuwen Chengkong had once imitated a few pages of the wordless sutra scrolls.

Now, Chu Feng was openly sketching and attempting to portray this peerless "painting." Was this a defiant display aimed at him?!

At the last moment, Chu Feng waved his hand. Several golden sutra scrolls ignited, set ablaze by him, transforming into divine light that merged into his body.

He still gave up!

This moved people. There had just been hope of success, yet he abandoned it like that?!

What exactly did he intend to do? What kind of "painting" would he "ink and paint"? Was all this merely a test run?!

Finally, a smile appeared on Chu Feng's lips. He suddenly looked up. Above his altar, in the sky directly above him, a hundred planets were arrayed across the firmament, "illuminating all heavens," and they also came into his view!