Chapter 643: Dark Hunting

"The Fallen Phoenix Slope is too dangerous. We finally managed to open a path through it with the Heaven-Reaching Ladder and suppressed the crisis. We shouldn't move that ladder again lightly. We'll find another way to deal with the energy field in this area."

The group was quite frustrated. Although their eyes gleamed with eagerness, none dared to approach the small tree in the central divine land. While not far away, symbols occasionally flickered in the soil and rocks, making them wary. They conversed in low voices, discussing their strategy.

The soil where the small tree was rooted was granular, intermittently spewing forth red, golden, and purple terrestrial energies, which shimmered in conjunction with the half-buried golden box nearby.

Chu Feng's heart was alight with excitement. Besides the great medicine, the soil here was astonishing, brimming with vitality and unique energy, far surpassing the renowned mountains outside that were undergoing revival. Perhaps his three seeds could take root and sprout here.

His anticipation for these three seeds surpassed anything else, especially since even the stone box was meant to store those mysterious seeds.

After observing for a moment, Chu Feng noticed that the group's attention was focused entirely on the immortal medicine, paying little heed to his side. Their vigilance regarding their retreat path had relaxed.

He quietly retreated, approaching the Heaven-Reaching Ladder, and considered whether he could successfully retrieve it to cut off their escape route.

However, he did not act rashly. This energy field secret treasure had now transformed into a ladder spanning the Fallen Phoenix Slope. Retrieving it would likely require significant effort and create a very large disturbance.

This was the Fallen Phoenix Slope, after all, where terrifying events could occur at any moment, making it unwise to disturb anything.

Furthermore, alerting the group now would be counterproductive; even if he forcibly retrieved the Heaven-Reaching Ladder, he might not finish before they arrived.

Chu Feng stayed put, ambushed here, waiting for them to open the path to the divine medicine. At a crucial moment, he could deliver a decisive blow.

"Everyone, you must work hard and overcome this challenge. I'm waiting for your success!"

Chu Feng remained hidden, secretly praying for them and wishing them swift success.

There was not much vegetation in this area, but what did grow exhibited unusual phenomena. They were as translucent as agate and jade, emitting a shimmering glow and threads of energy.

In the cracks of the rocks, golden ginseng roots grew, radiating light. They were as thick as large radishes, making Chu Feng stare wide-eyed. "How potent must this be?" he wondered.

In the distance, a date tree, over four feet tall, had vibrant green leaves but was laden with purple, glistening dates that emitted a sweet fragrance. However, the tree's thorns were also remarkable, being extremely sharp.

"Ah!" someone cried out.

An elder attempted to pull up a golden ginseng root, as large as a radish, but was struck when passing by the date tree.

Swarms of sharp, purple thorns flew from the date tree, piercing him. Even his glabella had a small blood hole, penetrating through his brain, causing his instant death.

"Damn it, be careful!"

An energy field researcher shouted, warning them not to move carelessly.

Not far away, a walnut tree glowed. No one had touched it, yet it spontaneously erupted with power. Its fruits were both silver and golden, with the golden ones already mature. Some fell, exploding with energy so terrifying it surpassed many nuclear weapons.

A group of elders was sent flying. Some were covered in blood, others had mangled bodies, a truly miserable sight.

Fortunately, after the golden walnuts flew out, their bursts were highly targeted and brief. As soon as the mushroom clouds rose, before the shockwaves could spread in all directions, they were absorbed by the energy field of the area.

However, this also created a terrifying scene: more shimmering symbols appeared on the ground, indicating the energy field had been activated.

In total, three elders had died.

The group's faces were ashen. The plants in this place were mutated species and could not be approached.

What appeared to be a peaceful pure land was, in fact, filled with danger at every step. The elders, their faces grim, observed carefully, confirming that all the plants here could be used as instruments of war.

Chu Feng sat on his green bamboo boat, secretly alarmed. He was thankful for this group clearing the path ahead; otherwise, if he had tried to dig up those "radishes," he would likely have suffered greatly.

"There's no other way. We can only use exotic magnetic powder. It's just... I'm truly reluctant to use it."

An energy field master from the Heavenly God Race sighed. He carefully removed a spatial bracelet from his wrist and took out some crystalline, vivid red powder.

From a distance, Chu Feng was greatly astonished. The Heavenly God Race truly lived up to its reputation as one of the top ten races, with an astonishingly powerful foundation accumulated over countless ages.

So-called exotic magnetic powder was a mutated substance found in divine magnetic mines, a byproduct of divine magnetism itself. It could effectively weaken the energy and special effects of divine magnetism.

However, this substance was extremely rare. Divine magnetism itself was priceless and hard to find; it was difficult to discover even one divine magnetic mine across an entire resource-rich planet. Its byproduct was even scarcer; finding exotic magnetic powder in one out of ten divine magnetic mines was considered fortunate.

At the same time, the energy field master took out several small flags, called Realm-Breaking Flags. He coated them with the vivid red powder, intending to paralyze the energy field in the area.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Eight triangular flags flew out, landing and sticking into the ground some distance away. All were brilliant red, coated with the exotic magnetic powder.

As expected, the symbols on the ground dimmed and eventually faded.

"It's not enough, we need more!" another energy field master interjected, feeling there was still danger and not daring to step forward lightly.

Then, another eight Realm-Breaking Flags flew out, also coated with the glistening red powder, and were inserted into the pure land, constructing a safe passage leading to the divine tree.

Chu Feng immediately stood up, ready for action. The Heavenly God Race was indeed wealthy and powerful to possess such a method, consuming globally rare exotic magnetic powder to paralyze the energy field here. It seemed they might actually succeed.

An elder stepped forward, cautiously advancing. The path remained calm, and he effectively and quickly approached the central area, now less than a hundred steps from the small tree.

"Good!"

Those behind rejoiced and grew excited, staring at the immortal medicine, though what they valued more was naturally the golden box beneath the small tree.

Suddenly, symbols reappeared on the path, which had been deemed safe. The energy field began to revive, emitting terrifying energy.

"Quick, save me!" the elder cried out.

Behind him, the energy field masters' expressions changed. Despite their heartache, they still pulled out a handful of exotic magnetic powder and scattered it forward.

However, after a moment of calm, the energy field glowed again. With a soft thud, a beam of energy shot out from beneath the pure land, severing the pathfinding elder's arm and even his shoulder, narrowly missing his head.

"Quick, don't be stingy! Scatter all the exotic magnetic powder so he can gather the great medicine and bring back the golden box!"

Another energy field master roared, demanding that they buy time for the pathfinding elder to survive.

Swish, swish, swish...

Streaks of red light scattered, which was the exotic magnetic powder. The Heavenly God Race used up all the reserves in their spatial bracelets, making the rugged and dangerous small path sparkle with red light in many places.

Finally, peace returned. The area no longer emitted terrifying energy auras.

The elder with the severed arm transformed into a streak of light. A hundred steps was too short a distance for him; he reached the divine tree instantly, about to pluck its fruit.

Just at the last moment, a wisteria vine next to the small tree suddenly rose like a spear, striking with lightning speed, as if it had come alive.

Instantly, blood splattered. The elder was impaled through the chest by a dark, sinister wisteria vine and lifted into the air. At the same time, a mechanical voice resonated.

"Detection complete. Bloodline incompatible. Hostile race. Not native to this planet. An invasion by an ancient enemy!"

Within the pure land, an energy tower emerged, as black as ink, located right where the wisteria vine was, sharing its color. It was this tower that emitted mental-force-like energy fluctuations.

Just like in the Qinling Mountains, to acquire anything within the pure land, a bloodline test was required to identify genetic constitution and so forth. This elder from the Heavenly God Race was rejected.

"Decapitate the gods!"

The black inherited energy tower emitted an eerie glow. As the last three words were uttered, the thirty-six interconnected mountain peaks in the distance began to emit faint light.

"Run!"

Outside the pure land, the energy field masters were utterly terrified, shouting at the elder with the severed arm, their faces ghastly pale.

One of the thirty-six mountain peaks, like the head of a deity opening its mouth, revealed a fissure on its body, from which a dazzling beam of light shot forth, instantly flying into the pure land.

With a soft thud, the severed head of the elder rolled down, then ignited, turning into a pile of ash, completely annihilated in body and spirit.

That was a terrain capable of slaying even saints. Once arranged into an energy field, its terror was unimaginable. Killing evolutionaries two levels above the Contemplation realm was naturally effortless.

Furthermore, it didn't stop there. All sixteen Realm-Breaking Flags exploded under that divine light, vanishing into thin air. Only the exotic magnetic powder scattered on the ground remained.

At the same time, the divine light that shot from the "Decapitate the Gods" formation rotated like a coiling dragon, strangling two energy field masters and eight elders who were near the pure land. Heads rolled, and eventually, they too were reduced to ash.

Those standing at the very edge felt a chill run through their bodies. The light was too fast for them to react; if it had attacked them too, they surely would have been annihilated.

"Just one step away from success, and yet... so many died. It's truly regrettable and infuriating! We'll have to go out and capture a native whose bloodline will surely match the requirements here. Then we'll return later to acquire the inheritance and harvest the immortal medicine."

An elder of the Heavenly God Race said furiously, boiling with rage. The Netherworld Race members also had ashen faces; five of their own had just been decapitated and killed there.

"Even if we bring some natives, there's no guarantee of success. This place is too bizarre, dominated by a black energy tower, combined with the legendary 'Decapitate the Gods' terrain. A slight misstep could turn it into a true death trap!"

They deliberated, their brows deeply furrowed, each one utterly despondent. The thought of the Fallen Phoenix Slope behind them being activated made them even more despairing.

Fortunately, the Heaven-Reaching Ladder was there to temporarily suppress it.

Chu Feng quietly retreated, preparing in secret. His heart was quite excited, for if things went smoothly enough, his opportunity had arrived!

Once these people retreated and let their guard down even slightly, he would prepare to ambush them, risking overturning the Heaven-Reaching Ladder to send them all on their way first.

At that point, he could calmly proceed to the pure land to gather the great medicine, and his bloodline should meet the requirements, presumably allowing him to acquire the inheritance from the golden box.

The only uncertain risk was whether disturbing the Heaven-Reaching Ladder in such a terrifying Fallen Phoenix Slope would trigger a backlash.

Chu Feng rubbed his hands together, constantly ready to send this group on their way to reincarnation. His heart burned with anticipation, wondering what effects that bright red, glowing immortal medicine fruit truly possessed and if it could drastically boost his strength.