Chapter 644: Great Terror and Great Opportunity

"We must leave some people here to guard against outsiders, especially the natives of Earth. If any of them approach, we must kill them on sight, completely eradicating them. We cannot allow them to obtain their ancestors' inheritance simply because of their diluted ancient bloodline."

An elder from the Nether Race made this chilling suggestion, his face grim. He was worried about Chu Feng, fearing the native might stumble upon this place, given his mastery of domain formations.

A surviving domain master from the Celestial Race nodded, saying, "Yes, that's a good idea. Someone must guard it. The Sky-Connecting Ladder was difficult to construct, so we need to ensure it's well-protected."

In the distance, Chu Feng's expression was grim. These old devils were extremely cautious. He had originally planned to flip over the Sky-Connecting Ladder once they were all on it, sending them to their demise.

However, this was also fine. The area was too dangerous. Chu Feng decided to let this group go summon reinforcements, allowing them to continue leading the way and scout ahead. He would make his move at the very last moment.

Some people set off, attempting to leave the area by way of the Sky-Connecting Ladder. However, an accident occurred. As they began their journey back, horrifying screams erupted.

Not only did this make the people in the Pure Land turn back in shock, but even Chu Feng felt a chill run down his spine.

Six individuals on the Sky-Connecting Ladder silently withered away, as if instantly mummified. Their bodies shriveled, all life force vanished, and they became corpses.

Most terrifying of all, when they fell, they immediately disintegrated into dust, scattering into the air.

The sight was horrifying and unnerving. The cause of death was unknown, occurring in an instant, just like that.

Crucially, some people on the Sky-Connecting Ladder were still alive, but their faces were ashen. They stood frozen in place, terrified.

"Hurry!" a domain master on the Sky-Connecting Ladder shouted, taking the lead and rushing outwards. He successfully left the area without harm.

However, among the remaining few, just as they began to move, several more screamed. This time, people clearly saw them instantly shrivel, their life force rapidly fading like dried orange peels, before they were ground into powder.

Ultimately, only one domain master and two Celestial Race elders managed to cross successfully, escaping to the other end of the Sky-Connecting Ladder. The rest perished along the way.

"Fallen Phoenix Slope!" The domain master's face was deathly pale as he looked back. He trembled uncontrollably. The fact that such a horrific incident could occur even with the Sky-Connecting Ladder constructed here filled him with terror.

"Let's go!" At that moment, the remaining group in the Pure Land panicked. Someone shouted, and they immediately set off, no longer daring to stay there.

They feared that staying longer would lead to even more terrifying occurrences.

When they had first arrived, the Fallen Phoenix Slope showed no abnormalities. Yet, in such a short time, most of the group returning had met a gruesome end.

They fled back en masse. Even the three domain masters in the Pure Land couldn't sit still and were among the first to retreat.

Chu Feng saw everything clearly. His head swam, his brows furrowed deeply, and a cold chill ran through him. He stood rooted to the spot, realizing his situation was dire.

He couldn't reveal himself or escape with the group, as there were people at both ends of the Sky-Connecting Ladder. He could only remain hidden for now.

He felt a bad premonition, trapped in a passive and dangerous situation.

Life was truly unpredictable. If he had known that trying to make a fortune by hiding in the back would be so terrifying, he would never have taken such a risk.

Perhaps this was the fate of cultivators who ventured into forbidden and deadly zones: to seek astonishing opportunities, one must inevitably face immense peril.

"Ah..." Brief, sharp screams erupted. On the Sky-Connecting Ladder, the few people at the very back shriveled instantly, their eyes wide, their life force vanishing completely, leaving them utterly mummified.

As they fell from the Sky-Connecting Ladder, they turned into piles of dust. It was too sudden, and their deaths were exceptionally gruesome.

This terrified everyone else, chilling them to the bone. This extremely dangerous place truly lived up to its terrifying reputation. Even with a Sky-Connecting Ladder constructed above it, it still consumed people's life force, claiming their lives.

"Ah!" Halfway through their escape, two more people screamed, falling from the ladder and perishing body and soul.

"Each time, it's the people at the back who die, as if something sinister and unclean is claiming their lives..." someone stammered, voicing this thought.

As soon as these words were uttered, some people on the Sky-Connecting Ladder reacted quickly, immediately pushing forward, aggressively seizing more favorable positions, and fleeing frantically.

"Luo Zhicheng, how dare you..." someone shouted angrily.

A very ugly and cruel scene was unfolding on the Sky-Connecting Ladder. Even those from the same clan were vying for better positions, secretly harming each other.

Some abruptly pushed their way to the very front, forcibly shoving others to the back.

Bang, bang, bang! People on the Sky-Connecting Ladder began to fight. Celestial Race members against Celestial Race members, Celestial Race members against Nether Race members—they violently vied for advantageous positions in their desperate attempt to escape.

As expected, in an instant, those who ended up at the very back screamed, turning into mummified corpses. All their life force completely vanished, and they plummeted towards Fallen Phoenix Slope.

This made the struggle even more intense. In an instant, a brutal life-and-death battle erupted among them. Some were killed by their own allies on the spot, in a display of fierce cruelty.

In the end, four people returned alive. The rest had all died, either from internal conflict or by being mummified, their essence devoured by the Fallen Phoenix Slope in a bizarre death.

Among the four who returned alive were two Celestial Race domain masters, one elder Celestial Race cultivator, and one individual from the Nether Race.

They collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily, drenched in cold sweat. This short distance, which on a normal day they could have crossed in a couple of steps given their strength, now left them utterly exhausted.

Chu Feng, controlling his magical boat, hid at one end of the Sky-Connecting Ladder. He was constantly ready to snatch the treasure, but he hesitated, unwilling to act rashly.

This place was simply too bizarre. He was concerned that taking action might trigger an even more terrifying backlash from the Fallen Phoenix Slope, unleashing an uncanny massacre.

Indeed, the domain master on the opposite bank also had an ashen face and dared not immediately retrieve the secret treasure. This made Chu Feng breathe a sigh of relief. As long as the other party didn't move, he had no desire to alter the current situation.

At this point, his head throbbed. This place was truly unbearable and too terrifying. Even a seemingly safe path had witnessed such tragic misfortunes.

On the opposite side, arguments and even standoffs erupted. After all, the recent events during their escape had been ugly. Some had survived by stepping over the bodies of others, crushing their hopes of survival.

A domain master considered carefully, intending to retrieve the Sky-Connecting Ladder.

Chu Feng was tense, ready to contend for it, but he didn't act immediately, choosing instead to watch silently.

"Ah... no!" As expected, when the Celestial Race domain master made his move, an accident occurred. His arm instantly withered, followed by his entire body becoming skin and bones. He died utterly and collapsed, scattering into a pile of dust.

The remaining people immediately turned and fled. Those who had been sitting paralyzed on the ground also jumped up and ran frantically, not daring to linger, not saying a word, their spirits trembling.

In the blink of an eye, all the survivors had fled. No one dared to look back or stop, like dogs that had lost their homes.

Chu Feng stood on the opposite bank, looking back. He fell silent, genuinely not having anticipated such a situation where he was the only one left.

Should he just cross the Sky-Connecting Ladder? He didn't choose that option. When there were many people, those at the front had been safe and managed to leave alive. But now that he was alone, heaven knew what would happen if he started moving.

He carefully recalled the domain texts he had recorded on the moon. Fallen Phoenix Slope was described as: "Great Terror, Great Strangeness, Great Annihilation!"

These nine characters were the main description, but they weren't detailed enough.

Now, it seemed, the nine-character summary was being demonstrated vividly, with that group interpreting it with their lives.

"However, a miscellaneous text in the moon's archives mentioned that when there are many people, Fallen Phoenix Slope offers a glimmer of hope; a few individuals can escape. This is a path of survival granted by Fallen Phoenix Slope to those who mistakenly intrude."

As for forcibly breaking the formation, that was not something Chu Feng considered at this stage.

Chu Feng retreated. He wouldn't choose to leave now, finding the risk too great. At the same time, he estimated that the Celestial Race and Nether Race would likely not give up and would certainly report back.

After all, even without considering the undying tree, the golden box alone would tempt them. The Celestial Race and Nether Race had always coveted Earth's supreme inheritance.

This was deep within the Kunlun Pure Land, the true homeland of myriad gods. It was nearly the most crucial place on Earth, and that golden box was definitely not simple.

Chu Feng turned and walked deeper into the Pure Land.

"Now's my chance. I'll try to seize the opportunity first!"

If anyone intruded again, he was ready to be the first to escape onto the Sky-Connecting Ladder amidst the chaos to leave. But now was not the time; he needed to calm his breathing and mind. Fear was useless.

Inside the dimensional space, the soil was sparkling, and a small tree swayed in the wind. Its new leaves were fresh green, while the old ones were as white as jade. Its branches were golden, and the entire plant stood over a meter tall. The single fruit was bright red and brilliant, its aroma not intensely strong because it was contained by the domain formation, unable to fully dissipate for the time being.

*Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!* Chu Feng also possessed domain-breaking flags and domain-suppressing seals, all spoils of war. He had fought against people from Penglai Island and clashed with divine sons and saintesses from outside this realm, acquiring many valuable items.

He unleashed them one by one, tossing these items onto the shimmering exotic magnetic powder on the ground. Finally, he stepped forward himself, with determination and resolve.

The distance wasn't far. He dashed through, entering this secret land, just inches away from the small tree, within arm's reach.

Everything went smoothly, as Chu Feng had anticipated.

The crucial moment arrived. A black vine suddenly shot up, piercing Chu Feng's body with a *thump* and drawing a large spray of blood.

"How crude!" Chu Feng cursed. Even for a bloodline and gene test, this was excessively brutal. An ordinary person couldn't possibly withstand such a direct attack.

"Bloodline normal, genes consistent, extremely pure descendant!" A mechanical voice rang out, and a black energy tower materialized.

With a *whoosh*, the black vine retreated. Then, the energy tower glowed, enveloping Chu Feng and healing his injuries. All the lost essence blood flowed back, and he was instantly restored to perfect condition.

"Can I pick the fruit now?" Chu Feng murmured to himself.

"You may." That was the energy tower's reply, and then it fell silent.

Without hesitation, Chu Feng plucked the red fruit. After the tension, he finally relaxed a little. Its refreshing, intense fragrance made him feel incredibly comfortable, as if he were about to ascend to immortality.

The vibrant red fruit was the size of a fist, casting a brilliant, translucent glow upon his palm. This was a powerful elixir, finally in his grasp.

Chu Feng dared not study it here, nor did he consume it directly. Instead, he placed it into a pre-prepared jade container for safekeeping.

If he ate this fruit, who knew what might happen? If his body underwent drastic changes, it would likely take a long time, while external enemies could return at any moment.

Next, he quickly dug out the golden box, half-buried in the sparkling soil, and placed it into his spatial bracelet. With this, he had secured the two greatest opportunities in this place.

Chu Feng let out a long breath, having obtained the greatest fortune.

Then, he squatted down and began digging up the exotic soil, also intending to take the divine tree.

However, an unexpected event occurred. The black energy tower instantly spoke: "Warning! Suspected Tao Tie Clan invasion, attempting to dig three feet deep, leaving no blade of grass behind!"

Then, he saw the nearby domain runes light up.

What was most unforgivable was that the area where the small tree stood suddenly sank, and along with the exotic soil, it vanished with a *whoosh*.

Chu Feng: "..."

His "digging three feet deep and leaving no blade of grass behind" approach caused the energy tower to react negatively, sounding an alarm and leaving him utterly speechless.

The black energy tower confronted him as if he were a thief!