Chapter 777: All Sides Alarmed

Luo Shirong was shattered, his body exploding from a bell wave when Chu Feng vibrated the Soul Bell. This marked the end of his journey in this world.

"Wu Lunhui, how dare you!" shouted Yan Luo of the Corpse Race from nearby. He had already secretly formed an offensive and defensive alliance with Luo Shirong, the Grand Evolution Combat Body, and others.

"What is there to be afraid of? If you're not convinced, come over. I'll kill you just the same!" Chu Feng replied indifferently.

Yan Luo, the Grand Evolution Combat Body, and the Purple Cloud Dao Body were about to charge. Each of them exuded a chilling aura, and a dozen or more followers stood behind each, forming a formidable and fearless alliance.

"Wait!" At that moment, the Golden Scale Dao Child stopped them. Following their pre-arranged plan, they intended to give Wu Lunhui an opportunity, though the outcome was, of course, already decided.

Yan Luo, the Grand Evolution Combat Body, and the Purple Cloud Dao Body were visibly displeased, but they halted their advance. With their followers, they fixed their murderous gazes on Chu Feng, their eyes like those of hungry wolves.

In mid-air, a cluster of shimmering light ascended towards the vortex in the sky. It carried Luo Shirong's final wisp of residual spirit, filled with fury: "Wu Lunhui, I will engrave this grudge of my death deeply into my heart using a secret method. When I return to our universe, I will settle accounts with you!"

He seemed to be swearing an oath, his voice chillingly cold. It was an unbearable indignity for such a powerful evolver to die so soon after arriving in this world.

He had circled the periphery of the Ferocious Beast Plateau, gaining an initial understanding of this world. He knew there were immense opportunities here, and the exotic arts of this realm made his eyes burn with desire. He was certain that if he acquired them, he could swiftly empower his soul in this world, laying the strongest possible foundation for his future ascension to the Reflections of All Heavens.

Yet, he died before even beginning his true journey, leaving only profound regret. Despite clearly seeing the grand opportunities this world offered, he was left with nothing but deep-seated hatred.

"I will never forget, I swear, it will be imprinted in my soul, never to dissipate!" Luo Shirong murmured, as if in a trance, determined to etch this memory into his being.

While some individuals could occasionally retain fragments of memory upon returning, he chose to firmly remember Wu Lunhui, branding his image deep within his residual soul.

Everyone sensed the malicious intent. Should he truly manage to retain even a trace of this memory, upon his return to his original universe, Luo Shirong would undoubtedly incite the evolvers of the Chaos Celestial Palace to unleash a furious retaliation.

"Since you're so fond of this world and can't let go, then simply remain here."

Chu Feng transformed into a bolt of lightning, surging with Yang energy, and shot into the sky. His palm extended, engulfing the cluster of light rain, intending to drag it back.

"Heh, what can you do to me? My soul is shattered. The vortex of our universe will draw me back; you can't stop me!" Luo Shirong's lingering imprint scoffed.

He offered no resistance. In fact, having already shattered, he was incapable of it. He merely watched dispassionately, with a dismissive smirk, as Chu Feng performed his technique.

Below, everyone wore expressions of surprise, unanimously believing Chu Feng was making a futile effort, powerless against that cluster of light.

As anticipated, the light slipped through Chu Feng's fingers and flew back towards the vortex in the sky.

Chu Feng made another attempt, surging skyward. However, at that moment, the rotating vortex generated a terrifying suction force, posing a severe threat and threatening to pull him in as well.

"Wu Lunhui, be careful!" Ouyang Feng shouted, issuing a grave warning.

"Wu Lunhui, you little brat, what can you possibly do to me? You shattered my soul in this world, but once I return to our original universe, I will exterminate your entire lineage!"

Luo Shirong laughed heartily. This was his sole means of threat, to intimidate Wu Lunhui and vow to exact bloody revenge upon all connected to him.

"Dong!"

Chu Feng's expression darkened as he attempted to activate the Soul Bell to restrain Luo Shirong.

Unexpectedly, with a whoosh, the cluster of light was enveloped by the black bell that shot into the sky. It was instantly suppressed and brought back down.

"What?" Luo Shirong exclaimed in utter astonishment.

Below, everyone's hearts trembled. What had Wu Lunhui done? He had forcibly pulled Luo Shirong's shattered residual soul back from the very edge of the vortex—an astonishing feat!

In the sky, the vortex continued to rotate slowly, but it no longer drew in the light.

Inside the black bell, the cluster of light flickered erratically. It struck the interior walls multiple times but to no avail, remaining entirely confined and unable to escape.

Silence fell over all parties. Everyone watched the scene, and the atmosphere grew exceptionally eerie.

What kind of soul artifact was this? It was incredibly potent. Could it truly retain Luo Shirong permanently?

Ouyang Feng burst into laughter: "Heh, this brat still thought he could escape? How ridiculous! He was showing off endlessly just a moment ago, and now he's still been caught by Wu Lunhui!"

At this moment, Luo Shirong felt a surge of fear. Sensing his dire predicament, his residual soul imprint dared not utter another word.

Chu Feng's entire being surged with spiritual power. He directly employed a secret technique, absorbing the light within the black bell, utilizing the exotic art he had recently mastered.

"Hmm?!"

He frowned as the divine particles he had extracted from the light quickly dissipated once more, drifting back towards the vortex in the sky.

Luo Shirong's apprehension eased. His opponent couldn't truly harm him; he would eventually break free and return to his original universe!

"Wu Lunhui, you are truly laughable. Who do you think you are? You intend to defy the heavens and resolve a problem that the cultivators of the Grand Dream Pure Land have researched for countless years without success? When I return, I will annihilate your entire clan!"

Luo Shirong utterly detested Chu Feng. He no longer feared his methods, laughing defiantly.

The black Soul Bell vibrated, causing the light to surge erratically, and his residual soul let out a piercing shriek of agony.

Simultaneously, Chu Feng entered the Soul Bell, sitting cross-legged beneath its body and reactivating his secret technique.

"Ah, no!" Luo Shirong cried out weakly.

Chu Feng pulsed with power. Under the Soul Bell's cover, his use of the exotic art enabled him to absorb Luo Shirong's divine particles and grind them into oblivion!

Initially, onlookers watched with curiosity, but in an instant, their expressions changed. Each person was horrified as Luo Shirong's soul light rapidly dimmed, on the verge of vanishing!

A commotion erupted in the area!

The elder experts of the Grand Dream Pure Land had clearly stated that upon entering this world, there was no need to fear annihilation, as they would ultimately return.

However, the events unfolding before them sparked doubt. It seemed highly likely that Luo Shirong was completely finished, about to be annihilated by Wu Lunhui!

"Ah..." Luo Shirong let out a weak, agonizing shriek, unable to utter anything else. He was already a mere wisp of a soul, utterly powerless at this moment, consumed only by the deepest existential dread and absolute despair.

He was truly about to be utterly annihilated, to die in this world. He realized his soul fragments were disintegrating, many ceasing to exist.

"Everyone, what are you waiting for? Wu Lunhui is a devil! He made a pact with the beings of this world, mastered exotic arts, and is now attacking our own kind! Let's eliminate him now!" Yan Luo roared, inciting the crowd.

"Exactly! Now is the time, kill him!" the Grand Evolution Combat Body urgently echoed.

They had no choice. Having already declared their strong hostility towards Wu Lunhui and sided with Luo Shirong, there was no turning back.

Regardless of the cost, they now had to find a way to eliminate Wu Lunhui!

"Come, come, come, Grand Uncle Ouyang is here! Who wants to step forward and let me kill them, and also let me refine some divine particles?!" Ouyang Feng stood proudly, blocking their path. He faced the multitude, a purple Soul Drum suspended above his head and a golden Soul Blade in his hand, appearing capable of single-handedly confronting a thousand-strong army.

"Kill him!"

Yan Luo waved his hand, and a group of figures charged directly upward, aiming to strike Ouyang Feng with deadly intent.

"Fellow Daoists, why are you still hesitating? Wu Lunhui is a demon, attacking our own kind! Let's attack him together and eliminate him!" the Purple Cloud Dao Body also urged, rallying everyone to join the assault.

At this moment, many were stunned, staring into the black Soul Bell. They watched as the cluster of light dimmed and vanished, occasionally hearing Luo Shirong's terrified, weak pleas for mercy.

Before Ouyang Feng could even retaliate, Chu Feng's Soul Bell rang out first, causing a group of people to shriek. Their souls became unstable, some of their bodies began to crack, and they retreated rapidly.

"How ridiculous! This world is rife with such exotic arts. Ouyang and I merely acquired one such method from outside, and now we're framed as demons?" Chu Feng declared, addressing everyone while simultaneously activating his exotic art and refining Luo Shirong's divine particles.

He continued, "I believe many of you clearly understand that this exotic art will be the very foundation of our existence in this world—our greatest opportunity. The phrase 'a century of enlightenment in a single night' refers precisely to this: leveraging these exotic arts here to strengthen one's soul!"

The concept of "a century of enlightenment in a single night" had long been understood to imply a differential in time flow between the two worlds: a significant duration here might be but a fleeting moment in their original universe.

Everyone knew that such an exotic art was priceless.

If one could bring back even a single exotic art, it would become a peerless scripture coveted by all major factions.

Unfortunately, retaining memories upon the return journey was exceedingly difficult. The only viable path was to earnestly cultivate and strengthen one's soul within this world. Now, Wu Lunhui and Ouyang had simply taken the lead and discovered this very opportunity.

"Wu Lunhui, you can stop now. Release Luo Shirong. You mustn't go too far, no matter what the circumstances," the Golden Scale Dao Child stated.

"Amitabha Buddha, well done, Chu Feng, you may cease!" said Shi Hong, the foremost young expert of the Buddhist clan.

Ying Zhexian, Yuan Shicheng, the Feathered Divine Body, the Vermillion Bird Fairy, and others also adopted grave expressions, fanning out to surround the area.

With a soft tremor from the Soul Bell, Chu Feng rose to his feet. Luo Shirong's final vestiges of light had been refined away, his divine particles absorbed by Chu Feng.

As he moved beyond the Soul Bell's aura, Chu Feng's body trembled. He discovered that a significant portion of the divine particles he had just absorbed were gushing out of him!

Was he still unable to completely annihilate Luo Shirong? Chu Feng was deeply displeased.

However, in an instant, the divine particles that had surged from his body ignited, were utterly annihilated, and vanished completely!

Afterward, Chu Feng realized that although ninety percent of the divine particles he had absorbed had vanished, a portion still remained, integrating into his spiritual body. They became the purest essence, significantly strengthening his mental power!

He understood that such a substantial loss of divine particles was likely due to the vortex in the sky, but the presence of the Soul Bell had caused those particles to be annihilated instead of returning to the vortex.

His soul power had increased. This experience was profoundly satisfying, filling him with a joyful sense of gain!

At this moment, those who had just held some hope gasped sharply, then felt a chilling dread spread through their entire bodies, from head to toe, a cold shiver running down their spines.

With events having unfolded to this point, everyone was horrified. Wu Lunhui's ability to completely refine Luo Shirong to death meant he could similarly kill anyone else.

This was not merely defeating someone and sending them back to their original universe; this was total annihilation, with no possibility of resurrection!

In an instant, not only did the expressions of the leading top figures change, but so did everyone else's. Who wouldn't be terrified?

"How does it feel?" Ouyang Feng secretly transmitted, inquiring.

"Excellent. Eliminating a few more beings of this caliber would be profoundly beneficial for my cultivation!" Chu Feng replied.

"Everyone, what are you waiting for? Are you still not going to act?!" Yan Luo, the Grand Evolution Combat Body, and others felt a surge of anxiety, regretting their premature and obvious alignment with Luo Shirong. Now, they were truly worried!

"Act now! We must take him down first. This individual is too dangerous!" the Golden Scale Dao Child secretly instructed.

Yuan Shicheng nodded, saying, "Indeed. We must join forces to subdue him. Otherwise, if he ever turns his attack on us, it will be true annihilation, not mere feigned death!"

"Take him down!" Ying Zhexian was remarkably decisive, uttering only these three words, with an even greater resolve than Ying Wudi.

Simultaneously, Qin Luoyin secretly issued orders to the hundreds of disciples of the Grand Dream Pure Land, preparing for a major battle.