The beast’s head was smashed in, yet its foreclaws still struck him savagely, slamming him ten meters deep into the earth!

Crawling out of the deep pit, Chen Feng looked at the Lion-Cong Beast and saw that it had finally ceased breathing. If a creature could survive a pulverized skull, then even a Dou Sheng level master would possess near-immortality!

He finally let out a long breath, realizing the complete exhaustion that overwhelmed his body and spirit. The Dou Sheng level was simply too powerful; even using feigned death, surprise attacks, Black Particles, and the Endless Slaughter Domain all at once, he couldn't manage a one-hit kill! If not for that final, decisive blow, the Fourth Deputy Lord, once it reverted to its true form, probably wouldn't have died either. Thinking of the final strike, Feng looked down at his hand. Seeing what he held nearly stunned him into silence—it was the Hou-gong Bow! It was the bow of the Hou-gong that he had used to crush the enemy’s head just moments before. When the Hou-gong Bow first arrived, he sensed something peculiar about it; it felt strangely familiar in his grasp. Though he didn't know its specific rank, it was certainly no weaker than the Nether Feather Sword. Why had the bow emanated a golden light just now? After a moment of deep contemplation, Chen Feng tucked it back into his canteen. This was hardly the time to study it; the priority was to escape this place.

With a flick of his wrist, a purple flame engulfed the massive corpse lying on the ground, instantly reducing it to ash. He then walked over to Ling Feng.

Ling Feng was already shocked speechless seeing Chen Feng 'rise from the dead.' Now, witnessing him actually slay a powerful expert at the Dou Sheng level, she found it utterly unbelievable. The shackles the First Deputy Lord had placed upon her dissipated the moment the former perished. Chen Feng stepped forward, retrieved the heavy sword transformed from the Dark Gold Iron, and brought it down hard against the chains. “Clang...” The chains sparked violently but showed no sign of damage whatsoever. Chen Feng’s face turned ashen. He realized he had no idea what kind of material these chains were forged from, to be unable to be cut even by Dark Gold Iron! Scratching his forehead, Chen Feng instantly surged the Qi energy throughout his body. The domain power within his Dantian had recovered slightly. Using Black Particles was no longer an issue, so gritting his teeth, he casually tapped the thick chain near Ling Feng. “Crack...” The might of the Black Particle was indeed extraordinary; the iron chain, thick as a child’s arm, snapped in response. Chen Feng immediately unleashed his fully expanded domain, the "Luminous Divine Mansion," which materialized before them. With a mental command, he swiftly ushered Ling Feng inside, then accelerated rapidly, diving straight into the river behind the structure.

Once submerged in the river, Chen Feng immediately retreated into the "Luminous Divine Mansion." The moment he entered the Divine Mansion, a profound weariness washed over him, an exhaustion beyond words. Although the battle with the Fourth Deputy Lord had not lasted long, the duration had undeniably been the most grueling fight he had faced since arriving in this (Otherworld). While the "Luminous Divine Mansion" armor protected him from direct punches, some of the force still transmitted through. It was similar to wearing a bulletproof vest—the bullet might not penetrate, but the impact force would still knock a person back. Most of the Fourth Deputy Lord’s fist power had been neutralized by the armor, but a significant portion still reached him, leaving him severely injured now. Fortunately, his current body was that of a Divine Race member; with proper rest, he would recover in no time.

He sat cross-legged, meditating to recuperate his strength. Feeling his body and spirit begin to improve, he finally opened his eyes, only to find Ling Feng staring at him with wide, round eyes. He knew her curiosity stemmed from the Luminous Divine Mansion. He decided to offer only key details; they were still on this island, and danger remained until they escaped. However, even in escape, he intended to make the Purple Garden Demon Domain pay a price! Chen Feng’s initial thought was sparked by the methods used against Ling Feng, and now that resolve burned like an intense flame within him. He never considered himself a particularly kind person. If others showed him no benevolence, he certainly wouldn't pretend to be a saint. He wondered if the huge commotion caused by shattering the stone cell that imprisoned Ling Feng had alerted anyone to the Fourth Deputy Lord’s death. If it had been discovered, chaos would surely erupt. “Take advantage of the disorder to plunder, and then stir the chaos even further!” Chen Feng instantly formulated a plan. This wasn't about deliberately causing trouble; hidden in the river, under such tight security, he doubted he could simply slip away. Since escaping now was impossible, he might as well make the enemy fall into disarray first. This would create the perfect window for his escape.

Having made his decision, he casually took out several South Bright Pear Blossoms and offered one to Ling Feng. “South Bright Pear Blossoms? How do you possess these?” Ling Feng was clearly astonished, quickly adding, “These are precious medicinal herbs. Why give them to me? They are too valuable; I cannot possibly accept…” “Eat them as food!” Chen Feng declared, and then opened his mouth and consumed the one in his hand. “South Bright Pear Blossoms as food…” Ling Feng felt a wave of dizziness. How could someone be so extravagantly wasteful in this world… Chen Feng ignored her hesitation and focused on restoring his own vitality first. After eating two South Bright Pear Blossoms, he felt markedly more comfortable. Seeing Ling Feng still wavering, he urged her, “Hurry and eat them! I have many more of these. If you don't eat them, they’ll just spoil.”

After Ling Feng finished eating, Chen Feng asked, “What did they snatch from you?” Ling Feng glanced at him and replied, “It’s fine if I tell you. In truth, this is a mission for our Phoenix Clan. My primary objective for coming to the Sky Abundance Academy competition was to obtain the Profound Heaven Illustrated Tome.” “The Profound Heaven Illustrated Tome?” Chen Feng paused. He recalled hearing that name once from the Domain Lords. Seeing his momentary confusion, Ling Feng explained, “The Profound Heaven Illustrated Tome is a key left by our Phoenix Clan ancestor, the Fire Phoenix, leading to the Profound Heaven Demon Palace. After the Fire Phoenix fell ten thousand years ago, the Phoenix Clan was abandoned by the gods. For ten millennia, not a single one of us has managed to ascend to godhood…” “Why does the name Profound Heaven Demon Palace sound so familiar?” Chen Feng frowned, dredging his memory. “The Profound Heaven Demon Palace was constructed by the original Profound Heaven Demon. Legend says the corpses of the gods are buried within. If one is fortunate, they can find a Godhead inside and achieve divinity in one step!” Ling Feng clarified, sensing Chen Feng’s ignorance of the matter. “Godhead, achieving godhood?” Since he hadn't even reached the Saint level yet, achieving godhood was a distant dream. “Since the Illustrated Tome was left by your Fire Phoenix ancestor, why was it at the Sky Abundance Academy?” Ling Feng shook her head. “I don’t know the specifics. Legend says there are nine such Tomes, which is why it’s also called the Nine Heavens Profound Mirror. Only when the world’s Yin and Yang energy is at its lowest point can the nine mirrors be gathered to open the gateway to the Profound Heaven Demon Palace. However, once these Tomes materialized, they scattered across the entire continent, with some even overseas.” “Our ancestors had always been searching for these Tomes, and only a thousand years ago did we finally locate the one belonging to the Fire Phoenix lineage. But this time, some experts from the Sky Abundance Academy discovered it first. My ancestor was unwilling to steal another's prize and thus established a rule: only if a Fire Phoenix clan member is genuinely under the age of 17 and can defeat the current headmaster of the Sky Abundance Academy, will the item be returned to our Phoenix Clan!” “What a strange rule,” Chen Feng muttered internally. If it were him, regardless of who found it first, he would simply seize it—why bother with such agreements? It was entirely unnecessary trouble. “Because of the clan mission, I went to the Sky Abundance Academy to compete, and you know the rest,” Ling Feng finished, admitting she wasn't good at explaining such things, but Chen Feng grasped the general outline. “Is obtaining a Godhead mandatory for achieving godhood?” Chen Feng inquired. Ling Feng shook her head. “There are two ways to become a god. One is to directly acquire a Godhead and refine it, achieving godhood instantly. The other is to endure the Heavenly Tribulation and nurture one’s own Godhead! However, the latter is exceedingly difficult. In the last ten thousand years, no fewer than a hundred Phoenixes reached the point of triggering the Heavenly Tribulation, yet every single one perished in it; none survived!” “All of them?” Chen Feng was so shocked he could barely speak. The Phoenix Clan, being Divine Beasts, naturally possessed extraordinary innate constitutions. That a hundred individuals capable of invoking the Tribulation all perished attested to its terrifying difficulty! “Is there a significant difference between achieving godhood by refining a Godhead versus achieving it through the Heavenly Tribulation?” Chen Feng asked out of curiosity. Ling Feng replied, “Achieving godhood by refining a Godhead relies on external force. In terms of divine might and raw power, one will always be weaker than someone who achieved godhood via the Heavenly Tribulation!” “Divine might?” “I’m not clear on those details,” Ling Feng admitted. “I only heard this information about becoming a god from my elders when I left the Phoenix Domain.” Chen Feng nodded and fell into contemplation. At his current Dou Zun cultivation, he was still a long way from godhood, so there was no immediate need to rush. Nevertheless, the prospect of obtaining a Godhead in the Profound Heaven Demon Palace made his heart pound. Even if he didn't refine it himself, he could give it to Little Tiger! Furthermore, obtaining a Godhead could also awaken the senior Flame Dragon! And since it was the burial place of the gods, possessing Divine Artifacts was a certainty. Chen Feng knew the power of Divine Artifacts intimately; without the Nether Feather Sword, he didn't know how many times he would have died. Even if he couldn't find a Godhead, acquiring a Divine Artifact would be worthwhile! With this realization, the desire to enter the Profound Heaven Demon Palace swelled within Chen Feng, an urge that, once sparked, became impossible to suppress, growing stronger by the moment. “Where did they place the Profound Heaven Illustrated Tome they took from you at the Sky Abundance Academy?” Chen Feng asked. Ling Feng replied, “The Fourth Deputy Commander mentioned it once. I heard it was stored in the Treasure Pavilion, but with our current cultivation levels, neither of us could possibly retrieve it.” She finished with a flicker of despair in her eyes. “The Treasure Pavilion?” Ling Feng nodded. “It's on one side of the main hall. Reportedly, every treasure obtained by the Purple Garden Demon Domain is stored there!” Chen Feng considered this, and a daring decision formed in his mind, accompanied by a persistent voice looping in his head: ‘Let’s rob the bastards!’ Since he couldn’t run now anyway, and with the "Luminous Divine Mansion" as his backup, he didn't fear capture. Why not steal something from them? Even if the theft failed, setting the place on fire would still be worth the effort! (To be continued, for further developments, please log in to www**ccom, more chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!) First published