Cultivation reaching a certain level inevitably draws down the Heavenly Tribulation. Back then, after I consumed that golden divine power, it summoned the Heavenly Punishment. If I hadn't immediately tempered my God-level physique, I likely would have been devoured by the lightning tribulation.

Now, the goal of the old man in the gold robe burning his blood and soul isn't to become stronger; it's to shield against the Heavenly Tribulation. His purpose is obvious: he is summoning a powerhouse so formidable that their mere presence will attract the Tribulation!

Even the Grand Elder wasn't a match for such a person—how could someone like that possibly exist in this world?

"Since you seek such a powerhouse, I shall not keep you!" Chen Feng declared, a flicker of killing intent crossing his face as the power of darkness surged forth maniacally.

Facing an opponent like this, Chen Feng lacked the confidence to win. Therefore, the best course of action was to shatter the formation before it could fully coalesce. That way, even if the summoned person arrived, there would be nothing to fear!

Relying on his God-level physique, he feared no one!

Chen Feng raised both hands upward, and a golden light erupted from his wrists as an arrow shot forth!

Forbidden Style 1211: Hachijaku-nyo!

Boom...

At that very moment, the entire mountain peak shuddered, and a colossal sound suddenly erupted from the summit like a geyser. Tens of thousands of immense light waves converged instantly toward the center from all directions. In an instant, the entire peak seemed enveloped by an infinitely vast sphere of light.

"It's the Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Dancing! It... it appeared ahead of schedule..." Milo cried out, collapsing onto the ground, his face etched with terror.

"Isn't Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Dancing just beautiful to look at? Is there any need to be so nervous?" Xiaohu asked.

"It is... beautiful, but only when viewed from mid-mountain. At the very peak, the Heaven and Earth Primal Qi reverses its flow and spins... there is a fatal danger!" Milo’s face was bloodless, completely devoid of color.

"Fatal danger?" Xiaohu clearly didn't believe it.

The center of the light sphere suddenly emitted a deafening sound. A light image of a dragon and a light image of a phoenix materialized in the Nine Heavens, roaring simultaneously. Their cries sounded like rolling thunder, causing the entire mountain to tremble.

"Ah..." Just then, Xiaohu suddenly tumbled onto the ground, his face ashen, his body shivering uncontrollably.

"What's wrong?" Lingfeng rushed two steps forward before suddenly gasping, "A curse! How can you have a curse upon you?"

"Hahahaha..." A wild roar echoed from ahead. "How is it? Don't you feel your very souls trembling?"

The old man in the gold robe cackled madly, as if insane.

Chen Feng's face turned sickly pale, and he couldn't help but tremble in waves before finally collapsing to the ground with a thud!

"Was it that miasma?" Chen Feng glanced back, seeing Xiaohu reacting the same way he was, while Lingfeng and the others were unharmed. He immediately understood.

He had found the youth encountered while ascending the mountain rather peculiar earlier—a spray of colorless, non-toxic, seemingly useless miasma. What was its purpose? Now it seemed this substance must conflict with a natural phenomenon like the Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Dancing!

"You're not entirely foolish. Correct, it is that miasma—the Death Blood Curse. Whether on the body or in the spirit, the slightest trace will become a fatal hidden danger. Normally, it’s nothing, but Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Dancing is precisely when the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy becomes volatile. Once attracted by the dark magic, this miasma transforms into an evil curse that even Domain Realm experts cannot eradicate! It ravages both soul and flesh!" the old man in the gold robe explained, his eyes gleaming with ferocity.

"Burning blood and soul, inducing dark magic, shielding the Heavenly Tribulation... I don't know who you are summoning, but... can you survive?" Chen Feng endured the pain that made his very soul tremble and slowly said.

"My survival means nothing; as long as you die!" the old man in the gold robe shouted proudly, his tone filled with smugness. "In your current state, forget about fighting that person; you can't even defeat me!"

"Chen Feng..." Lingfeng rushed over to support him.

"I’m fine. Go kill him! You must prevent him from fully setting up this formation and summoning that peerless powerhouse; that would be disastrous!" Chen Feng said weakly, large beads of sweat tracing lines down his forehead.

The Death Blood Curse was a potent curse from the Dark God Monarch, a technique comparable in power to Chen Feng's 'No Style.' Catalyzed by a Domain Realm expert burning his soul, it could even cause a low-level God Realm expert to falter, let alone Chen Feng!

Of course, the conditions for casting this curse were extremely complex. Even for the old man in the gold robe, it required burning his soul, leveraging the opportune timing of the Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Dancing, coupled with the suicidal recklessness of the youth and the unpreparedness of Chen Feng and the others—only then could it succeed.

"Good!" Lingfeng didn't hesitate. Her battle aura spun, instantly forming a fan of flames. With a sharp cry, the mass of fire shot out in a spiral.

Fist King Skill—Mai Shiranui's Flower Butterfly Fan!

During the Death Race assessment to pass Ling Shi’s trial, Chen Feng had transmitted Mai Shiranui's skills to Lingfeng, though she rarely used them. Now, in this critical moment, there was no room to hold back; she unleashed it directly.

The Flower Butterfly Fan utilized battle aura to form a spinning flame for attack. This flame was completely different from ordinary fire; upon contact with an object, it instantly triggered an 'Afterburn' effect.

'Afterburn' was a specialized term, also achievable by Ghost Fire, which caused the victim to feel as if their entire body was engulfed in fire, instantly stripping them of all power to resist within 0.5 seconds.

"Ah..." The old man in the gold robe clearly recognized the danger of this technique. His eyes nearly popped out in alarm. His formation wasn't complete yet, so he couldn't dodge. If struck, it meant certain death.

Whoosh...

Just then, an immense force rushed in with a fierce whistle from afar, violently colliding with the Flower Butterfly Fan, resulting in a massive explosion.

Boom!

Lingfeng was forced back over a dozen steps, feeling a surge of internal energy that nearly made her vomit blood. She was shocked. The Flower Butterfly Fan was already close, yet the opponent’s attack traveled from such a distance. An attack capable of injuring her with such ease indicated a terrifying level of cultivation!

Looking up, a middle-aged man dressed in black robes had materialized atop the peak as if by teleportation.

"You dare harm the one who summoned me? I see you truly have no desire to live!" the middle-aged man scoffed, his voice seeming to emanate from his nose.

"Don't be rash; he is strong!" Chen Feng gritted out through the pain to Lingfeng.

Lingfeng nodded and retreated to Chen Feng's side, offering no retort.

The black-robed middle-aged man then turned his attention to the old man in the gold robe. "You did well." With that, he suddenly raised his right hand and pointed towards the sky. The unstable formation above rolled violently and, in a single instant, settled into perfect form!

The old man in the gold robe lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his strength almost completely depleted. If the black-robed man hadn't intervened, his end would have been the complete incineration of his soul and blood until death.

"Thank you, My Lord..." The old man in the gold robe immediately knelt, thanking him repeatedly.

"Rise," the black-robed middle-aged man waved his hand, helping him up. "For your sincerity, I shall slay this boy for you today!"

"Yes, My Lord!" The old man in the gold robe replied, his tone brimming with excitement. The middle-aged man's promise meant the young man before them was surely doomed!

The black-robed middle-aged man ignored the elder and strode forward. "Originally, Young Master wished for you to be his rival. I never expected you could be injured by such a low-level move as the Death Blood Curse. It seems keeping you around is pointless now."

A chilling killing intent was released unrestrained, making everyone nearby shiver uncontrollably.

"Who is your Young Master?" Chen Feng asked.

"You cannot defeat me, so you are fundamentally unqualified to know. Furthermore, in your current condition, you certainly possess no strength to fight me. Once afflicted by the Death Blood Curse, even Domain Realm experts cannot save themselves!" the black-robed middle-aged man sneered. "Of course, if you stop being stubborn now and kneel before me, I will lift the curse! Anyone who kneels is naturally unqualified to be my Young Master's rival!"

Hearing this, a flash of killing intent crossed Chen Feng’s eyes. He suppressed the violent pain inflicted by the curse and stated in a deep voice, "You are not worthy!"

"Good, I didn't expect you to have such backbone. That makes things easier; I don't mind sending you on your way," the black-robed middle-aged man said with a smile, slowly walking forward.

"If you want to harm the Boss, you'll have to step over my dead body!" Dictus rushed forward, placing himself behind Chen Feng.

"What do you think you are?" the black-robed middle-aged man sneered, suddenly increasing the force in his legs. In an instant, it was as if he traversed the limits of time and space, appearing before Dictus.

"Ah..." Dictus hadn't expected such speed. With a cry of alarm, he violently retreated. Before he could take two steps back, he heard a cold laugh behind him, followed by a sharp pain in his back. He stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Dictus..." Chen Feng cried out when he saw him felled in a single move.

Dictus heard the shout and looked at Chen Feng, his facial muscles distorted by pain. "Boss, your subordinate failed to protect you..."

With a bang, he exploded into a mist of blood!

"No..." Chen Feng felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart, his fists clenched so tightly his eyes nearly burst.

The Underworld Saint Camp had followed him through countless battles and trials, and Dictus had rendered him great service. Now, he was killed by a single move from the opponent!

In that instant, his spirit agitated, and the pain ripping through his body intensified.

The Death Blood Curse was definitely not something that could be easily undone in one strike.

"Angry now?" the black-robed middle-aged man looked at Chen Feng with contempt. "A good-for-nothing remains a good-for-nothing. I truly don't know why Young Master ever took an interest in you!"

"Calm yourself, eliminate this curse... and then avenge Dictus and me!" Lingfeng said calmly, stepping forward.

"No, Lingfeng..." Chen Feng saw her demeanor and knew she had recognized the opponent's strength and resolved to die. He called out anxiously.