Chapter 4161: Death of Greed — Chapter 4163

After entering the formation, Chu Feng quickly identified the problem.

This formation, orchestrated by Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable, was not merely designed to activate the protective force within the ice layer. The cracking formation was meant to merge with the guardian formation protecting the Dragon Vein Origin Stone.

If the two formations fused successfully, Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable would not only break through the ice layer but also seize control of the guardian formation's power.

And just how powerful that guardian formation was — though no one could say for certain — it was definitely not something the people present could handle.

If Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable gained mastery over the guardian formation's power, then the Dragon Vein Origin Stone would effectively become his prize.

Truth be told, wresting control from Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable was no easy task.

Chu Feng had to act in secret, without being detected by Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable, and that — made the challenge of seizing the formation exponentially harder.

Yet Chu Feng was brimming with confidence, even excited.

In their two previous encounters with Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable, Chu Feng's side had ultimately prevailed both times. But early on, Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable had made them pay a heavy price each time — nearly killing Chu Feng and the others.

This time, Chu Feng intended to defeat Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable from start to finish.

He would settle all old grudges and new grievances in one stroke.

The method of cracking the formation involved two steps.

First, activate the true power of the guardian formation.

Only by drawing out the guardian formation's power could they determine how formidable it truly was, and only then could the merger proceed.

At that moment, the cracking formation transformed into golden flames and surged toward the ice layer.

Crack —

Before long, the ice layer began to fracture, and from those cracks, white gas seeped outward.

Strangely, the gas emanating from the ice layer should have been a freezing mist. But instead, it was a wave of scorching heat.

The hot gas rocketed skyward and quickly engulfed the entire area.

Once the heat blanketed heaven and earth, many of the people present — to everyone's surprise — began to beam with joy, even grinning with a grotesque ferocity.

But why would they suddenly be overcome with ecstasy when they were all positioned at the formation's core nodes?

"Something's wrong."

Chu Feng quickly realized the anomaly.

The hot gas was an illusion formation — one that would plunge anyone who breathed it into a false reality.

Although Chu Feng sensed the danger, the illusion formation was far too potent, and he was pulled in regardless.

However, it was worth noting that even though Chu Feng had entered the illusion, his consciousness remained remarkably clear.

So before long, he shattered the illusion and reclaimed his awareness.

Boom —

But the moment Chu Feng regained his senses, he heard the sound of bodies exploding.

Looking toward the source, he saw that the ones who had burst apart were the powerful experts who had been present.

After their bodies detonated, their blood did not scatter — it was devoured by the scorching gas. Even the treasures on their persons were consumed by the heat.

It was as though they had never set foot in this place at all, vanishing without a trace.

Chu Feng was not surprised by any of this.

He understood perfectly well why those people had died.

The illusion had presented them with a choice — and anyone consumed by greed was doomed.

Chu Feng knew the rules of the illusion formation, so he had made the correct decision.

Those others, however, clearly had no idea they were trapped in an illusion. They genuinely believed that if they killed everyone else present, they could claim the Dragon Vein Origin Stone.

But had they actually done so, the formation would have killed them.

Conversely, not only would one survive, but one would also earn the guardian formation's recognition.

Though Chu Feng had weathered the illusion formation's attack and even gained the guardian formation's recognition, he did not act rashly. Instead, he pretended that he had not broken free — pretending his body had exploded and that he was dead.

Playing dead. Chu Feng was playing dead.

After feigning death, he continued to secretly drive the formation from the shadows.

The reason for this was simple: though Chu Feng had earned the guardian formation's recognition, he had not yet obtained its power.

He needed to keep using the cracking formation to merge with the guardian formation before he could tap into its strength.

But he did not want Blood Mist Heavenly Venerable to discover what he was doing. So feigning death first, then merging in secret — that was the best course of action.