Chu Feng was not a coward.
It was just that the sight before him was truly unsettling.
The mountains in the distance were stone mountains, and the ground beneath his feet was likewise stone. But this was no ordinary stone. It was predominantly pitch-black, yet streaked with crimson markings that resembled blood. The markings actually emanated a foul, reek-like stench.
Because stone covered everything, there was naturally not a single blade of grass or tree in sight. Instead, a blood-red mist shrouded heaven and earth.
No matter how one looked at it, this was no place for humans.
If not a hell, then it was some sort of domain where demonic creatures lurked.
That blood mist severely obscured the vision as well, and for a time, Chu Feng couldn't even figure out which direction to go.
It took him quite a while before he managed to grope his way toward what might be the correct path.
Chu Feng shot forward through the air, and he hadn't gone far when— Suddenly, an elder's voice rang out.
"Isn't that young friend Chu Feng?"
Chu Feng turned toward the voice and saw an old man clad in a white robe, bearing an otherworldly and Daoist bearing.
Before this old man had spoken, Chu Feng hadn't detected even the faintest trace of his aura. That told him this old man was no ordinary figure.
But Chu Feng had never seen him before and didn't know which faction he hailed from.
However, the most critical thing was that only after the old man spoke did Chu Feng suddenly realize something.
He had previously entered Daoist Long Yi's formation, and Daoist Long Yi had disguised himself. But Chu Feng himself hadn't been hiding or wearing any disguise — his appearance was completely normal.
That was why the other party had been able to recognize him at a single glance.
By now, the old man had already arrived before Chu Feng.
"To think I'd encounter young friend Chu Feng here. Young friend Chu Feng, fame truly pales in comparison to meeting the real person. A hero in his youth, truly outstanding — one can tell at a glance."
The old man stroked his beard while examining Chu Feng with a beaming smile.
Chu Feng likewise wore a smile: "Senior, might I ask who you are?"
"Ah, this old man belongs to an Ancient Race. It's only natural that young friend Chu Feng has never seen me before."
"As for my name, it's really not worth mentioning. My surname is Song. Just call this old man Old Man Song."
The old man's meaning was clearly that he didn't want to reveal his identity.
But the fact that he was from an Ancient Race only made Chu Feng more curious.
"Senior, is it inconvenient for you to reveal your identity to this junior?" Chu Feng asked again.
"Haha, no, no. It truly isn't worth mentioning." The old man chuckled, then immediately changed the subject: "Young friend Chu Feng, you are a junior — why didn't you enter through the juniors' gate? Why did you come in through this place instead?"
"Could it be that young friend Chu Feng has learned some secret? That only by stepping through this gate can one obtain the treasures of the Divine Era?"
Seeing that this old man truly had no intention of revealing his identity, Chu Feng stopped pressing the matter and instead replied with a smile: "Senior is jesting. How would I know any secrets? I simply felt on a personal whim that there might be treasures inside. If I truly had some intelligence, I wouldn't be trapped here alongside Senior."
"Well said, young friend." The old man smiled, then asked Chu Feng another question: "Young friend Chu Feng, what is your impression of this place?"
"I haven't had a chance to observe it yet — I ran into Senior right away. But based on what I've seen so far… this place appears to be extremely dangerous."
"Senior, may I ask what your cultivation is?" Chu Feng asked.
"My cultivation is nothing — just a mere Heavenly God," the old man said with a smile.
"A mere Heavenly God?" Those four words left Chu Feng both surprised and disdainful.
Surprised, because the old man didn't seem to be boasting. The Heavenly God realm was truly formidable — it was power that surpassed the Overlord of the Heavenly River.
At least, as far as Chu Feng knew, both the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect and the Palace Master of the Divine Body Heavenly Palace were still at the peak of True God.
As for the disdain, it was because the old man had said "a mere" while wearing a smug expression. That wasn't humility — it was more like showing off.
Boom— Just then, the old man's robes billowed, and an enormous wave of martial power surged forth from his body.
That level of might was in no way weaker than the bat demon beast that had appeared earlier.
This man was indeed a genuine Heavenly God realm cultivator.
Most importantly, once that martial power was released, heaven and earth trembled and its force swept out in all directions.
In the blink of an eye, even the red mist covering the distant landscape was pushed back by more than half.
Chu Feng's field of vision expanded accordingly.
Though there was still blood mist in the distance, perhaps because it was farther away, its obscuring effect had diminished.
In any case, Chu Feng could now see much farther ahead.