Chu Feng even suspected that his guess was correct — the Fifth Level God was not the opponent's true limit.
This was a planned level of cultivation, nothing more.
It was entirely meant to test them.
"So it seems you've already made your decision."
"All of your lives rest on the shoulders of you juniors."
"But are you truly up to the task?" the black creature said.
"Senior, please guide us."
Chu Feng did not strike immediately. Instead, he bowed respectfully to the being.
The creature did not respond. Rather, a strange, unsettling curve formed at the corner of its mouth.
The next moment, the earth around Chu Feng cracked apart, and several chains shot out from the ground like a birdcage, enclosing him within.
Once the chain cage took shape, a barrier's power seeped out as well, sealing every gap between the chains completely.
"Big Brother!"
Seeing this, Xiao Yu'er acted at once, summoning her divine sword and slashing outward with a single strike.
Clang— Sparks flew. Xiao Yu'er was forced back several steps, but the chains remained entirely unscathed.
At the same time, Song Yun, Xian Miaomiao, and even Wang Qiang and the others all unleashed their respective techniques.
Yet they found that none of their efforts had the slightest effect.
"Don't worry about me."
Chu Feng raised his hand, signaling Xiao Yu'er and the rest not to attack blindly, because he had realized it.
This cage could not be undone. Even though they now possessed the cultivation of Fifth Level Gods, the power of this cage completely surpassed that level.
In truth, Xiao Yu'er and the others had noticed it too. Seeing that Chu Feng was merely trapped but not harmed, they refrained from attacking recklessly.
Mindless attacks would not only fail to help Chu Feng — they might even put him in greater danger.
For now, they could only wait to see what the black creature truly intended.
Just then, Chu Feng and his companions noticed that an incense stick had appeared in the creature's hand.
There was nothing remarkable about it — just an ordinary stick of incense.
The creature thrust it into the ground, swiped a finger across it, and the incense lit.
Then the black creature rose to its feet.
"Senior, what is the meaning of this?" Chu Feng asked once more, his tone still respectful.
"When the outer incense burns out and you have failed to defeat me, all of you die."
"When the inner incense burns out and they have failed to defeat me—"
"You die alone."
The black creature pointed at Chu Feng.
"What exactly do you want?" Murderous intent surged through Xiao Yu'er's beautiful eyes.
"Yes — that's the look I want to see."
"I simply wish to see whether you people would risk everything for this Chu Feng," the black creature said.
"Risk everything? Every one of us would give our lives for Brother Chu Feng."
As Bai Yunqing spoke, he lunged toward the black creature.
Squelch— But in an instant, he froze in midair, his mouth gaping as a torrent of dark blood poured forth.
It turned out the black creature had already closed the distance, and one of its hands — sharp as a blade — had pierced clean through Bai Yunqing's throat.
The sight left everyone's hearts trembling with fear, for the black creature's speed had been incomprehensible.
Yet what came next made it clear that something far worse was unfolding.
The black creature, its arm still threaded through Bai Yunqing's neck, flicked its wrist violently. Blood sprayed through the air, and Bai Yunqing's head separated from his body.
As the severed head hit the ground, the black creature stamped its foot down upon it.
"This is all?"
The creature stared coldly at Bai Yunqing's head beneath its sole, then raised its foot to crush it.
But suddenly, the black creature assumed a defensive posture — a foot had come hurtling toward it.