"If that's how it is, then let's all go down together."
After those words, Chu Feng shifted his hand seals.
The green tree, which had already shrunk to less than a hundred meters tall, swelled back to a colossal size of ten thousand meters.
At the same time, the branches slithered outward like massive serpents, sealing off the barrier gate.
"Wow, it can do that?"
Wen Xue exclaimed in amazement.
She realized that Chu Feng was using the tree's power to prevent Jie Tianran and his companion from leaving.
"Heh…"
Seeing this, Jie Tianran let out a contemptuous laugh, then immediately commanded the red monstrous creature to open its gaping maw and bite down on the branches blocking the barrier gate.
But when the creature's razor-sharp teeth clamped down, they passed right through the branches. The two couldn't touch each other at all.
At this sight, the smile on Jie Tianran's face froze. He then reached out to touch the branches, only to discover that his consciousness form was actually able to make contact with them.
In that moment, Jie Tianran's brow furrowed.
This was not good news.
If the red creature couldn't directly interact with the tree, it couldn't destroy it.
But the tree could still block his consciousness, meaning he couldn't leave.
With the world collapsing around them, who knew what kind of catastrophe would follow. Chu Feng was prepared to perish together with them.
"Chu Feng, have you lost your mind?"
"You think doing something like this will make this old man fear you?"
After understanding Chu Feng's intentions, Jie Tianran turned to look at him.
"Return the power that belongs to me, or no one leaves," Chu Feng said.
"So what if I don't leave? This old man would actually like to see what happens after this world collapses," Jie Tianran replied.
The world was collapsing at a terrifying speed, and the aura it exuded was one of utter destruction. Even Wen Xue was beginning to panic, unable to help but move closer to Chu Feng.
If that wave of destruction really reached them, the consequences would be dire.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, forget it, forget it."
"There's no need to stoop to their level."
"After all, as long as the mountain remains, there'll never be a shortage of firewood. We can't just throw both our lives away for these two old geezers, can we?"
Wen Xue grabbed Chu Feng's sleeve, quietly urging him to stand down.
But Chu Feng said nothing, his eyes fixed on Jie Tianran, clearly prepared to fight to the bitter end.
"Oh come on, Junior Brother Chu Feng, why are you so stubborn? Is this really worth it?"
"Those two are half in the grave already, but we're still young! It's not worth it, not worth it!"
Wen Xue grew increasingly anxious, yet Chu Feng remained resolute.
Jie Tianran, too, said nothing, watching Chu Feng coldly with an equally unyielding demeanor, as though he too was prepared to see this through to the end.
The once boundless world had now turned into a black void all around them — the area swallowed by the collapse — and that darkness was rapidly devouring its way toward them.
"Jie Tianran, give it back to him."
"There's no point getting stubborn with a child."
It was the elder beside Jie Tianran who lost his patience, speaking in a commanding tone.
Only then did Jie Tianran form the hand seals. The red creature's massive mouth opened, and it truly did spit out the strange power it had devoured from Chu Feng's great tree, returning it to the green tree.
Chu Feng said nothing. He formed his hand seals and caused the great tree to shrink once more.
Only at its full size did the tree possess the power to block them, so after it shrunk back down, the branches covering the barrier gate retracted as well.
Jie Tianran said nothing either. He shot Chu Feng a venomous glare, then stepped through the barrier gate.
It was the old monstrous creature who turned back to look at Chu Feng. "Chu Feng, fighting to the death is not the mark of a strong warrior. When we meet again, you may not be so lucky."
"You old fossil! Next time we meet, this lady is going to rip off your hat and see exactly how disgusting that wrinkled old face of yours really is — and why you don't dare show it to anyone!"
Wen Xue shot back immediately.
"Hmph."