Although he had formulated a plan, after moving a bit closer, Chu Feng realized that not only would it be difficult to interfere with or alter this sacred artifact — even making contact with it wouldn't be easy.
Surrounding the sacred artifact were formations as well as peculiar vessels.
The formations were actually the same ones that blanketed the Immortal Star Domain, constructed by borrowing the sacred artifact's power.
As for those vessels, they were collecting the dark-red aura that the sacred artifact continuously emitted.
Beyond the formations and vessels stood a massive army of Prison Sect forces, surrounding the sacred artifact in a protective formation befitting the guarding of a supreme treasure.
But they maintained a considerable distance from the artifact.
Though they weren't releasing their cultivation auras, Chu Feng could sense that among them were certainly quite a few Heavenly God realm cultivators — because he had already spotted some of those who had previously besieged Li Wu.
However, compared to those troops, at four cardinal positions around the sacred artifact stood four elevated platforms that rose above the starry sky.
Upon each platform sat a figure in meditation.
These were four individuals of Prison Commander rank — but definitely not ordinary Prison Commanders.
Otherwise, it would be impossible for the Third Stage Heavenly God who had besieged Li Wu to simply stand among the crowd, while these four occupied such critical positions.
Though they wore conical hats that concealed their faces, long white beards were clearly visible beneath. From this, Chu Feng deduced that they were all figures from the older generation.
"The ones stationed here are probably quite troublesome. Could they be those Fifth Stage Heavenly Gods?" Egg asked.
"But why are there so many? Could they be from the Neutral Faction?"
"Very likely," Chu Feng said.
"The Prison Sect's strength looks even greater than the Seven Realms Sacred Palace."
"Now that they've joined forces, if they turn their attention toward you, that would be disastrous."
"Chu Feng, we absolutely cannot let them awaken the power within that gate."
Egg's thinking aligned with Chu Feng's.
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Chu Feng said.
"Chu Feng, at this distance, your formation technique can't merge into theirs, can it?" Egg asked.
"If these people weren't standing guard, even at this distance I could use concealment formations to transmit the controlling formation over."
"But with so many experts watching, it's nearly impossible. I'd have to find a way to get closer," Chu Feng said.
At that moment, a series of teleportation gates materialized outside the Prison Sect's army guarding the sacred artifact.
The Spirit World Masters of the Seven Realms Sacred Palace made their entrance — twenty-four in total, all of them Heavenly Dragon Spirit World Masters.
They moved toward the sacred artifact, and the Prison Sect forces parted to let them through.
But among these Spirit World Masters, not a single Sacred Elder of the Seven Realms Sacred Palace was visible.
Though they were all Heavenly Dragon Spirit World Masters, they were only First Stage ones.
It wasn't that First Stage Heavenly Dragon Spirit World Masters were weak, but compared to the Prison Sect's deployment here, the gap was enormous.
"Is the Seven Realms Sacred Palace going to intervene with this sacred artifact?" Egg asked.
"It appears so. It seems they'll be the ones to explore it."
"Jie Tianran has likely come as well," Chu Feng said.
The reason Chu Feng said this was that after the Seven Realms Sacred Palace's Spirit World Masters approached the sacred artifact, they didn't set up any barrier formations.
Instead, they produced a host of barrier treasures.
Those treasures were formidable — the auras they emitted far surpassed those of the Spirit World Masters themselves.
Such treasures couldn't be activated by these Spirit World Masters. Someone would have to activate them from a distance.
But commanding so many treasures required not only immense cultivation but also extraordinary control — something beyond the boundaries of the cultivation realm itself.
Chu Feng wasn't looking down on the Seven Realms Sacred Palace, but based on his understanding of them, only two people in the entire Seven Realms Sacred Palace could pull this off: Jie Tianran and Jie Mubai.
But Jie Mubai had already been killed by Song Yun.
That left only Jie Tianran.
"The Prison Sect is certainly bold — trusting the Seven Realms Sacred Palace that much?" Egg remarked.
"The Prison Sect has its own considerations," Chu Feng said.
"Then can you disguise yourself as a Spirit World Master from the Seven Realms Sacred Palace and find an opening to slip through?"
But the moment those words left Egg's mouth, she immediately shot the idea down.
"No, no — the Seven Realms Sacred Palace's grand formation is monitoring the entire Immortal Star Domain."
"Their Spirit World Masters don't have prison infants inside their bodies. But you do," Egg said.
"Indeed. I'll have to think of another way," Chu Feng said.
Before, with Wuma Hanshuang clearing the path, he had moved through unimpeded.
Now, with his identity being what it was, he didn't even know how to approach — let alone get close to the sacred artifact.
The only method Chu Feng could think of was to change his identity first.
At the very least, he needed to obtain a Prison General's disguise.