Dragon Fall Ravine

Dragon Fall Ravine was located deep within a gorge to the northwest of the Lingxiao Sect's outer sect.

This place was also the most bustling area among the outer sect disciples of Lingxiao Sect.

Legend had it that a true dragon had once fallen within Dragon Fall Ravine, its corpse transforming into an underground Dragon Vein, thereby making the ravine a sacred ground for cultivation.

However, entering Dragon Fall Ravine to cultivate came with strict regulations. According to the ranking of Lingxiao Sect disciples, Miscellaneous Servant Disciples could enter for three days each month, Outer Disciples for seven days, while Inner Disciples faced no time restrictions whatsoever.

Moreover, each entry into Dragon Fall Ravine required ten spirit stones.

As a Miscellaneous Servant Disciple, Lu Changsheng's monthly allowance was only fifteen Low-grade Spirit Stones, so he naturally couldn't bear to spend them on entering the ravine to cultivate.

But today, he decided to break his usual frugality and indulge just once, intending to enter Dragon Fall Ravine for a session of cultivation.

Along the way, Lu Changsheng encountered many disciples heading toward Dragon Fall Ravine.

Half an hour later, he finally arrived at the outskirts of Dragon Fall Ravine.

"So that's Dragon Fall Ravine?"

Lu Changsheng gazed ahead, unable to suppress a flicker of awe.

Before him, the earth had split open into a deep gorge, winding and stretching like a coiled flood dragon. Within that gorge, as if a dragon were exhaling mist, an extremely dense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy continuously poured forth.

Even from a distance, Lu Changsheng could feel the oppressive weight of that vast spiritual power.

At the entrance of Dragon Fall Ravine, two elders stood guard, and a long line of disciples had already gathered, snaking into a queue.

Lu Changsheng swept his gaze around, then stepped into the line.

However, the popularity of Dragon Fall Ravine was truly unexpected. Though the line crawled forward slowly, the number of people only kept growing.

Fortunately, the two elders maintained order, so no disciple dared to cut in line—everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Caw!

Just then, a piercing cry rang out from the sky. All disciples looked up in unison.

A mysterious black-clothed girl was riding a White Crane, flying straight toward Dragon Fall Ravine.

Unlike the other disciples, this black-clothed girl did not queue. Instead, she walked directly to the front, exchanged a few words with the two elders, and then entered the ravine without delay.

"Who is she? How can she just cut in line and go in?"

Some disciples grumbled discontentedly.

"Shh! Keep your voice down—she's an Inner Disciple. Naturally, she doesn't need to queue like us!"

"Sigh, Inner Disciples really hold a privileged status. Even entering Dragon Fall Ravine comes with special treatment..."

"Yeah, but becoming an Inner Disciple is no easy feat. You'd have to stand out in the Outer Sect Competition. This year's competition is bound to be fiercely contested..."

Murmurs spread among the disciples.

In the line, Lu Changsheng took all of this in.

He remembered living in Lingxiao Sect since childhood, serving as a Miscellaneous Servant Disciple in the outer sect. Lu Changsheng didn't even know who his parents were; all he recalled was growing up in the sect, toiling as a servant disciple for over a decade.

Through those years of struggle, Lu Changsheng had tasted every shade of human warmth and coldness. He had also participated in the Outer Sect Competition, hoping to advance to Inner Disciple and gain better cultivation conditions. But his talent was too poor—after more than ten years, he remained a Miscellaneous Servant Disciple.

"In the Outer Sect Competition, I will become an Inner Disciple!"

Lu Changsheng swore silently to himself.

Having obtained the Creation Devouring Heaven Cauldron and cultivated the Heaven Swallowing Creation Art, he was absolutely confident that this time, he would stand out in the Outer Sect Competition!

Another hour passed. After a long wait, it was finally Lu Changsheng's turn. He pulled out his token, symbolizing his status as a Miscellaneous Servant Disciple, paid ten spirit stones, and smoothly entered Dragon Fall Ravine.

The moment he stepped inside, an astonishing wave of spiritual energy rushed toward him, leaving Lu Changsheng feeling refreshed and invigorated.

"No wonder it's called Dragon Fall Ravine!"

Lu Changsheng marveled inwardly.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy within the ravine was so dense that even the pores all over his body seemed to open wide, greedily absorbing the spiritual energy.

Due to his status, Lu Changsheng could only cultivate at the outer edges of Dragon Fall Ravine. But even there, the spiritual power was incredibly rich—training here would surely yield twice the results with half the effort!

With that thought, Lu Changsheng wasted no more time. He swept his gaze around and saw massive boulders scattered about, with many disciples already seated on them, cultivating.

After a brief search, he found a large rock, sat cross-legged, and quickly activated the Heaven Swallowing Creation Art within his body.

Hum—

As the art circulated, various visions manifested around him: ancient green lotuses blooming, celestial palaces rising and falling, and countless rare beasts roaring endlessly.

Boom!

At the same time, the deep black hole within his Dantian erupted with a powerful suction force.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

All the spiritual energy within Dragon Fall Ravine, from every direction, seemed drawn by an invisible force, surging madly toward Lu Changsheng.

The dense, pure power was pulled into his Dantian, then rapidly flooded into his limbs and bones, rushing through his body like a torrent.

Lu Changsheng sat as still as a rock, his body like a bottomless pit, voraciously devouring the surrounding spiritual energy.

The black hole in his Dantian grew stronger, its suction force tyrannically dragging in spiritual energy from all sides.

"Huh?!"

"What's happening?"

At this moment, the disciples cultivating nearby all snapped open their eyes.

They sensed something amiss, for the spiritual energy around them was now frantically converging toward a single spot.

Their gazes followed, and they saw a figure seated cross-legged within the spiritual energy. Shrouded entirely by the dense aura, none could make out Lu Changsheng's face.

"Heavens, what kind of technique is he cultivating? This rate of devouring spiritual energy is terrifying!"

"Here on the outskirts of Dragon Fall Ravine, we're all Outer Disciples, mostly practicing Yellow-grade techniques. How can he have such a powerful pull?"

The disciples were all stunned.

"Hmph! Just some greenhorn who just joined. Daring to devour heaven and earth's spiritual energy like this—aren't you afraid your body will burst?"

Not far away, a youth in a blue robe let out a disdainful snort.

This youth was named Huo Feng, an Outer Disciple who had stepped into the Core Condensation Realm.

Among the Outer Disciples, there were also some from prominent families who possessed top-tier techniques. However, within Dragon Fall Ravine, the spiritual energy contained a trace of violent Dragon Qi.

If one's cultivation was insufficient, devouring too much spiritual energy in a short time could easily cause the body to explode and die, making such an act utterly foolish.

Yet several hours passed, and not only did Lu Changsheng not explode, but the black hole within his Dantian grew even more terrifying in its suction, madly devouring the surrounding spiritual energy...