A few days later.
Tents crowded the plains on the outskirts of the Immortal-Burying Abyss.
Xie Yuan crouched at the edge of the camp, holding a depleted spirit stone, his brows knotted tight.
Ever since they had been driven into this outlying area, life for Falling Star Valley had grown harder by the day.
They could not enter the Core Area, and the formations of the Immortal-Burying Abyss had drained every last trace of spiritual energy from their surroundings.
"Deputy Valley Master, when will these miserable days finally end?"
An elder of Falling Star Valley sidled over and complained in a hushed voice.
"We spend every day drinking the northwest wind. There isn't even any spiritual energy to cultivate with. Those mighty cultivators have the place locked down tight. We can't even get a sip of the soup."
Xie Yuan stuffed the spirit stone into his sleeve and snorted irritably.
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"
"Didn't you hear the rules those old Longevity Realm monsters laid down a few days ago?"
"If we want to get in, we have to exchange Scrap for contribution points."
"Even if everyone in Falling Star Valley joined forces, we couldn't beat a single Nascent Soul Realm demon beast steeped in turbid qi. What are we supposed to trade?"
The elder sighed and was about to say more.
The sky above them suddenly darkened.
Vast banks of dark clouds swallowed the clear sky in an instant.
Then the Defense Formation surrounding the Immortal-Burying Abyss let out a violent hum. Its barrier flickered wildly under immense pressure.
Xie Yuan jerked his head up.
A brutal force tore the clouds apart.
Old Ancestor Taichu burst through the sky.
His Daoist robe snapped in the wind as he unleashed the full, terrifying pressure of