"More than twenty years ago, I was only a lowly Qi Refinement cultivator. Several fellow disciples and I were accompanying our sect elders to Strange Abyss Island to purchase cultivation supplies. That day, the elders went to the Inch-Gold Pavilion, while we juniors wandered around Blackstone City. Suddenly, a Nascent Soul senior appeared and announced that a beast tide was approaching. At first, nobody was too concerned. After all, Blackstone City not only had strong, comprehensive formations, but also a teleportation array leading to the Inner Sea. Before long, however, that teleportation array was destroyed in the chaos! Everyone was trapped in Blackstone City!" the middle-aged cultivator explained, his voice still thick with lingering fear.
"The teleportation array was destroyed?" Han Li interrupted in astonishment.
"Yes. Not only was the teleportation array destroyed, but Blackstone City itself is now nothing but ruins. Even now, high-level demon beasts frequently sweep through Strange Abyss Island," the middle-aged cultivator said with a sigh. "That was the main stronghold of us human cultivators in these waters! And just like that-just like that-ah!"
Han Li's brow furrowed deeply. After years of secluded cultivation, he had broken through to mid-Core Formation, but he remained unable to advance past the sixth turn of Core Formation. He had intended to return to Tianxing City to seek Lin Yun's advice, only to learn that the teleportation array leading back to the Inner Sea was gone.
After a brief silence, he motioned for the middle-aged cultivator to continue.
The middle-aged cultivator continued, "For the next three days, countless demon beasts fiercely assaulted Blackstone City. Our cultivation was too low to be of any help, so we could only stay inside the city. Three days later, a Nascent Soul senior on Strange Abyss Island appeared again and told everyone that Blackstone