After that voice echoed out, Chu Feng and the others all felt their hearts tighten.
It wasn't just the voice itself — it was the oppressive aura that descended from the heavens along with it.
That aura did not originate from this world. It came from beyond the world's boundaries, blanketing the entire Ancient Tomb.
Even Song Changsheng and Heavenly Sword Qing Yuan, who were deep within the Ancient Tomb, sensed it.
Right now, they were still on the path they had discovered earlier — the one that led toward Chu Feng's grandmother.
They had already ventured far along it, and the path had grown wider — so wide that ordinary people would be unable to see the edges on either side.
But they knew perfectly well that this was still a path.
And at this moment, each of them gripped their weapons tightly. Even figures of Song Changsheng and Heavenly Sword Qing Yuan's caliber had beads of sweat appearing on their faces.
The reason was simple: the demonic beasts lying fallen around them were growing stronger with every step.
Any single one of them, if released into the cultivation world, would spell devastation.
"That aura..." Heavenly Sword Qing Yuan's brows furrowed slightly.
"We need to move faster, or I'm afraid everyone will be buried here."
The moment Song Changsheng's voice rang out, he vanished from the spot — he had realized the situation was turning dire and wanted to resolve this as quickly as possible.
Seeing this, Heavenly Sword Qing Yuan followed close behind.
Along the way, they had made some discoveries.
They had found that deep within this path lay a secret — quite possibly the true secret of this Ancient Tomb.
Perhaps the alignment of the Seven Stars was not the only solution. If they could unravel the secret hidden at the path's depths, the deadly predicament of the Ancient Tomb might yet be broken.
But the people inside the Ancient Tomb — let alone knowing where Heavenly Sword Qing Yuan and Song Changsheng were — didn't even know these two existed.
Yet everyone, regardless of gender or age, regardless of cultivation level, felt that terrifying aura.
"No good — if we stay here, we'll die! We'll all die! Run, run!"
Some believed the aura was connected to the terrifying tomb that Chu Feng and the others had entered, and they wanted to flee.
"It's no use. No use at all."
But those among them with higher cultivation and greater experience shook their heads in despair.
They could sense it too — this wasn't a localized phenomenon. Everyone trapped here would face it.
"That last star really isn't so easy to solve after all," Chu Feng let out a sigh.
That aura was invisible and intangible — formless, something that could only be felt.
But without question, it was the sword hanging over their heads. If they couldn't break through the situation before them, that sword would fall.
And it wouldn't just kill one person — it would kill everyone inside the Ancient Tomb.
"Senior, what must one do to be worthy?" Chu Feng called out in the direction the voice had come from.
His words finally snapped the others out of their stupor.
So many powerful figures were present, yet the moment they had sensed that presence, not a single one had dared to speak.
It was as though they feared that a wrong word would cost them their lives. And the reason was fear — extreme, overwhelming fear.
They all knew that being was extraordinarily powerful, and that was why they were so terrified.
And yet in this moment, Chu Feng could speak in a calm tone, neither servile nor arrogant.
That kind of courage had nothing to do with cultivation level. Even Zhao Laoba couldn't help but feel a measure of respect for Chu Feng — because even he hadn't dared to be the first to speak.
"Defeat me, and you will be worthy," the voice came again.
And as those words fell, the mist in the direction from which the voice had spoken began to drift apart on either side, like a great army retreating.
Before long, a colossal barrier gate materialized before their eyes.
BOOM— At that very instant, a powerful aura surged outward from behind the barrier gate.
Fifth-grade Heavenly God!!!
Sensing that aura, the taut expression on the Heavenly Sword Sacred Palace Master's face finally eased.