The stream of light Qin Sang and the others had received earlier contained not only the method to operate the Nine Luminaries Star River Formation, but also the technique to reverse it and make the star river flow backward.
At this moment, one end of the star river was submerged in the black hole, and the foremost cultivators already had one foot inside. Seeing that they were about to enter completely and touch the stone tablet, none of them understood why Che Yutao had ordered them to withdraw.
Yet no one dared disobey. The moment they heard the command, they reversed the formation without hesitation.
Within the star river, countless stars had originally been moving according to a fixed rhythm. In that split second, the star river ground to an abrupt halt, and every star suddenly began to travel in reverse.
Across the starry expanse, shooting stars streaked past one after another, retracing their earlier paths in backward flight as though time itself were turning back.
*Hum!*
Reversing its flow, the star river did not attack the black hole, yet it wrenched itself free, literally plucked out from the void.
Ripples emanated from within the black hole, shifting unpredictably, but fortunately no dark light shot forth. Once the star river broke away, the void gradually settled back into calm.
Everyone breathed a silent sigh of relief. Maintaining the star river, they awaited further instructions, only to find that Che Yutao and the others paid them no heed. Instead, the seniors all looked toward Sikong Muyue with a glimmer of anticipation.
Sikong Muyue floated in midair, pristine and untainted by dust, exuding an aloof air. From the moment the star river made contact with the black hole, she had kept her eyes tightly shut, using her spiritual sense to blanket the black hole and examine every minute change within.
The star river had withdrawn, and the black hole gradually faded, yet Sikong Muyue showed no sign of waking, continuing to concentrate on analyzing the restriction.
A full incense stick of time passed before Sikong Muyue suddenly opened her eyes. Stars seemed to form and perish within her pupils. Her delicate brows slightly furrowed, she gazed at the black hole with a contemplative look, then said softly, "Enter again."
Qin Sang and the others immediately complied. Having done it once before, they were now well-practiced and fully prepared. Sure enough, not long after entering, they received the command to reverse the formation and carried it out at once.
They repeated this process three times in succession.
Sikong Muyue's furrowed brow finally relaxed. After a moment of contemplation, she flicked another stream of light from her fingertip toward the crowd.
Qin Sang examined the contents within the light and discovered that it was still the Nine Luminaries Star River Formation, yet subtly different from before. Evidently, Sikong Muyue had modified the formation based on the shifts in the restriction.
Marveling at Sikong Muyue's formidable skill, Qin Sang focused on comprehending it.
With their earlier foundation, understanding it this time was far easier. In less than a quarter of an hour, everyone had fully grasped the formation and laid out the star river array according to the new method.
The resplendent star river looked virtually indistinguishable from before. Only those standing within the formation could perceive the nuanced changes—certain positions had stronger defense, while others had been weakened.
Just as they were about to merge the three star rivers, Sikong Muyue suddenly said, "There is no need to stack the formations this time. Only nine people need to go in..."
With that, Sikong Muyue's gaze swept over them, and she pointed seemingly at random.
"Your group will go first."
She pointed directly at the team Yunyouzi belonged to. Aside from Yunyouzi, there were three other Taiyi Dan Sect disciples.
Seeing Sikong Muyue send disciples of her own sect to scout the way, the others naturally voiced no objections. Yunyouzi and his companions slowly moved forward, approaching the black hole.
Qin Sang noticed that as they approached the void, the lips of Sikong Muyue, Dique, and Daoist Xuan Yu moved slightly, as though transmitting voice messages.
It seemed these Core Formation stage cultivators truly possessed some knowledge of this ancient cultivator's abandoned abode; entering it would not leave them completely in the dark.
Qin Sang felt somewhat reassured, knowing that when it was his turn to enter, Che Yutao would surely give instructions as well, rather than letting sect disciples die in vain.
In the blink of an eye, Yunyouzi and the others made contact with the black hole. The instant the star river entered, Sikong Muyue once again ordered them to reverse the formation.
Unexpectedly, the reversed star river failed to break free from the black hole's grasp. Instead, it was sucked inside in an instant.
The black hole was like a gaping dark maw, swallowing them whole in a single gulp. Yunyouzi and the others were struck by an inexplicably powerful suction. The moment they were pulled in, they could not even maintain the formation.
The star river collapsed and dispersed with a roar. The nine people became like solitary skiffs amidst monstrous waves, swept up in a tempest without the slightest power to resist, crashing one after another onto the stone tablet amidst the chaos.
However, the moment they hit the stone tablet, the expected violent impact never occurred. A black vortex suddenly emerged across the mottled tablet, swallowing them directly within.
In an instant, all nine people vanished without a trace. Only the stone tablet remained standing within the black hole, before gradually fading from sight.
Seeing this eerie scene, the others outside turned somewhat pale. None knew what lay beyond the stone tablet or what perils awaited after going in.
The unknown was the most terrifying thing of all.
Unexpectedly, Che Yutao and the others looked delighted. Cupping his hands toward Sikong Muyue, he said admiringly, "Fellow Daoist Sikong's attainments in the art of restrictions are truly extraordinary. A slight modification to the formation produced such an effect."
Not the slightest hint of pride appeared on Sikong Muyue's face as she sighed, "It is precisely because my ability is lacking... Had it been a fellow Daoist from the Yuanshen Sect, they wouldn't have needed nearly this long, and a nine-person formation would surely have been able to pull back out."
Che Yutao smiled upon hearing this. "The Yuanshen Sect's legacy is renowned for formations, so naturally they have their own unique expertise. There is no need for modesty, Fellow Daoist Sikong. To decipher the shifts in the restriction in such a short time is already extraordinarily rare... Shall we have them try in groups of three next?"
"Wait!"
Sikong Muyue shook her head slightly. "Send another nine people to try. I have gained some insights, but they need verification."
Che Yutao nodded and turned to look at the crowd. Seeing their shifting gazes and uneasy expressions, he laughed and scolded, "That stone tablet is the entrance to the ancient cultivator's abandoned abode! Others clamor to enter and cannot find a way; what are you afraid of?"
Only then did the crowd relax somewhat. Next, another nine entered the black hole. Just like before, they failed to break free from the suction and were drawn into the stone tablet.
Now, only the nine including Qin Sang remained. Sikong Muyue flicked another stream of light, improving the formation once more.
In the end, Qin Sang and his group transformed into the star river and made contact with the black hole. When they reversed the formation, though the array nearly fell apart, they actually managed to tear themselves free from the black hole's pull.
"Good!"
Sikong Muyue's eyes brightened. "Now try with three people."
By now, a brand-new formation had appeared in the minds of Qin Sang and the others. It was also modified from the Nine Luminaries Star River Formation, yet it required only three people—each occupying three positions within the formation—to complete it.
However, the new formation's power was vastly weaker. The moment the first group of three touched the black hole, the formation instantly shattered. They were nearly crushed into paste by the overpowering force of the restriction, and were only saved in the nick of time by the joined hands of several Core Formation stage cultivators.
Qin Sang had experienced the power of the restriction firsthand for the first time. Shocked to the core, he thought to himself that it was no wonder these Core Formation stage cultivators were so cautious.
After several attempts yielded no results, Sikong Muyue's expression remained calm as she said gravely, "Give me a bit more time and I can improve it further; three people will be enough to break the restriction. But there is no time left now, and this is already sufficient for us. Let these juniors enter."
Chapter 228