After nearly two months of rigorous selection and fierce competition, the roster of the three hundred and sixty-five primary formation Nascent Soul cultivators for the "Zhou Tian Star Formation" finally settled. This roster, like a hurricane, swept through the Three Realms once more, sparking countless exclamations and heated discussion. On the list were not only core elders and true disciples from major sects and families, but also previously undistinguished cultivators who had shone during the "Star Trial"—including several demon clan Great Sages and sea clan princes. Truly merit-based, it gathered the cream of the Three Realms' Nascent Soul cultivators.
All selected cultivators, upon receiving the alliance's summons, regardless of location, rushed to the "Starfall Plain" in Central Plains territory, designated by the alliance as an absolute forbidden zone, at maximum speed. This plain was open and vast, sparsely populated, with stable spiritual veins, and according to ancient records, star fragments had fallen here in ancient times, leaving a faint trace of stellar power—ideal for drilling the Zhou Tian Star Formation.
At the center of the plain, a massive foundation formation had long been constructed by hundreds of formation masters,consuming massive resources according to the initially restored formation diagram. The foundation formation was drawn with countless glittering, multicolored talismanic lines of incredible complexity, covering nearly half the plain. Within the foundation formation, according to Zhou Tian star positions, three hundred and sixty-five primary formation positions and forty-eight thousand auxiliary formation positions (currently filled mainly by Golden Core cultivators, responsible for stabilizing energy flow and outer defense) were clearly marked.
Tang Xiao Qi, Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng, Mu Xue, Ao Qin, and other core alliance leaders, along with all masters involved in formation restoration, floated above the plain, their expressions solemn as they gazed down.
The three hundred and sixty-five Nascent Soul cultivators flew to their corresponding primary formation positions according to the star attribute determined by their prior assessments. Their attire varied, races differed, their auras either sharp, heavy, or ethereal, but at this moment, every face bore a sacred sense of mission and barely containable excitement.
Xiao Qi's gaze slowly swept across these three hundred and sixty-five people. He could sense that though these Nascent Soul cultivators, individually, might not be the absolute pinnacle at their level, each had achieved extremely high standards in a specific domain—be it star resonance, understanding of formation dao, mental fortitude, or purification adaptability. They were the most suitable "parts" for this demon-slaying formation.
"Everyone." Xiao Qi's voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered the ears of every Nascent Soul cultivator below, carrying a heart-soothing force. "You are the elite selected from the billions of cultivators across the Three Realms. You are the three hundred and sixty-five stars bearing this world's hope. Today, the Zhou Tian Star Formation conducts its first drill. I hope everyone guards their formation positions, gathers their hearts and strength, senses the stars, and communicates with each other."
No excessive mobilization was needed. At their level, everyone understood what they bore.
"Take your positions—Activate the Formation!"
With Xiao Qi's command, the three hundred and sixty-five Nascent Soul cultivators below almost simultaneously sat cross-legged, hands forming magical incantations, slowly injecting their pure Nascent Soul spiritual energy into the formation eyes beneath them according to the special techniques corresponding to their star positions.
"hummed—!"
A low, as if from the depths of the universe, drone emanated from the center of the foundation formation.
The next moment, the entire Starfall Plain lit up!
The three hundred and sixty-five primary formation positions simultaneously erupted with dazzling, brilliant light! Crimson light like the rising sun, cold radiance like moonlight falling, azure pillars like the Milky Way descending, sharp golden glow like Venus crossing the sky... Each light corresponded to a star's attribute, emanating a unique and powerful energy fluctuation.
These lights were not chaotic, but along those inscrutable talismanic lines on the foundation formation, began rapidly flowing, intertwining, converging! Streams of energy, as if endowed with life, constructed an increasingly complex, increasingly bright network of light within the massive formation diagram.
Meanwhile, the sky changed!
It was clearly daytime, but the heavens above the Starfall Plain visibly dimmed, as if instantly entering deep night. Then, one star, two stars, ten, a hundred... countless star phantoms slowly emerged in the heavens, growing clearer, brighter! The positions of these star phantoms resonated remotely with the light of the three hundred and sixty-five primary formation positions below!
"It's drawing stellar power! It's really drawing it!" A formation master in the air couldn't help but cry out excitedly.
Though they were merely phantoms, not true stars descending, the pure and vast stellar power streaming down was absolutely real! This stellar power, as if drawn by invisible force, transformed into countless slender yet solid pillars of light, precisely projecting onto the corresponding primary formation positions below, beginning to merge with the cultivators' spiritual energy!
"crashed—!"
When stellar power and cultivator spiritual energy initially merged, the entire formation's aura suddenly surged! An indescribable, as if capable of suppressing the universe and destroying all laws, grand power began to gestate and rise within the formation diagram! A massive pillar of light, mixed with three hundred and sixty-five colors of stars, erupted from the center of the foundation formation, shooting straight up through the heavens, causing the star phantoms in the sky to ripple.
Light shining for ten thousand li! Grand momentum!
Within a range of ten thousand li, all living beings could see that pillar of brilliant light connecting heaven and earth, feel that majestic pressure causing reverence. Countless cultivators were moved to tears of excitement; common folk knelt in prayer, thinking it a divine miracle.
However, beneath this magnificentsurface, problems also revealed themselves.
"Water Kan position spiritual energy excessive, conflicting with Fire Li position!"
"Western Seven Mansions energy flow sluggish! Kui Mu Lang position, catch up!"
"Mind! Focus on mind connections! Don't only attend to your own star position—sense the entire formation's rhythm!"
"Careful! Someone's being counterattacked by stellar power! Stabilize quickly!"
In the air, Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng and the formation masters' spiritual senses, like the most precise probes, instantly caught countless irregularities in the formation's operation. Urgent commands passed through special magical artifacts into the corresponding cultivators' ears.
Within the formation, light flickered uncertainly. Energy flows were sometimes smooth as rivers, sometimes blocked like mud ponds. Some formation positions' light was too intense, nearly scorching their commanders; others were dim, unable to draw sufficient stellar power. More seriously, the minds of the three hundred and sixty-five cultivators had not yet fully synchronized. Energy transmission and cooperation between them were full of awkwardness and obstruction, preventing the overall power from integrating harmoniously, even causing mutual hindrance internally.
"Pu!"
A Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator from a minor sect, unable to precisely control the sudden torrent of stellar power, spat a mouthful of blood. The light of his formation eye instantly dimmed, affecting nearby connected formation positions, causing chaos.
"Stop!"
Xiao Qi decisively ordered.
Thetowering pillar of light slowly dissipated. The star phantoms in the sky gradually faded. The massive formation diagram on the plain dimmed, returning to peace. Only three hundred and sixty-four cultivators with varied expressions—most bearing fatigue and frustration—remained, along with one cultivator being helped away for emergency treatment by his fellow disciples.
The first drill, though successfully drawing stellar power and displaying world-destroying potential, clearly showed that the internal coordination's unfamiliarity, crude energy control, and weak mind connections meant that bringing this ancient killing formation under perfect control still required a very long, very difficult road.
Xiao Qi gazed down, his expression still calm. Difficulties were expected. He said loudly: "Everyone has taken the first step! Discovering problems is the only way to solve them. Rest for one hour, study the formation diagram, exchange insights. In one hour, we continue drilling!"
Forging this demon-slaying blade would never be accomplished overnight. But this initial shape's light had illuminated the path ahead, giving everyone confidence and direction to continue pressing forward.