Using the "Heavenly Star Absolute God Formation"... requires nine Nether Stars containing equal power.

Nie Kong's ninth Nether Star held only the divine power acquired when obtaining the 'War God Star Seal' spirit art, which was completely unequal to the other eight. Nie Kong simply set it as a formation point and used the Azure Ribbon as the array guide.

The Azure Ribbon was a medicinal spirit that had passed through the first layer of spiritual tribulation, possessing power far exceeding a single golden Nether Star. "Azure Ribbon!" Nie Kong exclaimed softly.

The Azure Ribbon took a deep breath, her delicate body flickered, and she suddenly transformed into a cloud of azure mist, completely enveloping the cluster of Nether Stars suspended above the Soul Orb. With a flicker of Nie Kong's thought, the ninth Nether Star began to shine faintly and gently.

That cloud of azure mist seeped into the Nether Star like threads, and only after nearly a minute did it fully integrate into it. Staring intently at the Soul Orb, Nie Kong's expression became exceptionally solemn.

"Boom!" The moment the black mist retracted into the Soul Orb, the nine Nether Stars violently trembled and simultaneously flashed wildly. Divine power surged out like a tidal wave, instantly connecting with each other to condense into a hemispherical golden shield, enveloping the impending eruption of the black mist.

Instantly, it was as if a golden sun had materialized out of thin air on this altar, its dazzling, scorching golden light exploding outwards, illuminating the vast space brightly. Nie Kong's face was stern, both palms, imbued with violent primal power, pressed against the shimmering golden barrier.

"Shine!" The golden shield vibrated, sending forth deafening shockwaves of humming sound. Nie Kong paid no heed, quietly closing his eyes, ceaselessly channeling the immense natural primal power within his body, injecting it into the ninth Nether Star at the apex of the shield.

Gradually, Nie Kong's mind became completely immersed in the formation; the frequency at which the nine Nether Stars flickered became extremely bizarre... Spirit God Palace.

"Good news! Good news!" The void fluctuated minutely, and Lu Rong suddenly appeared on the top floor of the Pagoda of Enlightenment, his deeply wrinkled old face stacked with irrepressible smiles.

"Palace Master, great joy, great joy!" "Elder Grand, from whence does this joy come?" Kou Xi Lai abruptly opened his eyes. "I just received news of the five High Gods." Lu Rong was extremely agitated, his voice trembling slightly, "Their formation finally broke the barrier and probed into the depths of Long Xu!

Although it was immediately detected by the Ancestral Heavenly Divine Luo Tree, they sensed the true nature of the Wood Ancestor—he cannot leave the Yin Ruins unless he becomes a true Spirit God." "Oh?" Kou Xi Lai’s eyes snapped wide open, his body uncontrollably springing up from the meditation cushion. Back then, the sky-shading tree shadow of the Wood Ancestor in the Yin Ruins was indelibly branded upon the souls of Kou Xi Lai and Lu Rong.

Merely recalling it usually brought forth cold sweat and an indescribable dread, causing the two of them to dare not make the slightest move for such a long time. Now, finally obtaining accurate news that the Ancestral Heavenly Divine Luo Tree still could not leave the Yin Ruins, the two felt the gloom in their hearts dissipate, experiencing a sense of relief and liberation.

"Good! Good!" Exchanging a glance with Lu Rong, Kou Xi Lai clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

"Elder Grand, immediately notify the other elders; we set off today for Lou Tian City in the Great Accomplishment Empire." "Yes..." Lu Rong had just nodded when his body suddenly swayed. The two froze, only to find the entire Pagoda of Enlightenment violently shaking, with continuous rumbling sounds, as if the tower were about to collapse.

However, the mountains outside the window showed no sign of movement. "Not good!" Kou Xi Lai’s expression drastically changed, and his figure vanished instantly.

"It's the base of the tower..." Lu Rong realized with a start, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes, and he followed Kou Xi Lai’s departure. A few seconds later, their figures appeared sequentially on the first floor of the Pagoda of Enlightenment.

With strange cracking and crunching sounds, the flat ground rapidly split open to both sides, revealing faint steps beneath the deep, dark fissures. "Hoo!" A gust of cold wind seemed to blow out from the crack, and a dense mass of black mist roared out like a ferocious beast escaping its cage.

"Greetings, Divine Venerable!" Kou Xi Lai and Lu Rong quickly bowed respectfully. The black mist rapidly contracted, and the figure of a young man was instantly revealed.

He wore a black robe, his body was slender, and his eyes were entirely black, like two black holes. At this moment, his gaunt face was covered in deep wrinkles, as if he were enraged to the extreme.

"Divine Venerable, what has happened?" Seeing his appearance, Kou Xi Lai was greatly shocked, straightened his posture, and couldn't help but ask, "What happened?" "The Soul Altar! There was a disturbance at the Soul Altar; my connection with the Soul Orb has been completely severed!" An ancient tone spat out rapidly from the mouth of the black-robed man.

"You two, immediately follow me to the Soul Altar!" As he spoke, black mist surged out from within his body again; by the time his words fell, the black mist had already swept away like a whirlwind, reaching a hundred meters away in an instant. "How could this be?

That place is guarded by the God-Devouring Flower, and there are also nine Illusion Formations! Besides our Spirit God Palace, who else on the Heavenly Spirit Continent could get in?" "..." Kou Xi Lai and Lu Rong exchanged suspicious glances, then flashed out of the Pagoda of Enlightenment in pursuit...

Inside the Soul Altar. "Buzz!" The humming reverberated, seemingly threatening to collapse the entire space.

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Impact sounds continuously echoed from within the golden shield.

After Nie Kong severed all external connections to the Soul Orb using the "Heavenly Star Absolute God Formation," the trace of the Spirit God's consciousness residing within the Soul Orb was awakened and began violently striking the barrier, attempting to break free from the restraint. However, without the support of its main body, no matter how fiercely it struck, it was merely a death throe.

As time passed, the sounds of impact within the golden shield grew weaker. "Plop!" "Plop!" Almost at the very moment the trace of the Spirit God's consciousness was completely dissolved by the formation, Hua Chen and Jing Rong's bodies suddenly seemed to lose all strength and fell backward onto the steps simultaneously.

At this moment, the "Heavenly Star Absolute God Formation" was operating at its critical juncture. Although Nie Kong sensed their movements, he had no energy to be distracted.

Fortunately, the souls of the two were not yet dead, and their bodies had not turned to statues, so there was no immediate life danger; there was no need to rush this matter. Nie Kong moved his consciousness slightly, and the flashing frequency of the nine Nether Stars suddenly changed.

"Boom!" In less than a second, nine earth-shattering explosions resonated simultaneously from within the golden shield. The nine Nether Stars transformed into nine vortices—eight golden and one blue—and wisps of black light shot out from the vortices, being projected onto the ninety-six statues surrounding Hua Chen and Jing Rong.

Instantly, those black lights became like countless tethers, reconnecting the Soul Orb with the statues. Humming...

The ninety-six statues trembled simultaneously, and the resonant humming sound traveled through the passage, drifting far away, shaking the soundscape for dozens of miles. After about one or two minutes, a strange sight manifested at the Soul Altar: it was as if a rainbow was drawing water; vast sheets of black mist emerged from the ninety-six statues, flowing along the black tethers in the void, pouring endlessly into the nine vortices.