Beneath the vast expanse of the starry sky, a deep, rumbling sound echoed without end.
The black beam of light that had pierced through the grand defensive array was now shrinking.
It had already withdrawn from the eye of the formation world, retreating backward toward where it came from.
As it contracted, the beam's form began to shift — and it was this very transformation that filled Chu Feng with an immense sense of danger.
Through the grand defensive array, Chu Feng could perceive that the beam's changing shape was merely superficial. In truth, the greatest change taking place within the black beam was a qualitative one.
Chu Feng deduced that although it was still shrinking, it would stop once it reached the Ancestral Martial Galaxy's grand defensive array, ultimately transforming into a special barrier gate.
This barrier gate would alter its original property — previously, only the younger generation could pass through, but the restriction would shift from age to cultivation level.
Put simply, the barrier gate would impose a cultivation cap. Those whose realm exceeded the limit would be unable to pass through.
But the restriction of this black beam would keep rising.
When Chu Feng first detected it, the limit was at the Spirit Martial stage. It quickly broke through Yuan Martial, Xuan Martial, and Heaven Martial — and had already reached the Martial Lord stage.
Although the cultivation restriction was still set at a rather low level, if it continued climbing at this pace, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Setting aside the fact that the enemy possessed Heaven God realm cultivators — even if only True God realm cultivators managed to get through, it would be a devastating blow.
After all, Chu Feng could only contend against first-grade True Gods. He couldn't even handle a second-grade True God.
Sure enough, things unfolded exactly as Chu Feng had predicted.
The black beam, upon reaching the Ancestral Martial Galaxy's grand defensive array, ceased shrinking.
Rather than retreating beyond the range of the array, it opened a special barrier gate upon the formation itself.
If the restriction kept rising — even just to the point where Demigods could enter — the enemy would surely send Demigods through to massacre everyone.
Moreover, the Demigods would merely be scouts. The enemy's ultimate goal was to let True Gods, perhaps even Heaven God realm cultivators, pass through.
In truth, they didn't even need Heaven God realm cultivators.
As long as True God realm cultivators got inside, this grand defensive array would already be completely meaningless.
Fortunately, by this point, Chu Feng had already figured out how to take control of the grand defensive array.
And so, Chu Feng began channeling the power of the defensive formation, launching attacks against the barrier gate in an attempt to restrict it.
But even with Chu Feng imposing his restrictions, all he could do was slow the rate at which the barrier gate's cultivation limit climbed.
He couldn't completely seal off the transformation.
Chu Feng still needed to find another method — a way to bring it to a complete halt.
"Seven Realms Palace Lord, to deal with our Ancestral Martial Galaxy, you really are willing to spend whatever it takes, aren't you?"
Even though he hadn't seen the true body of the enemy's formation, nor did he know exactly how it was activated, Chu Feng could still make deductions based solely on its power.
A formation capable of rivaling the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect's grand defensive array must have consumed countless rare treasures and exotic artifacts.
Many of those treasures were likely species and materials that had already gone extinct.
For the Seven Realms Sacred Palace, this must have been an enormously draining expenditure of vital energy.
It was a staggering price.
But Jie Tianran did not care about the cost.
"Come, then — let me see just how many treasures you, Jie Tianran, have left to burn through."
Chu Feng felt that the Venerable Puppeteer was most likely Jie Tianran himself.
First, conspiring with Ancient Families was exactly the kind of thing he would do.
And as for attacking the Ancestral Martial Galaxy, he had more than enough reason.
Meanwhile, inside the formation world where the Ancient Families resided...
"Venerable Puppeteer, are you going to drain our bloodline power dry?"
"Slow down!"
The Rock Hammer Demon Clan Patriarch let out an angry roar.
Even from his beast-like face, it was clear he was enduring tremendous pain.
It wasn't just him — the Seven Realms Immortal Pavilion Lord and the others, their aged faces were all twitching with the strain.
At their age, they had seen all manner of things, yet this pain was almost more than they could bear.