However, as there was no precedent, he did not know if it would succeed. He simply set it up with a try-it-and-see attitude.
The arrangements were not very intricate. His idea was that if the experiment succeeded, he would then proceed to make more sophisticated arrangements to make the formation more impregnable.
The demon, having suffered a minor injury, dared not try again lightly. It would cost lives!
However, he had many lives at his disposal, so he could afford to get injured!
Thus, he took out a flute, placed it by his mouth, and began to play softly.
At first, people were very nervous. Demons were considered inviolable beings in people's minds. Once one broke through the barrier, it would be a massacre. Therefore, people cherished their lives, wondering if their countdown had begun.
However, in a moment, they saw that the demon was actually in trouble, which invigorated them and greatly boosted their confidence.
But then, the demon began to play the flute. The melody rose and fell, melodious and graceful, sometimes slow like a gentle stream, sometimes rapid like a rushing river. However, overall, the flute's sound always carried a sense of desolation, a mournful lament that seemed to weep and complain. There was also an inexplicable atmosphere of terror that quietly filled everyone's hearts.
It was as if a threat of death was slowly approaching with heavy steps.
People looked around nervously, their eyes darting to find the source of the terror.
Finally, as expected, they saw it!
Some say that a disaster for which one is mentally prepared is not frightening.
In reality, watching a disaster slowly consume oneself is the most terrifying thing in the world.
Just like at this moment, people saw groups of demons gathering from all directions, more and more of them, a dense mass that encircled the entire Lingdu Sect, even obscuring the sky above it. Looking up, it was a vast expanse of black, as if night had fallen, yet one could still see clearly on the ground.
The dense swarm of demons advanced like a covering sky, making one wonder if they were afraid.
People seemed to feel the cold wind cutting like a knife, slicing their flesh with each gust.
The demon looked smug, believing that those inside were doomed and would instantly turn to dust.
Mo Qi was also a little worried. The purpose of setting up this formation was to block one demon, and he was content that this objective had been achieved.
But he hadn't expected such a dense swarm of demons to come rushing in; how could it possibly be blocked?
If this barrier failed, and the dense mass of demons pressed down, his group would likely be crushed into a paste.
At that point, they wouldn't even be able to escape by running, and would probably have to fight to the death.
He had already decided which magical artifact to use first and which to use next.
At this moment, the demon waved its hand, and those demons screamed and rushed forward, like a swarm of locusts filling the sky, pressing towards the barrier.
Inside, people were so terrified that their legs turned to jelly. Some huddled together, trembling, while others cowered under rocks, afraid to show themselves.
Many began to blame themselves: "I shouldn't have come! If I hadn't come here today, I wouldn't have encountered this massacre!"
"Why am I so unlucky? I said I'd come yesterday, but my wife insisted I come today, only for it to be a death sentence. My wife must have had ill intentions; she probably wants to remarry."
"If I had known this would happen, I wish I had become a demon. What's the use of the restriction being removed now? I'm still going to die soon."
At this moment, myriad demon shadows whistled forward, one after another, crashing into the light screen. The light intensified, dazzling and brilliant.
Continuous creaking sounds were heard, like the sound of glass about to shatter.
The glass did not break, but the hearts of the people did. Everyone tore at their hair and scalps, feeling their bodies about to collapse.
However, at this very moment, the dark energy suddenly surged, spreading outwards. It licked at the demons, causing them to emit black smoke. It was as if they were burning but couldn't ignite, and they rapidly melted away.
The demons let out screams of agony and instinctively fled back.
The demons behind, having not yet tasted suffering, continued to advance. Some directly collided with the returning demons, and as if by contagion, they too began to melt away rapidly.
As for those demons that did not collide with the returning ones, they continued forward. At this point, the dark energy became even denser and more violent, churning forward and instantly reducing these individuals to ashes.
From the perspective within the Lingdu Sect's mountain gate, one could see demons continuously rushing towards the light screen, and then, as if their backs were on fire, being repelled in the opposite direction.
Some demons simply vanished.
People watched in astonishment!
What kind of formation was this, that it could block the demons' attacks?
And it even seemed to be leading to the annihilation of the entire demon army.
People's mindsets began to shift again.
They hadn't expected that the most dangerous place would be the safest place!
It turned out that there really were people in this world who could directly confront demons.
Previously, everyone had believed that humanity was beyond saving, and could only endure humiliation and act according to the demons' whims. If the demons didn't intend to exterminate them completely, perhaps they could live a few more days.
However, it now seemed that humanity had hope again, and the opportunity to stand tall and proud had returned!
The demon was furious. Seeing some demons trying to escape, it began to play the flute again.
As the flute's melody began, those demons, as if bewitched, charged towards the barrier like madmen, rushing forward without hesitation even knowing it meant death, like moths to a flame.
Countless more demons were continuously melted by the dark energy, while the barrier remained strong and unbreakable.
The demon watched as so many demons charged forward incessantly, like falling into a bottomless pit with no return, and felt a pang of heartache.
The demons it had painstakingly gathered before were now being consumed in such numbers. These were the foundations for future conquests!
If this continued, all the demons would be lost here!
The demon suddenly realized that it could no longer act on emotion. If it continued to be emotional and all the demons were depleted without breaking through the barrier, how would it explain itself upon returning?
Thus, the demon suddenly changed its tune. The flute's melody became gentle, and after shedding its malevolence, it surprisingly evoked a sense of comfort and ease.
The demons, with bewildered eyes, began to move away into the distance. Some were so injured that only half their bodies remained, but after leaving, they slowly recovered their original forms.
After glaring fiercely at Mo Qi a few times, the demon also flew away, extremely unwilling.
There was jubilation within the Lingdu Sect. Although they hadn't fought, they still felt as if they had won a great victory!
A new problem arose!
This place could effectively defend against demon attacks and remove restrictions. Many people did not want to leave, and more were entering.
Although the Lingdu Sect was large, it couldn't accommodate people indefinitely!
Therefore, Mo Qi began to use the method he had employed before: interviews.
He made these people first demonstrate their talents, then their magical powers. They had to meet certain standards to stay; the rest could only be ruthlessly turned away.
The examiners were Fifth Time, Chao Xiyun, Cang Shan, and others. He himself remained detached, which led Du Gu Jun to remark, "What a scoundrel. You make others do the disagreeable tasks, so in everyone's eyes, you're the good guy, and everyone else is the bad guy!"
Lu Xiaoyue also joined in the teasing, and when Mo Qi shot her a glance, asking, "In your eyes, am I a good person or a bad person?"
Lu Xiaoyue, who had by now largely gotten used to his flippancy, replied, "When you're not talking, you're a good person."
Mo Qi was left speechless by her retort.
In the following period, more people continued to arrive for treatment, and some also departed.
Many came from afar, and Mo Qi saw many familiar faces, such as Xue Renkui and Xie Yucai.
Xie Yucai also brought his niece, who was eighteen years old and named Xie Wenya.
All his sisters were married, so bringing Xie Wenya was quite deliberate.
Xie Wenya was exceptionally beautiful and graceful, a choice made by Xie Yucai after careful consideration. He had only told her that he would lead her onto a prosperous path of cultivation.
This young lady had not been affected by the restriction and was also extremely naive. Without a second thought, she followed him.
After arriving, the two of them refused to leave, no matter how much they were urged. His niece, Xie Wenya, passed the assessment, while he himself did not, yet he stubbornly refused to depart.
Mo Qi, intending to take him as a disciple, decided to keep him.
He first gave him some elixirs and a scripture from the Yuqing Sect, instructing him to cultivate on his own.