"Rumble!"
A terrifying wave of sound swept over, submerging the trial-takers present. It was a form of Dao resonance, attacking everyone with peculiar fluctuations, creating the illusion of defying the Great Dao of the universe.
"Such terrifying sound!" Li Xiaotian's expression slightly changed.
From afar, the voice of the World Tree emanated, shaking the heavens like the beating of celestial drums, incredibly fearsome and imbued with potent soul power that made souls tremble.
In a daze, one could perceive scenes of the universe's genesis, of all things being born from chaos. Yet, this feeling was constantly shifting, one moment conjuring boundless loneliness and desolation.
This was the World Tree's Dao resonance, its sound containing all it had experienced throughout its immense lifespan, leaving every trial-taker in the arena with a grim countenance.
After all, no one knew how many eons the World Tree had endured. For an ordinary tree to develop consciousness required at least thousands of years, let alone a unique World Tree, possibly the only one in the universe.
Ten thousand years? A hundred thousand years? Or even longer?
"Boom!"
But just then, Li Xiaotian, Mo Tian, and other powerful figures made their move, intending to disrupt the World Tree's Dao resonance and prevent its final comeback.
Li Xiaotian unleashed a punch, instantly shattering the wave of sound before him. He then took a step forward, charging towards the World Tree once more.
The World Tree roared, its branches dancing like coiling dragons soaring through the sky.
"Boom!"
Li Xiaotian remained undeterred. His arms radiated brilliant light, emanating a chilling power—an aura of vastness, despair, and deathly stillness. He was mastering the Dao rhythm of the World-Ending Fist with increasing proficiency.
In the next moment, Li Xiaotian swung his fist towards the World Tree's main trunk.
"Ah..."
A piercing cry resounded. The World Tree writhed in pain, countless branches being shattered. It struggled violently, trying to break free from its predicament.
"Clang!"
Simultaneously, Mo Tian, wielding his demonic blade, slashed towards the World Tree. A single, explosive blade light erupted, annihilating everything and shattering endless branches.
"Bang!"
On the other side, Shen Ming also unleashed his full power. His figure flickered, and a vast pressure emanated from him. He seemed like a deity, his entire body radiating brilliant golden light. Every inch of his skin appeared to be constructed from gemstones, emitting halos of light. With a palm strike, the void itself seemed to crack, and those branches could not withstand it.
Other trial-takers also fought back fiercely. Although the World Tree's Dao resonance was formidable and plunged them into extreme peril, they were not weaklings. Each possessed heaven-defying strength and would not surrender easily.
"Pfft!"
Blood splattered as the World Tree's roots were also heavily damaged, spilling forth rich vital essence. This essence, akin to divine liquid, corroded the void upon falling.
Yet, even so, the World Tree did not give up. Its body twisted, as if seeking an opportunity.
"Boom!"
With another massive explosion, the World Tree finally could not bear it any longer. Its endless branches snapped, and its colossal trunk plummeted from the sky with a deafening roar. The entire void immediately trembled as if a mirror had shattered, filled with countless spatial fragments.
But soon, the World Tree's trunk began to grow again, recovering in an instant. Its trunk reached impossibly high, as thick as a star, radiating terrifying pressure. Infinite light flickered across its surface, illuminating the surroundings, creating an awe-inspiring sight.
"Thud..."
The World Tree's trunk trembled violently, causing the entire universe to shake. Then, its trunk swept forward with astonishing momentum.
The World Tree's foundation was too profound. It once again pushed itself to its peak state through extreme sublimation.
However, this method could not be used many times. Each instance incurred irreparable damage to its foundation. More importantly, the World Tree was now at least a full circle smaller than before.
Clearly, each use of this power diminished the World Tree, a heavy price to pay.
"Kill!"
Mo Tian, Li Xiaotian, and Shen Ming, the strongest among them, struck first, charging to destroy the World Tree. The other trial-takers followed suit, unleashing a barrage of dazzling martial skills and showers of light, causing the void to completely boil.
"Rumble..."
The void continuously shattered. The fearsome Dao resonance released by the World Tree could no longer affect Li Xiaotian and Mo Tian. They charged directly at the World Tree's core, engaging in earth-shattering collisions. Stars appeared and fell, only to be destroyed.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh!"
The World Tree retaliated incessantly. Sensing the formidable power of Li Xiaotian and the others, it kept evading them, avoiding direct confrontation in hopes of finding a suitable opportunity to turn the tide.
In fact, the World Tree's Dao resonance was incredibly dominant and fierce, causing even Li Xiaotian, Mo Tian, and their like to find it extremely troublesome.
Li Xiaotian's speed was exceptional, his target fixed on the World Tree's canopy.
He reached out a hand, enveloping the area with boundless power, then unleashed a punch that tore through space.
"Crack!"
The sound of bone shattering echoed as a thick branch of the World Tree was brutally pulverized by Li Xiaotian. This immediately caused the World Tree, which had been preparing to fight desperately, to lose a significant portion of its combat strength.
"Rumble..."
The World Tree's trunk crashed downwards, as if the entire void had exploded. Debris flew through the air, causing many strong individuals to cough, blood seeping from their mouths and noses.
This collision was too intense; they were all injured.
However, this also gave many trial-takers a glimmer of hope, as the World Tree seemed less terrifying than before.
"Bastards, die, all of you die!!"
As the World Tree suffered heavy damage, it let out an enraged roar. Its innumerable branches trembled wildly, unleashing a terrifying ripple that tore through the void. The World Tree's trunk could be vaguely seen writhing, a powerful life force stirring.
"Boom!"
In the next moment, the World Tree's trunk expanded once again, growing to a hundred zhang in size. This caused its power to increase manifold. Its branches transformed into razor-sharp swords, tracing dazzling arcs as they shot towards everyone.
It was attempting a final counterattack, striking at everyone without regard for the cost.
It was enraged, but it was also terrified, for it sensed the presence of death.
After surviving for countless eons, it had finally met its end, filling its heart with unwillingness.
"You all deserve to die!"
It roared in fury, its voice echoing through this mysterious void, causing the entire space to tremble. It was determined to exert its utmost effort, to fight desperately.
Its branches became the sharpest weapons, sweeping towards Li Xiaotian. At this moment, its greatest desire was to strike Li Xiaotian, the one who had exposed it.