The trials in Hundred Battles City had been ongoing for nearly seventy years, and the outside world had long since undergone earth-shattering changes.
Seventy years, in the vast expanse of the void universe, was but a fleeting moment, perhaps the duration of an invincible expert's seclusion.
But these seventy years were different.
Ten years after the commencement of the Hundred Battles City trials, the high-level experts of various races were still waiting outside. Who could have predicted that the high-level experts of the Divine Realm would suddenly attack the Demi-God Hall?
Jun Wu and Zhu Di were ambushed by four high-level experts, and six high-level individuals nearly shattered a starfield.
The Demi-God Hall had been discovered by the Divine Realm. For this powerful force, not controlled by the Divine Realm, the Divine Realm's stance was unyielding: destruction at all costs, with a swift and decisive strike.
An unparalleled expert shattered the hidden Demi-God Realm from a distant starfield in a single blow, causing countless lives to perish. Simultaneously, Jun Wu and Zhu Di, under siege, were powerless to assist.
Fortunately, Dao Gu, the strongest existence in the Demi-God Hall, intervened, saving half of the Demi-God Realm's inhabitants. Jun Wu and Zhu Di also managed to escape, albeit severely wounded.
The exposure of the Demi-God Hall shocked the entire void universe. Just as everyone expected the Divine Realm to launch a full-scale annihilation of the Demi-God Hall, another major event transpired.
A mysterious force emerged and, within a year, eradicated all Divine Realm factions in the northern sector of the universe, declaring war on the Divine Realm.
These were factions that had long been wanted by the Divine Realm, much like Jiuzhou. They had united to form the Heavenly Alliance, aiming to overthrow the rule of the Divine Realm.
Concurrently, the Demi-God Hall initiated its counterattack. They incited the Fire Spirit Realm, seized control of several starfields, and declared war on the Divine Realm.
The entire void universe was instantly thrown into chaos.
The Divine Realm was furious. Experts emerged one after another, including those who had vanished for tens of thousands of years, rallying all races of the universe to conquer the Demi-God Hall and the Heavenly Alliance.
However, it was peculiar that the various races, who had previously been obedient, were now extremely sluggish in their response. Even the Buddhist Realm and the Summoning Realm actively closed their world gates, refusing to heed the Divine Realm's call.
At the same time, internal strife erupted within the Divine Realm. Some Divine Realm races, dissatisfied with the rule of the Divine Race, ignited wars within the Divine Realm, leaving the Divine Realm preoccupied and unable to address the external rebellions.
Worlds that had harbored ambitions seized this opportunity to pledge allegiance to the Demi-God Hall and the Heavenly Alliance, breaking free from the Divine Realm's control.
In essence, the entire void universe underwent drastic transformations in a mere seventy years.
The three major powers vied for dominance, igniting the most expansive and brutal conflict in the history of the void universe!
The Jiuzhou world, however, maintained a low profile amidst these upheavals. Due to the changes in the Divine Realm, the demon experts pursuing Jiuzhou were forced to return.
Seventy years brought about significant changes for Jiuzhou, equivalent to a lifetime for an ordinary person.
Fortunately, Jiuzhou world was now stronger than ever, its energy more potent and dense, with an increasing number of powerful individuals, showcasing a thriving prosperity. The only regret was that Yuan, who had gone into seclusion seeking an opportunity to break through, had yet to return.
It was known that Yuan's strength was already formidable when he was at the sixth tier. In fact, had he not been solely focused on Jiuzhou, his talent would have allowed him to participate in the Hundred Battles City trials.
Of course, this did not imply that his absence from the Hundred Battles City trials made him inferior to its participants. It was important to remember that more than half of the high-level experts in the entire void universe had no connection to Hundred Battles City. After all, the universe was vast, and life was abundant. Even outside the city, some experts continually encountered opportunities, becoming incredibly powerful.
Long ago, a trial participant from Hundred Battles City had broken through to the high-level and emerged, believing himself invincible among his peers, only to be swiftly humbled.
Therefore, being first in Hundred Battles City did not equate to being first in the entire universe. Participating in the Hundred Battles City trials merely allowed trialists to break through to the high-level more rapidly.
The major changes in the void universe did not penetrate Hundred Battles City, as the two were completely isolated. Similarly, those outside were unaware of the situation within Hundred Battles City.
At this moment, in the void of the ninth pass of Hundred Battles City, amidst shattered stars, Li Xiaotian opened his eyes. In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared. His gaze seemed to radiate the power of the Great Dao, causing the surrounding void to tremble.
Simultaneously, his aura had become even more profound. He sat cross-legged in the void, his body shimmering with radiant light. With a rumbling sound, his blood boiled, and rivers and seas roared, deafeningly loud.
A peculiar fluctuation spread, affecting the star he occupied and causing it to tremble, resonating with his every breath.
"It is time to break through!"
Li Xiaotian whispered. His injuries had healed, and his aura had significantly improved. He felt the call of the heavenly tribulation; it would descend immediately if he willed it.
He took a deep breath, knowing that this was a matter of life and death for him. Once he began the tribulation, Mo Tian and Shen Ming would undoubtedly act, placing him in a perilous situation.
Furthermore, during this period, the ninth pass had seen the birth of many high-level beings. Some formidable trialists had successively undergone tribulation and broken through to become high-level experts in recent years.
However, it was strange that after Shen Ming's tribulation, every subsequent trialist who underwent tribulation and broke through was subjected to assassination by mysterious experts at the final moment, suffering severe injuries.
It could be said that there were now six trialists who had broken through to the high-level in the ninth pass void, but all of them were severely wounded. The first thing they did upon breaking through was to vanish, hiding in remote locations to recuperate.