Of all the trial-takers in the ninth level, only nine have now broken through to the high stage. However, each of them was an invincible prodigy below the high stage before their breakthrough.
What is peculiar is that these nine high-stage cultivators are all in hiding, while the remaining trial-takers, even those on the verge of breakthrough, desperately suppress themselves, fearing to advance.
All nine high-stage cultivators were ambushed during their tribulation, resulting in unstable foundations. This is likely an event that has not occurred in Battle City for countless years.
Li Xiaotian, awakening from the stars, probed the void with his divine sense and quickly understood everything. A peculiar expression flickered in his eyes.
Motian's injuries were caused by him, and Shen Ming's injuries were caused by Motian. Then, what about the remaining seven people?
Some encountered a beam of black light from an unknown place just as they were about to successfully complete their tribulation, some met a sword light, and some faced a fist.
Moreover, what made him both amused and exasperated was that after these individuals were severely injured, they all shouted his name.
It was clear that Shen Ming and Motian were the culprits. Their foundations had suffered severe damage, preventing them from maintaining their previous advantages. Thus, unwilling to see later generations surpass them, they acted in secret.
Of course, both of them disguised the traces of their actions. However, anyone with a sound mind should be able to figure everything out.
He himself had been recuperating in secret. If he were to act rashly, he would definitely be discovered by Motian and Shen Ming. Under such circumstances, how could he possibly be the one to act?
"A bunch of trash!"
Li Xiaotian whispered, his gaze filled with mockery. Those behind him likely also guessed that Motian or Shen Ming were the attackers, but they dared not speak out due to the latter's power.
Finally, another month passed. Li Xiaotian adjusted his state and then took a step forward, walking through the void of the universe.
He released his aura, no longer concealing it, and began to merge with the Great Dao of the universe.
He knew clearly that the heavenly tribulation to break through to the high stage could not be hidden by any means. Therefore, once he began his tribulation, he would inevitably be discovered. Since he would be discovered anyway, he might as well do it openly and without concealment.
Furthermore, after years of dormancy, he now yearned for a battle. He wanted to test if he could kill a high-stage cultivator with his current strength!
Of course, this referred to the nine injured high-stage cultivators. If they were high-stage cultivators with complete foundations, he was not yet their match.
The void was occasionally swept by winds of annihilation. Li Xiaotian traversed one star domain after another, the vastness of the cosmos reflected in his eyes.
"It's... him! He's actually not dead!"
Some trial-takers discovered Li Xiaotian and were immediately astonished, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"His injuries have recovered, but how dare he appear? Isn't he afraid of death?"
More and more trial-takers discovered Li Xiaotian, their hearts filled with shock.
In fact, at this moment, Li Xiaotian's Great Dao resonated with the Great Dao of the universe. Wherever he passed, he alerted various trial-takers; others couldn't help but notice him.
As Li Xiaotian strolled through the void, he alerted some trial-takers, causing their hearts to pound. They were unsure of what Li Xiaotian intended to do.
"He... he's going to break through!"
More and more trial-takers discerned Li Xiaotian's condition, their hearts filled with shock. His breakthrough now was undoubtedly courting death.
The ninth level already had nine high-stage cultivators. Although they were all injured, no one could stop them when they acted.
What's more, Li Xiaotian was a blasphemer, a target for Shen Ming and Motian's killing intent. As for the subsequent seven high-stage cultivators, they likely wouldn't miss this opportunity either.
The discussions of some trial-takers in the void naturally reached Li Xiaotian's ears, but he paid them no heed. He had anticipated all the dangers, but this step was one he had to take.
Before the trial in Battle City concluded, he had to break through to the high stage. Otherwise, even if he hid until the end of the trial and emerged unscathed, he would still face death outside!
Seventy years had passed. He was uncertain how the outside world had changed. Perhaps nothing had changed, but he dared not gamble.
Finally, Li Xiaotian chose a dim star domain, filled with shattered stars, devoid of any energy fluctuations or traces of trial-takers.
He sat cross-legged in the void, his entire body beginning to glow. A muffled thunderous sound emanated from within him, a rumbling accompanied by boiling blood and roaring rivers, deafeningly loud.
A peculiar fluctuation spread, affecting the surrounding stars, causing them to tremble and resonate with Li Xiaotian's breaths.
Gradually, his blood boiled, and a radiant aura of ten thousand zhang rose, transforming the entire star domain into gold.
Simultaneously, powerful vitality and aura erupted from his body. He was pushing himself to the extreme, elevating himself to his strongest state to face the impending crisis.
As time passed, Li Xiaotian's body shimmered with dazzling light. His hair was dark and thick, gleaming with luster, and his physique was robust and slender, exuding a sense of power.
His eyes, however, were unfathomably deep, like an abyss that swallowed all light.
"Boom!"
As his aura grew increasingly potent, a deafening roar echoed through the universe, as if the heavens and earth were being cleaved. A sea of lightning materialized out of thin air above him, boundless and terrifying, engulfing the entire star domain.
Innumerable bolts of lightning leaped and crackled within it, as if intent on destroying everything.
At the same time, an indescribable pressure swept across the eight directions, causing all trial-takers to prostrate themselves on the ground, their souls trembling violently.
"This... a high-stage lightning tribulation? No, it's even more terrifying than the previous ones!"
Countless trial-takers were aghast. Such a heavenly tribulation was unheard of, unseen, and even unmentioned!
The terrifying aura emanating from the lightning tribulation was something they had never experienced, nor had they heard of anyone enduring it. However, one thing was certain: the tribulation Li Xiaotian was undergoing was exceptionally powerful, far exceeding his current realm.
They all knew that those who could summon such a terrifying heavenly tribulation were peerless prodigies, destined for glorious futures.
More importantly, the heavenly tribulations of Motian and Shen Ming were even weaker than Li Xiaotian's!
At this moment, all the trial-takers were awestruck. What did this imply? It meant that Li Xiaotian was now stronger than Motian and Shen Ming had been!
A true invincibility below the high stage!
"Buzz!"
Instantly, terrifying fluctuations reverberated throughout the void of the universe from all directions. Beams of sight converged here. For a moment, all the trial-takers fell silent, for they knew that the nine high-stage cultivators had been alerted!
If the attitudes of the other seven high-stage cultivators towards Li Xiaotian, besides Motian and Shen Ming, were unpredictable before Li Xiaotian's tribulation, then now they knew. All nine high-stage cultivators would undoubtedly act. After all, these nine were already the pinnacles before breaking through to the high stage. Now that they were injured, they would naturally not tolerate someone stronger than them successfully breaking through!