That was a peak mid-tier demonic beast, its aura immensely powerful, clearly drawn by the commotion of Li Xiaotian's enlightenment.
Sensing the dense Great Dao energy and the vigorous vital energy emanating from Li Xiaotian's body, it lunged forward without hesitation. With a single movement, the heavens and earth trembled, and dark clouds obscured the sky.
"Buzz!"
But, in utter silence, as the demonic beast was about to pounce before Li Xiaotian, a ripple emanated from Li Xiaotian's body. In the next instant, the demonic beast turned into bloody mist in mid-air.
Without even a chance to cry out, the demonic beast's eyes were still filled with a bloodthirsty gaze, yet in the blink of an eye, it was dead. Its soul and physical vitality were instantly annihilated.
Li Xiaotian glanced at the demonic beast. A gentle breeze blew, and the bloody mist that was once the beast quickly vanished into the heavens and earth.
It had been annihilated by the Dao intent flowing from Li Xiaotian's body. The powers of Yin and Yang, the power of Devourment, and the innate abilities of various races, all these forces mixed together. Merely their aura leaking out was enough to cause the demonic beast to perish on the spot.
"It is time to end this."
Li Xiaotian's heart stirred. It was time to stop his contemplation.
"Rumble!"
But at this very moment, the skies suddenly changed drastically. Thunder stretched for thousands of miles, and a sea of lightning appeared above Li Xiaotian.
Li Xiaotian frowned slightly, but then his heart understood. This was a heavenly tribulation. He was comprehending a high-tier Great Dao, and thus had to undergo the baptism of the heavenly tribulation.
"So be it. I shall test this heavenly tribulation."
Li Xiaotian murmured to himself and took a step forward to meet the tribulation. Instantly, his body was submerged in the boundless sea of lightning.
This calamity was beyond Li Xiaotian's imagination; it was exceptionally grand and terrifying, shaking the four directions and causing many trial-takers to sense the area.
As the vast sea of lightning was about to dissipate, Li Xiaotian emerged from it, absorbing all the lightning into his body. However, in the next moment, his body flickered, and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, his aura fluctuating.
He was injured. His soul was injured.
Of course, this was due to his profound enlightenment and his current mid-tier realm. A high-tier Great Dao was not something a mid-tier being could withstand.
Therefore, he suffered a backlash. However, this backlash did not affect his combat power. As long as he ascended to the high-tier, this injury would naturally recover.
"High-tier!"
Li Xiaotian murmured, wiping the blood from his lips, his eyes gleaming.
He now had a premonition that if he seized the opportunity to ascend to the high-tier, he had a great chance of succeeding. But he was unwilling, not satisfied with ascending at this moment.
"You are Li Xiaotian, that rebellious blasphemer? Heh, to actually be injured during enlightenment and tribulation! Such trash, I truly don't understand why they attach so much importance to you. How laughable."
Suddenly, five figures approached rapidly from a distance, like streaks of light across the sky, casting brilliant glows and descending into this area, all locking onto Li Xiaotian.
Clearly, they had been attracted by the commotion of Li Xiaotian's tribulation and had quickly arrived here.
One was a Divine Clan member, and the other four were beings from other races. All five were top experts among the trial-takers, their auras terrifying and heart-pounding.
One of them was a Xuan Bird, though it had transformed into a human form. Its strength was immense, with five-colored divine light radiating from its back, emitting frightening fluctuations.
Another held a precious pagoda, a powerhouse from the Buddhist realm, with cunning eyes and an unapproachable demeanor.
"Tian Qi, are you sure this is the Li Xiaotian you spoke of, and you didn't deceive us? So incompetent, even suffering a Dao injury during tribulation. Does he deserve to be an enemy to us?!"
The Xuan Bird and the Buddhist realm expert stood proudly in the field, their faces filled with disdain. They were all ascetics, devoted to the Dao, and paid little attention to external matters.
They had only heard of Li Xiaotian's name before and knew they had animosity, but to them, the Great Dao was most important, so they hadn't thought of hunting down Li Xiaotian.
The reason they gathered this time was entirely due to the invitation of Tian Qi from the Divine Clan.
Initially, after hearing of Li Xiaotian's achievements, they were extremely vigilant towards him. But who would have thought that he would actually be injured during his enlightenment? Such a trivial injury, even the weakest being would probably not sustain it, right?
Therefore, they doubted Li Xiaotian's strength.
Even the Divine Clan's Tian Qi was filled with doubt. He knew Li Xiaotian's combat power – he had slain four of the demon race's strongmen, killed many top experts from various factions, and leisurely departed with the Great Dao origin.
Yet now, he was injured, which was quite unexpected.
This clearly defied common sense. True supreme experts would not be injured in such heavenly tribulations during enlightenment. Could it be that they had overestimated Li Xiaotian before? Or perhaps the opponent had been injured in previous battles and had not yet recovered?
Tian Qi's eyes flickered, and golden radiance shot out. He found it hard to believe.
"Tian Qi, I admit I'm not as good as you, but you've exaggerated this opponent. He's not worthy of us joining forces. Let me handle it. Three moves, I'll defeat him in three moves!" the Xuan Bird said, its tone full of confidence, its gaze towards Li Xiaotian filled with disdain and contempt.
Tian Qi did not speak. The other three remained calm, staring at Li Xiaotian. Since the Xuan Bird wished to make a move, they could seize this opportunity to test Li Xiaotian's condition, to see if he was truly injured or feigning injury.
"Whoosh!"
The Xuan Bird spread its wings, which blotted out the sun. Azure divine light swept out, launching a direct kill. It was as heavy as ten thousand jun, causing the surrounding space to seem to fold. It intended to suppress Li Xiaotian from the start, without any probing.
"Just a common bird, and you dare to make a move against me?" Li Xiaotian spoke coldly, his eyes icy. Had he not taken action for a while, only to be looked down upon like this?
"Rumble!"
With a deafening roar, Li Xiaotian took a step forward. The heavens and earth roared with wind and thunder, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, Yin and Yang forces flowed, and his entire aura was overwhelmingly powerful, like a god or a demon!
"Even someone injured during tribulation dares to show off in front of me, what a joke!" the Xuan Bird sneered, its divine light behind it intensifying, slashing down.
"Bang!"
Li Xiaotian made his move, decisive and domineering. He stretched out his limbs, his entire body flashing with light, instantly causing the heavens to collapse and the earth to crack, as if the end times had arrived.
"This!..." The Xuan Bird's expression changed drastically. Such a sight filled it with dread, its eyes full of disbelief and shock.
"Xuan Bird, retreat!"
At this moment, the powerhouse from the Buddhist realm suddenly made a move, raising the pagoda in his hand. It transformed into thirty-three layers and descended to suppress Li Xiaotian, to resolve the suspense.
Because he could see that the Xuan Bird was no match for Li Xiaotian.
Unfortunately, it was still a step too late. Li Xiaotian swept past, his body moving so fast it became light. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before the Xuan Bird and, with his bare hands, grabbed it, tearing it in half with a "puff." Blood rain splattered everywhere, and it was instantly split apart.
"Ah!" The Xuan Bird let out a pig-like scream, its voice filled with terror and disbelief.
"I was wrong just now. You're not a common bird; you're even worse than a common bird!" Li Xiaotian said coldly.