Under the night sky, Li Xiaotian sat on a rock by a stream, gazing at the two Tianren individuals opposite him.
The man was Long Yang, the Saint Son of the Tianren clan, and the old woman was a powerful figure from five thousand years ago, addressed by Long Yang as Granny Mu.
These two had sought out Li Xiaotian because the Tianren woman Li Xiaotian had encountered earlier had disappeared. Using a secret Tianren technique at the place of her vanishing, they had discovered traces of his presence, which led them to him.
“I told you, your sister wasn’t killed by me, and I don’t know where she went. I was merely passing through that continent before and didn’t linger.”
Li Xiaotian spoke in a calm tone, a sense of regret washing over him. He had been exceedingly cautious, yet he hadn't expected to be discovered by a Tianren secret technique. Indeed, one should never underestimate any race.
“Saint Son, Fellow Daoist Li also has a point. With his strength, he has no reason to lie to us,” Granny Mu said to Long Yang, sighing. They had approached Li Xiaotian with only a tentative hope, not with the certainty that he was involved with their missing clanswoman.
“But we’ve searched that entire continent, and he’s the only lead we have now. If he doesn’t know, where are we supposed to find my sister?” Long Yang asked, his face filled with unwillingness.
Granny Mu sighed upon hearing this, her lips parting as if to speak but holding back.
Li Xiaotian watched them in silence, disinclined to speak. In his opinion, the vanished Tianren woman was most likely dead. After all, anyone could die here; it was a common occurrence.
“Two, if you have nothing else, may I leave?” Li Xiaotian suddenly asked.
“Fellow Daoist Li, please feel free to go. We are truly sorry for the intrusion just now,” Granny Mu said quickly. Long Yang, on the other hand, remained somewhat resentful but ultimately said nothing.
After all, Li Xiaotian’s earlier punch had made him acutely aware of the disparity in their strength. No matter how unwilling he was for Li Xiaotian to leave, he was helpless because he couldn't defeat him.
“Whoosh!”
Li Xiaotian paid them no further mind. He shot straight into the sky, soaring out of the continent and weaving through the branches of the World Tree, heading towards its highest point.
The matter concerning the Tianren clan was quickly forgotten.
After Li Xiaotian departed, Long Yang and Granny Mu watched the direction he had disappeared, then exchanged a look, a hint of something sinister flashing in their eyes.
“He is very strong!” Long Yang exclaimed, involuntarily licking his lips.
“You were too reckless earlier. If he hadn't held back, you would be dead by now!” Granny Mu said, her tone laced with reproach.
“What’s there to fear? At worst, my main body will have to work a little harder to revive me. However, enduring that punch from him was incredibly worth it!” Long Yang said dismissively, a strange smile playing on his lips as a wisp of energy flashed through his hand.
“Hiss! You’re insane! You dare to pocket his aura? With someone like him, once they realize what we’ve done, they’ll definitely discover our little scheme,” Granny Mu exclaimed, her face paling as she saw the aura in Long Yang’s hand, instinctively taking a step back.
Long Yang glanced at Granny Mu and said unhurriedly, “Isn't this precisely what the main body is aiming for? And if I recall correctly, this idea was your suggestion.”
“Me?” Granny Mu feigned surprise, but then her expression shifted, revealing a cunning glint. She continued, “Heh heh, I almost forgot. It was I who suggested this to the main body, and I also recommended that the main body send you and me to execute it.”
“Hahaha.”
The two burst into laughter, their demeanor becoming particularly bizarre. If anyone had passed by at that moment and seen them, they would have likely thought the pair were mentally unstable.
Their words were strange, and their expressions were equally peculiar.
Unfortunately, Li Xiaotian had already left, so he had no way of witnessing this scene.
Meanwhile, at the summit of the World Tree, the sky was dark, or perhaps “void” would be a more fitting description.
It was filled with desolation and mystery. The entire void was empty, silent as death.
Li Xiaotian stood on a leaf, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. He had found nothing here, and the place was desolate and ruined.
The void above was devoid of any energy fluctuations. Although the World Tree was lush and verdant, because its crown connected to the void, there was nothing extraordinary about this place.
“It’s not here. Do I really have to search every world on this tree?”
Li Xiaotian murmured, his brow furrowed. He had seen countless continents and lakes within leaves on his journey, each equivalent to a small world. If he had to search through so many worlds, then very few people would be able to pass the fourth trial.
Furthermore, the trials of Hundred Battles City should not be this taxing on one’s internal energy.
“World Fruit.”
Li Xiaotian whispered. To pass the trial, one first needed to find the World Fruit. But what if there was no World Fruit at all?
Or perhaps, the World Fruit mentioned in the trial conditions was something else entirely?
“Whoosh!”
Just as Li Xiaotian was contemplating, a faint beam of light shot towards him silently. It was only when it was upon him that Li Xiaotian suddenly sensed it.
“Boom!”
Instantly, Li Xiaotian unleashed a punch, obliterating the beam of light.
“Whoosh!”
But unexpectedly, a series of whistling sounds followed, and countless sharp arrows shot from all directions, surrounding Li Xiaotian.
Li Xiaotian let out a cold snort, and a terrifying pressure descended instantly, like a tidal wave, smashing against the arrows attacking from all sides.
“Bang bang bang…”
The arrows exploded, turning into a shower of fragments that rained down.
“Shh!”
However, at that moment, a long arrow suddenly pierced towards Li Xiaotian from another direction.
Li Xiaotian’s pupils constricted sharply. He dodged the arrow with rapid flickering movements, but as soon as he evaded it, he heard a crisp “crack.” Immediately after, he saw the World Tree leaf beneath his feet snap into two halves.
“Demigod artifact!”
Li Xiaotian’s expression turned grim as he looked into the distance.
Also at the summit of the World Tree, thousands of miles away, a being clad in black was holding a long bow.
It was a creature with six eyes, dressed in black, with a tall and imposing physique. Upon being discovered by Li Xiaotian, it made no attempt to conceal itself, instead provocatively waving at him.
Then, it drew its bow and shot another arrow.
“Whoosh!”
In the blink of an eye, the arrow traversed thousands of miles. It then instantly transformed into a dense swarm of arrows, countless and tightly packed, shooting towards Li Xiaotian once more.
“You court death!”
Li Xiaotian’s face darkened. Gazing at the sky full of arrows, he roared.
“Begone!”
Instantly, an invisible ripple spread out. The single word “Begone!” carried immense destructive power, obliterating the entire barrage of arrows.