Li Xiaotian was undergoing a transformation. His inextinguishable body shone brilliantly, golden blood energy surged, and his form became majestic and blurred, as if he had transformed into a colossal giant, standing between heaven and earth, the sole existent being.
Runes filled with the aura of the Great Dao appeared one after another on his body's surface, shining brightly and releasing immortal light, like a divine being descending, demanding adoration from all beings.
During this process, storms raged, thunder boomed, and the sky was torn apart. Each bolt of lightning resembled a cascading galaxy, terrifying to the extreme.
Li Xiaotian was evolving his future Dao. If outsiders witnessed this spectacle, they would be utterly stunned, for it did not resemble the evolution of a mid-tier expert but rather a true high-tier master contemplating the Great Dao.
The aura was profound, encompassing the evolution of the universe, the growth of a blade of grass, a myriad of changes, and miraculous wonders. Heaven and earth resonated with it, trembling in unison.
"Buzz!"
Li Xiaotian's figure grew increasingly ethereal, his aura fluctuating, sometimes disappearing as if he ceased to exist, and at other times erupting, causing the surrounding heaven and earth to ripple, terrifyingly so.
Silently, dense figures appeared before and behind Li Xiaotian beneath the ancient tree. Those figures were all himself: some exuded a sacred aura, like gods; others possessed a dark aura, as if from whispering demons; some appeared ordinary, like mortals.
These were the innate skills of the myriad races manifested in physical form. After all, Li Xiaotian had once devoured and merged with the innate skills of countless races, integrating them into one. Now, however, they had separated.
Countless phantoms either sat in meditation or stood in the nine heavens. Each one was mysterious, resembling the rulers of heaven and earth, or ancient supreme beings who had carved out the cosmos.
This scene was chilling; countless versions of himself, each with a different aura, held sway over the nine heavens and deterred the ten directions.
"Buzz..."
A voice of the Great Dao arose beside Li Xiaotian. This was the spontaneous ringing of the ears caused by heaven and earth's resonance, a sign of auspiciousness, and also a testament to Li Xiaotian's power.
Indeed, Li Xiaotian had gained the recognition of the Great Dao. Without deliberately pursuing it, he had merely contemplated his own Dao, fulfilling the conditions for passing the third trial.
Following this, Li Xiaotian opened his eyes. Within them, yin and yang taijitu symbols rotated, profoundly mysterious.
Taiji gave birth to Liangyi, Liangyi gave birth to Sixiang. The yin and yang energies nourished the four extremities, spinning out golden runes that were inscribed into Li Xiaotian's bones and golden flesh, immeasurably mystical.
The Four Symbols grew, supporting heaven and cracking earth. The four extremities of the human body became like pillars propping up the sky, separating heaven and earth, and giving birth to myriad spirits and creating all things within them.
At this moment, perhaps even Li Xiaotian himself was unaware, but many powerful beings on the battlefield sensed an anomaly.
They heard a profound Daoist sound, its meaning elusive. In a daze, everyone was stunned. It seemed as if the very fabric of heaven and earth was trembling, pulsing in unison with it.
"What... someone is comprehending the Dao. Who is it? Are they trying to advance to the high tier?"
"Such a massive phenomenon! Are they insane? Comprehending the Dao so ostentatiously, aren't they inviting disturbance?"
"No, it shouldn't be an advancement to the high tier. This is only the third trial. Advancing now is not worth it."
At this moment, many trial-goers were filled with doubt and apprehension. They listened intently, utterly shocked.
The Great Dao roared, and bones, meridians, and blood transformed and sublimated. Finally, Li Xiaotian seemed to disintegrate; each drop of blood, each strand of hair, seemed to contain a world.
He used the four extremities of his body to open heaven and earth. Chaos surged outside, while within his body, it was like a universe, complete with stars, myriad realms, and all things, an astonishing sight.
Man corresponds with heaven and earth, aligns with the sun and moon. The ebb and flow of the unity are all connected to heaven and earth and correspond to all classes of things.
In a trance, he heard the roars of gods and demons, and the worship of beings from the nine heavens and ten earths!
However, at this very moment, an astonishing change occurred. Li Xiaotian suddenly opened his eyes, and two beams of light blazed forth, tearing through the cosmic heaven and earth, terrifyingly so.
He stretched his limbs, shattering the rivers of stars, crushing one celestial body after another, causing all ten thousand domains to collapse. The entire bodily universe imploded.
This was a terrifying calamity, a true cataclysm for his bodily universe. It was like the end of the world, with brilliant stars exploding one by one, vast galaxies annihilating in swathes, and the great universe breaking apart.
Li Xiaotian's bones, blood, and meridians also shattered. Each drop of blood pierced through the void, cracking the universe, as if the lord of all creation was self-destructing.
Li Xiaotian paid no heed, continuing to shake the four extremities. Though he broke apart inch by inch, it meant the complete collapse of his bodily universe. Those ten thousand domains ceased to exist. His luminous white bones, golden flesh, and other parts pulsed and roared, beginning to reform, becoming even more powerful.
This heaven and earth, without past or future, who can speak of its permanence? If heaven and earth eventually end, and a new great universe replaces it, will this order still apply? Li Xiaotian pondered.
His body transformed once more. His bones became crystal clear, his flesh radiant, his skin translucent, as if cast from gold. Drops of blood flowed, and beads of blood pulsed, each containing immense power.
However, his body had not yet fully recovered, as the Four Symbols totem was not real; he had merely borrowed the power of the Four Symbols.
Li Xiaotian continued to advance, emitting an unparalleled aura, like a divine king who opened the heavens, deterring heaven and earth.
"Roar~"
A distant roar echoed, a beast-like cry. It was a one-bodied demon beast, breaking through, roaring at heaven and earth, seeking to tear Li Xiaotian apart.
"Heh heh, trash!"
Li Xiaotian sneered, and an overbearing, boundless killing intent permeated the entire valley. He looked into the distance, where a colossal being approached from the distant horizon, like a peerless giant god. Its entire body was shrouded in monstrous, blood-red malevolent energy, filled with a bloodthirsty glint. A pair of horns, sharp and formidable, resembled two divine blades.
This was a monstrous, genius-level creature. Although not yet fully formed, its bloodline was immensely powerful. Once its transformation was complete, it would undoubtedly be even superior.