290: Changes in all parties

“Whew…”

Inside the Sword Tower, Ouyang Jie withdrew his senses and stood in silence. Gu Ran, seeing this, didn't say much. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he was called back.

“Tower Master.”

Gu Ran stopped, turned slightly to the side, and cast an inquiring gaze at him.

“I’ve made up my mind.”

Ouyang Jie clenched his fists and spoke in a deep voice.

“I will participate in the Sword Trial.”

“Eh?”

Hearing this, Gu Ran’s expression finally broke its calm, revealing a look of surprise, as if he hadn’t expected him to say such a thing.

“Have you thought it through?”

Ouyang Jie said nothing more, only nodding slightly, the solemn look on his face indicating that he wasn’t joking.

“Then go.”

After a moment of silence, Gu Ran raised his hand and waved. With a ripple in space, a spatial portal immediately appeared, leading to an unknown destination.

“Sword Tower, I’ll trouble you for now.”

Seeing this, Ouyang Jie smiled faintly, bowed deeply, and then strode into the portal, finally disappearing from the room.

“…”

After passing through the spatial aisle, Ouyang Jie had arrived in a completely new world.

What met his eyes was a vast, white world, with countless longswords suspended all around. However, they were not solid entities; they were all quite illusory and appeared very strange.

“I’ve come after all.”

Ouyang Jie murmured as he walked forward. Soon, his figure gradually shrank and disappeared into the depths.

Not long after, the originally calm space began to ripple in layers. The countless longswords that had been suspended vertically in the air now simultaneously stirred, all turning their directions, their tips pointing towards the depths, which was Ouyang Jie’s location.

“Has it begun…”

Inside the Sword Tower, Gu Ran, seeing this, withdrew his Great Emperor’s Will. He then sat down on the cushion where Ouyang Jie had been, gazing in the direction of the Black Domain, his eyes flickering.

“Wuji Palace…”

And it wasn’t just the Sword Tower. For example, in Wan Du Valley, Poison Undying was kneeling before Du Meng, his expression solemn.

“Old Ancestor, I have made my decision.”

“Alas…”

Du Meng sighed softly and said nothing more. He waved his right hand lightly, and as a white light shone, an item instantly appeared before Poison Undying.

This was a spherical bead, roughly the size of a basketball. Its exterior was a strange mixture of purple and green colors, appearing quite peculiar.

“Take it.”

Du Meng waved, letting the bead float towards him. He watched him take it before slowly speaking.

“Have you truly thought it through?”

“There’s nothing to hesitate about.”

Poison Undying shook his head slightly, looking at the poison bead in his hand, and said with a bitter smile.

“It’s bound to happen sooner or later. If I don’t give it my all now, I’m afraid there won won't be another chance.”

Upon hearing this, Du Meng said nothing more. After nodding, he flashed and disappeared from his spot, leaving only a single sentence reverberating in the air.

“Don’t die.”

“Farewell, Old Ancestor.”

Poison Undying bowed slightly, then slowly straightened up after a moment. He then stepped into the depths of the Immortal Cave and sat down cross-legged, waving his right hand lightly. An invisible spiritual power fluctuation spread out, enveloping the entire Immortal Cave, and the traces of a Formation appeared at the entrance.

This way, no matter how much commotion there was inside, the outside would not detect anything.

After completing these tasks, Poison Undying finally had time to focus his attention on the Medicinal Pill in his hand, his eyes slowly narrowing.

“Poison Dragon Scorpion Inner Core…Whew.”

After exhaling a long breath, the resolute look on Poison Undying’s face faded. He then closed his eyes, and the inner core slowly floated up, the swirling two-colored mist within it, under the control of his spiritual power, moved into his body.

As this mist entered his body, Poison Undying’s face immediately turned two colors, half purple and half green, and his expression became distorted, appearing quite terrifying.

But in this situation, his Aura as a Seven Realm Great Emperor also began to climb at a visible speed. Although not fast, it was indeed increasing, heading towards the Eight-Realm Great Emperor.

In another cave, Du Meng, seeing this, withdrew his senses. After a light sigh, he closed his eyes and continued to meditate.

In Jinmu Valley, within a Secret Realm, a figure was sitting cross-legged, Cultivating. Before him, a Medicinal Pill floated, emitting a faint white light.

Beside him stood another person, arms crossed over her chest, with an extraordinary Aura. It was none other than Mulan.

After a while longer, the Cultivating figure slowly opened his eyes. Mulan, seeing this, then spoke.

“Are you ready?”

“Mm.”

Jin Buhuan nodded solemnly, his state now adjusted to its best. His gaze also fell upon the Medicinal Pill floating before him.

“Then begin.”

Seeing this, Mulan said no more. She simply stood by and watched Jin Buhuan swallow the Medicinal Pill. His Aura also fluctuated and climbed, and a complex expression appeared on her face, as if she was deep in thought.

And it wasn’t just these places. In the back mountain of the Zhao family’s residence, endless dark clouds and lightning began to gather. Many people, upon noticing such a commotion, seemed to recall something. After realizing what it was, their pupils constricted, and horror rose in their hearts.

The Zhao family’s Old Ancestor had begun Undergoing Tribulation!