Chapter 390: Illusory Realm

Within the Ancestral Dragon Ring, everything was bright and clear, with starlight dotting the void. This realm resembled a starry domain, radiant and shimmering, each star emitting a wild, domineering energy fluctuation.

Yang Xiao sat cross-legged in the center, gazing at the stars in the void and nodding slightly. With his intensity of flames, he could fully unleash the power of a single Nine Heavens Star Sand to an extraordinary degree, far beyond what Yang Tian's Star Tower could compare.

The Eight Gates Soul-Sealing Killing Array—Rest Gate, Life Gate, Injury Gate, Durance Gate, Scenery Gate, Death Gate, Surprise Gate, Opening Gate—served as both life and death gates. This formation was extremely terrifying and required immense force to break.

The eight gates were also composed of eight formation diagrams, which transformed in countless ways during operation, containing endless killing intent. Even powerful experts could be trapped and die within the formation.

Yang Xiao's confidence lay primarily in this formation diagram. Without a powerful figure to intervene, placing that formation diagram within the Li family's ancestral grounds would create an incredibly fearsome presence.

All eight gate diagrams were shrouded by Star Sand. Even an Emperor-level figure would need some time to break through this formation.

"The Eight Gates Soul-Sealing Grand Array, forged from two divine materials—don't disappoint me when the time comes," Yang Xiao murmured. Such a grand undertaking, he had never attempted even in ancient times.

At this moment, Yang Xiao also marveled at that mysterious altar. The three jade boxes concealed astonishing divine treasures. Even the Twelve Heavenly Killing Array alone was immensely terrifying, making it easy to fight above one's level.

In the void, the artifact spirit of the Divine Dragon Soul-Calming Jade Pendant had already drilled into the pendant. Now, Yang Tian's soul power enveloped the entire blood-red jade pendant, entering the stage of claiming ownership.

The soul body in the void twisted from time to time. Yang Tian felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on his mind, and he was struggling to resist this terrible pressure.

Claiming ownership of a divine object was no simple matter. Even if the artifact spirit acknowledged you, you still had to undergo the object's trial to complete the process.

Many gifted youths had died while claiming divine objects, their souls scattered. And this blood-red jade pendant was a supreme soul treasure; claiming it was no easy task.

Yang Tian had been in this state for ten days. Gradually, a heart-wrenching pain struck his mind. His soul body twisted, as if about to shatter, sending chills down one's spine.

At this moment, Yang Xiao looked up and swept his gaze over Yang Tian's soul body, a trace of worry appearing in his eyes. He had never experienced such a situation; Yang Tian had to pass through this trial on his own.

"Woo..." Xiao Bai curled up beside Yang Tian, its big black eyes fixed on the jade pendant in the void. It could sense that Yang Tian was undergoing a life-and-death trial.

"Damn it, didn't Senior Shanhe say claiming ownership would be simple?" Waves of pain came, and Yang Tian couldn't help but grin, cursing inwardly.

This was a mental pain, extremely hard to bear, a terrible ordeal. Those with weak willpower would likely have their minds torn apart by now.

"It seems this divine object isn't so easy to obtain, especially a supreme soul treasure," Yang Tian grumbled for a while, then instantly tensed his mind, fully resisting this terrible harm.

In the void, the blood-red jade pendant continuously radiated divine light, its inner divine might flowing. Yang Tian's soul power surged out, enveloping the entire jade pendant like a thin mist, gradually seeping inward.

This was a terrible process. Yang Tian's mind was constantly being torn. Now, the sweat on his face gradually disappeared, and he seemed to be enduring this terrible pain.

After some more time, a rumbling sound filled the Ancestral Dragon Ring, along with the roar of void explosions. In Yang Xiao's realm, it seemed as if golden rain was falling.

Yang Xiao lifted his eyelids and looked at the golden light mist in the void, vast as an ocean. The divine nature emanating from it was extremely powerful, tearing the void apart. This was Golden Amber Divine Stone, and Yang Xiao had already refined most of its power.

At this moment, Yang Xiao's fingers continuously danced in the void. The golden mist converged. His fingers moved with incredible speed, like raindrops beating on banana leaves, dazzling to the eye.

Yang Xiao's palms both moved, interweaving in countless changes. His hands would occasionally grab through the air, and the golden mist gradually formed a golden rune, containing a mysterious character within.

That character was the ancient word for 'kill,' flickering in the void and containing terrible power, swirling into golden swords that made one tremble.

This was not just one rune; the void was densely packed with such terrible runes, extremely terrifying. If they converged, it would be an incredibly fearsome scene.

This was the power of runes used in forging killing arrays, now lost. Yang Xiao was also shocked; runes forged from divine materials were far more terrifying than those made from top-grade materials.

On the ground, eight silver runes shone in mutual reflection, with starry rivers hanging inside, like ancient star domains. Each silver rune flashed with nine star rivers, a very astonishing sight.

These eight runes were also the locations of the eight gates, now flickering in the void. Below was a golden disc, the foundation of the array, forged from a large amount of Kui Gold material and compatible with the eight gates, with astonishing defensive power.

At this moment, the golden runes in the void continuously descended onto the disc. The entire void was torn open. Each golden rune was extremely terrible, manifesting countless golden swords.

In another realm, isolated by an energy barrier, after ten days of persistence, Yang Tian's calm mind began to tremble. The tearing sensation he had adapted to was gradually intensifying.

Another day passed. Yang Tian's whole being became restless and irritable. His soul body twisted. This was a kind of loneliness and solitude; he was like a small boat on a vast ocean, drifting aimlessly.

This loneliness was similar to when Yang Tian was critically injured in the Demon Fall Land, his mind constantly torn, his will crushed by a great mountain.

"Chirp chirp!" Xiao Qing circled on the periphery, unable to stay still. It sensed that Yang Tian was undergoing some life-and-death change, and its golden eyes showed anxiety.

"Awoo..." Xiao Bai, tiny as a speck, hid in Xiao Qing's feathers, howling, but dared not approach Yang Tian's position.

The Divine Dragon Soul-Calming Jade Pendant spun in the void, radiating terrible power. That realm was blood-red, and within a hundred zhang radius, there was a soul-suppressing pressure that made one tremble.

Yang Tian's mind was nearly twisted. His expression changed drastically as he sensed he was about to die, his soul on the verge of annihilation.

"No, I cannot die!" At this moment, countless images flashed before Yang Tian's eyes. He suddenly opened his eyes, and a terrifying divine light burst forth.

"What a terrible illusion!" At this moment, a tremor appeared in Yang Tian's eyes as he stared at the jade pendant in the void, his face full of shock. He had just sunk into a terrifying state of mind, almost lost within it.

"I can't go on like this, or I'll eventually lose myself." After thinking for a moment, Yang Tian's mind suddenly jolted. He had only been still for a moment before being drawn back into that illusion.

"Since I have to undergo the trial, I can't just sit and wait..." Yang Tian's mind appeared within his body, looking at the Dao Scripture's technique, and murmured: "The Dao Scripture is an extremely powerful technique in the world, containing the profound Dao. I'll contemplate it."