Chapter 105: The Lady Has Arrived!

Leaders from every nation and the most powerful super-star-level practitioners gathered in Xiajing. An extraterrestrial starship hovered above the city, drawing the gaze of the entire world toward the capital of China.

"Is this alien technology? It’s massive—it covers nearly half of Xiajing!"

"It’s the alien warriors again. I wonder what changes they’ll bring to Earth this time."

"Don't you all know? The time for the Trial has arrived."

"What Trial?"

"Yes, what exactly is this Trial?"

"I know, because I am a practitioner myself. This story dates back over a hundred years..."

Across the internet, the long-forgotten concept of the "Trial" resurfaced. For many, this was the first time they had ever heard of it. As numerous practitioners stepped forward to explain, the world erupted into a frenzy.

If the Trial is failed, all life on Earth will be extinguished, and the process will begin anew for the next human civilization. Passing the Trial is far from easy; it is rumored that the success rate is only one in ten. This grim statistic filled the majority of the population with terror, and riots even broke out in some countries. China, however, remained remarkably calm.

In his office, Tian Zhong gazed quietly at the starship looming in the sky. His secretary, who had aged from a young man to middle age over the years, entered with a furrowed brow. "Chairman, if we broadcast this meeting, will it not cause undue panic among the public? Many other nations have also voiced their opposition to the live stream."

Tian Zhong replied calmly, "Of course we will broadcast it. The people have a right to know what is happening. Not only this meeting, but the subsequent stages of the Trial must be broadcast as well. Does China still need to seek their approval?"

"It has been arranged," the secretary said. "The deacon did not object."

Tian Zhong sneered, "Of course they wouldn't object. They assume that we are destined to fail this Trial." He turned around and asked, "Is there any word from Inspector Ye?"

"It was Zhou Hun and his group who arrived; Inspector Ye did not come. According to Zhou Hun, the Inspector seems to have encountered some difficulties in his cultivation."

"Did his wife not come either?" Tian Zhong asked again.

The secretary shook his head. "The Inspector and his wife are deeply devoted to one another. If he is facing trouble, she naturally would not come."

Tian Zhong sighed and shook his head. "At this critical juncture, our greatest pillar of support has faltered. Is it truly Heaven's will that we perish?"

The secretary paused for a moment before saying, "Chairman, time is running out."

Tian Zhong waved a hand. "You go ahead; I will follow shortly."

...

"Young Mistress, what are you doing?" Steward Mu asked upon seeing Long Xiaoqing preparing to leave the Dragon Palace.

"My husband cannot attend the meeting, so I must go in his stead," Long Xiaoqing replied.

Steward Mu nodded. "Young Mistress, take this jade pendant with you. It will conceal your true form from them." He approached her and handed her a hexagonal blue jade talisman. Long Xiaoqing took it, tucked it into an inner pocket, and stepped out of the Dragon Palace.

Inside the Chinese Council Chamber, leaders from various countries sat across from a group of figures in black robes. The room was filled with super-star-level and late-stage stellar-level practitioners from all over the world. Beyond the thirty-five super-star practitioners under Yang Ye’s command, the world had seen the birth of a dozen more over the past twelve years, thanks to the help provided by Yang Ye’s efforts in the tower. There were now seventy-two super-star-level individuals in total.

Despite the crowd, the chamber remained deathly silent, heavy with an oppressive atmosphere—an oppression felt not only by those present but by every ordinary citizen watching the live broadcast. That massive starship hanging over Xiajing was like a sword of Damocles suspended above the human race.

The elderly man in the black robe scanned the "Earthlings" present and spoke in fluent Chinese: "I am the deacon for this Trial. Our deacon corps will observe the entire process to ensure fairness and impartiality."

Once the deacon finished, Tian Zhong stood up. "When is the specific date of the Trial? What is the cultivation level of the opponents you have dispatched? We have the right to know at least this much, don't we?"

"Certainly," the black-robed deacon replied. "The Trial begins in three days. The location is a battlefield constructed in the star-void, and you may send observers. I must say, your luck is poor; the draw has resulted in a Star-Lord-level opponent. In addition to that Star-Lord, there are one thousand late-stage stellar-level warriors and twenty super-star-level warriors."

Star-Lord level!

The moment the deacon spoke, both the practitioners in the hall and those watching the broadcast were stunned. The average combat power of an extraterrestrial practitioner was several times that of an Earthling at the same rank; those twenty super-star warriors alone were enough to match all seventy-two of Earth's super-stars. A Star-River-level expert was already terrifying, yet now, a Star-Lord—a realm even higher—had appeared.

It was a clear sign that they intended to wipe out humanity.

Zhou Hun stood up, unable to contain himself. "How is this possible?! We have cleared the fifty-ninth floor of the Stone Tower, and we have never encountered a Star-Lord-level opponent. You are clearly..."

"You mean to say we are clearly bullying you?" A young man among the black-robed group stood up and sneered. He had long blue hair and an exceptionally handsome face. This was Lan Xingxuo. Having bribed the deacon, he had naturally found his way here. He looked at them with utter contempt and icy indifference.

Zhou Hun clenched his fists, his teeth gritted.

"Angry?" Lan Xingxuo laughed coldly. "Trash like you Earthlings are barely worth the effort. If it weren't for the regulations of our main clan, we wouldn't even bother with a Trial. We would simply destroy you and create the next human civilization."

"Would you care to repeat that?"

As the words left Lan Xingxuo's lips, a clear, melodic voice echoed through the hall. Everyone turned toward the entrance to see Long Xiaoqing, dressed in a long white gown. The outfit, which Steward Mu had told her was a keepsake from her grandfather, featured a jade belt at the waist, making her look like a breathtaking celestial maiden from ancient legends. Her beauty, compared to her usual black leather attire, was visually overwhelming. Those with weaker wills were momentarily stunned into a stupor.

"It’s the Madam!"

"The Madam has arrived!"

"Greetings, Madam!"

As the practitioners recovered, they stood in unison to pay their respects. In their hearts, Long Xiaoqing held a status as high as Yang Ye’s.

Watching her, Lan Xingxuo was completely dumbstruck. He had come along specifically to see her.