I Cultivated Too Long and Got Isekai'd Into a Game-Chapter 199: Trial of the Bloodline (1)

While almost everyone awake was trying to run away, only two groups of individuals remained standing... No, make that three.

One group was the seven Evil Spirits of various kinds, three of which being Lodia and Pharsa—both Dual-Soul Wraiths—and Du Jun, the Blazing Wrath Fiend.

Another group was Alexis and the rest of the Campbell family. Although they remained mostly unscathed, they all fell to the ground back when Du Jun went on a rampage and sucked everyone’s vitality.

Of course, even Alexis himself—the de facto strongest cultivator in the mortal realm—fell to his knees.

Finally, there was Xu Tao’s group. Although among them, only Xu Tao remained truly "standing."

Jehanne and Zetian were both down on one knee, with Yifa and Henrietta propping each other up. During the earlier attack, Yifa quickly tried to protect Henrietta, but as luck would have it, her Faceless Shadow Technique had little to no defensive power.

At most, she could only shield Henrietta’s body with a layer of her Qi, thus lessening the damage she received. Though now that Xu Tao returned their lost vitality, they should be fine already.

"And...?"

Right after they exchanged introductions, Xu Tao raised his brow. "I’m guessing you didn’t come here just to say hi, did you?"

Xu Tao had an idea of what their purpose was. However, from Alexis’s reaction earlier, their discussed time should be far later into the celebration. At least, definitely not while the normal people among the guests hadn’t completely left.

"Ah, of course, we didn’t." Lodia quickly replied, shaking his head. "We came here simply for one purpose—lady over there, today is your Bloodline Trial, right?"

"Huh?"

Suddenly being addressed, Henrietta gasped, raising her gaze ahead.

Realizing that she was being stared at by almost everyone present, she quickly, but gently, pushed Yifa away, fixed her posture, and cleared her throat.

"Yes, I am." She nodded firmly.

"Of course." Lodia nodded. "And for that reason, and that alone—we came here, right now."

"Wait, Venerable Lodia."

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Alexis raised his hand, taking a step forward before standing beside Henrietta, almost as if protecting her. "Although it’s true that today is her trial’s date, the time isn’t right. It should be right before midnight today!"

"...Really?"

The man scratched his white hair before turning around and asking the others in a low voice. However, all of them shook their heads.

"No, it seems right now was just as promised. Maybe the one mistaken about the schedule is on your side?" he asked back.

Alexis frowned, narrowing his eyes as he stomped powerfully. "No way! This is a ritual that has been going on for generations! It has always been midnight when the test is conducted!"

"Even if you tell me that now..." Lodia sighed, shaking his head. "We were told about the schedule by someone else higher up, so there should be no mistakes."

"...!"

At that moment, Alexis realized the truth behind the matter. Someone had told them to come at the wrong time—and to a person that’s even higher than Lodia in position. In Alexis’s knowledge, only one person could pull such an underhanded trick like this...

He curled his fist tight enough that it was audible, as red drops of his blood trickled down from it. "Damned Roamita bastards...!"

"Hmm..."

Although Alexis seemed to be boiling over in anger, Xu Tao, instead, felt calm. His mind rolled, understanding the chain of events as they happened, linking them with each other.

First, the poisoned wine on all tables. Someone set it up to certainly kill people from the venue, and possibly cause panic and chaos.

Second, the early arrival of the delegate from the Evil Spirits’ world. This, too, was timed perfectly right after deaths could’ve appeared from the participants.

Combining the two unrelated but sequential events, it would make the Evil Spirits look as if the poisoning was their plan, thus pushing the blame onto them. If that happened, knowing Alexis’s attitude, he’d definitely start a fight against Lodia and the rest, no doubt.

Of course, with the apparent gap in strength between the mortal cultivators and the delegates of the Evil Spirit world, death was the only ending Alexis could have in that case.

’Looks like stopping the poisoning caused a weird chain reaction, saving everyone instead.’

Xu Tao shrugged.

Of course, although this turn of events wasn’t expected or planned, he still found the results acceptable. Thus, for the moment, he stayed his hand... The only time he’d make another move was when his disciples, Jehanne, or Zetian were in any actual danger.

"Anyway... can we proceed with the trial?"

Finding the silence awkward, Lodia asked once more. His gaze was locked onto Henrietta, the person who was about to undergo the trial herself.

"I..." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Henrietta hesitated for a moment.

She turned toward Xu Tao for a brief moment, as if asking for his opinion—only to find him smiling at her. Seeing that, she made up her mind real quick.

"I will take it!"

It was true that she was scheduled to undergo the Bloodline Trials near midnight today. However, it’s not like much could change within just a few hours... Well, with Xu Tao’s help, that could be possible, but after that, she’d be in no shape to do the trial, so that was out of the question either way.

Taking it now was the best choice.

"Great!" Lodia smiled sweetly.

A smile that, matched with his young, handsome visage, could ensnare not a few maidens around. Too bad that the only "maidens" present were all infatuated with a certain old cultivator already, with not an ounce of romantic interest toward the poor lad.

"So, it’s now my turn?"

Among their group, one stepped forward.

It was the only other Blazing Wrath Fiend other than Xuan Du Jun, a woman who was visually of the same age as Henrietta herself. She stood tall, about two meters, with a well-toned body. Her attire was practically just a pure black pair of tank top and compression tights—both stretched greatly by her muscular bulk.

She strode forward, stretching her arms a bit while casually warning. "Little girl, I suggest you surrender early, or you’ll be in for a world of pain."

Henrietta, however, simply brushed off her warning.

"No need," she said. "After all, you’re weaker than me."

"..."

At her words, no different than a taunt, the air froze.