No matter how much they were unwilling to admit it.
At this moment, everyone truly felt clearly that the Great Tang's foundation, which they were once so proud of, was so fragile before these outsiders.
Without that person presiding over it, the Great Tang had lost all its temper. Even someone as strong as the High Ancestor, who had entered the Lamp-Lighting Realm long ago and could mobilize the Dragon Qi of the entire nation, was not enough.
What was even more despairing was... the other side had clearly sent three people, yet only one had made a move, and it was already like this.
It was truly unimaginable.
How could the Great Tang contend with such existences now?
The young emperor's shoulders trembled uncontrollably as he glared at the foot stepping on the High Ancestor's chest.
He grew increasingly furious in his heart.
As the dignified Son of Heaven of the Great Tang, he had to watch his ancestor suffer such a humiliating disgrace in his own main hall.
But... what could he do?
His own talent might be considered decent among ordinary people, and having received the infusion from the Ancestral Temple's Spirit Wall, he had now entered the Ink Dot Realm. But before such existences, how was he any different from an ant?
He could do nothing... he could achieve nothing!
Seeing this, the leading Black-Robed Person's lips slowly curled into a grin: "Look... it seems he's been provoked by me, eh?"
"..."
The two behind him exchanged helpless glances.
They had already cultivated to the Ascending the Tower Realm, yet how could their Heart-Nature still be so pathetic? They could clearly wipe them out with a wave of a hand, yet they insisted on indulging in verbal taunts at this moment.
It was as if his prestige wouldn't be apparent without such humiliation.
If not for the fact that this person's strength was considered quite good among the Loose Cultivators of the Eastern Region, they would never have joined forces with him.
The other elderly man traveling with them finally couldn't hold back.
He saw the hand seals in his hands change, his fingers interlacing like withered branches.
Swish—
A streak of green light shot out from his fingertip.
It grew as it met the wind, turning into a green vine that instantly bound the young emperor tightly.
"Stop wasting time."
The old man's voice was hoarse, and he spoke very quickly.
"The people of the Dao Lineages like to watch from the sidelines, but they will never sit by and watch us forcibly abduct the Great Tang Imperial Family."
"Once they react, I'm afraid it will be difficult even to leave."
Hearing this.
The Black-Robed Person's expression stiffened, and he awkwardly retracted his sneer.
He naturally knew the stakes involved.
Since this little emperor was already under control.
The Black-Robed Person's gaze shifted, falling on the old thing at his feet who was still coughing up blood.
Anyone from the Li Clan of the Great Tang could potentially be the rumored Reincarnation.
Since he had come, he must not let anyone go.
"Consider yourself lucky, you old dog."
The Black-Robed Person snorted coldly, leaned down, and reached out to grab the High Ancestor's collar.
The three of them succeeded and were about to turn and leave.
"What?"
An indifferent voice abruptly rang out at the hall's entrance.
"Are you gentlemen not taking me seriously?"
The three of them turned their heads in unison, looking toward the entrance.
Outside the shattered doorway, another figure slowly stepped in.
His robes were tattered and covered in oil stains, looking as if they hadn't been washed for many days.
His hair was messily tied into a Daoist bun, held by a tree branch snapped from who-knows-where.
The Old Daoist Priest had his hands tucked into his sleeves, his eyelids drooping as if he hadn't fully woken up.
He just stood there casually.
Facing the three Tower-Ascending Martial Immortalss in the hall, there wasn't a hint of fear on his face.
Seeing this person.
The old man's face changed drastically, and he subconsciously took a step back.
Once he realized he had lost his composure, he took a deep breath, forced a calm expression, and cupped his hands toward the Old Daoist Priest.
"So it is... Immortal Master Thirteen Wu."
Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven, Thirteen Wu.
In this Eastern Region territory, who didn't know of his terrifying methods?
All because of that one sentence.
"Among those in the Ascending the Tower Realm, I am invincible"... Although it sounded like boasting, he had been boasting for so many years and hadn't been beaten to death yet.
What did that indicate?
Even if he wasn't truly invincible, he probably wasn't far from it.
Hearing the old man's words, the old Daoist Thirteen Wu did not respond.
He only slowly walked to within three feet of the Black-Robed Person.
The Black-Robed Person subconsciously pulled his neck back, then seemingly felt it was too embarrassing and suddenly straightened his back.
Baring his white teeth, he was fierce of countenance but weak within.
"Stop playing tricks! You may be strong, but you're still in the Ascending the Tower Realm. My two brothers and I are all in this Realm. If we really start fighting, it's hard to say who will emerge victorious!"
"Don't think we're truly afraid of you..."
Before he could finish his sentence.
Thirteen Wu didn't even spare him a glance.
He just slowly reached out his hand, extending it straight forward.
The Black-Robed Person's eyelids twitched wildly, and black mist surged around him. He wanted to strike, but felt his hair stand on end.
If he dared to move even a fraction.
The next moment would be a thunderous blow.
In this instant of stalemate.
The withered hand reached him.
It didn't attack the Black-Robed Person but instead grabbed the collar of the person in his hand.
The Black-Robed Person felt his hand go empty.
The Li Clan High Ancestor's body was taken over by Thirteen Wu.
He tossed it casually into the distance.
Whoosh—
The High Ancestor's body streaked through the air, landing steadily beside Cheng Buxiu and the others who had just scrambled up.
Everyone hurriedly caught him, checking his injuries and feeding him Medicinal Pills in a chaotic mess.
After finishing all this.
Thirteen Wu did not stop; he shifted his steps slightly.
He turned toward the old man holding the green vine.
"Will you retract this technique yourself, or must I take it personally?"
"..."
The old man's expression changed abruptly, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
It was clearly such an understated sentence, yet it made him feel immense pressure.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally dispersed the hand seal, and the green vine instantly turned into a streak of light, retreating into his sleeve.
Losing support, the emperor's body went limp and he stumbled to the ground.
He was about to offer his thanks.
But he saw Thirteen Wu gently shake his head and flick his wide sleeve.
A gentle gust of wind rose from the ground, supporting the emperor's body and sending him back onto the Dragon Throne.
At this point.
Inside the main hall, the two sides were clearly divided.
Thirteen Wu stood alone in the center of the hall.
Behind him were the Great Tang's monarch and officials, and before him were the three outside Ascending the Tower experts.
"To cultivate to the Ascending the Tower Realm, you must have spent at least several thousand years and endured countless hardships."
He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the three of them one by one.
"This Great Tang is not a place you should come to, and these people are not ones you can touch."
"Considering how difficult your cultivation has been, today..."
"Get out."
"..."
The three of them looked at each other upon hearing this.
The Black-Robed Person's face flushed red, his eyes filled with resentment.
Not only had his prize slipped away, but he had also been publicly rebuked like this.
How could he swallow this insult?
"Thirteen Wu!"
The Black-Robed Person gnashed his teeth, and the black mist surged around him once more, with the faint sound of ghostly wailing.
"Do you really think you're invincible under the heavens?!"
He turned his head to look at the two beside him, a fierce light glinting in his eyes.
"Fellow Daoists, although this man is strong, he is only one person!"
"Wealth is found in danger. If we retreat now and word gets out, how will we ever establish ourselves in the Eastern Region again?"
"Why don't we join forces and take a gamble!"