Li Palace.
In the void.
The winds and clouds shifted, and the Nine Heavens Cloud Dragons roared, their dragon cries echoing continuously, as if intimidating all living beings.
Warrior Emperor Wuzang stood clad in white robes, a silver crown upon his head. His handsome face showed no particular emotion, his eyes deep as abysses, vast as the endless void.
He stood there, looking down from on high like an emperor ruling over all life, like a celestial god presiding over all creation.
Warrior Emperor Wuzang swept a glance over Suo Sha and the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun, speaking softly and indifferently, "I thought it would be the Old Master of Heishan and the Great Sun old man. Never imagined it would be their descendants. How disappointing."
His words carried a hint of disappointment and no small amount of contempt. Clearly, he did not take Suo Sha and the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun seriously at all. Otherwise, he would not have so casually uttered the nicknames of the Old Master of Heishan and the Great Sun Radiant Emperor in front of them.
As was widely known, 'Old Monster Heishan' was the nickname for the Old Master of Heishan, and 'Great Sun old man' was the nickname for the Great Sun Radiant Emperor.
Throughout the myriad heavens and worlds, many knew these two overlords' nicknames, but few dared to utter them aloud, especially not in front of their own sons.
"Wuzang!"
The one who spoke was none other than the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun.
Though he was deeply wary of Warrior Emperor Wuzang, wariness was all it was.
Wariness did not equate to fear, much less to fleeing at the mere mention of his name.
He was like this.
Suo Sha was no exception. Staring at Warrior Emperor Wuzang, he snorted coldly, "Wuzang, I advise you to watch your mouth!"
The eight old monsters beside Suo Sha had been secretly urging him not to act rashly, while the Southern Peak Great Deity beside the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun similarly advised him to keep his distance from Warrior Emperor Wuzang.
They were all capable lieutenants under the Old Master of Heishan and the Great Sun Radiant Emperor, deeply aware of how terrifying Warrior Emperor Wuzang's existence was—so terrifying that even though the Warrior Emperor Wuzang before them was merely an incarnation, they dared not act recklessly.
"Heh!"
Warrior Emperor Wuzang chuckled.
His chuckle was inconsequential in itself, but the Nine Heavens Cloud Dragons coiling around him suddenly roared furiously at Suo Sha, the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun, and the others. The roar shook the Thirteen Sons and Suo Sha to their cores, their expressions shifting repeatedly. Just as they sensed great danger, an overwhelming, domineering, and terrifying aura swept over them like a tidal wave. It felt as if the Nine Heavens themselves were pressing down, leaving no room for defense or resistance.
The Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha did not dare delay. They immediately mobilized their power to resist while retreating. The more they resisted, the more horrified they became—horrified by Warrior Emperor Wuzang's fearsomeness. Even an incarnation contained such a terrifying aura; it was unimaginable how powerful his true form must be!
To be honest.
If the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun were not facing Suo Sha, or if Suo Sha today were not facing the Thirteen Sons, they would likely have acted with extreme caution upon encountering Warrior Emperor Wuzang, even speaking carefully. For they both knew the vast gap in strength between themselves and Warrior Emperor Wuzang. A direct confrontation might not be life-threatening, but they would certainly suffer losses.
Yet, the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha were mortal enemies. If, upon encountering Warrior Emperor Wuzang at such a moment, they dared not utter a word or even fled at the sound of his name, wouldn't they become laughingstocks in the future?
Therefore.
Both the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha chose to stay.
Whether for dignity or for face, they absolutely could not let the other see them as a joke.
If Warrior Emperor Wuzang truly intended to make a move, then so be it. After all, this was only an incarnation; no matter how powerful, how powerful could it really be?
Moreover, both the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha possessed 'protective talismans' bestowed by their fathers. In all the heavens and earth, few existences could truly obliterate them.
With this in mind, the Thirteen Sons and Suo Sha were not particularly afraid of Warrior Emperor Wuzang.
They had thought Warrior Emperor Wuzang was about to act, and both the Thirteen Sons and Suo Sha had mentally prepared themselves. To their surprise, Warrior Emperor Wuzang shook his head. The Nine Heavens Cloud Dragons ceased their roars, and the Nine Heavens-like oppressive aura gradually diminished.
"You lot..."
"Are not yet qualified for this emperor to take action against."
Warrior Emperor Wuzang did not take the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha seriously in the slightest; he didn't even have the desire to fight them.
These words were undeniably hurtful, especially to the ears of the Thirteen Sons and Suo Sha.
After all, one of their fathers was the overlord of the Monster Dao, the other the overlord of the Immortal Dao. Throughout the myriad heavens and worlds, who would not show them some respect?
Who would dare look down upon them?
Except today, they had encountered Warrior Emperor Wuzang.
An existence who bore the True Mandate. An existence guarded by Nine Heavens Cloud Dragons. An existence possessing the Great Dao Emperor Seal and the Great Dao Throne. An existence with the Bloodline of Light and the Tyrant Body of the Heavenly Dragon. An existence hailed as the Young Master Xuantian, backed by the Xuanmiao Grotto-Heaven.
An existence whose status, background, cultivation strength, and destiny far surpassed their own.
In short, the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun could not afford to provoke him, and neither could Suo Sha.
In the myriad heavens and worlds, there were few existences these two Great Dao Young Masters could not afford to provoke, but Warrior Emperor Wuzang was definitely one of them.
No matter how unwilling they were in their hearts, facing the condescending Warrior Emperor Wuzang at this moment, they had no choice but to swallow their anger and hold their tongues.
What else could they do?
Fight him?
The Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun did not dare, and neither did Suo Sha.
Leaving now was the best choice.
Both the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha thought so.
The Thirteen Sons wanted to leave, and Suo Sha wanted to leave. But the Thirteen Sons, seeing that Suo Sha had not moved, did not move either. And Suo Sha, seeing that the Thirteen Sons had not moved, likewise remained still.
Firstly, neither wanted to be the first to flee and show cowardice in front of the other.
Secondly, they both found Warrior Emperor Wuzang's sudden appearance somewhat inexplicable.
Why had Warrior Emperor Wuzang descended so abruptly, and in an incarnation no less?
Could it be just to look down on them once?
Even thinking with one's toes knew that was impossible. Warrior Emperor Wuzang couldn't possibly be that bored.
Moreover, Warrior Emperor Wuzang didn't seem to be targeting them. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered to even acknowledge the Thirteen Sons and Suo Sha.
But if Warrior Emperor Wuzang's incarnation had not descended for them, then for whom?
Were there others here?
Just as the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha were puzzled, Warrior Emperor Wuzang suddenly spoke up, his voice ringing out, "The Li Palace is ever-changing. For two individuals to conceal themselves here so silently and undetectably is truly remarkable skill, something even this emperor admires."
As Warrior Emperor Wuzang's words fell, the Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha, who had already retreated to a distance, were both startled. They had just been wondering who Warrior Emperor Wuzang's descent was for if not themselves. Hearing his words, could it be that there truly were experts hiding here?
And two of them?
How was that possible!
The Thirteen Sons of the Great Sun and Suo Sha inwardly refused to believe it, for they had discovered nothing. Even when they extended their divine sense for a detailed investigation, they still detected nothing at all.