If it were merely this, it wouldn't have been enough to make the proud and arrogant Warrior Emperor Wuzang shift from his initial composure to cautious wariness.
He did not fear Miao Tathagata.
He never had.
Even if Miao Tathagata had once manifested as the Great Sun to transcend the Nine Netherworlds, even if Miao Tathagata ruled the Eight Buddhist Sects and was hailed as the number one expert of the Western Heaven.
Warrior Emperor Wuzang still did not fear him.
He had the qualification, the courage, and the confidence.
However.
That being said, not fearing was one thing, but Warrior Emperor Wuzang harbored a certain degree of apprehension towards Miao Tathagata's existence.
After all, Miao Tathagata, like him, possessed a Radiant Bloodline and was also a destined one who had received the True Mandate.
Moreover, no one knew exactly how many Great Dao attainments Miao Tathagata had, how many Great Dao treasures he possessed, or how many undying, indestructible divine consciousnesses and demonic thoughts resided within him.
Most terrifying of all, Miao Tathagata, a destined one who had received the True Mandate, actually coveted the position of the True Lord of Original Sin. To achieve that, he had not only cultivated an Original Sin Dharma Body but had also sunk so deeply into Original Sin that no one knew just how profound the Original Sin within him ran.
One must understand that Miao Tathagata was a destined one who had received the True Mandate, a person meant to face the tribulation.
Yet now, he wanted to become the True Lord of Original Sin.
As was widely known.
Those who receive the Mandate of Heaven are destined to fight to protect the Great Dao. This is their duty, their obligation, and it concerns their very survival; if the Great Dao is destroyed, they cannot live.
Those who receive the True Mandate are hailed as tribulation-bearers. They are destined to fight for the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth during its cataclysm; this too is their duty and obligation. If the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is destroyed, they likewise cannot survive.
Although throughout the Myriad Realms, there were some who received the Mandate of Heaven yet chose to defy fate, plunging themselves into Original Sin to vie for the position of True Lord.
However.
Throughout all of ancient and modern history, there had never been a single destined tribulation-bearer who had received the True Mandate yet plunged into Original Sin to vie for the True Lordship.
Miao Tathagata was the first.
His actions were even more heaven-defying than defying fate itself.
Warrior Emperor Wuzang had always wanted to test Miao Tathagata's depths—to probe how many Great Dao attainments he possessed, how many divine consciousnesses and demonic thoughts he harbored, and most of all, to discover just how deeply Miao Tathagata had sunk into Original Sin.
He had always harbored this intention.
Yet, at this very moment, when he truly faced Miao Tathagata, hesitation arose within his heart.
If Miao Tathagata had directly attacked when he first appeared, Warrior Emperor Wuzang would not have hesitated. Not only would he not have hesitated, he would have taken action to contend with Miao Tathagata.
But Miao Tathagata had not attacked.
When he appeared, Miao Tathagata did not attack.
When he blocked the sacred Buddha Light radiating from the golden blazing sun, Miao Tathagata still did not attack.
Even after he took action to 'invite back' the wrathful statues of the Five Great Wrathful Kings, Miao Tathagata surprisingly still did not attack.
Miao Tathagata's inexplicable and utterly abnormal attitude forced Warrior Emperor Wuzang to be cautious.
He pondered over and over but could not understand what Miao Tathagata intended to do, or what scheme he was brewing.
A roar—a dragon's roar—exploded through the air.
After the wrathful statues of the Five Great Wrathful Kings and Warrior Emperor Wuzang's Five-Star Solar Radiance both dissipated, the suppressed Heavenly Dragon True Emperor was released. Having transformed into the Hell Skull-Head Dragon, he soared into the sky, unleashing successive dragon roars.
Whoosh!
The dark crimson flames ignited once more, turning the void into a sea of fire in the blink of an eye.
Evil, thick smoke billowed forth like raging waves.
"Hahaha!
Miao Tathagata!
This Emperor said you could never obliterate me!
You lack the courage, the qualification, and the capability!
Hahaha!"
Within the sea of blood, within the thick smoke.
The dark evil dragon vanished, and the Four-Skulled Hell Guest also disappeared.
In their place appeared a young man with disheveled hair, looking rather disheveled. His face was twisted with ferocity, a sinister smile playing at the corner of his mouth. Who else could it be but the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor.
"Wuzang!
It's been many years. Your strength has truly grown more formidable."
The Heavenly Dragon True Emperor appeared beside Warrior Emperor Wuzang, laughing, "Today, let us join forces and obliterate this incarnation of Miao Tathagata. Let's give him a taste of his own medicine!"
Warrior Emperor Wuzang turned to look at the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, shook his head, and transmitted a secret message, "Not advisable!"
Hmm?
Evidently.
Warrior Emperor Wuzang's response stunned the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor. He sneered, "What's wrong? Haven't you always wanted to test Miao Tathagata's depths?
This is a rare and excellent opportunity."
"Miao Tathagata's attitude is far too abnormal. There must be something amiss here. We cannot act rashly. Let's observe the changes for now."
Here, Warrior Emperor Wuzang and the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor were deliberating.
In the void.
The golden blazing sun still illuminated the entire Kan Palace Void.
The myriad Buddhas in the sky never ceased their worship.
The vast and majestic chanting of Buddhist scriptures continued to sound forth, the transcendence unceasing.
That sacred Great Buddha statue blocking the horizon still stood in the void, unmoving.
Miao Tathagata also remained seated cross-legged on the palm of the sacred Great Buddha, his eyes slightly closed, reciting scriptures, one hand turning prayer beads, the other held vertically before him.
He had been like this from the very beginning.
When he descended, he was like this; when he suppressed the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, he was like this; and even when Warrior Emperor Wuzang appeared, he remained like this.
No one knew what Miao Tathagata was thinking, nor what he was doing.
The experts observing in secret could not figure it out.
Inside an ancient ruins.
Bei Changqing, dressed in a luxurious brocade robe with jade ornaments, her hair tied in a ponytail and a white cloak draped behind her, looked dashing and heroic. She furrowed her brows slightly, her gaze shifting between Miao Tathagata, the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, and Warrior Emperor Wuzang. She, too, had no idea what medicine these people were selling in their gourds.
Upon inquiry, both the Old Matron and the Seven Elders shook their heads. Despite their extensive knowledge and rich experience, they also did not know.
"What scheme Miao Tathagata is brewing, this old man may not know. However, regarding Warrior Emperor Wuzang and the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor..." The white-haired and white-bearded Seven Elders stood ramrod straight, one hand stroking the white beard on his chin, his turbid eyes fixed on the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor and Warrior Emperor Wuzang in the void. "Just now, when I saw the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, I didn't have this feeling. When Warrior Emperor Wuzang appeared, I also didn't have this feeling. But right now, at this moment when Warrior Emperor Wuzang and the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor stand together, I suddenly have a strange feeling."
"Seven Elders, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Bei Changqing asked curiously, "What feeling?"
"What feeling... this old man can't quite put it into words. It's just a feeling that suddenly emerged."
After saying this, the Seven Elders looked at the Old Matron beside him and asked, "Elder Lin, do you think it's possible... that the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor is an incarnation of Warrior Emperor Wuzang, or that Warrior Emperor Wuzang is an incarnation of the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor?"
"This..." Upon hearing this, the Old Matron's expression froze, clearly not expecting the Seven Elders to suddenly voice such a thought. She pondered carefully, then fell into deep contemplation.