The Great Tang Imperial Family's Response
A Fire Control Tribe spoke up? Doesn't that mean they've regained their senses?
Hearing the threatening words from the Fire Control Tribe, Zhuge Xiang was not angry but pleased. He looked in the direction of the voice and, sure enough, saw a Fire Control Tribe with a severed hand staring at Zhuge Xiang and the others with dark red eyes filled with rage. Unlike the other Fire Control Tribe who had lost their minds, this guy clearly had a trace of consciousness in his eyes.
"Really? You want to kill us? With your current rabid state?"
Zhuge Xiang did not calmly inquire about the other party's intentions, as that might have meant the other party would have remained tight-lipped. Therefore, Zhuge Xiang resorted to provocation. Although the tactic was simple, it could sometimes be surprisingly effective, as was the case now.
"You bastard! We are weak, so we stayed here. The true elite of our Fire Control Tribe are still down below, led by the Fire Control King. You few are nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot; you are doomed to die..." Sure enough, after being described as a mad dog by Zhuge Xiang, the Fire Control Tribe flew into a rage. In his fury, even the little bit of sanity he had regained was in danger of being lost.
"Oh? Is that so? Are your so-called elites really that strong? The guys we encountered on the First Layer weren't that great either. As for you? You're even more like mad dogs. If you're so capable, tell me the passage to the lower level, and I'll go and meet them." Zhuge Xiang's eyes were filled with deep doubt, clearly not believing in the so-called Fire Control King's abilities.
"Foolish human, since you've chosen to die, I'll grant your wish. I, the Fire Control King Your Majesty, have reached the Ninth Layer of the Heaven-Piercing Tower. The passage to the Eighth Layer is inside the northern Volcano, and the passage to the Ninth Layer is said to be within the trunk of Hundred Zhang- tall banyan tree in the south..."
As expected, Zhuge Xiang's provocation made this guy wish Zhuge Xiang and his group would die immediately at the hands of those Fire Control Tribe People. So, he readily told Zhuge Xiang and his group about the passage below. He even revealed what he had heard about the passage to the Ninth Layer.
"Thank you very much. I'll go see your so-called Fire Control Tribe elites now," Zhuge Xiang replied with a smile after learning the location of the passage. Now that he knew the way down, and even the passage to the Ninth Layer, Zhuge Xiang had no intention of staying any longer and flew north with Lu Yuling and the others towards the Volcano.
Just as the Fire Control Tribe had said, the passage to the Eighth Layer was inside this Volcano. Wu Zhao, seeing that the passage was indeed there, glanced sideways at Zhuge Xiang and said, "It's amazing that you could come up with such a method, and even know about the passage to the Ninth Layer."
"Hehe, you don't even know what a genius is." Zhuge Xiang smiled smugly, feigning arrogance. Mo Lingna, standing beside him, nodded in agreement, smiling proudly.
"Hmph, they only succeeded because they took advantage of the Fire Control Tribe's loss of mind," Tie Zhan said with a snort, feeling very unbalanced as he looked at Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna.
Seeing Zhuge Xiang's smug expression, Lu Yuling's lips curled into a smile. She was very familiar with Zhuge Xiang's personality; after all, the two of them had bickered more often than anyone else. This guy was naturally generous and unrestrained, and valued loyalty and righteousness, but at times, he was also quite witty.
Zhuge Xiang did not answer Tie Zhan's obviously jealous words, but only gave him a pitying look, sighed slightly, and shook his head, as if looking at a fool who was already beyond redemption.
"What kind of look is that?" Tie Battle Will was annoyed by Zhuge Xiang's gaze and couldn't help but shout. That look, as if he were looking at an idiot, Human Heart truly unsettling.
"Poor fellow, you couldn't even handle someone who's completely out of their mind. Your intelligence is really worrying..." Zhuge Xiang shook his head and said to Tie Zhan with a regretful look.
Didn't you say my wisdom could only fool this deranged guy? If you can't even handle a deranged guy, then what are you?
"..." Zhuge Xiang's words left Tie Zhan Zhuge Xiang speechless, unable to utter a single word.
Wu Zhao and Mo Lingna, standing nearby, laughed without any restraint, and even Lu Yuling had a smile on her lips.
Now, Tie Zhan had an answer. In terms of combat, he had already been suppressed by Zhuge Xiang, and now even in an argument, he was completely defeated by Zhuge Xiang. In front of Zhuge Xiang, Tie Zhan really couldn't gain the slightest advantage in any aspect.
Zhuge Xiang and his group advanced triumphantly, heading straight for the Ninth Layer of the Heaven-Piercing Tower. Meanwhile, Cultivator were gradually descending from the Seventh Layer.
It wasn't just Zhuge Xiang and his group who were able to escape from the first level. People like Li Buling, the second prince of the Tang Dynasty, were also able to escape. Moreover, Bing Ji wasn't the only one who had entered the Tower of Babel. For those from powerful forces, obtaining a map of the Tower of Babel from their predecessors wouldn't be easy, but it certainly wouldn't be particularly difficult either.
One after another, Cultivator appeared and descended to the Ninth Layer of the Heaven-Piercing Tower. Even if they were slightly behind Zhuge Xiang, they wouldn't be far behind. Just like Lin Qingyu, didn't he catch up with Zhuge Xiang and the others?
At this moment, due to the shocking events inside the Heaven-Piercing Tower, more than half of the Cultivator who had entered were killed or injured. The remaining cultivators, filled with trepidation, hurried towards the lower levels of the Heaven-Piercing Tower.
Similarly, it wasn't just the Cultivator who entered the Heaven-Piercing Tower who were alarmed by the incident; the Imperial Clan of the Great Tang Dynasty was also alerted.
Chang'an City, the imperial capital of the Great Tang Dynasty, lived up to its name. As one of the most powerful dynasties in China, Chang'an City enjoyed a long period of peace and tranquility for thousands of years.
In the very center of Chang'an City, a magnificent Imperial Palace stands tall. This Imperial Palace is entirely cast from Fluorescent Jade, and at night, it glows with a hazy light, truly resembling a celestial palace.
Because of the national atmosphere, Chang'an City, compared to Xianyang of the Great Qin Empire, lacked a sense of solemnity and might, but possessed a more prosperous and flourishing feel, filled with the sounds of birdsong and dancing.
In the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace, the Great Tang Emperor sat on his Dragon Throne, his eyes half-closed, like a sleeping lion, listening to the reports from his officials. He did not exude any particularly powerful aura, but all the civil and military officials below Dragon Throne stood respectfully with their hands clasped, not daring to even breathe heavily.
"Your Majesty, this is a newly received urgent report..." A servant beside the emperor suddenly stepped forward and respectfully presented a sealed letter to the emperor.
"Oh?" The emperor raised his half-closed eyes slightly and sat up a little straighter. The officials who were reporting on their affairs under the Dragon Throne immediately shut up.
"Read it aloud..." The emperor, his expression unreadable, simply said to the attendant beside him.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the attendant nodded respectfully upon hearing the emperor's words, and then slowly unfolded the sealed letter.
Upon seeing the contents of the letter, the servant's expression changed slightly, but he dared not hesitate any longer and slowly read the contents of the letter aloud.
"Your Majesty, the once-in-a-decade opening of the Heaven-Piercing Tower has arrived. For years, each time the Heaven-Piercing Tower opens, numerous Cultivators have flocked to enter, whether for training or treasure hunting. Therefore, those who enter are mostly the geniuses of my generation..."
"Get to the point," the emperor interrupted the attendant before he could finish speaking. To interrupt during a court session meant something important was clearly happening, but the emperor had no time for such trivial matters.
"Yes..." Hearing the emperor's clearly impatient voice, the attendant nodded, glanced at the contents of the letter, and then got to the point, saying, "Your Majesty, something has happened to the Heaven-Piercing Tower. Every time the Heaven-Piercing Tower opens, it lasts for a period of time, ranging from half a month to a month. But this time, the Heaven-Piercing Tower opened and closed in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Moreover, none of the Cultivator who entered were teleported out."
"Oh?" The Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty's expression turned serious, realizing the gravity of the situation. The faces of Civil and Military Officials and military officials in the Great Hall also changed drastically. Clearly, all the Cultivator who had entered were imprisoned inside the Heaven-Piercing Tower?
"Moreover, according to reports, when the Heaven-Piercing Tower opened, one could feel a high level of pure Demonic Qi emanating from it..." the attendant who had been reading the letter continued.
"It seems that something has indeed happened to the Heaven-Piercing Tower. Could it be that some Demonic Path Cultivator have already entered it?" The Great Tang Emperor muttered to himself, his face grave.
For those with great Divine Ability, Space Rend is not a strange thing. In the Void, there are countless spaces of all sizes. As long as one knows the coordinates of the passage to that space, one can use Divine Ability powers to forcibly Space Rend to reach the space one wants to enter.
The changes in the Heaven-Piercing Tower, and the refined Demonic Qi —such tremendous changes—no wonder the Great Tang Emperor suspected that Divine Ability being had entered beforehand.
"Your Majesty, should we go to rescue those Cultivators?" Seeing that the Great Tang Emperor was pondering without speaking, a military officer stepped forward and asked for instructions.
Although the coordinates of the Heaven-Piercing Tower are unknown, with the power of the Imperial Clan, they could always find ways to tear apart the spatial barrier leading to the Heaven-Piercing Tower if they so desired.
"No way..."
Before the Great Tang Emperor could speak, the leading civil official and prime minister stepped forward and said, "In recent years, the relationship between the various Sect within the Great Tang Dynasty and the Imperial Clan has become ambiguous, even to the point of obeying orders but not summons. At this critical moment, how can we expend our great abilities to wear down an unknown Divine Ability being?"
The Great Tang Emperor listened to the Prime Minister's words, pondered for a moment, and then issued his decree...