Emperor Jiang Wu spat out that mouthful of blood without warning.
Scarlet-gold national fortune surged erratically over his body. The composure of an emperor who had ruled for ten thousand years had vanished entirely.
He slumped back in the stone chair, his chest heaving several times before he finally caught his breath.
Old Ancestor Cangwu's green origin true qi still enveloped him, but he pushed it away.
"Don't waste your strength."
Emperor Jiang Wu waved a hand at Old Ancestor Cangwu.
"I'm fine. My dao fruit hasn't shattered. That thing just shook me up badly."
Zhou Xuan pulled over a chair and sat down, leaning against its back.
He was in poor shape as well. His divine power had bottomed out, and the Token Master Mark on the back of his hand burned in waves, but none of it showed on his face.
"Finish what you were saying," Zhou Xuan said, looking at Emperor Jiang Wu.
Emperor Jiang Wu wiped the blood from his chin and raised his head, his expression even grimmer than before.
"Something's wrong with that Old Hag." He repeated the words, as though making sure he had not misspoken. "Her power doesn't resemble the longevity realm at all."
Old Ancestor Xuanming stiffened at that. He opened his mouth but offered no objection.
Old Ancestor Cangwu also stopped regulating his breathing, a complicated expression crossing his face.
"I struck her with the State Shrine Seal. The scarlet-gold dragon hit her head-on, and it couldn't even tear through the outer skin of that black power."
Emperor Jiang Wu clenched his fists, the tendons on the backs of his hands pulled taut.
"I've commanded Great Jiang's national fortune for over ten thousand years. All my grand strategies and calculations came crashing down today."
He paused.
"If the Supreme One