The Middle Heavenly State, located at the very center of the five major states of the human realm, has the largest area and the most populous, with almost no Demon Clan presence.

The people living here are affluent and content, and aside from warfare between nations, they hardly ever suffer from foreign invasions.

To the Human Race, this is the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Therefore, promoting the Human Emperor Inheritance here is fraught with hardship, and most citizens are reluctant to break away from their prosperous lives to fight the Heavenly Court for freedom and courage.

The Taixuan Emperor is also the strongest and most revered among the five emperors guarding the mortal realm.

He rose to power during the epoch of the Blood Ancestor's chaos and has lived through three massive calamities: the chaos of the Blood Ancestor, the rise of the Human Race, and the conflict between Immortals and Demons, his strength unfathomable.

Even those known for their combat prowess among the Heavenly Venerables of the Immortal Court dare not claim certain victory against the Taixuan Emperor, which is why Duge saved the Taixuan Emperor for last.

Having endured three world-shattering disasters, no one knows what cards the Taixuan Emperor holds in his hand.

...

Duge, along with Emperor Donghua and others, stood outside Taixuan Dongtian, waiting for the Mountain Guarding Disciple to open the mountain gate.

During this brief interval, the Ziwei Emperor said, "The Taixuan Emperor is aloof from worldly affairs and does not manage the matters of the Middle Heavenly State much. His disciples share a similar temperament; they mostly cultivate in seclusion. The affairs of the Middle Heavenly State are managed by the Five Directions Celestial Lords."

Emperor Donghua said, "The last time I saw the Taixuan Emperor was six hundred thousand years ago at the Flat Peach Banquet hosted by the Queen Mother of the West. The Taixuan Emperor has since declined the Queen Mother's invitation and not attended the past three banquets."

The Great Purity Emperor said, "There are rumors in the Immortal Realm that the Taixuan Emperor has very likely already stepped into the Quasi-Saint Realm and is aiming for the Saint Realm."

No sooner had the Great Purity Emperor spoken than the mountain gate of Taixuan Dongtian parted, and the Mountain Guarding Disciple came out and bowed to them: "Three Emperors, Human Emperor, the Taixuan Emperor is aware of your intentions. The Emperor will not intervene in your dispute with the Immortal Court, and he requests that you do not disturb his quiet cultivation. Please leave."

The three emperors turned to look at Duge, their expressions eager, as if asking whether to force their way in.

Previously.

They might have hesitated because of the Taixuan Emperor's strength, but now, having already torn their faces with the Immortal Court, what would they care about one Taixuan Emperor?

Any obstacle in their path to sainthood would be mercilessly kicked aside.

After all, they had the Incarnation of Heaven, whose might was unfathomable, by their side.

"Taixuan my friend, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. In the coming chaos, do you truly believe you can avoid being caught up?" Duge, looking at the Taixuan Dongtian that was now obscured by fog again, laughed arrogantly, his voice thundering clearly through the maze outside Taixuan Dongtian.

The Mountain Guarding Disciple's face changed, and he said sharply, "Human Emperor, please refrain from making noise outside Taixuan Dongtian."

"What if I make noise?" Duge snorted, "Even if I reduced you to ashes right here, do you think that turtle hiding away and building his dreams would stand up for you?"

Duge's voice traveled through the clouds and vapor in the sky, spreading layer by layer, swiftly reaching thousands of miles away.

The closest nation to Taixuan Dongtian is called Jing Guo, and the voice from the sky startled everyone.

Commoners, nobles, Mountain Gods, and earth spirits... all who heard the sound instinctively looked up at the sky.

The countenances of many Yin Gods changed drastically.

The Mountain Guarding Disciple was stunned.

"To grant him the courtesy of calling him 'Emperor' is one thing, but without that respect, he is nothing but a fart." Duge's hair flowed behind him, and with a thought, dark clouds enshrouded Taixuan Dongtian, "Boy, what is your name?"

The Mountain Guarding Disciple didn't speak, glaring angrily at Duge.

"No answer means death." Duge said. As he spoke, a large hand reached down from the black clouds, deftly seizing the Mountain Guarding Disciple in its palm, sealing his cultivation level.

The Mountain Guarding Disciple's complexion drastically changed.

"The majesty of the Human Emperor shall not be insulted." Duge said, "To insult me is to trample on the destiny of the Human Race. You deserve to die."

There was still no movement from Taixuan Dongtian.

Duge shook his head, looking at the Mountain Guarding Disciple held tightly in the hand, he asked, "Your life hangs by a thread, yet the Taixuan Emperor whom you protect doesn't care or inquire. I ask you, are you willing to accept this?"

The power known as Tirelessly Ruinous quietly activated. The Mountain Guarding Disciple opened his mouth but didn't dare to speak.

"How many years have you cultivated?" Duge continued to ask.

The Mountain Guarding Disciple still said nothing.

"The Taixuan Emperor has been in seclusion for hundreds of thousands of years, and as a Mountain Guarding Disciple of Taixuan Dongtian, you must have cultivated for at least a few thousand years, right?" Duge said.

The Mountain Guarding Disciple remained silent.

"The Taixuan Emperor can disregard worldly affairs while striving for the Saint Realm," Duge mocked with a laugh, "What about you, keeping guard at this Taixuan Dongtian? For what purpose?"

"Don't tell me you're also aiming for the Saint Realm?"

"Me?" The Mountain Guarding Disciple's spirit shook, and he struggled to utter words.

"Struggling to find an answer?" Duge chortled, "Let me tell you what you've been doing: you've been waiting to die, wasting endless years of your life in this Taixuan Dongtian, living an utterly meaningless existence.

You've squandered a thousand years, and at the moment of life and death, the Taixuan Emperor wouldn't even spare you a glance. Tell me, is such a life worth it?"

"I..." The Mountain Guarding Disciple's eyes flickered; he turned his head painfully towards Taixuan Dongtian, a hint of regret surfacing in his heart.

"Not worth it." Duge sighed lightly, releasing him, and dispelled his restraints, "The Taixuan Emperor may have granted you teachings, but he also shackled your progress.