Ren's confidence stunned the Black Emperor. As he looked at Ren, anticipation and excitement rose in his eyes, along with a glimmer of tears. Perhaps he felt that Emperor Wu Shi finally had a successor.
Duan De stared in disbelief. "Good grief... You were only gone for two years, and you've already reached this level! If you disappear for a few more, will you become a Great Emperor outright? I've spent those two years digging up graves and cultivating day and night, and I've only reached the Immortal Platform Third Realm. Now I'm preparing to break through with Reverse Dao Severing! Compared to you, all my hard work feels like crap!"
Duan De looked thoroughly annoyed, but joy shone in his eyes—the joy he felt for a friend.
Ren chuckled and sipped his wine. "The Immortal Platform Third Realm is already impressive. Choosing Reverse Dao Severing is even better."
Duan De grinned proudly. "Do you take me for a fool? Reverse Dao Severing might be difficult, but it leads to greater achievements. There aren't many records of it, but from what I've uncovered, Great Emperors who achieved Reverse Dao Severing were far stronger than those who followed the natural course of the Heavenly Dao!"
"Not bad! You even know that Reverse Dao Severing makes you stronger in the long run," Ren praised him.
"Of course!" Duan De chuckled. "I didn't dig up all those graves for nothing! Some Great Emperors are stronger than others, and one crucial factor is whether they achieved Reverse Dao Severing. Under equal conditions, a Great Emperor who did would absolutely surpass one who didn't!
"Over the years, I've also found clues in many tombs. Among the Primordial King Race and Primordial Imperial Clans, many who became Great Emperors never achieved Reverse Dao Severing. These so-called