But in reality, all the final winners had lost—lost terribly.
By the time of the Journey to the West era, when Son Goku wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor personally witnessed his subordinates paying lip service while acting against him. Especially the immortals of the Interception Sect—they simply had no desire to put in any effort.
In the end, he had no choice but to invite Tathagata Buddha from Western Heaven.
That was downright laughable. The majestic Heavenly Emperor, ruler of the Three Realms, had to ask the Western Teachings to come suppress Son Goku. Wasn't that a direct slap in his own face? Wasn't he openly admitting that the Heavenly Court had no one capable?
So, in the end, the Jade Emperor had still lost. Behind his seemingly glorious image, countless people in the Heavenly Court obeyed him in word but defied him in action. He could not keep them all under control.
Even the Netherworld was the same.
The Witch Race, Buddhist School, and Asura Race were all mixed together there. He likewise had no way to govern it properly.
Then there was the Human World, which was even more chaotic. Aside from Southern Jambudvipa, the other major continents were complete disorder, with demons and monsters running rampant.
There was even Heaven Beyond Heaven, which faced attacks from the ferocious beasts of Chaos. Even after the remnants of the Ancient Demon Race following the War of the Witches and Demons had been stationed there to fend off those Chaos beasts—
—it was still not enough. The Jade Emperor's true body had to personally lead a group of elite heavenly soldiers and generals, with the help of the Human Sect's senior brother, to suppress the passageway.
In short—
The Three Realms were riddled with holes, with