The world's scorn! A Heavenly Emperor's gift-only the useless enter forbidden zones!

"Time... was running out."

Death Qi quietly gathered in Ye Mingyuan's eyes, nearly beyond his ability to suppress.

Once it erupted completely, that would be the moment of his death.

He gazed at the boundless universe, unable to bear the thought of the mortal world he had protected all his life descending into another bloody storm from the day he passed away.

That Holy Spirit who had attained the Dao had to be eliminated.

But... how?

His opponent had only just attained the Dao and had ample lifespan left. He clearly intended to outlast him.

Unless...

He could keep living...

Sever himself with a single slash and become a Supreme.

The thought echoed through Ye Mingyuan's mind, only for him to cut it down himself.

No. Absolutely not!

Once he experienced what it felt like to seal himself away and preserve his lifespan...

Even he could not guarantee that he would hold fast to his original convictions and never fall into becoming a true Supreme.

Perhaps...

He could take a similar path?

That day.

The imperial palace shone ever more brilliantly.

The Heavenly Emperor's true body appeared before the world once more.

An avenue of golden light unfurled, extending all the way to the outskirts of the Immortal Court Forbidden Zone on Fallen Immortal Star!

The Heavenly Emperor's movements.

Naturally, everyone took notice, and at this sight, questions arose in the hearts of the world.

What was the Heavenly Emperor going to do?

Could he be seeking the Chaos Heavenly Emperor's help, asking him to eliminate that Holy Spirit who had attained the Dao for the living beings of the universe?

But that seemed rather fanciful.

When the Dark Turmoil had descended, two Supremes had washed the universe in blood, yet the Chaos Heavenly Emperor had merely watched coldly, utterly unconcerned.

If he truly intended to protect the universe, why would he have sealed himself in a forbidden zone for tens of thousands of years?

The only time he had emerged, he had grievously wounded two Heavenly Emperors.

It seemed the Heavenly Emperor's journey was destined to end in failure...

Some sighed.

But the next moment, the immortal mist dispersed.

The Chaos Heavenly Emperor had actually agreed to let the Heavenly Emperor enter!

Could... there truly be a turn for the better!?

All at once, hope kindled in the hearts of the world!

Everyone waited for the Heavenly Emperor to persuade the Chaos Heavenly Emperor to emerge alongside him, find that Holy Spirit who had attained the Dao, and annihilate him utterly!

But...

Three days passed.

The immortal mist had long since gathered again, shutting out every prying gaze.

No one knew what had happened inside.

Yet everyone remained full of anticipation!

The Chaos Heavenly Emperor had always treated the world with indifference. Persuading him would surely take some talking, so spending a little more time was normal.

Seven days passed.

A vague unease arose in the hearts of the world.

But seeing the imperial palace still shining, they suppressed that thought, not daring to pursue it.

A month later.

The atmosphere throughout the universe had changed.

For they could sense that the Great Dao belonging to the Heavenly Emperor... had vanished.

The imperial palace at the center of the starry sky had also lost its radiance.

Every sign pointed to one thing.

The Heavenly Emperor... had chosen to enter the Immortal Court Forbidden Zone in his twilight years, sever himself with a single slash, and fall to become a Supreme!

The sky had collapsed.

The last remaining hope in the hearts of all living beings shattered with it!

The lofty Heavenly Emperor who had protected the world for tens of thousands of years...

Had chosen, in his final days, to fall into becoming a Supreme so that he could endure in this world!

Such an enormous disparity struck people's hearts like a heavy hammer!

From that moment onward, the world spat upon his actions.

They toppled his statues!

In the ancient histories, they erased his achievements and left behind his infamy.

Everyone believed that he was just like those Great Emperors and ancient emperors of the past.

During their reigns, they protected all living beings.

They slew Supremes, deterred the forbidden zones, and accomplished many feats that the world passed down.

But once they entered their twilight years...

They clung greedily to continued existence, unwilling to pass away.

They chose to enter a forbidden zone, hoping that after endless ages, the path to immortality would open and they could ascend the immortal path!

Even though some still refused to believe it, convinced that there must be more to the Heavenly Emperor's circumstances...

Before the surging tide, they could only drift with the current.

"Heh-human nature."

Deep within the Immortal Court.

Lu Qingyun sat cross-legged and let out a contemptuous laugh.

Watching the imperial palace that had sheltered the world for over ten thousand years being razed, he could not help turning his head toward a figure sealed within Immortal Source.

It was none other than Ye Mingyuan!

"Well? Being misunderstood by the world doesn't feel good, does it?"

"You devoted your entire life to all living beings. Even in your twilight years, you were still laying plans for them. Yet in the end... you wound up struck from the ancient histories, slandered and cursed without restraint. Does that feel good?"

The corners of Lu Qingyun's mouth curled upward, his mockery on full display.

Ye Mingyuan opened his eyes. The Death Qi within him had already been firmly suppressed by an exceptionally powerful and pure force of life.

Even after so long, he still could not help marveling at how terrifying Lu Qingyun's methods were!

He had probably long since reached an inconceivable realm!

Listening to Lu Qingyun's mockery, Ye Mingyuan, sealed within Immortal Source to slow the draining of his life, showed not the slightest ripple in his eyes.

He did not care how the world judged him.

Everything he did was simply a choice to follow his own heart.

"When... that Holy Spirit who attained the Dao emerges."

"Everything will change."

Ye Mingyuan's voice was exceedingly calm, his gaze fathomless, as though he had already seen through everything in the world.

He did not worry about being cursed.

Instead, he worried about not being cursed.

Otherwise, if the world did not believe that he had fallen into a forbidden zone and no longer shouldered his duties...

How could that Holy Spirit who had attained the Dao possibly believe it?

"Mm, good."

"You know I've always had great faith in you."

Lu Qingyun's eyes were full of encouragement.

It was not mockery. On the contrary, he was extremely sincere.

Because...

Ye Mingyuan's actions had triggered a mission.

If not for this mission, he would never have chosen to let Ye Mingyuan in, much less infused him with so much life essence.

[Mission (The Heavenly Emperor's gift): The reigning Heavenly Emperor has taken the initiative to visit, wishing to offer you, the lord of a forbidden zone, an immortal stone that has attained the Dao! This act will not only add a wondrous sight to the forbidden zone and bolster its foundations, but also prove the might of the Immortal Court Forbidden Zone!

Mission reward: A specific Ten Fiends Precious Technique (God Striking Stone)]

Lu Qingyun glanced at the system panel, a faint flash of delight crossing his eyes.

He hoped more good things like this would come along, letting him receive rewards without even leaving home.

Now, he only needed to wait for Sheng Ying to emerge.

But there was one problem...

Lu Qingyun looked at Ye Mingyuan, a little doubtful.

In this fellow's condition... could he win?

He was a Heavenly Emperor, after all. Counting the revival when he attained the Dao, he had lived three lives in total.

Fighting a Holy Spirit who had attained the Dao but was cowardly as hell shouldn't be a problem... right?

Don't end up costing me my system reward...

Meanwhile, within the Immortal Source, Ye Mingyuan's presence was as deep as an abyss as he remained dormant.

Sensing the vitality slowly draining within him, he steadily gathered a fighting will entwined with Death Qi, preparing for the world-shaking battle to come.

The bold words he had spoken back then to gain entry into the forbidden zone kept echoing in his mind.

"Lend me your aid."

"I will burn through my very last shred of strength and present you with that one-of-a-kind immortal stone that has attained the Dao, for you to play with!"

Within a small world suffused with Chaos Qi.

Sheng Ying sat upright at the center of the world, breathing endless Chaos Qi in and out, gradually bringing his Dao fruit to perfection.

After a thousand years of recuperation.

The injuries he had sustained while attaining the Dao had fully healed, and his cultivation realm had stabilized.

Now, he was a Great Emperor at the very height of his power!

Moreover, because he had attained the Dao as a perfected Holy Spirit, even though only a few hundred years had passed since his attainment and he had not even comprehended the Heavenly Heart Imprint...

He remained confident that he was no weaker than any Peak Great Emperor!

"A thousand years have passed. If he hasn't severed himself and sealed himself within Immortal Source, that Heavenly Emperor's lifespan must have run out completely."

"He probably really has sealed himself in a forbidden zone."

"Heh-ridiculous! He attained the Dao with a Sacred Body and possessed tens of thousands of years of lifespan, yet couldn't take another step and achieve immortality. Utterly useless!"

"Only failures choose to enter forbidden zones!"

"As for me, my aptitude defies the heavens. I am destined to attain the Dao as a True Immortal in this life!"