Transmigrating over ten thousand years late, I was forced to become a mighty presence

```

"Arrogant!"

Atop a towering peak within the Qilian Demon Realm, a monstrous crimson snake coiled around the mountain peak uttered an angry rebuke from its mouth.

Beneath it, countless snake demons weaved through the mountains, flicking their forked tongues.

This was the Crimson Dragon Demon Emperor, one of the Five Great Demon Emperors of the Qilian Demon Realm. He had ascended to the Void Refining Stage three thousand years ago, and even throughout the entire Primal Chaos Realm, maintained an awe-inspiring reputation.

"The world has awakened for so long, yet he still maintains a cultivation at the peak of the Spirit Refining Stage.

With such strength, he dares to dream of annihilating my Qilian Demon Realm. Could he still believe that the Primal Chaos Realm remains as it was tens of thousands of years ago?"

The voice came from another end of the Qilian Demon Realm, from atop a cliff thousands of feet high where a purple-eyed golden eagle perched, another of the Five Great Demon Emperors, the High Firmament Demon Emperor.

On the ground, an enormous banyan tree stood tall like a colossal umbrella propping up the sky, its vines stretching for hundreds of miles, nearly occupying half of the Qilian Demon Realm.

Attached to the main trunk of the banyan tree, an ancient face opened its lips to speak in a deep tone.

"Cultivation levels mean nothing to that Supreme Taoist. Years ago, before the world's rules had fully revived to support the existence of Spirit Refining True Beings, the Supreme Taoist could already slay True Monarchs of the Dusk Realm who were in the Void Refining Stage.

Now with peak Spirit Refining cultivation, his power must be even more terrifying. Just consider the incident where he slew the Black Bear Great Demon King with a single strike—proof enough of his strength. Does anyone wish to put it to the test?"

With those words, the Black Fiend Demon Emperor, whose form was as fierce as a tiger and imposing as a mountain, let out an agitated roar:

"Demon Emperor Rongyue, don't just make snide remarks here. If it weren't for your offspring investigating the reincarnation of the Demon Saint Bai Ze, thereby infuriating the Supreme Taoist, would our Qilian Demon Realm be in such a predicament?"

Betwixt the mountains, the Shadow Leopard Demon Emperor, who blended into the shadows, spoke in an insidious whisper:

"That Taoist spoke of beheading the instigators. If we were to deliver Demon Emperor Rongyue to him, could we possibly quell some of the Supreme Taoist's rage?"

The Black Fiend Demon Emperor shouted angrily, "Presumptuous! Do you suggest that we, the mighty forces of the Wanzai Demon Realm, should bow to a Supreme Taoist?"

"If bowing our heads ensures our survival, then it isn't entirely out of the question."

"We should make a concerted effort to strike out; even if the Supreme Taoist has a godly cultivation capable of confronting Void Refining Demon Emperors in the Spirit Refining Stage, are the Five Great Demon Emperors still afraid of him alone?"

"All five Demon Emperors appear at once? Do you take the will of the heavens in this world as mere decoration?

If only one or two Demon Emperors appear, perhaps there are ways to conceal it and delay the descent of heavenly judgment. But if five Demon Emperors emerge, it will inevitably bring forth the most terrible heavenly punishment that could potentially obliterate the entire Qilian Demon Realm."

"But... there is still Demon Saint Cang Wu slumbering within our realm. If Demon Saint Cang Wu took action, quelling the Supreme Taoist would be as easy as flipping one's hand!"

"You dare seek Demon Saint Cang Wu's help for the troubles you've brought upon yourself? Aren't you afraid Demon Saint Cang Wu will swallow you whole?"

While the Black Fiend Demon Emperor and the Shadow Leopard Demon Emperor were arguing ceaselessly, the formidable figure of Demon Emperor Rongyue finally took action.

His murky eyes swept over the assembly of Demon Emperors with varying thoughts, and Demon Emperor Rongyue scoffed coldly:

"Do you truly believe that I sent my progeny to investigate the reincarnation of the Demon Saint Bai Ze merely for the sake of an inheritance?"

"For tens of thousands of years, the Great Schism has sealed the Primal Chaos Realm; our demon ancestors encoded the heritage within our blood, enabling our monster tribe to be born with Spiritual Wisdom with each Spirit Energy Tidal Surge, thus embarking on the path of cultivation.

While the inheritance knowledge is precious, it's only so to those of impure bloodline.

We Demon Emperors stand at the pinnacle of the Primal Chaos Realm, all inheriting ancient bloodlines capable of ascending to the Immortal Realm; the Bai Ze inheritance, profound as it may be, is beneath our desire.

Because everyone clearly understands that it is the world itself that prevents us from advancing further, not some legacy!"

The other four Demon Emperors's eyes sharpened upon hearing this, watching Demon Emperor Rongyue with caution.

"What are you implying?"

"You stirred up trouble with the Supreme Taoist, a notorious figure, not for the Demon Saint Bai Ze's inheritance—have you lost your mind?"

Demon Emperor Rongyue smiled indifferently: "I made such a decision naturally under the guidance of an enlightened one."

"An enlightened one? Is it the will of a certain Demon Saint? Or are the Immortals from the grotto heavens sacred ground setting a trap to secretly harm the Supreme Taoist?"

Demon Emperor Rongyue did not immediately respond, but instead posed a question to the assembly of Demon Emperors:

"Do you know why, ten thousand years ago, the Little Clarity Void Grotto Heavens was only one among the 10 Great Grotto Heavens Sacred Lands, barely able to compete for second or third place, yet after the Great Schism ten thousand years later, it became the undisputed number one amongst the grotto heavens sacred lands of this world?"

"Is it because the Little Clarity Void Grotto Heavens belongs to the Yuqing Tao Tradition?"

"Or because of the realization treasure, Origin-purifying Xuanzhen Qi?"

"Is it because numerous wandering Immortals chose to seclude themselves there during the Spirit Energy Tidal Surge?"

Guesses tumbled from the mouths of the four Demon Emperors, but Demon Emperor Rongyue simply shook his head with a hint of mystery.

As the puzzled looks in the eyes of the four Demon Emperors grew more intense, Demon Emperor Rongyue spoke slowly:

"Eight thousand years ago, the Great Schism briefly opened, and a great being from the Upper World descended to the Little Clarity Void Grotto Heavens.

Legend has it that this Upper World being was the origin of the Little Clarity Void Grotto Heavens' Taoist lineage—the Clarity Void Exalted One!"

"The Supreme Taoist has been missing for ten years. Luring out the Supreme Taoist by pursuing the mysterious beast that accompanies him was a command passed down from the Clarity Void Exalted One!"

...

In front of the Qilian Mountain Range, as Shen Yuan's chilling words spread across the vast stretch of mountains spanning thousands of miles, a multitude of creatures from the monster tribe fled in all directions.

```