Even Wuji's gaze shifted. Though unable to see the other's expression, Chen Fan sensed his stare, a distinctly hostile one. Chen Fan's words had encompassed everyone present.
"City Lord." Elder Chu the Demonic gestured.
"Uh... Haha..." The laugh was extremely awkward. "My apologies, my apologies. I was referring to those good-for-nothings from the Scarlet Sun Domain. Haha..."
The crowd: "..."
His explanation was worse than no explanation at all.
Wuji sighed helplessly, "Never mind. Let's focus on the matter at hand."
"Certainly." Chen Fan agreed with a cheerful alacrity. *As long as you're not angry, old sir.*
"Hey, hey, hey." Chen Fan's voice boomed again. "Has no one from the Sword Master's or Dragon Phoenix Domain arrived?"
"..."
Silence descended upon the world, with no echo.
"They haven't come." Chen Fan smiled. "Then don't blame this City Lord. Once the battle commences, everyone except those from the Realm of Life and Death and the Immortal Realm will be considered enemies."
*Boom.*
Seven rivers of supreme Daos flowed, their sounds echoing with boundless killing intent. If they didn't show up, it meant ill intentions. Ill intentions meant they were enemies.
"City Lord Chen." From the distant void, within a distorted vortex, a sword silhouette appeared. A figure emerged with the sword silhouette, cupping his fist in greeting across the distance. "I am Death Sword, from the Sword Domain, sent by the Sword Master to observe the battle."
Only one person from the Sword Domain had come. This was the Sword Master's stance, and the stance of the entire Sword Domain. They would not participate in this war.
"Heh." Chen Fan grinned. "And the Dragon Phoenix Domain?"
A phoenix cry echoed, and the Phoenix Master emerged. Death Sword, the Phoenix Master... both were the foremost figures beneath their respective Domain Lords.
The Phoenix Master said, "City Lord Chen, the Dragon King has sent me, this Emperor, to merely observe."
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow and looked at the Phoenix Master with a smile. "Who are you addressing as 'this Emperor'?" One could use 'this subordinate,' 'this humble one,' or any other term, but not 'this Emperor.'
Chen Fan's stern expression caused the Phoenix Master to falter. But as a Domain Lord herself, she possessed her own pride. She asked in a deep voice, "What does City Lord mean?"
*Clang.*
A sword cry. Not from within the Sword Domain, but... the Sword of Life and Death. A sword that severed life and death. A sword that split the heavens.
*Puff.*
A burning wing snapped off in mid-air. The sword light was swift to the extreme, brilliant to the extreme.
"Ah..." The Phoenix Master shrieked. She was in human form, yet the sword strike severed her true form. A burning wing detached from her body, its essence blood ignitied.
"Retrieve it." Chen Fan commanded calmly.
Seven Kill vanished instantly. The Seven Kill Great Star illuminated the sky, capturing a phoenix wing. The mountain-sized wing rapidly shrunk. A universe within the palm.
"City Lord." Seven Kill respectfully presented the phoenix wing.
"Keep it." Chen Fan didn't take it. "Later, make some roasted phoenix wings. The flesh and blood of an eighth-tier Chaos Beast is a treasure."
Seven Kill was overjoyed. "Many thanks, City Lord."
"Chen Fan..." The Phoenix Master's voice was filled with extreme anguish and hatred. In the chaos, the Phoenix Master unleashed her astonishing true form. "How dare you attack this Emperor? How dare you sever my wing..." At this moment, the Phoenix Master was filled with boundless rage.
Chen Fan's brow furrowed, killing intent surging. "How dare you utter my name, City Lord? You seek death..."
*Boom.*
The river of Yin and Yang began to churn. Suddenly, a phantom silhouette of a Dragon Dao appeared, looking coldly at Chen Fan. "What is the meaning of this, City Lord Chen?" The Dragon King's Dao power had arrived.
"Jie jie." Before Chen Fan could speak, the Scarlet Sun Great Emperor sneered. "Old Dragon, it seems your Dragon Phoenix Domain is also no match." He was instigating trouble. Rather than the Scarlet Sun Domain fighting the Realm of Life and Death alone, it was better to find an ally. He didn't want to be injured from a battle with the Realm of Life and Death only to have someone lurking behind him. He had been pondering how to draw the Dragon Phoenix and Sword Domains in, and now, Chen Fan was so arrogant that he attacked the Phoenix Master. He would not let such an opportunity slip by.
"Noisy." Chen Fan glared at Scarlet Sun. "Old good-for-nothing, dare to spout more nonsense and this City Lord will immediately order the battle to begin."
Old good-for-nothing. These three words instantly enraged the Scarlet Sun Great Emperor.
"You little beast, you truly don't know what's good for you." Scarlet Sun was truly furious. A dignified eighth-tier Great Emperor, repeatedly called a good-for-nothing. Did he really think this Domain Lord had no temper?
"Come." Chen Fan raised his eyebrows and even beckoned to Scarlet Sun. "I see if you dare to make a move now?"
"..."
Silence. The Scarlet Sun Great Emperor actually did not move.
"Heh heh." This scene made Chen Fan sneer again. "Calling you a good-for-nothing and you still argue. If I were you, and someone insulted me again, I'd kill them no matter the consequences. Look at you, what else are you if not a good-for-nothing? Haha..." Chen Fan laughed wantonly. A good-for-nothing was indeed a good-for-nothing. The Scarlet Sun Great Emperor was indeed apprehensive. He dared not easily engage in a war with the Realm of Life and Death because the Sword Domain and Dragon Phoenix Domain were watching from the sidelines.
Chen Fan scoffed again. "Of the four eighth-tier Great Emperors, only you, Scarlet Sun, are nothing." Having said that, he no longer looked at Scarlet Sun's ashen face and turned to the Dragon King, smiling. "Senior Dragon King, since you're not convinced, stop watching the fun and come here to join the battle." He wanted to drag the Dragon Phoenix Domain in as well. Not just the Dragon Phoenix Domain, but the Sword Domain too.
"Hmph." The Dragon King snorted. "City Lord Chen, this is a path to your own destruction."
Chen Fan didn't care. "What does it matter? Are you expecting to pick up the spoils later?" Don't even think about it. It's impossible.
"Sigh." At this moment, Death Sword Emperor sighed. "City Lord Chen is truly as the Sword Master said. In this final battle, no one can escape." "So be it. My master... will arrive soon." The Sword Master did not want a large-scale war, but if he didn't participate, Chen Fan certainly wouldn't make a move. The Thunder Domain had to be evacuated. Emperor Yu Hua had taken away much of the Dao power of the Divine Firmament Domain. If given time, he could bring more experts into the Thunder Domain. The crisis had arrived. If the Thunder Domain remained isolated, only annihilation awaited them. But to get out, they could only rely on Chen Fan. A dilemma. A battle that could not be avoided.
*Clang.*
Sword intent clashed. From afar, streaks of Great Emperor sword light shot over. The experts of the Sword Domain had arrived.
"City Lord Chen." From a distance, the Sword Master's voice carried. "All the Great Emperors of the Sword Domain have arrived." Chen Fan's impression of the Sword Master was much better than that of the Dragon King and Scarlet Sun. The Sword Master had greeted him proactively, so he naturally stopped playing coy. He cupped his fist in response. "Thank you, Sword Master, for your reinforcement."
Sword Master: "..." *I'm not here to help you...* the Sword Master thought, but did not say it. His eyes, filled with sword intent, looked directly at the Dragon King. "Old Dragon, let's have a battle. Don't try to play tricks. My Sword Domain will not hold back."
Dragon King: "..." His expression was somewhat grim. The Sword Domain was not weak. The Sword Master's intention was clear: to break out of the Thunder Domain. Even at great cost. At the very least, they would leave a path of retreat for their subordinates. Even if the Thunder Domain was breached, they could escape. This battle was now unavoidable. Finally, the Dragon King said helplessly, "Then, as you wish."