The Thousand Threads Dao Master did not reveal his true form. Even if it were merely a clone, it possessed the strength of a top-tier Rank Eight.
"So mysterious," the Golden Daoist grumbled as soon as the figure arrived.
Despite being a fellow Rank Nine, the Thousand Threads Dao Master was shrouded in mystery. He didn't even show his true face, acting as if there was some significant reason for it.
The Thousand Threads Dao Master seemed unfazed by the Golden Daoist's grumbling, smiling as he clasped his hands in greeting. "I must thank you all for your generosity."
After this simple statement, the clone of the Thousand Threads Dao Master's gaze settled on Chen Fan. A chuckle escaped him. "You must be City Lord Chen, one of the overlords of the Tenth Land. Truly, a hero of a young age."
Chen Fan smiled. "The Dao Master flatters me."
At the same time, he couldn't help but pout inwardly. *Young man, are you emphasizing seniority? Heh... what's the point? If seniority mattered, why would anyone need strength?*
The twenty Rank Eights who followed the Thousand Threads Dao Master remained silent, standing quietly behind their leader. This was not their territory. However, their eyes frequently scanned Chen Fan. They all knew now that the task of finding the Order Heavenly Stratagem rested with this person.
*Boom!*
Another massive wave of energy washed over them. The Five Elements Dao Master had arrived. The Five Elements Dao Master did not conceal his appearance. He was a middle-aged man whose face was unremarkable yet unforgettable after a single glance. This was the Five Elements Dao Master.
Of the myriad Great Daos, the Five Elements formed the foundation. As the most fundamental rules, they were easy to cultivate but incredibly difficult to delve into deeply, and even harder to integrate. For this man to have reached Rank Nine through the perfection of the Five Elements, he was undoubtedly a rare genius.
Behind the Five Elements Dao Master, five rule spheres rotated slowly.
"I have arrived," the Five Elements Dao Master announced, his voice calm. There were no superfluous words, only a profound tranquility.
"Everyone is here," the Lord of Light declared, clapping his hands. "Then let's hear the plan." He proceeded to recount the suggestion Chen Fan had previously made.
"Agreed."
No one objected. The Thousand Threads and Five Elements Dao Masters, having arrived later, knew that their group had searched the chaotic zone for half a year without success. It seemed they had no choice but to resort to this final method.
"Then let us begin," Chen Fan stated.
As he spoke, *hummm*. Traces of divine consciousness, imbued with the forces of Life and Death, Yin and Yang, and the Four Daos, separated into dozens of streams, each directed towards the individuals present. They extended their hands and received the divine consciousness.
The Thousand Threads Dao Master spoke softly. "I once sought strong practitioners of the Life and Death and Yin-Yang Daos to conduct experiments here. Unfortunately, they were either too weak, or they sensed nothing at all. Perhaps... it was because they did not comprehend it as a single entity." This method had been tried before, but it ultimately ended in failure.
Chen Fan remained noncommittal, his face growing slightly pale. Splitting off so many strands of divine consciousness was a considerable drain on him. Therefore, he felt compelled to issue a warning. "Please, do not destroy my divine consciousness. Splitting so much off is a great strain on me. If I cannot retrieve it in the end, I will be forced to turn hostile. Remember this."
This was both a warning and a statement of fact. Severing so much divine consciousness was akin to dissecting one's soul. If it were all destroyed, the damage to him would be catastrophic.
"Haha," the Five Elements Dao Master guffawed. "Rest assured, we are not so base as to do such a thing."
*I believe you, you fool...* Chen Fan thought, not believing a word. *Anyone who believes that is an idiot. Who would believe this?*
"And one more thing..." Chen Fan felt compelled to add. "When entering dangerous zones, please protect it with your Great Dao. So much divine consciousness has been split off; each strand is not strong."
Everyone nodded. Even the Rank Nines offered no objection to this point. Even a Rank Nine could not make each of dozens of divided divine consciousness strands particularly potent.
"Then... shall we begin?" the Lord of Light inquired.
*Boom.*
The forty-eight individuals dispersed simultaneously. Across the vast chaotic zone, people chose various dangerous locations. They began to sweep through them.
The clone of the Thousand Threads Dao Master entered a swamp. The swamp's power here was immense; one misstep could lead to never returning. As he entered, he shielded Chen Fan's divine consciousness with his Great Dao. He took a few tentative steps forward. "Anything?"
"Nothing," the divine consciousness replied, speaking human words.
"Hmm," the Thousand Threads Dao Master said nothing more, turning and exiting the swamp. He was not disappointed. How could something he had sought for millions of years be found so easily?
Upon leaving the swamp, the Thousand Threads Dao Master did not remove his Great Dao protection; it was too troublesome. He decided to leave it as it was, as it wouldn't waste much.
Unbeknownst to him, Chen Fan, shielded by the Thousand Threads Dao Master's Great Dao, was experiencing an unprecedented surge of pleasure.
"Three Thousand Troublesome Threads, is this the Great Dao of the Thousand Threads Dao Master?" At this moment, he was attempting to comprehend the Thousand Threads Dao Master's Dao. It was a superficial exploration, nothing excessive, merely a shallow understanding. The Thousand Threads Dao Master noticed none of this. Of course, even if he had, he wouldn't have cared, considering it a form of compensation.
The others were in a similar situation. Chen Fan's divine consciousness was sensing everyone's Great Dao. *Heh... did you really think I was a good person?*
"Searching..."
The Sword Master suddenly spoke. "City Lord Chen, what are your intentions?"
With the divine consciousness within the Sword Master's domain, Chen Fan felt more at ease and replied with a smile, "I have gone through so much trouble. I must gain something, mustn't I? The Dao of every Rank Eight cultivator is worth my contemplation, beneficial for my future cultivation."
"Oh," the Sword Master understood. *As expected.* He had harbored suspicions from the beginning that City Lord Chen must have had his own agenda for doing this.
"However, you must still be careful..." the Sword Master advised.
"Rest assured." Chen Fan was extremely confident in this regard. "Before we find the Order Heavenly Stratagem, even if they discover it, they will pretend not to notice and won't do anything to me."
"As long as you are prepared, that is good." The Sword Master said no more. Preparation was key.
As they conversed, the two entered a dense thicket.
"Nothing," Chen Fan stated. The two continued to move to different locations.
While they were talking, far in the distance... *boom.* A lightning strike illuminated the chaotic zone. The colossal lightning, stretching across the heavens.
"Ah..." A scream of agony echoed. Within the blinding lightning, a charred figure struggled relentlessly. However, the lightning was too powerful. No matter how the figure thrashed, it could not break free. Ultimately, a person was reduced to ashes by the lightning.
*Damn it.* Chen Fan's main body's eyes snapped open, and he cursed aloud. That person had triggered the lightning, and with it, his divine consciousness had also been dragged into death.
*Rumble.* The lightning slowly dissipated. The Rank Eight Great Emperor, who had hailed from the Thousand Threads Realm, was utterly annihilated, along with a strand of Chen Fan's divine consciousness.
This scene caused everyone to halt their actions. Moments later, as if nothing had happened, they resumed their search. *Dead is dead. If you die, it means you are useless.* Everyone was accustomed to such occurrences. It wasn't a matter of being cold-blooded, but rather that the rules of the Chaos realm were simply like this. Only Chen Fan's expression turned extremely grim.