"The Gauntlets are the Mad Emperor?"
This speculation was too preposterous.
The Gauntlets chuckled, "What nonsense are you spouting? The Mad Emperor perished long ago, and I... am merely a weapon spirit."
"Do you truly believe I know nothing?"
Chen Fan sneered, "Weapon spirit, weapon spirit, there's no such thing as a weapon spirit in this world."
"Who said that?"
"I did."
Chen Fan's tone was resolute, "A so-called weapon spirit is born from the wielder's will after prolonged use of the weapon.
This born 'weapon spirit' is merely a second owner, or more accurately... a clone."
A clone, perhaps, was a more fitting term.
"..."
After a brief silence, a sigh emanated from the Gauntlets, "I admit my mistake. I forgot you wielded a divine artifact."
The Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi had touched the Gauntlets before.
"Fine, I admit it."
Then, it added, "Since I've admitted it, let's return to the Mad Realm first. I will tell you anything you wish to know."
"Very well."
It was good that it finally spoke.
"Let's go."
*Whoosh.*
Chen Fan's figure vanished from his spot instantly.
"Holy cow."
The Gauntlets were startled.
Then, its eyes lit up, "Teleportation?"
Good heavens, it was indeed teleportation.
However...
Damn it, if it left, what about me?
Shit.
It had no choice but to flee on its own.
"Boom."
A destructive aura erupted, and the Gauntlets tore through the heavens and earth.
The World-Destroying Locusts were instantly scattered by the Gauntlets' destructive aura.
...
Rumble.
The heavens and earth were trembling.
The Gauntlets had emerged.
Chen Fan, who had teleported, waited for a full minute before the Gauntlets finally caught up.
"Youngster."
The Gauntlets' tone was filled with strong dissatisfaction, "Since you possess the power of teleportation, why didn't you bring me along?"
"You jest, Senior."
Facing the Mad Emperor, Chen Fan remained very humble, "The Mad Emperor's combat power is unparalleled. This distance is nothing to you, Senior."
The Gauntlets: "..."
"Senior, let's talk," Chen Fan's expression turned solemn.
The injuries on his body had long since healed.
The Great Dao of Life flowed through him effortlessly.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"About you, of course?"
The Gauntlets: "..."
If you don't speak, I'll ask myself.
It's no good if you don't open your mouth.
Chen Fan said with a smile, "Senior, how did you fall?"
The Mad Emperor: "..."
"What's wrong? Can't you answer?" Chen Fan showed no tact.
Silence naturally meant unwillingness.
But... I'm sorry, this City Lord is not someone who understands subtle hints.
He pressed on, "Senior, it's all in the past. Do you not even have the courage to admit defeat?"
"You don't need to provoke me."
The Mad Emperor sneered, "There's nothing I cannot say about this matter. I, this Emperor, died at the hands of an Immortal Lord."
Immortal Lord.
Another Immortal Lord.
"Senior, can you tell me about the Immortal Lord?" Chen Fan was extremely curious about this name.
Just like his initial curiosity about the Wuji Supreme.
Who wouldn't be curious about the one who opened the passage between the lower realm and the Immortal Realm, said to be the first to enter the Immortal Realm?
"Alas."
The Mad Emperor was reluctant to mention this person.
But seeing Chen Fan's demeanor, it was impossible not to mention him.
It could only say, "The Immortal Lord came from a small world..."
Chen Fan inwardly agreed: "Earth."
Of course, he didn't say it.
Instead, he listened to the Mad Emperor's recollection, "That fellow appeared out of thin air back then. Of course, we later found his origin, a small world we had never set foot in."
"White clothes, white hair... it seemed even his world was white."
"He was an exceptionally proud man, yet immensely arrogant. After arriving in the Immortal Realm, he challenged everyone... and dethroned many ancient Heavenly Emperors."
"Impressive."
Chen Fan marveled inwardly.
Like him, he had to be cautious when he first arrived in the Immortal Realm.
But that person, upon arrival, challenged everyone. According to the Mad Emperor, he should have been undefeated.
As if understanding Chen Fan's thoughts, the Mad Emperor continued, "That's right, that person was undefeated. After defeating all the powers in the Immortal Realm, he gathered everyone and demanded that the Heavenly Emperors of all factions give up half of the Immortal Realm's territory, as he wanted to bring people from his small world to live there."
Chen Fan: "..."
Well.
That was too overbearing.
"You didn't agree, did you?" Chen Fan asked.
"Of course."
The Mad Emperor nodded, then remembered something, "By the way, this place wasn't called the Immortal Realm back then, but the Nine Heavens Realm. It was renamed the Immortal Realm by the Immortal Lord after that great battle."
"What great battle?"
Although he already had an answer in mind, Chen Fan still asked.
The Mad Emperor's tone became much more solemn, "A great battle that swept across the Nine Heavens Realm. The Immortal Lord alone fought against thirteen Heavenly Emperors of the Nine Heavens Realm."
"Hiss."
Chen Fan gasped, "What was the result? Did the Immortal Lord win?"
"Yes."
Even though it was unwilling to admit it, the Mad Emperor did not want to deviate from the truth.
Victory should be won with pride, and defeat with integrity.
It continued, "That battle almost shattered the Nine Heavens Realm. Although the fighting was fierce, no one perished."
"Hmm?"
"Don't rush, I'm not finished."
The Mad Emperor continued, "Both sides co-ruled for a period of peace. But shortly after that great battle, the Nine Heavens Realm faced an unprecedented crisis."
"Be more specific?"
"External invasion."
"More specific..."
What external invasion, he could generally understand.
The Mad Emperor said, "The chaos is endless, and the Nine Heavens Realm is merely a tiny grain of sand in the chaos.
Small worlds like the Nine Heavens Realm are everywhere in the chaos."
Its voice grew increasingly solemn, "The descent of the Thunder Realm caused the Nine Heavens Realm to collapse completely. Countless powerful beings invaded the Nine Heavens Realm, plundering the world's origin..."
World origin.
The foundation that supports the existence of a world.
Take the Mad Realm as an example. The Great Dao of Destruction of the Mad Emperor supports the existence of the Mad Realm. After it was transformed into a world, it became the Origin of Destruction.
The Nine Heavens Realm was the same, containing the power of origin.
The Mad Emperor continued, "The collision of two worlds, the invasion of two worlds... the Immortal Lord drew his sword and fought, leading all the Heavenly Emperors. However..."
"However what?"
"Alas."
Although it was somewhat shameful, the Mad Emperor did not conceal anything, "The war lasted for over a thousand years. The Thunder Realm had infiltrated the Nine Heavens Realm, leaving it riddled with holes. Compared to the Thunder Realm, the Nine Heavens Realm was too weak. Without the Immortal Lord, the top combatant, the Nine Heavens Realm wouldn't have lasted even a year, let alone a thousand."
"But in the end, the Thunder Realm secretly absorbed a group of Heavenly Emperors from the Nine Heavens Realm and backstabbed the Immortal Lord."
"Heh heh."
Chen Fan's laughter was somewhat jarring, "Including you, the Mad Emperor?"
"That's right."
Having reached this point, it was no longer ashamed.
"At that time, the destruction of the Nine Heavens Realm was almost a foregone conclusion. Emperors live for ten thousand years; naturally, they were unwilling to perish just like that, so a group of Heavenly Emperors betrayed him."
"And then?"
"Then..."
The Mad Emperor's voice trembled slightly, "The Immortal Lord went mad. Disregarding the invasion of the Thunder Realm, he first slaughtered all the Heavenly Emperors of the Nine Heavens Realm."