Within the Imperial Palace realm.
In Chen Fan's perception, the atmosphere here was vastly different from the outside.
How to describe it…
It was as if the power of rules here had a friction with the power of the Immortal Realm.
The Great Dao of rules was right before his eyes, and Chen Fan could even sense how to cultivate this Great Dao.
However, when Chen Fan attempted to integrate with the Dao of this place, he failed.
It was as if he and the Dao of this place were not from the same era.
The Dao here was a vanished Dao.
Whereas the Dao of the Immortal Realm was one in its prime.
The Dao of each era was different, and the Dao of each person was also different.
"How can this sense of separation be broken?" Chen Fan pondered earnestly.
Immediately, an idea struck him.
These rule-based Great Daos, visible everywhere, should be one of the opportunities within the Imperial Palace.
As long as this separation could be broken, one could freely absorb the Great Daos of this place.
After a long period of contemplation, he couldn't find an answer.
"Forget it."
Chen Fan gave up, choosing not to dwell on it for the time being.
The Imperial Palace was a nascent inner world, a true miniature realm.
Though different from the outside, it was the embryonic form of a true world.
At this moment, Chen Fan also thought of many things.
The Heavenly Emperor could create a world, but was the Immortal Realm… perhaps the inner world of an unparalleled powerhouse?
It was very possible…
"Let's go."
He took a step, walking through the desolate and silent world.
Barren and uninhabited.
He walked for a long time without encountering anyone.
The further he walked, the more desolate it became.
After a full hour, he finally saw something different ahead.
"A city?"
Chen Fan was surprised.
In his line of sight, a ruined city appeared on the plain ahead.
The city was long dilapidated, half of it buried underground.
Ruins.
"Whoosh."
He landed within the city.
Inside the city, the ground was covered with withered bones.
It seemed this city had experienced a war, and what remained were the remnants of that conflict.
Countless white bones lay scattered, having existed for an unknown number of years.
"The battle was fierce," Chen Fan muttered to himself.
The traces of combat within the city were extremely tragic.
These scattered white bones, even after countless years, still emanated a faint, lustrous glow.
He casually picked up a piece of bone. Within it, an extremely dense power was contained.
"Half-Emperor."
Chen Fan's expression darkened.
The aura within the bone was not something an ordinary titled Sovereign could possess.
It was definitely a Half-Emperor.
So powerful that even Chen Fan felt a slight tremor of unease.
He searched the ruins for a while but found nothing.
There were signs that this city had been searched before, likely by the original inhabitants of the Imperial Palace.
Nothing was left, only ruins.
"Let's go."
With a sigh, Chen Fan turned and left.
This ruined city had nothing left.
…
He continued to press forward.
After about another half hour.
Ahead, a massive mountain range suddenly appeared.
Unlike the surrounding desolation and silence, this mountain contained life.
Although weak, it possessed life nonetheless.
"Whoosh."
Chen Fan accelerated instantly, charging towards the front.
Soon, a colossal mountain range came into view, vast and seemingly endless.
This great mountain was like a sandwich, placed in the dark void, emitting a faint radiance.
That radiance was life.
Before Chen Fan could get close, an aura emanated towards him, tinged with caution.
Those who could travel in the void like Chen Fan were not weak.
A questioning shout echoed, "May I ask who you are? This is Tiandang Mountain, a Half-Emperor's territory…"
Chen Fan calmly stopped.
He looked at the figure that materialized in the void.
A middle-aged man, carrying a dusty cautiousness, spoke proactively, "Apologies, I'm just passing through…"
"Passing through?"
The suspicion in the middle-aged man's eyes intensified, and he said sternly, "Since you are passing through, I kindly ask you to take a detour. Tiandang Mountain territory is off-limits."
What a joke.
Having finally found a place with people, how could Chen Fan simply leave?
He forced a smile and said, "I'm injured, could I…"
"No."
Before he could finish speaking, he was directly refused.
"…"
Chen Fan immediately became displeased.
Refused?
Sorry, that's not an option.
However, before he could speak…
"Buzz—"
A humming sound suddenly came from behind Tiandang Mountain.
It was the sound of wings beating.
Chen Fan and the middle-aged man turned their heads simultaneously, looking in the direction of the sound.
In their sight, a swarm of huge black locusts was flying towards Tiandang Mountain with an overwhelming momentum.
The locusts were too numerous, a dense mass with no end in sight.
Behind the locusts, everything turned into chaos.
The Imperial Palace realm was being devoured.
"It's over."
A look of intense dread appeared on the middle-aged man's face.
His body trembled with fear.
"World-Ending Locusts."
The middle-aged man, filled with terror, suddenly let out a desperate cry, "The World-Ending Locusts are here, be on guard, be on guard…"
At this moment, Chen Fan was completely forgotten.
The World-Ending Locusts devoured everything, turning it all into chaos.
Chaos, which would then devour everything.
And the World-Ending Locusts were the source of destruction.
"Boom,"
Tiandang Mountain erupted instantly.
Figures appeared one after another, numbering nearly ten thousand.
There were many people, each exuding an incredibly powerful aura.
Panic spread.
Although Tiandang Mountain had nearly ten thousand people, compared to the endless swarm of World-Ending Locusts, all they could do was fear.
"Activate the great formation."
The middle-aged man shouted again.
Tens of thousands of people moved in unison, mobilizing the Great Dao of rules.
In an instant, the formation protecting Tiandang Mountain materialized.
The formation was a cauldron formation, a colossal treasure cauldron suspended in the sky above Tiandang Mountain, its radiance shielding the entire mountain.
Chen Fan suddenly spoke, "Perhaps, I can help a little."
At this moment, if he didn't offer, he wouldn't get a chance.
The middle-aged man couldn't concern himself with Chen Fan's identity anymore.
In the face of the World-Ending Locusts, they were all in the same boat.
"Enter the mountain, quickly."
The middle-aged man shouted, urgently leading Chen Fan into the protective formation.
The atmosphere on the mountain was extremely tense.
Every face was etched with deep fear.
Facing the World-Ending Locusts, no one could avoid being afraid.
Within the Imperial Palace realm, countless people had perished to the devouring of the World-Ending Locusts.
"Prepare."
Everyone stood ready.
The buzzing sound of wings beating was like the death knell.
Fear, trembling…
Chen Fan did not make a move. He stood quietly.
His power did not belong here, and acting now might expose him.
Beside him, the middle-aged man reminded him, "Help out."
"I am very strong,"
Chen Fan's expression was grave. "I am accustomed to acting alone."
The middle-aged man: "…"
He glanced at Chen Fan, but said nothing more.
"Boom."
The World-Ending Locusts finally arrived.
The void was devoured, and chaos spread towards them.
"Tremble."
A roar echoed.
Dong.
The great cauldron suspended in the sky vibrated instantly.
With a 'boom', infinite might erupted.
Ripples of clear rules spread outwards.