The Imperial Palace.
They had actually found a derelict Imperial Palace.
Chen Fan's pupils contracted instantly.
The Fisher also heard it and suddenly asked, "What kind of Imperial Palace?"
Chen Fan turned, sensing the Fisher's agitated emotions.
It was true.
The Fisher's body was trembling.
"What's wrong?"
He was puzzled but didn't voice the question, signaling Wu Xiu to speak.
Wu Xiu received the City Lord's subtle cue and no longer hesitated, saying, "It's just a giant sphere... I don't know how to describe it. Anyway, it's a sphere. There's a tree in front of it. As soon as we got close, the tree spoke, saying it was an Imperial Palace and we shouldn't approach."
"That's right."
The Fisher became even more excited.
Even his voice changed. "Imperial Palace, it's truly an Imperial Palace, and it's already a formed Imperial Palace."
Chen Fan: "???"
What was going on?
Knowing Chen Fan didn't understand, the Fisher quickly explained, "An Imperial Palace is the mark of a Heavenly Emperor. Those who ascend to Emperor must condense their Imperial Palace."
"What?"
Chen Fan didn't understand.
An Imperial Palace, shouldn't it just be a palace for living or cultivation?
Judging by the Fisher's tone, the term "Imperial Palace" seemed to be more than just a simple building.
He looked at the Fisher, waiting for an explanation.
The Fisher didn't waste words and directly said, "The Imperial Palace is the symbol of ascension to Emperor. Just like how we must condense Imperial Qi to enter the Imperial Dao."
His narrative flowed, and Chen Fan listened quietly. "To condense an Imperial Palace and become a Heavenly Emperor is to nurture a world outside one's body. The Imperial Palace is the Heavenly Emperor's world, a world shaped by rules. The Imperial Palace will continue to grow with the Heavenly Emperor's cultivation."
It was a detailed explanation, and Chen Fan finally understood.
"So, what does 'derelict Imperial Palace' mean?"
"After a Heavenly Emperor perishes, their Imperial Palace will collapse, but it won't collapse immediately. Instead, it will slowly disintegrate over time. The stronger the world that dies, the longer it will take for its Imperial Palace to collapse," the Fisher explained.
"I understand."
Chen Fan nodded.
With such a detailed explanation, if he still didn't understand, he would be an idiot.
He pondered for a moment and asked another question, "What does a derelict Imperial Palace represent?"
"An opportunity, a heaven-shattering opportunity."
The Fisher's expression was solemn. "For a Heavenly Emperor, it is a great opportunity. For people like us, the opportunity is unimaginably vast. It is the complete legacy of a fallen Heavenly Emperor."
After hearing the Fisher's explanation, Chen Fan was also moved.
He turned to Wu Xiu and asked, "Where is the derelict Imperial Palace?"
"Crimson Radiance Mountain."
Wu Xiu's face was grim. "Before we could even enter, a group of people attacked us from within the Imperial Palace."
"Hmm?"
A hint of terror appeared in Wu Xiu's eyes. "Indeed, people emerged from the derelict Imperial Palace and tried to capture us. They were all very powerful, and we could only flee. In the end, only a handful of us managed to escape. Da Kui knew I was good at escaping, so he sent me back to report to the City Lord."
There were people inside the derelict Imperial Palace.
Chen Fan looked at the Fisher, who directly stated, "As I said earlier, an Imperial Palace is the nascent form of a world, possessing the foundation to evolve into a heaven and earth. Living beings can exist within it."
"Amazing."
Chen Fan sighed in admiration.
Without the Fisher's explanation, he would never have grasped the significance of an Imperial Palace.
He hadn't expected that the realm of a Heavenly Emperor involved the concept of worlds.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, he remembered something.
Was his River of Rules, the River of Rules that Opened Heaven, also a nascent Imperial Palace?
After some thought, it seemed highly possible.
It was worth a trip to the derelict Imperial Palace to compare it with his own River of Rules.
"Senior."
He said to the Fisher, "I need to visit the derelict Imperial Palace. Will you accompany me, Senior?"
"Naturally."
The Fisher nodded affirmatively.
How could he pass up such an opportunity?
He could abandon the purple star, the chance to become an Emperor, because it wasn't his path.
But a derelict Imperial Palace was something he absolutely could not forsake.
Furthermore, the Fisher added, "The emergence of a derelict Imperial Palace will undoubtedly stir the four directions. This time, people from all five continents will come."
"But the news hasn't spread yet?"
"It cannot be kept secret."
The Fisher sighed. "Such a monumental opportunity is not for just anyone to inherit. It's about destiny. Only the most monstrous of monstrous talents can inherit such a fortune. Heaven's will will also summon all the prodigies of this land to gather, and only the most exceptional among them will be qualified to claim the Heavenly Emperor's legacy."
Alright.
Now that it was clarified, Chen Fan understood.
"Let's go now."
Chen Fan had not forgotten the predicament of Da Kui, Huo Xing, and the others.
Moreover, he also wanted to see what an Imperial Palace truly was.
"Let's go."
The Fisher was quite eager.
However, before leaving, Chen Fan sent a telepathic message to Long Ling, instructing her on a few matters.
Finally, Chen Fan, along with Wu Sheng, Huang Die, and Tian Zai, set out. Including the Fisher, there were five of them in total.
Wu Xiu did not go. It was Chen Fan's suggestion.
He was fortunate enough to return alive, and Chen Fan decided to let him stay in Sword City.
The group of five set off towards Crimson Radiance Mountain.
...
Crimson Radiance Mountain.
"Chi" represented flames.
But the "Chi" in Crimson Radiance Mountain meant absolute poverty.
Crimson Radiance Mountain was barren, like a desolate dead end, devoid of life.
Within a radius of hundreds of miles, there was no trace of human presence.
And deep within Crimson Radiance Mountain, in a plain enclosed by mountain ranges, though desolate and lifeless, a colossal sphere stood quietly.
The sphere, about a hundred feet in diameter, floated serenely.
Fragments constantly peeled off its surface, turning into smoke and dissipating.
With each fragment that fell, the aura of decay intensified.
At a certain moment.
"Buzz."
From the ethereal depths, a seven-colored divine light descended from the sky.
The divine light, faint and ethereal, landed on the sphere.
The next moment, dozens of slightly dim rays of light shot out from the sphere, spreading in all directions, unseen.
In front of the sphere, an ancient, withered tree sprouted a single, pathetic new shoot, which swayed gently.
...
"Whoosh."
Five figures tore through the heavens and earth.
Chen Fan and his four companions rushed at full speed towards the distant Crimson Radiance Mountain.
Crimson Radiance Mountain was located in the easternmost part of the Eastern Continent. Beyond it lay the heavenly barrier of the Immortal Realm.
This world was not infinite; it had an end.
Crimson Radiance Mountain marked the end of this world. Beyond it was the heavenly barrier, and endless chaos enveloped the barrier and the entire Immortal Realm.
The group wasted no time, having already traveled for two hours.
At a certain moment!
Chen Fan suddenly stopped, looking up at the vast, empty sky.
"What is it?" Wu Sheng was by Chen Fan's side.
"..."
After a brief silence, Chen Fan looked at the Fisher and said, "I now understand what you meant earlier.
"What?"
The Fisher didn't understand.
Chen Fan gave a wry smile. "I just felt a power that didn't belong to this world flash by. In the depths, it seemed to be guiding me eastward... where there lies a great fortune."