Tian Wen hesitated.
Chen Fan could see it. He stood within the river of rules, like a deity.
He opened his mouth and said, "What is your aspiration, to become a Sovereign of how many paths?"
He wanted to see where Tian Wen's expectations lay.
Tian Wen thought for a moment and said, "I wish to become a Titled Sovereign."
Chen Fan: "..."
A Titled Sovereign was not something everyone could achieve.
The Immortal Realm was teeming with prodigies, yet very few could ascend to become Titled Sovereigns.
The limit Chen Fan could reach was not something anyone could attain.
He was an Origin Weaver.
Tian Wen continued, "The Tian family is considered a second-tier force in the Central Continent."
Chen Fan remained silent, quietly listening to Tian Wen speak. "My Tian family's ancestor was a Titled Sovereign, who reached the extreme of the Sovereign Path. However, since the ancestor, for hundreds of years, no Titled Sovereign has emerged from the Tian family."
Titled Sovereigns were the foundation of various forces.
Every Titled Sovereign could be called a mighty being.
Chen Fan listened quietly.
Tian Wen let out a bitter laugh and said, "The Tian family appears glorious on the surface, but in reality, the ancestor has reached the end of his lifespan. Unable to enter the Emperor realm, he awaits his demise. Once the ancestor falls, the Tian family will inevitably decline."
"Over the years, the Tian family has amassed many enemies. Once the Tian family crumbles, they will undoubtedly face a fate of being carved up."
Chen Fan spoke and asked, "Besides you, does the Tian family have no other prodigies?"
"Yes."
Tian Wen nodded. "But currently, the most monstrous youth of our Tian family has only opened eight paths of Sovereign Qi, and is already struggling to progress. Perhaps, before the ancestor's death, he won't be able to advance to the Sovereign Path with nine or more paths of Sovereign Qi."
"Heh."
Chen Fan chuckled, "If even your Tian family's most monstrous disciple cannot, and you wish to become a Titled Sovereign, do you think it is possible?"
He did not believe it would be a simple matter.
*Bang.*
Facing Chen Fan, Tian Wen actually knelt down. "It was the City Lord who gave me hope."
Chen Fan: "???"
"Tian Wen thanks the City Lord for bestowing upon this subordinate a path of Thunder Sovereign Qi."
A flicker of ardor appeared in Tian Wen's eyes. "I beg the City Lord to save my Tian family. As long as the City Lord allows me to advance to the Sovereign Path with nine paths of Sovereign Qi, this life of Tian Wen, no... the entire Tian family, will become the City Lord's vassal force."
The price was immense.
Chen Fan looked at him, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness. "Nine paths of Sovereign Qi, a Titled Sovereign, I can give them to you, but it does not match your offering."
A mere Tian family was not worth Chen Fan expending such great effort for Tian Wen's advancement.
At this moment, even if Tian Wen advanced to Sovereign with just one path of Sovereign Qi, it would be sufficient for him.
What he needed was Tian Wen's Dao of Life.
"City Lord."
Tian Wen's eyes held a plea. "I beg the City Lord to help me. As long as the City Lord is willing to let me advance with nine paths of Sovereign Qi, I..."
A blush bloomed on Tian Wen's face. "I am willing to give everything, my soul, my body... anything."
To become a Titled Sovereign, Tian Wen had gambled everything.
As long as she became a Titled Sovereign, she would have the qualifications to prop up the Tian family and prevent its decline.
At least...
That day, the appearance of the Thunder Sovereign Qi had sparked this idea in Tian Wen.
The Tian family had also received an invitation from Freedom City.
Initially, Tian Wen had planned to discuss this matter when Chen Fan succeeded as City Lord, but she hadn't expected Chen Fan to appear proactively.
"Heh."
Chen Fan smiled.
He understood what Tian Wen meant.
However, if he needed a woman, would it be this difficult?
Tian Wen was indeed very beautiful, but unfortunately, Chen Fan was straight.
In his eyes, no matter how beautiful, they were just painted skeletons.
Having experienced much, he no longer placed much importance on beauty.
Tian Wen did not rise, remaining kneeling on the ground.
After a long while, Chen Fan finally spoke, "Since you have a request, I will tell you the truth. I need your Dao of Life, it is indispensable."
"I can give you other Sovereign Qi, but... if your body cannot withstand it, I will stop. At that point, no matter how many paths of Sovereign Qi you have endured, you must advance."
The Dao of Life, the best path to neutralize death qi, could not be lost.
Tian Wen gritted her teeth and said, "Alright."
She agreed.
"Since that is the case... Boom..."
Above Tian Wen's head, the river of rules unfurled.
A three-thousand-meter-long river of rules spanned across space and appeared above Tian Wen's head.
It must be noted here that the space where the river of rules resided and the space where Tian Wen was located were not the same space.
They did not overlap.
Even though Tian Wen's physical body was in the room, with only a small space around her, above her head, another space might be the boundless starry sky.
The river of rules was not restricted by space.
"Enter."
Chen Fan's tone was stern.
Tian Wen stood up and, without hesitation, stepped into the river of rules.
The next moment, Tian Wen vanished.
...
For Tian Wen to enter the river of rules, the two spaces had to make contact.
This was unavoidable, an absolute necessity.
Except for Chen Fan himself, anyone else entering his river of rules required space overlap.
The moment the two spaces overlapped.
Within the Tian family, numerous Sovereign Path cultivators sensed the aura.
"Boom."
The auras of the Sovereign Path cultivators filled the heavens and earth.
There were eleven Sovereign Path cultivators cultivating in seclusion in the ancestral land of the Tian family, including Tian Fu, the patriarch of the Tian family.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh."
Figures flickered and appeared in Tian Wen's room.
"Where is she?"
Tian Fu's face sank, turning grim.
His daughter had already refined two paths of Sovereign Qi and was qualified to pursue more.
Now, she had disappeared.
Beside him, another Tian family Sovereign said, "I just sensed a strange rule power."
"Could it be that someone abducted the young lady?"
This speculation made everyone else's faces grow even more grim.
Currently, the future of the Tian family rested on the younger generation.
Their generation was spent; they were pinning their hopes on the next generation to produce another Sovereign Path cultivator.
"Who could it be?"
All eleven had extremely grim expressions.
Could someone have learned of the ancestor's condition and decided to make a move against the Tian family?
"Patriarch."
Someone cupped their fists towards Tian Fu. "Why don't we seek guidance from the ancestor?"
The ancestor of the Tian family, the founder of the Tian family in his time, and the Tian family's only Titled Sovereign.
"No."
Patriarch Tian shook his head firmly. "The ancestor is in closed-door cultivation. Unless the Tian family faces imminent destruction, he must not be disturbed."
"Then what should we do?"
Unable to approach the ancestor, everyone was at a loss.
Finally, Tian Fu, as the patriarch, issued an order. "This matter must not be spread. Search for the young lady's whereabouts in secret."
"..."
The ten exchanged glances, none understanding the patriarch's intentions.
Tian Fu felt a headache coming on. "Before the ancestor exits his seclusion, or before the Tian family produces another Titled Sovereign, no matter what happens, endure it."
"But..."
"There is no 'but'."
Tian Fu was somewhat impatient. None of these old brothers beside him could hold up the fort.
In the end, he could only explain helplessly. "Go. I have my own plans."