The giant demon was dead.
What was supposed to be a foolproof surprise attack had encountered an unexpected twist at the last moment.
The Divine Firmament Domain lost seven or eight Great Emperors, while the Dragon-Phoenix Domain suffered no casualties.
This situation constituted a great victory for the Dragon-Phoenix Domain.
Now, except for the Divine Firmament Emperor, everyone in the Divine Firmament Domain had fled. Without any Great Emperors, the situation should have been perfectly secure.
Who could have imagined that, at this final moment, the giant demon… was actually dead.
Killed by a few insignificant thieves.
The Dragon King's eyes were filled with murderous intent.
The giant demon's corpse must be in the hands of those people.
"Dragon King."
Just as the Dragon King was about to act and capture those few thieves,
An anxious cry interrupted the Dragon King's movement: "Hurry, time is up."
Only a few seconds remained.
Through the spatial passage, the Dragon King could already sense powerful auras approaching the Dragon-Phoenix Domain.
The Dragon King's expression changed, and he turned around instantly.
"Go."
This time, everyone plunged into the spatial passage as one.
Boom.
The spatial passage collapsed immediately.
"Roar."
The Dragon King transformed into his true form.
His massive dragon body propped open the passage, shielding everyone as they rapidly passed through.
This amount of spatial energy was insufficient to harm the Dragon King.
All he wanted was a passage that allowed for a swift return to the Dragon-Phoenix Domain.
...
The border of the Dragon-Phoenix Domain.
The Great Sun and the Heavenly Sword arrived simultaneously.
"Not here at all?"
Ten Great Emperors gathered, their senses extending outwards.
Instantly, the entire situation within the Dragon-Phoenix Domain was perceived by both sides.
"Roar."
Deep within the Dragon-Phoenix Domain, two enormous dragons soared into the sky.
"Sword Domain, Crimson Sun Domain, what are you doing in our Dragon-Phoenix Domain?"
The Dragon-Phoenix Domain surprisingly had two Great Emperor dragons guarding it.
One black, one white.
The two Great Emperor dragons rapidly flew towards the border.
"Heh."
The ten Great Emperors exchanged glances.
The next moment, they attacked directly.
"Heh heh."
Suddenly, a cold laugh echoed through the heavens and earth.
The familiar cold laugh caused the Great Sun and the Divine Sword, who had already flown out, to instantly return.
"Hahaha."
Within the Great Sun, a figure in white robes laughed, "So it's the Dragon King Realm Master. We heard the Dragon King was leading an attack on the Divine Firmament Domain, so we were worried some scoundrels might take the opportunity to cause trouble in the Dragon-Phoenix Domain. The Realm Master therefore ordered us to come and help the Dragon King guard the home."
A voice also emanated from the Divine Sword: "Since the Dragon King has returned, it seems our presence is no longer needed. We shall depart immediately."
"Hmph."
The Dragon King snorted coldly, "Please relay a message to those two old fellows: the affairs of our Dragon-Phoenix Domain do not require their concern. They should worry about themselves, lest they be attacked one day."
This was a threat.
The Dragon King was deeply displeased.
What scoundrels? You are the true scoundrels.
Facing the Dragon King's threat, the Great Emperors of the two great realms did not get angry, and instead said with a smile, "We will certainly convey the Dragon King's advice."
They were merely messengers.
They had no right to interfere in matters between rank eights.
After cupping their fists, the Great Sun and the Divine Sword swiftly departed.
"Hmph."
The Dragon King snorted coldly, watching both sides leave.
Only then did he laugh heartily, "From this day forward, the Four Great Domains have become a three-way balance. The Divine Firmament Domain is ruined, and our Dragon-Phoenix Domain will be the strongest."
The spoils of this campaign were immense.
Apart from the accidental loss of the giant demon's death.
The gains from this operation were truly substantial. Once fully digested, it would be possible to cultivate four or five more Great Emperors.
Each Great Emperor was a strategic resource for a domain.
"Universal celebration."
After the Dragon King's final words, he returned to the Dragon Palace.
The remaining matters did not require his personal involvement.
Naturally, someone would ensure the fair distribution of resources, a task at which the Dragon King excelled.
Those who contributed more, received more.
Those who contributed less, received less.
...
Divine Firmament Domain.
Whoosh.
Chen Fan and his group, through desperate effort, finally escaped the Divine Firmament Domain.
"Quick."
Mere escape was not enough.
They needed to be truly safe.
They had to flee far enough.
Although Emperor Qingxiao was not dead, and their vengeance was not yet complete, there would be time in the future.
The gains from this operation, while perhaps insignificant to the Dragon-Phoenix Domain, were a grand feast for a world that was merely rank five.
"Did we… really escape?"
The group fled frantically, yet they still couldn't quite believe it.
From infiltrating the Divine Firmament Great World, to finally slaying the Great Emperor dragon and escaping… it all felt like a dream.
"Hoo."
Immortal Emperor exhaled beside them, "This is the first time I've felt such excitement since I awoke.
He only possessed physical memories, not a soul, and therefore no emotions.
However, the act of slaying a rank seven Great Emperor and escaping under the gaze of a rank eight made even him, a soulless, half-dead being, feel a sense of excitement.
"Heh heh."
Overlord chuckled in agreement, "This is what we should be doing. City Lord, next time we fight a Great Emperor, I'll be in the vanguard."
The scene of the City Lord killing a Great Emperor had a profound impact on them.
At the same time, it rekindled their confidence.
So… Great Emperors weren't invincible after all, even a severely injured one.
"Stop talking."
Chen Fan's expression, however, was grave, "We are not safe yet."
"Huh?"
Not safe? Why?
They had already left the range of the Divine Firmament Domain's Great Dao radiation. How could they not be safe?
Boom!
As soon as the words fell.
Behind them, from the distant Divine Firmament Domain, an incredibly violent Great Emperor's pressure swept through the chaotic void.
The aura shook the heavens and earth, a power of rank seven, filled with boundless ferocity.
"Little bug, where are you?" Emperor Qingxiao's voice reverberated through the chaos.
Once the Realm Master of a rank seven Great World, a top-tier rank seven, he controlled the Great Dao universe and wielded the power of the world.
Within his world, he could even contend with a rank eight.
But now, all of that was gone.
Because of a single insignificant thief, all of this had occurred.
The Divine Firmament Domain's heavy losses were almost entirely due to the crucial role played by Chen Fan and his group.
If they hadn't stripped Qingxiao of his universal origin, everything that followed would not have happened.
"Little bug, where are you?"
Emperor Qingxiao's rage was palpable.
He had now become a mere itinerant cultivator, one without the power of the Great Dao.
His roars caused countless beings to tremble.
Above the Divine Firmament Domain, Qingxiao revealed his heaven-shattering form.
His colossal figure, with eyes that pierced through myriad miles, scanned all directions.
"Hurry."
Chen Fan spoke no further, merely urging them on, and continued to flee at full speed.
Finally, before Emperor Qingxiao's gaze swept over them, the group had escaped a sufficient distance.
...
"Hoo, now we are truly safe." Chen Fan's face was somewhat pale.
He had been on the run constantly lately, having encountered much misfortune.
But the outcome was good; one day, they would no longer have to flee.
"Let's return to the Life-Death Realm first."
After flying for a while longer.
The group, from afar, saw the rank five Great World surrounded by life and death.
Rank five was not weak.
Coupled with Chen Fan, a rank six Yin-Yang Great Emperor, and Immortal Emperor and Old Demon Chu, both rank five, they were not inferior to an ordinary rank six Great World.