Power, too, became a sin.
Jizun seemed lost in memory, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. “The White Emperor back then was not like this. We followed the White Emperor, fought across the world, and eventually became one of the Five Heavenly Emperors.”
“But later, everything changed.”
“After the White Emperor attained the Heavenly Emperor fruit status, he disallowed others from achieving it. Alas…”
The final sigh carried a heavy sense of disappointment.
This was a powerful being who had followed the White Emperor for over ten thousand years.
Jizun continued, “I wasn’t as open-minded as Jianzun. I tested my limits with my life, and in the end… I met this fate…”
Daozun, Jianzun, Jizun… These three had followed the White Emperor for ten thousand years, until this day.
Jianzun accepted it, believing the White Emperor had changed and was no longer worthy of their brothers’ devotion.
But Jizun disagreed, preparing to test his advancement.
Jizun spoke again, “Actually, even if the White Emperor hadn’t intervened, I wasn’t sure I could advance to Heavenly Emperor. But in the end… he still made a move…”
It was impossible not to feel disappointed.
“Did he kill you?” Chen Fan pressed.
“Yes.”
Jizun nodded. “Even if my chances were only one in ten thousand, he still intervened.”
Listening to Jizun’s recollection, Chen Fan showed no impatience.
He had been speaking for nearly an hour, from the beginning until now.
“Alas.”
With a final sigh, Jizun’s figure slowly dissipated.
A voice entered Chen Fan’s mind: “The White Emperor is peerless in offense, with no need for defense. However, countless ages ago, the White Emperor once over-drew the lifespan of an entire epoch for one person.”
After speaking, the voice vanished.
He was gone.
The last trace of this warrior, who had followed the White Emperor for ten thousand years, faded into nothingness.
*Phew.*
The war halberd, which had been impaled in White Emperor Mountain for countless ages, also dispersed.
The last trace disappeared.
Chen Fan’s eyes, however, lit up.
An epoch was one hundred thousand years, and a Heavenly Emperor’s lifespan was around one hundred thousand years.
The White Emperor had overdrawn nearly all of his lifespan.
This piece of information might not be of great significance to others.
But remember, he was the Emperor of Life and Death.
“Thank you.”
Chen Fan clasped his fists towards the spot where Jizun had vanished.
This news was incredibly important to him.
Standing atop White Emperor Mountain, he gazed directly at the Imperial Palace that had suppressed the Western Continent for ten thousand years.
“White Emperor.”
*Bang.*
Chen Fan threw a punch.
Space shattered before his fist.
With an unstoppable momentum, the punch struck the Imperial Palace.
With a roar, the entire Imperial Palace trembled.
“White Emperor, come out.”
His voice echoed, reaching the Imperial Palace. “Otherwise, I will shatter your Imperial Palace.”
Chen Fan was overwhelmingly domineering.
But the White Emperor’s Palace remained utterly silent.
“Hm?”
This wasn't right.
To dare provoke a Heavenly Emperor, and to attack a Heavenly Emperor’s palace so recklessly.
Under normal circumstances, the White Emperor would have emerged to obliterate the provocateur.
“Something is wrong.”
Chen Fan frowned.
This Imperial Palace was imbued with dense Geng Metal energy, yet it radiated no life force.
Why was this so?
If he couldn’t understand it, he would force his way to understanding.
*Boom boom boom.*
Punch after punch landed on the Imperial Palace.
*Hum.*
The Imperial Palace trembled more violently.
Hundred Swords, Thousand Swords, Divine Fist, Rule Kick… Ten thousand techniques were unleashed, a grinding mill of life and death.
All his abilities were directed at the Imperial Palace.
The White Emperor’s Palace shook even more violently, showing signs of collapse.
“What is going on?”
The White Emperor still hadn't emerged.
A moment later, Chen Fan hardened his resolve. “You won’t come out? Then I’ll go in.”
“Sword of Life and Death, descend.”
*Clang.*
The Great Star of Life and Death condensed into the shape of a sword and descended.
Sword of Life and Death, Heaven Splitter.
With a *ripping* sound, the barrier of the White Emperor’s Palace was torn open.
*Phew.*
Instantly, an unimaginably potent Geng Metal aura surged from the rift.
The sharp Geng Metal left countless dense wounds on Chen Fan.
The White Emperor’s offense was peerless.
The aura emanating from the White Emperor’s Palace was also overwhelmingly offensive.
The mere diffused aura broke through the obstruction of the Golden Silk Cicada Robe, leaving him with great Dao wounds.
“Empty?”
Peering through the rift, Chen Fan saw that the White Emperor’s Palace contained only endlessly circulating Geng Metal energy. It was completely empty.
His gaze could pierce through millions of miles.
While he couldn't see the entire Imperial Palace, he could grasp its general state.
“Should I go in?”
At this critical juncture, Chen Fan hesitated.
This White Emperor’s Palace was too unusual.
It lacked any trace of life, he sensed it clearly. Inside… there were no living beings, nor was there any deathly aura.
There was only endless Geng Metal energy.
Every flow of it would tear apart the void.
“Enter.”
Ultimately, Chen Fan stepped inside.
He had come to kill the White Emperor and couldn’t wait any longer.
*Boom.*
The moment the outsider stepped into the Imperial Palace, all the Geng Metal energy erupted into a frenzy.
This place held no living beings.
Any living being’s aura entering the Imperial Palace would provoke the hostility of the Geng Metal energy.
*Clang clang clang.*
Inside the Imperial Palace, all the Geng Metal energy surged forth.
Some as swords, some as sabers, some as halberds…
This was a realm of myriad weapons.
“Begone.”
With the Sword of Life and Death in hand.
He unleashed a single strike, scattering all attacks.
The surrounding area was instantly cleared.
At the end of his line of sight, a mountain loomed faintly.
This was the only noteworthy feature within the White Emperor’s Palace.
“I’ll see what trick you’re playing.”
*Whoosh.*
The Geng Metal energy was parted.
With a single step, Dao patterns flowed.
Chen Fan instantly appeared before the mountain peak.
“What is that…”
His pupils contracted.
On the mountain, there was nothing but a sword.
A sword?
Yet, from this sword, Chen Fan sensed the aura of a living being.
“White Emperor?”
Unimaginable.
Had the White Emperor refined himself into a sword?
Impossible…
Then, where was the White Emperor?
*Hum.*
The long sword sensed Chen Fan’s aura and began to vibrate.
The vibration of the sword affected the mountain and then spread throughout the entire Imperial Palace.
Then…
*Boom!*
The Imperial Palace collapsed.
The sword transformed into the origin point of all suction.
The essence of the shattered Imperial Palace, the endless Geng Metal energy, was all absorbed by the long sword.
A figure in white robes slowly took shape.
*Crack.*
The sky of the Immortal Realm suddenly darkened.
A massive spatial rift appeared, and a ball of intensely pure, yang-infused chaotic lightning squeezed into the Immortal Realm, crashing down towards the figure that had transformed from the sword.
“Who awakens from the great dream first.”
The figure in white robes spoke.
As his eyes opened and closed, two beams of sword light shot out.
*Bang.*
The lightning shattered, like a brilliant fireworks display.
So effortless.
There was only one bolt of chaotic lightning, easily shattered by the figure in white robes.
His aura, however, began to rise in waves.
In an instant, he advanced to the fifth tier.
“It’s done.”
The White Emperor’s face bore a smile.
His gaze swept around and landed on Chen Fan.
A devilish smile formed on his face. “Lord of Sword City, Chen Fan?”
He sounded uncertain.
“White Emperor?”
“It is I.”
The white-robed figure spoke softly, “I slept for thousands of years and have finally entered the fifth tier. Heaven and Earth should celebrate this for this Emperor.”
He raised his hand and grabbed.
*Boom.*
The River of Origin shattered another segment.
“Ah…”
The will of the Immortal Realm cried out again.
Damn it, not again…