The Supreme is dead.
Or at least, that is how it appeared to those who watched.
But a soft exclamation escaped from Qingdi: "Two souls?"
This realm belonged to Qingdi's control.
Nothing could escape Qingdi's gaze.
Where the Supreme had died, two souls intertwined had appeared.
Others could not see it, but Qingdi could.
"Hahaha."
Suddenly, laughter echoed through the heavens and earth.
Of the two intertwined souls, one was devoured by the other.
Then, a bloody, leaden cloud surged into the sky.
The laughter, accompanied by the hatred of countless years, declared: "Ling Gan Yang, I... have returned."
...
The Battle of Xizhou.
Chen Fan and Jianzun were locked in combat.
The magnitude of their battle was immense.
"Heavenly Sword Destroys Worlds."
Between Jianzun, an infinite expanse.
A single sword strike descended, aimed at Chen Fan.
*Clang.*
The Sword of Life and Death materialized.
Two long rivers flowed on either side of the blade, like ripples of water, yet they carved out life and death.
"Chiii."
Both were masters of the sword.
Sword energy blazed, engaging in a furious slaughter.
Shattered rules scattered like embers across the heavens and earth, each collision tearing the void asunder.
Both were top-tier Rank Three powerhouses, just one step away from entering the Heavenly Emperor realm.
"Is this your confidence?"
Jianzun’s sword strike, the Sword of Life and Death was knocked aside.
Sword intent surged, landing on Chen Fan's chest, leaving a scar deep enough to see bone.
The rules of the sword permeated the wound, making it difficult to heal.
"Hmph."
The power of death spread.
In an instant, the rules of the sword were erased.
A casual strike with the Sword of Life and Death, carrying the power of a thousand rules.
*Puff.*
A spray of blood bloomed.
The Sword of Life and Death, piercing through life and death, also struck Jianzun's chest.
An identical wound.
"What did you say?"
Chen Fan sneered, "Say it again, I'd like to hear it?"
"..." Jianzun.
His brow furrowed.
At the wound, the powers of life and death intertwined, merged, and eroded the injury.
The wound was difficult to heal.
"Troublesome."
Jianzun sighed inwardly.
Indeed, the Emperor of Life and Death was a favored child of the Heavenly Dao.
The pervasive, intertwined powers of life and death were difficult to expel.
*Bang bang bang.*
While he was lost in thought, Chen Fan never ceased his assault.
Strike after strike of the sword descended.
His left hand reached for the sky...
*Boom.*
A star flew from the depths of the boundless void.
The great star, flowing with life and death, suddenly crashed down.
Another scene of heaven and earth shattering.
The White Emperor Mountain manifested a halo, blocking the spreading shockwaves.
Otherwise, the entire White Emperor Mountain would have been obliterated by the impact of the great star.
"What technique is this?" Jianzun's eyebrows shot up.
Sword intent spread, repelling the great star.
His sword had been a downward slash, yet... it had failed to cleave the great star in two.
"Dao Star?"
His long sword ignited with flames, and with a 'chii' strike, he temporarily forced Chen Fan back.
At the same time, he spoke, "Star of Life and Death, what is this?"
He truly did not understand.
Chen Fan smiled, "Want to learn? I can teach you."
Alas, Jianzun did not grasp his jest.
He continued, "Your Dao, why can it connect to the Immortal Realm?"
Emperors, even those who achieved their Dao in the Immortal Realm, carved out their own domains.
Only the master of the Immortal Realm, the world's ruler, could strip or grant Chen Fan such an ability.
And Chen Fan, having opened his Imperial Palace, was bound by rules to only wield the power of his own Imperial Palace.
But this Star of Life and Death clearly belonged to the Immortal Realm.
"..."
Chen Fan remained silent, the great Star of Life and Death hovering above him, circling the heavens and earth.
"Curious?"
Chen Fan smiled, pointing to the sky, and said, "When you can freely roam the primordial river of the Immortal Realm, you can do this too."
"En?"
Jianzun was astonished, "How is this possible? How could the will of the Immortal Realm permit it?"
The two were still engaged in combat, yet they had already begun to converse.
Their movements were grand, but they did not impede their fighting.
...
By the Primordial River.
The will of the Immortal Realm's face was terrifyingly grim.
"Yo."
Chidi, standing beside, began his taunts, "You can freely tour the primordial river now? Fellow Daoist, your restrictions are quite lax."
Huangdi also looked over, "We had to pay a price to traverse the primordial river in the past. What did he pay?"
"..." The will of the Immortal Realm.
This was truly a bitter pill to swallow.
It was too humiliating.
But facing the questions of two Heavenly Emperors, it had no choice but to explain.
It said solemnly, "It was Wuji who brought him here."
"Wuji?"
Both Huangdi and Chidi knew this name.
The name Wuji instantly caused their expressions to become extremely serious.
"Where is he?" Huangdi asked.
"I don't know."
The will of the Immortal Realm replied helplessly, "If I knew where he was hiding, I would have told you long ago."
"Hmph."
The atmosphere grew considerably more oppressive.
The name 'Wuji' weighed upon them like a leaden cloud.
"That fellow..."
Chidi's expression was the most somber. "He might be plotting to seize the Immortal Realm as well."
Wuji, from back then, had fought with all of them.
The three of them, each in their own way, understood that individual's power.
The will of the Immortal Realm had also been beaten by Wuji.
They were all very cautious regarding Wuji.
They had planned to deal with Wuji using the same method they used against Heidi, but Wuji had vanished, leaving no trace.
No one could find him.
"Forget it, let's keep watching."
Huangdi shook his head and looked at the battlefield below. "I hope this battle can lure him out, and no more unforeseen problems arise."
The Dark Realm was approaching, and no one wanted any trouble at this critical juncture.
...
Below, on the Xizhou battlefield.
"Kill."
The great Star of Life and Death struck again and again.
Jianzun was defeated, though not dead, and grievously wounded.
"Hahaha."
Jianzun, bleeding, retreated. "Emperor of Life and Death, formidable, truly formidable."
The sword, peerless in its offense.
But facing the Emperor of Life and Death, Jianzun had no choice but to yield.
"Swoosh."
His figure instantly retreated.
Then he called out, "Chen Fan, you can do it. Go to the White Emperor Mountain."
Jianzun yielded.
"En?"
This turn of events, however, left Chen Fan somewhat bewildered.
He's just yielding?
"What's going on?" He was a little confused.
"Heh heh."
Jianzun chuckled.
Deep within that laughter, a hint of unseen hatred was concealed.
"Chen Fan, go. I promise I will not stop you again."
"Then what were you doing just now?"
"Testing your strength."
Jianzun replied, "On the current White Emperor Mountain, all the Emperors have left, save for the White Emperor. If you have the courage, go there..."
"En? Where is Jizun?"
Three weapons were planted on White Emperor Mountain.
The saber, the sword, the halberd.
Daozun, Jianzun, and Jizun were the strongest forces of White Emperor Mountain.
Daozun was dead, Jianzun yielded, and the other Emperors had been lured away by the Mad Emperor and Old Demon Chu.
Normally, Jizun and the White Emperor would still be on the mountain.
But Jianzun said there was only the White Emperor left on the mountain.
"Could it be that Jizun is in trouble?" This was Chen Fan's guess.
But this guess was likely the truth.
Jizun might have been killed by the White Emperor.
"The answer you seek is on the mountain," Jianzun stated.
With that, he turned to leave.
However, a voice entered Chen Fan's mind: "I will intercept the other Emperors for you. No one can return. This Xizhou battlefield is for you and the White Emperor."
*Swoosh.*
His figure transformed into sword light and vanished.