The voice of the Azure Heaven Dao Lord was unheard by anyone.
Only by himself.
Even the omnipresent wind disappeared before approaching the divine mountain.
Ninth-tier Dao Lord, speaking against the wind.
...
At the edge of the Azure Heaven Domain.
Dozens of Great Emperors blocked his path.
There were those of the seventh and eighth tiers, and the foremost among them was a top-tier eighth-tier, who had already condensed a Dao Spirit.
"City Lord Chen."
The Thousand Currents Dao Lord cupped his fist from afar: "City Lord Chen graces the Azure Heaven Domain with his presence, yet the Dao Lord is in seclusion. We beg your forgiveness for our lack of a proper welcome."
"How do you address me, fellow Daoist?"
"Thousand Currents."
"En."
Chen Fan nodded: "This City Lord wishes to enter the Azure Heaven Domain to broaden his horizons. I wonder if you could accommodate me."
"..." The Thousand Currents Great Emperor fell silent.
Broaden his horizons.
Would he dare to allow a notoriously fierce, god-slaying figure to enter the Azure Heaven Domain?
The Dao Lord had not emerged from his seclusion for many years. Allowing a ninth-tier individual entry was akin to releasing a ferocious beast into a wolf pack.
The Thousand Currents Great Emperor's face was grim. After a long while, he said with deep apology, "I hope City Lord can understand, but as the Dao Lord is in seclusion, we cannot make decisions on our own. Perhaps City Lord Chen could visit again after the Dao Lord awakens?"
He dared not offend, so he could only politely refuse.
"Heh."
Chen Fan's lips curved upwards; "The Chaos is dangerous. Must I wait in the Chaos for a month if the Azure Heaven Dao Lord doesn't awaken for a month?
I believe, fellow Daoist Thousand Currents, that you are more aware of the dangers of the Chaos than I am."
"..."
His words left the Thousand Currents Great Emperor speechless.
It wasn't that he couldn't linger in the Chaos, but he felt the oppressive aura emanating from the City Lord's name.
Did this mean he was determined to enter?
For a moment, the Thousand Currents Great Emperor's nerves were taut.
Not only him, but all the Great Emperors under the Azure Heaven Domain felt the pressure.
The pressure of a ninth-tier being was like a dark cloud of lead pressing down, making it hard to breathe.
"Buzz."
Dozens of Great Emperors simultaneously unleashed their aura, fully resisting the pressure from the ninth-tier Dao Lord.
A ninth-tier could be called a Dao Lord.
As for Ping Xi of yesteryear, he was called a Dao Lord even at the eighth tier because he possessed ninth-tier combat power, and another reason... his opponent was a master of the Yin-Yang Dao.
The Two Extremes Dao naturally commanded more respect.
"Heh heh."
Laughter echoed.
To the ears of Shadow, this laughter was as pleasant as a spring breeze.
But to the Thousand Currents Great Emperor and others, it carried a sense of imminent danger.
Clang.
Sword intent clashed.
The entire Azure Heaven Domain resounded with the hum of swords.
Each note was like a decree, and everyone felt a dripping divine sword suspended above their heads.
That was the Sword of Killing Dao.
The next moment...
"Slash."
Chen Fan's roar thundered.
A colossal sword lotus materialized, suspended at the zenith of the sky, and slowly descended.
Clang clang clang.
Beneath the sword lotus, all things yielded.
"Form the array!"
The Thousand Currents Great Emperor roared sternly.
Boom.
A chaotic aura of intertwined Great Daos spread outwards.
A vast sky-like curtain, unfurling like the azure heavens, rose into the air, interspersed with the chaotic aura of scattered Great Daos.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle.
The sword lotus spun and struck the Great Dao curtain.
The Pseudo-Azure Heaven Dao encountered the Sword Dao of Life and Death.
The massive curtain was torn apart, and the sword lotus began to collapse.
"Waugh."
Sounds of spitting blood echoed.
Beneath the curtain, the seventh-tier Great Emperors were the first to buckle, spitting blood that contained dissipating Great Dao power.
"Rise."
Chen Fan calmly raised his hand.
"Roar."
A dragon's roar reverberated.
From the void emerged a sword dragon, its Yin and Yang dual-colored form dominating the battlefield.
To the shock of the Thousand Currents Great Emperor and others, it violently ripped the curtain to shreds.
The Great Emperors' eyes filled with terror.
Unbeatable.
"Is this the ninth tier?" the Thousand Currents Great Emperor murmured.
In his eyes, there was deep envy.
He too wished to reach the ninth tier, but had stagnated for a hundred years with no progress.
The Fifth Land was chaotic, but there were no ninth-tier battles.
They were all individuals of status and standing; how could they easily engage in combat?
Chen Fan was the first ninth-tier he had seen in action.
So powerful.
With every move, the myriad Daos of the Chaos were suppressed.
Yin and Yang, Life and Death... the dual Extremes Dao made the Thousand Currents Great Emperor even more envious.
"Bang."
The Thousand Currents Great Emperor's Dao collapsed.
More and more Daos crumbled, transforming into seven-colored streams of light that scattered through heaven and earth.
Fortunately, Chen Fan did not strike to kill.
His gaze remained fixed on the divine mountain, which stood like a lighthouse.
It appeared minuscule due to the vast distance.
There was a figure atop it, unseen, yet undeniably real.
Buzz.
Finally, the figure on the mountain moved.
At the same time, a voice filled with the weariness of age reached Chen Fan's ears: "Go. The Fifth Land needs no concern from you."
The voice carried a profound sense of age, like that of someone on the verge of death, devoid of life.
Chen Fan knew the voice originated from the person atop the mountain.
The sword lotus dissipated, the sword dragon vanished...
Since the principal party had responded, there was no need to deal with Thousand Currents and the others.
Chen Fan spoke in reply: "May I ask what the Azure Heaven Dao Lord means by that?"
"The Fifth Land is my territory."
The Azure Heaven did not answer his question: "When the Million Tribulation arrives, you will understand my meaning. Rest assured... the hidden pieces of the Upper Nine Heavens in the Fifth Land are all known to me. You are free to leave here and go anywhere."
"En?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Fan's eyebrows immediately shot up.
Such arrogance.
The Azure Heaven Dao Lord sensed Chen Fan's confusion and cast his gaze across the distance.
Their gazes met across the immeasurable expanse.
"Leave."
The moment their eyes met, Chen Fan turned and left.
Though Shadow was confused, he did not ask further questions and quickly followed his City Lord's retreating figure.
Ahead, the Thousand Currents Great Emperor and others were even more bewildered.
They just... left?
What was happening.
"Did the Dao Lord make a move?" someone speculated.
Thousand Currents: "..."
It must be so. Besides the Dao Lord, he couldn't think of anyone else capable of achieving this.
Simultaneously, the Thousand Currents Great Emperor began to speculate about the Dao Lord's power.
He had witnessed Chen Fan's might.
Dozens of seventh and eighth-tier cultivators, working together, could not withstand a single blow from him.
And yet, such a terrifyingly powerful being was repelled by a mere glance from the Azure Heaven Dao Lord.
How strong... is the Dao Lord?
He could not imagine.
...
On the other side.
Chen Fan, with Shadow, quickly activated his space boots and made a swift departure.
They stopped only when the Azure Heaven Domain was no longer visible.
"City Lord."
Only then did Shadow have the opportunity to ask: "What happened?"
He had seen their eyes meet.
He had also wondered... was it necessary to flee at just a single glance?
Although Shadow was a subordinate of the Yin-Yang Dao Lord, during this time, he had developed a heartfelt admiration for this young man.
This young powerhouse had never shown fear towards any formidable foe.
"Heh."
A smile spread across Chen Fan's face.
This smile was filled with deep sarcasm: "The Fifth Land, I wonder if the people of the Upper Nine Heavens are even aware of the situation in the Fifth Land."
"En?"
Shadow was even more perplexed.
Chen Fan did not conceal his thoughts and said coldly: "The Fifth Land is not a place in the Yang Realm at all."
"What?" Shadow was even more confused.
This... he couldn't understand.
"Don't rush."
Chen Fan smiled, no longer offering further explanation, and said softly, "When the Million Tribulation arrives, you will know. I just don't know who will come to the Fifth Land. Tsk tsk... by then, I'm afraid there will be quite a spectacle."