Chapter 8
This place has the Cold Abyss, Dao Wang, and Yi Tian Dao Lord holding the fort. The situation here is much better than in the Seventh Land.
The Nine-Tier experts don't need to make a move; just the Seven-Tier and Eight-Tier cultivators can block the temporary appearance of the void rifts.
The three made no delay and passed through the Eighth Land directly.
The three dormant Nine-Tier experts in the Eighth Land said nothing.
This time, they didn't even speak to Chen Fan.
The sudden arrival of the Myriad Calamity broke their plans.
Calamity.
...
The Ninth Land. Chen Fan has returned.
As soon as he entered the Ninth Land, Chen Fan felt the difference.
The energy in this region had become gentler than before.
This was because there were many Chaos Beasts here now.
Above the firmament, a vast Yin-Yang River stretched across the heavens, overseeing the world.
Although Chen Fan had not been gone for long, the Ninth Land had indeed changed.
There was no killing intent like in other places.
But Chen Fan could not pinpoint exactly what was different, only that it gave a sense of heartfelt comfort.
After a brief ponder, Chen Fan knew what that feeling was.
"Peace."
Yes, it was peace.
Compared to other places, the energy flowing in the Ninth Land no longer contained any violent factors.
"City Lord."
He was discovered the moment he appeared.
From the Yin-Yang River, a top Sword Emperor emerged... Death Sword Emperor.
Compared to when they last met, Death Sword Emperor's aura had an added sense of transcendence.
His Sword Intent of Death was even more restrained.
Subtly, one could feel the spiritual fluctuations emanating from within Death Sword Emperor.
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow and cupped his fists, saying, "Congratulations, Senior, on condensing your Dao Spirit."
"Haha."
Death Sword Emperor, who had intended to conceal it, burst into laughter; "City Lord's gaze is as sharp as ever."
He admitted it.
"Congratulations, congratulations."
Chen Fan felt genuine joy for Death Sword Emperor, and for the Sword Lord as well.
Death Sword Emperor's successful condensation of his Dao Spirit was a good thing for both the Sword Lord and himself.
"I must also thank City Lord."
At this point, Death Sword Emperor spoke with some emotion, "If I hadn't learned from City Lord's method of condensing Dao Spirits, I wouldn't have taken this step so quickly."
The method of threatening Dao Spirits had already spread.
Death Sword Emperor was fortunate; he succeeded in one go on his second attempt to summon forth his Dao Spirit.
With Chen Fan first, and then Death Sword Emperor, this method of condensing Dao Spirits had pioneered a new path in history.
For a time, all Eight-Tier cultivators saw hope of advancing to the Nine-Tier.
Although it was still slim, at least they were no longer blindly flailing like headless flies.
With direction came motivation.
"Where is the Sword Lord?" Chen Fan asked.
"My eldest brother is in closed-door cultivation."
"Oh?"
Chen Fan's heart leaped with joy.
He knew the Sword Lord's character. With the Myriad Calamity now upon them, whether he had recently entered seclusion or had been cultivating for a while, the constant appearance of void rifts would have alerted him. Since he hadn't emerged, it meant there was good news.
Thinking this, Chen Fan smiled, "Then there's no need to disturb the Sword Lord."
"Mm."
Death Sword Emperor nodded, "I am now in charge of matters in the Eighth Land."
"Furthermore, with the arrival of Illusion Sect and the Lord of Light, they have provided backbone to the Eighth Land. It should be fine for the time being."
Illusion Sect and the Lord of Light were within the Yin-Yang River.
For now, their presence was not needed to intervene directly.
The current strength of the rifts could still be managed.
*Whoosh.*
After chatting with Death Sword Emperor for a while longer, the three stepped into the Yin-Yang River.
The river water churned.
The two Nine-Tier experts seated in the river opened their eyes.
"City Lord Chen."
The gazes of the two Nine-Tier experts fell upon him.
Chen Fan knew their concerns and briefly explained, after which they closed their eyes again.
The Lower Ten Lands were largely safe.
*Boom!*
Not far from the Yin-Yang River, a rift appeared.
Torrential demonic flames surged, and Old Demon Chu, like a demon god, attacked this newly appeared rift alone.
Under countless demonic fists, the rift finally collapsed.
"City Lord."
Old Demon Chu walked into the river, his eyes filled with joy, "You're back."
Accustomed to receiving the City Lord's commands, Old Demon Chu was happy to see Chen Fan.
"Mm, I'm back."
There was no need for many words between them.
There was no need for pleasantries.
Chen Fan then asked, "How has it been during this time?"
"Pretty good."
He didn't know what the City Lord was asking about, but in Old Demon Chu's opinion, everything was good.
Chen Fan: "..."
Alright, he wouldn't get anything useful out of this one.
Chen Fan did not force Old Demon Chu, nodding, "Go on with your work, I need to go into temporary seclusion."
"Mm."
Old Demon Chu left happily.
As long as the City Lord was back, they had a backbone.
The strong cultivators of the Life-Death Realm had grown accustomed to life with the City Lord overseeing them.
Without the City Lord holding down the rear, they felt a sense of unease.
...
Time slowly passed.
Chen Fan did not go to the Ninth Land, although the main base of the Life-Death Realm was there.
He trusted Dragon King, and he trusted Ping Xi.
These two were exceptionally talented individuals.
The initial crisis was not enough to overwhelm them.
The Great Emperor-level Chaos Beasts from the Eighth Land had been brought back to the Ninth Land by Dragon King. With the Great Emperors of the Sword Realm and Life-Death Realm guarding the Ninth Land, it was sufficient.
Time continued to flow.
The continuous battles of the day had left the vast Eighth Land in disarray.
Due to the constant appearance of void rifts, chaotic energy from beyond the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands continued to pour into the Eighth Land.
The initial sense of peace vanished, and the Ninth Land returned to its former chaos.
There was no choice; the Chaos Spirits outside had gone mad.
When the Chaos Spirits went mad, the Great Dao of Chaos would revert to its original primitive state.
One day.
Two days.
Three days...
Time slowly flowed.
On the fifth day, it arrived.
*Boom!*
Above the Eighth Land, a void rift large enough to span ten thousand zhang appeared.
Within the rift, a silver pagoda slowly rotated, attempting to descend into the Ninth Land.
"Shua."
At this moment, countless eyes were raised, looking at the silver pagoda slowly squeezing into the rift.
The pagoda had eighteen tiers, and each tier's eaves were adorned with bone ornaments.
A primal aura spread from the pagoda, filling the heavens and earth.
Even a pagoda that had not yet entered the Ninth Land was enough to make countless people's expressions change drastically.
A Sixth-Tier Great World was caught within the edge of the rift.
*Bang.*
The world shattered directly.
Under the pagoda's pressure, the world turned into fireworks, into a source of energy.
Countless beings were devoured into the pagoda along with the collapsing world.
*Boom.*
A black and gold great staff soared into the sky.
The divine might of an Immortal Emperor was world-shattering. When wielded, the Emperor's weapon was only a few zhang long, eventually transforming into an invincible weapon that seemed to pierce through the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, vast as the backbone of heaven and earth.
*Clang.*
The two Emperor's weapons collided.
The sound of metal striking metal was like the ringing of the morning bell across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, its thunderous resonance echoing to the peak of heaven and earth.
Countless cultivators with weak cultivation directly spat blood from their noses and mouths.