Amidst a smiling countenance, Chen Fan spoke at length.
His tone was remarkably relaxed.
This also put the Illusion Sect and the Lord of Light at ease.
Fortunately.
Both had genuinely feared that Chen Fan might leverage their need for help to coerce them into doing something against their will.
Although if Chen Fan had asked, they would have certainly agreed.
Still, deep down, they would have felt a sense of discomfort.
They preferred to act according to their own conscience, to repay this immense favor out of their own volition.
Chen Fan was unaware of the internal shifts within the two.
He did not need them to do anything. His offer of help was entirely because these two individuals could contribute to the impending million tribulations.
He was willing to lend a hand to anyone who genuinely wished to aid the lower ten realms.
Helping others was, in essence, helping himself.
Chen Fan was determined to fight his way into the upper nine heavens, as his final divine weapon resided there.
As long as they could help, that was enough.
"This will be all," Chen Fan declared.
With that, he turned and departed.
"Haha, he's leaving," Old Demon Chu laughed heartily and quickly followed.
Overlord, Seven Kills, Mad Emperor, Thunder General, Evil Lord… the group followed swiftly.
Dragon King also said, "Let's go."
Their objective was the same, and they quickly rose and left.
The Illusion Sect and the Lord of Light remained rooted to the spot, unsure for a moment whether they should follow or depart.
Only after the figures of Chen Fan and his companions had vanished did they exchange glances and shake their heads, saying, "Let's go."
"Sigh."
The Lord of Light sighed, "We overthought things. He never intended to use this to coerce us."
"Indeed," the Illusion Sect agreed.
Chen Fan had indeed left too decisively.
Earlier, Chen Fan had spoken of needing their help or for them to do something.
After a long period of contemplation, the Illusion Sect suddenly spoke, "Have you noticed? He's different from before."
"Yes."
This was something both of them could see.
Ever since Chen Fan entered the ninth rank, he had undergone a complete transformation.
That self-assuredness derived from invincibility moved them deeply.
…
"City Lord Chen."
The group drifted aimlessly through the chaos.
They walked without a particular destination.
Dragon King spoke, "What do we do next?"
"Nothing."
Chen Fan replied, looking at Huang, and said softly, "This fellow Daoist is injured and needs time to recover. I also need to properly experience the power of the ninth rank."
"Having just entered the ninth rank, this is necessary. Take your time to handle it."
"Alright."
Dragon King said no more.
When he had entered the ninth rank, he too had needed considerable time to internalize its power.
Hum.
The power of the Great Dao churned.
In the chaos, Chen Fan sat cross-legged in the void, entering a dreamlike state of enlightenment.
Yin and Yang, life and death, wind and thunder, the five elements, light and darkness… all rules and Daos appeared, merging into his being.
In an instant, his divine sense flickered and vanished.
In the depths of nothingness, he opened his eyes once more.
"Swish."
Everything before him transformed.
No longer the nine heavens and ten lands, but a place both familiar and strange.
Ruins.
"Back again?" Chen Fan exclaimed in surprise.
Before him lay a land of ruins, a land of ruins he knew very well.
Familiar, because he had spent a few days there.
Once, he had unleashed a sword strike in this land of order. Before leaving, he had planted a seed there.
"Chen Qi."
Chen Fan's expression grew solemn.
During his last recollection in the Heavenly Crown World, he had returned to the nascent period of chaos.
It had not been long, but the memory remained vivid.
Now, he had returned to this place once more, drawn by the threads of destiny.
The former prosperity was gone, leaving only ruins.
"Sigh."
Chen Fan's face was exceedingly grave.
His steps felt heavy as he walked into the ruins, his pace slow, his heart burdened.
"What happened?" he murmured to himself.
Here, traces of battle remained.
Judging by the residual signs, the battle had occurred a long time ago.
The power of order still persisted in this place, resisting assimilation by the chaos and preserving the remnants of the past.
The deeper he went, the more ferocious the traces of battle became.
Sword marks were imprinted upon heaven and earth.
"Sword intent."
Chen Fan reached out, lightly touching the residual sword intent.
He felt a trace of a familiar aura, a familiar order, not the order of the Lord of Order, but the order of Chen Qi.
Continuing forward, he arrived at the place where he had once resided.
"This is…"
Ahead, a withered sapling stood quietly in the vastness of existence.
It was minuscule, yet it had endured for eternity.
While the entire land of order had turned to ruins, only this withered sapling stood eternally.
No power could penetrate the perimeter of the sapling.
In Chen Fan's perception, it had not been long since he acquired the Heavenly Crown World.
Yet, the sapling before him carried the weight of ages.
"What exactly happened?" His figure moved forward, slowly approaching the sapling.
He gently extended his hand, as if to caress the marks of time.
His palm touched the sapling.
Boom!
The moment he touched the sapling, an earth-shattering aura suddenly rippled through the boundless, distant chaos.
"Who dares to touch my master's belongings?" A resounding voice, laden with overwhelming killing intent.
The familiar voice sent a jolt through Chen Fan's heart.
"Chen Qi?" Chen Fan recognized the owner of the voice.
The formidable killing intent immediately wavered.
With a sound of unimaginable shock, a figure rapidly broke through the void and arrived.
Silver light flashed as he descended, "Master."
The youth of the past was no longer radiant with sharpness.
Looking at the approaching youth, Chen Fan's heart ached.
The face was still familiar, but alas, his temples were now gray, and his eyes were filled with the weariness of ages.
Chen Fan's appearance remained unchanged, but Chen Qi, his disciple, was now only etched with weariness.
A profound aura of twilight enveloped him, as if a child was nearing old age.
"Master…"
Tears welled up in Chen Qi's weary, weathered eyes.
The single word "Master" brought Chen Fan back from his memories.
A smile appeared, "Little fellow, how did you become like this?"
He smiled, but his heart ached.
Chen Qi was a young boy Chen Fan had rescued when he first traveled to the beginning of chaos. Seeing him now, his youthful countenance was gone, replaced by the deep scars left by the ravages of time, etched within his gaze.
"Master…"
Chen Qi could no longer contain himself, "Disciple thought he would never see you again?"
As he spoke, his tears evaporated.
He was, after all, a powerful being and could not allow himself to weep.
Even if he wished to cry, he had to endure.
"Where is Rouqiu?"
Chen Fan looked behind his disciple, noticing the absence of the chubby little fellow.
Upon mentioning Rouqiu, Chen Fan clearly sensed a change in his disciple's mood, a descent into sadness.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Chen Fan immediately grew anxious.
Both Rouqiu and Chen Qi were individuals he cared for with all his heart.
"Master, I'm sorry."
Chen Qi's eyes were filled with self-reproach. "Rouqiu was severely injured saving me and has now fallen into a deep slumber. He is sleeping here…"
Chen Qi pointed to the withered sapling.