Accidents, by definition, are beyond control.
Matters within the Four Directions Realm had always been, in essence, within the dominion of the Four Great Realms.
Of course, this pertained to the general direction of affairs.
Otherwise, the assassination of Sword Son would not have occurred.
*Hoo.*
Chen Fan exhaled, saying, "Senior, this junior will immediately pilot his world towards the Sword Domain."
He had agreed.
Though Elder Brother Chu and the others did not emerge from the world, they could still hear his words.
Seeing their City Lord being coerced, anger filled everyone's faces.
When had it come to this, that someone dared to force their City Lord's hand?
What was a Great Emperor to them?
They hadn't killed one before...
"Very good."
Sword Demon nodded, then placed his mark upon Chen Fan.
He declared, "I will constantly track your location. Proceed directly to the Sword Domain. Should there be any deviation, this Emperor will arrive immediately."
His words needed no further explanation.
The meaning was clear…
If Chen Fan dared to deviate from the set course, Sword Demon would instantly arrive to annihilate the Realm of Life and Death.
Everyone would perish.
"Understood," Chen Fan replied, his expression grave.
He had chosen compromise once more.
*Swish.*
Sword Demon vanished from his spot.
He had gone to pursue the Stone.
Left behind, Chen Fan’s expression darkened. After watching Sword Demon depart, he turned and returned to the Realm of Life and Death.
The moment he re-entered, a group of people rushed to meet him.
"City Lord, just tell us what to do!"
"What's a Great Emperor to us? We'll use lives to grind him to death!"
"Even if we can't kill him, we'll spit blood on him..."
"..."
All of them were burning with rage.
This group, who feared nothing, were now going to strike at a Great Emperor.
Immortal Emperor stepped forward. "What are your thoughts?"
He was certain Chen Fan would never join the Sword Domain.
He understood this man's temperament too well.
Matters he was willing to undertake were easily resolved, but coercion… would inevitably lead to the opposite outcome.
Indeed, a hint of ferocity flickered in Chen Fan's eyes. "What else can I think? I'm going to slay an Emperor..."
Within him, killing intent had long since exploded.
I originally planned to go to the Scarlet Sun Domain. Since your Sword Domain has come looking for trouble, don't blame me for striking at your Sword Domain first.
The Divine Heaven Domain was an example. And they still dared to trouble me? Seeking death.
"F*ck him to death..."
"Damn it, let this chaos witness that no one in my Realm of Life and Death can afford to offend!"
"..."
The group was like wolves.
Chen Fan found this disposition most pleasing.
It was far better than cowering like a scared dog upon encountering a Great Emperor.
"Don't be hasty."
Chen Fan's expression returned to calm. "We will slowly proceed towards the Sword Domain. During this time, we will continue to grow stronger. I need to think about how to kill him."
Great Emperors were not simple beings.
The mere pressure from their first contact had already made Chen Fan feel the strain.
And this was only an ordinary Great Emperor, not a Realm Master.
"Understood."
The group dispersed quickly.
Those who needed to cultivate, cultivated; those who needed to venture out and reap benefits, did so.
The pressure of a Great Emperor filled everyone with fighting spirit.
Their cultivation speed had even increased significantly compared to normal.
...
Left alone, only Immortal Emperor accompanied him.
"I need energy."
This was the first time Immortal Emperor had spoken proactively. "Once I reach the sixth tier, we can join forces and have a chance to contend with him."
This was his confidence.
The Yin-Yang Dao, unrivaled in combat.
And his physical body's Dao, peerless in defense.
With offense and defense united, if they cooperated seamlessly, there was a chance to contend with a Great Emperor.
Furthermore, it was a Great Emperor without a Great Dao Universe.
"Follow me."
The two returned directly to Sword City.
*Boom.*
The colossal corpse of a Great Emperor Dragon appeared.
A monstrous entity, the corpse of a seventh-tier Great Emperor Dragon.
This corpse had been preserved by Chen Fan, in hopes it could be used at some opportune moment.
He declared, "The energy within this Great Emperor Dragon's corpse should be enough to supplement the last thirty of your cellular spaces."
Immortal Emperor licked his lips. "It should be enough."
*Boom.*
The next moment, Immortal Emperor began to absorb the energy from the dragon corpse.
A seventh-tier dragon corpse contained energy like an boundless ocean.
The surging energy rolled out, being greedily devoured by Immortal Emperor.
"Ah..."
Immortal Emperor cried out in pleasure.
The sensation was simply exhilarating.
Chen Fan did not waste time. He immediately opened the internal space of the Gravity Bead and entered.
Within this place, there was more than one Dao Rhyme Zone.
The residual Dao Rhyme left by an Dark Master had already yielded him immense gains. What about other eighth-tier Great Emperors?
A ninth-tier Realm Master would surely not have only one eighth-tier subordinate.
Just like the Divine Heaven Realm, an eighth-tier great world, had several seventh-tier Great Emperors under its command.
There had to be other Dao Rhyme Zones here.
*Boom.*
This time, Chen Fan was not leisurely exploring.
The situation was urgent; he had to strengthen himself as quickly as possible.
*Rumble.*
The Realm of Annihilation, silent for countless years, welcomed the long-lost Eastern Jin.
Within the world, scenes flickered rapidly.
Finally...
*Buzz.*
Ahead, a trace of Dao Rhyme energy caught Chen Fan's attention.
"Found it."
Chen Fan rejoiced.
This search had taken three full days.
The bounty before him made Chen Fan excited.
Ahead… was a galaxy-like waterfall descending from the sky, falling vertically against a mountain wall.
The falling galaxy defied the rules of gravity, entering a state of stasis.
Even the splashing water droplets hung suspended in mid-air.
*Boom.*
Chen Fan descended, his gaze sweeping across the celestial waterfall before him.
The source of the Dao Rhyme was behind the waterfall.
Without hesitation, Chen Fan plunged in.
Behind the waterfall lay a blessed land, and the Dao Rhyme… was situated on a futon within this blessed land.
Upon the futon, a faint, misty glow permeated the air.
Compared to the residual Dao Rhyme of the Dark Master, the residual Dao Rhyme here was much weaker.
"Seventh-tier."
With a single glance, Chen Fan understood.
The residual Dao Rhyme was not strong enough for an eighth-tier, proving the owner of this place was not as powerful as the Dark Master.
If not eighth-tier, then it could only be seventh-tier.
"Seventh-tier is fine too."
Chen Fan smiled with satisfaction, and then… sat directly upon the futon.
*Whoosh.*
This time, he did not employ Yin-Yang energy.
Simply by sitting on the futon, he could perceive the Dao Rhyme.
The Dao Rhyme entered his body; it was the Dao of Water.
The scene before him reversed, mirroring the external landscape: a celestial river cascading down.
A figure stood amidst the waterfall, letting the river-like torrent wash over him.
Numerous Daos of Water flowed within the celestial river, penetrating the figure's body.
*Boom.*
The next moment, that boundless force of water surged into Chen Fan's body.
This Dao Rhyme was incredibly vast.
The Dark Master had left behind his understanding of darkness, while this Water Dao Great Emperor had left behind Great Dao energy.
*Rumble.*
Unmatched Great Dao power roared.
Within his body, a Dao of Water continuously grew stronger.
The Dao of Water, like surging waves that shocked the heavens.
Chen Fan's body seemed to transform into an alternate space, containing the Dao of Water.
Yin, Yang, Dark, Water… these four Daos were the strongest.
The four Daos pierced through the internal space, strengthening Chen Fan's aura.
*Rumble.*
Chen Fan's Great Dao aura was growing exponentially.
The stronger the Dao, the stronger the person.
His aura began to climb steadily. He didn't need to comprehend it himself; the Dao of Water came with its own understanding.