A month passed, and everyone returned.
They had searched everywhere, but found nothing.
*Swish.*
At this moment, Chen Fan also opened his eyes.
In a month's time, he had finally digested all his gains.
Standing up, he looked at the returning crowd and smiled, "How was it?"
Everyone's expression was rather grim.
Nothing.
The search had failed.
"Heh."
Chen Fan smiled, "Since that's the case, can we begin now?"
His gaze swept across everyone's faces.
Finally, it landed on the Golden Daoist, whose face was extremely somber.
At this moment, the Golden Daoist was shouting internally, "How is this possible? Why didn't they find it?"
He refused to believe it.
"No, there are still three places."
He looked at Chen Fan and the other two, "You three..."
"We searched,"
Thousand Silk Dao Master replied, giving a definitive answer, "Nothing."
Golden Daoist: "..."
*Clang.*
Chen Fan didn't want to waste any more words.
His gaze fell on the Golden Daoist with great interest, "They won't let me kill you, but if I do kill you, I guarantee everyone will be happy to see it, including him..."
This last "him" referred to the Illusion Sect.
Following Chen Fan's gaze, the Golden Daoist saw the calm Illusion Sect.
Instantly, his heart sank to the bottom.
"Kill..."
Chen Fan was about to make his move.
"Wait."
The Golden Daoist suddenly spoke, "Fine, I admit I destroyed your divine consciousness. How about this, I'm willing to make compensation."
He had no choice but to take this step back.
If he were to fight Chen Fan, it would be one thing if he could kill him.
But if he couldn't, he would be the one to suffer in the end.
There was no way around it, the Illusion Sect and the others would absolutely not allow Chen Fan to die.
And if he were heavily injured, he would not only be out of this competition but also face the risk of perishing.
A heavily injured ninth-rank, a three-segment Dao spirit, would be extremely enticing to Thousand Silk and the others.
No one would pass up such a good opportunity.
"Heh."
Chen Fan was satisfied with this.
His gaze fell on the other two trembling eighth-ranks, "And you?"
"..."
"Compensation."
Thousand Silk Dao Master spoke, "Whether it was intentional destruction or perishing in a dangerous place, it is all due to insufficient protection by subordinates. My Thousand Silk Realm is willing to compensate."
"Five Elements Realm is also willing to compensate."
Both Dao Masters had made the best choice.
There was no other way. In front of so many subordinates, even if it was just for show, they had to make such a choice.
"Haha."
Chen Fan laughed heartily and put away his Amaterasu Sword.
The smile on his face deepened, "Then I thank you seniors."
"As for how to compensate..."
Chen Fan pondered for a moment, then looked at the Golden Daoist, "Let's start with you. Come... let me comprehend your Dao power. Mind you, it's a deep comprehension. Otherwise, this matter won't pass."
The Golden Daoist represented the element of Gold in the Five Elements.
It was indeed very suitable for the Five Elements Dao Chen Fan was about to comprehend.
"No."
The Golden Daoist flatly refused.
Anything else was acceptable, but this was absolutely not.
Wouldn't this be equivalent to revealing his Dao completely to Chen Fan?
The comprehension of his Dao was the foundation of his strength.
"Hmm?"
Chen Fan's expression turned grim, "Are you sure?"
"Certain."
The Golden Daoist gritted his teeth, "Anything but this is fine."
"Then the Dao spirit..."
"No."
"Fuck you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Fan's demeanor completely changed, "Dragon King, Sword Master... join me and kill him."
"Kill."
Another sudden attack.
Everyone: "???"
Thousand Silk and the others were stunned.
Hadn't they just finished their discussion? Why did they start fighting again?
*Boom!*
The moment the three attacked, it was a barrage of fierce blows.
The Golden Daoist was completely dazed.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What happened?
*Rumble.*
The three attacked without holding back, unleashing all their Dao attacks.
"Roar."
The Golden Daoist finally reacted, roaring in anger, "Chen Fan, you're going too far!"
"Who is going too far? Grounding..."
*Chiss.*
A sword strike split the heavens, cleaving the Golden Daoist's physical body.
A stream of golden blood splattered.
Chen Fan didn't stop attacking, "This won't do, and that won't do either. Do you really think this City Lord is made of mud? You still want me to satisfy you? What the hell do you think you are?"
"Alright, alright."
The Golden Daoist was starting to falter.
The attacks from these three were too fierce.
They didn't even give him a chance to react, immediately going on the offensive and attacking relentlessly without stopping.
He could only roar, "I'll let you comprehend my Geng Metal Dao..."
The Golden Daoist was extremely aggrieved.
At this moment, he had no choice but to compromise.
*Swish.*
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Fan immediately retracted his sword.
The Sword Master and Dragon King also instantly ceased their attacks, gracefully landing to the side.
In their place, only the thoroughly disheveled Golden Daoist remained.
"Huuu... huuu..."
The Golden Daoist gasped for breath.
In just this short moment, several large fissures had appeared in his Dao.
The golden blood flowing from his body was not a major issue, just rather unsightly.
The Golden Daoist's teeth were clenched so tightly they were almost shattered.
His eyes seemed to want to kill Chen Fan, and finally, he said hatefully, "Here, comprehend it..."
As he spoke, he actually directly unleashed his Dao power.
"Haha, Senior is indeed generous."
This guy, having gained the advantage, was still acting as if he were doing a favor. Chen Fan praised the Golden Daoist while simultaneously entering his Dao to begin comprehending the legacy of a ninth-rank.
*Buzz.*
Chen Fan felt as if he had entered a world of gold.
All he could see was endless golden light.
Geng Metal, fusion of weapons, sharpness, killing intent.
This was the Golden Daoist's Dao, a ninth-rank Dao.
Chen Fan closed his eyes and began to comprehend.
Such a golden opportunity, only a fool would miss it.
The comprehension of a ninth-rank's Dao was an incredibly rare chance.
...
Meanwhile, in the outside world, the Golden Daoist's expression was terrifyingly grim.
An unprecedented sense of humiliation made him wish he could kill everyone present.
But... he couldn't defeat them.
This incident would surely spread.
The thought of it spreading throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands made the Golden Daoist even more depressed and unable to find peace.
His ninth-rank comprehension had been given away like this.
Even if it was only one percent, it was something he had painstakingly acquired.
He looked at the Illusion Sect, only to see the other party staring at him with a cold smirk.
The Illusion Sect's gaze made the Golden Daoist feel a pang of awkwardness.
It was he who had acted unrighteously first.
The Illusion Sect had stood up for him, yet he had backed down.
He couldn't blame the Illusion Sect.
"Alas."
The helpless Golden Daoist could only sigh inwardly.
As for the gloating looks from the others, he couldn't be bothered to look at them.
He now only hoped that Chen Fan would come out quickly.
But this time, Chen Fan stayed for a full day without emerging.
The Golden Daoist was truly getting impatient.
He had suppressed himself to his limit.
*Bang.*
With this thought, he directly vibrated his Dao, forcing Chen Fan out.
Enough.
If Chen Fan pushed any further, even if he had to abandon the Order Heavenly Strategy, he would still kill him here.