The Heavenly Will of the Immortal Realm had been severed.
The Grand Dao of the Royal Butterfly clan's rules was consequently also severed.
"Come."
With a beckon from the Royal Butterfly, a hum resounded. The Grand Dao of the Royal Butterfly clan plunged into the River of Rules.
Booming sounds echoed. At this moment, the River of Rules trembled.
The Grand Dao of rules, condensed by the Royal Butterfly clan over eons, was forcibly seized. This act was a provocation to the rules of the Immortal Realm.
Yet, such a feat was nearly impossible. This was because the Royal Butterfly was the last of its lineage, and its physical body was shattered. The ancestors of the Royal Butterfly clan, unwilling to see their lineage perish, had sacrificed everything.
This colossal rule, sinking into the River of Rules, possessed a power no less than the aura of death. It was a Grand Dao of immensely potent rules.
Booming sounds reverberated. Amidst the churning rules, the Royal Butterfly was enveloped. The bloodline powers, hidden within the rules, poured into the Royal Butterfly's body.
A hum. The Royal Butterfly's aura continuously strengthened. As its aura grew, battle patterns on its body rapidly appeared. The amplified aura surged like a boiling dragon. Within the rules, flesh and blood began to regenerate.
"So refreshing." The Royal Butterfly's physical body stretched. It had been without a body for too long. Now, its physical form finally reappeared under the mantle of its ancestor's rules.
The power of the bloodline coursed through its entire being. It was a sensation never before experienced, utterly blissful. Within its bloodline, streams of power that did not originally belong to it, yet shared the same origin, flowed through its flesh and blood.
In the distance, Chen Fan had already sealed the passage to the Immortal Realm. He watched the Royal Butterfly's transformation with a solemn gaze. The Royal Butterfly's metamorphosis grew increasingly intense.
The aura of the Imperial Dao emerged.
Boom. The Royal Butterfly, its physical body newly formed, stepped out of the rules. With a rustle, the water of rules flowed back into the River of Rules.
"City Lord."
A clear voice, like tinkling silver bells, startled Chen Fan. Looking up, he saw a peerlessly beautiful woman with wings on her back standing before him.
"Uh..." Chen Fan blinked, then gave a wry smile and shook his head. "First, conjure some clothes to wear."
The Royal Butterfly had manifested a human form but forgotten to create clothing. In this regard, she was not as astute as the Dragon Spirit.
"Heh heh." The Royal Butterfly chuckled lightly. Immediately, a flash of light appeared, and a gossamer garment draped over her.
The Royal Butterfly bowed. "Thank you, City Lord." If not for Chen Fan, she would not have recovered. The moment her Dao was severed, if Chen Fan had not severed the Heavenly Will of the Immortal Realm, she would not have been able to inherit her ancestor's legacy.
"It's nothing." Chen Fan was also pleased that the Royal Butterfly could regain her physical body. They had all come up from the lower realm together.
"Let's go out and meet the Heavenly Calamity."
"City Lord, aren't you coming out?"
"No." Chen Fan shook his head. "I still need to familiarize myself with the current River of Rules."
"Alright." The Royal Butterfly departed.
...
Retracting his gaze, Chen Fan surveyed the current state of the River of Rules. Two distinct streams of rule power occupied opposite sides of the river. One was the Grand Dao of human rules, the other the Grand Dao of demon rules. Between them lay a barrier of mixed and chaotic rules.
Previously, the demon rule region had been quite weak. But now, with the entire Grand Dao of the Royal Butterfly clan infused, it was no less powerful than the human rule Grand Dao. This was an unprecedented opportunity. It was so for the demon race, and equally so for Chen Fan.
With a whoosh, Chen Fan plunged in.
"Gather." Landing in the demon rule region of the river, he allowed the various strange and wondrous rule powers to scour his body. As his voice resonated, all the rules were mobilized by him.
With a splash, the river water cleansed his body. Then, fresh flesh and vital essence began to regenerate. He was forging the demon race's physical body.
The river is me, and I am the river. To open the heavens, one must be familiar with all Grand Daos of rules. Humans and demons alike are but a part of this world.
...
Within the River of Rules, time ceased to exist. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed in the outside world.
Boom. On this day, ten figures appeared above Sword City. Each figure was an existence akin to a titled Emperor, their aura incomparably powerful. It was a scene similar to when the Twelve Palaces mobilized twelve Emperors to oppress Freedom City. However, this time, no one was afraid.
"They're here." Everyone looked up at the ten figures in the sky with excitement. The City Lord had spoken of this matter long ago. Therefore, no one was afraid. With the City Lord present, they feared no one.
The ten titled Emperors spoke not a word, directly assuming a cross-legged position in mid-air. Their hands moved rapidly, forming seals, and in the next instant...
Buzz. Ten Grand Daos of rules appeared above their heads. One for each person, a total of ten.
"Descend." The ten spoke.
With a swish, heavenly light emanated from the rules, transforming into droplets that rained down upon Sword City. The rain of rules had arrived.
"Hahaha." Below, the residents of Sword City were filled with immense excitement. Ten titled Emperors, jointly casting a rain of rules over the entire city, were using their insights and their very lives to bestow this rain.
Instantly, Sword City became a sacred ground for comprehending rules. A scene that had not occurred for many years.
"Quick, cultivate." No one was willing to waste such an excellent opportunity. Even the Fisher closed his eyes and meditated for a moment. Then he opened his eyes and shook his head, "They're being stingy." He perceived it clearly. These ten individuals were at the bottom rung among the titled Emperors.
But upon reflection, it was normal. For top-tier powerhouses, casting a seven-day rain of rules would certainly lead to a decline in their realm, and potentially cause lifelong Dao injuries. These bottom-rung existences were not of much use in the Imperial Palace, so using them to cast the rain of rules was fitting. The Fisher closed his eyes, not bothering to comprehend the pervasive rules. He disdained these.
...
The first night of the rain of rules.
Boom. In the northern district of the city, a light of rules pierced the heavens and earth. Hahaha. Along with it came an exultant voice. Six strands of Imperial Qi, the Imperial Qi entering the body, illuminating the Dao acupoints, and entering the Emperor realm.
Not everyone possessed the talent to become a titled Emperor. Most were ordinary people. To become a Six Paths Emperor was already a stroke of immense fortune. And such occurrences continued to happen in the following days.
The ten titled Emperors in the sky began to grow weak, their bodies swaying precariously. One of them even nearly fell from the sky. The Grand Dao of rules above their heads no longer resembled its initial form, thinning to the fineness of a hair. All their power had been given to the residents of Sword City.
The gazes of the ten were filled with deep malevolence. But what of it? They dared not refuse Qing Yu's command, and thus dared not refuse to cast the rain of rules. Even if it meant death, they had to fulfill the seven-day agreement.
During these seven days, the entire Sword City underwent a transformation. Ancient structures, every blade of grass and tree in the city, were transformed into treasures under the cleansing rain of rules. The entire Sword City began to metamorphose. The specifics of this transformation were naturally unknown to anyone, as Chen Fan had not yet emerged from seclusion. This situation finally ceased at dawn on the eighth day. The seven-day rain of rules was complete.