The ten-day rule of rain had drained every ounce of energy from the ten titled Emperors. They swayed precariously, their spirits utterly broken, almost falling from the sky.
"Clang."
A divine sword descended from beyond the heavens. Its brilliant light tore through the fabric of reality. Initially a mere speck, the sword light rapidly expanded to fill the entire field of vision.
"Boom."
The broad divine sword, like an ark from beyond the stars, descended. Its vast blade caught the ten tottering titled Emperors.
"Chen Fan."
At the sword's hilt stood a figure. The imposing aura seemed poised to rip this world asunder. A chilling voice called out the name of the Sword City Lord.
"..."
Silence. Chen Fan was still within the river of rules and could not hear the killing intent-laden summons. However, Sword City stood firm. When invaders dared to storm its gates and issue challenges, someone would naturally step forward.
Dragon Spirit soared, her gaze fixed on the newcomer. "Who goes there?" Chen Fan was not an unknown figure; he was the Lord of Sword City. To be called by name within Sword City, on his own territory, was a grave provocation.
The man at the sword's hilt looked down with disdain upon Dragon Spirit. "Call Chen Fan out."
"Heh." Dragon Spirit let out a cold laugh. "Can any Tom, Dick, or Harry see our City Lord?" Dragon Spirit knew the identity of the intruder and had already guessed it. Yet, she felt no fear. Neither her former master, the previous City Lord, nor the current City Lord, Chen Fan, would permit her to cower before the Imperial Palace. Fear? Heh, that was out of the question.
"Insolence." Killing intent flared in the eyes of the man at the sword's hilt.
*Clang.*
A beam of sword light suddenly flashed. The intruder had attacked, his sword aimed at Dragon Spirit. The powerful strike instantly suppressed Dragon Spirit, leaving her unable to move. This sword was invincible, a thought that instinctively arose in Dragon Spirit's mind. But then...
"Roar."
Dragon Spirit revealed her true form. The fire dragon roared, spewing a torrent of dragon's breath. Flames scorched the heavens and earth.
*Bang.*
The sword light melted under the dragon's breath. However, a remnant of sword intent struck Dragon Spirit, leaving a gash several zhang long on her body. Blood poured out like a waterfall. With but a single strike, Dragon Spirit was wounded. Her true form was colossal, each drop of blood larger than a fist, like a rain of crimson.
"Oh?" The man standing at the sword's hilt uttered a soft exclamation. He looked at Dragon Spirit with keen interest. "A fire dragon at the titled Emperor level, impressive." He continued, "I'll give you a chance to ascend to heaven in a single step: become my mount."
"Roar." The fire dragon spoke human words. "What are you? What right do you have to take me as your mount?" Her previous master, the sixth most powerful figure in the world, had never spoken such words. This person, who could only wound her with a single strike, had the audacity to say this?
The man at the sword's hilt’s face finally turned grim. "Twice you've spoken wildly before me. Do you truly believe a titled Emperor has the right to challenge me?" He added, "I have killed so many titled Emperors that my fingers can't count them all."
"Heh." Dragon Spirit paid his threat no mind. She sneered, "You can try to kill me."
"Seeking death." The man at the sword's hilt finally abandoned any pretense. He spoke in a low voice, "Since you wish to die, I shall grant your wish."
"Kill." The single word resonated with deadly intent.
*Clang.*
The sword light was ferocious. The brilliant sword energy shattered the heavens and earth, reappearing above Dragon Spirit's head. This strike was aimed at Dragon Spirit's neck, intending to decapitate her.
"Roar." The fire dragon roared. A colossal dragon formed of rules emerged. Dragon Spirit directly employed the great Dao of rules, the rule of the fire dragon tribe, its roar shaking the world.
*Screech.*
However, the sword light was incredibly sharp. With a single strike, it severed the rule-formed fire dragon.
"Ahhh." A piercing scream echoed over Sword City. This strike was too powerful, unstoppable. Dragon Spirit was gravely wounded.
"Senior Sister." "Ling'er..." Cries of alarm rang out. In an instant, dozens of Imperial Dao powerhouses flew into the sky.
*Bang.* The massive dragon body fell towards the city, intercepted by Anandi Long. The dozens of Imperial Dao powerhouses faced the man at the sword's hilt, their expressions grave. Sword City had gained dozens more Imperial Dao powerhouses in recent days. This rule of rain was an immense fortune, a fortune never before seen. Yet, even with dozens of Emperors, including several titled Emperors like Anan, their expressions remained somber before the man at the sword's hilt. The intruder was from the Imperial Palace.
"Heh." The man at the sword's hilt let out a cold laugh. "You think you can outnumber the Imperial Palace?"
No sooner had the words fallen than...
"Buzz." Titled Emperors began to appear from outside the city. The Azure Emperor Palace had been prepared. In an instant, the aura of Sword City was suppressed. All who came from the Imperial Palace were titled Emperors. Those not of that level were deemed unworthy to enter the Imperial Palace. Ten more titled Emperors appeared, and their aura was incomparably more potent than the weakened ten. These ten were the true might of the Imperial Palace.
"Kill." The man at the sword's hilt's gaze turned icy. "Those who dare defy the Imperial Palace shall be killed without mercy."
...
Within the river of rules. Chen Fan suddenly opened his eyes, gazing at the fire dragon rules within the severely wounded spiritual essence. "What is happening?" Chen Fan's pupils contracted. Dragon Spirit had only just become a titled Emperor, and her Great Dao was about to collapse?
"Screech." He directly opened the river of rules and stepped out. The moment he emerged...
"Boom." He saw powerful titled Emperors storming into the city. "How dare they." Chen Fan's face turned frighteningly grim. Again. Had they not learned enough from the previous lesson? He had seen the ten weakened titled Emperors and surmised it was the result of the seven-day rule of rain. And now, it was the same group.
"Seeking death." Chen Fan was truly enraged. Time and again, did they truly believe Chen Fan could be bullied so easily? "Seal the Heavens and Lock the Earth." Chen Fan once again sealed Sword City. Last time, some had escaped safely; this time, he would show no restraint. Did they think I wouldn't dare kill someone from your Azure Emperor Palace?
"Those not of the Imperial Dao realm, retreat quickly. Today, this City Lord will annihilate these scum." His cold voice echoed.
"Yes." Excited, orderly shouts reverberated through the heavens and earth.
"Titled Emperors, join forces to hold back the others. I will first slay this wretch." Chen Fan's gaze fell upon the man at the sword's hilt. The latter had clearly noticed Chen Fan as well. The moment Chen Fan appeared, the intruder had spotted him. But the man at the sword's hilt had remained motionless, merely watching him from afar.
"Heh." Seeing Chen Fan look over, the man at the sword's hilt smiled. "Are you Chen Fan, who dares to threaten the Young Master?"
"Kill." No unnecessary words. What was a threat? The next time he saw them, he would simply slay them. The Heavenly Emperor's only daughter? Heh... this City Lord would kill her too.
The Tian Cong Yun Sword appeared, and a sword strike was unleashed!
"I also use a sword." The man at the sword's hilt smiled faintly. He showed no concern for the incoming Tian Cong Yun Sword.
"Clang." A sword strike was unleashed, carrying the intent of self-destruction. That was the man's Great Dao of rules, the Sword of Severing Self. To sever oneself, killing enemies would be effortless.