The dragon spirit expelled the guests, and everyone could only cup their fists and leave.
No one would say much at this time.
...
Watching everyone depart, the dragon spirit shook his head.
Indeed, apart from his master, no one could suppress these people.
Da Kui was a titled emperor, but he was not among the strongest loose cultivators.
The truly strong ones had not even appeared here.
As the loose cultivators left, the solemnity in the dragon spirit's eyes did not dissipate.
He had initially thought the loose cultivators of the Eastern Continent would stand with the Free City, but now it seemed otherwise.
These people all had their own agendas.
"Sigh."
The dragon spirit sighed in his heart.
His gaze swept across the surroundings, and he could sense many people secretly watching the central thatched hut.
Those gazes were filled with ill intent.
The opportunity to become an emperor in the Free City had attracted too many eyes.
"I hope no one from the Imperial Palace comes." This was something the dragon spirit could only pray for internally.
The Five-Directional Heavenly Emperors, the Five Great Imperial Palaces.
If even people from the Imperial Palaces had designs on this place, it would be truly dangerous.
He hoped it wouldn't come to that.
...
On the seventh day, dawn broke.
This was the day Chen Fan was to succeed as City Lord.
However, Chen Fan had not yet appeared.
At this moment, he was still within the river of rules.
But he was no longer cultivating. Instead, he turned his gaze back to Tian Wen.
At this moment, Tian Wen's body was like a blazing sun.
One Dao aperture had finally been opened.
Finally, Tian Wen had embarked on the path of an emperor.
"Buzz."
With each additional Dao aperture that lit up, Tian Wen's aura grew stronger.
"Rumble."
Concurrently, the Great Dao of Life within the river of rules also vibrated, beginning to strengthen.
The time for repayment had come.
The river of rules had spent seven days giving Tian Wen various insights, allowing her to achieve nine emperor qi and attain the status of a titled emperor.
Nothing was a one-way street of giving.
The river of rules was now reaping its rewards.
The rumbling sounds were continuous.
The rules of life were rapidly strengthening.
At the same time, Tian Wen's aura was also growing more powerful.
The two complemented each other, achieving each other's mutual advancement.
This situation continued for a full hour.
"Boom."
The instant Tian Wen opened her eyes.
Her nine Dao apertures erupted with unparalleled power, like miniature suns.
"Haha."
Tian Wen let out a wild laugh.
She was usually quite reserved, but at this moment, even the most reserved person could not suppress the excitement in their heart.
She had become a titled emperor.
Her powerful aura even caused the river of rules to tremble.
Immediately after, Tian Wen leaped from the river and appeared before Chen Fan, bowing respectfully, "Your subordinate, Tian Wen, thanks the City Lord for your assistance."
"Not bad."
Chen Fan was also very satisfied with Tian Wen's achievement.
Tian Wen's power had also driven the enhancement of the Great Dao of Life.
The Great Dao of Life was now several times thicker than before.
"You may leave for now," Chen Fan said.
His gaze fell upon the Great Dao of Life.
"Yes."
Tian Wen said nothing more.
Chish.
A rift appeared in the river of rules.
It was Chen Fan who had torn it open.
Without him, entering this river of rules was difficult, let alone exiting...
Tian Wen exited through the rift.
When she emerged, she found herself outside the Free City.
At this moment, Tian Wen concealed her aura.
She closed her eyes and sensed her surroundings. She could feel the location of her family, but she did not go there. Instead, she entered the city from another direction.
As she entered the city, her figure was concealed within a pitch-black cloak.
...
On the other side.
Within the river of rules, Chen Fan began to fuse the Great Dao of Life and Death.
"Rumble."
The Great Dao trembled.
Pervasive death qi surged, continuously eroding the Great Dao of Life.
It was still too weak.
The lingering aura left by a Heavenly Emperor was beyond the capacity of Tian Wen, who had just advanced to become a titled emperor, to offset.
"Failed again?"
Chen Fan frowned.
He still couldn't fuse them.
The quality of the death qi was too high, and the quantity was immense.
The Great Dao of Life could not even approach it.
"If it really doesn't work..."
Chen Fan was at a loss. "I'll have to fuse the Great Dao of Death first."
He had already decided on the path he wanted to take.
He had initially intended to balance life and death, but unfortunately, that path was currently unfeasible.
"Then..."
A glint flashed in Chen Fan's eyes. "I'll focus on death for now."
He wanted to fuse all Daos and become the lord of all Daos.
Among the myriad Daos, there were differences in strength, and achieving balance was impossible.
Therefore, there had to be a primary rule. The Five Elements and Wind-Thunder were still lacking. Yin and Yang could work, but Chen Fan did not wish to do so. He wanted to use Life and Death as the primary Daos.
Since the Dao of Life was still too weak, he could only rely on the strongest Great Dao of Death as his primary.
"Open."
With that thought, Chen Fan no longer hesitated.
Calculating the time, there were about two hours left; he couldn't delay any further.
"Rumble."
The Great Dao of Death vibrated.
"Sword, come."
With a thought, the Heavenly Cloud Sword appeared.
Chen Fan found this sword very easy to use and had no intention of changing it.
Stroking the long sword, Chen Fan murmured to himself, "I walk the path of the sword, and I will use you as the prototype to refine my Dao of Rules."
As his voice fell, Chen Fan threw out the Heavenly Cloud Sword.
Zheng.
The Heavenly Cloud Sword trembled, seeming extremely excited.
The sword pierced into the Great Dao of Death.
"Compress."
Boundless power was mobilized.
The death qi began to transform into the shape of the Heavenly Cloud Sword.
It was difficult.
The river of rules had no specific shape; it was originally formless flowing water.
But now, Chen Fan needed it to have a shape.
The sword was the sharpest weapon of all.
Rumble.
The death qi churned more violently.
The world of rules was born, and even Chen Fan, as the opener of the Dao, found it difficult to alter the boundless power bestowed by heaven and earth. He was doing something that no one had ever done before.
A vague will seemed to appear within the river of rules, preventing Chen Fan from altering the shape of the rules.
Once completely altered by Chen Fan, his rules would only be able to cultivate the sword.
All Daos as the sword would be detrimental to the changes of heaven and earth.
This was absolutely not permissible.
Therefore...
"Rumble."
The will began to resist Chen Fan's alteration.
"Scram."
Chen Fan roared, his voice like thunder.
"Roar."
The vague will was enraged.
How dare this person provoke the will of heaven and earth.
As if a furious roar echoed.
In the next moment, more will descended, preventing the Great Dao of Death from taking the shape of a sword.
This will was extremely powerful, making Chen Fan's intentions increasingly difficult to execute.
"Seeking death."
Chen Fan was furious.
What if it was the will of heaven and earth?
Everything in this place belonged to him; even the will of heaven and earth could not stop him from making any changes.
"Come out."
The Gravity Treasure Bead, the Dragon Mark Compass, the Golden Silk Cicada Robe, and the newly acquired Heavenly Crown instantly appeared.
The four divine weapons rotated, confronting the will of heaven and earth.
There was only one set of divine weapons in heaven and earth, but it had been divided into seven.
The fusion of the four divine weapons managed to momentarily block the will of heaven and earth.
"Roar."
The will of heaven and earth grew even more furious.
But on Chen Fan's side, the Great Dao of Death was rapidly transforming into the shape of a sword.
"Rumble."
As time passed, the Great Dao of Death was completely compressed into the shape of a sword.
The river water was altered, and the rules were also changed.
"Splash."
The Great Dao of Death flowed, forming droplets of water.
Each droplet was a sword.
And this was not the end.
If he only wanted to transform the Great Dao of Death into the Dao of the Sword, why would he do all this?
What he needed to do was to make all Daos as swords.
Therefore...