Chen Fan was gone.
The first thing he did was take Sword City with him.
Then, he tore open the barrier of the Immortal Realm and appeared in the chaos.
Only a few minutes had passed since the great battle, and the previously shattered chaotic regions had already returned to peace.
"This is chaos."
Mad Emperor appeared beside Chen Fan, sighing, "Chaos can erase all traces."
He had ventured out of chaos a long time ago.
He understood chaos.
"Mm."
Chen Fan nodded, saying nothing.
The River of Life and Death appeared directly.
Life, death.
Life and death traversed the chaos like two smooth ribbons, absorbing the light of life and death within.
Chen Fan closed his eyes, allowing the two streams of life and death to wash over his body.
This was his Dao, and it would not cause any harm.
Rumble.
The River of Life and Death began to churn.
As it churned, a wisp of ethereal light spread out from the river.
Everyone in the Life and Death Realm saw this scene.
"Return."
Suddenly, a great roar echoed through the heavens and earth.
The River of Life and Death surged, rising towards the sky and then crashing down.
Wave after wave.
With each wash, something was left behind.
Slowly, two figures appeared in the river.
Two figures, one male and one female.
With his Heaven-Defying Dao of Life and Death, Chen Fan had forcefully dragged them back from death.
"Gather."
A divine light converged.
Endless vitality surged into the two bodies.
Swish.
The two opened their eyes.
From the initial haze to the recovery of their divine light.
"City Lord."
Zhao Kai was the first to regain consciousness, his eyes clear.
He immediately knelt and bowed, "Thank you, City Lord."
Tian Wen, beside him, also regained clarity. A hint of hesitation appeared in her eyes, and quickly disappeared before she could kneel.
"Rise."
Chen Fan's expression was calm.
His casual tone, however, caused Tian Wen's face to change drastically.
The hint of hesitation in her eyes must have been seen by the City Lord.
Zhao Kai and Tian Wen both controlled the dual Daos of Life and Death.
Earlier, Chen Fan had used their lives to heavily wound the Yin-Yang Twin Suns.
Yet, for the same two people, Zhao Kai's eyes showed no hesitation, let alone resentment.
He owed everything he was today to the City Lord's bestowal.
"City Lord..."
Tian Wen, her face pale, wanted to explain, "This subordinate did not..."
"No need to explain."
Chen Fan shook his head. "I have no right to take your life. The previous battle was my impetuousness, City Lord. Let's go back to the Life and Death Realm, we'll have a meeting..."
For his own people, Chen Fan never referred to himself as "this City Lord"; he usually used "I."
Tian Wen's face instantly turned pale, and a mist of tears welled up in her eyes.
Yes, she did have some resentment towards the City Lord for casually taking her life. But the City Lord had resurrected her, and that resentment vanished in an instant.
She hadn't expected the City Lord to perceive it so quickly and understand what had happened.
...
Chih.
In the Life and Death Realm, everyone appeared.
"Everyone, gather here," Chen Fan said.
His words were the rules of the Life and Death Realm.
Instantly, the great stars returned one by one.
Everyone was drawn closer uncontrollably.
Every face was filled with unspeakable excitement.
The City Lord could resurrect people.
Who would fear death in future battles?
If they died, they died, the City Lord would bring them back anyway.
"Everyone."
Chen Fan's gaze swept across the many great stars.
Everyone...
There were people from Sword City, former lone cultivators from the Eastern Continent, those subdued from the Mad Realm, and later some from the Immortal Realm.
When the City Lord spoke, everyone fell silent.
"Today's battle has made me see many things clearly."
No one spoke, waiting for the City Lord's address.
"Alas."
A sigh, tinged with disappointment, "Some of you joined my Emperor's Palace willingly, some were forced, and some had nowhere else to go..."
His voice, like a Dao, drifted across the Life and Death Realm.
"Some people can share prosperity, but not hardship."
The topic grew serious. "Therefore, today I have decided to let you leave. Anyone can. You can take your insights with you.
We've known each other for a while, and I won't take away what you've gained. You can also take my insights with you... as long as you leave my power behind."
Swish.
At this, everyone's face changed.
Was this... a breakup?
"Everyone."
Chen Fan spoke again, casually opening the realm gate. "Please."
Not much needed to be said; this was enough.
Chen Fan knew everything that had happened in the Emperor's Palace before. If it weren't for the Suppression of the Heavenly Calamity and Huo Xing and others, the Life and Death Realm would probably have fallen into internal strife.
Chen Fan did not want to see this.
"City Lord."
Faces appeared from the great stars.
San Ren Da Kui, with his usual straightforward personality, said anxiously, "This subordinate has no intention of leaving..."
"You can stay."
Chen Fan nodded. "Those who stay will be brothers in life and death from now on."
Da Kui smiled. "Thank you, City Lord."
Huo Xing, Heavenly Calamity... some people from Sword City stepped forward.
At this moment, no one wanted to leave.
But the faces of most people were pale.
"Tian Wen."
Suddenly, Chen Fan called out to Tian Wen, whose face was the palest.
Tian Wen's eyes were full of regret. "City Lord, I didn't..."
"No need to explain."
Chen Fan shook his head. "I took your life without your consent, and it makes me uncomfortable.
If there is one time, there will be a second. In the future, if something like this happens again, and I am unable to revive you, have you considered this possibility?"
"..."
"So, you lead the way."
He didn't want to waste any more time; there were many things yet to be done.
"City Lord..."
"Sever the Dao."
His tone instantly turned stern.
"Wah."
Tian Wen burst into tears.
She didn't want to sever her Dao, but she dared not defy the City Lord's command.
At this moment, she wished she could slap herself.
"If you don't do it, I will." Chen Fan's voice was icy.
The next moment...
"Boom."
The star representing the great sun was directly seized by Chen Fan.
A thread connected Tian Wen.
With a thought...
Crack.
The thread connecting to the life star snapped.
Hmm.
Tian Wen's face instantly turned ashen.
Chen Fan's method was gentle, not overly aggressive.
Tian Wen's insights were all left to her.
The moment the Great Dao was severed, the once familiar Life and Death Realm suddenly felt alien.
Vaguely, a sense of rejection appeared towards her.
"City Lord..." Tears streamed down Tian Wen's face.
"Others, do I need to do it myself?" Chen Fan's gaze swept across them.
Pale faces appeared on the great stars.
No one wanted to sever their Dao.
But... since the City Lord had said so, severing their Dao was inevitable today.
Figures walked out from the great stars one by one, awaiting the City Lord's final judgment.
Their gazes flickered, and every figure that was looked at instantly turned pale.
"It's over..."
Unwilling murmurs echoed in everyone's hearts.