Within the Grand Dao cosmos.
The Dao of Life and Death collapsed.
Dao crumbled, and life perished.
"Crack."
Chen Fan's body shattered.
Like porcelain, it broke apart in the Grand Dao cosmos.
"Going to sleep now."
This was his final thought.
Chen Fan was confident he wouldn't die, for he was the Heavenly Emperor of Life and Death.
It was precisely for this reason that he dared to risk saving others.
In the final moment, of the shattered River of Life and Death origin, only one fragment drifted out of the Grand Dao cosmos.
Five half-divine weapons emerged, flowing like water into that single fragment.
...
Outside, no one sensed the situation within the Grand Dao cosmos.
Because Chen Fan had not absorbed the Dao into his body, other world lords would never trust anyone and would never open their Grand Dao cosmos.
Chen Fan, however, had long since severed the connection to his Grand Dao cosmos.
What finally dispersed was only his own Dao.
Old Demon Chu returned and recuperated in Sword City.
This was now the territory of Old Demon Chu and the Immortal Emperor.
In the depths of the void, a wisp of Grand Dao fragment appeared in Old Demon Chu's mind.
Old Demon Chu was startled...
A familiar feeling, Life and Death... it was the City Lord.
Deep in his mind, Chen Fan's figure emerged.
"City Lord."
Old Demon Chu was surprised, unsure of why the City Lord had appeared.
"Old Demon..."
Chen Fan spoke calmly, "I have fallen into a slumber. The Grand Dao has dispersed. Do not worry, I will return soon. This is the last imprint I have left in this world. When one day, you sense the Grand Dao cosmos beginning to wither, enter the Grand Dao cosmos and awaken me."
Old Demon Chu's expression changed.
"City Lord, is it because too many people were revived..."
"That's right, but I am willing."
"..." Old Demon Chu.
In the boisterous Dao Net stars, everyone celebrated their own resurrection.
But they had no idea of the immense price their City Lord, who had brought them back to life, had paid.
"City Lord, I understand," Old Demon Chu's gaze was resolute.
This was the deepest trust.
His figure dissipated, transforming into a final wisp of soul fragment, drifting in the depths of Old Demon Chu's mind.
"Hoo."
Old Demon Chu took a deep breath.
Within Sword City, the Immortal Emperor still resided.
Old Demon Chu fell silent, suppressing the shock in his heart. This matter... absolutely must not be known by anyone else.
No matter how friendly they seemed on the surface, if anyone learned that the City Lord had dispersed his Grand Dao and fallen into slumber, no one could guarantee that someone wouldn't harbor ulterior motives.
The Realm of Life and Death, wandering alone in the chaos.
Boundless chaos, without beginning or end.
At the four extremities lay the Heavenly Pillars and the earthly realms.
On this day, Old Demon Chu summoned Zhao Kai.
"What, sealing the realm?" Zhao Kai was startled by Old Demon Chu's idea.
"That's right."
Old Demon Chu's expression was calm.
"No."
Zhao Kai sternly refused, "Do you know what sealing a realm means? It means the Realm of Life and Death can no longer draw power from the chaos and will slowly wither. Without the City Lord's command, I will never seal the realm."
"It must be sealed."
At this moment, Old Demon Chu was incredibly firm.
"...Why?"
Zhao Kai sensed Old Demon Chu's gravity and inquired.
The City Lord trusted Old Demon Chu the most; everyone knew this.
Something must have happened, otherwise, Old Demon Chu would never have issued an order bypassing the City Lord.
Furthermore, the City Lord had not appeared for half a year.
Old Demon Chu spoke again, "Do not ask. The City Lord is fine. Now, you must immediately seal the realm."
"..."
Zhao Kai fell silent.
In the Realm of Life and Death, Zhao Kai wielded the Dao of Death and could seal the world on behalf of the City Lord.
They remained silent for a long time.
Finally, Zhao Kai said gravely, "Do we really have to do this?"
"If the City Lord blames me, I will bear it alone," Old Demon Chu's attitude was firm.
"Alright."
Finally, Zhao Kai agreed.
Something must have happened. If he had to guess... it was likely that the City Lord had encountered some trouble.
If Old Demon Chu didn't say, Zhao Kai wouldn't ask.
Sealing the realm required no notification to anyone.
*Buzz.*
On this day, above the Realm of Life and Death.
The full moon radiated an incomparably brilliant glow, the Dao of Death spread out, falling upon the realm gate.
Dao imprints sealed the realm gate.
To seal a world, one simply had to close the realm gate.
The realm gate connected to the Dao Net of the entire world.
Instantly, all connections between the Realm of Life and Death and the chaos were severed.
Within the Dao Net, everyone simultaneously opened their eyes.
The Grand Dao was sealed, the world was sealed; they could all feel it.
"Zhao Kai..."
Mad Emperor emerged, "Why have you sealed the world?"
"It has nothing to do with you."
Zhao Kai's tone was calm, "I am merely following orders."
"You..."
Mad Emperor's face was unsightly.
Following orders, whose orders? The City Lord's?
Sealing the realm meant stripping away the chaos.
The Immortal Emperor also cast his gaze, his eyes questioning, as did Overlord...
To be honest, facing so many gazes, Zhao Kai felt the pressure.
He was only a third-tier Emperor.
Silently, Old Demon Chu appeared, his gaze sweeping in all directions, "Following the City Lord's command, we are temporarily sealing the world..."
"..."
This time, no one had any doubts.
No one disbelieved Old Demon Chu's words.
Everyone slowly quieted down and returned to their cultivation with peace of mind.
Although the Realm of Life and Death was temporarily sealed, it had accumulated enough energy during this period to be sufficient for cultivation.
Everyone said no more.
...
"Mmm."
Chen Fan opened his eyes from his slumber.
He got out of bed and stretched leisurely.
Opening the window, he faced the early morning sun, his entire demeanor shifting from languid to one with a hint of vitality.
After enjoying the morning light for a while, Chen Fan went into the kitchen and made some breakfast.
A moment later, he went out, to his workplace.
As a civil servant, Chen Fan's days were quite relaxed.
Work, then home.
To rise with the sun and rest with the moon.
Day after day...
This kind of life, though uneventful, was peaceful.
The hustle and bustle of the city was captivating.
Time flowed, and he entered middle age...
Chen Fan in his middle age had developed a slight beer belly. Though not materialistic, he carried the busyness of a city dweller.
Years of comfortable living had stripped him of any fighting spirit, and he peacefully blended into the crowd, living an ordinary life.
Time flowed again.
A life passed quickly, a hundred years a blur.
Chen Fan lived to be eighty-three years old.
Old Chen Fan was serene and ordinary.
Lying on his deathbed, he was at his final moments.
"Father."
"Grandfather..."
"Great-grandfather..."
Four generations together, his descendants were filial. Chen Fan was a winner in life.
With a satisfied smile, the old man on the deathbed slowly closed his eyes and passed away amidst the farewells of his descendants.
...
After an unknown period, Chen Fan opened his eyes once more.
"Sigh, even on Saturday I can't rest. When will life get better..."
Dragging his weary body, Chen Fan rose before dawn.
Quickly tidying himself up, he put on his hard hat and went to the construction site...
Life after life...
In this life, Chen Fan did not live to a natural end, but died in a construction site accident at the age of forty.
...
The third life began...
...
The ninth life concluded, the tenth life began...