In the Divine Firmament Domain, worlds were countless, and experts were innumerable.
Powerful beings emerged from within these worlds.
Across the Divine Firmament's five supreme great worlds, five Great Emperors stood as Heavenly Emperors.
These five Great Emperors stood at the pinnacle of the heavens.
Beneath the Great Emperors were twelve Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperors.
And after them, came the Fifth Tier Heavenly Emperors.
"Hm?"
The Heavenly Emperor from the Divine Firmament Great World, positioned at the center, swept his gaze across all directions.
His gaze unfurled a Great Dao net that enveloped the entire Divine Firmament Domain. This Eighth Tier Dao net… had kept the Divine Firmament Domain in awe for a million years.
"The numbers are not right."
Great Emperor Ni Xiao spoke, causing the Divine Firmament Domain to tremble. "Where are the Destroyed Great World and the Yin Death Realm's inhabitants…"
"..."
Silence.
The number of worlds in the Divine Firmament Domain was constant.
Ninety-nine great worlds solidified the Divine Firmament Domain's position as the supreme domain in all four directions.
Yet, at this moment, counting Ni Xiao himself, there were only ninety-seven.
Upon the interwoven Great Dao, the Yin Death and Destruction Daos were missing.
"What is happening?"
Ni Xiao's expression turned grim.
The next instant…
*Swish.*
His figure vanished from his original position.
Anywhere covered by the Divine Firmament Great Dao, he could reach in an instant.
Ni Xiao appeared at the Destroyed Great World and raised his hand, piercing through the world's barrier.
Instantly…
*Boom.*
The Destroyed Great World began to collapse.
Having lost its Great Dao and world energy, the Destroyed Great World began to crumble the moment its barrier was broken.
*Whoosh.*
Behind him, the other four Great Emperors arrived in unison.
"Fellow Daoist Ni Xiao, what has happened?" the Great Emperor of the Azure Firmament Great World inquired.
The state of the Destroyed Great World could not be hidden from anyone.
The Great Dao was empty, the world energy was gone.
The last trace of residual power had been shattered by Ni Xiao with a casual wave of his hand.
"Hmph."
Ni Xiao offered no reply.
His figure vanished again.
When he reappeared, he pointed a finger… and the Yin Death Realm was pierced.
The Yin Death Realm also began to collapse.
"Who?"
Ni Xiao's expression was terrifyingly grim. "Who dares to provoke our Divine Firmament Domain… Yi Lin…"
A Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperor descended through the air.
He approached Great Emperor Ni Xiao and bowed respectfully, "Senior."
Ni Xiao pointed at the Yin Death Realm and said, "You cultivate the Dao of Time. I want you to reverse time and see what exactly happened in the Yin Death Realm."
The power of time was potent but difficult to cultivate.
Yi Lin, through a chance encounter, had awakened the power of time. Though it was merely a superficial understanding, it was enough to accomplish many things.
"Yes."
Yi Lin dared not hesitate.
*Buzz.*
The Great Dao began to stir.
Yi Lin's primary cultivation was not the Great Dao of Time; that Dao was too powerful, too vast… he could not afford to cultivate it.
A phantom Dao emerged.
Within the phantom Dao, a trace of time energy appeared.
"Reverse."
Yi Lin channeled the power of time.
*Buzz.*
Everything before his eyes began to flow backward at a visible speed.
The empty Yin Death Realm was slowly replaying past events in reverse.
As time flowed backward, a great battle appeared…
"Kill."
As if a sound of slaughter emanated from the reversed time.
A sword, embodying both life and death, slashed down with world-shattering force.
One sword, breaking heaven and earth.
The master of the Yin Death Realm was directly targeted and slain in the void by this single sword.
"Eh?"
The scene of the River of Life and Death piercing through the void startled one of the Great Emperors.
The soft exclamation of surprise naturally did not escape the perception of the other four Great Emperors.
"Fellow Daoist Azure Firmament."
Ni Xiao spoke, "Do you know something?"
Azure Firmament wore a slight smile. "Life and death, how interesting. It seems like a little fellow I once knew, hehe."
The demise of the Yin Death Realm was a matter of no consequence whatsoever to Azure Firmament.
Ni Xiao's rage was solely because someone dared to challenge the authority of the Divine Firmament Domain.
"Who?"
Ni Xiao inquired.
"An interesting little fellow."
Azure Firmament continued to smile. "He actually survived. An interesting little fellow, have you come for revenge? I'll be waiting for you…"
His voice echoed, resonating throughout the entire Divine Firmament Domain.
The sound waves reverberated across the Divine Firmament Domain. Great Emperor Azure Firmament was certain that the interesting little fellow could definitely hear his voice.
And Chen Fan indeed heard it.
At this moment, a group of people was hidden within a Fifth Tier Great World filled with lightning.
"What do we do?"
The powerful figures outside the world filled everyone with trepidation.
No one dared to make a move.
Fortunately, the strongest Fifth Tier Heavenly Emperor of the Thunder Realm had left, giving them an opportunity to sneak in and remain hidden until now.
"Wait…"
There was no other way but to wait.
Now, they could only hope that the search would not be thorough.
Fortunately, their gamble paid off.
Above the skies of the Divine Firmament Domain, Yi Lin ceased to operate the power of time.
"Let's go."
Ni Xiao said, "The Heavenly Pillars are becoming more unstable. We must depart immediately…"
"Yes."
The army set off.
Five Great Emperors and ninety-two Heavenly Emperors began their expedition.
However, before departing, Ni Xiao issued an order to all the worlds within the Divine Firmament Domain: "Be wary of enemy infiltrators. The Divine Firmament Domain and the four surrounding Seventh Tier Great Worlds shall each dispatch a Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperor to sweep through the Divine Firmament Domain."
From the Divine Firmament Great World, a Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperor emerged. "Your order shall be obeyed."
No one dared to defy the command of a Seventh Tier Great Emperor.
…
A group of powerful individuals set out with imposing might.
After this group of experts departed, five Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperors began to patrol the entire Divine Firmament Domain.
The five Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperors dispersed in all directions to patrol.
Soon, one Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperor stopped outside the Thunder Realm.
"What do we do?"
Instantly, everyone became tense.
This time, even Chen Fan's expression turned solemn. The Immortal Emperor no longer possessed his previous confidence.
A Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperor from a supreme great world, exuding an oppressive aura.
Especially… considering this was still within the radiation range of the Divine Firmament Domain's Great Dao energy.
What to do?
What to do?
What to do?
Chen Fan grew anxious.
Outside, the Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperor had already reached the exterior of the Thunder Realm.
"Hoo."
A hot breath was exhaled lightly.
"Kill him."
This was the final decision Chen Fan made.
Kill.
Kill a Heavenly Emperor.
Kill a Heavenly Emperor of a Seventh Tier Great World.
"How do we kill him?"
Even the Immortal Emperor had no plan.
"Hoo."
A turbid breath was exhaled. "Bet everything. When he enters, I will immediately draw upon all the power within the Realm of Life and Death and use petrification to seal the Thunder Realm."
"At that time, I will open all the Daos. Remember… you can draw upon all the power without reservation. Remember… there is only one chance."
Everyone: "…"
All their expressions turned grave.
No one spoke, no one uttered a sound.
For a moment, everyone fell silent, making their final preparations for the inevitable.
…
"Thunder Realm, I am the Patrol Envoy of the Azure Firmament Great World, acting under the order of Great Emperor Ni Xiao to patrol all worlds in the Divine Firmament Domain. Open the realm gate immediately."
Outside the Thunder Realm, the voice of the Sixth Tier Heavenly Emperor could be heard.
Worlds had gates.
Normally, visitors would enter through the realm gate, and only uninvited guests would forcefully enter another world.
"It's Heavenly Emperor Yan Fu."
Within the Thunder Realm, a Fourth Tier Heavenly Emperor voluntarily opened the realm gate.
Welcoming Heavenly Emperor Yan Fu's entry.
In the Thunder Realm, the strongest was only the Realm Master, a Fifth Tier Heavenly Emperor.
After the Realm Master left, the strongest remaining was Fourth Tier.
Yan Fu's gaze was icy. He cast a cold glance at the Fourth Tier Heavenly Emperor and instantly activated his divine sense, sweeping through the entire Thunder Realm in search of any unfamiliar aura.