Cultivation knows no time.
In the blink of an eye, two months had passed in the Immortal Realm.
Nothing significant happened during these two months.
The Five Continents were peaceful.
The only stir was in Sword City.
In the four cardinal directions above Sword City, figures still lingered.
"Kill."
Suddenly, outside the east city gate, sounds of slaughter erupted.
The battle was swift, and it ended just as quickly.
In less than thirty seconds...
"Boom."
A colossal roar echoed through heaven and earth.
"Ah..."
A bloodcurdling scream accompanied the roar.
A Half-Emperor fell from the sky.
Swish.
Simultaneously, a figure returned to Sword City.
The Angler appeared immediately, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
The Ninth Sword Cultivator shook his head.
As soon as he spoke, his body trembled, and his face turned slightly flushed.
"Injured?"
"Yes."
Since he was exposed, there was no need to hide it further.
Suppressing the injuries within his body, he said, "Seven Half-Emperors attacked together. I could only barely kill one."
"Sigh."
The Angler sighed, saying nothing.
In the residence where they lived, people quickly emerged to welcome the Ninth Sword Cultivator's return.
The Angler did not go back. Instead, he looked towards the direction outside the city with a grave expression.
There was no escape in the four directions.
During this period, the Azure Emperor Palace had continuously sent strong cultivators to Sword City, surrounding it and intending to attack and encircle and kill the Angler and the others.
Sword City did not belong to them. They were merely refugees.
To avoid implicating Sword City, the Angler and the others had discussed and decided to send someone out to challenge daily.
The strong cultivators of the Azure Emperor Palace seemed unwilling to completely offend Chen Fan and did not wish to attack Sword City.
Although City Lord Chen had said that as long as Sword City residents were unharmed, they could proceed, but once a great battle erupted, no one could guarantee that the innocent would not be involved.
Especially when Emperor Lords clashed, the resulting commotion would engulf the entire Sword City. How could they ensure the safety of the innocent?
Given this, a temporary peace was reached between both sides.
Battles would erupt daily.
Both sides had their victories and defeats, but they would never fight within Sword City.
...
One day, a stranger entered Sword City and arrived at the residence where the Angler and the others lived.
Upon seeing the Angler, the stranger spoke, "Your Venerable has ordered that the action will commence in three days."
The Angler shot up, his eyes wide with shock, "Really?"
"Yes."
The man nodded.
He added, "In three days, rendezvous outside the Azure Emperor City."
"Alright."
The Angler was immensely excited.
It wasn't just him. The Empress Venerable, Kuang Mu, and the Ninth Sword Cultivator, along with the group that had gathered around, were all filled with excitement.
The time had come.
In three days, they would fight the Azure Emperor.
A moment later, the man left the mansion but did not leave Sword City.
This was because they had been targeted.
"I'm going out for a bit."
The Angler headed towards the central thatched hut.
He had reached an agreement with Chen Fan on that day.
The Angler immediately found Lu Feng, who came out once a day, and said, "Please inform Overlord and the City Lord that we will act in three days."
"Okay."
Lu Feng's aura was significantly stronger than before.
This was all thanks to Overlord.
Although he didn't know what action was planned in three days, he wisely did not ask.
He was not qualified to know the matters of great figures.
...
In the chaos.
"Swish."
Chen Fan opened his eyes.
His left eye overflowed with life, and his right eye was filled with ultimate stillness.
Life and death, his power had grown even stronger.
"Tier Three."
Chen Fan clenched his fist.
Bang, bang, bang.
The chaos immediately erupted with sonic booms.
A mere clench of his fist shattered the chaos within a hundred-meter radius.
After two months of secluded cultivation, he had finally broken through to Tier Three.
"It's time to go back."
He knew how long he had been in seclusion.
Strong cultivators possessed an extremely keen sense of time.
Hiss.
The chaos was torn apart again, and the Immortal Realm's barrier was shattered.
"Damn it."
The will of the Immortal Realm cursed under its breath, but it dared not intervene further.
This individual was no easy opponent. He had dared to attack the Immortal Realm even without backing. Now, he had a powerful backer.
He couldn't afford to provoke him.
"Whoosh."
Chen Fan landed within Sword City.
Some sensed his arrival; they were the Emperor Lords within the city.
Others could not sense his aura.
Within the Emperor Palace, Chen Fan returned.
The current Life-Death Emperor Palace had become larger than before. Bright stars adorned the firmament, with a person residing within each glowing star.
Among them, a star as brilliant as the midday sun shone the brightest.
That was the star representing the Dao of Life, temporarily taking the place of the sun.
As for the night, it was the Dao of Death.
"Hum."
Powerful auras ascended from the stars. "Greetings, City Lord."
"Mm."
Chen Fan nodded, saying nothing.
His gaze, however, was fixed on the edge of the firmament.
There, a most powerful star flickered incessantly.
It seemed to sense his presence...
"Boom."
The physical star flew out.
Overlord emerged and said, "City Lord, I will depart tomorrow to battle the Azure Emperor."
"Good."
Chen Fan responded, then asked, "When will the action commence?"
"In three days."
"Mm."
I should also make preparations.
While Overlord and the others fought the Azure Emperor, drawing attention, he would simultaneously act to fight the Azure Emperor.
"How have things been recently?" he asked again.
"Very good."
Overlord was somewhat eager to spar, "City Lord, how about a match?"
Chen Fan: "..."
"Are you sure?" he asked Overlord with a smile.
Overlord: "..."
Damn it.
He forgot.
This guy was now the master of the Life-Death Emperor Palace.
As long as Chen Fan isolated him from his physical star, wouldn't he be a pure target?
"Never mind."
Despite his reluctance, he didn't want to be a target.
Tsk, what a shame.
Chen Fan, on the other hand, felt he had missed a good opportunity.
"When will you become an Emperor?" Chen Fan asked again.
He was now a Tier Three Emperor Lord, and his Emperor Palace could already accommodate the existence of a Tier Two Emperor Lord.
And judging by Overlord's state, he seemed on the verge of a breakthrough.
"No rush."
Overlord shook his head, "It would be too much of a pity not to break through in battle."
"Alright."
He did not insist.
He then said, "The Emperor Palace is yours. You don't have to stay within my realm."
Emperor Lords who achieved their breakthroughs within the Life-Death Emperor Palace would be restricted by it and would establish their Emperor Palaces within the Life-Death Realm.
But Chen Fan would not do that.
Everyone had their own destiny. As long as Overlord did not sever his connection with the physical Dao, even after becoming an Emperor Lord, he would still be part of the Life-Death Realm and have subtle ties to it.
His growth would also strengthen the Life-Death Realm.
"I know."
Overlord nodded, "I will establish it in the Immortal Realm, and later move it into the chaos."
"Mm."
After nodding, he added, "Where is Mad Emperor?"
Swish.
The Destruction Star flew over, "City Lord, I can become an Emperor right now. My Emperor Palace... will be established in the chaos."
"Go."
Chen Fan nodded, "Next, I will fight the Yellow Emperor. There will be many strong individuals from the Yellow Emperor's Palace. Once you become an Emperor, you can help me share some of the pressure."
"Understood."
Mad Emperor stepped out of the Emperor Palace and flew directly out of the Immortal Realm, entering the chaos.
Within the Life-Death Realm, only these two could become Emperors at any time.
Even Old Demon Chu outside was a bit short.
"Let's go."
"Mm."
The two walked out of the Life-Death Realm together.