The plan had taken shape.
There wasn't much strategy involved, it was entirely about exploiting the current weakness of the Ninth Heaven, whose current Nine-Tier powerhouses were insufficient.
Moreover, they had Zhan holding the fort.
This plan was entirely feasible.
"When do we make our move?" Zhan felt it was feasible.
"Half an hour from now."
Chen Fan said, "First, we recover. Use Origin Crystals to recover."
No one had any objections.
Origin Crystals possessed formidable recovery capabilities.
In just half an hour, everyone had almost recovered to their peak state.
"Are you ready?" Chen Fan's face broke into a smile.
As long as another Nine-Tier powerhouse was eliminated, the Ninth Heaven would lose its ability to enter the Tenth Earth.
What would they do there, commit suicide?
Based on these points, Hua Yan had only two choices left.
Either abandon the opportunity of this Million Tribulation, though that was impossible.
The only remaining option was to contact others and share a portion of the Tenth Earth's cake, and a very large portion at that.
No matter how he chose, the Ninth Heaven was effectively finished.
"Let's go."
The five of them quickly moved towards the Ninth Heaven they had opened.
...
Within the Ninth Heaven, Dao Master Hua Yan returned to his residence, utterly exhausted.
The immense losses left him feeling drained.
This feeling was incredibly unpleasant.
The burning rage in his heart was almost enough to ignite him.
Forcing himself to calm down, he finally sank into a state of cultivation.
He was also injured and needed to recover.
As for the repair of the Ninth Heaven, that could be left to the subordinates.
Such a minor matter could be handled by his subordinates.
However... shortly after he closed his eyes.
"Swish."
His eyes, burning with fiery rage, snapped open: "They dare to come again."
Boom.
The Great Sun blazed, and Hua Yan's figure rapidly rushed towards the direction of the disturbance.
At the same time, those who were about to enter seclusion, the Chaotic World Heavenly Blade and Qing Wan, also opened their eyes.
Shock flickered in their eyes, but what followed was even greater anger.
Bastards, they dare to come again?
Boom.
Almost simultaneously with Dao Master Hua Yan, they unleashed their powerful auras.
"The enemy is invading, all Great Emperors gather and annihilate the enemy." This time, Hua Yan intended to mobilize the entire might of the Ninth Heaven.
There was no other way, the Ninth Heaven was too weak at this moment.
Clang.
A dark demonic blade suddenly appeared before Hua Yan.
The familiar aura caused Hua Yan's expression to change, and he instantly retreated.
In the distorted space, Zhan walked out.
The moment he saw Zhan, Hua Yan understood everything.
"So it's you." Hua Yan's expression grew even more grim.
He understood why Xing Shen and the others had died so quickly; with Zhan's presence, it was no surprise they fell fast.
"Hua Yan, long time no see."
Both were veterans who had participated in the battle to kill the Lord of Order, so they knew each other.
His tone was relaxed.
But Hua Yan was not relaxed; his body tensed, and his expression was grim: "Zhan, weren't you missing?"
"Missing?"
A hint of a smile appeared on Zhan's face: "If being killed counts as missing, then, yes... that statement is indeed accurate."
"You were killed?"
Hua Yan disbelieved: "Who could kill you?"
"Tian Zi."
"Impossible."
Hua Yan retorted directly: "If Tian Zi wanted to kill you, you wouldn't have survived. Zhan, even when you're framing someone, find a better excuse."
Zhan didn't offer much explanation.
He had indeed died. If not for a fortunate coincidence that turned him into a Corpse King, and if not for the appearance of Old Demon Chu who helped him regain his memories, he would have truly died.
All these coincidences combined indicated that his fate was not to perish.
Hua Yan's face darkened: "Why are you helping those from the lower heavens against the upper heavens?"
Zhan's appearance had already revealed his stance.
"Revenge."
Zhan did not conceal it.
Seeing an old comrade again, he felt a touch of melancholy.
Once comrades, now enemies; fate plays its tricks.
"Heh."
Hua Yan sneered: "Zhan, considering our past acquaintance, take your people and leave."
"Cannot leave."
Zhan shook his head resolutely: "My mission is to stop you."
Hua Yan: "..."
He felt Zhan's determination.
This meant that this battle was unavoidable.
"Alright."
Hua Yan no longer wished to speak: "Since you insist, do not blame me for disregarding our past camaraderie."
Boom.
The moment his words fell, winds and clouds surged across the Ninth Heaven.
Endless power of the Great Dao and world power surged into Hua Yan's body, and his aura began to ascend continuously.
Not only that, but the world's power was also suppressing Zhan.
Clang.
The demonic blade was drawn.
Zhan struck first.
Within Hua Yan's world, he was already at a disadvantage in the confrontation. If he waited for the other party to fully gather their power, he would be a fool.
With a single saber strike that broke the heavens, he halted Hua Yan from absorbing more power.
"Great Sun."
Hua Yan held a Great Sun in his palm.
The two former comrades engaged in a fierce battle.
...
On the other side, the Chaotic World Heavenly Blade and Qing Wan were converging at the fastest possible speed.
Both felt a sense of danger.
Suddenly, an extreme sense of death made Qing Wan's hair stand on end.
Zheng.
A sword light appeared.
Chen Fan struck first, the Sword Dao Prison trapping heaven and earth.
The power of the Gravity Orb descended instantly.
With a 'boom', it confined Qing Wan within.
"Yin Yang."
"Poisonous Mist."
"Dragon."
The three Nine-Tier powerhouses who followed closely unleashed their strongest killing moves, targeting Qing Wan.
"No."
Qing Wan's face instantly turned ashen.
The aura of death had become a reality.
Before the Lord of Order arrived, she had a very bad premonition, sensing her impending danger.
After the Lord of Order retreated, that crisis did not dissipate, but within the world, she had let down her guard.
Now, this premonition of death had been confirmed.
These people intended to kill her.
The Chaotic World Heavenly Blade, who was rushing over, instantly stopped and turned to flee.
With four Nine-Tier powerhouses, even if he arrived, he wouldn't be able to save Qing Wan and would also put himself in danger. He made the most correct decision immediately, charging towards the Dao Master.
Boom.
Behind him, a gigantic firework bloomed.
Qing Wan, a Nine-Tier powerhouse, had self-destructed.
Rather than being killed by the enemy, she chose to self-destruct.
Under the certainty of death, she felt no sliver of luck.
The Sword Dao Prison was shattered, Ping Xi and the other two were blown away, and even with the Dragon King's defense, his scales were broken and blood flowed profusely.
"Roar."
Hua Yan felt Qing Wan's demise.
Another Nine-Tier powerhouse had fallen.
Now, only Chaotic World Heavenly Blade remained under his command.
"Withdraw."
Before the other Nine-Tier powerhouses could converge, Chen Fan issued the order to retreat.
Chii.
Silver light flashed, and Chen Fan and the other three appeared beside Zhan, quickly escaping with him.
"Chase."
Hua Yan had gone mad.
At this moment, he only wished to keep everyone here.
Even at great cost, he would annihilate these remnants.
They were too hateful.
The repeated sneak attacks had pushed Hua Yan beyond fury.
Chaotic World Heavenly Blade reached Hua Yan.
Hua Yan did not blame him for abandoning Qing Wan; he had seen the situation clearly.
If Chaotic World Heavenly Blade had gone there, he might have been captured along with them.
Had Chaotic World Heavenly Blade insisted on saving her at that moment, he would have also unhesitatingly ordered him to retreat.
Chaotic World Heavenly Blade absolutely could not die again.
If Chaotic World Heavenly Blade perished, he would be left alone.