Guangming and Huanzong refused to leave the vicinity of Hanyuan.
The two had made up their minds.
They would not leave without obtaining the Earth Core Stone.
News of the Lord of Order's emergence would not be concealed for long.
Given his temperament, he would surely seek revenge.
Furthermore, the harvest season, which occurred once every million years, was approaching.
The Upper Nine Heavens were about to make a move. This conflict was both a crisis and an opportunity.
If they remained as they were, it would be a crisis.
But if they could recover to the Ninth Order, it would be an opportunity.
In the entire Eighth Land, the only thing that could instantly restore them was the Earth Core Stone of the Hanyuan Dao Master.
The scene fell into a brief silence once more.
...
On the other side.
Chen Fan and his entourage, who had followed Xue Mingxian, walked for a full day in the chaos before finally reaching their destination.
"Hmm?"
Among the group, Xie Jun raised an eyebrow.
His pupils, filled with venom and hatred, gazed towards a quiet, floating vegetable garden ahead.
Yes, a vegetable garden.
It was a rustic patch of land, with fresh green seasonal vegetables growing, and a wooden house at the edge.
"Please."
Xue Mingxian gestured with her hand.
She personally led the way, approaching the vegetable patch.
"What is this..."
As soon as everyone drew near, they were enveloped by an aroma so captivating it was almost intoxicating.
The fragrance emanated from the vegetable garden.
Chen Fan, Xie Jun, and even Long Wang, all of their eyes widened.
Their gazes were fixed on the vegetable garden ahead.
The verdant patch of land held plants that Chen Fan and the others had never seen before, growing quietly.
As the chaotic aura blew by, they swayed, releasing wisps of pure fragrance.
"What is that?" Long Wang's bloodline thrummed.
The plants in the garden evoked a deep craving within his bloodline.
Creak.
At that moment, the door of the wooden house opened by itself.
An old farmer emerged, carrying a hoe on his shoulder.
He was utterly unremarkable, and in terms of demeanor, he appeared to be just an old farmer.
The old farmer looked up, his aged face breaking into a smile as he looked towards the chaos.
"A friend from afar."
With a smile, the old farmer spoke, "Are you Lord Chen? May I invite you to have a chat?"
Xue Mingxian bowed respectfully to the old farmer and then moved aside.
"Dao King."
Chen Fan's expression was solemn.
Although the old farmer exuded no discernible aura, Xue Mingxian's attitude spoke volumes.
The old farmer was the Dao King.
Having discerned the other party's identity, Chen Fan would not dare to be presumptuous.
After a moment's thought, he led his group towards the vegetable garden, his voice slowly carrying out, "It is an honor for a junior to be invited by Dao King."
With a Ninth Order being present, Chen Fan never acted carelessly.
This was true even when he first faced the Golden Daoist.
These Ninth Order beings possessed too many trump cards.
The longer they lived, the more trump cards they accumulated.
Chen Fan did not wish to confront this being during his first visit to the Eighth Land.
Even a weaker Ninth Order was still a Ninth Order.
The group descended from the chaotic heights and stood on the small vegetable patch.
Apart from Chen Fan, everyone else's attention was fixed on the verdant vegetable garden.
Long Wang's focus was the most intense, his bloodline's call causing him to tremble with excitement.
His gaze quickly found the source of his bloodline's agitation.
In the third row of the garden, a seemingly ordinary plant bore a blood-red fruit.
It was as crimson as blood.
"Hoo hoo hoo."
Long Wang's breathing grew rapid.
He did not know what the blood-red fruit was, but the craving within him intensified.
"That is a Blood Dragon Fruit," the old farmer's voice sounded at the opportune moment. "I once saw a Ninth Order dragon corpse in the chaos, and this fruit grew from it."
These casual words drove Long Wang to the brink of madness.
It was a relic left by a Ninth Order Chaos Dragon, nourished by its essence and blood to produce this fruit.
"No wonder..." Long Wang mused, "It could evoke my bloodline's call. A Ninth Order... it must be like this."
Even with Long Wang's might, little could draw his attention, save for the remnants of his own kind.
"Senior..." Long Wang suddenly looked at the old farmer.
In his human form, Long Wang bowed respectfully to the old farmer, "Senior, this item is of great importance to my Dragon race. May I..."
"Yes."
Long Wang's words remained unfinished.
He did not need to finish; the old farmer already knew what he intended to ask.
He readily agreed.
He then continued, "I apologize for the abrupt invitation, but all of you may choose one spiritual plant from here."
"The plants I cultivate in this garden were all found in the chaos. They are rare treasures."
"Please..."
Whoosh.
As soon as the words fell, Long Wang was the first to move.
His form was lightning-fast, and he instantly plucked the crimson fruit.
"Roar."
The moment the crimson fruit entered Long Wang's hand, it transformed into a giant dragon.
A white dragon soared into the sky.
Its appearance brought with it boundless pressure.
Its roar shook the heavens and earth, and its dragon might spread far and wide.
"Dragon race?"
The white dragon possessed an will of its own and spoke human words.
At this moment, Long Wang was immensely respectful, "I am Long Wang, the current Lord of Chaos..."
The white dragon did not waste words, immediately stating, "As a descendant of my Dragon race, you are qualified to inherit my legacy. Your cultivation is too weak. Come... inherit my supreme art and advance to the Ninth Order."
Being of the same Dragon race,
The white dragon spoke without preamble.
His survival until this day was a grand fortune.
Fortune was meant to be passed on to posterity.
"Roar."
In the next moment, the white dragon shattered the void.
He had lived until this day to await this moment.
Energy like a sea poured down, engulfing Long Wang.
Being of the same Dragon race, Long Wang's inheritance encountered no obstacles.
Simultaneously, the white dragon's gaze fell upon the old farmer, his voice like a thunderclap, "Fellow Daoist, thank you."
The old farmer nodded calmly, "It is nothing..."
These two were evidently old acquaintances.
The white dragon bowed to the old farmer one last time before his form shattered.
Hum.
Dragon might swept out, enveloping Long Wang.
...
"Fellow Daoist," the old farmer's gaze fell upon Xie Jun. "Your power is formidable, but it is too mixed, and you harbor too much negative emotion. It will ultimately lead you to madness."
Sssst.
An ordinary gray plant flew into the old farmer's hand. "This plant will benefit you. If you do not find it beneath you, please accept it."
Xie Jun looked at the old farmer, his gaze direct.
After a moment, he reached out and took the plant.
He did not refine it immediately, but put it away first.
He could feel the pure energy emanating from the plant; refining it should bring him considerable benefits. However, he did not do so at once.
"Friend..." the old farmer looked at Kuang Di. "Your destructive power is excellent. I shall help you grow stronger."
A plant flew towards Kuang Di of its own accord, landing in his hand.
Then, he looked at Kuang Di's shadow and casually tossed a plant into the shadow. "This is for you. Your Dao is strong, very good."