Huan Zong and the Lord of Light traversed through the Ninth Land.
"Hmm?"
As they walked, the two felt something was amiss.
"The chaotic energy here seems to have softened considerably?" they asked in confusion.
The two felt it clearly.
"It must be a Chaos Beast," the Lord of Light suddenly spoke.
The Dragon King looked at him and sneered, "What do you intend to do?"
Even his words were filled with provocation now.
He had only let the Lord of Light go out of necessity, but his hostility had never faded.
The Lord of Light knew this and said nothing. After all, he was still heavily injured. While he didn't fear these few people, one should not forget that the most troublesome City Lord had yet to appear.
Even though Ping Xi had already advanced to the ninth tier.
Both Huan Zong and the Lord of Light were more wary of the absent City Lord Chen than anyone else.
The Lord of Light shook his head. "Chaos Beasts are the true children of chaos. Humans are outsiders. I knew long ago that where there are Chaos Beasts, the chaotic energy becomes softer."
He then added, "Believe it or not, I was actually friends with the Bright Bird back in the day."
The Lord of Light fell silent.
In fact, many people knew that Chaos Beasts could soften chaotic energy.
Knowing this, however, did not make most people care.
Lone cultivators like Huan Zong, who had no affiliations, were not interested in such matters. What difference did it make if they knew or not?
Upon hearing the Lord of Light's words, a flicker of surprise crossed the Dragon King's eyes, but he said nothing.
So what if they were friends?
I am still the king of the Chaos race. Other matters... I don't want to understand.
All I know is that I am the king now. If you mistreat my Chaos race, I will deal with you.
The atmosphere turned heavy due to the confrontation between the Dragon King and the Lord of Light.
For a moment, the Lord of Light felt quite helpless.
To be threatened by an eighth-tier being as a dignified ninth-tier cultivator... and yet be unable to say anything.
"Alas."
He could only sigh inwardly.
The group continued their journey.
Finally, they sensed their destination.
Chii.
The Sword Master tore open the dimensional barrier with a raise of his hand.
He gestured, "Seniors, please..."
"..."
Huan Zong and the Lord of Light exchanged a glance, seeing the bitterness in each other's eyes.
They remembered when Huan Zong and the Golden Daoist first came to the Ninth Land, they were immensely powerful, directly challenging two ninth-tier overlords, exhibiting an awe-inspiring presence.
Now, as they were about to leave, they were being driven away like stray dogs.
"Alas."
The sigh could only be held within their hearts.
Circumstances were beyond their control.
The Ninth Land had completely changed its master.
"Seniors."
Before they departed, the Sword Master added another sentence.
His voice carried a hint of helplessness. "The Ninth Land is too weak, and I truly dare not let seniors linger. When I, this Sword Master, break through to the ninth tier in the future, the Ninth Land will still welcome seniors as guests."
"This junior is determined to forge the Ninth Land into a peaceful land where all races coexist. At that time, seniors are welcome to visit anytime. The Ninth Land will offer the warmest welcome."
The Sword Master's words caused Huan Zong and the Lord of Light's expressions to change.
"You... want to forge a land where all races coexist?" Huan Zong's shock was evident.
Even the Lord of Light was astonished by this statement.
The Sword Master paused. "Seniors are acting like this..."
Was it that surprising?
He asked instinctively.
"..."
After a long period of contemplation, Huan Zong finally spoke. "Your final sentence has made this Emperor feel much better. Since that's the case, before we leave, I will tell you something."
"Please speak, Senior..."
A parting word from a ninth-tier cultivator was worth heeding.
Judging by their expressions, this idea of a land where all races coexist seemed to have a hidden story.
Since he had decided to speak, Huan Zong cut to the chase. "The idea of all races coexisting has been attempted before, but it ultimately failed. The Upper Nine Heavens would never permit such a place to exist. Therefore, my advice is... good luck."
Saying this, the two prepared to leave.
"Why?" the Sword Master asked, confused.
Why would the Upper Nine Heavens not permit all races to coexist?
Huan Zong replied without looking back, "The Lower Ten Lands are the vegetable gardens of the Upper Nine Heavens. They come to harvest once every million years. Now... it's almost time for the harvest, and then you'll understand everything."
With that, the two left without looking back.
Watching their retreating figures, the Dragon King and the other two fell into deep thought.
"Vegetable gardens?"
What did that mean?
Literally, they seemed to grasp something.
The Upper Nine Heavens were the true powerhouses.
The titles of Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, while sounding imposing, represented vastly different statuses.
The Lower Ten Lands seemed to be akin to breeding grounds for the Upper Nine Heavens.
Harvested once every million years.
"..."
For a moment, all three felt a sense of heavy burden.
Ping Xi spoke, "I once heard City Lord Chen say that the Lower Ten Lands had stirred up a great wave of rebellion, intending to overthrow the Upper Nine Heavens and re-establish the rankings. Perhaps... it was related to these words 'vegetable gardens'."
"Why?" the Dragon King asked, puzzled.
"Who knows?"
The Sword Master felt a headache coming on. After a moment of thought, he said, "For now, let's leave it at that. When City Lord Chen emerges from his seclusion, we will tell him about this."
Ping Xi and the Dragon King nodded.
Neither of them was good at thinking. Such matters were best left to those suited for them.
...
In the River of Yin and Yang.
At this moment, Chen Fan had begun to comprehend the final path.
Metal, wood, water, and fire had all been gathered, leaving only the path of earth.
"Rise."
The earth was heavy and thick. The Gravity Pearl appeared automatically.
The power of the earth resonated perfectly with gravity.
Boom.
A rumbling sound emerged.
The earth manifested as a gravity domain, overlapping with the power of the Gravity Pearl.
At a certain moment, Chen Fan's eyes suddenly snapped open.
With a loud roar that shook the heavens, he exclaimed, "The Five Elements, appear..."
Boom.
The River of Yin and Yang began to churn.
Five great stars slowly floated up from the riverbed. The five stars circled behind him, like five immensely vast worlds.
The Five Elements Domain was formed.
At this moment, the entire Ninth Land was stirred.
Everyone looked up at the River of Yin and Yang.
Above the River of Yin and Yang, stars circled. A figure, like a giant who had split the heavens, extended its hand, drawing the stars into its body.
Above his kidneys, the water world that had been there was gone, having merged with the Five Elements.
Hiss.
The Spirit of the Water Path transformed into a galloping chaotic horse, galloping within the Five Elements.
As it ran, a spiritual power surged from all five great stars, the power of the Great Dao spirits.
On the Metal Dao great star, a golden beast appeared.
The spirit of the Metal Dao was about to emerge.
Hiss.
But the Spirit of the Water Path swallowed the golden beast in one gulp, their spirits merging.
This situation continued for four more times.
The aura of the Water Spirit began to change, transforming into the Spirit of the Five Elements.
"Roar."
The Spirit of the Five Elements roared towards the heavens, absorbing the spirits of all directions, and instantly advanced to the level of a three-stage Dao Spirit.
The roar shook heaven and earth.
"Return."
Chen Fan roared.
Boom!
The Spirit of the Five Elements charged into the Five Elements World, shrinking instantly and merging with his kidneys.