You don't want the sky and the sea of swords to fall

After this cold winter, there were only 80 years left before the test to become an official disciple.

The preparatory disciples cultivated even harder, not daring to slack off in the slightest. Their efforts could almost be described as obsessive.

If you don't work hard today, you'll be kicked out tomorrow.

Under such high pressure, even the two esteemed scions of Emperor Capital and Qiu Li felt some stress. They became more serious, taking becoming number one as their greatest goal.

When Chen Xia was around, they could only compete for the second and third spots. Although still a great challenge, the titles were weaker, and less motivating.

After Chen Xia was jailed, things became very different. What was laid out before them was the possibility of taking the first spot.

Throughout history, the number one spot was usually the loudest and most prestigious.

As two evenly matched opponents, because Chen Xia had been around before, neither had thought about competing for first place. They only wanted to get the second or third spots.

Although still competing, the intensity wasn't actually that strong.

The difference between second and third place was possibly just seeing who encountered Chen Xia first.

The one who saw him first would be third, and the one who saw him later would naturally be second.

The test to become a formal disciple was different from other trials. The rules were simple: wrestle and fight, and keep fighting until the other side conceded.

The stronger disciples often lacked opponents, and weaker disciples would be eliminated at the start.

But strong disciples could also take the initiative to choose opponents. If Chen Xia actively sought out those two esteemed scions to fight, they would probably both end up disabled to some extent.

Therefore, in addition to strength, the test to become a sect disciple also involved some social maneuvering.

This was also why Emperor Capital and Qiu Li were willing to lend money to Chen Xia.

Whether he paid it back or not was unimportant. The main thing was that he didn't come after them during the test.

You just watch the show quietly and sit firmly in the number one spot, while they fight over the second place title.

But now there was another pleasant surprise - Chen Xia was jailed.

The vacant first place spot was surely desired by everyone. Although on the surface those two esteemed scions had the best chance of obtaining it.

But did those supreme and mysterious seeds really not have any thoughts about the first spot?

Neither Emperor Capital nor Qiu Li believed so. They were on guard, after all they didn't have Chen Xia's overwhelmingly superior strength.

So for now they could only cultivate even harder, in order to secure their spots, and compete for the number one position.

Everyone would remember the first place.

But who got second, few could recall.

Unless you could cut off Qiong Qi's head, then no matter what place you got, everyone would remember you.

Or you could put Qiong Qi's head back on, bringing him back to life.

But it was possible Chen Xia would chop it off again.

At the sword hilt.

In the great hall, Old Fisherman stood with his hands behind his back, brows lowered, speaking in an unhurried tone:

"You've gotten 300,000 spirit stones in compensation, and 500 years of solitary confinement, and you're still not satisfied?"

"It's not that we're not satisfied." A voice sounded from the void, rippling and fluctuating. A purple figure walked out, continuing in a sound wave-like voice:

"The Forbidden Lord is not satisfied. After all, Qiong Qi was a groomed scion for 3,000 years. For him to die like this, the Forbidden Lord is very angry."

"Also, do you really think 30,000 spirit stones is enough to compensate for a scion's life?"

Old Fisherman's eyes were blurred in the dim light. Gripping the edge of his robe, he asked in a deep voice:

"Then what do you want?"

"It's not what we want." The void figure corrected again. "It's what the Forbidden Lord wants."

"You know, in the realm, there are twelve Forbidden Lords. The competition between them is currently very intense. The Sixth Forbidden Lord originally wanted to groom Qiong Qi to become his right hand man in the future. But now his efforts have been in vain."

Old Fisherman furrowed his brows. What the void figure said was true, and he knew it too. But the dead cannot be brought back to life, that was inevitable.

So he replied: "If 30,000 spirit stones is not enough, Blue Sky Sword Sea can add more. But if you want to make exorbitant demands, then Blue Sky Sword Sea can only express helplessness."

In foundations, the current Blue Sky Sword Sea was not much weaker than the Sixth Forbidden Lord, and may even be stronger.

Moreover, this was the declined Blue Sky Sword Sea. If it was Blue Sky Sword Sea at its peak with two Great Emperors, then the Sixth Forbidden Lord would not even have the qualifications to negotiate conditions.

"The Forbidden Lord does not want money." The void figure shook its head, and continued.

"The only thing that can equal a scion is another scion, specifically the one who killed Qiong Qi. The Sixth Forbidden Lord is very interested in him."

"No." Old Fisherman flatly refused, without even thinking about it, reacting intensely as if his foot was stepped on by a cat.

The void figure persuaded: "The Forbidden Lord does not want to monopolize this scion. He only wants to groom him together with Blue Sky Sword Sea, to build a deeper relationship between both sides."

"I...I'll consider it." Old Fisherman's words contained some hesitation.

The void figure continued persuading: "There's nothing to consider. As long as you agree, the Forbidden Lord is willing to write off the matter of Qiong Qi, and increase his support for Blue Sky Sword Sea."

"You don't want Blue Sky Sword Sea to continue declining, right?"

Old Fisherman was silent for a moment, before slowly nodding and saying softly:

"I agree."

"Good." The sound wave-like voice of the void figure contained joy. "This will improve the relationship between us. I believe the Forbidden Lord will also be very happy."

"That would be best." Old Fisherman's face also showed a smile, but it was more of a wry smile.

After the void figure left, Old Fisherman's expression slowly became calm again. Looking out the window of the great hall, he could see half of Blue Sky Sword Sea.

Groom a scion together?

Hmph.

What a joke. He knew very well what ambitious wolfish desires this Forbidden Lord harbored. It was nothing more than another attempt at possession and bewitchment.

But he would gain the upper hand, playing along to establish a so-called new alliance, deceiving the Forbidden Lord for his support.

When Chen Xia reached the Quasi-Sage Realm, the Forbidden Lord would have no chance for possession or bewitchment. Instead, it would be Blue Sky Sword Sea's rise again with the appearance of a Great Emperor.

By then, Sword Venerable would be revived for a second life. Blue Sky Sword Sea would rule the celestial sphere, and how would this Sixth Forbidden Lord dare speak loudly before a Great Emperor?

Before a Great Emperor, he could only tuck his tail between his legs.

Old Fisherman longed intensely for that day to come.

"Cough cough."

He suddenly coughed twice, feeling a piercing pain spread through his body. This was an old problem that recurred every few years.

Old Fisherman couldn't figure out what was causing it. Divination techniques also revealed nothing. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly:

"Probably because I'm getting old."

Indeed, this guess was right.

Thanks to his oh-so-filial disciple.