The entrance test for the Blue Sky Sword Sea's probationary disciples had begun.
Out of the five hundred probationary disciples, a few had already left early, feeling they had no chance.
It was nothing unusual, after all in a few days over a hundred more would be following in their footsteps and leaving.
Staying here wasn't praiseworthy, only success was.
An enormous arena, over four hundred disciples, five days, free-for-all combat.
These were the only rules for this entrance test.
Overseen by Second Elder, as long as no one died, anything was allowed. Of course if someone did die, nothing could be done, after all who could complain?
Just like previous entrance tests, the weakest disciples with the poorest talent and least connections were eliminated first.
These disciples were usually from impoverished Ancient Race families from the fringes of the star domain. They might be prodigies in the outer fringes but in the Sky Sword Sea Sect they didn't measure up.
The next batch eliminated were the rich Ancient Race disciples. They would give gifts to the stronger disciples so had better connections and were eliminated later, mostly unharmed.
So the martial world wasn't always about fighting and killing.
The five day time limit led to intense fighting.
The weaker disciples were all eliminated by the second day.
The remaining disciples were at least at the Mahayana Realm.
Emperor Capital and Qiu Li stood in the center of the arena, with empty space around them. No one dared challenge them.
They were in no rush to fight, waiting until the last day to determine first place. Getting taken advantage of midway would be too great a loss.
In addition, some ferocious Supreme Race excelled in this melee, quickly securing their positions. No one dared provoke them.
The pecking order in the arena was determined by distance from the center where the two emperor's scions stood. The closer to the center, the higher the status, and none dared challenge them.
Other than Emperor Capital and Qiu Li, over a dozen ferocious Supreme Race lined up in order.
It remained this way until the fourth day. It seemed this would be the final order.
Suddenly Chi Yu burst out in three thousand fiery feathers, almost instantly knocking back the Supreme Race in third position. Chi Yu settled into the spot, becoming a blur.
Chi Yu flung open his robe of condensed fiery feathers. He took a step forward, black flames dancing at his feet. Facing Emperor Capital he rumbled,
"I want to fight you."
Emperor Capital was taken aback, hesitating, "We already fought hundreds of years ago, no need right?"
"Fight again." Chi Yu's tone was exceptionally firm.
"Then this is just a regular fight, getting hurt is normal." Emperor Capital said warily.
Although over a hundred years had passed, he clearly remembered the last one who had hurt Chi Yu probably already reincarnated successfully.
"Fine." The black flames at Chi Yu's feet suddenly flared up, enveloping his whole body. His head transformed into a crow's head trailing long fiery feathers. He opened his beak.
It was all flames inside.
The observing cultivators grew excited.
They had all heard of Chi Yu, previously known as Emperor Scion Stepping Stone. They hadn't expected him to dare fight the emperor's scion again during the entrance test.
Could he want to break through like this?
The spectators were quite interested.
In the stands, a big yellow dog sitting at the very back clenched his paws, just watching the arena intently.
Chi Yu flapped the three thousand fiery feathers forming his wings and suddenly charged.
It was meant to be an eye-catching battle but didn't last long.
When the fifth day ended, Chi Yu was still fighting Emperor Capital but was clearly at a disadvantage. Emperor Capital seemed to be going easy on him.
Chi Yu stopped fighting and left the arena silently with his head lowered.
The big yellow dog stood by the arena, broom beside him. He didn't say anything either, like a wooden man, feeling anything he said would be wrong.
Only when the observing cultivators had all left did the big yellow dog heave up his broom and slowly head towards the sword grove.
He felt like so much was missing without Chen Xia.
If he was the one imprisoned, would it be much better?
For the first time since he came into being, the big yellow dog contemplated a question about another. But he just couldn't figure it out.
In the end he flung his broom to the ground in frustration. Pointing at the broom he scolded,
"Useless thing!"
After a while, the big yellow dog picked up the dusty broom again, hugging it. His voice was very faint as he sighed,
"Useless thing."
The Blue Sky Sword Sea no longer had probationary disciples, all had become formal disciples and could now enter the cave abodes exclusive to formal disciples.
As for the next batch of probationary disciples, it would probably be another two hundred years, earlier than when Chen Xia got out of prison.
After all, only he had gotten a five hundred year sentence in the Blue Sky Sword Sea.
Chen Xia's days in sword prison passed better and better. With chess and tea, his interest greatly increased.
Sometimes he would fuse sword intent into chess, or put it in the tea water.
This produced some interesting effects. The chariots in chess moved with domineering sword intent, exceptionally sharp, truly resembling magic treasures.
Also because the prison was too dark, Chen Xia specifically plucked some glowing beast eyes to use as lamp lights.
The effect was pretty good.
Anyway the sea water was pitch black, Chen Xia felt the beasts didn't need eyes either. Might as well give them to someone who did.
Like him.
So Chen Xia turned the beast eyes into lamps for himself.
Time passed slowly in prison, but looking back now, over half had already gone by.
He had been imprisoned for three hundred years already.
The surrounding sea beasts had gotten familiar with him. Often they would not only spit, but also relieve themselves though from a distance, not daring to get too close for fear Chen Xia would pluck out their other eye too.
Chen Xia paid them no mind. Their provocations weren't too egregious.
But recently none of the sea beasts dared come by.
Because this year's sword tide was approaching.
Chen Xia sat on the ground, looking at his tattered clothes that could barely hang on. If he took another tide head on, his clothes probably wouldn't make it.
That wouldn't do.
The sword intent surged in the distance, the great tide howled, coming from the deeper waters. Bringing boundless majestic sword intent, it could almost overturn half the Sword Sea.
Chen Xia stood up and tidied his ragged clothes, not even glancing at the roaring incoming majestic tide.
He reached back and swept aside his long hair, revealing his still delicate features.
The sword intent arrived first, then the towering tsunami.
"Shoo."
A plain voice sounded.
The tsunami over a thousand meters near the sword prison incredibly reversed direction, crashing back into the deep sea, all the sword intent dissipating into the water!
Chen Xia calmly tied up his hair with sword intent.
This was Reverse Sea!
"Why feel sad, isn't your life laughable enough?"
Good night, good night, good night.