The Law Elder was indeed messed with by Chen Xia. However, he did not live long before passing out completely, with his breathing growing much weaker. Now then, he was not even half alive anymore, but a quarter alive at most.
Chen Xia stroked his bald head and shook his head with a laugh. "You're too old. Hearing such delightful news is too much for you to bear. Alas."
He waved his hand again, signaling Chi Yu and Big Yellow Dog to bring the Law Elder back.
The bird and dog casually dragged the stretcher with the former Law Elder, scurrying away. As they left, Big Yellow Dog's soft murmur could be heard.
"Why don't we just bury this old guy, so he can avoid several thousand years of detours?"
"That doesn't seem right." Chi Yu frowned slightly. "If someone finds out we dragged him out and buried him, it would cause more trouble for Chen Xia."
Chi Yu had a rare moment of clarity, not falling for Big Yellow Dog's tricks.
"Then let's take him back to his cave and bury him there. If asked, we'll say he couldn't take it anymore." Big Yellow Dog suggested again.
"Let's not. When I become powerful in the future, I'll just beat him down directly. No need for these complications." Chi Yu still shook his head.
Big Yellow Dog stopped making suggestions and hurried with Chi Yu, dumping the former Law Elder at the entrance of his cave.
As they left, Big Yellow Dog made a victorious scissors sign at the former Law Elder.
In the Great Heaven, this represented happiness and joy.
Chen Xia's inauguration ceremony had also ended. After the disciples bowed to him, they gradually dispersed.
What remained was greeting the other elders and learning about his duties.
From the title "Law Elder", the importance of Chen Xia's position could be heard.
His main duty was to manage the rules of Blue Sky Sword Sea.
Interestingly, there were no actual written rules in Blue Sky Sword Sea.
If a disciple caused trouble, and reported it to the elders, the six Law Elders would discuss together and decide who was right and wrong.
If you could subdue the other five Law Elders in a fight, there would be no need for discussion.
Such were the rules of Blue Sky Sword Sea - might makes right.
The same went for the entire Great Heaven.
It was indeed odd for an ancient sect to still have such primitive rules.
Chen Xia shook his head with a sigh, feeling it made sense after all.
After all, not everyone was as respectful of elders and courteous as him.
The elders' introductions continued. Those without titles were more respectful to Chen Xia, clearly below him in status.
Elders of equal rank spoke to Chen Xia as an equal, very enthusiastic about this promising young man, even inviting Chen Xia to visit their halls.
Even higher were elders like the Third Elder, who also came to see Chen Xia.
Hatred flashed in the Third Elder's gloomy gaze and tone.
"Your luck won't hold forever!"
"Indeed." Chen Xia nodded and laughed. "I'll have even better luck."
After all, he could add luck points.
"Hmph." The Third Elder expressionlessly laughed coldly and said no more, turning to leave.
Chen Xia's inauguration ceremony thus ended, with his name recorded in the sect's history for future generations.
Blue Sky Sword Sea had prepared a special grand hall for the Law Elder, but Chen Xia declined. It was too spacious and uncomfortable to live in, pointless as well.
His original cave dwelling was still better - at least it was familiar.
Blue Sky Sword Sea did not object, leaving the grand hall for Chen Xia in case he ever wanted it.
The Law Elder actually had little to do, completely unbusy. Chen Xia thought about it and found this normal.
Most of the time, Blue Sky Sword Sea disciples cultivated alone and avoided trouble, naturally needing no law enforcement.
Even disputes were personal matters resolved through discussion.
Thus the Law Elder's role became awkward - too minor to handle, too major to intervene.
For instance, no Law Elder could do anything about Chen Xia decapitating Qiong Qi.
Only the higher-ups could discuss and decide a punishment.
So Chen Xia's Law Elder job was very idle - everyday, just playing chess alone in his cave, reading borrowed books in the Heavenly Pavilion.
When bored, he would take walks and sit in pavilions.
Day after day.
Boring perhaps, but Chen Xia found it agreeable. He was no impatient man, and liked this leisurely lifestyle.
Occasionally Big Yellow Dog would emerge from Sword Forest, claiming to play chess with Chen Xia, though it was just two terrible players bumbling about.
As always, they started by capturing horses.
Back when chess was popular, disciples had an unspoken rule against opening by capturing horses.
But Chen Xia and Big Yellow Dog never cared for that rule.
The reason was simple.
"I have no mother." Big Yellow Dog proudly laughed.
"I'm more or less the same." A touch of sadness colored Chen Xia's tone, though not much. Time had long washed away his grief.
With neither man nor dog having principles, their games were especially intense.
Thirty-two pieces on a square board, tens of thousands of variations.
Yet centuries of games were not tiring.
Perhaps interest depended on the partner, not the game itself.
Chi Yu appeared less and less, mostly cultivating. Unlike Chen Xia and Big Yellow Dog, he had his own goals.
To lead his clan to prosperity - words constantly on Chi Yu's lips, driving his efforts.
This was good too.
Chen Xia and Big Yellow Dog, two idlers, occasionally envied Chi Yu.
"Don't you have any goals?" Chen Xia would ask Big Yellow Dog during chat.
"None at all." Big Yellow Dog shook his head. Two whole eons, yet no goals occurred to him.
If forced to name one, it was simply living.
By that metric, he was quite successful, outliving even the ancient trees outside Sword Forest.
"What about you?" Big Yellow Dog would ask back.
"Uh..." Chen Xia thought, scratching his head. "Just living I guess. Not like I can go die instead right?"
"Plus some things to remember, and people to see."
"Hope I can see them."
Big Yellow Dog grinned. "Seems your life is more interesting than mine."
"You've really only seen this sword sect for two eons, no experiences at all?" Chen Xia was curious.
"Yep." Big Yellow Dog nodded. "Afraid to die, I never left the Sword Forest entrance, like a rock."
"All these years, only you bothered with this rock."
Big Yellow Dog's ears drooped as he softly continued.
"Without you, I'd probably still be rotting at the Sword Forest entrance, like those rocks I saw."
"Rocks can rot?" Chen Xia asked, intrigued.
"They can." Big Yellow Dog nodded. "Those in latrines do."
Chen Xia was taken aback.
Now that matched the character design.