The flowers and grass in the Blue Sky Sword Sea had long since stopped blooming.
Chen Xia also seldom went out for walks now, spending all his time sitting in his cave dwelling researching some Five Elements Mystic Arts while also pondering the secret arts in the Heavenly Pavilion.
The Heavenly Pavilion now had not the slightest restriction on Chen Xia - he could take whatever he wanted without needing to return anything.
After all, the current Blue Sky Sword Sea was already half dead.
The Sword Venerable Emperor within the Sword Sea had not made any movements or sent any definite news for a long time, so no one could say for sure whether he still lived.
To be able to leave safely, Chen Xia began researching the great formations of the Blue Sky Sword Sea, waiting for the time when he could escape with Big Yellow Dog and Zhang DaoMing.
The various Elders also put forth their own guesses, feeling that the Blue Sky Sword Sea could persist for at most another two to three thousand years - it was already in its final days.
By now, even the last batch of cultivators who had wanted to leave had begun departing, trickling away without any reluctance.
The ones remaining were basically all unwilling to leave, except for Chen Xia who was unable to get away.
For this reason, Chen Xia had even specially visited the Old Fisherman once, hoping to discuss things well - it didn't have to inevitably end with both sides unhappy.
"Master, I want to go wander the Star Region for a bit, is that alright?"
The Old Fisherman sat high up, deeply glancing at him once before shaking his head. "It's not time yet, wait a bit more."
"But... but the other Great Emperor's disciples have all left, wouldn't I be a bit of a loner if I don't leave?" Chen Xia no longer glared, pretending to be muddled as he asked the Old Fisherman again.
"You're not an ordinary person, don't keep asking." The Old Fisherman's tone was deep, his brows drooped low, seemingly unwilling to answer this kind of question.
Chen Xia also didn't say anything more, just lightly nodded his head. "Mm."
His departing back did not waver, perfectly calm.
Things were already basically clear between Chen Xia and the Old Fisherman - both sides knew what the other was thinking, but neither said it aloud.
At least this way they could still be considered half master and disciple.
As for the time of the great world's end, the Sect Leader had also given a concrete guess.
Three thousand years.
It would probably welcome the end of this great world in around three thousand years.
It was said to be the end of the great world, but it actually had little to do with ordinary cultivators. The higher a cultivator's cultivation level, the greater the impact they would feel.
Below the Mountain Moving Realm, they basically wouldn't feel the end of the great world at all. The Mountain Moving Realm might feel some trembling in their divine sense, but not much - they would just feel it.
But when it came to the Heaven Mending Realm, they would be a main target of the end of the great world, with their divine souls disturbed and demonic thoughts appearing.
That also wasn't a big deal - Heaven Mending Realm cultivators could generally resolve their demonic thoughts, and their cultivation level might even increase a step further.
Saint level cultivators would have a much harder time during the end of the great world. Saints without sect backing had long sealed themselves away, avoiding the taint of dust, in order to avoid too much reckoning.
As for Saints like the Old Fisherman and the Sect Leader, they truly had no choice but to face the end of the great world and the reckoning.
When it came to the Zhun Di level, although their combat power was similar to Great Saints, the Zhun Di had an 'Emperor' character, and were strangely unafraid of the end of the great world - at least they could preserve their lives.
True Great Emperor level existences could resist the end of the great world, protecting an entire Blue Sky Sword Sea.
And it was precisely because the Blue Sky Sword Sea had produced so many Great Emperors in the past that it had weathered many ends of great worlds. Now there only remained a dying Great Emperor, and it was finally arriving at the critical moment of life and death.
The Sect Leader had specially released words.
"From now onward for the next ten years, those who wish to leave the Blue Sky Sword Sea hurry up and go. The Blue Sky Sword Sea does not keep you, and you should also not think of returning after ten years when the sect will be sealed - no entering or leaving allowed."
"From now onward, the Great Dao leads to the heavens, each travels their own way."
"I do not ask you to perish together, but also do not ask you to live together."
These were the Sect Leader's original words. Those who wanted to leave could not be kept back, and he did not want to keep them.
After these words came out, the remaining cultivators in the Blue Sky Sword Sea also gradually left, not to mention one in ten remaining, even one in a hundred remaining would not be an exaggeration.
The outer disciple region was left with only two people.
Chen Xia and Zhang DaoMing, Big Yellow Dog was not counted as a person.
The other Elders did not have reason to await death, and did not dare resist the end of the Great Dao, already having escaped completely.
The outer disciples escaped even faster, learning some mystic arts from the Heavenly Pavilion before rapidly departing, afraid that the Blue Sky Sword Sea would settle accounts after autumn.
The current Blue Sky Sword Sea was equivalent to half a tomb.
There was no reason for youngsters to remain in a tomb.
Except for Chen Xia this unfortunate one.
He often looked at the heavens with some displeasure, "Fourteen Sons of Vast Sky, just a bunch of useless bums, hurry up and get back here!"
The current days in the Blue Sky Sword Sea were truly extremely boring.
Chen Xia simply began practicing the Five Elements Mystic Arts in the outer disciple region, first using the Earth Method to open up the soil, then burying gold with the Metal Method, later using the Wood Method to tug and pull the gold, or the Fire Method to blow it up if that didn't work.
Also known as a gold miner.
The few remaining Elders also turned a blind eye, pretending not to have seen.
After all, there were hardly any people left in the Blue Sky Sword Sea, if Chen Xia wanted to blow things up then so be it.
It must be mentioned that Chen Xia's mastery of mystic arts was still very quick - he could basically display foundational arts after looking at them once, possibly due to his Law attribute.
But Chen Xia still needed to properly research the more profound arts, these truly required some time.
The 2,700th year.
The already collapsed celestial vault sunk even lower, seemingly about to completely crash down at any second, somewhat frightening.
Big Yellow Dog was also worried, it had only lived two great worlds, still young, it couldn't die just like this.
But there was no way for it to escape either. The Blue Sky Sword Sea wouldn't let Chen Xia leave, and it running away alone would be too unbrotherly, the two brothers definitely had to leave together.
Zhang DaoMing was unconcerned by all this. He lay in his rocking chair every day, occasionally drinking tea, perfectly carefree. After all, he did not care about life and death.
To borrow a phrase.
Die and it's like sleeping, nothing to fucking fear.
The Old Fisherman and the Sect Leader were actively thinking of ways, but had not come up with anything for now. Mainly because Chen Xia's cultivation level was too low to serve as a lifesaving medicine, and the Sword Venerable Emperor had not sent any news for a long time so they could not contact him.
Perhaps he was already dead, even the Sect Leader did not know.
The Blue Sky Sword Sea, the Vast Sky was above, the Sword Sea below.
Now that the Vast Sky had already collapsed, how could the Sword Sea be far behind?
The Sect Leader estimated around three thousand years more.
But estimates were never accurate.
It had only been three hundred years of the estimated time.
The celestial vault of the Blue Sky Sword Sea began crumbling inch by inch, like the heavens caving in, continuously falling downward and plunging into the Sword Sea, splashing endless seawater.
Replacing the celestial vault was endless darkness and daylight, emanating an anciently terrifying aura, as if there was a pair of eyes gazing calmly at the Blue Sky Sword Sea from the highest place.
The Blue Sky Sword Sea, the most flourishing place in the Star Region, finally welcomed the reckoning of the great world first.
Big Yellow Dog ran out from the cave dwelling, frowning as it shouted, "Wasn't it said to be around three thousand years later?"
"That's right, just the 'around' was a bit much." Chen Xia walked out, the smile on his face unable to be concealed no matter what.
He had waited so many years, and it was finally time for him to escape.
The entire celestial vault collapsed, endless darkness pressed down, carrying boundless terrifying aura, seemingly wanting to swallow the entire Blue Sky Sword Sea.
Within the Sword Sea.
A dazzling ray of light burst forth, bright as day.
Slashing over!