30 years later.
All the sub-sects of Triumphant Mountain only had one vice sect master, and there had never been a real sub-sect master before.
Almost all mid-level cultivators across realms knew one thing.
Triumphant Mountain wanted Chen Xia to become the sub-sect master.
This was basically what Triumphant Mountain overtly displayed, sending gifts and apologies to Chen Xia in the lower realms every two years.
Moreover, it was always the eminent Qin Jia who went, not hiding anything at all, seemingly wanting all cultivators to know.
It could only be said to be openly fawning.
But even so, Triumphant Mountain still failed to move Chen Xia. His response to Qin Jia was still the same sentence.
"Is being a sect master as important as me farming?"
Although Qin Jia also knew it was an evasive answer, he really could not understand.
How could Chen Xia compare these two things?
That year, Triumphant Mountain launched another offensive, conquering a nearby sect.
Only after this did mid-level cultivators feel that Triumphant Mountain was extremely ambitious, wanting to become the only unique sect in the realm!
After conquering the new sect, Triumphant Mountain immediately sent Qin Jia to find Chen Xia again, inviting him to become sect master once more.
"Is being a sect master as important as me farming?" Chen Xia asked back with the same old words.
Qin Jia quickly smiled and said, "Of course, of course! This time, our newly built one is a medicine sect. There are many top-grade medicine fields inside, made specially for you to plant, Sir."
Seemingly afraid Chen Xia would not be satisfied, Qin Jia respectfully laughed and added.
"Don't worry, Sir. Triumphant Mountain won't take any of the medicinal materials from the sect. They are all for you, Sir!"
Chen Xia fell silent. Putting down his hoe, he looked at Qin Jia and shook his head, speaking an adage of reason.
"In life, don't be the obsequious one."
Qin Jia's back straightened, his eyes shining as he clasped his fists and said loudly, "I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!"
It was clear he still did not understand at all.
Chen Xia did not know what more to say either. He shook his head with a frown and asked.
"Why has Triumphant Mountain changed so much? Weren't you acting all high and mighty before? How did you become like this now?"
"You are our heaven."
Qin Jia smiled obsequiously. His attitude was completely unlike his former arrogant self. It could be said that this was a skill he had honed on Chen Xia over the past decades.
Chen Xia frowned, carefully sizing Qin Jia up. He felt something was off about this old man who had grown stranger and stranger over the recent years.
Qin Jia was still smiling ingratiatingly, his face full of fawning.
Over the years, he had obtained much information from Qin Ji, about things like a heavenly sword in hiding and a heavenly dragon protecting the body. Each piece flabbergasted him.
Although Qin Jia did not know where Qin Ji got his information from, he did believe it, especially since he had been thoroughly thrashed by Chen Xia before.
After knowing this, Qin Jia's originally gloomy mood gradually lightened. He felt it was normal for an ordinary quasi-celestial realm cultivator like himself to lose against a top genius like Chen Xia.
With his mood lifted, he became even more sycophantic.
Unfortunately, Chen Xia still did not agree all this time. However, Triumphant Mountain publicized it extensively, intentionally tying Chen Xia to themselves. At least, this was now the public opinion.
When mid-level cultivators mentioned Chen Xia, they would also bring up Triumphant Mountain.
Starry Sky Pill Sect had become history, gradually fading from memory.
Zhen Hu, who had narrowly escaped death, no longer had any grand ambitions either. After truly facing death and helplessness, he did not know now if he was tired or enlightened, already devoid of worldly desires.
He and Bai Jie just stayed in the lower realms. Every year, they would visit Chen Xia with intense gratitude and thick appreciation.
Chen Xia told them not to mind. He said he only made a move to save them because the matter involved him. That was all.
To Chen Xia, the entire Starry Sky Pill Sect was just an ephemeral passenger, an experience without much significance or worth reminiscing.
It was over once it passed.
He was still the same as before after that.
In the subsequent decades, nothing else major happened, apart from Triumphant Mountain’s crazy fawning.
Chen Xia guarded his medicinal fields, expanding them a little, and planted more and more rare herbs.
Zhang DaoMing really seemed to have started retirement. He did not go to the tavern often anymore, and would even rise early to practice a set of ancient boxing moves from somewhere unknown.
That summed up the main events occurring over the decades.
Uneventful.
In the 70th year, there was a change.
A new guest arrived at the hut, a top-level great cultivator from the highest realm.
A tall swordsman knocked on the door of the hut and stated his reason for coming.
"Wang Yangzi. I wish to see Chen Xia."
The flat and steady words sounded out before the door opened.
Carrying his hoe on his shoulder, Chen Xia poked his head out doubtfully and saw Wang Yangzi. Somewhat puzzled, he asked, "What is it?"
"I request you to go to battle." Wang Yangzi directly replied.
"Battle who?" Chen Xia frowned, truly confused. He did not understand what this person wanted and why he suddenly had to go to battle.
Was he conscripting?
"Battle enemies in the Great Death Realm." Wang Yangzi answered again.
"Why must I go?"
"Because you are a grandmaster of pill dao with formidable combat strength."
"Can't you go by yourself?"
"The Great Death Realm is divided into two batches. The first batch can only be entered by those under quasi-celestial realm level five. I'm here to invite you to be part of this first batch." Wang Yangzi replied.
"Why do I have to go?" Chen Xia put down his hoe, still not understanding.
Wang Yangzi fell silent for a while before nodding. "Good question."
He also did not know how to answer this. After quite a while, he finally smiled and nodded.
"Because you are handsome."