The value of a ferry was probably around a million Spirit Stones. The fact that Huangli Realm was willing to directly give Chen Xia a ferry showed how sincere they were.
However, Chen Xia shook his head. "I won't accept such a valuable gift. I'll just borrow it."
Accepting something so valuable would entangle him in some karma. While it wouldn't be significant karma for Chen Xia, it would still be troublesome.
Borrowing wouldn't entangle him in any troublesome karma.
Dao Master XuanLi had a solemn expression, understanding Chen Xia's meaning. He knelt there silently, not knowing how to respond.
"Do you have some business? I happen to have nothing to do right now," Chen Xia asked.
"We... we'd like to request that you protect Huangli Realm," Dao Master XuanLi respectfully said.
"You can't even protect your own lives. Yet you dare to enter the Great Death Realm. I advise you to hurry home," Chen Xia frowned slightly. This was his first time encountering people who entered the Great Death Realm but still wanted protection.
Hmm...
Seems like it wasn't the first time.
The first time was with Ma Xiaohong.
Dao Master XuanLi laughed bitterly. "What Senior said is right. The fighting in the Great Death Realm is intense. If we can't even protect ourselves, we might as well go straight home..."
He shook his head helplessly. "But Huangli Realm has just risen. Without supreme combat strength or good fortune, what can we do by going home? Without supreme Sages or quasi-Immortals guarding us, I'm afraid we'll eventually share the same fate as this Great Death Realm."
If they didn't take risks now, they might lose the chance to do so in the future.
Chen Xia indifferently looked at him and said, "Before reaching the Dead Sea Star River on this ferry, I can act twice. The third time, I won't interfere anymore and I'll leave directly."
"Thank you, Senior!" Dao Master XuanLi quickly cupped his fist respectfully. His face was full of smiles.
As expected, those with greater horizons have better luck.
After that, Dao Master XuanLi left.
Chen Xia got up, wanting to check on Ma Xiaohong next door. So he directly tore open the wall to stand face to face with her.
"Ah... Ah?" Ma Xiaohong was hugging half a sword, somewhat stunned to react.
"Living comfortable?" Chen Xia suddenly asked.
"Fi... Fine." Ma Xiaohong's delicate eyebrows knitted together as she softly replied. Then she asked, "Have you stopped arguing with yourself?"
"Haha, I'm sulking," Chen Xia grinned.
Ma Xiaohong also couldn't help laughing.
Someone arguing with himself - probably only Chen Xia could be like that.
The scarlet light in Chen Xia's left eye looked dimmer now without the sinister glint, like a severe case of red eye disease.
Delicately hugging half a sword, Ma Xiaohong suddenly asked, "The person you want to find is inside that Dead Sea Star River?"
"Yes," Chen Xia calmly replied. Standing on the other side of the wall, he straightened himself with no waves in his gaze.
A hazy light replaced the torn wall to separate them.
Ma Xiaohong's head was lowered and her expression invisible. She opened her mouth as if to say something but Chen Xia heard nothing in the silence.
"Follow me from now on," Chen Xia suddenly said.
Ma Xiaohong abruptly looked up. Delight flickered in her delicate eyes and her tone was a little excited as she asked confirmed,
"Re... really?"
"Mm. I said I would protect you." Chen Xia replied plainly.
"O... Okay," Ma Xiaohong stammered. Her hand clutching the sword hilt tightened its grip on her clothes. The corners of her lips curved up into a radiant smile as she grinned at Chen Xia.
"We are the Realm Orthodoxy, right?"
Chen Xia calmly looked at her for a while. Then he gently nodded,
"Mm."
Perhaps they were.
After Chen Xia boarded the ferry, word spread out about him.
Cultivators from the other two realms also got the news. They were surprised and skeptical - they'd never heard of such a peak supreme genius hidden away in Huangli Realm before.
They proposed wanting to see how incredible this hidden genius of Huangli Realm actually was.
Dao Master XuanLi readily agreed, inviting them aboard the ferry to measure the depth of this so-called genius to see if he could compete with them. He mentioned that this genius was in poor mental shape with an irritable temper so they should bring some gifts too.
This was the first time he had prepared for Chen Xia to act.
The lead cultivators from the other realms brought petty gifts. They gathered and boarded Huangli Realm's ferry to converse.
"Dao Master XuanLi daares to invite us aboard. Could he really have a hidden genius?"
"Impossible! I think he's bluffing. Not a shred of news before and now we're supposed to believe Huangli Realm could keep such a peak expert hidden? No way!"
"Should we test it later?"
"Of course. I've already prepared candidates to measure the depth - to see how incredible this so-called genius really is and whether he can compete with us or not."
"Hmph! What poor mental state? It can't possibly impact his combat strength enough to hide him away for so long!"
"I want to see!"
He said in a deep voice.
And then they truly witnessed it.
"You're supposed to start by attacking the horses! Do you even know how to play?!" An impatient voice sounded.
"Attacking with cannons! You're the one who can't play!" An intense voice retorted.
"Damn... I can't stand this anymore. I'll go borrow a chess set to utterly crush your horses!"
"Just watch me blow up your cannons!"
"..."
The arguments grew increasingly intense.
The cultivators at the door stared blankly, not knowing what to say.
If they hadn't misheard, was a single person arguing with himself inside?
"I told you his mental state wasn't good," Dao Master XuanLi shrugged.
Bang.
The lead cultivator from Dou Realm frowned and shoved the door open. He wanted to see if it was just an act.
And so, Chen Xia's intense argument was exposed before everyone.
They stared at each other speechlessly.
Chen Xia suddenly shouted again, "Attacking with cannons is nothing special! I dare to let you attack with cannons on the first move. Do you dare?"
The lead cultivator froze, about to shake his head that he didn't dare.
The scarlet light in Chen Xia's left eye glinted as he shouted again, "Letting you attack first means nothing! I dare to let you attack me twice first in actual combat!"
"Screw that! I dare to fight with only half a hand!" Chen Xia roared.
"I'll fight with only half my brain! Do you dare?!"
As the arguing escalated, a crushing line was shouted.
"Screw it! I dare to eat shit. Do YOU dare?!"
Chen Xia's left eye gleamed crazily as if deranged. He turned to look at everyone and roared,
"Do you dare?! Do you dare?!"
The lead cultivator dumbly shook his head.
His mental state really wasn't that great.
Of course, you don't need to give gifts but little gifts would be appreciated.