The leaves turned yellow late this year, in the end of October. So this should still count as late autumn.
There was a short bench in front of the small cottage, and a short old man sitting on it, forming a pairing of shorties.
Passersby cultivators greeted the old man very familiarly, while curiously asking with a laugh, “Old Zhang, how come I haven’t seen you drink for a long time?”
The old man was really old, even his consciousness was muddled, so he didn’t hear clearly and asked back in confusion, “Huh?”
“Drinking alcohol!” The passerby made a drinking gesture.
Old Zhang then smiled and waved his hand, “Can’t drink anymore, can’t drink anymore. Drinking alcohol is bad for the health, have to live a few more years.”
“Haha, you’re a grand cultivator at the Mountain Moving Realm, how can you still be afraid of these things. It’s just a few less years of lifespan, you can easily replenish it back with some elixirs.”
“Haha.” Old Zhang just laughed once without replying. His muddy eyes were looking at something unknown, wrinkles filled his cheeks.
How could he have not taken elixirs, it’s just that he had taken too many that they barely had any effect anymore. This was the extent of his capabilities, he could only take these life-extending medicines to live to this age.
The passerby also laughed once. Perhaps he felt that what he said was a little impolite, so he waved again and respectfully bid farewell, “Then take your time resting, I still have to rush to sell elixirs at the edge of Broken City, or I'll lose my spot.”
“Good good.” Zhang Daoming nodded. His short stature curled up a little, always feeling a little strangely cold after the autumn.
It is said that people feel cold before death, some even wear cotton clothes in the summer.
But he was a grand Mountain Moving Realm cultivator, this should not happen!
Just as Zhang Daoming was thinking, sudden footsteps sounded in front of him and soon stopped. A figure stood exceptionally tall in front of him.
“Old Zhang, I trust you are well?” Wang Yangzi laughed lightly.
Zhang Daoming was stunned. He was somewhat pleasantly surprised that Wang Yangzi would greet him so. Although they had met a few times, they were not familiar with each other. He did not expect Wang Yangzi to greet him like this.
"Very good, everything's fine." Zhang Daoming quickly smiled and replied. Then, as if remembering something, his head kept craning to look behind Wang Yangzi.
He always wanted to see the figure he was hoping for, but no one was there.
Wang Yangzi's eyes lowered slightly, also somewhat dim, then he smiled and said, "Old Zhang, I came specially to see you and brought you some elixirs to replenish your longevity. Take them first, and I’ll bring you more another day."
Zhang Daoming’s aged face was stunned, not knowing what to say. After a long while, he asked worriedly,
"Have you... have you seen Chen Xia?"
No response. Each was silent. After a long time, there was an indifferent voice responding.
"Yes."
Zhang Daoming's eyes widened, and his tone was a little urgent as he asked again,
"Then why hasn't Chen Xia come back yet? I heard that other cultivators don't seem to have come back either. Did something happen? How is Chen Xia, he's not hurt, is he? "
"It's fine." Wang Yangzi said with a smile to reassure, "Chen Xia is very powerful, more powerful than any cultivator I've ever seen. He will definitely be alright, don't worry."
"I know that." Zhang Daoming's aged face showed a hint of pride, but soon sighed sorrowfully again, "No matter how powerful, he is still just a junior Sea Inversing Realm cultivator!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yangzi truly fell silent, pursed his lips. For a while, he did not know how to respond.
A junior Sea Inversing Realm cultivator?
The one who slaughtered a group of Heaven Mending Realm supreme prodigies like pigs, addressed the Vast Emperor as sworn brother, and suddenly went mad wanting to chase after the Ancestor?
You call this a junior Sea Inversing Realm cultivator?
Wang Yangzi was really at a loss. It was precisely because of this that he felt Chen Xia would definitely come back. Such a prodigy would never fall halfway.
Wang Yangzi shook his head and added, "If there is any news, I will notify you first thing."
"Good good." Zhang Daoming nodded quickly.
And so there was nothing more to say. Wang Yangzi's tall figure turned and left.
"Please wait!" Zhang Daoming suddenly called out. His short stature struggled to stand up from the bench toward Wang Yangzi and asked,
"Can I trouble you with something?"
"Go ahead." Wang Yangzi nodded.
Zhang Daoming's aged face grinned, and he continued,
"If Chen Xia comes back and I'm not here, please tell Chen Xia that I passed away not long after he left the realm. Don't let him know I waited for him all these years. It would make him feel bad."
His tone was very calm, yet warm.
At this moment, the sunlight shone down, spilling onto his face, as if trying to squeeze into his wrinkles but there was no gap.
Wang Yangzi lowered his eyes. After a long while, he nodded lightly.
"I will."
"Thank you."
The Great Death Realm incident affected countless worlds.
The vast heavens were still alright, not too involved. But the myriad worlds were miserable, losing supreme prodigies and top combat powers. This had considerable influence on many planes.
It even led to a generational gap, with too many Heaven Mending Realm prodigies dying. This resulted in a future lack of Saints.
Now this was good, Saint rankings were completely not lacking, and few contended over them.
The surviving prodigies must have laughed until their faces cracked. As long as they had no problems mentally, the Saint rankings were certainly within grasp. Looking up, even the Great Saint and Vast Emperor positions could be aspired toward.
One had to admit, the Ancestor was really a great man. In order to reduce the pressure on young cultivators, he did not hesitate to take such actions. I’m crying to death!
Although grateful toward the Ancestor, such words definitely could not be said out loud, only secretly delighted to oneself.
After all, the rulers of the planes were still very troubled now, worrying about the future. Although it was a generational gap, as long as an unparalleled prodigy emerged, it could still support the entire plane.
For example, an Five Paths Great Emperor arising, then there would be no need to care about how many contemporary Great Saints and Vast Emperors there were. Just one Five Paths Great Emperor and this plane would become a great plane!
Now many prodigies were showing outstanding performances. For example, after returning to the Divine Realm, the God's Son began a meteoric rise, comprehending the Dao to enter the Quasi-Saint Realm in seven hundred years after returning, looking down on all contemporary prodigies.
However, the God's Son was still unable to be happy, not even letting others openly flatter him face to face.
The reason was obvious to the prodigies who had participated in the battles at the Great Death Realm.
It was all because of that Thunder Sword Lord, Chen Xia who snatched fortune with five Great Saints.
Back then, Chen Xia had already glimpsed the path to transcending tribulation into Sainthood. Hundreds of years have passed until now, so he should have long entered the Quasi-Saint Realm, moreover advancing directly from the Sea Inversing Realm to Quasi-Saint.
How to put this...
It's just feeling that if Chen Xia at the Sea Inversing Realm could thrash a group of Heaven Mending Realm masters like dogs, then as a Quasi-Saint, he should at least also be able to thrash Quasi-Saints like dogs, right?
In that case, wouldn't the God's Son be just a dog before Chen Xia?
Thinking this way, those prodigies were not really looking forward to breaking through to Quasi-Saint anymore.
Chen Xia has maxed out the pressure for them.
Do you understand what it means, with one's own strength, to increase the average standard of Quasi-Saints?