A grand move that could shock the saints naturally required an equally grand gesture.
Chen Xia carefully considered what kind of grand gesture would be reasonable and appropriate.
In recent days, the reddish Flying Sword had been accompanying him, flying tiredly by his side and stopping to hover quietly without a sound whenever it grew weary.
Finally, one day when the sunshine was just right...
The door of the little house opened again and a woman in white robes walked out. Her green eyes sized up the interior with slight apprehension and her usually aloof pretty face now showed traces of panic.
Chen Xia's expression was tranquil as he asked, "What brought you here?"
"I... I found out myself," Qiu Yi stammered a reply.
"What's with the stuttering rat-a-tat-tat?" Chen Xia was truly amused and slid another look at Qiu Yi, laughing as he said, "Were you wearing those white robes back at the Little Cinnabar Hall too?"
Qiu Yi lowered her pretty face slightly, smiling bashfully. "You... You still remember."
"Well, it wasn't that long ago, just a few thousand years," Chen Xia replied.
"Nearly eight thousand years already," Qiu Yi murmured softly, a hint of regret and resignation in her attractive features that were like a landscape painting.
"It's been eight thousand years and you're still stuttering. Did you find out what's causing it?" Chen Xia asked curiously.
Qiu Yi nodded. "They say it's a problem with my Dao Heart."
"You seem to have a lot of problems," Chen Xia remarked with a nod. Then he laughed and said, "I heard you became the Elder of Zhang Manor."
"I found out you were the Patriarch of Zhang Manor, so I went there," she answered, stuttering only one word this time.
Chen Xia didn't respond. He stood up, his aqua robe rippling slightly as he stretched out a hand to catch a withered yellow leaf drifting down. Pinched lightly between his fingers, he grinned and asked again,
"Why did you come to find me?"
Qiu Yi didn't answer right away. She contemplated for a bit before her pretty face grew serious and she stated firmly,
"Back when you left, you told me to ask the sea. I did, and the sea gave me a response, leading me here. But I was still just chasing your footsteps."
"And then?" Chen Xia asked again.
"Then I realized that chasing your footsteps wasn't so bad after all. You left me with the Mysterious Primordial Dao Chapters and I've refined thirteen Dao Chapters from it already. Does that qualify?"
Her question left Chen Xia speechless, as his Dao Chapter had always just been the one from the very beginning. He truly didn't know how to respond, so he just asked again,
"What do you think of Zhang Manor?"
"Very very good," Qiu Yi replied.
"I remember you were good at managing the sect back at the Little Cinnabar Hall. Now that you've come to Zhang Manor, help me manage things there too."
"Alright." Qiu Yi nodded without further words, and the two sank into another staring contest.
There are many encounters in life. When apart, one yearns intensely, yet when meeting again, there is silence.
This is not to say reunions are not joyous.
It's just that some emotions need no vocal expression.
Today, Chen Xia had invited Qiu Yi over to play Go, wanting to reclaim the feeling they once shared back at the Little Cinnabar Hall.
Naturally, Qiu Yi agreed. The two sat facing each other, laying out the pieces.
Before they began, Chen Xia gave her a reminder, "Be careful, I'm not who I used to be after all these years. My Go skills have become even more ruthless and sly!"
Qiu Yi just laughed softly without a word, steadily playing her own game.
In total, they played eighteen rounds.
From noon until late afternoon.
Chen Xia expressed regret over his moves three hundred and ten times, yet didn't win a single round.
Qiu Yi held a Go piece in her hand, smiling radiantly. "I'm not who I used to be either."
In truth, it wasn't just her.
Neither of them were the same.
The elapsed time could never be reclaimed.
But Chen Xia still graciously accepted the thrashing, regarding it as paying respects to the past.
He shook his head and got up to see her off.
All things considered...it was a nice reunion.
Qiu Yi's figure gradually grew distant as Chen Xia stood in the doorway with a faint smile on his lips.
Everyone views matters through different lenses and mindsets at each age; mortals are especially sensitive, with thoughts transforming every year - a change they term "maturing".
Due to their Dao Hearts, cultivators lengthen this span of time, but fundamentally it remains similar.
Nowadays, Chen Xia regarded things from a vastly different angle, his temper much improved - polite and kind-hearted.
Chen Xia mused to himself that this was perhaps old age.
In the immortal realm, some matters had occurred in Fuyao Immortal Sect in recent times. Firstly, there was the news of Xu Zhen becoming a saint. Secondly, Xu Zhen killed Fuyao Immortal Sect's Quasi-Saint.
It was a case of blessing and misfortune going hand-in-hand.
The Quasi-Saint whom Xu Zhen killed was Fuyao Immortal Sect's second arrogant genius, personally taught by a great emperor. He and Xu Zhen had harbored grudges for thousands of years, so naturally she immediately targeted him after advancing to Sainthood.
Afterwards, Great Sage Chen Xi shielded Xu Zhen, preventing Fuyao Immortal Sect's elders from prosecuting her.
But in the end, it was difficult to appease them. Fuyao Immortal Sect's few Patriarchs still insisted on meting out punishment, imprisoning her for at least a thousand years right? Otherwise, if Xu Zhen continued killing in this manner, wouldn't she slaughter all of Fuyao Immortal Sect?
Matters were still in a deadlock when Wu Xi Great Emperor personally stepped forth to protect Xu Zhen, even providing Fuyao Immortal Sect some compensation.
Naturally, Xu Zhen didn't understand why the Great Emperor helped her - they didn't even know each other!
Xu Zhen was quite gutsy, directly asking the Great Emperor about it.
Wu Xi Great Emperor frankly replied, "I'm not hiding this from you, but a senior asked me to groom you. That senior said he would send you a dream messenger - you should know about this right?"
Xu Zhen knitted her brow. "Which senior?"
"I don't know his name either. That senior addressed himself as Chen Ancestor, claiming to have three million flying swords and mastery over the Great Dao of Time, as well as authenticating in the Twin Daos of Heavenly Dragons and Thunder. Are you familiar with him?"
Xu Zhen was astonished, then hastily nodded.
"I know him. He did send me a dream with three million flying swords circling around me - it was magnificent!"
Delight was written all over Xu Zhen's pretty face.
Wu Xi Great Emperor nodded to himself, thinking that the senior didn't deceive him and could actually send such an intricate dream across planes to the intended recipient. His spiritual powers were indeed incredible.
Chen Xia and Xu Zhen were cooperating seamlessly.
It could only be said that Wu Xi Great Emperor had been thoroughly duped.
In the Realm Hut of the small domain...
The door opened slightly.
Chen Xia strode out with the reddish Flying Sword swirling around him. His brand-new aqua robe fluttered as he moved.
He had important matters to attend to - plans made long ago that he was now setting in motion.
Forcibly raising the entire Zhang Manor to become a top-tier sect in the Upper Layer of the Realm.
With Zhang Manor's current foundation, wanting to normally advance to such heights was definitely impossible. Hence, he would progress by force.
Chen Xia exited the house, gently shutting the door. He gazed up at the sky, his expression serene.
He intended to venture to the highest layer.
And by saying so, it would be done.
With a step, he ascended to the heavens.
Hundreds of thousands of flying swords surged forth as one, each sword a step to form a heavenly staircase bearing Chen Xia upwards.
First arriving at the Realm Middle Layer.
He lightly tapped a finger.
The Reaching Heaven and Toppling Ocean realm cultivators of Zhang Manor had arrived behind him, dragged along on his heavenly ascent.
"Chen Ancestor, Chen Ancestor, what are you trying to do?!"
A cultivator couldn't help asking in shock.
"Isn't it obvious? Just bringing Zhang Manor up the peak," Chen Xia replied tranquilly, his back facing them even as he continued climbing.
Among the group of seventeen, their combined cultivation totalling forty-eight thousand and eight hundred steps.
Chen Xia reached the highest point of the Middle Layer. Gazing at the Upper Layer, he raised a hand and laughed.
"If this gate does not open, I shall slice it apart."
No response came.
Chen Xia smiled faintly. With a wave of his hand, issuing just a simple command:
"Come."
Half an Immortal Sword pierced through half the heavenly canopy, landing steadily in his grasp.
Gripping the sword.
Wielding it.
In but two breaths...
The world below was filled with nothing but sword light.
Full to the brim!