There were originally no paths in the world. When enough people walked, paths were made.
So the important thing has never been the path, only the people.
Ascending to the heavens follows the same principle.
With no gate, slashing with a sword opens the way.
Chen Xia held a sword in his hand, his expression still tranquil. At his realm, he could truly walk horizontally in the realm.
The four saints were not afraid of ordinary great saints. If they fought fiercely, it would be an even match.
With such a great commotion, the upper level of the realm would definitely not sit idly by. In fact, ever since Chen Xia ascended to the heavens, several saints had looked his way, though they didn't dare examine him closely.
Later when Chen Xia asked if there was a gate or if he should open one, the few saints hesitated. But they didn't expect Chen Xia to draw his sword so directly, as if his earlier question was merely a formality.
And that was indeed the case.
Chen Xia brandished his sword, a faint smile on his face, pulling over a dozen Zhang Family cultivators with him as he continued ascending.
This was the final stretch of ascending to heaven.
Not far away, a tall figure was already standing with arms crossed, smiling as he watched Chen Xia's ascension. He couldn't help nodding and saying,
"Looking at it this way, it really is as overbearing as in the Great Death Realm. It feels like old times."
Aside from Wang Yangzi, there were several other saints already stationed here. Their expressions were somewhat serious as they glanced at Wang Yangzi and curiously asked,
"Fellow Daoist Wang, you recognize this newly ascended saint?"
Wang Yangzi's expression became stern and he waved his hand in pretense, saying, "Not very familiar, just exchanged a few words."
"But I heard you two are often seen together..."
"Coincidence, just coincidence," Wang Yangzi said with a laugh, explaining it away. He didn't want to stand out and then be called on by these saints to persuade Chen Xia.
The saints didn't move as Chen Xia continued ascending, one step at a time on his flying sword, steady and stable. He crossed the gate, bringing over a dozen Zhang Family cultivators with him, like fish leaping over the dragon gate and immediately breaking through to the next realm.
From the lower realm to the higher one, the Zhang Family cultivators felt it deeply.
But Chen Xia felt nothing, because for him this was merely going from a lower low to a slightly higher low. It could hardly be called ascending high.
Silence all around.
A faint breeze seemed to blow gently, fluttering Chen Xia's azure robes.
Hands behind his back, his expression tranquil, he softly said in a distant tone,
"Four thousand years ago, I promised Old Zhang that I would make the Zhang Family very good, very good. My subsequent interventions, transformations, reconstructions, including this current ascension, were all for Old Zhang."
"People have obsessions in their hearts. No matter how good or bad the Zhang Family becomes, or whether it conforms to my own wishes, just based on obsession, I would still make you stand at the mountain peak."
"We've now reached the peak. Are you satisfied with the view here?"
The wind grew stronger, blowing roughly and stirring his robes.
The dozen or so Zhang Family cultivators had stunned expressions, especially Zhang Feiyu at the front, who was even more dumbfounded as he stared blankly at Chen Xia, not knowing what to say. His eyes were already filled with tears.
He seemed to have understood Chen Xia's meaning.
"Old Zhang should be satisfied with the view now," Chen Xia said with a faint laugh, shaking his head. Hands behind his back, he continued walking forward and softly said,
"As I said, people have obsessions, but no matter what obsession, it will slowly fade over time until you no longer think of it."
"I promised Old Zhang and have done very well, so I should let go of this matter now."
At this moment, the wind slowed again, blowing gently and swirling around Chen Xia's feet, turning round and round, like an old friend after ages apart.
Chen Xia turned back one last time with a faint laugh,
"From now on, the Zhang Family will have nothing to do with me. I left an ace in the hole as a final favor. From now on, you are the Zhang Family Patriarch. Don't ask me anything more, and don't overthink it."
"Ancestor Chen...Ancestor Chen!" Zhang Feiyu cried out in anguish. His Dao Heart shook and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing unceasingly towards Chen Xia.
But Chen Xia didn't look back again. He just murmured to himself,
"It's time for my own ascension now."
He walked forward between heaven and earth, looking insignificant but his aura filled the entire world. Standing in the very center, he beckoned to the saints with a laugh,
"Chen Xia, ascending to question the Heavenly Dao!"
The sky did not brighten.
Blocked by millions of sword intent, the sword qi was like an ocean, shimmering waves covering the dome of heaven.
In the distant dome of heaven, a pair of blue and red eyes lit up, gazing at Chen Xia's figure, appraising for a moment. The eyes grew heavier as a deep voice intoned,
"An extraordinary saint."
The surrounding saints did not move.
Wang Yangzi glanced around, eyebrows creasing. He directly flashed over, treading upon the dome of heaven and facing Chen Xia. He shouted,
"The Second Stage Great Saint Wang Yangzi comes to question the Dao with you!"
Chen Xia and Wang Yangzi stared at each other, exchanging looks. Chen Xia seemed to understand his intent and beckoned, "Please."
"Great!" Wang Yangzi roared loudly. He directly drew the flying sword at his waist, named Furnace Fire, and slashed out a fiery streak across the dome of heaven, bursting with killing intent.
Chen Xia held half a fairy sword in his hand, not giving way either as he collided with Wang Yangzi.
The flying swords clashed and qi exploded, like ocean waves churning between heaven and earth, striking at the spiritual qi and void.
The two exchanged exactly five strikes, evenly matched.
Until Chen Xia snapped his fingers at Wang Yangzi and the faint green king's crown on his head lit up.
Reincarnation Extremity.
The two disappeared from heaven and earth. The saints' divine sense could not detect them and their expressions became somewhat tense. A battle between two saints, who knew how terrifying it would be.
It was indeed terrifying.
Because Chen Xia was already playing his horses right from the start.
The two were seated within the Reincarnation Extremity, in the midst of a game of chess where pieces were continuously placed.
"When do we go out?" Chen Xia asked.
"Don't rush, let's play two games first. We'll go out later and say I admitted defeat. If the other saints don't step up to question the Dao, then the Great Saints should make a move. By then you can enter the saint palace and your ranking will be ahead of mine."
"Sounds good, saves time and effort," Chen Xia replied. His eyes darted surreptitiously and he secretly used the Law of Time to wipe out Wang Yangzi's other horse while he was talking.
"These saints all care greatly about face. Unless there are grudges, they won't casually fight and lose face. So our little match will suffice," Wang Yangzi said lightly with a laugh. Suddenly his eyebrows creased in confusion as he asked,
"Hey, where did my other horse go?"
"Was there one?" Chen Xia feigned ignorance.
Chess depended on individual skill after all. It would be a waste not to utilize the profundities of the Law of Time that he finally comprehended.
Wang Yangzi didn't dwell on it either, because even missing a horse, Chen Xia was no match for him.
A terrible chess basket would always be a terrible chess basket. And cultivator chess baskets were even harder to change, because a cultivator's Dao Heart was reflected in their chess style. Some cultivators played boldly and recklessly without thinking, typical of terrible chess baskets.
But it wasn't that Chen Xia lacked brains, it was just that he was too lazy to think.
Indeed, very fitting for Chen Xia's character.
He had the brains but didn't want to use them.