There was no place for Chen Xia in the upper realm.
He returned to his own small hut and planted the spiritual tree that Wang Yangzi had given him, waiting for the day it would bloom and bear fruit.
There was still no news from Boiling Water Great Saint.
Wang Yangzi often came back to visit and chat about this and that with Chen Xia, and play a couple games of chess.
It's worth mentioning that Wu Saint would occasionally come along with Wang Yangzi. The two would bicker all the way as they knocked on the door, neither willing to lose to the other.
Wu Saint also brought many gifts, including spiritual medicines and treasures. When he saw Chen Xia, he immediately laughed and said,
"Brother, please accept these gifts as my apology."
Chen Xia shook his head, "I haven't accepted gifts for many years. Keep them for yourself. If you want to come visit, you don't need to bring gifts."
With his current status as a Fourfold Saint, few spiritual medicines or treasures could entice him. At least none that Wu Saint had access to.
Seeing this, Wu Saint didn't say much more. He grinned and stepped over the threshold.
But he bumped into Wang Yangzi, who had stepped in first. Wang Yangzi looked back at him disdainfully and said,
"Do you understand seniority?"
"Screw you," Wu Saint rolled his eyes and followed Wang Yangzi inside.
There was nothing unusual in the small hut. It was quite plain, with only the medicine field, graves, furniture, and people.
What followed was the usual game of chess between Chen Xia and Wang Yangzi.
Wu Saint watched from the side, tilting his head back and forth.
"Damn, do you even know how to play chess? If not, get up and walk 300 meters straight out the door, turn left 200 meters, and bring that black guard dog over to play for you."
That was his assessment of Wang Yangzi.
"Brother, your move is too amazing, simply breathtaking. I'm in awe, as if witnessing the gods above."
That was his assessment of Chen Xia.
But on the board, it was clearly Wang Yangzi's advantage.
Wang Yangzi rolled his eyes and asked,
"Aren't you being a bit of a hypocrite?"
He judged people rather than their chess skills.
Wu Saint nodded, "Indeed I am."
He admitted it boldly. Wang Yangzi didn't even know how to respond. He sighed and took Chen Xia's rook.
Chen Xia sat cross-legged in a rocking chair, propping up his chin as he played. Seeing that he was going to lose again, he considered making an illegal move with his Fourfold Saint powers.
But on second thought, he decided against it. After all, this was a friendly game with an old friend. It wouldn't be right to cheat with his abilities.
The result was unsurprising. Chen Xia lost. He rarely won against Wang Yangzi.
Wu Saint was heartbroken on the sidelines. He pointed at Wang Yangzi and scolded,
"You despicable man, using such an underhanded tactic at the end to checkmate my brother. You can't handle losing, can you?"
Wang Yangzi couldn't hold back either. He shot back, "Come on then, if you're so loud. A true gentleman stays silent when watching a game. Do you understand?"
"I was never a gentleman," Wu Saint stated proudly and unapologetically.
"Brother, let me have a game. I will teach this brat a lesson!"
"Go ahead," Chen Xia stood up and watched with folded arms, asking as he did,
"Do you know how to play chess?"
"No problem, I'll still kill him," Wu Saint said confidently.
And he was thoroughly routed by Wang Yangzi, as expected.
Wang Yangzi wiped Wu Saint out, then laughed and said,
"Do you want to walk 300 meters straight out, turn left 200 meters, and bring the black guard dog over?"
Wu Saint said nothing, only shook his head. "Admirable defeat."
It was a rare scene, the three of them playing chess in the small hut.
Chen Xia had a faint smile at the corner of his lips, reminded of old times.
His gaze slid to the side, towards the small grave. He suddenly smiled.
Old Zhang would probably enjoy this lively scene too, right?
When it grew late, Wu Saint and Wang Yangzi left together. Upon reaching the middle realm, Wu Saint suddenly asked,
"Little Wang, exactly what level is Chen Xia as a Saint?"
"What do you think?" Wang Yangzi asked back.
"Threefold? But even a Threefold shouldn't be this strong. I couldn't even put up a fight." Wu Saint furrowed his brow.
Wang Yangzi chuckled and replied, "Then you already have your answer, don't you?"
If not Threefold, what else could it be?
Fourfold, of course.
Wu Saint's eyebrows shot up, his heart surging.
To withstand a sword strike from a Fourfold Saint was already admirable for him. This would give him good material to brag about in the future.
Truly a joyous occasion.
It was March again, early autumn transitioning to late summer.
Boiling Water Great Saint came to visit, bringing good news for Chen Xia. He laughed and said,
"My fellow Great Saint and I have discussed it and both agree to make you Chief of Saint Hall. We'll just need to hold a coronation ceremony to formally notify the entire upper realm. Let us know when you're available."
"Anytime is fine for me," Chen Xia replied flatly.
"Then we'll set the date," Boiling Water Great Saint said, smiling happily. With the impending war against Heavenly Rain Realm, gaining another Fourfold Saint was cause for celebration.
"I remember you returned from Great Death Realm. You were just a junior disciple from our realm back then. Who could have thought you'd reach this level so quickly? Truly remarkable," Boiling Water Great Saint marveled as he gazed at Chen Xia's increasingly bright eyes.
For a prodigy to rise so swiftly demonstrated exceptional talent. If they succeeded in conquering Heavenly Rain Realm, this man might become their realm's first Emperor-level cultivator.
He would be someone even Boiling Water Great Saint would have to look up to.
Perhaps this was their realm's fate.
Boiling Water Great Saint marveled again before exchanging a few more pleasantries with Chen Xia and taking his leave.
Nothing eventful happened throughout the autumn that year.
When winter came,
Chen Xia's coronation ceremony as Chief was held at the very peak of the upper realm.
The two Great Saints flanked him on either side as the important figures of the realm, nearly all of whom had come, sat below in an attitude of respect.
After all, this was the third Chief in their history. Based on the previous Chiefs' strength, Chen Xia had to be at least a Threefold Saint.
Boiling Water Great Saint intentionally kept his specific level vague and forbade the Saints of Saint Hall who knew, like Wang Yangzi, from spreading it.
The coronation was a grand affair, deliberately made so by the two Great Saints to bolster morale and fighting spirit among the realm's cultivators for the impending invasion of Heavenly Rain Realm.
Their intent was certainly achieved.
With a Chief, Saint Hall was like a dragon with a head. Not only were the top cultivators of the other factions energized, even those at the Quasi-Saint and Saint levels felt their blood pumping.
Chen Xia sat impassively in his seat, surveying those below with detached eyes, identifying the cultivators who had schemed against Ma Xiaohong based on the portraits Wang Yangzi had drawn for him.
Chen Xia was not one to hold grudges. He could even let go those Saints who had plotted against him. A single sword strike settled things.
But he could not tolerate what had happened to Ma Xiaohong. Someone had to answer for it.
After six thousand years, the time was finally nearing.
"Chief, please ascend the throne!" Boiling Water Great Saint suddenly called out.
Chen Xia rose to his feet and drifted forward calmly in fluttering blue robes.
Silence below. The cultivators were solemn.
Step.
He landed.
Chen Xia ascended the throne, standing at the highest point overlooking heaven and earth.
Tens of thousands of cultivators below cheered passionately.
The position of Chief had been vacant for fifty thousand years.
Today.
The coronation!
Next year, something big will happen.