The assault on the Cloud-top Sword Sect by the major sects came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone, including the Cloud-top Sword Sect itself, was speculating about the identity of the mysterious sword immortal who had intervened that day.
Could it be some reclusive Taishang Elder?
But the historical records of the Cloud-top Sword Sect seemed to have never mentioned such a powerful Taishang Elder.
The ability to slay a Mahayana Peak cultivator with a single sword strike was a level of power that would easily rank in the top ten across the entire world.
The disciples of the Cloud-top Sword Sect were puzzled and searching, hoping to find some reclusive Taishang Elder.
But unfortunately, there wasn't a single clue, just as mysterious as that sword strike itself.
Chen Xia continued to sit on the cliff, like an old Taoist in meditation, his body completely motionless.
The cultivators of the Cloud-top Sword Sect rarely came to the edge of the cliff, and now it was as if they had forgotten about him entirely, with no cultivators coming to visit.
For the Cloud-top Sword Sect, the presence or absence of Chen Xia made no difference at this point, as he had no cultivation power anyway.
So Chen Xia never took the initiative to help the Cloud-top Sword Sect with anything.
Two hundred years passed.
It seemed as if the other sects had discovered something, as they now only occupied three-tenths of the Cloud-top Sword Sect's territory, instead of half.
This time, no flying sword descended, which delighted the other cultivators, who felt that this sword immortal was truly a righteous cultivator with principles.
But the cultivators of the Cloud-top Sword Sect didn't share this sentiment; they were on the verge of tears.
More and more sword cultivators felt they had no future and began to leave the Cloud-top Sword Sect, either becoming wandering cultivators or joining other sects.
This was an important sign of a sect's decline.
Now, only some elders and Taishang Elders remained to guard the sect.
Today, Chen Xia rarely surveyed the layout of the Cloud-top Sword Sect, feeling a sense of déjà vu, but it was just a feeling.
It would never be the same as before; he was no longer the Chen Xia from over twenty thousand years ago.
Mahayana Peak cultivators from other sects shouted abuse daily outside the sect, their words and attitudes extremely vile. They even brought former disciples of the Cloud-top Sword Sect to help insult the sect.
It was a blow to both body and soul.
The elders, being veteran sword cultivators, couldn't bear such insults. They charged out with their swords, only to never suffer insults again – because they were thoroughly dead.
At least they were already old, so they didn't lose too much.
The abuse from the Mahayana Peak cultivators continued day after day, taking turns to hurl insults. They even managed to uncover the Cloud-top Sword Sect's family tree, cursing from the founding master to the current sect leader.
Finally, when the insults became unbearable, the current sect leader of the Cloud-top Sword Sect couldn't help but step out, asking them with a gloomy expression:
"The Cloud-top Sword Sect has already made great concessions. What exactly do you want?!"
"Concessions?" The shouting Mahayana Peak cultivator sneered, "You understand the law of the jungle in the world of cultivators. What use are mere concessions? We want to feast!"
His meaning was simple – he wanted the thousands of years of accumulated resources of the Cloud-top Sword Sect. He wanted the Cloud-top Sword Sect to die!
This was clearly non-negotiable, and the sword sect leader left in anger.
The stalemate continued afterward.
Finally, one day, the sword sect leader could no longer endure. Wielding the highest-grade flying sword and with his Mountain Moving Realm cultivation, he sallied forth. In a display of tyrannical swordsmanship, he sacrificed his life to slay three Mahayana Peak cultivators at his own sect's gates, before being suppressed and killed by several Mountain Moving Realm cultivators working together.
With this, the Cloud-top Sword Sect's decline was complete.
With even the sect leader gone, the sect was essentially defunct in all but name.
Chen Xia was aware of this, but he couldn't be bothered to intervene.
The Cloud-top Sword Sect had never treated him as one of their own, and the only debt of gratitude Chen Xia owed was to Zhou Jia.
It wasn't a matter of whether he could help or not, but whether he wanted to.
When he wanted to act, he naturally would, such as now when he felt the other sects were too noisy.
The insulting words occasionally reached his ears, disturbing his meditation.
So, on a day with particularly good weather, Chen Xia stood up and walked out for the first time in decades.
The cultivators saw another figure emerge from the Cloud-top Sword Sect and cautiously observed, only to find it was a face they had never seen before.
Some former disciples of the Cloud-top Sword Sect remembered and pointed at Chen Xia, saying:
"It's that Chen Xia who supposedly achieved enlightenment overnight!"
They added "supposedly" before "achieved enlightenment overnight" because, in their eyes, Chen Xia hadn't actually achieved enlightenment, as he still had no cultivation level.
As for how he could live for so many years without cultivation, they guessed he must have taken some special pills. After all, Chen Xia was so close to Zhou Jia, so it was only natural for him to have access to top-tier pills.
Thinking of this, the cultivators once again felt jealous, unable to understand why this useless person could gain Zhou Jia's attention!
Chen Xia's expression remained calm as he faced the crowd alone and spoke softly:
"You can attack the Cloud-top Sword Sect if you wish, but please don't disturb the peace. It's very troublesome for me."
"Troublesome for you? Haha, why should we care if it's troublesome for you? Are you thinking too highly of yourself, or too lowly of us?!"
"Both, I suppose," Chen Xia replied calmly, not wanting to waste time. He looked up at the sky, feeling the timing was just right.
He raised his hand towards a Mountain Moving Realm patriarch, curled his index finger, and lightly flicked.
A sword intent appeared out of thin air.
It violently tore through space, then shot into the Mountain Moving Realm patriarch's head, instantly exploding it along with his body into dust.
The entire process could only be described as fast.
The cultivators stood dumbfounded, unable to react.
Chen Xia shook his sleeve and spoke again:
"I don't care if you attack the Cloud-top Sword Sect, but don't make noise. It annoys me."
He turned and left, his youthful silhouette imprinted in the eyes of every cultivator, lingering long after he was gone.
Afterward, no one dared to shout abuse at the gates of the Cloud-top Sword Sect. The cultivators all stood silently, merely blocking the entrance.
After a fruitless attempt to seek help from Chen Xia, the Cloud-top Sword Sect could no longer hold on. The elders began to leave one after another, leaving only those cultivators who had decided to die of old age in the sect.
As dusk approached, this was perhaps something every sect had to experience, for no sect could exist forever.
In the 335th year of Chen Xia's meditation.
Shocking news came from beyond the heavens.
Celestial envoys arrived on starry river boats, and Sea Inversing Realm great cultivators personally descended. They summoned the leaders of various sects to the highest point of the small celestial body to issue a decree:
"Although you reside in a remote celestial body and are considered barbarians, the Chi Sage is willing to bestow his grace upon you, incorporating this small celestial body into the Chi Sage's Domain. Henceforth, you shall be the Chi Sage's Subjects and enjoy the Chi Sage's protection!"
"The price is that you must pay tribute to the Chi Sage, offering spirit stones and magical treasures once every ten years!"
Despite the sudden demand, no one dared to refuse.
Because the one making the demand was the Chi Sage, the closest saint to this realm, relatively speaking.
A saint even these sect cultivators had heard of.
The rumored strongest clan leader of the Three Thousand Flame Feather Crows, and also the first saint – Chi Yu!