Bai Lu finally joined the White Jade Sect as a direct disciple.
Chen Xia did not agree, only advising Bai Lu to focus on his cultivation and see if he could achieve something remarkable to prove himself.
Bai Lu's face was always filled with excitement, feeling that his decades of hard work had finally paid off, especially since it was with the White Jade Sect of the Three Mountains and Five Sects.
Did this mean he had caught up with Hao Lin and Yu Jun, becoming their equal once more?
Bai Lu couldn't quite figure it out, but his emotions remained high. He talked a lot with Chen Xia about his future aspirations.
Chen Xia didn't say much, mostly nodding. When they left the selection area, they stopped. Bai Lu's expression turned melancholic as he looked at Chen Xia, hesitating for a moment before softly asking,
"Are you going back?"
"What else would I do?" Chen Xia retorted. He couldn't possibly join the White Jade Sect as a direct disciple, could he?
Bai Lu nodded sadly, then smiled,
"When I become a Great Cultivator, I'll come back to find you. I definitely won't let you down."
"You can come back even if you're not a Great Cultivator," Chen Xia replied.
After a few more brief exchanges, Bai Lu set off to pursue his future path.
The sect selection was far from over.
Chen Xia had already boarded the boat back to the town.
He sat at the front of the boat, just as he had when he arrived, in his rocking chair.
But now, no one was talking to him.
The distant scenery came and went, though it was the same view, seeing it from the other direction was a different experience.
"Are you that reluctant to part with me that you had to see me off?" Chen Xia suddenly asked.
A figure hurriedly stepped forward beside him, respectfully smiling,
"During the selection, the White Jade Ancestor was ignorant of the rules, his actions were unreasonable and offended you. I've come to apologize on his behalf."
Chen Xia's expression was calm as he replied, "I don't care much about these things. Besides, you did arrange for Bai Lu to enter the sect, which was a good deed."
"Not at all, we merely did what we could to alleviate your concerns," Emperor Zhou replied humbly, not daring to overstep his bounds.
Chen Xia tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the rocking chair, his eyes half-closed, not responding.
Emperor Zhou waited nervously beside him, his head lowered, not even daring to glance at Chen Xia's expression.
"Oh, you're here too? What are you chatting with Chen Xia about? What a coincidence," another voice sounded, and two figures appeared behind Chen Xia.
Emperor Zhou looked up, his eyes widening in shock. Before him were Emperor Capital and Qiu Li.
Two Saints who were already famous in the Star Region, and his superiors!
He quickly bowed and stammered, "I was just chatting casually with Mr. Chen."
"Haha," Emperor Capital laughed, patting Emperor Zhou on the shoulder, then suddenly turned cold, hissing,
"You'd better not be talking about anything else. It's best to be honest and straightforward. If I find out you have any other intentions, the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty will be uncertain."
"I dare not, I dare not," Emperor Zhou's back was drenched in cold sweat, swallowing hard in fear.
"Quiet," Chen Xia suddenly said softly.
"No noise, no noise. We're having a harmonious conversation," Emperor Capital quickly resumed his flattering smile, leaning beside Chen Xia, and sent a mental message to Emperor Zhou with a wave of his hand,
"Scram."
Emperor Zhou quickly bowed respectfully, "Please continue your conversation, I won't disturb you any further."
He vanished, fleeing tens of thousands of miles, standing on the sea, gasping heavily. Just moments ago, he had felt a killing intent from Emperor Capital. If he had said the wrong thing, the entire Great Zhou Dynasty would have been doomed.
After calming down, Emperor Zhou was puzzled. Emperor Capital and Qiu Li had split up thousands of years ago, so why were they together now?
And who exactly was Chen Xia? He seemed to be an old acquaintance of Emperor Capital and Qiu Li, likely from the same era, yet why had no one ever heard of Chen Xia?
He suppressed his doubts and turned back to the Three Thousand Flame Feather Sect.
On the boat, the three of them were still at the bow, discussing different topics.
Emperor Capital's expression was serious as he used a great divine power to isolate their conversation from any divine power below the level of a Great Saint, then asked,
"If you're going back to the Blue Sky Sword Sea, there's a big problem to deal with."
"The Old Fisherman?" Chen Xia inquired.
"That's half the problem. There's something bigger, someone you know, the White Emperor who's always wanted to take the Immortal Sword from the Blue Sky Sword Sea."
Emperor Capital replied, then turned to Qiu Li, signaling him to continue.
Qiu Li said,
"The White Emperor didn't get the Immortal Sword last time, and his obsession with it has only grown deeper. Every few thousand years, he comes to the Blue Sky Sword Sea to try and take the sword by force, but he's never succeeded."
"The Immortal Sword is an invincible weapon, but only half of it is in the Blue Sky Sword Sea. The White Emperor shouldn't be so obsessed..."
Chen Xia looked up, lying in his rocking chair, staring at the two, then asked, "What do you mean, has the White Emperor fallen in love with the Immortal Sword?"
"It's not impossible," Emperor Capital said seriously.
"Uh..." Qiu Li was a bit speechless, then continued,
"According to our calculations and the predictions of the Great Saints, the White Emperor's obsession with the Immortal Sword is likely because he sees it as his path."
"Perhaps the path to becoming a Great Emperor."
"So that's it, I thought he was in love with the sword," Chen Xia shook his head, disappointed.
"Me too," Emperor Capital also shook his head, equally disappointed.
Qiu Li didn't know what to say, remaining silent for a moment before continuing,
"Three thousand years ago, the White Emperor came to the Blue Sky Sword Sea again, but this time was different. The White Emperor seemed to be affected by the Dark Invasion and the Heavenly Dao Reckoning, and his actions were more urgent than usual."
"Currently, we don't know the reason, but we do know that last time the White Emperor was very close to taking the sword. It was the Great Saints in the Star Region who intervened, striking from half a Star Region away, to stop the White Emperor's path to the sword."
"As for when he'll try again, the Star Region doesn't know, but he's definitely the biggest obstacle for you to return to the Blue Sky Sword Sea!"
Chen Xia nodded understandingly, calmly saying,
"It doesn't matter. I'll make sure he stays in the Blue Sky Sword Sea. When I return, he'll be the first head to celebrate."
Such a domineering statement made Qiu Li's heart skip a beat.
Emperor Capital thumped his chest, declaring boldly,
"Count me in! I've long been fed up with that White Emperor. He's just a Zhun Di, acting all high and mighty. Chen Xia, when the time comes, I'll be your son on the battlefield, we'll definitely kill that arrogant White Emperor!"
The scene fell silent for a moment.
Chen Xia asked seriously, "Isn't your seniority a bit messed up?"
"It doesn't matter, the meaning is there," Emperor Capital laughed.
Qiu Li shook his head, feeling like he was talking to a wall.
Chen Xia saying that was fine; he had the ability, and even if he couldn't kill the White Emperor, he could at least protect himself.
But what the hell was Emperor Capital thinking? Did he not know his own capabilities? He'd only realize the pain after getting beaten.
Emperor Capital, however, was full of bravado, already imagining the scene of him beheading the White Emperor.
On the boat.
The three of the Fourteen Sons of Vast Sky.
One slacking off, one reckless, one strategizing.
The team was almost complete.