A faint moonlight shone.
Inside the small cabin, the four individuals each found something to do. As Saints, ordinary cultivation methods were no longer effective for them. They could only advance by comprehending the Dao, so secluding themselves for meditation was pointless. They might as well engage in their own pursuits.
Chen Xia was studying a chessboard, trying to devise some tricks, like starting the game with the opponent missing a knight piece. He was never one to follow the orthodox path.
Emperor Capital and Chi Yu were discussing the Dao, each contemplating their own combat techniques. They then used their newly formed divine souls to attempt battles in their respective Small Worlds, testing whose combat method was superior.
This practice did offer some benefits for Dao comprehension, so Qiu Li joined in as well.
Originally, Qiu Li's Dao was the weakest in combat, but now it suddenly became the strongest.
Because they were testing in his Small World, it was essentially like arranging a duel.
"In arranged duels, I'm invincible; in actual fights, I'm the first to leave."
This was Qiu Li's Dao, which Emperor Capital had always disdained, mocking Qiu Li as a cowardly turtle.
"He's not a cowardly turtle," Chi Yu rarely spoke up, but this time he defended Qiu Li.
"A turtle only retracts its head after being hit, but he runs away before even getting hit."
However, this defense wasn't very convincing, so Emperor Capital found a flaw in it.
"You mean he's even worse than a turtle."
Chi Yu was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "That makes sense."
Qiu Li wasn't angry anymore, mainly because he was used to it, so there was nothing to be upset about.
As a result, Emperor Capital also found it boring. Mockery is only fun when one party gets agitated.
At first, the three of them made good progress in their Dao combat practice, with each having wins and losses due to the imposed limitations.
Until Chen Xia found researching the chessboard uninteresting and decided to join their Dao combat practice.
Then it became no fun at all.
Because Chen Xia's Dao was too terrifying. Like Chi Yu, he was at the Second Tier, but he possessed the goddamn Time Dao and Way of the Sword.
Who the hell could compete with that?
When the Time Dao and Way of the Sword came out together, Emperor Capital was stunned for a quarter of an hour, his eyes wide open, unable to react for a long time.
By the time he regained his senses and began to fight, he was even more dumbfounded.
In a total of ninety breaths' time, his Star Dao didn't have a single chance to counterattack. He was completely overwhelmed and then died.
"What the hell, that's so pathetic. Let me try!" Qiu Li, seeing this, spoke up boldly. Rarely having a chance to mock, he stepped forward and said,
"I'll be the host, and have a bout with Brother Chen. Let me show you what real combat is like, and give you a proper lesson!"
He did indeed give Emperor Capital a lesson.
He ended the fight in eighty breaths, successfully breaking Emperor Capital's record.
"The Mysterious Dao isn't truly invincible after all. In this world, there's still the Time Sword," Qiu Li sighed.
The Mysterious Dao excelled at arranging duels but wasn't good at defying fate. When it came to actual combat, the Way of the Sword and Time Dao were still supreme.
The term 'top-tier' wasn't just for show.
Afterwards, Chi Yu also became interested and engaged in Dao combat with Chen Xia, achieving a good result of lasting two hundred breaths.
Emperor Capital and Qiu Li were still not convinced. They felt it was unfair that they were at the First Tier while Chen Xia was at the Second Tier. Although Chen Xia's achievements were due to his own abilities, they demanded that Chen Xia only use one Dao in combat.
He could choose either the Time Dao or the Way of the Sword.
Chen Xia then used the Way of the Sword for combat, taking two hundred and ninety breaths to defeat Emperor Capital, and three hundred breaths to defeat Qiu Li.
The difference wasn't too significant.
Through this Dao practice, the four of them all made some subtle progress while also passing the time.
Seventy years later.
Li Yang also came from the Li Family and joined their team, with Chen Xia as the leader.
Now it was a group of five, with the lowest cultivation level being that of a Saint.
After Li Yang's arrival, Li Yue also frequently visited, claiming to see her aunt but actually chatting and joking with Chen Xia.
The two could play Chinese chess together, and surprisingly, they were evenly matched with no clear winner.
Perhaps they were both equally bad at it.
A small cabin now housed six Saints simultaneously, causing even the fortune within to become abundant. The neighbors next door even achieved breakthroughs.
Another hundred years passed.
Originally, there was nothing special happening.
But today, Chen Xia received a letter. After briefly reading it, he unusually went out.
Today there was some sleet, falling densely and piling up on the ground. With each step, a new footprint would appear in the snow.
Chen Xia's blue robe fluttered as he walked slowly towards the ferry at the end of the small town, which connected to the sky and could lead to other stars.
Someone was already waiting there. Seeing Chen Xia, he excitedly waved his hand.
"Here, here!"
Chen Xia had already seen him.
It was Bai Lu.
Bai Lu no longer had the appearance of a youth. He now had a scruffy beard and wore a thick coat, looking like an honest farmer from the countryside.
When Chen Xia approached, the two stopped at the ferry.
"The letter said you were leaving," Chen Xia said with a light smile.
"That's right..." Bai Lu scratched his cheek, embarrassed, and said, "I originally said I'd come back to see you when I became a great cultivator, but it seems I'm not suited for cultivation."
"It's not necessary to cultivate," Chen Xia smiled.
"Yes, so I've decided to return to my hometown."
"What will you do there?"
"I haven't decided yet, but I'll probably become a chess teacher. I have some talent for chess, as I think I mentioned a long time ago, haha."
The wind and snow began to fall diagonally at this moment, mixed with heavy rain, as if urging them on.
Suddenly, Bai Lu bent down and knelt, placing both hands on the snowy ground. He bowed deeply to Chen Xia and said,
"For the chess lessons, the sect selection, and these hundreds of years, thank you for your care!"
Chen Xia was stunned, looking at the kneeling Bai Lu. The wind and snow blew his hair, and a wry smile appeared on his face as he said softly,
"There's no need for this."
"After this parting, we may never meet again. Your kindness, Bai Lu will remember for life!"
This was the final response.
Afterwards, Bai Lu's figure disappeared into the wind and snow as he boarded the ferry to return to his hometown.
Bai Lu no longer pursued his dream, naturally awakening.
In the biting wind and snow.
The blue-robed youth still stood there, just as he had years ago, his figure slightly tilted against the backdrop of heaven and earth.
The world above and below was white, with only a faint blue hue.
He suddenly remembered something, and couldn't help but smile lightly.
A snowy day was indeed a good time for farewells.
With this wind blowing, this snow covering,
All traces would be gone.