The Blue Sky Sword Sea entered a long period of consolidation, yet no cultivator dared to challenge it anymore.
This was because Chi Yu had become a Second Dao Great Saint, serving as the Vice Sect Master of the Blue Sky Sword Sea, intimidating all the Saints across the star realm.
Initially, no one knew why Chi Yu had broken through to Great Saint so quickly.
Until Emperor Capital asked out of curiosity.
Chi Yu replied: "I severed my Dao of Nirvana repeatedly, and when the count was sufficient, I forced a breakthrough."
Emperor Capital asked worriedly: "Are there any effects on your body, like hidden injuries or lifespan issues?"
"No effects," Chi Yu shook his head and added: "Just that my upper limit in this life might stop at Great Saint, but it doesn't matter as long as I can help Chen Xia."
A rare smile appeared on his face.
Emperor Capital felt uncomfortable inside. He, a potential Emperor candidate who called himself Chen Xia's second brain, couldn't help the Blue Sky Sword Sea at all now. He even got severely injured and was sent back during the previous battles with the Saints.
"Damn it, I'm going into closed cultivation too, and won't come out until I reach Great Saint!" he declared firmly, then went to arrange his affairs.
First, he spoke to his beloved pet, White Emperor, sighing:
"Little White, I'm going into closed cultivation. You'll be under Chi Yu's care, don't miss me."
White Emperor was stunned at first, then felt overjoyed inside but dared not show it. It first whimpered softly, then gradually turned its whimpers into laughter.
"What's wrong with you?" Emperor Capital frowned and asked.
"When sadness reaches its peak, it turns to laughter. I'll miss you so much!" White Emperor hurriedly explained.
"You better be telling the truth." Emperor Capital snorted coldly, patted White Emperor's head, then went to handle his sect's affairs before entering closed cultivation.
Li Yang, Li Yue, and other Saints of the Blue Sky Sword Sea seemed inspired by Chi Yu. Shortly after Emperor Capital announced his closed cultivation, they too declared their retreat.
Mere closed cultivation actually didn't have much effect on Saints, but not doing it would mean absolutely no progress at all.
Now among the eight Saints of Blue Sky Sword Sea, only Chi Yu who guarded the sect and Qiu Li who was setting up formations outside remained active.
Being short-handed, Chi Yu announced a second selection, this time for elders. The requirements were at least Ocean-Crossing realm cultivation and a life oath to the Blue Sky Sword Sea, along with leaving behind a soul lamp.
The benefits needed no explanation, as Blue Sky Sword Sea's welfare was famous throughout the star realm.
As soon as news of the selection spread, many cultivators came to participate.
Among them, the most brilliant were Zhou Jia and Bai Lu, known as the most dazzling prodigies.
Zhou Jia came from the Great Zhou Dynasty, and in some ways was actually connected to the Blue Sky Sword Sea. He had already reached the Sky-Mending realm.
Bai Lu was connected to Chen Xia, the sect master of Blue Sky Sword Sea, and had entered cultivation through the Way of Chess. Though his realm was lower than Zhou Jia's, his comprehension of the Great Dao was superior.
They had both wanted to join the Blue Sky Sword Sea for a long time but didn't know how. They were too old to be disciples, and had planned to wait until they became Saints to ask Chen Xia.
Now with the elder selection at Blue Sky Sword Sea, it was perfect for them, so they immediately went to participate.
The Blue Sky Sword Sea was developing extremely well now, with its most powerful disciples nearly reaching the Ocean-Crossing realm and destined to become Saint candidates.
Chi Yu, who was usually silent and disliked communication, actively managed affairs and guided disciples and elders.
While Chen Xia was away, he would make the Blue Sky Sword Sea better and better, not disappointing Chen Xia's expectations.
Then when there were others who could manage the sect, he would also go to the frontlines to fight alongside Chen Xia.
This time, he hoped he could truly be of help to Chen Xia.
On the Left Battlefront of the Myriad Realms.
Chen Xia broke another record, having fought for twenty-three years without returning. If not for the sword qi lingering in the sky, cultivators would have thought Chen Xia had died out there.
Fortunately, he hadn't died, and continued to slay the remnants of darkness.
He seemed to have gone berserk, slaughtering on the battle line with his supreme mastery of Time and Sword Dao.
All Emperors marveled at Chen Xia's combat power, feeling that he was pushing the limits of what a Four-Dao Great Saint could achieve.
A Four-Dao Great Saint shouldn't be this formidable, but Chen Xia could be.
Finally, after exactly thirty years.
Chen Xia returned, covered not only in blood but also his own wounds. He had been surrounded and attacked by Emperors, escaped using the Time Dao, and continued fighting. He had twenty-three wounds on his body, none of them fatal.
This was the power of Time Dao.
In thirty years, he had slain thirteen Saints, five quasi-Emperors, and severely wounded one Emperor.
This was the power of Sword Dao.
The two combined made him supreme among the supreme.
He had killed to the point of numbness, and for several days after returning, he often stood in a daze, his hands trembling, not yet recovered.
The corpses on the city walls had increased, and Chen Xia could see many during his walks. Though he thought he had grown used to it, he stopped before one particular corpse.
It was the body of a Sky-Mending realm cultivator, who had come to the frontline in the same batch as Chen Xia.
He was also the youngest cultivator at that time, a peak Sky-Mending realm cultivator at six thousand years old.
Chen Xia remembered his wish was to become a Saint, even a quasi-Saint would do.
Looking at it now, it seemed his wish would never come true.
This was what battle meant.
Chen Xia stood with his hands behind his back, silent, then walked away quietly.
The corpse remained there.
Unable to speak, unable to complain.
He was dead, as insignificant as countless other corpses.
After resting for exactly two months.
Chen Xia picked up his immortal sword again and walked to the front of all cultivators, like a leader. When he appeared, all cultivators' morale soared to the extreme.
At this moment.
He had become the leader on the battlefield.
The only one in blue robes wielding a sword.
He had become the center of all Saints.
[Author's Note: I have matters tomorrow, so I'm taking a day off. Will ensure at least three chapters. Though the update isn't enough, I humbly ask brothers and sisters to send free gifts to comfort my weak body. I'll return kisses to all brothers and sisters. Good night.]