Today was relatively quiet, with the Dark Remnants unusually refraining from their attacks.
Chen Xia, feeling bored, picked up his Immortal Sword and walked outside.
"What are you doing?" Emperor Tianhe frowned and asked.
"Since they won't come out, I'm thinking of charging in. There's no reason to just take hits without fighting back," Chen Xia pointed at the Dark Invasion and replied righteously.
Emperor Tianhe was momentarily speechless, feeling that Chen Xia's logic wasn't quite right, yet finding his words strangely admirable.
Fortunately, another Emperor came to ease the situation, putting his arm around Chen Xia's shoulders.
"Alright, Saint Chen, let's rest peacefully for now. We can actively go out to fight when the Dark Remnants appear, what do you think?"
"Not satisfying," Chen Xia replied.
"True, it's not satisfying, but the problem is you might not make it back if you go in there!" the Emperor anxiously pointed at the Dark Invasion.
Chen Xia waved his hand, smiled calmly, and replied.
"Haha, don't worry, going in there is like returning home for me. The powerful Emperors all hide in the deepest parts of the Dark Invasion, I'll just wander around the outer areas and bully some ordinary Emperors."
Upon hearing these words, all the Emperors were stunned, unable to stop frowning.
Listen to that, was this even something a normal person would say?
Like returning home? Bullying ordinary Emperors?
Wouldn't that make you the real Dark Remnant?
"Never mind, never mind." The Emperor waved his hand and shook his head, then added: "The Emperor Council will convene soon, and you're specially invited to attend as an observer, Saint Chen."
"Boring," Chen Xia shook his head, remembering how the last Emperor Council was just Emperors arguing with each other.
"This time is different, you'll be able to speak and give your opinions," the Emperor added.
"That's better then," Chen Xia nodded.
"Then it's settled. Saint Chen, don't rush out to fight enemies now, let's make long-term plans after the Emperor Council meeting." The Emperor smiled lightly and hurriedly left.
Chen Xia put away his Immortal Sword and stood shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Tianhe.
Emperor Tianhe looked straight ahead and said,
"Half of the Saints who returned home last time have come back, the other half have essentially run away."
Chen Xia shook his blue robe, responding indifferently: "Let them run. They've lost their fighting spirit anyway. There's no point in sending them to the frontlines. They're not like us; they're too fragile in the face of life and death."
"You're quite sentimental," Emperor Tianhe commented.
Chen Xia shook his head, looking up at the sky, gazing at the Heavenly Dao Reckoning that seemed to press down like a celestial curtain, and smiled calmly.
"It's not so bad. A forced melon isn't sweet, and forced Saints are neither sweet nor satisfying, so there's even less point to it."
Emperor Tianhe didn't dwell on this issue, but continued,
"Your reputation has been rising across the entire battle line recently. Even the four-path Emperors above have heard of you and want to meet you. You're truly impressive."
"That's just my nature," Chen Xia replied calmly.
"Is that your catchphrase?" Emperor Tianhe asked.
"No, it's simply my true nature," Chen Xia responded.
Emperor Tianhe rarely laughed, but Chen Xia had managed to make him do so.
Later at the Emperor Council.
Thirty-seven Emperors attended in person, while others who couldn't make it participated through divine observation techniques.
Chen Xia attended as a special guest. Though lacking an Emperor's title, he received an Emperor's treatment.
None of the present Emperors dared to underestimate Chen Xia, as he had genuinely slain Emperors before and was known for chasing Emperors around the battlefield.
As a cultivator from the left battlefield, Chen Xia sat on the left side, listening to the various Emperors speak.
"Many Emperors have fallen recently. We should focus on nurturing quasi-Emperors to fill the Emperor positions. This way, our frontline battle power won't be too severely weakened."
"Indeed, we must do this. If too many Emperors die without replacement, the Heavenly Dao Reckoning will eventually reorganize the entire Great Heaven."
"Yes, let's do this first. Keep those cultivators qualified to advance to Emperor status as Emperor candidates."
"..."
Chen Xia sat with his arms crossed. Most of the discussions had nothing to do with him and were quite dull.
Until one Emperor asked,
"There have been strange movements within the Dark Invasion recently, and Emperor Remnants often appear, observing our battle lines from afar. What do you all think we should do?"
"Then we fight!" came a loud shout.
All the Emperors turned to look at Chen Xia's excited expression.
"But that's an Emperor we're talking about," the Emperor who raised the question repeated.
"Hmm." Chen Xia stroked his chin in thought, then shouted again.
"Then we fight them hard!"
"It's not about whether to fight or not, the issue is that we're facing an Emperor!"
"An Emperor?" Chen Xia frowned, then contemptuously shouted.
"I specifically target Emperors!"
With these words, all thirty-plus Emperors present fell silent, exchanging awkward glances, feeling something wasn't quite right.
After all, they were Emperors too.
And was it really appropriate for these words to come from Chen Xia, a mere Great Saint?
Wasn't he being a bit too arrogant?
"Haha, since Saint Chen is so willing, let's have him investigate the matter. Just be careful of your safety."
"Good," Chen Xia nodded, then simply stopped listening to the Emperor Council and walked out with his Immortal Sword.
Rather than discussing matters, simple sword fighting suited him better.
The Dark Remnants hadn't emerged yet.
Chen Xia stood at the entrance with his Immortal Sword, brimming with sword energy, determined to strike whoever came out.
He was the first cultivator who dared to guard the entrance of the Dark Invasion.
After waiting for several days.
Finally, a Dark Remnant emerged.
Chen Xia didn't know who it was and didn't care. He simply struck with his sword – if they died, so be it; if they survived, they were lucky.
Clang!
The Immortal Sword rang out first.
Before Chen Xia stood the Dragon Head Elder, carrying an ancient aura, with a slight blood mark on his face. He looked at Chen Xia and frowned.
"These days, even a four-path Great Saint dares to strike at a three-path Emperor like this. The world has truly gone mad."
Chen Xia smiled politely at the three-path Emperor and replied.
"Hello."
The Dragon Head Elder had already reached out to grab him, but Chen Xia flashed with his Time Dao, appearing far away and continuing to flee.
Three-path Emperor or not, they still couldn't catch him.
Don't they understand the invincibility of his escape-specialized Time Dao?!
His specialty was showing off and then running away.