The city walls were stained with mottled bloodstains.
Emperor Capital sat cross-legged by the wall, his injuries severe, his qi and blood unsettled, causing his face to be pale and his body weak.
"Did you take the great medicine?" Chi Yu asked quietly beside him.
"I did, but it doesn't seem to help much. That Great Saint remnant is quite formidable. I fell for his trap, the bastard," Emperor Capital cursed, his qi and blood surging again, causing his body to tremble.
"Maybe we should tell Chen Xia," Li Yang suggested.
"We should let Chen Xia take a look. This isn't a minor injury, and we can't handle it," Li Yue agreed.
Chi Yu sighed softly, looking helplessly at the sky above. The more they fought, the more they felt their own weakness. The so-called Great Saint realm was nothing more than cannon fodder on the front lines.
If not for Chen Xia's repeated care, they might have died on the front lines long ago.
In this way, they seemed to be more of a hindrance than a help.
"Maybe..." Chi Yu hesitated, "we should return to Blue Sky Sword Sea?"
Silence.
The Blue Sky Saints didn't respond, all deep in thought. Given the current situation, returning was indeed the best option, offering the greatest help to Chen Xia.
But if they left now, wouldn't that be the same as deserting in the face of battle?
The reputation of Blue Sky Sword Sea had risen on the front lines because of Chen Xia, echoing among the many Saints.
But it must not fall because of them, allowing Blue Sky Sword Sea to be subject to the scrutiny of the Saints.
"You go first. I'll stay a bit longer and return with Chen Xia later," Emperor Capital said with a pale smile.
In the end, no one left, all wanting to stay here to uphold the name of Blue Sky Sword Sea.
Emperor Capital's injuries worsened later, and Chen Xia came personally, frowning as he examined him for a moment and said,
“Go to the logistics office to recuperate. Stop thinking about fighting. If you keep fighting, your cultivation path will be nearly severed. Wait until you've recovered, then return to Blue Sky Sword Sea.”
"No need, Chen Xia. I'm in great shape," Emperor Capital grinned, waving his hand.
"I can still take down one more Great Saint. After all, I'm your second brain, your first hindrance. I can't let you lose face."
"I have no face," Chen Xia shook his head, then sighed.
"If I could run, I'd be the first to do so. If it weren't for wanting to protect Blue Sky Sword Sea, I would have disappeared long ago. I'll emerge again when I'm truly invincible."
"What I want to protect isn't just an empty sect, but the cultivators within, the disciples, the emotions of tens of thousands of years, and of course, all of you Saints."
"I hope that in the distant future, Blue Sky Sword Sea will usher in a glorious era of eight Emperors, making its name resound throughout Great Heaven once again, not just because of a single Chen Xia."
Chen Xia's words were soft, spoken with a gentle smile, as if chatting with an old friend, sharing his ideals.
Emperor Capital was momentarily stunned, then replied softly, "As long as you're there, it will happen."
"It doesn't have to be because of me," Chen Xia shook her head, then smiled lightly.
"I believe you can do it on your own."
"What about you, Chen Xia?" Emperor Capital looked perplexed, his tone curious.
“Me?” Chen Xia gently asked, turning to face the front lines, his green robe gently fluttering. His figure was not tall, yet he blocked all the wind, answering himself.
"I'll naturally leave."
The city walls were silent and pale, the mottled bloodstains swaying.
Emperor Capital later went to the logistics department, where he was treated and recuperated by the alchemists.
Chi Yu and the others no longer went out to fight. Each time they went out to fight, Chen Xia would wait for them on the city walls.
It was clear to everyone that Chen Xia was standing guard for them, ready to intervene if they were in danger.
To put it bluntly, their outings to fight were merely wasting Chen Xia's time.
Gradually, they stopped going out, and after some discussion, they decided to wait for Emperor Capital to recover before returning to Blue Sky Sword Sea together, at least to not burden Chen Xia.
This was the right choice for Chen Xia.
Most of the Saints on the front lines had perished, and those remaining were all injured. Upon learning that the Blue Sky Saints were leaving, they did not feel jealousy or anger, but instead, they spontaneously came to see them off.
One Great Saint, having lost an arm, still raised a jug of immortal brew and toasted the Blue Sky Saints, saying,
"Chen Xia's great medicine has saved my life multiple times. If you're leaving, I don't object. I wish Blue Sky Sword Sea increasing prosperity in the future!"
One person started the toast.
The Saints then spoke one by one.
"Emperor Capital, take care. I don't know if we'll ever be able to play chess again. Your chess skills are indeed formidable, haha."
"Blue Sky Sword Sea should indeed leave. Chen Xia has been working hard enough. Don't add to his troubles here. I wish you all the best in the future."
"If I survive the front lines, I will definitely visit Blue Sky Sword Sea in the future!"
"..."
The Saints' words numbered in the thousands, filled with grandiose rhetoric.
Until no one spoke.
The Blue Sky Saints then turned and left, walking to the logistics department, where several Great Emperors awaited them, speaking with them with smiles.
"If other Saints wanted to leave the front lines, we would certainly not allow it. But for Chen Xia's Blue Sky Sword Sea, that's different. You indeed have that right."
"Go, and strive to cultivate in the future, achieving the status of a Great Emperor. Don't tarnish Chen Xia's reputation."
The Great Emperors' words were light, like a farewell explanation.
The Blue Sky Saints nodded, led by the deputy sect leader Chi Yu, continuing to walk down, where someone was waiting for them.
It was a green-robed figure.
It was Chen Xia, who had been waiting there.
"Chen Xia!" Emperor Capital shouted from a distance.
Chen Xia waved at him, smiling lightly. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a storage artifact, handing it to Chi Yu.
“There are some pills I've refined inside. Take them, as they will serve as the sect-protecting elixirs of Blue Sky Sword Sea in the future, adding to its foundation.”
Chi Yu hesitated for a moment but still accepted the Dan medicine, his gaze on Chen Xia, yet he dared not look directly, lowering his eyes and softly saying,
"I'm useless, unable to be of any help."
Chen Xia shook her head and smiled.
"Nonsense. There are so many changes in the world; how could I expect you to help with everything? Besides, you still have to manage Blue Sky Sword Sea, which is a big deal."
Chi Yu nodded lightly, not speaking further.
Chen Xia then looked at Emperor Capital and explained.
"As my second brain, you need to be more polite in the future. You can be less harsh with White Emperor, as he has already repented quite a bit. Also, be more steady, and work well with Qiu Li to manage Blue Sky Sword Sea..."
Chen Xia spoke a lot, and Emperor Capital nodded incessantly, not knowing whether he was listening or just nodding mechanically.
Then there were Li Yang and Li Yue.
Chen Xia said to Li Yang, "I trust you quite a bit. If you don't mind later, you can let the Li family join Blue Sky Sword Sea, becoming an external branch of the sect, sharing both glory and disgrace."
Li Yang nodded firmly, "Okay."
So Chen Xia finally looked at Li Yue.
"It's my turn, it's my turn," Li Yue said with a smile, a bit excited.
"Take care of your health," Chen Xia said.
Li Yue frowned in surprise.
That's it?
Indeed, that was it.
Words ended when they should, not lingering unnecessarily.
Afterwards, the Blue Sky Saints went down.
Chen Xia went up.
The group took different paths.