Bad news: Chen Xia has become a Great Saint.
Good news: He's now a Three-Path Supreme Emperor.
The pale-white lightning wraps around his left sleeve, spiraling upward, but not far, turning into a light blue lightning as it reaches his shoulder.
With just this streak of pale-white lightning, Chen Xia's Thunder Dao has smoothly stepped into the realm of a Supreme Emperor.
He slightly lifts his right sleeve, and the pale-white lightning suddenly surges. The Emperor Medicine in his palm emits the aura of an Emperor once more, yet it is tightly gripped, struggling in vain.
Flowing Water Temple Master's eyes tighten as he examines the scene, unable to help but exclaim.
"Is he really not a Daoist of Alchemy? I'm starting to doubt it now."
Having refined Emperor Medicine, if he hasn't grasped the Dao of Alchemy, it would be too hard to believe.
“Chen Xia is someone you can't judge by common sense. Maybe he hasn't grasped the Dao of Alchemy but instead the Dao of Stoves,” Emperor Tianhe shook his head.
This statement rings true, and several Emperors agree. After all, Chen Xia is such an enigmatic existence.
The pale-white lightning on Chen Xia's right sleeve is also something they can't comprehend. Since ancient times, heavenly lightning has been of five colors, with the Supreme Heavenly Thunder corresponding to the Emperor level.
Emperors associated with lightning have always used lightning of the Supreme Heavenly color, with the only difference being the intensity.
But Chen Xia is different. He has come up with something new.
The pale-white Emperor-level lightning must be something he personally comprehended. Its exact power and combat effectiveness are known only to Chen Xia himself.
They are curious but don't feel comfortable asking directly.
The Emperors' guesses are indeed accurate. This is the lightning that Chen Xia himself comprehended, unique to the Great Death Realm, embodying both destruction and creation.
Chen Xia flings his sleeve again, and the Emperor Medicine is sent into his Heart Lake, while the pale-white lightning on his arm disappears.
He stands there, his green robe unmoving, showing no difference from before. His ascension to Three-Path Supreme Emperor seems ordinary.
"Congratulations, congratulations," Flowing Water Temple Master chuckles, stepping forward to make small talk with Chen Xia, hoping to persuade him to refine an Emperor Medicine for him as well. He even lowers his status, saying,
"Chen Ge, in the past, it was little brother who offended you, disregarding your face. It was little brother's ignorance. Please forgive me, and let bygones be bygones..."
Emperor Tianhe frowns, disdainfully shouting,
"No dignity of an Emperor at all."
Before he finishes, Flowing Water Temple Master turns to him and asks,
"Chen Ge has agreed to refine an Emperor Medicine for me. He's also asking if you want one?"
"Of course," Emperor Tianhe hastily replies.
"Just kidding. I haven't even agreed yet," Flowing Water Temple Master laughs heartily, feeling as if he had played a fool.
Chen Xia doesn't agree to refine an Emperor Medicine, as his body is starting to feel the strain. It's not that his kidneys are overtaxed, but rather that he's using too much luck. It seems that luck doesn't help with alchemy, and he needs to recover slowly.
The cost of refining an Emperor Medicine is indeed enormous, and its effects are even more powerful.
The Emperor Medicine Chen Xia refined can grant him an extra life, but only for himself.
Because this Emperor Medicine was forged with pale-white lightning, it is purely a product of the Great Death Realm's and the Great Death Realm's will, untainted by any other realm's karma.
Therefore, it cannot be used by any cultivators from other realms.
Due to the pale-white lightning, other cultivators can't withstand it, effectively binding them to Chen Xia.
Chen Xia expended so much effort, ultimately only refining an extra life for himself. This is why he refused to refine an Emperor Medicine for other Emperors.
This Emperor Medicine is only usable by him.
The Emperors vaguely sense this and inquire with Chen Xia, confirming their suspicions. They shake their heads, lamenting that they don't have the fortune to consume an Emperor Medicine.
The weathered bloodstains on the city wall are stained with fresh blood, adding vibrant color.
This signifies that a new Saint has perished.
Chen Xia stops refining medicine, as there are hardly any Saints left on the city wall, and the medicine in the logistics department is sufficient for healing. He shifts his focus to the battle.
“Haha, that Three-Path Great Emperor hasn't shown up for some days. I reckon he's waiting for Chen Xia to come out,” Flowing Water Temple Master said with a smile.
"Yeah, his task should be to keep an eye on Chen Xia. Every time he fights, he doesn't put in much effort, looking like a lazybones," Emperor Tianhe adds.
...
Chen Xia has already stepped onto the city wall. As he ascends, the Three-Path Great Emperor appears under the dark disturbance, waving at Chen Xia as if greeting an old friend.
Buzz!
Chen Xia instantly transforms into sword energy, traversing tens of thousands of miles in an instant. Before the Three-Path Great Emperor can approach him, he initiates the battle.
The Three-Path Great Emperor is momentarily stunned, unsure of the situation. He takes a step back, his hand extending, forming black-and-white spiritual energy, directly grasping toward Chen Xia's sword energy.
The sword energy collides with the black-and-white energy, creating a chaotic storm, so turbulent that even Emperors can't discern the situation within.
In an instant.
Chen Xia's figure suddenly retreats, holding the Immortal Sword as he plummets. With a flick of his hand, the Immortal Sword pierces into the void beside him, creating a rift to halt his descent.
"It's been some time since we last met. Your sword energy has grown stronger again. No wonder you're called Chen the Saint. You've truly opened my eyes as a mere Three-Path Great Emperor," the Three-Path Great Emperor remarks.
Chen Xia straightens his body, the Immortal Sword held diagonally, his green robe gently swaying. He doesn't respond, his thoughts turning toward the Great Death Realm, conversing with his inner demon.
"Give him some pressure."
"Alright," the inner demon agrees, adding, "You fight normally first. I'll find the right moment to strike, or else he might dodge with his substitute Dao."
"Got it."
Chen Xia's consciousness returns, and the Immortal Sword hums once more.
A Three-Path Supreme Emperor taking on a Three-Path Great Emperor—only a word's difference—is not impossible. With effort, it can be done.
The Three-Path Great Emperor stands above, laughing, "If Chen the Saint doesn't attack soon, I'll have to come down and hunt you. After all, I need to do something, or the higher-ups won't be happy."
"Here I come," Chen Xia replies softly.
His figure instantly transforms into sword light, reaching the Three-Path Great Emperor. The Immortal Sword doesn't swing first; instead, the pale-white lightning coils around his sleeve, mixing with the Time Dao, reaching toward the Three-Path Great Emperor's head.
There's no way to avoid it—it's caught.
However, the Three-Path Great Emperor isn't flustered. His head ripples with black-and-white waves, and his left hand effortlessly grips Chen Xia's arm, even laughing.
"Has Chen the Saint walked into my trap?"
The Immortal Sword howls toward him!
The Three-Path Great Emperor's right hand blocks the Immortal Sword, his smile even wider.
“Although the Way of the Sword is unparalleled in killing power, Chen the Saint is still only a Supreme Emperor. He can't unleash the full power of the Immortal Sword, let alone kill me. It's a bit too superstitious of the Immortal Sword's power.”
As he finishes speaking, the hand gripping Chen Xia's arm suddenly rises, aiming to grab Chen Xia's head.
Just at this moment.
Chen Xia's mouth curls into a proud smile.
His eyes turn blood-red.