Three?
Three what?
Three-Path Great Emperor? Haha, the cultivators nowadays really love to joke around, haha.
Fire Rain Great Emperor couldn't help but burst into laughter, the fear on his face diminishing slightly as he spoke to Yan Zi with a smile.
"Although you are powerful, there's no need to fabricate such unrealistic claims. Do you think I'll be scared just because you conjure up some strange phenomena and unleash a bit of pressure?"
"No, impossible. My father is a Great Emperor. I absolutely cannot be afraid, absolutely not!"
His expression turned somewhat manic as he shook his head frantically.
"No, absolutely not!"
The other cultivators had already stepped back, their faces filled with fear, unwilling to get close to Fire Rain Sage, and even more terrified of Yan Zi.
The news of the Three-Path Great Emperor had shaken them so much that, for a moment, no one dared to speak. The only sound in the scene was the maniacal laughter of Fire Rain Sage.
"This is getting noisy," Yan Zi frowned, casually flicking his finger.
Bang!
Fire Rain Sage instantly fell to his knees, his knees shattering the city wall, his entire body covered in blood. He had died on the spot, kneeling.
Yan Zi's expression remained calm as he casually remarked,
"If your father comes looking for you in the future, I'll have him kneel beside you. That way, you two can be reunited. Consider it a good deed."
Anyone who could cultivate to the level of a Three-Path Great Emperor was certainly no pushover. Previously, Yan Zi had no interest in worldly affairs and found it pointless to bother with a few sages who were as insignificant as insects. It didn't stir any emotions in him.
But when it came to the Blue Sky Sword Sea, things were different. This was the only task Chen Xia had entrusted to him, the only request he had made.
In a way, Yan Zi and Chen Xia were rare friends, the kind of bond where heroes admire heroes, and their friendship ran deep.
To be honest, Yan Zi was somewhat afraid of Chen Xia. He feared that one day Chen Xia might return as a Five Paths Great Emperor and discover that the cultivators of the Blue Sky Sword Sea had perished on the Heavenly Dao frontlines while he, Yan Zi, had done nothing to help.
If that happened, Yan Zi could probably guess what his fate would be.
Thinking of this, Yan Zi couldn't help but shake his head. He glanced at the remaining cultivators on Fire Rain Sage's side and said,
"I'm not a domineering or tyrannical person. I dislike trouble and avoid getting involved in it. So, as for you all..."
He paused.
The remaining cultivators' faces lit up with hope. Judging by Yan Zi's tone, it seemed they might be spared.
"So, all of you can just die," Yan Zi finished calmly.
The cultivators' faces instantly turned to horror. One of them shouted,
"Run!"
They scattered in all directions, desperate to find a way to survive.
Yan Zi remained motionless. He extended his hand and pressed it downward. The entire world darkened, as if his hand had blotted out the heavens.
Yin and Yang were extinguished.
The fleeing cultivators began to crumble into dust one by one, completely powerless to resist.
Thirty breaths later, all the fleeing cultivators were annihilated. Not a single one survived.
The darkened world returned to its original state, revealing the light once more.
Yan Zi gently shook his hand, his sleeve fluttering slightly as residual spiritual energy scattered. With that, his divine technique was complete.
The cultivators of the Blue Sky Sword Sea behind him watched with excitement, their admiration for the legendary Chen Xia growing even stronger. They had never imagined that even a Three-Path Great Emperor would show such respect to their sect leader!
Emperor Capital stepped forward enthusiastically, smiling warmly.
"So it's Brother Yan Zi! I'm Emperor Capital, Chen Xia's second brain and first lackey. Hello, hello! Thank you so much for your help!"
When there's a powerful ally to cling to, one should cling tightly. Especially when this ally was someone Chen Xia had specifically left behind to protect the Blue Sky Sword Sea.
Yan Zi smiled lightly at Emperor Capital and replied, "No need to thank me. This was Chen Xia's request, so I simply did my best."
"Then... do you know where my brother Chen Xia is?" Emperor Capital asked eagerly, hoping to uncover some clues about Chen Xia's whereabouts.
Yan Zi shook his head and replied softly, "At the last moment, he charged toward the Heavenly Dao. Since then, his whereabouts have been unknown. I don't know where he is..."
"But I believe we will meet again. Someone like him doesn't just die. He is destined to stand at the pinnacle of the myriad realms. Sometimes, I even think that becoming a Five Paths Great Emperor would only be his starting point. As for his upper limit..."
"I dare not imagine," Yan Zi sighed, then smiled at Emperor Capital.
"As for the treasures on the Heavenly Dao frontlines, you cultivators of the Blue Sky Sword Sea are free to search for them. Now that I've chosen to step into the world, I will protect you to the end."
"Thank you, Brother Yan Zi. From now on, you're my second brother!" Emperor Capital's face was beaming with joy, radiating happiness.
"Mm," Yan Zi responded lightly before his figure vanished into the world.
From then on, a new legend spread across the Heavenly Dao frontlines: the Blue Sky Sword Sea was under the protection of a Three-Path Great Emperor. Standing on the Heavenly Dao frontlines, they were untouchable, and the cultivators of the Blue Sky Sword Sea became one of the groups that no one dared to provoke.
And the root of all this could be traced back to Chen Xia.
So, what is Chen Xia doing now?
He is still in deep slumber within the Great Death Realm. However, recently, the phantom of the Pure White Ancestral Dragon surrounding him has shown signs of movement. Although its eyes remain closed, its body occasionally stirs.
The inner demon watched, a hint of joy appearing on its face.
The Ancestral Dragon was Chen Xia's Great Dao, and its movements indicated that Chen Xia's subconscious was beginning to stir.
This meant that Chen Xia had regained a trace of consciousness. Though it was unclear how much longer he would remain in slumber, there was finally a sign that he might awaken.
Longer, longer still.
In the dim starry sky, time was immeasurable. Only the stars shifted, like grains of sand in an hourglass, flowing from one side to the other, then reversing.
Unknowingly, an eternity had passed.