As the sun hung low on the horizon, its glow seemed unnaturally glaring.
Chen Xia sat on a small stool, basking in the setting sun, staring up at it as he pondered many things, though none of them came to a clear conclusion.
His injuries hadn't fully healed yet, the scars still visible. While they were serious, they weren't critical for someone like him. With some medicinal pills and a few days of rest, he had mostly recovered.
But he had no idea when the Heaven Emperor would strike again.
Chen Xia couldn't stand against him; their power was vastly unequal. Moreover, Daoist Suppressing Heaven had never revealed the specific method to become a false emperor, only telling Chen Xia to continue waiting at the Heaven Pill Gate.
But how long would he have to wait?
Until his death?
Chen Xia wasn't afraid of dying—at several tens of thousands of years old, he had long since outgrown such fears.
But he was afraid of dying with unfinished business, with lingering regrets.
So Chen Xia had made up his mind. He needed to flee, taking the entire Fuyao Immortal Sect and Huang Qingyue with him, disappearing into the realms between worlds to lay low until this storm passed.
He didn't want to be a hero saving the universe. If he could choose, he would rather be a rat in the fields or a bird in the sky, living freely and without constraint.
Chen Xia shared his plan with Daoist Suppressing Heaven. Both men fell silent for a long time, neither speaking a word.
Daoist Suppressing Heaven was genuinely pondering.
Chen Xia, meanwhile, was thinking, "Why the hell isn't this guy agreeing? Does he really want me to die in the Immortal Realm?"
The inner demon leaned against the wall, naturally supporting Chen Xia, yet he surprisingly didn't echo Chen Xia's sentiments this time, clearly siding with Daoist Suppressing Heaven on this matter.
Since the inner demon didn't back Chen Xia, that meant he was siding with the other side.
Chen Xia noticed this and figured Daoist Suppressing Heaven must have said something to the inner demon, leading to this stance.
"You don't want to engage in the Immortal Realm's strife anymore, wanting to leave for a peaceful life—I understand that," Daoist Suppressing Heaven nodded and continued.
"But do you really think you'll find peace in the inter-realm spaces? A grand reshuffle, even a reboot of the myriad worlds, is coming."
"You're an indispensable part of this plan, the final piece to complete it. So, wait a bit longer. Raise your aspirations. You'll replace the Martial Emperor, becoming the next, and the only, ultimate being."
Daoist Suppressing Heaven's unfinished words hung in the air as he fell silent for a long time, his usually stiff voice carrying a rare hint of emotion as he sighed,
"Once you're in the game, you have to see it through."
The inner demon remained silent the whole time, leaning against the wall with a calm gaze, his thoughts unclear.
So Chen Xia asked again, "What happens when the Heaven Emperor comes back? With just me and the inner demon, we can't take him on—we'll still have to run, no?"
Daoist Suppressing Heaven, however, confidently told Chen Xia, "The next time the Heaven Emperor comes, it will be your chance to kill him."
"?" Chen Xia frowned, thoroughly confused, asking, "Can I really be that powerful? Because I sure as hell don't know it."
"You'll understand when the time comes," Daoist Suppressing Heaven replied with certainty.
The inner demon maintained his silence, exuding a cool demeanor throughout.
Chen Xia clapped his hands, laying his cards on the table. "Alright then. But if I really can't beat the Heaven Emperor next time, I'm going to have to run, you know. I can't let myself die in the East Jia State, can I?"
"Fine," Daoist Suppressing Heaven said simply. As he turned his head, he seemed to exchange a glance with the inner demon, though it was brief.
The sun set, leaving the dark sky dotted with stars that looked like they were on the brink of death.
News of the Medicine Ancestor being severely injured by the Heaven Emperor spread once more, shocking manycultivators and sparking curiosity about why it was always the Medicine Ancestor who bore the brunt of these injuries.
Moreover, it seemed that these Five Great Emperors all liked to visit the East Jia State, each time clashing with the Medicine Ancestor.
First, the Lord of the Divine Realm, then the Nine Mountains Master, and now the Heaven Emperor.
Was visiting the East Jia State a rite of passage to prove oneself as a Five Great Emperor?
Well, now the pressure was on the Star Lord and the Star Lord to make their obligatory pilgrimage to the East Jia State.
And with this news spreading, Xu Zhen in the Treasure Ring Scale State couldn't sit still. She was ready to head straight to the East Jia State.
However, the Divine Realm cultivators clearly wouldn't let her leave the Treasure Ring Scale State, which infuriated Xu Zhen. Her killing intent immediately surfaced as she prepared to clash with these Divine Realm Emperors once again.
Seeing the conflict escalate toward a fight, the Lord of the Divine Realm intervened, dispersing the Divine Realm cultivators and addressing Xu Zhen in a calm voice,
"You can leave the Treasure Ring Scale State, but only when Chen Xia comes to find you, not the other way around. Otherwise, all these Five Great Emperors are watching you closely. If something happens to you, Chen Xia will come looking for me, and that'll just be a hassle."
Xu Zhen glared at the Lord of the Divine Realm, remaining silent for a moment before finally uttering one word,
"Fine."
She returned to the Fuyao Immortal Sect, her intent to go to the East Jia State gone.
The figure of the Lord of the Divine Realm returned to the central mountain range of the Treasure Ring Scale State, his expression calm. Were it not for the involvement of Chen Xia and Daoist Suppressing Heaven, someone like Xu Zhen, an ordinary emperor, would never have the qualifications to converse with him.
But the complexities of the situation made it inevitable. The Immortal Realm was in turmoil, just as Daoist Suppressing Heaven had predicted. No one could tell who would become the next ultimate being.
Even the Lord of the Divine Realm himself lacked certainty. Moreover, the Martial Emperor had been absent for a long time, and with the Heaven Emperor's recent move, it seemed his sights were set on the East Jia State, aiming to claim that territory.
The Lord of the Divine Realm gazed toward the East Jia State, his expression solemn, muttering in a aged voice,
"That should be mine."
Great Heaven.
In the Blue Sky Sword Sea.
The Blue Sky Sword Sea was now governed by the younger generation, primarily led by the two Great Saints, Zhou Jia and Bai Lu. The previous generation of quasi-emperors had long since retired, with two even seizing their destiny to become emperors.
Thus, the Blue Sky Sword Sea had become one of the most renowned factions in the Great Heaven, garnering admiration wherever it was mentioned.
The sky above was the Blue Sky, the earth below was the Sword Sea, and in between, a massive sword stood, housing the sect.
At the entrance to the sect, there was an old gatekeeper with graying hair and plain clothing. No matter who he met, he would always respond with a cheerful laugh, appearing amiable.
"Hey, Old Bai, give us a laugh," a teasing voice called out.
The old man obediently laughed twice.
Clink. Two spirit stones fell to the ground, tossed by the disciple, who then laughed,
"Not bad, not bad. Here, this is a reward for Old Bai."
The old man quickly bent down to pick up the spirit stones, tucking them into the pouch on his plain outfit, thanking the disciple,
"Thank you, thank you."
The disciple laughed heartily, not bothering to reply, striding into the Blue Sky Sword Sea.
What they didn't know was that among the current Blue Sky Sword Sea, this gatekeeper, Old Bai, was one of the oldest figures, a contemporary of the eight founding patriarchs.
However, a single encounter with Chen Xia had stripped him of his heroic aura, and then the Emperor Capital had tamed him, reducing him to anonymity, just an ordinary man.
And today, a visitor came to the Blue Sky Sword Sea, stopping at the gate to address the old man with a smile,
"Having a quasi-emperor serve as a gatekeeper—that's the kind of move Chen Xia would pull."
Old Bai looked up in shock, seeing adaoist in pitch-black robes with a faint smile.
"Who might you be?" Old Bai asked nervously.
"The ultimate being," Daoist Suppressing Heaven replied simply.