When the words "Supreme" were spoken, the White Emperor paused briefly, then fell into a long silence, as if deep in thought. Eventually, he hesitantly asked,
“What does 'Supreme' mean?”
…
The gatekeepers of the Blue Sky Sword Sea aren't very friendly, are they?
Daoist Suppressing Heaven sighed, feeling a bit troubled. He addressed the White Emperor once more,
“You’ve severed your path of cultivation so casually that you’ve even forgotten the basics. Are you seeking a new path? But that doesn’t seem right either. Nevermind. I’m here to meet the eight founding masters of the Blue Sky Sword Sea. Go inform them. I won’t force my way in. Just mention Chen Xia’s matter.”
“Alright, alright,” the White Emperor quickly nodded.
“Do it quickly. My time is limited, and I can’t afford to let my presence be noticed,” Daoist Suppressing Heaven added.
He had come stealthily, using half of his true form, posing as an ordinary guest to ensure utmost secrecy. He feared being detected by the Emperor Wu through some vague, mystical means.
However, Daoist Suppressing Heaven overestimated the White Emperor’s efficiency. How did the White Emperor report the situation?
First, he told an outer sect elder, who, filled with suspicion, reported it to a higher elder. That elder, unsure of what to make of it, discussed it with other elders. Eventually, they decided to inform the youngest of the Grand Elders of the Blue Sky Sword Sea—the Ninth Elder.
The Ninth Elder, considering the gravity of the message, pondered for a long time before deciding to check it out personally.
Thus, he led a group of elders to stand before Daoist Suppressing Heaven.
The atmosphere between the two sides was distinctly awkward.
Daoist Suppressing Heaven couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t it supposed to be the Eight Ancestors of the Blue Sky Sword Sea who speak with me?”
“This matter is too significant, so we came to confirm with you first,” the Ninth Elder replied solemnly.
“Confirm? I don’t have the time for this. Call them,” Daoist Suppressing Heaven retorted, growing impatient. Finally, unable to hold back, he extended a finger toward the Blue Sky Sword Sea and whispered,
“Sound Transmission.”
He should have realized sooner. With Chen Xia, the greatest ancestor of the Blue Sky Sword Sea, being the way he was, how could the entire sect be any better? He should have just sent a direct Sound Transmission from the start.
As soon as he did, a small world formed at the entrance of the Blue Sky Sword Sea, enveloping him. Out stepped a figure, speaking with a stern tone,
“Let me see what’s going on. Why is it even involving my brother Chen Xia?”
Walking toward them was Emperor Capital.
Following behind were Qiu Li and Chi Yu, both clearly puzzled by Daoist Suppressing Heaven’s transmission.
Daoist Suppressing Heaven didn’t waste time with niceties. He quickly stated, “Chen Xia is engaged in fierce battle in the Immortal Realm, but he’s all alone. I need to bring you there to the Immortal Realm.”
“Fighting alongside my brother Chen Xia?” Emperor Capital said, his voice filled with excitement.
“No, not to fight. To increase Chen Xia’s fortunes so he can ascend to become an emperor,” Daoist Suppressing Heaven explained.
Emperor Capital’s excitement dimmed slightly but he still agreed to go, stating that anything involving Chen Xia was reason enough.
“And you are…?” Qiu Li asked cautiously.
“A partner of Chen Xia’s,” Daoist Suppressing Heaven responded simply. Then, snapping his fingers, he created a shimmering, illusory door before them.
“Through this door lies the Immortal Realm. Come, those who have known Chen Xia the longest and are closest to him.”
Without hesitation, Emperor Capital took a step forward, his face beaming with excitement. He was more than ready.
But then Chi Yu glanced at him, a look that, though unspoken, conveyed its message clearly.
Emperor Capital quickly halted, extending his hand outward and saying, “Of course, you should go first, brother Chi Yu.”
Meanwhile, Qiu Li was still skeptical.
Is this a trap?
But that didn’t make sense. If this man truly could bring them to the Immortal Realm, he could easily manipulate them there. There was no need for such a complex setup.
He didn’t ponder too long, though, as Emperor Capital and Chi Yu had already stepped through.
Those two were all about trust.
The weather in the Immortal Realm today was perfect—bright sunshine, soft white clouds, and a clear blue sky.
A perfect day for basking in the sun.
Chen Xia sat on a small stool, his head pointed directly at the sun, following its movement.
“What are you doing?” the Demon of the Heart asked from behind.
“Acting like a sunflower,” Chen Xia replied simply.
“That’s funny,” the Demon of the Heart commented.
“You’re not bad yourself,” Chen Xia responded. After a brief silence, he asked,
“What did Daoist Suppressing Heaven tell you?”
“About the future—your future,” the Demon of the Heart replied, smiling, clearly not referring to anything distressing.
“Not our future?” Chen Xia corrected.
“Yes,” the Demon of the Heart nodded.
At that moment, a cloud passed by, slightly blocking the sun. Though the sunlight still reached Chen Xia, it avoided the Demon of the Heart.
Footsteps echoed from within the sect—real, lively footsteps, not the stiff movements of a puppet.
Chen Xia instantly turned his head, then froze.
Emperor Capital looked at him, bursting into an excited smile, almost tearful as he exclaimed,
“Brother Chen Xia, I’ve been searching for you so hard! Without you, my brain just doesn’t work!”
“You do know how to exaggerate,” Qiu Li commented.
“We’ve come for you,” Chi Yu said slowly.
“I wonder, which idiot has been gone so long without coming home?” Li Yue asked Chen Xia, her tone filled with curiosity.
“We’ve come to take you back. The matters in the Immortal Realm are over. Let’s return to the Blue Sky Sword Sea together,” Li Yang said, his voice firm but gentle.
Qiu Li added, “Jia Bai, Huang Can, and Hu Linye are guarding the Blue Sky Sword Sea, so they couldn’t come. They asked us to convey a message to you…”
He smiled, standing shoulder to shoulder with the other four, representing the current Blue Sky Sword Sea as he spoke to Chen Xia,
“The Blue Sky Sword Sea has been without a leader for far too long. Everyone is waiting for you to return and take charge. And whatever you’re facing, don’t shoulder it alone. You have the entire Blue Sky Sword Sea behind you.”
“The second brain is always ready!” Emperor Capital declared loudly.
“Brothers don’t need many words,” Chi Yu said softly.
“We stand together,” Li Yang replied, unusually gentle.
“We’ve shared life and death before, but this time, you owe me some spirit stones,” Li Yue said with a grin.
Chen Xia stood in the sunlight, momentarily at a loss for words. He didn’t know where to begin or what to say. His lips stretched into a soft smile as he nodded gently, replying,
“Okay.”
The sunlight bathed him, and everything felt just right.
The Demon of the Heart, however, remained leaning against the wall, hood pulled low, silent, separated from the group by the shadow the cloud cast.
On the side of the dark, where the sunlight couldn’t reach.