Year 121.
Chen Xia's diary was lost, but it didn't matter, he didn't plan on writing in it anymore anyway.
In fact there wasn't anything important written in the diary, nor were there any true confessions, which proper person writes true confessions in a diary!
It was just something to pass the time during leisure.
During this time, the Old Fisherman came to find Chen Xia once, and asked him a very profound question.
"How deep do you think you can dive into the Sword Sea?"
Chen Xia thought for a moment, based on his own cultivation level, and understanding of the Sword Sea, he gave his answer.
"I don't know."
The Old Fisherman wasn't too satisfied with this answer. He clasped his hands behind his back, gazed at an angle, and said,
"Five hundred years from now, during the sect's general election, the disciples who are successful in entering the sect will all have a chance to comprehend the Sword Sea."
"Because your Dao Heart is damaged, you cannot participate in the general election, but I have applied for you to have a chance to comprehend the Sword Sea."
Chen Xia hurriedly got up and cupped his fists, "Thank you, Old Bidden."
"What do you mean?" The Old Fisherman was puzzled.
"It's the dialect from my hometown, that's how we address respected elders." Chen Xia explained.
"Oh." The Old Fisherman nodded, he didn't dwell on it too much, after all the myriad worlds were so vast, he couldn't possibly know every dialect.
"You must take the Sword Sea comprehension seriously, prepare early, this is an extremely beneficial thing. The deeper you dive, the greater the gains."
The Old Fisherman explained the Sword Sea comprehension, then lifted his feet, walked slowly, gazed vaguely, and said gently,
"I know your Dao Heart is damaged, so I'm not letting you compete with the other disciples now, but you must understand that the Dao Heart cannot remain damaged forever."
His words carried a hint of warning, he probably already realized that Chen Xia was faking it.
This was understandable, after all Chen Xia had single-handedly destroyed the imperial capital, and he had used his external avatar to do it.
If you still claimed your Dao Heart was damaged, the imperial capital would surely scold you.
Chen Xia's expression was unchanged as he nodded in response, "I understand."
The Old Fisherman also didn't dwell too long on this topic, he felt that Chen Xia should know how to grasp the nuances of this situation, he didn't need to say more, he still had to maintain the image of a kind master.
Thinking of this, the Old Fisherman showed extra concern in asking,
"You have to be more careful recently in the sect, it seems some strange mosquitoes and bugs have appeared, it could also be some mysterious means by other sects, I always feel as though I've been bitten by a mosquito.
"Although it doesn't hurt, it just feels uncomfortable in my heart, and this feeling is extremely punctual, happening once every five years, be wary, let me know if you have this phenomenon."
Chen Xia looked worried and said, "You must take care of your health, I'm still waiting to see you off on your final journey."
The Old Fisherman's brows furrowed slightly, he was silent for a moment, feeling like something sounded off, but couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong, so he frowned and praised,
"You have such a filial heart, your master has not guiding you in vain."
"It is only right for the black-haired to send off the white-haired." Chen Xia nodded.
The Old Fisherman didn't want to say more on this topic, so he asked, "What about that big yellow dog, you seem to have been getting along well with it recently."
Chen Xia replied, "My residence lacks a guardian beast, so I let it come."
"Oh." The Old Fisherman made a noncommittal sound, then slowly said,
"That big yellow dog is also quite strange, it doesn't have any other skills, it just knows how to live, I remember when I first came to the Blue Sky Sword Sea, it was already guarding the gates of the Sword Forest.
"So many years have passed now, yet it still guards the gates, though its status is actually a disciple of the Blue Sky Sword Sea, if we really went by seniority, I would have to call it Senior Martial Brother."
This was the Old Fisherman's self-mockery.
But Chen Xia waved his hand with a laugh and said, "That would be too embarrassing."
The Old Fisherman was stunned, he sized up Chen Xia several times, but didn't speak. After half a moment, he finally slowly said,
"As long as you don't slack off in your cultivation, everything else can be discussed, geniuses have privileges anywhere, the Blue Sky Sword Sea is no exception, I hope you understand that."
"Also, you've been at the Mountain Moving Realm for fifty years now, it's time to go to the Sword Forest and take a sword for yourself, the sooner the better."
After saying this, the Old Fisherman swiftly left.
Chen Xia remained in the room, pondering over the Sword Forest.
Over these decades, the Big Yellow Dog had told Chen Xia about the Sword Forest.
The Blue Sky Sword Sea, since it had the character for sword in its name, naturally couldn't be separated from swords.
And within the Sword Forest were stored flying swords.
Each flying sword had its own innate divine ability, and high quality flying swords could even nurture a sword spirit, henceforth the sword spirit was undying, and the flying sword indestructible.
Within the Sword Forest there were three million flying swords.
Guarded by the Sword Attendant, waiting for people to come take swords. For each flying sword taken, one must withstand a strike from the Sword Attendant.
Legend says the Sword Attendant has existed since the founding of the Blue Sky Sword Sea, it is a shred of a saint's will transformed, losing all thought, and gaining the will to guard the swords for several great ages.
Only those at the Mountain Moving Realm could enter to take a sword.
This was because only those at Mountain Moving Realm could steadily withstand a strike from the Sword Attendant and not die.
So what level was the Sword Attendant?
The Big Yellow Dog didn't know, it only knew that the Mountain Moving Realm cultivators who entered all stumbled back out half dead, but at least they got a sword.
Now it was time for Chen Xia to go take a sword too.
Since the Old Fisherman had urged it, Chen Xia could no longer drag his feet, he had to keep up appearances.
To be safe, Chen Xia added all the points he had accumulated over the years into his Fortune value, barely scraping together a nice round two hundred Fortune.
He even directly obtained an achievement, reaching the intermediate stage of [Son of Heaven's Favor], there would be the Heavenly Dao protecting him in the shadows.
But Chen Xia still hoped he could be protected in the light instead of the shadows, that would give him more sense of security.
The Big Yellow Dog also found out that Chen Xia was going to take a sword, and came running and crying to see Chen Xia off. Crying, it babbled,
"Bro, because of you, I will remember this century."
Chen Xia stood at the entrance of the Sword Forest, feeling this dog was better gotten rid of, it was treacherous.
He looked deeply at the Big Yellow Dog twice, then turned and walked through the huge bronze gates.
It was called the Sword Forest, but it was more like a Sword Graveyard, of course there was no insult intended.
Because each sword was inserted into a small mound, it looked like a graveyard of swords.
Chen Xia also didn't know if these mounds were actually graves.
He only knew one thing, from the moment he took his first step into the Sword Forest.
The endless sea of flying swords all started trembling, the sound of swords rang endlessly, seeming ready to take flight!
Chen Xia frowned, somewhat baffled, feeling this should be a normal phenomenon. He took another step forward.
With this step, the phenomenon could no longer be stopped.
The three million flying swords suddenly rose today, massive and overwhelming, blotting out the sun, like a great river from beyond the heavens pouring down, all stood erect by Chen Xia's side, the sword cries were continuous, echoing from beyond the heavens!
A broken bronze armor slowly walked over from somewhere, its steps heavy and resounding, holding a green from rust bronze sword in its rusted gauntlets .
Chen Xia suddenly recalled the Big Yellow Dog's words.
Take a strike from the Sword Attendant for each sword taken.
He looked at the flying swords blotting out the sun, and could hold back no longer, crying out.
"Oh shoot!"
Let's stop here, any more would be rude. Still, thank you, Old Bidden.
Good night.