Realms are a rough division of one's power.
But truly formidable existences do not need realms to define them.
They are simply strong.
For example, Chen Xia's stat points - as long as he has hundreds of thousands of points, then without needing realms, he can push the heavens and earth.
This is the simplest form of strength.
And also the most extreme.
Right now, Chen Xia suddenly devouring 300,000 flying swords has the same effect.
Although Chen Xia's realm did not change at all after swallowing the refined sword wills of 300,000 flying swords, can you say he did not get stronger?
Anyway, the observing elders were at a loss for words, unable to comprehend the terror of accumulating 300,000 flying swords.
Without counting sword techniques or sword qi, just based on the crudest sword will, it would be enough to crush a Peak Manifestation realm cultivator of three to four layers.
Yet Chen Xia was merely an Energy Refinement realm cultivator.
"Defying the heavens!"
The elders were shocked into speaking inverted sentences.
They were all ancient beings who had lived for tens of thousands of years, having seen all kinds of scenes throughout their lifetimes of cultivation.
Yet they had never seen something like this before.
The key was that Chen Xia did not eat one or two flying swords.
He swallowed 300,000 of them!
In your lifetime, you can't even eat 300,000 catties worth of food, yet you can swallow 300,000 swords!
The elders really could not comprehend it. Standing in the spectator seats above the firmament, their expressions were still somewhat dazed. They now completely could not see through Chen Xia.
They had originally thought he was the weakest candidate for Great Emperor.
Yet unexpectedly, he turned out to be the most freakish one in history.
Right now, this freak was standing quietly in the sword forest with no more swords, his fingers joined like a sword pointed forward.
In front was the Sword Attendant, his armored gloves holding a cracked greenish bronze sword.
There was 3,000 meters between Chen Xia and the Sword Attendant, crossable in an instant.
Since ancient times, most sword cultivators only valued one word -
Speed.
Fast sword draw, fast kill.
However, there were exceptions.
For example, the current Chen Xia had his fingers joined like a sword, slashing slowly towards the Sword Attendant.
This sword strike was not fast, but it was heavy.
Because it contained the refined sword wills of 300,000 flying swords!
The overwhelming sword intent rampaged forth, flattening the entire sword forest without stopping as it continued rolling towards the Sword Attendant.
The 300,000 sword intents were like a flood of sea water!
The fastest sword waves up front fiercely beat upon the Sword Attendant.
Before the Sword Attendant could block the first wave, the second wave arrived on its heels.
With no time to catch his breath, the waves were continuous and unending.
This was the true sword sea.
A spectacular scene!
The Sword Attendant no longer had the strength to resist and was annihilated by the sea of swords, like a drowning person sinking into the deepest depths of the sword sea, bearing the most intense sword pressure. Cracks began appearing on his armor.
The greenish bronze sword with traces of rust fell from his hand.
Chen Xia pulled his joined fingers forward, and amidst the sea of swords, the greenish bronze sword was suddenly seized and stood erect before him.
This greenish bronze sword contained 70% of the will of a saint, and could be considered a precious artifact of extremely high spirituality.
Yet it was still a sword.
And anything that was a sword could be devoured.
Chen Xia opened his mouth. With the refined sword wills in his body spurring it on, the greenish bronze sword trembled as Chen Xia extracted all of its sword will and swallowed it in one gulp!
This sword had very strong sword will.
It was at the front of the 300,000 flying swords, and brought tremendous pressure to Chen Xia as well.
The refined sword wills of the 300,000 flying swords had already expanded Chen Xia's body to its limits. And now, another overbearing sword will was added, as if reaching a overflow point.
Although it was endurable, it still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Thus, Chen Xia decided to do something.
So he burped loudly.
He really ate too much.
His entire body now felt heavy, with the pressure of 300,000 refined sword wills that could not be fully digested for the time being, so he could only bear the pressure.
The sword forest was also gone, flattened by Chen Xia's 300,000 sword intents, revealing the huge sword below.
The entire sect was built on this massive sword.
Looking at the ancient massive sword, a thought suddenly popped into Chen Xia's mind.
Anything that was a sword could be eaten.
Then...
He looked over the massive sword two more times, his mind turning, but was unable to take action due to his body's limitations.
Fortunately, the elders watching from above the firmament did not know about Chen Xia's freakish idea.
Otherwise, they would not have merely been spectators.
Chen Xia put away his thoughts and turned to look at the elders in the sky, pointing at the empty sword forest and calmly saying,
"As you've all seen, it made the first move."
The elders were silent, and only after a while did they nod slightly at Chen Xia, "That is indeed the case."
These were the facts, Chen Xia did not deceive them. It was indeed the Sword Attendant who struck first, even chasing beyond the Bronze Gate to attack Chen Xia.
Chen Xia retaliating could be considered as self-defense.
It was just that his defense went a bit overboard, defending the entire sword forest into oblivion.
"Truly an extremely good 'defense'." The elders replied, their words tinged with sarcasm.
"Indeed very good." Chen Xia smiled lightly, and further explained,
"Because the best defense is offense."
The elders were once again left speechless. The way they looked at Chen Xia grew increasingly odd. They really did not know how such an candidate for Great Emperor had developed, nor did they hear about Chen Xia's specific origins.
They only knew that Chen Xia was a cultivator from the lower realms.
But could cultivators from the lower realms really be so terrifying?
Many figures from the lower realms had come to Blue Sky Sword Sea in the past, all existences who reached the peak in the lower realms. Some had even attained the Energy Refinement realm upon entering the sect, and possessed exotic treasures and special cultivation techniques.
Yet none of them had ever been as... outstanding as Chen Xia.
How to put it.
The elders felt that Chen Xia did not seem like a cultivator, because he did not seem to put much effort into cultivating at all.
When the other candidates went into secluded meditation, they would spend over a decade without coming out until their cultivation had substantially improved.
Chen Xia was different.
Every two years he would come out for a stroll, circling around the dwellings of candidates, and during his leisure he would even sit in the pavilion drinking tea with a dog.
The elders all felt that Chen Xia did not seem to have come for cultivation.
He seemed to have come for retirement.
What proper cultivator goes for strolls?
Moreover, he goes for strolls like clockwork every two years, even more diligent than cultivating.
Apart from that, Chen Xia would do many idle things, like making tea for the dog to drink, playing chess in the pavilion, and fishing in the pond.
Look, did this look like a proper cultivator?
Could a proper cultivator do these kinds of things?
Yet the one they saw as the most improper cultivator among the candidates turned out to be the strongest among them.
And far, far stronger than the other candidates.
The elders were truly confused.
What was this? Could making tea, playing chess raise one's cultivation?
Chen Xia was very different from any cultivator they had seen before. If they had to describe him in words, it would probably be along the lines of:
...
Leisurely, lazy.
And gave off a feeling of nonchalance towards ordinary matters.
Chen Xia's eyes contained a sense of aloofness. Not a cold-blooded aloofness, but the aloofness of seeing through things.
Like the words of one nearing death.
Standing out were two words.
Seeing through.
If the elders really had to describe Chen Xia with one word, it would probably be...
Unique.