War Power Evaluation

The ferry was docked between the stars.

There was no road ahead, because ahead was the Dead Sea Star River.

All the dead silence lingered between the worlds, like the mightiest ocean, enveloping everything.

This was the Dead Sea.

Looking up, endless stars wandered in the vastness above, gathering into all kinds of lines, like meandering rivers.

This was the Star River.

Compared to the Dead Sea Star River ahead, the ferry looked extremely tiny, smaller than any random star among tens of thousands, so insignificant.

Xuan Li did not dare steer the ferry into the Dead Sea Star River. Standing at the bow, he halted and watched, his expression somewhat dazed. Then he shook his head with a wry smile and said,

"In years past, I'd heard of the Dead Sea Star River. Now that I've truly come to the Great Death Realm and can see it up close, my heart has but two words..."

"Dread!"

Qing Xia, standing behind him, nodded. "As expected of the final battlefield of the Great Death Realm, the place where two Great Sages and one Great Emperor met their end. Just looking at it brings pressure."

"Mm. Let me go tell Senior Chen to get ready. We should disembark now." Xuan Li nodded and waved a hand to call out.

He didn't dare steer the ferry into the Dead Sea Star River. Not many cultivators had that kind of courage. The Huangli Realm cultivators definitely didn't.

The Dead Sea Star River itself didn't pose huge danger. The raging spiritual energy and collisions with dead stars posed little threat to them.

So the biggest danger was from other realm's cultivators. If you dared to arrogantly steer a boat in under these circumstances, you'd be hunted as prey by cultivators of various realms.

To be weak yet recklessly flaunt the ferry would be asking for death.

Xuan Li understood this very well. That was why the Huangli Realm cultivators entering the Dead Sea Star River this time numbered only him, Qing Xia, and one Heaven-Filling cultivator.

The other Heaven-Filling cultivators stayed aboard the ferry. That way, even if the three of them died, the Huangli Realm would still have a chance of finding an opportunity elsewhere in the Great Death Realm. They wouldn't bet it all on one possibility.

With a sigh, Xuan Li prepared himself and turned to go summon Chen Xia personally. But before he could take a step, he saw Chen Xia's figure.

"Sen...Senior..."

"So we've arrived?" Squinting, Chen Xia looked at the seemingly endless Dead Sea Star River ahead.

"Yes, we've arrived. I was about to come notify you and wait for you." Xuan Li nodded in response.

Chen Xia looked again, waved a hand behind him, and called out, "Let's go!"

"O-Okay!" came a timid response. Ma Xiaohong, her hair in braids, hurried over hugging half a fairy sword.

Chen Xia strode forward, flashing in front of Ma Xiaohong and led her off the ferry, about to directly enter this so-called Dead Sea Star River.

"Be...be careful, Sir." Xuan Li called out. His gaze at Chen Xia was complicated, filled with awe, admiration, and reverence.

Chen Xia looked back at him. His eyes narrowed slightly as he said,

"When I boarded the ferry, I promised I'd lend you a hand twice. There's still one time left. If we meet again in the Dead Sea Star River, I'll help you that once."

He hesitated, seemingly feeling it improper, and added,

"I have the final say on interpretation."

Well, he understood legal affairs.

Xuan Li hurriedly nodded and respectfully cupped his fists at Chen Xia. "Thank you, Sir! Thank you!"

That was a small interlude.

Chen Xia had said it, but whether they'd meet again was hard to say. It was possible Xuan Li would die before that. No one could tell.

After all, Chen Xia himself wasn't sure he could survive the slaughter in the Great Death Realm.

He didn't blindly believe in his own combat strength, especially after hearing Xuan Li's various introductions these days. Hence he had an increasingly clear understanding of the top prodigies in the Great Death Realm.

At most Chen Xia could be considered a first-rate prodigy, still some ways off from the top ones.

The biggest gap was in cultivation level.

No matter how it was put, Violent Sea 9th Layer couldn't compare to Heaven-Filling Peak. The gap was too big.

The reason Chen Xia could previously kill Heaven-Filling Peak cultivators was because he had stacked too many buffs. There was the Three Million Flying Swords, the Heavenly Dragon Vital Energy, the bugged half fairy sword, and the Heart Devil doing the fighting.

With all those buffs stacked, killing an ordinary Heaven-Filling Peak cultivator wasn't a big problem.

It was like a Level 18 character with best-in-slot gear beating a Level 1 character with no gear.

But the top prodigies were different from ordinary Heaven-Filling Peak cultivators. The top prodigies had gear too. It might not be as good as Chen Xia's, but not far off.

In that case, Chen Xia's lower cultivation level was a definite weak point that was hard to remedy. Because it was truly an accumulation issue over time.

He didn't dare cultivate vigorously those thousands of years in Blue Sky Sword Sea. He always suppressed his level, relying on powerups and artifacts.

After getting out, he didn't have much time either. He had to refine pills too. So his cultivation time was even less.

Plus Chen Xia really wasn't a prodigy in cultivation. He was a prodigy at verbal abuse, but not cultivation.

As a result he lagged in cultivation level compared to those top prodigies. Fighting them he'd mostly be at a disadvantage.

But being disadvantaged didn't mean he'd definitely lose.

Because Chen Xia still had a trump card for flipping the table - the Past and Future Art.

My Violent Sea Realm self truly can't beat you.

But my Great Emperor Realm self should work, right?

Even under the Great Death Realm's suppression, only able to put out one Heaven-Filling Realm attack.

That one move would be enough.

The only problem was that the Past and Future Art had severe aftereffects of directly weakening the Heavenly Dao laws. Medicinal pills couldn't cure it.

Chen Xia's limp from last time still hadn't healed. Aside from the limp, there were also symptoms of fatigue, slow spirit energy absorption, drowsiness, boredom, and liking to watch lively scenes.

Hmm...

Zhang Daoming said those weren't aftereffects, they were things Chen Xia originally had.

But Chen Xia didn't believe that. He felt they were aftereffects.

So without reaching a critical moment, Chen Xia didn't want to use the Past and Future Art. Getting afflicted by aftereffects here would prevent him from going far in the Great Death Realm.

This wasn't a simple one-on-one duel where he could go all out for a single win or loss.

This was an entire battlefield of slaughter. The first priority wasn't to win but to not die.

Chen Xia also wanted to avoid dying if possible, and keep himself and Ma Xiaohong alive. Then successfully meet Xu Zhen and resolve the Tail Creek Town affair from six thousand years ago.

What should he say upon meeting?

Chen Xia was somewhat troubled.

Should he make a scissors hand and go "Yo!"?

Wouldn't that be a bit too cliche?

Chen Xia was somewhat conflicted.

He was already standing atop the Star River, with the timid Ma Xiaohong who seemed like a thief beside him.

The two faced the Dead Sea Star River.

"Let's go."

Chen Xia said softly.

Their figures vanished into the dead sea, the myriad stars dimming.