The Fisherman's Plan

Chen Xia opened his eyes on the futon.

He calmly looked ahead, meeting the direct gaze of the Old Fisherman.

"You're out so soon," the Old Fisherman said with a concerned tone.

"Dead," Chen Xia replied calmly and briefly.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

The Old Fisherman furrowed his brows. After a while, he spoke slowly, "It's alright, don't worry. I'll bring you some nourishing medicine for your soul."

"Okay, thank you," Chen Xia nodded politely.

The Old Fisherman didn't respond and disappeared from the spot, using his shrinking technique.

Chen Xia sat there, thinking about the Old Fisherman's intense gaze. His heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

If the time ratio between here and the small world is :, would the Old Fisherman have stared at him for a year?

Once this thought emerged, it couldn't be suppressed anymore.

Chen Xia's mind sounded the alarm, but he remained composed and sat there calmly.

He waited for three hours.

The Old Fisherman's figure flickered once again, handing him an ancient box. He smiled lightly and said, "This is a thousand-year-old Pure Altar Soul Lotus. Take one petal every half month to replenish your lost soul."

Chen Xia received it with both hands and gazed into the transparent crystal at the center of the ancient box.

Inside was a pure white lotus with dark petals, emitting a vibrant and ethereal aura.

The Old Fisherman folded his hands and spoke softly, "Since the path of descending to the myriad heavens doesn't suit you, try a different cultivation method. You can go to the Blue Sky Sword Sea to forge your sword or practice the art of combat."

"Okay, okay," Chen Xia nodded, but deep down, he had no intention of going.

"The benefits of descending to the myriad heavens are not significant. The small worlds offer limited opportunities, and the larger realms are more suitable for cultivation. So, don't be disheartened," the Old Fisherman advised.

Chen Xia sighed, his expression tinged with sorrow. After a moment of silence, he nodded softly, "I'll do my best."

It seemed like he had been deeply affected.

He played the part convincingly.

Seeing this, the Old Fisherman offered one more piece of advice, "The small worlds are prone to collapse, and your power is limited while the locals are strong. A single failure means nothing. Don't let it affect your state of mind."

Chen Xia lowered his head, his expression dim and unclear. He tightly grasped his sleeve and mumbled in a low voice, "Hmm."

Seeing him like this, the Old Fisherman didn't say much and shook his head before disappearing.

Inside Chen Xia's lowered head, his eyes flickered, and his mind raced.

The Old Fisherman had deceived him.

Initially, when they first met, the Old Fisherman claimed to have rescued him from the river of time and even fought against the Time Ancestor.

But now, in the Old Fisherman's words, there was no mention of Chen Xia's manipulation of time. It was as if Chen Xia's divine consciousness had died in the small world.

If the Old Fisherman truly had profound knowledge of time, then he couldn't have missed the traces left by Chen Xia's manipulation.

These two statements contradicted each other.

There were two possibilities.

First, the Old Fisherman hadn't fought the Time Ancestor or rescued Chen Xia from the river of time. Therefore, he didn't know about Chen Xia's manipulation of time.

The old fisherman knew that Chen Xia had made some moves during the confrontation, but he didn't directly mention it. He wanted to outsmart Chen Xia.

Chen Xia hoped that the first possibility was true, which would at least indicate that the old fisherman's strength was not formidable.

If it was the second possibility, Chen Xia's crisis would be even greater.

They were currently trying to deceive each other, waiting to see who would outwit the other in the end.

There was no doubt that Chen Xia was in a disadvantaged position, with limited resources at his disposal.

The old fisherman had the ability to openly confront him.

But Chen Xia couldn't just give up and stop playing. He still needed to play his current role properly.

While contemplating, Chen Xia glanced at the wooden box on the table. The Pure Altar Soul Lotus inside it was shimmering, emitting a beautiful and enchanting color.

Chen Xia had no intention of consuming this Soul Lotus. He understood from a young age that he shouldn't eat things given by strangers.

There were plenty of examples of child trafficking.

He didn't want to be sold by the old fisherman. The most important thing now was to learn more about the Blue Sky Sword Sea, uncover its secrets, and understand why the old fisherman had deceived him.

With his hands behind his back, Chen Xia straightened his clothes and adjusted his facial expression, making it appear downcast and filled with sorrow. Then, he slowly walked out.

The Blue Sky Sword Sea was divided into two parts: the Blue Sky and the Sword Sea.

The floating swords served as the residences for cultivators.

Chen Xia lived in the lodging for probationary disciples, located on the edge of the upper section of the floating swords. It was considered the most remote place.

There were more than a hundred probationary disciples living here, each with their own dwelling caves. If they didn't make arrangements to meet, it was quite difficult to run into each other on ordinary days.

Walking alone, Chen Xia pondered while strolling on the path made of sword patterns.

Outside the probationary disciples' lodging, there was a forest of swords leading to the hilt. It was said that the sword spirits inside were at the Great Accomplishment realm, so it was not recommended for cultivators below the Mountain Moving stage to enter.

Walking towards the tip of the sword led to the sect's Heaven Book Tower. It was rumored to house various profound manuals and even imperial techniques.

These were words Chen Xia occasionally overheard when other probationary disciples were talking, but he didn't take them seriously.

Chen Xia chose to walk toward the hilt. As he approached the sword forest, he saw a wide, ancient bronze gate at the entrance. It was engraved with numerous patterns, but now they were all faded and incomprehensible.

He took a quick glance and then turned around, heading back home. Throughout the entire process, he appeared listless, as if he had suffered some heavy blow and was going out to clear his mind.

Chen Xia sat beneath his own dwelling cave, cross-legged on a cushion, seemingly practicing in a half-asleep state.

"I heard you went out for a walk," a caring voice suddenly sounded.

Chen Xia's body trembled as if startled. He quickly opened his eyes and saw the old fisherman. Only then did he regain his composure and nodded slowly with a hint of sadness.

"Yes."

The entire dialogue consisted of only one sentence, but the facial expressions and actions were quite rich.

With his hands behind his back, the old fisherman, with his aged face, displayed a gentle smile and offered consolation.

"Life is unpredictable, and there's no need to be too saddened by it. The vast world of cultivation can be unfriendly to outsiders like you. Even if you were to be killed by others, don't doubt yourself. Your talent is absolutely at the level of a Great Emperor. Don't ever let your Dao Heart be destroyed."

Chen Xia lowered his head, gritting his teeth and clutching his clothes, remaining silent.

The Old Fisherman worriedly asked again, "Has it affected your Dao Heart?"

"Maybe... It seems to have been affected," Chen Xia replied softly, his words filled with lack of confidence.

"Ah." The Old Fisherman sighed helplessly. "Then take a good rest and recuperate. I'll think of a solution for you. If your Dao Heart is not fully restored, you can refrain from participating in the entrance selection five hundred years later."

Chen Xia pursed his lips, expressing his lack of confidence. "I might need a longer time for recovery."

"Well, that's alright. It takes several hundred years for a flawed Dao Heart to heal. Don't worry, with your aptitude, the sect will give you the time you need."

"How long do you estimate it will take? I'll inform the Sect Master and see if I can obtain some divine medicine for you."

Chen Xia muttered in a muffled voice.

"Let's... let's start with ten thousand years," the Old Fisherman said, his eyes widened.

Are you planning to spend your retirement, damn it!