Year 30.
News of a major event came from the Blue Sky Sword Sea, after a long absence.
Chi Yu wanted to challenge Miao Zi, the third Great Emperor, a descendant of some great figure from the Blue Sky Sword Sea, Qiu Li.
It was said this Great Emperor Miao Zi was born with divine eyes that could see through the 3,000 Great Ways. His outer immortal physique made him unmatched within the same realm. In battle he fought with great ferocity.
And Chi Yu was no simple character either. His 3,000 Flame Feather Crows were the most domineering of their kind.
But that wasn't important. What was important was this would be the third Great Emperor Miao Zi Chi Yu had challenged.
Among the reserve disciples there were a total of three Great Emperor Miao Zi. Chi Yu had challenged them one by one.
Unfortunately he had lost to them all.
The first time he clashed with the Emperor Capital on the Blue Sky Platform, he lost after fighting for three days and three nights. If it hadn't been a half-dead battle, Chi Yu would have truly died.
The second time he apparently fought with Chen Xia near some cave, though no one actually saw it happen. But according to Chi Yu he had narrowly lost, and had managed to injure Chen Xia.
No one knew exactly what had happened.
But judging from the viewpoint that Chen Xia was the weakest Great Emperor Miao Zi, the guessing was probably about right.
And next Chi Yu wanted to challenge who the reserve disciples considered the strongest Great Emperor Miao Zi - Qiu Li.
He was thought the strongest because Qiu Li had a record of victories.
Victories over other sects' Great Emperor Miao Zi.
It was said his outer immortal physique could withstand all methods, and his divine eyes saw through everything. Before reaching the quasi-Saint realm he was unmatched within the same realm, and after reaching the quasi-Saint realm it depended on his cultivation.
He also had the greatest power in the Blue Sky Sword Sea, said to be the descendant of one of the great figures.
And the great figure the reserve disciples could think of was one of the Great Emperors in the history of the Blue Sky Sword Sea.
There had been five Great Emperors throughout the history of the Blue Sky Sword Sea, each having lived for nine great eras, allowing the Blue Sky Sword Sea to prosper for nine great eras in this region of stars.
Only now was there a risk of decline.
This Qiu Li could be a descendant of one of those five Great Emperors.
And it was said he had been in seclusion for two great eras, avoiding the peerless talents of that time when he was absolutely unmatched within his realm. Now that he was nearing the peak era of his life he had emerged to contend for the path of emperor.
With such an existence, even if he ultimately failed to attain the emperor's path, his baseline accomplishment would still be at the Saint level!
Now Chi Yu actually wanted to challenge Qiu Li. Everyone really didn't know what to say.
Now jokes were spreading among the reserve disciples.
As a Great Emperor Miao Zi, it's fine if you've never defeated another Great Emperor Miao Zi, but you must have thrashed Chi Yu.
Now Chi Yu still dared to challenge the strongest Great Emperor Miao Zi Qiu Li. Everyone eagerly awaited the show.
It had taken the Emperor Capital three days to defeat Chi Yu before.
Chen Xia had also won against Chi Yu, though no one knew how long it took. But judging from Chi Yu's claim of barely losing, it was probably also several days.
Now they would see the final Great Emperor Miao Zi Qiu Li's record.
If he could surpass the Emperor Capital, Qiu Li's position as the strongest Great Emperor Miao Zi would be even more unshakeable.
Some bet it would take two days, some bet one day. Bets had even been placed. Thus this event was dubbed by the reserve disciples...
Speedrun Chi Yu.
The current record holder was the Emperor Capital, but that would probably be broken soon.
Because the battle between Chi Yu and Qiu Li on the platform had already begun, still a half-dead battle.
The observing reserve disciples shouted excitedly, whipped into a frenzy.
Chen Xia and Big Yellow Dog were also below watching the lively scene.
Big Yellow Dog stood with his arms crossed, somewhat puzzled.
"Don't know who gave Chi Yu the courage to dare challenge Qiu Li, the fiercest Great Emperor Miao Zi."
Chen Xia glanced at Big Yellow Dog but didn't admit it was him who had given Chi Yu the courage.
Big Yellow Dog clicked his tongue and sighed twice more. "Luckily it's a half-dead battle, otherwise this Chi Yu would be dead for sure."
"You're right, bro."
Big Yellow Dog even turned to ask Chen Xia's opinion.
Chen Xia instead found another point to focus on. He looked Big Yellow Dog up and down curiously and asked,
"Aren't you tired standing like that?"
Big Yellow Dog stood with crossed arms, startled for a moment, then replied, "It's okay, just feels a bit cold down there."
"You can consider wearing pants. There's room for improvement in etiquette." Chen Xia critiqued.
Big Yellow Dog was bewildered, murmuring, "Do dogs need them too?"
He hadn't worn pants in two great eras already.
The idle chat between human and dog soon stopped as the two people on the Blue Sky Platform began fighting. Terrifying auras filled the entire platform, even overflowing.
After fighting the two Great Emperors, Chi Yu seemed to have improved. His 3,000 Flame Feathers swelled violently as his eyes shone with terrifying divine light.
Qiu Li also lived up to his reputation as the fiercest Great Emperor Miao Zi. His outer immortal physique blocked the flames, surprisingly suffering no injuries, and he charged Chi Yu while sturdily withstanding the flames.
Qiu Li attacked especially fiercely, slamming magical treasures and abilities without holding back, determined to speedrun Chi Yu and break the Emperor Capital's record.
And he did indeed break it.
In one and a half days.
Chi Yu fell in defeat, lying half-dead at the edge of the platform.
Qiu Li landed on the platform and tore off his tattered clothes disdainfully.
"A rabid dog daring to bite me, simply courting death."
Chi Yu of course couldn't retort. He was carried off by other reserve disciples.
And so this seemingly farcical challenge battle ended.
It counted as a brief liveliness in the long, dull days of the Blue Sky Sword Sea.
Chen Xia sighed. He was quite free these days. He couldn't cultivate too quickly, and he had no diagrams to draw, so aside from lazing around in his cave residence every day, he would also come out and wander around.
He could walk the paths of the Blue Sky Sword Sea blindfolded, with just two twisting routes.
Today it magically snowed.
Chen Xia leaned against the pavilion, watching the pure white snow.
There were no seasons in the Blue Sky Sword Sea, so snow was rare.
Snow now probably meant the start of winter in the small heaven and earth.
Chen Xia wasn't sure. He just leaned against the pavilion without going in to sit.
The snow fell slowly, steadily, just like Chen Xia's disposition.
Snow piled up on his shoulders but he didn't shake it off, letting it accumulate.
From afar, Chen Xia looked like a snowman.
Not in appearance, but in lonely temperament.
His thoughts drifted far away with the falling snow.
He vaguely remembered the last time he had watched the snow, over 130 years ago in that small heaven and earth.
That snow had been heavy and hurried, as if rushing people on their way.
Chen Xia didn't like heavy snow. Falling too quickly meant no chance to slowly appreciate it. Only unhurriedly walking in the snow was interesting.
Perhaps just like him.
His life was endless, but what did an endless life ultimately lead to?
Invincibility?
Not exactly.
Perhaps there was an even better answer.
...
Loneliness.
Chen Xia thought.
In the long river of his life, everyone would be a fleeting passerby.
Then he would meet other people again.
This snow fell for three years.
Until the first day the sun rose again.
Chen Xia shook the snow from his shoulders, light shining in his eyes once more.
The grand dream of three thousand years.
Awakening alone in the world!
The heavy snows of three years melted in a day.
Chen Xia took his first step in three years away from the pavilion.
From the peak of the Yuan Ying realm directly into the peak of the Mountain Moving realm.
The Great Dao stretching wide!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
. As long as he maintains the villain image and follows the plot to the grand finale, he can obtain generous rewards and return to the real world. So Gu Chen'an entered the role and began to act as a scumbag villain, but who would have expected that the female leads could hear his inner thoughts. Miss Su from the Su family was shocked: "I originally thought Gu Chen'an was a scumbag, but I didn't expect he turned out to be a gentleman! What? You said I have to call off the engagement? I definitely won't, I'll piss you off!" Bai Yuan Tian was dumbfounded: "Young Master Gu is usually unreasonable and a complete brat, but he actually calls me little sweetie in his heart? What, Young Master Gu even said he likes me?" As the female leads' images collapsed more and more, the plot also collapsed with it. Gu Chen'an looked at all this chaos. "Ladies, don't aggro me, if you keep this up the male lead really will stab me, I still need to survive to the grand finale!"
