Returning to Azure Heaven Sword Sea

　　The matter of the Death Star Region had come to a temporary close.　　Chen Xia did not rush to return his divine soul to his main body but continued using his external avatar, stepping out of the Death Star Region for the first time. He wanted to visit the current Azure Heaven Sword Sea; if he could obtain the remaining half of the Immortal Sword, it would be even better.　　The Azure Heaven Sword Sea was some distance from the Death Star Region, but with Chen Xia's current cultivation level, this distance wasn't too far. His external avatar was now at the first level of the Heaven Mending Realm, still some way off from reaching the second level, estimating that he would need to spend a few hundred more years within the Death Star Region.　　It took roughly two or three days of travel.　　Chen Xia crossed the star river and finally saw the once Azure Heaven Sword Sea in the distance. The first thing that caught his eye was the dense darkness enveloping almost the entire Azure Heaven Sword Sea.　　The original Azure Heaven had been shattered, leaving only a small part of the sword sea intact, making the whole place look extremely desolate and incomplete.　　 Besides the dark interference, there was also a heavy aura of death surrounding the Azure Heaven Sword Sea.　　This was something familiar to Chen Xia, who knew what such an aura of death signified. It wasn't just the death qi of cultivators but represented the entire Azure Heaven Sword Sea. Although it didn't match the scale of the Death Star Region, it still had a significant impact on ordinary cultivators.　　Naturally, Chen Xia was not afraid of the death qi. With one step, he flashed into the area. Upon truly entering the Azure Heaven Sword Sea, he immediately became vigilant because he saw a row of damaged skulls. Among them, the strongest residual aura belonged to a Heaven Mending Realm cultivator.　　Thud.　　Heavy footsteps echoed. Chen Xia frowned, black mist swirling around him like a thick robe, protecting his body. The heavy footsteps suddenly stopped, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes accompanied by intense dark interference, followed by the entire figure.　　Chen Xia was momentarily stunned, opening his mouth but unable to utter a word. "Die," the Fisherman said in a bloody voice.　　Not wanting to fight, Chen Xia took a step and tried to escape. However, as he fled, the Fisherman closely followed behind, his withered palm filled with dark interference, striking directly at Chen Xia.　　Boom!　　Chen Xia flew backward several kilometers, crashing into the interior of the Azure Heaven Sword Sea and falling into the water, sliding across the surface. He turned his body, stepped on the water to stabilize himself, raised his fist, and lunged forward fiercely.　　The Fisherman appeared right before him, dark qi rolling around his body, red eyes flashing, both palms coming down powerfully toward Chen Xia's single fist!　　The massive spiritual energy fluctuations made the entire Azure Heaven Sword Sea tremble, the seawater surging up and then crashing back down. Distant meteors were shattered into dust by the shockwaves.　　Unable to withstand the force, Chen Xia flew backward several kilometers again, unable to stabilize himself this time, plunging into the depths of the sword sea.　　The Fisherman's figure flashed, following closely, his fist striking directly against Chen Xia's chest.　　Bang!　　The seawater began to burst upward, flowing into the sky. Chen Xia found himself retreating rapidly in the sea without water, the sparse surroundings constantly receding.　　Perhaps he was being thrown backward.　　His consciousness was somewhat scattered, feeling immense pressure on his chest, followed by a spreading pain throughout his body.　　Crash!　　He collided with the broken sword sea, piercing through it and emerging into the cosmos.　　"Cough!" Chen Xia coughed heavily, spitting out blood from the corner of his mouth, his spiritual energy nearly scattered.　　Fortunately, the Fisherman did not immediately pursue him, giving him a moment to catch his breath. It was clear that the Fisherman's strength was beyond his reach, at least at the tenth level of the Heaven Mending Realm or higher, possibly even approaching the level of a Quasi-Saint.　　If so, Chen Xia had no chance of winning. After all, the gap was too large. While he excelled at fighting beyond his realm, this was a different kind of gap.　　While catching his breath, the Fisherman arrived beside Chen Xia, his withered hand full of dark interference, pressing a palm onto Chen Xia's chest.　　Chen Xia felt dizzy, as if he couldn't catch his breath.　　Maybe he was trapped.　　Ha ha.　　He was indeed good at self-consolation.　　Bang!　　Another loud sound echoed as Chen Xia's body was sent flying back, piercing through the entire sword sea again, creating another hole.　　The protective black mist around his body began to disperse, revealing his true appearance. Blood kept gushing out, and he was almost unconscious.　　The Fisherman's figure appeared before him again, his withered palm poised above Chen Xia's head but hesitated, waiting until Chen Xia landed steadily.　　Blood trickled from the corner of Chen Xia's mouth as he turned to look questioningly.　　The Fisherman's bloodshot eyes faded slightly, staring straight at Chen Xia without a word.　　Chen Xia spat out another mouthful of blood, dazedly looking at the Fisherman, probably stunned by the beating, and managed to say,　　"Hello."　　The Fisherman looked at him for a while, nodded, and replied softly,　　"Hello... Chen... Chen..."　　He couldn't finish the last word, bloodshot eyes returning, saying with difficulty,　　"I'm glad you returned to the Azure Heaven Sword Sea, but... please don't come back."　　Chen Xia nodded and bowed,　　"Truly sorry for the disturbance."　　He was genuinely convinced by the beating. Moreover, the Fisherman's seniority was higher than his own, and they had a certain relationship. Chen Xia couldn't bring himself to fight to the death.　　The Fisherman didn't reply, waving his hand to send Chen Xia away while leaving a bit of his own spiritual energy on him to track his location and life status.　　This was Chen Xia's first return to the Azure Heaven Sword Sea. Overall, he had been beaten up and exchanged a few brief words with the Fisherman. The biggest gain might have been loosening his muscles.　　His injuries would take several years to heal properly, requiring quiet cultivation.　　At the Azure Heaven Sword Sea, the Fisherman stood calmly as the seawater returned to the sword sea, flowing through the two holes he had created.　　Looking back, he remained silent for a long time before raising his hand to repair the holes. This was one of his rare moments of clarity, which would become fewer as the dark interference deepened.　　Would he really not recognize anyone then?　　The Fisherman turned his gaze toward the deepest central part of the sword sea, where a broken sword was embedded.　　A broken sword without a tip.　　Precisely the other half of the Immortal Sword!　　"You're already at the Heaven Mending Realm's combat strength. Come faster, while I can still be clear-headed, to retrieve the sword."　　The Fisherman murmured.　　His figure seemed so small within the vast Azure Heaven Sword Sea.　　Yet he stood before the entire Azure Heaven Sword Sea.　　From the past to the present.　　Unchanged for tens of thousands of years.