Chapter 1173: Incoming Attack

Shang Xia also retrieved the charred tentacles that had been left behind.

He might not be able to extract complete Origin Dippers from them, but he could obtain several fate dipper essences.

When he rushed back to where the Stone Rod was, Shang Xia casually pulled it out from the ground. The corpse of the giant ice snake blended into the ice and snow around.

If not for Shang Xia feeling a sense of life from the snake when it first appeared, he might even suspect that the snake wasn’t a beast and was a puppet of sorts that had been controlled by someone with some sort of secret art.

Even though it had been killed with its vitals pierced by Shang Xia’s Stone Rid, its corpse was relatively intact. Even though it was already starting to turn into a pile of snow and ice, he managed to extract its spine and a complete ice-attributed Origin Dipper.

If the octopus-like creature could be said to be a Star Beast, the giant snake was slightly different and resembled a spiritual beast. The giant spider-like creature he killed at the start didn’t possess intelligence like the snake, or the survivability of the octopus. It seemed to be a creature that only relied on its instincts and Shang Xia felt that it was similar to the Ferocious Beasts he ran into in the Battlefield Between the Two Worlds of the past.

Strangely enough, the spider-like creature was the only one that had the power of frost and the power of the stars. They seemed to have reached an initial state of fusion, and it could also be said that it was the strongest of the 3 beasts!

Shang Xia couldn’t help but form many guesses. It might be because of the fusion between the different types of energies that the creature lost its mind, and could only follow its instincts like a deranged beast.

Of the 3 creatures, the spider was also where Shang Xia obtained the most valuable treasure.

Looking at the rainbow web that shone with a brilliant luster in his hand, he could tell that it was a high-grade treasure even among fellow rank six spiritual treasures.

Even if it hadn’t been tempered or refined, it was able to extend or shrink easily. When pushed to its limit, it could reach a thousand feet long. If he didn’t wish to use the treasure, Shang Xia could keep it wrapped around his finger. It was really interesting and amazing.

That wasn’t all. The web was extremely durable and Shang Xia tried tearing it apart with his physical body earlier. However, he could tell that only by using his inner qi would he be able to tear it apart.

If the web was placed in the hands of a Blacksmith Grandmaster, they would easily be able to turn it into a divine weapon. It would also likely be a high-grade divine weapon.

It was a shame the spider never left anything other than the web. After it was killed, it even transformed into ice shards before shattering everywhere.

The reason Shang Xia baited the beasts over wasn’t just because of some mere treasures. He also wanted to verify his guesses.

At the same time, he also wished to fight against the beasts of the Essence Ping World to understand how creatures of the world utilized heaven and earth qi. It was useful when it came to helping him weaken the suppression of the World’s Will and would also be very beneficial when he eventually had to fight.

Unfortunately for him, without actually observing cultivators of the Essence Ping World, it didn’t seem possible for him to do something like that.

Maybe the world is undergoing some sort of strange transformation at the moment. Even if I managed to find native cultivators of the Essence Ping World, I might not be able to imitate their use of inner qi and get rid of the suppression completely.

A sudden thought appeared in Shang Xia’s mind. At the same time, a chill ran down his back and a sharp pain quickly brought him back to his senses.

Shang Xia swung the Stone Rod in his hand instinctively, and a loud blast could be heard.

Bang!

Sharp rays tore through the void after the explosion, and Shang Xia was nearly unable to react by the time they arrived.

A soft whistle also tore through the air, and Shang Xia quickly determined that it came from a flying sword.

He blocked the strike earlier, but he only heard the whistling of the flying sword at that moment. That wasn’t the only thing he was hearing. When he blocked it earlier, the scattered sword intent tore through the air and Shang Xia felt his ears hurting. Also... The whistling of the sword as it tore through the air seemed to possess the ability to affect his divine soul.

With several experiences of his divine soul coming under attack, Shang Xia had long since patched his weakness. He was able to defend against the formless attack without a change in expression.

Despite blocking the strike and the subsequent dispersing sword qi, 2 deep gashes that went straight down to his bones could be seen on his body. Shang Xia’s index finger on his left hand was also dripping with blood.

Another chilly ray came from behind, and Shang Xia felt his heart going cold. Pulling the Stone Rod in his right hand back, he twisted it under his arm and held it firmly with his left. He tapped several points in space and swung it in an unpredictable manner.

That was the second move of his Six Harmony Rod Technique, Starry Disorder!

It slammed against the rapidly approaching flying sword, and it easily sent the sword flying.

After suffering an injury from the first exchange due to the sneak attack, Shang Xia was a lot more prepared than before. Facing a fierce burst of sword qi that came from the flying sword, a torrent of energy emerged from his Stone Rod to cancel it out.

Deflecting the blow, the flying sword wobbled unsteadily in the air. It was as though Shang Xia would be able to take it down as long as he followed up with another attack.

However, Shang Xia didn’t seem to care about it as he stared at a figure who had appeared on an ice hill several miles away. It was none other than Hua Jianlou, the other third tier True Immortal who entered the Essence Ping World!

As though realizing Shang Xia wouldn’t be falling for his trap, the sword stopped wobbling and it shook once before releasing a buzz that could affect one’s divine soul before turning into a streak of light that shot through the air to Hua Jianlou’s side. It started to circle him slowly.

“Youngster... You seem familiar. Have we met?” Hua Jianlou’s interest was piqued and he sounded really interested in getting to know Shang Xia. It was as though he didn’t just try killing the man.

A cold snort left Shang Xia’s lips, and his attention never turned away from the threat. He kept an eye on Hua Jianlou as he mumbled in a low voice, “I am honored that True Immortal Hua still remembers me. I am Shang Xia from the Spirit Luxuriant World.”

“Spirit Luxuriant World?!” Hua Jianlou turned a little serious, but he still looked shocked. He examined Shang Xia carefully before gasping softly, “I remember you now! My attention was drawn to another talented swordsman from your Spirit Luxuriant World back then... I remember that you were merely a first tier True Immortal back then. Oh? Your cultivation has already caught up to me now... Looks like the younger generation will surpass me eventually...”

Shang Xia had observed Hua Jianlou’s sword art previously and he had even suffered at the hands of it earlier when he was trying to enter the spatial tunnel. He couldn’t help but become even more cautious as he didn’t wish to give Hua Jianlou any opening he could take advantage of.

“True Immortal Hua, you’re exaggerating. I am not worthy of your praise.” Shang Xia said softly.

He clearly remembered how powerless he was when he first entered the Essence Ping World and it was difficult for him to use power at the level of a True Immortal.

However, Hua Jianlou’s strike, which was intended to take his life, obviously contained the might of one, and it was also rather powerful.

The reason Shang Xia was able to burst forth with the might of a True Immortal was because of the Crimson Soul Tablet absorbing the energy contained in the Essence Ping World... He couldn’t help but wonder what Hua Jianlou was relying on to be able to fight so well.