Chapter 1449: *Dramatic Intro Begins*

“Huh?! Why are you back already?!” Xin Lu asked when she saw Shang Xia return. Even though she was confused, she revealed a joyful expression.

She was a Martial Dipper Realm expert and was also a Stargazer. However, she didn’t have much experience traveling outside. Ever since Shang Xia left to infiltrate the Essence Xing World, she had been staying on the Earth Star worried that danger might arrive at any moment.

After seeing Shang Xia return, she couldn’t contain the joy she was feeling.

However, Shang Xia was about to disappoint her really soon.

“There has been a change of plans. The situation in the Essence Xing World changed and I’m afraid I will need to stay here for a very long period of time. I don’t know how long exactly, but it’s going to be long...” Shang Xia glanced at Xin Lu and continued, “I will arrange for you to leave the Essence Xing Heavenly Field and head to the Chaotic Sea of Stars to meet up with Song Zhen and Yan Ming.”

Xin Lu quickly asked, “Since you need to stay there for a long time... Can you bring me with you?”

Xin Lu understood her situation very well. Even though he might be staying in the Essence Xing World for a long time, she knew that there was nowhere safer than staying right beside an expert of his level.

Shang Xia hesitated slightly before shaking his head. “No.”

“Why not? Are you afraid my cultivation will be too low and will get in your way?” Xin Lu pouted, and he could hear the hidden bitterness in her voice.

Actually, Shang Xia was really planning to bring her along with him when he hesitated earlier. He thought that he would be able to hide her in the Wanyun Association and not worry about her safety, but he quickly decided against it.

Shang Xia explained patiently, “That’s not it. I just can’t let a Stargazer of the institution, especially one with the potential to become a Grand Stargazer, fall into the hands of any factions of the Essence Xing World.”

Xin Lu gasped and she didn’t know how to react to that.

Shang Xia could only continue, “Also, while staying in the Earth Star, you cannot reveal your identity as a Stargazer. Do you understand?”

“Fine...” Xin Lu grumbled softly. She knew how serious the implications were.

Shang Xia sighed softly before chuckling with embarrassment, “I didn’t consider things through. However, after you meet Song Zhen, if you are willing, they will bring you over to a Star Pirate group called the Twin Star Pirates. You can be their navigator and there, you won’t have to worry about using your stargazing art. They will definitely do their best to protect you.”

After placating her, Shang Xia returned to the Wanyun Continent. This time, he had a token from the Wanyun Association and he had already concealed his aura. He was able to pass through the heavenly screen freely, and he managed to save a Six Direction Teleportation Talisman.

After he returned, he didn’t follow Gong Zhuo to take action immediately. He would act as a hidden trump card of the Wanyun Association and would only make a move at a critical moment.

Gong Zhuo left the Wanyun Association and rushed out in high spirits. Shang Xia remained in a secluded courtyard in the Wanyun Continent, once again beginning his talisman crafting journey.

Naturally, the Wanyun Association was the one to provide the talisman paper and other resources. With his high success rate, he would be able to keep some talismans for himself.

The Wanyun Association obviously hoped that they would be able to get their hands on more Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans from him as they used up everything they had during the invasion on the Spirit Dawn World.

Due to the rift between them, they were unable to request Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans from Shang Xia after establishing their continent.

With both sides burying the hatchet, how could the Wanyun Association give up the amazing opportunity where Shang Xia was in the Wanyun Continent to craft talismans? They didn’t bother about anything else as they sent him resources without end.

After Zhang Shun handed over the inheritance to craft Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans, the Tongyou Institution had already been attempting to craft the special talisman paper under Ren Huan’s lead. Due to their lack of experience, the success rate had never been high.

When Shang Xia entered seclusion in the Star Beast Nest, Ren Huan and the Talisman Hall managed to hand over 7 sheets of special talisman paper. 3 of them were used to experiment fusing Variant Talismans and he only managed to complete 2 Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans.

Now that he decided to craft talismans in the Wanyun Association, they provided 16 sheets of talisman paper right away. Shang Xia’s hands became itchy and he couldn’t help but want to craft a few more Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans. The only concern he had was that according to the agreement of 3 talisman papers in exchange for a single completed talisman, even if he used up most of the talisman paper, a majority of the Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans would belong to the Wanyun Association...

Whatever it was, he laid down several formations around his courtyard before starting to craft talismans.

As he was crafting talismans, he received a transmission from Gong Zhuo mentioning how the operation had begun.

At the same time, the Wanyun Association would also send over news from time to time to report the movements of other smaller factions in the Essence Xing World.

Shang Xia didn’t look too deeply into the information that was sent, but it was clear to him that they were preparing to do something big. More accurately, they were waiting for Qi Jing’s lifespan to come to an end.

He couldn’t help but sigh. No matter what, he had already been dragged into the storm. The only thing he was afraid of was Qi Jing doing something right at the very end of his lifespan.

Qi Jing was a mighty third tier Martial Emptiness Realm Sage. He was the strongest among the Sages in the Essence Xing World, and that was also why the various factions had been marking their preparations in case anything went wrong. They didn’t dare to do it too obviously, and the stronger their factions were, the smaller the disturbance they caused. They were afraid that they would catch the attention of the Qi Dynasty and be buried with Qi Jing.

...

Having spent the entire time, Shang Xia used the first 9 sheets of special rank six talisman paper to craft 5 Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans.

According to their agreement, 3 of the talismans would belong to the Wanyun Association while the rest would belong to Shang Xia.

After adjusting his mental state and restoring some energy, he continued to craft talismans with the remaining 7 and completed 4 Myriad tinted Cloud Talismans, bagging 2 for himself.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Perhaps it was because he lacked a sense of security as it was somewhere he wasn’t familiar with, but Shang Xia barely managed to maintain an acceptable success rate for himself.

With that, he created 9 talismans from 16 sheets of talisman paper, keeping 4 for himself. With what he brought with him from the Star Beast nest, he had 5 Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans in total.

Having so many peak-tier rank six talismans at his disposal, Shang Xia felt a lot safer in an instant.

However, the feeling didn’t last for too long. As the skies darkened, the world was covered in rays of brilliant light that only dissipated after an hour.

The density of heaven and earth qi in the Essence Xing World started to rise, and everything that contained inner qi felt it flowing quicker in their bodies. Shang Xia was no exception.

That very moment, even if Shang Xia didn’t receive any reports, he knew what had happened. Qi Jing, the third tier Martial Emptiness Realm Sage, has passed!