Chapter 1464: News from the Institution

“If you didn’t show up soon, I would have risked it all to enter the chaotic streams around the Essence Xing World...” Song Zhen felt a wave of relief washing over him after he met Shang Xia. A look of joy finally appeared on the face of the leader of the merchant group that had been making a rise in the Ruined Market of the Sea of Stars.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“Brother Song, there’s nothing to worry about. Even though there were some small hiccups in the Essence Xing World, it was a pretty smooth journey.” Shang Xia grinned.

Shang Xia’s casual smile reassured Song Zhen even more. He gestured to lead Shang Xia into the market.

As they entered a warehouse and arrived at a specially constructed secret chamber that served as a teahouse, Song Zhen finally continued. “After bringing Young Lady Xin Lu back to the Ruined Market, I heard that you actually infiltrated the Essence Xing World again! Soon after, when I tried to find more information about you, I heard that a Martial Emptiness Realm Sages passed away in the Essence Xing World and a huge conflict broke out among the various powers stationed there. Sages from other Heavenly Fields also went over to take advantage of the situation.”

“I panicked when I learned of what happened. I sent some people to inform those back in our world and sent another group to continue looking out for more information regarding the Essence Xing World. I was also planning to head there myself. Just as I prepared to set off, I heard the news of Martial Emptiness Realm Sages fighting in the chaotic streams, blocking off all access to their world. News from within also stopped coming out right after. The heavens help the worthy... You actually made it out so easily.” Song Zhen concluded.

Shang Xia waved his hand in response and muttered, “Let’s talk about matters regarding the Essence Xing World later. How is Xin Lu?”

Song Zhen roared with laughter in response, “Lord, rest assured. I already know that you wish for Young Lady Xin Lu to continue training in the arts of stargazing. The Twin Star Pirates’ leaders learned that she was a Stargazer and after observing her skills, they have already been treating her as their most treasured guest. She won’t suffer the slightest bit of indignance.”

Shang Xia nodded as though he had expected as much. “That would be great.”

Song Zhen hesitated for a moment, but he suddenly asked, “Lord, After we lost all contact with you after the chaos that happened in the Essence Xing World, the institution quickly sent back news for me to inform them if I hear anything about you...”

Shang Xia frowned slightly. His External Avatar was still in Star Beast Nest No.2 and it contained a portion of his divine soul. He could detect his true body’s condition to a certain extent and the institution shouldn’t be in such a rush to contact him.

“Did they mention anything about the changes in our world or the Heaven Observation Field?” Shang Xia asked. He guessed that something should have happened for them to be in such a rush.

Song Zhen replied, “The transmission from the institution didn’t go into details. It only mentioned how True Immortal Ge became a second tier Elysium True Immortal and how the preparation for the second Elysium in the Jiao Continent had reached its end. According to them, they don’t plan to make the news public soon and I think they are waiting for the next Elysium True Immortal to be ready before revealing any information.”

“What about news regarding other factions in the Spirit Luxuriant World?” Shang Xia asked.

Song Zhen shook his head. “There hasn’t been too much information on them. Most of the transmission mentioned how everyone was in seclusion. Other than that, Patriarch Kou was invited over to the Spirit Thistle World to practice their battle formation...”

“Wait!” Shang Xia interrupted, “Has there been news about Patriarch Kou reaching the level of Returning to the Origin?”

“Huh?” Song Zhen stared at him in shock before shaking his head, “No?”

If news of Kou Chongxue becoming a fifth tier True Immortal came from the institution, he would definitely have paid attention to it.

Shang Xia grunted softly, “That’s where the problem is. Ever since I left the Spirit Luxuriant World, I left my External Avatar in the Star Beast Nest. They don’t have to send another high-level True Immortal over there, and I did it because Patriarch Kou is about to enter the next level. He needs to enter seclusion in the Jiao Continent in order to do so, but he left for the Spirit Thistle World before breaking through...”

Song Zhen also noticed where the problem was, but he was still a little optimistic as he guessed, “Could he have already succeeded and is hiding his cultivation from the rest of the world?”

After he spoke, he realized how stupid his guess was. There was a need to hide his breakthrough from outsiders, but Shang Xia was no outsider!

He quickly continued, “Lord, where do you think the problem lies?”

Shang Xia’s eyes darted around as thoughts ran through his mind rapidly. In the end, he mumbled, “Something might have happened to the Essence Ping World...”

Song Zhen was shocked. He had already gained the trust of the higher-ups of the Tongyou Institution with his contributions and he was privy to some secrets because of his cultivation realm. He understood what the Essence Ping World meant to the Spirit Luxuriant World and the Heaven Observation Field as a whole.

“Lord... Do you need me to arrange a way for you to return?” Song Zhen asked cautiously.

With a look of contemplation on his face, Shang Xia made his decision. He shook his head in response. “No. If they are in urgent need of help, they should have informed you to tell me to head back the moment you saw me. Now, they might still be able to deal with any trouble that may arise. It’s most likely related to the movements of the Star Origin Dao Field, or the Spirit Mammoth World or Spirit Abundance World. The alliance had no choice but to mobilize everyone.”

A strange light flashed in his eyes the next moment. “There’s no need for you to think too much about it. If the Institution is really wary of you, why would they allow Yan Ming and Xin Lu to find you? The Spirit Ark is also with you...”

“Yes... I wouldn’t dare. However, if we are really going against the Essence Ping World, I believe I should head back with a batch of subordinates in order to provide some reinforcements.” Song Zhen replied hastily.

Shang Xia nodded in response. “It’s good that you have this consideration. You’re a powerful fighting force of our institution and there will only be more places for you to shine in the future.”

After speaking, Shang Xia seemed to have thought of something. “Right, I have another question. Have you heard of the Destiny Pirates before?”

Song Zhen racked his brains before shaking his head. “Nope. The Chaotic Sea of Stars is vast and there are too many Star Pirate groups. Some might appear before being destroyed the next day... I have only heard of a few more powerful and reputable ones.”

Lowering his voice, Song Zhen asked, “Lord, for you to bring up the Destiny Pirates... Is something the matter?”

“Oh. It’s nothing much.” Shang Xia laughed. “For you to only have a Spirit Ark and a large-scale Star Ship, your foundations are slightly lacking. In time, a True Immortal called Zhu Nang will bring his subordinates and join you. They seem to have changed the name of their organization to the Destiny Merchant Group, but it’s all the same. When they come, you will gain another large-scale Star Ship and a small fleet. There will be a lot of subordinates as well. Whether or not you can command them is up to you.”

“That’s great!” Song Zhen roared with excitement. “Lord, how is Zhu Nang’s cultivation? How many subordinates do they have?”

Shang Xia replied casually, “He’s a first tier True Immortal who barely stepped into his current realm. He’s slightly flamboyant and slick. However, he should be pretty lucky to get his hands on a large-scale Star Ship. There are a lot of bootlickers under him and you can reorganize them as you wish. Just don’t make it too ugly...”

Song Zhen heaved a sigh of relief after hearing of Zhu Nang’s cultivation realm.

After sending the world fragment back to the Spirit Luxuriant World with Shang Xia, he gained some benefits. Along with his dozens of years of accumulation, he managed to become a third tier True Immortal. He was more than confident in controlling the new second in command Shang Xia was sending his way.

“Alright, enough. Let’s talk about the Twin Star Pirates. I missed the meeting time back then. Do you have another way to contact them?” Shang Xia asked.