Chapter 1518: Prying Eyes

After crossing the cosmic vortex and entering the Solitary Star Region, the fleet returned to the Chaotic Sea of Stars.

Song Zhen asked Shang Xia about his plans again, wondering which route Shang Xia wished to take back to the Spirit Luxuriant World.

Currently, the Tongyou Institution controlled 3 paths from the Spirit Luxuriant World out of the Heaven Observation Field.

The first was a direct route from Star Beast Nest No.2 to the Essence Xing World, and from the Essence Xing World to the Chaotic Sea of Stars.

It was the most direct and shortest, and Shang Xia also had a close relationship with the current head of the Wanyun Association, Gong Zhuo.

However, due to internal turmoil in the Essence Xing World which Shang Xia had been deeply involved in, it was more than likely the Sages had already marked him.

Entering Essence Xing World would mean that they were sending themselves to the slaughter.

The second option was the route from Star Beast Nest No.1. After passing through the void around the Spirit Faith World and the other worlds, they should be able to arrive at the Essence Ming Heavenly Screen. From there, they should be able to enter the Chaotic Sea of Stars.

That was originally how Song Zhen made his way over to the Spirit Luxuriant World, and the Essence Ming World already silently acquiesced to it.

However... That was only if Song Zhen met them in Star Beast Nest No.1. If anyone tried to sneak out of the Star Beast Nest, they would still be noticed. If there were only Martial Dipper Realm or Martial Extermination Realm experts, the Essence Ming World might ignore them. If a True Immortal wanted to do so, things would be completely different. The Essence Ming World wouldn’t allow that to happen.

Do they think the Sages of the Essence Ming World are useless fools?! True Immortals have the ability to threaten a world!

Not to mention the fact that if Shang Xia tried anything, they would take note of it even more. Even in the vast Sea of Stars, Shang Xia’s reputation had long since reached the ears of any respectable power. He was no longer an unknown cultivator!

He had been deeply involved with too many things. Plundering a Spirit World from the Essence Ling Heavenly Field... Fucking with the 3 dynasties of the Essence Xing World while they were trying to settle their internal conflict and produce another Sage. Those events had major impact to the Chaotic Sea of Stars and Sages were involved in all of them. Even so, Shang Xia managed to escape unscathed every time.

That was not an ordinary achievement obtainable by a True Immortal!

There was also his special identity as someone from the Heaven Observation Field. It was enough to add some mystery to his character.

In a situation like that, neither the Essence Xing World or the Essence Ming World would allow him to pass through their territory.

As such... He had no choice but to use the third route.

That was to pass through the Essence Du World before traveling to the Spirit Tip World and passing through the gap in the Star Curtain.

It was the longest and most difficult path to take, but it would be much safer than the others.

The Essence Du World might also hold a strong animosity towards Shang Xia, but at least the Spirit Tip World could be considered their ally.

"So, are we heading towards Essence Du World?" Song Zhen asked Shang Xia for final confirmation.

Shang Xia shook his head. "Now that we are back in the Chaotic Sea of Stars, there's no need to hurry. Let's return to the Ruined Market of the Sea of Stars first to gather news from the surrounding Heavenly Fields and prepare before returning to the Heaven Observation Field."

The fundamental reason was that after returning to the Chaotic Sea of Stars, Shang Xia’s soul and will had somehow strengthened its connection with his high-level True Immortal External Avatar in Star Beast Nest No.2, allowing him to gauge the situation in Spirit Luxuriant World. It was still acceptable to him.

He recalled the message Song Zhen last brought to him about how Kou Chongxue went to the Spirit Thistle World to discuss important matters and couldn’t help but think that something had happened with the Essence Ping World.

Back then, he was stretched too thin and since the Spirit Thistle World only invited Kou Chongxue to practice their battle formation, he didn’t think that anything would go wrong. They didn’t head over to the Essence Ping World immediately either, and Shang Xia could tell that the situation hadn’t reached a critical stage.

Having returned from the Azure Ruling World, Shang Xia estimated that over a year had passed and they were in the 34th year of the Spirit Luxuriant Calendar. If anything significant happened, the Ruined Market should have news of it.

Although Shang Xia was eager to return, he believed in the power of intelligence. It was best to clarify what had happened in Spirit Luxuriant World over the past year before returning.

Fortunately, along the route they chose, they would pass through the Ruined Market eventually and they didn’t have to take a huge detour.

Over a year ago, the Twin Star Pirates was surrounded by 3 Super Star Pirate groups in the Original Stars Corner.

After paying a heavy price, the Twin Star Pirates disappeared into the chaotic streams.

With the failure to eliminate the Twin Star Pirates and news of the Twin Star Pirates discovering an Azure World spreading, the Chaotic Sea of Stars was stirred up.

Although many forces tried covertly to locate the Twin Star Pirates, the chaotic streams behind Original Stars Corner mysteriously vanished, forcing the various powers to return without success. The whereabouts of the Twin Star Pirates remained a mystery.

Most in the Chaotic Sea of Stars believed that the Twin Star Pirates had likely perished in the chaotic streams, and the very special pirate group would probably become history, just like those once-famous pirate groups of the past.

Over the past year, the hottest news in the Chaotic Sea of Stars was the merger of the 3 Super Star Pirate Groups.

Of course, the high-level forces in the Chaotic Sea of Stars who knew the insider details understood that behind the newly formed Super Pirate Group stood the Sage from the Essence Ling Heavenly Field!

Rumors claimed that the Sage of the Essence Ling World had broken through to a new level, allowing the once modestly ranked Essence Ling Heavenly Field to climb rapidly in the rankings.

There were also rumors that the internal conflict in Essence Xing World was caused by the Essence Ling Heavenly Field’s deliberate instigation as they sought revenge. After the Sage of the Essence Ling World fought with the Sages of the Essence Xing World, they were forced to swallow their losses silently.

Compared to the hot news in the Chaotic Sea of Stars, Shang Xia was more interested in news about the Essence Ming World and Essence Hong World.

Because those Essence Worlds not only neighboured the Heaven Observation Field but also had spatial tunnels connected to the Star Origin Dao Field, Shang Xia suspected that they had already infiltrated the Heaven Observation Field to a certain extent.

"The news from Essence Hong World is related to their Spirit Ark." Song Zhen knew what Shang Xia really wanted to hear, so he reported, "The ark should be completed by now, but it hasn't been delivered. The specific reason is unknown, but there are rumors saying it might be because the Essence Hong World suddenly added some conditions and the Spirit Mammoth World is not willing to compromise.”

Shang Xia nodded. "Try to find out the real reason. What did the Essence Hong World say to add?”

Song Zhen showed a troubled expression but still nodded in agreement.

"As for the news from Essence Ming World, there are rumors in the Chaotic Sea of Stars that the Dark Star Pirates are secretly offering high prices to search for Stargazers or high-level inheritances.” Song Zhen reported.

Shang Xia nodded, but hearing no follow-up, he asked in surprise, "Is that all? The trading route through the Essence Ming World should have been established a long time ago and we should have the most men there. There should be more news related to them...”

Song Zhen nodded in agreement with Shang Xia, but he still maintained a strange expression as he spoke, "Perhaps it seems incredible, but over the past year, no, to be precise, in recent years, the Essence Ming World has been really quiet!”

"Quiet?!" Shang Xia looked at Song Zhen in astonishment. His expression gradually turned solemn.

How could an Essence World appear quiet?!

If what Song Zhen said was true, the calm could only mean that they were plotting something huge!

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Shang Xia knew why they weren’t causing any trouble. That was because in the Heaven Observation Field, there was also a world that appeared very quiet and calm in the eyes of others, the Spirit Luxuriant World!

After various forces had consolidated powers within Spirit Luxuriant World, they managed to unify everyone.

With the Star Curtain about to fall and so many factions eyeing the Heaven Observation Field, With the Star Origin Lord’s scheme for the Essence Ping World still going on...

The Spirit Luxuriant World got rid of all their disagreements for the time being, gathering under a single banner!

Well... There was also another reason there was a period of peace for them. That was because the Tongyou Institution held overwhelming strength!

Be it the number of True Immortals, or the existence of the 2 monsters who were high-level True Immortals, no one else had the ability to cause trouble!

The peace that was felt in the Spirit Luxuriant World meant that everyone was busy improving themselves, and for the Essence Ming World to do the same could only mean the same thing! They had consolidated their strength and were busy growing stronger!

That begged the next question... Who would the Essence Ming World turn their sights on next?

Apart from the Heaven Observation Field that was soon to be revealed, Shang Xia could not think of any other reasons.

"Has there been any news from the institution?" Shang Xia asked slowly after a long silence.

"Patriarch Kou entered the level of Returning to the Origin!” Shang Xia immediately received a piece of news that should not be too surprising.

"Is there more specific news about the invitation from the Spirit Thistle World for him to participate in the joint combat formation?" Shang Xia's furrowed brow relaxed somewhat, and then he asked again.

Song Zhen instinctively looked down at a stack of secret transmission talismans in his hand and explained, "It's because the Spirit Abundance World triggered the Frost Tide once again.”

"Hmm?" Shang Xia frowned but he felt something off the next moment. "Do you know why?"

Song Zhen replied, "The institution sent another transmission saying that the Spirit Abundance World felt an unknown existence probing them out and they had no choice but to use the Frost Tide to block off the prying eyes.”