Chapter 1544: Trap and Substitution

With Song Zhen and his little antics ended in the Spirit Faith World, Shang Xia left seclusion with more than 10 rank six talismans in Star Beast Nest No.2.

Just as Song Zhen and Zhu Nang had said, Shang Xia's talisman crafting skills had not regressed during his years of traveling; in fact, they had improved.

He managed to obtain a total of 23 sheets of rank six talisman papers from his various channels. That included those obtained by the institution and those Song Zhen got his hands on in the Ruined Market.

After his talisman crafting session in seclusion, he managed to craft 14 rank six talismans. There were 2 Illusion Talismans, 2 Six Harmony Teleportation Talisman, 3 Golden Phoenix Leaving Flame Talisman, 2 Secret Void Brilliance Talisman, 2 Void Capture Talismans, 2 Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans, and 1 Spirit Sealing Talisman.

Aside from the most difficult Variant Talisman that he couldn’t craft due to the lack of special talisman paper, he basically crafted the most difficult rank six talismans he knew. Because they were the most powerful talismans he knew, they would be worth the most.

Shortly after coming out of seclusion, Shang Xia ran into Hai Yuanyuan, who had rushed over to Star Beast Nest No.2 after hearing he had left seclusion.

Shang Xia narrowed his eyes as he stared at the troublemaker who had gracefully matured. He saw her eyes twinkling with mischief and his expression turned cold. "Did you go to the chaotic streams by yourself?"

Caught off guard, Hai Yuanyuan's expression faltered. "How did you find out?!"

Shang Xia ignored her question entirely and growled, "How did you come over to the Star Beast Nest then?"

With wide eyes, Hai Yuanyuan responded, "I came through the Five Element Teleportation Formation! You surely don't think I passed through the chaotic streams to come over, right?! I need to be strong enough to do that…”

Shang Xia’s expression didn’t change and he snorted, “No, no, no. You probably used your Five Element Movement Art when utilizing the formation and left to the chaotic streams when you were nearby.”

Hai Yuanyuan, astonished that he knew, pouted and yelled, "You… You really got close with Hall Master Chu and learned it from her!”

Caught off guard, Shang Xia coughed softly, "Don't talk nonsense here. Can your little tricks really fool me?"

Despite sounding confident, Shang Xia swiftly changed the subject, "What brings you here this time?"

Seeing an opportunity, Hai Yuanyuan’s eyes widened and she tilted her head down slightly. Staring at him with her puppy eyes, she grumbled, "Uncle, you have to help me this time!"

Sensing her usual bullshit, Shang Xia snorted coldly, "Stop… Stop right there! Tell me, what’s going on?”

Hai Yuanyuan, realizing her usual tricks were ineffective, let out a soft grunt. Her expression remained pitiful as she pleaded, "Uncle, I'm supposed to be the sole inheritor of your martial path, right? As you can see… My cultivation is nearing the Martial Void Realm but the institution only has 2 slots for True Immortals… Can you reserve 1 for me?”

Before she could finish, Shang Xia feigned a strike, causing her to shrink back.

"Come on! I'm your rightful inheritor. Wouldn't it look bad on your old self if I can’t reach the Martial Void Realm?” Hai Yuanyuan spoke quickly with her eyes closed.

Even though he didn’t actually hit her, Shagn Xia snorted and said sternly, "Don't try to use these tricks on me. How exactly do you want me to help? You better make a reasonable request."

As Hai Yuanyuan opened her mouth to respond, Shang Xia added, "And stop calling me ‘your old self’. I’m not old!"

Switching back to her mischievous smile, Hai Yuanyuan giggled, "Can you ask Hall Master Chu for her Five Element Ring?”

"Five Element Ring? Are you preparing to reach the large completion stage of the Five Element Realm or are you trying to comprehend your martial intent?” Shang Xia, noting her already advanced cultivation, questioned, "Why don't you ask for it yourself? Why must I do it?"

Hai Yuanyuan cheekily replied, "Isn't it because you have a special relationship with her, giving you a better chance at getting the ring off her hand… OUCH!”

Rubbing her swelling forehead, Hai Yuanyuan realized the bump that formed would probably last for 3 days even if she used her Five Element Qi to try to recover. ℟ä𐌽Օ𝐛ÊS̈

"You little shi-...

Ahem

, looks like I need to speak with your mother about you getting married soon." Shang Xia immediately took on an elder's demeanor to speak seriously.

Truthfully, despite Hai Yuanyuan's carefree appearance, she was born before the Spirit Luxuriant World formed. She was already pretty old but she only maintained her youthful demeanor due to the powerful vitality of a Martial Dipper Realm expert and a terrifying amount of resources from her seniors.

"No!" Hai Yuanyuan became urgently anxious. "Uncle, forget the Five Element Ring, please don't talk to my mom about these things, okay?"

Seeing her reaction, Shang Xia shot her a dismissive look and grumbled, "Forget the Five Element Ring. Chu Jia is currently overseeing the construction of several grand formations. She’s stretched thin even with the Five Element Ring and her Formation Blade. However… You can keep this talisman on you.”

Hai Yuanyuan took the talisman and immediately recognized it. “Heaven Liberation Talisman?”

The lass nearly had a collection of all the talismans Shang Xia had crafted with the Heaven Liberation Talisman included.

Shang Xia explained, "This is different. It's not for your protection. I've sealed a strand of my soul into it. When activated, it will allow you to maintain your state at the peak of the Martial Dipper Realm and demonstrate the constructive and destructive cycle of the Five Elements. You can take the time to experience them for yourself which will be as beneficial to you as the Five Element Ring."

Hai Yuanyuan was about to say more, but Shang Xia waved her off, "Alright, alright, go away! I have other matters to attend to and will be leaving soon."

Startled, Hai Yuanyuan wanted to ask where Shang Xia was going, but not wanting to be a nuisance, she simply turned to the side and snorted, "Then I'm off.”

Just as Hai Yuanyuan left, Song Zhen appeared nearby. He chuckled, "Young Lady Yuanyuan seems quite fond of you..."

"That child never had a father…" Shang Xia sighed softly before he asked, "Is everything settled with the Spirit Faith World?"

Song Zhen grinned, "Yeah. You probably scared off the high-level True Immortal from the Essence Ming World. As for the high-level True Immortals of the Spirit Faith World… They couldn’t detect the use of the Six Direction Teleportation Talisman.”

After that, Song Zhen relayed some key information he had gathered about the Spirit Faith World to Shang Xia.

Shang Xia listened intently, then saw his External Avatar approaching.

"Looks like you'll be in charge of Star Beast Nest No.2 for a while." Shang Xia handed an Illusion Talisman to Song Zhen and gave another to his External Avatar.

His External Avatar took the talisman, nodded slightly at Song Zhen, and then vanished.

Song Zhen wanted to ask more but decided against it at the very end and simply said, "Lord, please be careful out there."

Shang Xia nodded, then also disappeared.

Once he could no longer sense Shang Xia or his External Avatar, Song Zhen activated the Illusion Talisman. A sublime energy flowed through his body, integrating with his inner qi and allowing him to release the aura of a fourth tier True Immortal.

Song Zhen would soon make a public appearance while trading with the Essence Xing World and the news of another high-level True Immortal in Star Beast Nest No.2 would quickly reach the higher-ups of their world.

Song Zhen had used Illusion Talismans multiple times before, including recently in the Spirit Faith World. He even praised Shang Xia’s superb talisman crafting skills with Zhu Nang. Yet, he noticed something different this time.

"Could this be... A real experience of a high-level True Immortal?"

After integrating the qi in the talisman into his own, Song Zhen realized it wasn't just about disguising his qi; it genuinely allowed him to experience what it was like to be a high-level True Immortal.

Although he knew the sensation was an illusion and he didn’t actually possess the strength of one, he truly felt the aura of one without experiencing any side effects.

For Song Zhen, a third tier True Immortal, the significance was self-evident.

Undoubtedly, Shang Xia’s modifications to the Illusion Talisman had greatly increased its value, and his mastery in talisman crafting had reached an unfathomably advanced level.

Shang Xia was unaware of the shock the Illusion Talisman had on Song Zhen. After all, he simply wanted to offer Song Zhen a chance to ascend to a higher level in the future. After all, Shang Xia had very few reliable subordinates, and Song Zhen was one of his most capable ones.

At the moment, he was reviewing a jade slip his External Avatar handed him which contained Gong Zhuo’s reply.

"It seems that this time, our old friend chose to stand against us.” Shang Xia sighed with melancholy.

No matter what, he and True Immortal Gong Zhuo shared hardships and toed the line of life and death together. Now, due to the stance of their respective worlds, they had to part ways, which was somewhat regrettable.

His External Avatar chuckled, "Maybe Gong Zhuo himself had no choice but to be responsible for the decisions he will make."

Shang Xia turned serious and said in a low voice, "You're right. It's just a difference because of the situation we are in and this is not a matter of right or wrong."

Shang Xia’s External Avatar maintained the smile on his face and continued, "In that case, I'll take my leave now."

"Go ahead, I'll follow shortly."

With a hearty laugh, the External Avatar activated the second Illusion Talisman Shang Xia had just crafted. His original cultivation realm at the level of Dao Harmony surged to the level of Extreme Harmonization before it was quickly concealed. The next second, a small Star Ship appeared beneath his feet and he quickly disappeared into the chaotic streams.