Chapter 1546: Trap and Substitution Pt.3

The Cheng Continent was located at the northern border of the Chen Dynasty.

The area was a highland and the massive mountain range served as the border of the Chen Dynasty.

However, deep within this large mountain range, in a secluded valley, the Chen Dynasty established a Star Observatory. It was an unusual choice given its location on the edge of their controlled territory. Shang Xia was initially puzzled by this decision and even suspected he had been misled while tracking the movements of the Chen Dynasty's Stargazers.

When he finally found and infiltrated the valley and saw the huge pyramid-shaped Star Observatory built at the center of the valley, he understood the reason.

Surprisingly, a large spatial rift existed there. To Shang Xia's understanding, the rift seemed to be deliberately preserved and maintained, and it was created naturally from the world.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Through the narrow spatial rift, Stargazers in the Star Observatory could more easily perform their stargazing arts, allowing them to observe the deeper mysteries of the sea of stars.

Shang Xia had heard from Gong Zhuo about the history of the Essence Xing World's growth. It included conquering and forcibly integrating other worlds into theirs.

That led to the Essence Xing World clearing out neighboring worlds in the surrounding void, preventing it from forming a complete Heavenly Field like other Essence Worlds.

Their path led the Essence Xing World on a unique developmental trajectory.

The narrow spatial rift in this valley likely remained from one of the worlds absorbed by the Essence Xing World during their integration phase and was intentionally preserved.

"Unfortunately, this spatial rift was discovered at a very inconvenient time," Shang Xia mused. He had eliminated the Chen Dynasty's carefully trained Stargazers, seized their inheritance, destroyed the Star Observatory, and erased all traces before leaving the valley. He knew the events there would soon reach the upper echelons of the Chen Dynasty and possibly even alarm the Sages. As such, he had to make his escape as soon as possible.

If only he had found it after reaching the Seven Star Realm, he might be able to use the spatial rift as a fulcrum to destabilize the Essence Xing World, perhaps even splitting it.

Regrettably, he discovered it too soon and had to destroy everything in the valley.

Shortly after his departure, Shang Xia sensed that his External Avatar was facing a serious crisis.

Realizing Gong Zhuo's invitation might be a trap, Shang Xia had long since come up with a countermeasure. He gave his External Avatar an Illusion Talisman to disguise as himself while his true body sneaked into the Essence Xing World with a Six Harmony Teleportation Talisman.

Perhaps because Shang Xia had already reached the grand completion stage of the Six Direction Realm and his art of crafting talismans had also improved, the Illusion Talismans he crafted allowed his External Avatar to face the Chen Dynasty Emperor who was also in the same realm without being detected.

Even though the Chen Dynasty Emperor didn't recognize that the ‘Shang Xia’ before him was fake, he could feel that the sixth tier True Immortal wasn’t as strong as he had expected. That was also why his interest waned after ensuring the Shang Xia before him couldn’t escape.

But the Chen Dynasty Emperor's failure to see through the disguise was partly because he had never met Shang Xia before, so he couldn't compare the aura of the person standing before him with the real thing.

However, Gong Zhuo, who arrived later and had deep ties with Shang Xia, could clearly tell that the ‘Shang Xia’ standing before them was completely different from the Shang Xia he knew.

Although Gong Zhuo couldn't tell that it was an External Avatar, he was sure that the person they had surrounded was not the real Shang Xia.

That was also why he didn’t hesitate to side with the Chen Dynasty Emperor the moment he arrived.

Shang Xia’s Illusion Talisman might be amazing, and his External Avatar also put up an amazing performance, but the moment the Chen Dynasty Emperor issued the command to capture him, his true combat strength as a fourth tier True Immortal was immediately exposed.

By then, even the slow-reacting Chen Dynasty Emperor knew he had been tricked.

"Who are you?!” The Chen Dynasty Emperor had not felt such humiliation in many years. His fierce gaze didn’t linger on Shang Xia’s External Avatar for long. Instead, it turned to Gong Zhuo who had a very convincing look of shock.

"Director Gong, did you know that he wasn’t the real thing all along?” The Chen Dynasty Emperor's calm demeanor masked a deadly intent.

Gong Zhuo remained expressionless and firm. "Emperor Chen, my appearance here has already declared my position. Are you suggesting a betrayal?"

Gong Zhuo was no amateur. He could also deflect accusations with skill.

The Chen Dynasty Emperor's gaze shifted from Gong Zhuo back to the External Avatar and demanded, "What exactly are you?"

By then, Shang Xia’s External Avatar could no longer maintain its form and began to disintegrate before the assembled powers of the Essence Xing World. The last thing they saw was the incarnation's mocking smile as it disappeared completely.

Raising his head slightly, Gong Zhuo asked, "The pressing question now is, where is the real Shang Xia?"

The Chen Dynasty Emperor raised his head abruptly and looked in the direction of their Essence Xing World.

At that moment, a high-level True Immortal from the Ten Wings Gate spoke, "Your Majesty, are you concerned that the real Shang Xia has infiltrated our world? Even if he evades the detection of our Sages and sneaks in, what can he do? The moment he acts, he will certainly be detected by them..."

"We’re going back!" The Chen Dynasty Emperor interrupted him before he could finish and turned to rush back.

2 of the 4 high-level True Immortals immediately followed the Chen Dynasty Emperor. The True Immortal from the Ten Wings Gate exchanged a look with Gong Zhuo. Seeing the strange expressions on their faces, they quickly followed behind the others.