Chapter 1609: Hurrying Up

"You all came too late!" Xiong Xin spoke with an indifferent tone, as if discussing something completely unrelated to him.

Cang Xuangao’s expression darkened instantly and he growled, “True Immortal Xiong, what the hell is the meaning of this?”

Xiong Xin looked at him, somewhat surprised, and chuckled, "What am I supposed to do? Since they were able to sneak into the Essence Ping World without us noticing, they can naturally leave as easily. True Immortal Cang, you have been in charge of the northern region of our world for over a hundred years... You should know exactly how strictly we have controlled the spatial tunnels."

Cang Xuangao's expression grew even more unpleasant.

With tensions high, the 2 second tier True Immortals who had been organizing the pursuit of Hai Yuanyuan arrived. They intended to make their report, but as soon as they arrived, they saw Cang Xuangao’s dark expression and sensed the gunpowder in the air. They decided to simply remain silent, careful not to draw any ire from the higher-ups.

The Heaven and Earth Villa and the Essence Peak Cave had no high-level True Immortals in their ranks and they were considered among the weaker Elysium-level powers. They were often just dragged over to make up the numbers.

Cang Xuangao glanced at them with discontent, but his main focus remained on Xiong Xin. He snorted coldly. "The cultivators of the Martial Extermination Realm and the Martial Dipper Realm were already reluctant to come here. Since someone was willing to come forward, we had no reason to look too deep into it. However... Since that person knows the location of the World Origin Source, True Immortal Xiong, you should understand how important this is for our world!”

Xiong Xin replied seriously, "I am well aware of the importance of the World Origin Source. However, it will remain where it is and won’t disappear just because someone found it. We might need some time to locate it, but we don’t need to make an enemy of a grand completion stage True Immortal for this. We don’t need to offend the Spirit Luxuriant World... Or rather, the 3 World Alliance. After all, when it comes to dealing with the Star Origin Lord, we are all on the same side.”

"Hahaha..." Cang Xuangao laughed heartily while sweeping his gaze over the other high-level True Immortals around him, then looked at True Immortal Xiong Xin with undisguised mockery, "True Immortal Xiong speaks such pretty words. Isn’t the real reason because you’re afraid to confront True Immortal Shang? You’re worried that you will lose to a junior who is centuries younger than you, right?”

Facing Cang Xuangao's ridicule, True Immortal Xiong Xin remained composed. "You're right, but also not entirely. It’s true that I don’t dare to fight True Immortal Shang. However... It’s not because I can win, but whether I can survive!”

Cang Xuangao was stunned, knowing full well that Xiong Xin would not lie about something so serious. His eyes widened in shock, and he blurted, “You..."

Xiong Xin ignored Cang Xuangao's fluctuating expressions and continued with a cool glance at the other high-level True Immortals of the Spirit Abundance World. He spoke in a tone that made it seem like he was reminding the rest, "In the end... You need to rely on yourself for some things. You can’t rely on others...”

With that, Xiong Xin ignored everyone present and turned to leave.

Cang Xuangao watched as Xiong Xin walked away, suddenly letting out a cold snort. "Centuries of cultivation and you can’t match up to a junior... Rely on oneself? Hah..."

...

Tens of thousands of miles away from the Essence Ping World’s heavenly screen, a black crack emerged in the void and expanded. Shang Xia, with one hand on Hai Yuanyuan's shoulder, stepped out from it.

By then, the strange barrier that had once hidden the heavenly screen was gone, and the Essence Ping World was fully exposed.

The confrontation between Zhuo Gudao and the Star Origin Lord’s clone had also ended, the hundreds of Star Origin Guards had withdrawn, and even the vast stretches of chaos in the void had settled.

Hai Yuanyuan first glanced around the void in astonishment, then quickly oriented herself. She suddenly turned to look back at the heavenly screen behind her, unable to hide her amazement and joy.

"Your Five Element martial intent is indeed unique, allowing you to move through heavenly screens however you wish. However, it’s not so smooth...” As he spoke, Shang Xia removed his hand from her shoulder.

Instantly, Hai Yuanyuan felt as if the inner qi within her had been drained in a flash, nearly causing her to tumble powerlessly through the void.

However, a strand of weakened world origin quickly entered her body, and she quickly circulated her secret art, converting it into Five Element Qi and replenishing her dantian.

"Thank you, Uncle!" Hai Yuanyuan let out a sigh of relief, her brief pride from mastering her martial intent dissipating. Seeing how Shang Xia didn’t respond, she looked up to find him staring at the heavenly screen with a heavy expression.

Hai Yuanyuan, puzzled, followed Shang Xia's gaze but could discern nothing tens of thousands of miles away. She couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle, what's happening?"

Shang Xia shook his head, seemingly unwilling to explain. "Let's go, we need to meet up with the patriarch and the others quickly!"

In Shang Xia's eyes, the region controlled by the frosty qi above the heavenly screen seemed to be expanding again. He felt that something was off with the several continents under World’s Will control, and the Spirit Abundance World’s activities within them seemed increasingly peculiar.

...

In the depths of the asteroid belt, the Spirit Luxuriant World’s fleet remained extremely vigilant.

When Shang Xia and Hai Yuanyuan returned, the second tier True Immortals heaved sighs of relief.

Clearly, they had been informed of the great battle that had taken place outside the heavenly screen and how Shang Xia disappeared during that battle.

Seeing Shang Xia return safely and even bringing back Hai Yuanyuan, it was obvious to them that Shang Xia had once again ventured into the Essence Ping World.

"Has the patriarch not returned?" After instructing Hai Yuanyuan to find a place for seclusion to stabilize her newly mastered martial intent, Shang Xia turned to Sun Haiwei and Huang Jinghan to ask.

Sun Haiwei shook her head. "The patriarch would frequently send reports about the battle, but he wouldn’t come back. He should be reflecting on the battle with the experts of the 3 World Alliance. They should be in the Spirit Observation World at the moment.”

Shang Xia nodded slightly after getting over his initial surprise.

After some time, Huang Jinghan opened his mouth to ask after some hesitation, “True Immortal Shang, what’s the situation over at the Essence Ping World now? What is going to happen next?”

After a moment's thought, Shang Xia mumbled, "Everyone has their own schemes. However, it’s unlikely there will be a falling out before the Star Origin Lord has been dealt with. However...”

Shang Xia glanced at the group, who had relaxed somewhat but tensed up again when his tone changed. "... This was just a probing attack by our worlds. Our next offensive will very likely be decisive.”