Chapter 1611: The Strange Movement In the Void

For Shang Xia to leave at that point, Kou Chongxue and the 3 World Alliance would definitely face massive pressure.

There was no doubt about it. Even in the various factions of the Heaven Observation Field, the 3 World Alliance might look like they comprise the strength of 3 worlds, but they are actually the weakest in terms of high-level combatants.

For the strongest link of the 3 World Alliance to leave... Shang Xia’s temporary departure would definitely place them in an even more precarious position.

Moreover... The initiative of the offensive on the Essence Ping World lay in the hands of Zhuo Gudao. After their previous operation, which was used more as a probing strike, no one would know when they would move onto the next phase of their plan.

If they chose to attack without Shang Xia present, the 3 World Alliance would most likely be sent out as cannon fodder for the other factions. Unless they were willing to give up more benefits of taking over the Essence Ping World, they were unlikely to get great terms.

However... Since it concerned Shang Xia’s future path of cultivation, Kou Chongxue chose to support Shang Xia’s decision to leave temporarily.

"However, there should still be a time limit. If you are unable to prepare everything in half a year, you should come back.” Kou Chongxue ultimately imposed a time limit on Shang Xia.

With a look of surprise, Shang Xia asked, "Patriarch Kou, do you think that Zhuo Gudao won’t take action within the next 6 months?”

Kou Chongxue pondered for some time before mumbling, "It's possible."

Shang Xia knew that Kou Chongxue probably received some news from Feng Ziying. He might also have received more information on the Spirit Thistle World and Spirit Tinkle World about the Star Origin Dao Field. His judgment probably came from a combination of all of the factors.

After bidding Kou Chongxue goodbye, Shang Xia left quietly without alarming anyone.

When he left, it was only the second half of the 35th year of the Spirit Luxuriant Calendar.

...

Shang Xia didn’t alarm anyone when he returned to the Spirit Luxuriant World and went straight to the Star Observatory in the Tongyou Elysium. Only Ge Qingzhu detected his presence due to his identity as an Elysium True Immortal and quickly appeared to look for him.

"Has there been news on the suns to form the Northern Dipper Star Charts?” Shang Xia nodded slightly to Ge Qingzhu, then asked Yuan Qiuyuan and Xin Lu.

Yuan Qiuyuan did not answer but glanced at Xin Lu next to him.

Xin Lu eventually spoke on their behalf, "The latest report we received from beyond the Star Curtain was a month ago. Your External Avatar has already eliminated 2 of the 5 Star Charts. The inspection of the suns on the third chart is underway. Based on our timing, your External Avatar should be done. However... We don’t have great contact with your External Avatar beyond the Star Curtain and we haven’t received any concrete news yet.”

Yuan Qiuyuan's somewhat strange expression was noticed by Shang Xia upon his arrival. He couldn’t help but look more intently at the Grand Stargazer before asking, “Have there been any major movements within the Heaven Observation Field or discoveries in the Heavenly Fields outside?”

Xin Lu continued, "The worlds within our Heaven Observation Field seem stable, but the gaps in the Star Curtain around the Spirit Mammoth World, Spirit Abundance World, Spirit Tinkle World, and Spirit Thistle World are widening!”

At that point, Xin Lu glanced at Yuan Qiuyuan and said, "We predict that the speed of the Star Curtain’s collapse is accelerating.”

Shang Xia's expression changed slightly. "Do you know the reason?"

Xin Lu continued to explain, "For now, we can only assume that the various Spirit Worlds are increasing their interaction outside the Star Curtain, causing it to weaken greatly.” Pausing for some time, Xin Lu added, "It's not just the Star Curtain out there. Actually... The gaps in the Star Curtain around our world are also widening!”

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Shang Xia nodded silently.

In terms of interactions with worlds outside the Heaven Observation Field, the Spirit Luxuriant World and their 2 Star Beast Nests might not be as widespread as the Spirit Mammoth World and Spirit Abundance World, but they were most definitely more active than the Spirit Thistle World and Spirit Tinkle World.

The sudden acceleration in the collapse of the Star Curtain indeed includes an undeniable contribution from the Spirit Luxuriant World.

That was also why Shang Xia was in such a rush to advance to the Seven Star Realm.

"Since that is the case, I need to head out sooner to finalize the position of the 7 suns."

After discussing his plans with those present, Shang Xia's gaze then fell on Yuan Qiuyuan. "What’s going on with him? I noticed an unusual aura around him as soon as I arrived. Did he fail an attempt to advance into the Martial Void Realm?"

Yuan Qiuyuan shook his head quickly, yet did not offer an explanation.

Xin Lu spoke for him. "He had an insight while observing the stars earlier, which led to a qualitative change in his stargazing arts. It started to evolve one again, but the transformation didn’t last long and failed due to the lack of sustained power. There was a risk of his fate dippers being assimilated by the power of starlight and even speaking might cause his inner qi to go out of control. As a result, True Immortal Ge placed a seal on his dantian and restricted his ability to speak.”

"Assimilation? That serious?!" Shang Xia frowned immediately.

Such backlash could very well sever Yuan Qiuyuan's future path in cultivation.

Ge Qingzhu sighed, "Before this, our understanding of Stargazers was virtually nil. The vast starry sky surpasses everything we know about worlds, and the art of stargazing holds the risk of being assimilated by the stars. If one does not control it, or becomes obsessed with it, one might completely become a part of the profound starry space."

Shang Xia asked with a grave tone, "Is there a solution?"

Xin Lu sighed and shook her head. "We can only restrict him from practicing the arts of stargazing for some time. If it weren't for your personal visit today, I was originally planning to suggest to Master Ge to stop him from entering the Star Observatory for 3 months.”

Yuan Qiuyuan suddenly looked up, his mouth moving as if he wanted to say something.

Xin Lu, clearly prepared, quickly tugged at his clothes to warn him not to speak rashly.

Reluctantly, Yuan Qiuyuan turned and pointed toward a certain position in the center of the Star Observatory.

Shang Xia raised his eyebrows. "You want to look at the Star Map?”

Yuan Qiuyuan first waved his hands, then nodded, and pointed in another direction.

Shang Xia was momentarily puzzled and turned his questioning gaze to Xin Lu.

Sure enough, Xin Lu explained, "The direction he's pointing to, from the perspective of our Spirit Luxuriant World, should be toward the Spirit Tip World and Essence Du World.”

Yuan Qiuyuan nodded and then pointed again in that direction before turning back to point at the position where the Star Map was located.

Shang Xia suddenly thought of something and gasped, “You discovered another world in the direction of the Spirit Tip World and Essence Du World? Or perhaps... You discovered another anomaly?”

Yuan Qiuyuan immediately nodded excitedly.