Chapter 1680: Big Dipper Star Origin

The conversation between Shang Xia and Zhuo Gudao didn't last very long. After all, there were countless eyes beyond the Star Curtain watching them.

Both Shang Xia and Zhuo Gudao had many things to take care of.

After a brief exchange where they agreed on a plan that concerned the Star Origin Lord, Essence Ping World, and how they should face external threats together, they parted ways.

A major battle intended to hinder Shang Xia's ascension and divide the Spirit Luxuriant World ended rather abruptly, leaving an impression of an anticlimactic resolution.

Yet, only the Sages who took part in the battle knew what truly happened and how dangerous the situation was.

At the very least, Shang Xia was aware that the moment he pushed for the world’s ascension, the Spirit Luxuriant World had been teetering on disaster. Even now, when Shang Xia had reached the Seven Star Realm, the Spirit Luxuriant World still had a long way to go before it truly became an Essence World.

When Shang Xia returned to the heavenly screen, he discovered every single cultivator of the Spirit Luxuriant World who had sufficient strength had gathered above it. They were led by the Elysium True Immortals.

The moment he appeared, hundreds of cultivators in the Martial Extermination Realm and Martial Dipper Realm bowed in unison.

“We greet Sage Shang!”

The loud declaration resounded through the void, causing a spectacle that stirred the soul.

Acknowledging the greeting with due respect, Shang Xia replied, "I owe my successful breakthrough to all of you.”

After he spoke, he returned the bow.

His bow was also sincere and he expressed how grateful he was to everyone present.

Whether it was the major sects collaborating with Shang Xia to force the world ascension process to begin, or the united front formed by the sects and wandering cultivators against the invasion of the Sages... Their actions had indeed assisted Shang Xia significantly. It was an undeniable fact.

After standing up and facing nearly a thousand pairs of eyes, Shang Xia spoke with confidence, "The most perilous moments have passed, but our world’s ascension is far from complete. I will still need everyone's strength. Please return to your duties, and thank you!"

"We dare not accept Sage Shang’s grace!"

"We will follow Sage Shang’s orders!"

"We will return and aid in the recovery of the affected areas!"

After a chorus of varied responses, many of the Martial Extermination Realm and Martial Dipper Realm cultivators departed. They returned to their world, but at the same time, their departure revealed the 3 massive rifts in their heavenly screen.

By the time Shang Xia returned, the energy released during Sage Jin’s clone’s death had long been absorbed into the world.

Shang Xia's gaze shifted to the Elysium True Immortals who remained above the heavenly screen.

As he slowly made his way over to them, he frowned when he saw Zhang Xuansheng and Yang Taihe. “What happened?”

He could tell that the aura around them was chaotic and the energy in their body was in disarray. Moreover, they had fallen from their original cultivation realm and could barely maintain their level at the third tier of the Martial Void Realm.

He could also tell that because of the injuries to their dantian, it was highly unlikely for them to return to becoming high-level True Immortals.

Zhang Xuansheng and Yang Taihe exchanged glances before taking a step forward in unison and bowing towards Shang Xia. “We acted on our own and we failed to see the bigger picture! This is just the consequences of our actions.”

"Fortunately, this disaster didn’t thwart Sage Shang’s plans, and we hope that you will preserve the legacies of the Northern Sea Mystic Sect and Eternal Palace...”

Shang Xia was well aware of their schemes and who had cooperated with them. Naturally, Li Jidao was also responsible for what had happened.

Turning to look at Li Jidao whose head was bowed, his gaze seemed to possess the weight of a mountain as Li Jidao’s back started to bend.

However, since Zhang Xuansheng and Yang Taihe chose to claim responsibility for their actions. Shang Xia chose to not call Li Jidao out. He knew what they were trying to do, but he had to admit that the world ascension wouldn’t be complete with the help of the 3 great Elysiums.

Naturally, for the 3 of them to change their stance at the very end, where they pushed themselves past their limit and used the power gathered by the grand formation to deal those final blows to help Shang Xia alleviate some of the pressure because they hoped that it would earn them a chance for redemption.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"This matter ends here. The success of our world ascension will depend on everyone’s performance.” Shang Xia eventually declared. He seemed to only be addressing Zhang Xuansheng and Yang Taihe, but everyone present couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief.

Though visibly relieved, Zhang Xuansheng and Yang Taihe still carried a massive weight in their hearts. They knew that Shang Xia might have made the declaration to show everyone in the Spirit Luxuriant World that they had to be united, but he might not have truly forgiven them.

Well... At the very least, the legacies of their Elysiums should be preserved. That was the only thing they could care about at the moment.

Despite seeing everyone’s reactions, Shang Xia couldn’t be bothered with them. He didn’t have to concern himself with such matters, considering his current status, and he simply stated, “I believe all of you still need to take charge of your Elysiums. I will restore the heavenly screen now and I will need your help. Your assistance will be appreciated.”

The Elysium True Immortals who were present quickly bid their farewell and returned.

Ge Qingzhu was the last to leave. Turning to Shang Xia, he raised his eyebrow and mumbled, “The Elysium in the Jiao Continents needs someone to be in charge. A clone is still somewhat lacking...”

Shang Xia nodded, "After we deal with this, our True Immortals should also return. When the time comes, we won’t be lacking manpower.”

Feeling much more reassured, he suddenly asked, “What about the patriarch and the others? They are fine, right?”

Shang Xia turned to look into the void before mumbling softly, “We had some losses... Several True Immortals were killed, but the rest will return soon.”

Gai Qingzhu flinched at the news but asked no further, turning to assist Shang Xia in restoring the heavenly screen.

The 3 rifts in the heavenly screen, caused by the infiltration of the Sages, contained the remnant of their energies. However, compared to the damage to the Spirit Abundance World’s heavenly screen in the past, the damage to the Spirit Luxuriant World was much less severe.

After all... Zhuo Gudao and the clones only had the strength of first star Sages, and they were unable to cause too much damage.

Shang Xia was also personally taking care of the restoration of the heavenly screen, and everything became much easier.

They had to restore the heavenly screen as soon as possible, as there was no more energy out there to absorb. If the heavenly screen remains breached, world origin would start leaking out before long.

During the process of restoration, Shang Xia made a shocking decision. He chose not to harness the power of the world to speed up the process. Instead, he used the Big Dipper Star Origin that had been producing inner qi in his dantian after his breakthrough to the Seven Star Realm to complete the task.

Since he broke through, Shang Xia never had a chance to properly explore the energy contained in his dantian and the properties it held. Also, the name ‘Big Dipper Star Origin’ was also something he had just come up with after his entry to the Seven Star Realm due to the power of the suns he drew upon.