Chapter 1742: Spirit Tip World’s Choice

...

“Heh... True Immortal Guan, given the circumstances, why don’t you turn back sooner so that your sect has a chance to live?”

Within the Dianmang Elysium, Guan Ziqing reflected on a remark made by Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar in the chaotic streams not long ago, which actually struck deep. He shook his head with a wry smile, musing that he had once prided himself on having put life and death aside, yet he found himself repeatedly unsettled and indecisive in the face of mortality.

The Spirit Tip World’s schemes failed time and time again. They not only achieved nothing, but they also depleted a significant amount of their world’s potential. Guan Ziqing, the elder who had almost single-handedly saved and protected the Spirit Tip World, was very likely a villain in the eyes of the members of his world.

"Senior Guan, what exactly happened in the chaotic streams? Our world origin has been greatly depleted. Please tell us what happened!” True Immortal Kuai grim expression pulled Guan Ziqing back to reality. The fleeting smile on Guan Ziqing's face a second ago made him feel humiliated.

"Ah, apologies, I was distracted by some other matters." Guan Ziqing smiled apologetically at True Immortal Kuai. His warm smile was comforting, briefly reminding True Immortal Kuai of a senior who had stepped forward over a hundred years ago, continuously sacrificing his own martial path at the risk of being assimilated by the World’s Will while leading the resistance against the Essence Du World.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

However, the thoughts flashed briefly through True Immortal Kuai's mind before it was forgotten. He cynically dismissed the other's approach as a repeat attempt that no one would fall for this time.

"This time, it was my lack of wisdom and strength that failed to lead us out of this ordeal. I alone shall bear all sins. I only ask my fellow Daoists to consider the devotion I have shown over the past hundred years and allow my sect to continue its legacy," Guan Ziqing still spoke with a smile to the representatives from various factions of the Spirit Tip World.

As everyone watched him with varied expressions, Guan Ziqing's aura experienced another significant decline. It dropped from his barely maintained level of Returning to the Origin back to the level of Dao Harmony. It didn’t stop there as it continued to fall.

Everyone understood that the man before them wouldn't last much longer; his demise was imminent.

From the moment he began to wield the power of the Spirit Tip World against Yan Yu, the World’s Will had started to erode his essence.

After over a hundred years, the assimilation had deeply penetrated his being. There was no hope of reversal.

Once Guan Ziqing died, he would return to the World Origin Source. But... In such a drained state, what could Guan Ziqing possibly return?

"Sigh...” A soft sigh broke the suffocating silence at the scene. Another fifth tier True Immortal, Yu Tieshan, asked, "Senior Guan, do we still have a chance? Does our Spirit Tip World still have a future?"

Guan Ziqing's previously bright eyes dimmed slightly at the question and he slowly shook his head. "It seems very difficult now to rely on our Spirit Tip World alone for salvation."

"Can't we again wield the power of the Spirit Tip World to fight against Sages?” A fourth tier True Immortal got to his feet and asked with agitation.

If Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar were present, he would recognize the fourth tier True Immortal as a newly promoted expert from the Spirit Tip World, who had previously contested with True Immortal Cai Qiao in the Spirit Lyric World's ruins, only for Hai Yuanyuan to profit by stealing the Void Lotus from right under their noses.

Yet as soon as he finished speaking, a heavy silence fell once again, the atmosphere turning extremely awkward.

The consequences of overusing the power of their world were evident before them, and not everyone possessed Guan Ziqing's spirit to sacrifice themselves.

Moreover, even Guan Ziqing, when he realized he still had a slim chance of survival, had made a desperate move that forced the Spirit Tip World to its current state.

Feeling the awkward silence, Yu Tieshan coughed lightly and tried to explain tactfully, "True Immortal Li Zheng may not be aware..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Guan Ziqing who was still smiling, "Our World’s Will can no longer withstand further depletion. My overzealous actions to fight against the 2 Sages have already severely drained our world origin. If we continue to squander it recklessly, it's a minor matter if I'm shunned by this world, but we might even regress to an Azure World. What is the point of our actions then?”

"But, but..." True Immortal Li Zheng didn’t know how to respond

Guan Ziqing waved his hand to cut him off and continued, "Some things are better said by me. Our Spirit Tip World, located in a remote part of the sea of stars, is surrounded by the Essence Du World and the Heaven Observation Field. We lost our last opportunity when we missed the chance to obtain the Spirit Lyric World’s legacy. Ultimately, I failed."

Li Zheng wanted to speak, but ultimately said nothing after seeing how everyone was silent.

Guan Ziqing continued, "At this point, our world only has 2 paths left. The first is to join the Essence Du World, and the other is to join the Spirit Luxuriant World.”

Seeing their stunned expressions, Guan Ziqing continued, "Of course, the problem with the first option is that we've been fighting them back for over a hundred years. Despite our animosity, even if Sage Yan Yu accepts us into their Heavenly Field, there is sure to be reprisals afterward. The second option requires time, as the Star Curtain around the Heaven Observation Field hasn’t fallen, and the Spirit Luxuriant World still remains as a Spirit World. If we want their protection, we must wait for them to complete the ascension to an Essence World. However, the Essence Du World won’t let us be, and we need to stand together to survive the most difficult time.”

Wu Zhang chuckled bitterly, "Our relations with both worlds aren't exactly good."

Everyone understood that Wu Zhang was downplaying their bad relations. The centuries of strife with the Essence Du World spoke for themselves. As for the Spirit Luxuriant World... They had once been allies, but their alliance had long since broken down after what happened in the Spirit Lyric World.

Surprisingly, Guan Ziqing disagreed. "Whether it's the Essence Du World or the future Spirit Luxuriant World which would have ascended to an Essence World, neither will refuse the allegiance of a Spirit World. As for our relationship with the Spirit Luxuriant World, the one who chose betrayal was me; what does that have to do with all of you?"

True Immortal Kuai said gravely, "So, Senior Guan, you're favoring the Spirit Luxuriant World? I admit, the Spirit Luxuriant World is indeed a good potential ally, and previous misunderstandings are not irreconcilable. But they have not completed their ascension. Considering that the Heaven Observation Field is currently in turmoil. Even with the protection of Sage Shang, there is much uncertainty whether they will be able to complete the ascension.”

Guan Ziqing coughed twice. During the brief exchange, his aura weakened once again and he was about to drop off the ranks of high-level True Immortals. Shooting True Immortal Kuai a deep look, he spoke with significant meaning, "We have to take the risk. Besides, with the Spirit Lyric World's legacy now in the hands of the Spirit Luxuriant World, their ascension speed will be greatly accelerated."

Cai Qiao interjected, "What do we do to fend off the Essence Du World and Yan Yu before the Spirit Luxuriant World incorporates us into their Heavenly Field?"

Guan Ziqing smiled. He was well aware of everyone's concerns but responded calmly, "That depends on our sincerity. You might not know, but in the recent battle in the chaotic streams, Sage Shang’s clone fought off both me and Yan Yu’s projection!”

...

Deep within the chaotic streams between the gap in the Star Curtain and the Spirit Tip World.

The Tongyou Institution’s Star Ship had been anchored in one location for a long time. Yet, it had not been joined by the Jiuyin Ark, nor had Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar appeared. All of them also didn’t know how Shang Xia’s Origin Star Avatar was faring in battle against both Yan Yu and Guan Ziqing.