Chapter 1766: ESCORT MISSION, BEGIN!

When the Star Ships belonging to the hidden forces of the external factions sailed out of their stations, their previously hidden position became completely exposed.

While Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar was issuing a warning to the cultivators of the Essence Luxuriant World and Azure Qing World, Yan Ming had already started communicating with Yuan Qiuyuan in the Essence Luxuriant World. Not only did they mark out the positions of all the enemy’s ships and estimated arrival, Yuan Qiuyuan even tracked their origins and uncovered where they came from.

With the full support of 2 Grand Stargazers, the experts of the fleet quickly gathered under Kou Chongxue’s command. They carried out a series of strategic adjustments. All 8 Star Ships responsible for dragging the Azure Qing World slowed down as they diverted more energy to their defensive formation.

Meanwhile, the 7 mid-scale Star Ships patrolling the perimeter quickly gathered once again. They imitated an Elysium Grand Formation to form a coordinated strike formation. Splitting off from the main fleet, they went to intercept the first incoming wave of hostile forces.

With the help of the Grand Stargazers, the Essence Luxuriant World took a more aggressive approach. They planned to strike at each wave of enemy in succession. At the very least, they hoped to buy time for the 8 Star Ships towing the Azure Qing World.

The first enemy wave clearly did not expect the Essence Luxuriant World to act so boldly. While the Sage behind them might have guessed what was about to happen, they were now unable to relay any further instructions. It was due to both the tacit agreement among the Sages to not intervene, but also because Sages on all sides had been interfering with each other’s senses.

After years of effort, the first hostile force managed to establish a footing in the Heaven Observation Field. Their amassed strength was not insignificant. They had 1 high-level True Immortal, 3 second or third tier True Immortals, dozens of Martial Extermination Realm and Martial Dipper Realm experts, and 2 hastily constructed small-scale Star Ships made with smuggled materials.

This force, though limited, would have been enough to devastate an Azure World.

Unfortunately, their target was a giant fleet with 24 True Immortals with more than a hundred elite Martial Dipper Realm experts and Martial Extermination Realm cultivators.

The resulting skirmish ended as swiftly as it had begun. Their Star Ships were crushed instantly. 3 of the 4 True Immortals were killed in battle and only their high-level True Immortal managed to escape with heavy injuries.

As for anyone who wasn’t a True Immortal... They were pretty much decimated on the spot.

The engagement was clean, efficient, and swift.

Without even stopping to repair their ships, the 7 ships changed their heading. Instead of returning, they followed their original plan and rushed to intercept the next wave of enemies.

...

Zhuo Gudao seemed deeply shaken by the information Shang Xia had revealed. After a moment of dazed silence, he finally turned around and asked, “Sage Shang, are you messing with me? If you didn’t use the Heaven Observation Great Constellation Talisman to advance to the Martial Emptiness Realm, how are you able to wield such potent Power of the Stars? How did you gain Star Origin Qi? Why did the Star Origin Lord’s clone retreat that day?”

Shang Xia shook his head. “Is that the only path to acquiring Star Origin Qi? As for why the Star Origin Lord’s clone retreated... I don’t know either. I was hoping you would tell me.”

Zhuo Gudao studied Shang Xia seriously, and seeing no trace of deception, said, “Then I imagine you’re no stranger to the Heaven Observation Sect. You must know that, over a thousand years ago, the sect dominated the sea of stars because they possessed many Sages. It was believed they held secret techniques that lowered the threshold for breaking into the Martial Emptiness Realm, or that their martial heritage held unique traits. But in truth, all those secrets were tied to this very Heaven Observation Great Constellation Talisman.”

“Every Sage of the Heaven Observation Sect had Star Origin Qi. Most were also highly skilled Stargazers. As such, Star Origin Qi and being a Stargazer became a mark of an expert from the Heaven Observation Sect. That’s likely why the Star Origin Lord’s clone left. He probably mistook you as one of his own.”

Shang Xia remained calm and nodded. “If that’s the case, I’m all the more curious. How did such a powerful sect, with so many Sages, end up in ruin? Could it really have been the combined might of other Sages from multiple Heavenly Fields?”

He pointed at Zhuo Gudao, then at himself. “You and I are both Sages. We know that someone at our level, unless they’re deranged enough to fight to the death, cannot be brought down by just 3 or 5 people. As long as we plan to run, no one can stop us unless they possess an overwhelming advantage.”

Zhuo Gudao nodded slowly and finally explained, “It’s simple. Firstly, the Sages of the Heaven Observation Sect had a fatal flaw in their cultivation. Secondly... Those powerful enemies had exploited it.”

No shit?

Shang Xia straightened his back slightly before shelving his intrusive thoughts. He continued to ask, “A flaw? What flaw? Did the Sages of the Heaven Observation Sect all share the same weakness after their advancement?”

Zhuo Gudao revealed a cryptic smile. “Yes. The reason the Heaven Observation Great Constellation Talisman lowered the difficulty of breaking through is that it allowed cultivators to draw their energy from stars out there.”

He clarified, “I don’t mean condensing the origin energy from a star. I mean that they are absorbing the essence of a single star that perfectly resonates with them.”

Shang Xia’s eyes narrowed. “A single star?”

Zhuo Gudao smiled faintly and nodded. “Exactly. The star they used would be dubbed their Star of Fate.”

He chuckled and looked at the expressionless Shang Xia. “I suspect you’ve guessed it. The Star of Fate is their greatest weakness. Their entire cultivation is bound to it. If someone locates and damages... Perhaps even if they just block the starlight coming from it... Their strength would be greatly diminished.”

To his surprise, Shang Xia remained composed. “If their Star of Fate is that important, wouldn’t their Sages do everything in their power to hide it? How can their enemies exploit such an obvious weakness?”

Zhuo Gudao smiled. “Who knows? Perhaps a traitor leaked it. Maybe a higher-level Stargazer discovered their Star of Fate? Or maybe there are some unknown methods we haven’t heard of. I only know what is recorded in a few surviving texts from the Star Origin Lord Manor. The deeper secrets are most likely not committed in writing...”

Shang Xia looked at Zhuo Gudao’s calm face and slowly nodded. “That makes sense. Thank you for sharing this hidden knowledge with me.”

With that, Shang Xia fell silent and closed his eyes. He appeared to enter a state of meditation.

Zhuo Gudao looked puzzled for a moment, then smirked and followed suit. He closed his eyes and stood in the void. It was as though both of them had all the time in the world.

...

Meanwhile, far from the Essence Luxuriant World, the fleet towing the Azure Qing World was locked in an unending series of battles against enemy forces from both within and outside the Heaven Observation Field.

Unlike the chaos, an uncharacteristic calm was felt around the Essence Luxuriant World with 2 powerful second star Sages sitting in silence.