Chapter 1779: KAAAAAAAAAABOOM

The words of the Star Origin Lord’s Starlight Clone instantly reminded Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar of a conversation his true body once had with Zhuo Gudao.

Instinctively, Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar looked up toward the distant void glowing with faint starlight above. He could clearly see the 7 shining suns arranged in the Big Dipper formation, their radiant beams connecting him to his true body.

But among those seven stars, which could be the so-called Life Star referred to by Zhuo Gudao and the Star Origin Lord? Or could it be that all seven were?

According to past records, several Sages of the Heaven Observation Sect had their Fate Stars, discovered, sealed, or destroyed by enemies. As a result, the entire sect had suffered a crushing defeat under the siege of various factions.

If that were the case, could those 7 suns be similarly targeted? Could the sealing or destruction of even one lead to the collapse of Shang Xia’s cultivation realm and a sharp decline in his strength?

From the perspective of Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar as a projection of the true self, those seven stars had indeed served as important supports for Shang Xia’s advancement to the Seven Star Realm. However, now that Shang Xia had successfully reached his cultivation state, those stars were more like handholds than a foundation of his strength.

Even if opponents could locate and destroy one or more of them, would that truly deal a fatal blow to him?

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar didn’t think so, certainly not.

Yes, if those stars were somehow found and destroyed, it would have some impact on him. For instance, condensing Star Fire would become significantly more difficult, and he would no longer be able to use those stars as relays to transmit his inner qi. Even his daily cultivation might be hindered.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

But to call those inconveniences a fatal weakness... That was simply nonsense.

Moreover, even if those stars were sealed or destroyed, it wasn’t as if Shang Xia couldn’t rebuild or find new ones.

It would only cost him time and effort to search the endless sea of stars once more for another group of stars arranged in the Big Dipper formation.

Ultimately, the foundation of Shang Xia’s cultivation in the Seven Star Realm still lay within his dantian, specifically, in his Big Dipper Star Origin and the 7 subsidiary stars. His power came from within, not from external constructs.

Of course, neither Shang Xia nor his Origin Star Avatar would ever reveal the true essence of his cultivation to outsiders.

Thus, when the starlight-forged figure before him appeared so self-assured, Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar didn’t mind using the opportunity to extract some information about the inner secrets of the Heaven Observation Sect’s martial legacy.

"Is it only about avoiding risk?" he asked, feigning disappointment, as though he truly had inherited the Heaven Observation Sect's teachings and ascended by relying on a Life Star.

The Star Origin Lord’s Starlight Clone smiled more smugly. "Of course, hiding from it doesn't solve the core problem. It’s only a workaround. In fact, the Heaven Observation Sect’s upper echelons were well aware of the potential risks posed by Life Stars. They've long studied how to protect them. Risk mitigation strategies have always existed."

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar paused before asking again, "Such as?"

Seeing his cautious curiosity, the Star Origin Lord’s avatar beamed. "For example, the use of True and False Life Stars, Hidden Life Stars, Technique Conversion, Periodic Relocation of Cultivation Grounds... and more."

It was as though he were boasting of all these techniques.

But to Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar, all of it was meaningless. He didn’t have a Life Star to begin with!

Shaking his head, he met the Starlight Clone’s gaze. "Surely, Star Origin Lord, you didn’t survive all these years just by hiding your Life Star?"

The avatar nodded with a smile. "Naturally not. The so-called weakness of the Life Star was resolved long ago. If Sage Shang is willing to cooperate with me, then as the de facto inheritor of the Heaven Observation Sect, I wouldn’t mind passing on the ultimate method for overcoming that flaw."

But Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar only smiled faintly. "This method to resolve the Life Star’s vulnerability, does it happen to be tied to the Essence Ping World?"

The Star Origin Lord’s expression stiffened slightly, then quickly resumed its calm. With a meaningful tone and deep light in his eyes, he muttered, "It seems Sage Shang has already realized this and has long been searching for a solution?"

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar ignored the insinuation and asked directly, "Star Origin Lord, you've long slumbered in the Essence Ping World, working to assimilate and replace its World’s Will. If successful, would you be able to ascend to the rumored Eighth Order?"

The Star Origin Lord’s Starlight Clone seemed intrigued by the question and countered, "And what does Sage Shang think? How likely am I to succeed?"

"Not even the slightest chance," Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar replied bluntly.

Before the Star Origin Lord’s face could fully darken, he continued, "Perhaps your centuries-long stay in the Essence Ping World and everything you've arranged from the beginning... They weren’t truly meant to reach the Eighth Order at all, were they?"

The Star Origin Lord sneered, "And why would you think so?"

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar chuckled softly, "There are rumors that the Star Origin Dao Field holds a rank eight treasure, something connected not only to a cultivator’s breakthrough to the Eighth Order, but also possesses the ability to push a world past an Essence World, to a Sacred World. Zhuo Gudao is said to have used it to reach the Martial Emptiness Realm, and he’s already stepped into the second star. That kind of power isn’t something a mere Dao Field can support."

"So what?" The Star Origin Lord growled, "That only proves I misjudged Zhuo Gudao. He betrayed me."

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar shook his head. "If that artifact truly exists, one that can help break through to the Eighth Order and make an Essence World ascend, why didn’t you bring it with you when you entered the Essence Ping World?”