Chapter 1814: Sage Jin Who Lost His World

“Could it be... Is True Immortal Xiong Xin under your command from the very start?”

His question only elicited a soft chuckle from the Star Origin Lord who didn’t even look away from the direction of the Spirit Abundance World.

The next moment, the previously twisted and chaotic space around the Spirit Abundance World was suddenly split from within by a beam of whitish-gold sword light. A surge of massive spiritual radiance, too powerful to be contained, burst forth like a sudden sun rising in the deep void.

"Good... Very good... Star Origin Lord, I didn’t think that you would possess such means... Today, I concede." A cold, sharp voice echoed across the edge of the Spirit Abundance World's void.

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar strained his eyes and, through that immense and dispersing spiritual light, vaguely caught a glimpse of a slightly disheveled figure. Who else could it be other than Sage Jin?

Having broken free from the prison of the Spirit Abundance World, Sage Jin quickly gathered his scattered sword qi and dared not linger. His body merged with the sword light, leaving only a streak of brilliance in the void before vanishing without a trace.

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar asked in surprise, "You’re not going to stop him?"

The Star Origin Lord glanced at him, and with a single look, saw through his intentions. With a calm tone, he replied, "Why should I stop him? After all, centuries of planning collapsed in a day. Isn’t that punishment enough?"

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar smacked his lips and said no more.

He had indeed been suspicious. Even if the Star Origin Lord had rebuilt his true body, perhaps his strength hadn’t yet returned to its peak. Maybe it wasn’t that he chose not to stop Sage Jin, but that he couldn’t. Perhaps he had even orchestrated this whole trap by disguising the Spirit Abundance World’s imminent ascension.

Yet the Star Origin Lord’s composed demeanor made it hard for Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar to be sure.

Of course, it was also possible that this was all just an act on the Star Origin Lord’s part.

After a moment’s thought, Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar added, "Now that Sage Jin has escaped, the damage he caused to the Spirit Abundance World will make it nearly impossible to continue ascending to an Essence World."

The Star Origin Lord roared with laughter in response. "Ah, that’s where you’re mistaken!"

As if to refute Shang Xia’s assessment, the previously distorted and chaotic void had already calmed without him even noticing. The heavenly screen of the Spirit Abundance World, which had been split open by Sage Jin, had sealed itself once more. With rhythmic pulses, concentric ripples spread outward, sending ordered waves through the surrounding void.

With those ripples, Shang Xia could clearly sense that the surrounding void was expanding. The chaotic streams, which had once been just behind him, were now slowly being pushed away by the waves.

Not only was the Spirit Abundance World still maintaining momentum toward ascension, but it even seemed to have reached the final moment of qualitative transformation.

As if he had sensed the doubts swirling in Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar’s mind, the Star Origin Lord turned to him again and explained, "The Spirit Abundance World took in Essence Ping World’s Will. Normally, it would take a long time for different Worlds’ Will to harmonize and merge. But there’s a faster method. You can destroy one of them. And between the two, the Spirit Abundance World’s Will is obviously easier to break apart."

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar immediately asked, "Then why would Sage Jin willingly do it?"

The Star Origin Lord smiled. "Because he’s desperate."

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar wanted to ask why he was desperate, but he held his tongue, knowing the Star Origin Lord would likely continue explaining.

Sure enough, after a short pause, the Star Origin Lord continued, "Sage Jin lost his original world. Without an Essence World to house his soul, his cultivation is like water without a spring, or a tree without roots. He may forcefully maintain it, but it’s incredibly difficult. Over the past few centuries, his strength has dropped from its peak at the fifth star, which was strong enough to slice apart the Star Curtain I created, to the fourth star of the Martial Emptiness Realm. If he can’t find an Essence World soon to host his soul, he might even fall to the third star soon.”

The Star Origin Lord revealed a lot about the Martial Emptiness Realm in just a few short sentences.

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar took a deep breath before he continued to ask, "So, Sage Jin’s urgency to break apart the Spirit Abundance World’s Will wasn’t just about putting the Essence Ping World’s Will in charge of the world. He also hoped that by doing so, it would accept him faster, helping the world ascend and giving him a new home for his soul. But it backfired and he played straight into your hands... You deliberately expelled the Essence Ping World’s Will so you could control it, didn’t you?"

The Star Origin Lord looked at him with a hint of approval. "You’re sharp, to have figured that out."

"Why..." Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar’s voice deepened. "Why are you telling me all this? Just because you think my path of cultivation has some so-called connection to the Heaven Observation Sect? I’ve told you, my breakthrough was through my own martial path. It’s barely related to the sect’s teachings."

As he spoke, the Spirit Abundance World, now nearing the end of its ascension, suddenly burst forth with a vigorous aura. That force surged outward, clearly preparing to break through the final barrier that separated True Immortals from Sages.

But as the aura swept through the void, Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar was struck by surprise yet again.

The person advancing to the Martial Emptiness Realm was not, as he had assumed, True Immortal Xiong Xin, whose cultivation had already reached the grand completion stage of the Martial Void Realm.

Instead, it was Cang Xuan, a high-level True Immortal of the Azure Island, who had risen through the ranks after joining Sage Jin. He also became a sixth tier True Immortal, rivaling Xiong Xin.

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar looked at the Star Origin Lord, his eyes flickering with suspicion, as a certain theory began to form in his mind.

And as if reading his thoughts, the Star Origin Lord gave him a small nod. "You’ve guessed it. If I hadn’t intentionally suppressed the Frost Wave, the Azure Island wouldn’t have solidified its foundations after the heavenly screen was cut open by Sage Jin.”

Steadying himself, Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar growled, "You still haven’t answered my earlier question. Why are you telling me all this?!"