Chapter 1816: The Merchant Fleet

Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar merged directly into Shang Xia's true body, and in that instant, all of the prior conversation between the avatar and the Star Origin Lord became known to him.

Without hesitation, Shang Xia removed the Origin Star Robe from his body and sealed it within a sealed space using his World Establishing Art.

As he drew closer to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field while traversing the void, he sensed Kou Chongxue’s aura resonating with him from afar. The patriarch was clearly stationed at the edge of the heavenly field, ready to receive him.

"What happened?" After they reunited, Kou Chongxue immediately asked upon seeing Shang Xia’s solemn expression.

Shang Xia, after a brief pause, recounted the entire experience of his Origin Star Avatar’s encounter with the Star Origin Lord.

At the end, he added, "The Spirit Abundance World has now completed its ascension to an Essence World. The Spirit Observation World likely isn’t far behind. Combined with the Essence Ping World, there would be 3 Essence Worlds in the same region. What do you think of the Star Origin Lord’s claim that he intends to use the power of multiple Essence Worlds to enter the Eighth Order? How much truth do you think is in that?"

Kou Chongxue thought for a moment. "It’s certain that his attempt to ascend through the Essence Ping alone has failed. But the idea of concentrating the power of several Essence Worlds to make another attempt doesn’t seem like a bluff."

Shang Xia nodded, clearly agreeing with Kou Chongxue’s analysis. "That would explain why he never made a move against my Origin Star Avatar. He probably wanted it to deliver that message to us. He wants to make us submit... Or rather, his next target might very well be our world."

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

But Kou Chongxue shook his head. "Our world is definitely one of his targets. But it may not be the next one."

Shang Xia was puzzled. "You mean the Spirit Observation World and Zhuo Gudao?"

Kou Chongxue still shook his head. "Don’t forget about the Spirit Mammoth World. If the Star Origin Lord was able to plant a spy in the Spirit Abundance World centuries ago, it wouldn’t be surprising if he has an informant in the Spirit Mammoth World as well."

Shang Xia suddenly realized. "I nearly forgot. But the Spirit Mammoth World has already been taken by the Essence Ming World... Could his real target be them?"

Kou Chongxue replied, "It’s not impossible. The last we heard, Yuan Ping is only at the third star of the Martial Emptiness Realm. Even if the Spirit Mammoth World entered the Essence Ming Heavenly Field, it doesn’t mean Yuan Ping would enter the fourth star. After all... That’s the step that marks the difference between a low-level and mid-level Sage. It’s not easily crossed."

Shang Xia thought aloud, "My Origin Star Avatar couldn’t fully discern the Star Origin Lord’s strength. Although he has rebuilt his body, his power hasn’t returned to its peak. When the Spirit Abundance World completed its ascension, the resulting rise in his aura revealed that he likely broke through to the fifth star."

"Even if the Star Origin Lord possesses unfathomable techniques, to conquer the entire Essence Ming Heavenly Field with just that much... It seems a little far-fetched.”

Kou Chongxue nodded slowly. "Indeed. Even with the Spirit Mammoth World working on the inside and with Zhuo Gudao and Cang Xuan aiding him... Launching a campaign against a fully established Heavenly Field isn’t easy and victory isn’t guaranteed. Unless... He wishes to ally with us!”

The possibility caught Shang Xia off guard. But upon reflection, it wasn’t entirely implausible.

From the exchange between Shang Xia's Origin Star Avatar and the Star Origin Lord, there had been moments where the latter seemed to be expressing goodwill, especially since he only attacked after the avatar tried to flee. His actions seemed more to be on the probing side rather than an actual intent to destroy Shang Xia.

"Your Origin Star Avatar shouldn’t be roaming around so freely anymore," Kou Chongxue advised. "At the very least, don’t let him enter other Heavenly Fields without caution."

Shang Xia mused, "What if we leaked news that the Star Origin Lord has rebuilt his body but hasn’t yet recovered his peak strength? What do you think would happen?"

Kou Chongxue snorted and turned back to return to the Essence Luxuriant World. Without turning to look at Shang Xia, he said, "Not much. Even if he’s taken a different path, the space around the Spirit Abundance World holds 3 Essence Worlds and it’s no weaker than a Heavenly Field. Even peak-tier Sages might not dare to provoke him."

He paused slightly, then added, "Still... We still have to stir up some shit whenever possible.”

Shang Xia quickened his pace through the void to catch up with Kou Chongxue. Both Sages returned to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field together and quickly immersed themselves in cultivation once more.

They both understood well that although the Heaven Observation Field’s fall and the division of worlds appeared settled on the surface, the true storm was only beginning. Their only chance to survive the coming upheaval, and to protect their world, was to strengthen themselves as much as possible.

Kou Chongxue was already close to breaking through to the second star of the Martial Emptiness Realm. With the blessing of the Heavenly Field, Shang Xia was gradually approaching the fourth star. However, unless some extraordinary opportunity arose, neither would be able to advance rapidly in a short time.

While both of them delved into deep cultivation, Shang Xia once again deployed his Origin Star Avatar.

But thanks to Kou Chongxue’s earlier warning, he did not linger near other Heavenly Fields. Instead, he focused on monitoring the space surrounding the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field, also covertly protecting fleets that had been dispatched out to the sea of stars for exploration.

Ever since the encounter in the Spirit Abundance World’s void, where the Star Origin Lord had easily seized his Origin Star Robe, Shang Xia had resolved not to keep it near him until he fully uncovered its secrets.

In fact, on the way to the Spirit Abundance World after receiving his Origin Star Avatar’s distress signal, Shang Xia had clearly sensed a force probing near the region of his 7th star arranged in the Big Dipper formation. Fortunately, the intruder found nothing.

Only later, after reuniting with his Origin Star Avatar, did Shang Xia realize that moment had coincided with the Star Origin Lord’s attempt to use the robe to deduce the location of his Fate Star.

Too bad for the Star Origin Lord, Shang Xia had no such Fate Star.

Even the cluster of stars he had refined was not meant to function as a Fate Star.

In fact, since entering the Seven Star Realm, Shang Xia had discovered he could swap out those 7 suns at any time without significantly affecting his cultivation or combat strength, so long as he completed the change within a certain timeframe.

Not too long into their time in peaceful cultivation, another transmission from Shang Xia’s Origin Star Avatar roused them from their deep meditation.

A massive merchant fleet from the direction of the newly ascended Spirit Abundance World was headed straight to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field.