Chapter 1828: Encirclement At The Edge Of The Spatial Vortex

Shang Xia was very surprised to encounter both Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu, both second star Sages at the edge of the spatial vortex.

In his view, neither of them should have had the ability to maintain their combat strength so far away from their Heavenly Fields.

After Yuan Ling spoke, Shang Xia couldn’t help but ask, “Actually, I’m more surprised by whatever methods you used. It’s just that... I wonder how long you can continue to maintain your combat strength, Sage Pei and Sage Yan...”

The moment he finished speaking, their expressions turned somewhat unnatural.

The smile on Yuan Ling’s face faded noticeably, though he still chuckled in response, "Sage Shang, you seem confident in your abilities. I heard that you once inflicted severe damage on both the Essence Chong Heavenly Field and the Essence Du World... You even took part in plundering a Spirit World in my Essence Ling Heavenly Field. Given such conduct, don’t you think you owe us an explanation?"

Shang Xia couldn’t help but snort nonchalantly, "Oh? And what kind of explanation do you seek?"

Yuan Ling growled, "It’s said that your martial legacy comes from the ancient Heaven Observation Sect. Why not leave that inheritance behind today?"

Shang Xia burst into laughter and spread his arms wide. "My martial inheritance is mine alone. If you three have the ability to take it... By all means, come at me!”

The moment he finished speaking, Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu, unable to hold back any longer, attacked first.

As Shang Xia had noted earlier, they didn’t break through by relying on their own abilities. They relied on their Heavenly Field and now that they were so far away, their combat strength had been significantly weakened.

The fact that they could still maintain their cultivation at the second star was largely due to Yuan Ling’s support. It was also one of the main reasons they were willing to follow his lead to ambush Shang Xia.

Whatever it was, both of them were clear that the support was limited. If the verbal spar between Yuan Ling and Shang Xia dragged on, their strength might falter even before the real battle began.

As such... They chose to take the initiative to attack. So, the two Sages struck first. Pei Yuanji’s two-pronged spear and Yan Yu’s chaotic current closed in from both directions.

Yet, Shang Xia acted as if he hadn’t noticed them at all. His eyes remained fixed solely on Yuan Ling.

The next second, Yuan Ling vanished from his field of perception.

Even so, Shang Xia’s expression did not change. He raised his left hand and pointed at the void while flicking his right wrist. A ray of starlight and a spark of Star Fire intercepted the attacks of the second star Sages.

Unlike his Origin Star Avatar, Shang Xia’s true body which had the enhancement of the Origin Star Robe, possessed the strength of a fourth star Sage. With a simple gesture, he easily neutralized their attacks.

It was then that Yuan Ling, who had vanished earlier, emerged from the void behind him. His hand thrust through the void at Shang Xia’s back.

Turning around abruptly, the four segmented Seven Star Mace was already in his hand. Shang Xia swung it at Yuan Ling’s palm without mercy.

With that, he unleashed the first form of his self-created rank seven art, Shattered Starry Skies!

The power of Yuan Ling’s palm and Shang Xia’s mace crashed in the void, sending invisible shockwaves tens of thousands of miles through the surrounding void.

In that radius, everything turned to dust.

1,000 miles away, Yuan Ling abruptly withdrew his hand. His brows furrowed as he stared into the void where Shang Xia had been. His hand trembled uncontrollably from the earlier impact.

With the turbulence slowly receding, Shang Xia’s figure could be seen 3,000 miles after being sent flying from Yuan Ling’s strike.

After all, Shang Xia’s true cultivation was only at the third star. Even with the Origin Star Robe bolstering his strength, he couldn’t withstand a full strike from a fifth tier Sage like Yuan Ling.

At that moment, Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu seized the opportunity and launched a joint attack. Yuan Ling, still a few thousand miles away, watched keenly, ready to attack again.

Seeing the situation worsen, Shang Xia had no intention of letting them surround him. While Yuan Ling hadn’t yet closed in, he immediately turned to escape.

But under the coordinated efforts of the three Sages, Shang Xia could at best avoid encirclement for the moment. Escaping entirely was another matter. Their attacks came at him relentlessly.

No matter what, the strengthening he received from the Origin Star Robe was temporary at best. He wouldn’t be able to maintain his combat strength at the fourth star forever.

If things kept up, Shang Xia might not be able to hold on before Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu’s power began to falter.

As he made his retreat, Shang Xia did his best to avoid being cornered and began formulating a way to escape.

It was no longer realistic to expect support from Song Zhen and the others. His only option was to survive first and plan later.

Unfortunately for him, Yuan Ling was far too experienced.

Even though Shang Xia had concealed his intentions as best he could, Yuan Ling saw through him at once. "Be careful. Don’t let him slip away!"

Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu, both with long-standing grudges against Shang Xia, were unwilling to let him escape, especially after witnessing his true strength. At the speed he was improving, he would most definitely become a threat in the future. Following Yuan Ling’s lead, they immediately ramped up their attacks, even feigning desperate aggression to make Shang Xia hesitate.

Shang Xia, however, wasn’t intimidated. He knew clearly that of the three, only Yuan Ling posed a true threat. Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu were merely distractions.

Understanding the only way to break out of the encirclement was to do something crazy, Yuan Ling suddenly closed in to within 1,000 miles to suppress Shang Xia’s movements, Shang Xia no longer retreated. Instead, he charged straight at the fifth star Sage.

Merging the projection of the Crimson Soul Tablet into his Seven Star Mace, inner qi from his Big Dipper Star Origin poured into it. Swinging it straight down at Yuan Ling’s skull, Shang Xia unleashed the second form of his rank seven technique, Falling Dipper.

Seven bright spots on the Seven Star Mace seemed to detach as he swung the weapon, turning into seven radiant stars that fell on Yuan Ling. With how close they were, there was no dodging the strike. Yuan Ling had to take it head-on!

Blazing light and searing heat erupted in the void, as if stars in the formation of the Big Dipper was really falling on his head.

"Stop him!" Yuan Ling roared from within the light.

It was a shame Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu had already lost track of Shang Xia’s whereabouts. Even so, with their battle experience, they quickly deduced his likely route of escape based on his previous movements. Pouring their inner qi into their domains to shield themselves, they struck out to block off all possible retreat paths.

As the surging void gradually dispelled the searing light, Yuan Ling, Pei Yuanji, and Yan Yu took up their positions in the void as they sealed off the surrounding space.

Yet... Shang Xia was nowhere to be seen within their encirclement.

"There he is!"

"He’s entered the spatial vortex!”

Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu spotted him at nearly the same moment and yelled to catch Yuan Ling’s attention.

Clearly, the fifth star Sage had noticed Shang Xia earlier than them both. He silently watched the figure at the edge of the spatial vortex with a grave expression. No one dared to give chase.

Pei Yuanji muttered softly, "Entering the spatial vortex alone... What are his chances of survival?"

In response, a cold snort left Yan Yu’s lips, "You’d better hope he never comes back out."