Chapter 1829: Secret Hidden In The Spatial Vortex

Outside the spatial vortex...

Yuan Ling, along with second star Sages Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu, continued to linger in the void ten thousand miles from the edge of the great vortex.

3 Sages formed a semicircular encirclement, completely cutting off any chance of Shang Xia circling around the vortex and escaping in another direction. They held their positions until they saw with their own eyes that he had no choice but to enter the vortex.

The moment Shang Xia’s figure began to fade into the vortex, Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu could no longer support their combat strength. Though their cultivation still appeared to be at the second star, their actual combat strength had already fallen to the level of the first star. It was barely stronger than a clone.

Yuan Ling wasn’t surprised. He shot them a glance before mumbling, "If the two of you can’t find a way to maintain your combat strength outside your Heavenly Fields, it’ll be extremely detrimental to the development of your worlds."

Pei Yuanji gave a bitter smile at his advice while Yan Yu remained silent.

Seeing their reactions, Yuan Ling shook his head slightly before saying, "Although our plan to lure Shang Xia from the Essence Luxuriant World using that merchant fleet was eventually seen through, the result is still acceptable. My Essence Ling Heavenly Field suffered greatly back then and this can be considered a small act of revenge."

Yan Yu quickly suggested, "Now that Shang Xia has been forced into the vortex and faces almost certain death, there is only Kou Chongxue in the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field! He’s a first star Sage... Why don’t we press our advantage? If the three of us attack their Heavenly Field together... We can split it in three?”

"Hah! If you want to seek humiliation or even death, don’t drag us down with you." Yuan Ling unceremoniously cut Yan Yu off, then added, "This time, I targeted Shang Xia for revenge, nothing more."

Yan Yu was irritated by the blunt dismissal, but he didn’t dare show it. He only feigned his surprise.

Pei Yuanji gave a light chuckle and said, "Sage Yan simply didn’t understand the bigger picture. I admit, even I am curious... Sage Yuan, why are you unwilling to invade the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field? Please enlighten us."

As he spoke, Pei Yuanji even shot a glance at Yan Yu.

Suppressing his anger, Yan Yu said solemnly, "I was born in a lesser Heavenly Field and know little of the deeper secrets of the Chaotic Sea of Stars. I hope Sage Yuan can enlighten us."

Seeing how both Sages were showing him deference, Yuan Ling seemed satisfied and he explained, "Very well. It’s not a huge secret. I simply don’t want to provoke the Star Origin Lord. He awakened recently and established the Three Essence Heavenly Field.”

"The Star Origin Lord?"

Yan Yu was stunned at first, but then seemed to realize something. His expression shifted as he asked, "So the Three Essence Heavenly Field already considers the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field its own?"

Pei Yuanji added, "I heard that the Star Origin Lord hasn’t fully recovered after awakening. Sage Yuan Ling, even you don’t wish to confront him?”

There was a faint tone of provocation in Pei Yuanji’s remark.

But Yuan Ling didn’t seem bothered. Instead, he posed a question of his own. "Over 1,000 years ago, the Heaven Observation Sect was destroyed by the combined forces of the major powers of the Chaotic Sea of Stars. Yet today, all the rulers of the various realms are stuck at mid-level of the Martial Emptiness Realm. Don’t you find that strange?"

Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu exchanged a glance. To have cultivated to their current level and become leaders of their Heavenly Fields, they weren't fools. They were shrewd and calculating. They understood Yuan Ling’s implication immediately, and their expressions darkened.

Yuan Ling continued, "A newly ascended Sage has a lifespan of at most 1,000 years. Over 1,000 years ago, at the time of the Heaven Observation Sect’s destruction, most of us had not even been born. Where did the Sages who actually participated in its destruction go? Don’t tell me you think they’ve all died of old age?"

Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu bowed in unison. “Sage Yuan, please enlighten us.”

Yuan Ling chuckled in response. "Actually, I don’t really know."

Their faces showed evident surprise, prompting Yuan Ling to rein in his teasing expression. He pointed toward the distant edge of the vortex. "However, over 1,000 years ago, when the Heaven Observation Sect was destroyed, this very spatial vortex also began to swell, just like it is doing now. After the Heaven Observation Sect’s fall and the disappearance of those responsible for orchestrating it, the vortex shrank back to its normal size."

Yan Yu’s eyes flickered as he asked, "Sage Yuan... Do you mean the vortex’s expansion means those hidden experts are returning?"

Yuan Ling revealed a half smile before asking a question of his own. “Why must they be returning? What if it’s us who are leaving??

"Lea-leaving?" Pei Yuanji frowned in confusion.

Yuan Ling said, "Aren’t you curious where those people went? Have you never wondered why this stretch of space is called the Chaotic Sea of Stars? Do you think there might be other regions beyond this, places where worlds like ours gather as well?"

At that, both Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu fell silent.

Yuan Ling also said no more. He clasped his hands behind his back and stared into the distance toward the great vortex, his expression solemn. Yet... Within that solemnity was a trace of... yearning?

After a long pause, Yan Yu exhaled softly and asked, "Sage Yuan, if what you said is true, and some of those ancient experts really return to the Chaotic Sea of Stars... What should we do?"

Yuan Ling said quietly, "Perhaps someone still knows what truly happened, but too few traces remain. What we do know is this. At the very least, that person who remains from the Heaven Observation Sect in the Three Essence Heavenly Field must know the truth. As for us, the right path is to strengthen ourselves and accelerate the growth of our Heavenly Fields. That, at least, cannot be wrong."

Neither Pei Yuanji nor Yan Yu spoke again for a while.

The meaning behind Yuan Ling’s words was already clear. Both of them understood their situation well enough.

Both the Essence Chong Heavenly Field and Essence Du Heavenly Field had nearly no room left for development in the short term. Both Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu relied heavily on the support of their Heavenly Fields even as second star Sages. With their Heavenly Fields stuck in a state of stagnation, personal advancement in cultivation levels was practically impossible.

In such circumstances, if what Yuan Ling said really came to pass... Banding together and forming a united front would be unavoidable.

As for who would be in charge once the Essence Ling Heavenly Field, Essence Chong Heavenly Field, and Essence Du Heavenly Fields formed an alliance... Only a dumbass wouldn’t know the answer to that question.