Chapter 1831: Escape and Regroup

Shang Xia, lured by the energy contained in that formless column erupting from the center of the great vortex, allowed the Crimson Soul Tablet to draw too much of it. Because of that, he was thrown into great danger. He had nearly been consumed by the vortex’s increasingly violent upheaval.

Fortunately, at the most critical moment, he relied on the guidance of the 7 suns to retrieve his bearings amid the vortex's interference.

Though during the process his physical body, his dantian, and even his soul conveyed the same message... He was headed in the wrong direction.

However, Shang Xia’s will had never been more resolute. He believed with unshakable certainty that following the 7 suns was the true key to escaping the vortex’s grasp.

Even though everything he sensed told him he was drawing closer to the vortex’s core, even his eyes, he never wavered for even a second.

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Then came a second confirmation. Despite what his senses indicated, the Crimson Soul Tablet was now finding it increasingly difficult to absorb the energy from the formless column at the core of the vortex.

That proved without a doubt that Shang Xia was moving further away from it.

The further he went, the harder it became for the tablet to absorb that energy. If he had relied purely on his willpower to move in the direction of the 7 suns, the feedback from the Crimson Soul Tablet only gave him an easier time when making his decisions.

He didn’t know how long had passed, perhaps an hour or two, perhaps an entire day. Though the vortex’s distortion and disorientation still persisted, he could clearly sense that it had weakened significantly.

Of course, it was possible that he had merely adapted to it. However, he knew deep down that he was indeed moving away from the center of the vortex.

The reason was simple. If he had been wrong, he would have been swallowed by the vortex long ago.

Staring into the void, where the stars were no longer smeared into afterimages but merely appeared slightly blurred, Shang Xia knew he had chosen the right path.

What he didn’t know was how much time had passed since he had fallen into the vortex.

After all, the vortex not only distorted perception but also warped his sense of time.

As he slowly made his way out, a faint insight rose in his heart. Perhaps not much time had passed at all. Soon, he would likely be able to determine exactly how long he had struggled within the vortex’s depths.

The next second, Shang Xia sensed a subtle shift in the void around him, a faint indication of energy from another source.

He reacted instantly. It was something he had never encountered while battling the vortex’s distortions, but it was not unfamiliar to him.

It was a phenomenon he would usually notice right before entering the chaotic streams.

Both his senses and his inner qi started to correct themselves, gradually purging the confusion caused by the vortex’s twisted influence.

Ironically, the readjustment left him briefly more disoriented, making it harder to trust his own senses. The safest approach, then, was to pause and let his senses fully stabilize.

However, because of the unwavering guidance of the 7 suns, Shang Xia felt no fear of getting lost anymore. He continued pressing forward in the same direction once he felt better while the flow of chaotic space around him grew stronger. In fact, it became so strong that it started to twist his domain.

Then, all at once, Shang Xia exhaled deeply. His eyes cleared as he turned back to look into the distant vortex while feeling a lingering chill in his heart.

There was no doubt about it. He just made a U-turn from the gates of hell.

Sensing the flow of time, Shang Xia discovered that not much time had passed since he entered the spatial vortex. In fact, less than a day had passed.

Feeling the increasing intensity of the chaotic streams around him, Shang Xia showed no signs of panic. Instead, he heaved a sigh of relief.

Not only had he escaped the pull of the vortex’s core, but he had also inadvertently crossed it entirely. From the now-familiar feel of the surrounding currents, he was certain that, while the exact path was a little off, he had entered the chaotic streams between the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost World.

Distancing himself from the vortex, the chaotic streams intensified, but it only served to reassure Shang Xia that he had finally left the danger behind.

He took out the Star Chart he had obtained from the Stargazers of the institution before leaving the Essence Luxuriant World. He started to find his location in the void to chart a path to the Spirit Ruling World.

With the distortions from the vortex gone, he found himself far from his intended path. However, he quickly found his way.

With that, he no longer needed the guidance of the 7 suns. It didn’t take long for him to rush to the Spirit Ruling World.

He didn’t have to navigate the chaotic streams for long. Although the turbulent void still disrupted his soul, to someone like Shang Xia, it was hardly a problem. Moreover, his senses were much clearer in the chaotic streams now that he was a Sage.

To his surprise, he soon noticed signs that someone else had recently passed through.

Could it be...?

Despite a flicker of hope igniting in his heart, Shang Xia didn’t dare expect too much. Instead, he immediately sped up.

Thankfully, his guess was quickly confirmed.

In less than an hour, his divine soul pierced through the void currents and caught traces of several Star Ships traveling through the chaotic streams.

Suppressing his surprise, Shang Xia drew closer to the fleet.

It was also then that the fleet ahead detected the overwhelming aura speeding towards them through the chaotic streams. They quickly assumed a defensive formation, bracing themselves.

Through the chaos, Shang Xia could even faintly hear the roaring and cries of giant beasts.

Sensing who they were, his heart stirred. His divine soul had already picked up someone familiar. He reached out a hand toward the fleet and said in a deep voice, "It’s me!"