Chapter 1832: New Stargazer, Difficulty

Shang Xia's arrival brought both joy and apprehension to Song Zhen and the True Immortals of the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost World.

Fortunately, Shang Xia’s attention was focused more on how Song Zhen and the others had managed to cross the great spatial vortex, rather than on the expressions of those present.

As he listened to Song Zhen and Zhu Nang briefly recount their experience, a look of surprise appeared on Shang Xia’s face. "So, the reason you were able to resist the vortex’s pull was because of your Stargazer onboard?"

As he spoke, Shang Xia turned his gaze toward a man standing behind the two. The man looked to be in his fifties and was only a Stargazer. He was the Stargazer stationed on their Star Ship.

Sensing Shang Xia’s gaze, the man, already nervous and uneasy, quickly bowed to introduce himself, "I am Zhang Yusheng, a student who entered the institution in the 4th year of the Spirit Luxuriant Calendar. I pay my respects to Sage Shang!”

Shang Xia gave him a small nod. "You did well."

Those simple words of praise made the seemingly calm and aged Stargazer flush with excitement.

Zhu Nang explained, "Stargazer Zhang was originally just a rank three Astrologer. But during this crossing of the great vortex, it was thanks to his accurate guidance that our ship remained right at the edge of the pull. After we were rescued by the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost World, he managed to break through to become a Stargazer!”

"Oh?" Shang Xia was visibly taken aback and looked at Zhang Yusheng again, now with greater appreciation in his eyes.

In recent years, the Tongyou Institution had been putting great effort into supporting Stargazers. However, aside from talents like Yuan Qiuyuan, the latecomer Xin Lu, and Yan Ming, who learned quickly but lacked the foundations, the institution had yet to produce another promising candidate.

Though the institution currently had a few Astrologers stationed on their Star Ships, who were capable of charting routes through the void, they had long lacked a Stargazer capable of independent command.

Now, with Zhang Yusheng’s promotion to the fourth rank, that gap in the institution's stargazing was finally filled.

There was no doubt that once they returned to the Essence Luxuriant World, Zhang Yusheng, who had long been an unremarkable figure, would receive the institution’s full support. Not only because he had helped avert disaster for Song Zhen’s large Star Ship, but also because he was someone who could stand on his own as a Stargazer.

What intrigued Shang Xia even more was the fact that the terrifying distortion of the vortex, capable of affecting even a powerful Sage like himself, had been dealt with so effectively by a Stargazer. He was certain the detail would attract the institution’s attention.

In fact, once the news spread, it might even draw the gaze of worlds across the Chaotic Sea of Stars.

But then again, was it really unknown to the other realms that Stargazers could mitigate the vortex’s influence?

Shang Xia wasn’t sure about others, but he was confident the Star Origin Lord certainly knew.

Finally, Shang Xia looked at the people... and beasts, from the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost Worlds...

Before he could ask, True Immortal Ying Lianxi from the Spirit Ruling World took the initiative and explained, "After the vortex began expanding, we quickly noticed the balance between our worlds destabilizing. We were beginning to slide toward the vortex under the strange pull."

"We immediately contacted the Giant Ape King of the Spirit Frost World, but neither of us had any viable solution. In desperation, we sent a Star Ship to seek help from our former allies... Specifically, to ask for your help, Sage Shang."

Ying Lianxi paused and revealed a bitter smile.

Shang Xia glanced over the people and beast kings from the two worlds, then noticed the calm expressions on Song Zhen and Zhu Nang’s faces. He understood that both sides had clearly communicated prior to his arrival. Sensing something, he asked, "Where did you send them?"

Ying Lianxi’s expression sank. "Because we were in a region with poor communication, we didn’t know that the Heaven Observation Field had fallen, or that the Spirit Tip World had already become a vassal of the Essence Du World. We first sent our envoys to the Spirit Tip World, hoping that through former allies there, they could reach your world and eventually deliver a message to you, Sage Shang..."

Shang Xia turned his gaze to Song Zhen.

It was also then that Song Zhen spoke. "Most likely, when their envoys reached the Spirit Tip World, they were detained, and the matter was reported to Sage Yan Yu. That may have played a role in how they formed an alliance to attack you... Exactly how they came together was unclear, though.”

Ying Lianquan added, "We had originally intended to investigate the vortex’s, but instead encountered Song Zhen, Zhu Nang, and the others, who had been circling near the vortex’s rim and unable to break free. We worked together to pull their ship out."

With that, the sequence of events since Song Zhen and Zhu Nang’s escape from the Starsea Market was essentially laid out.

For the cultivators and beast kings of the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost Worlds, Shang Xia’s appearance might be a little sudden and brought a lot of pressure with it, but in truth, it was a great relief that a Sage like him had come.

They had been thrust into crisis by the vortex’s expansion and had only one hope left, to find Shang Xia. Now, in a twist of fate, he appeared before them.

As for Shang Xia, regardless of whether the two worlds had sought him out, the fact that they had saved Song Zhen and the others was indisputable. He naturally owed them a favor.

As they spoke, the ships had already arrived at the void near the Spirit Ruling World.

Zhang Yusheng, the newly promoted Stargazer, quietly whispered into Shang Xia’s ear, "Sage Shang, I just conducted a rough survey. Comparing the current results with those taken earlier by Grand Stargazers Xin Lu and Yan Ming, it appears that the Spirit Ruling World has shifted significantly, and the speed of its drift seems to be increasing."

After a pause, he added, "But this is only a preliminary assessment. To understand the full situation, we’ll need more time and proper measurements."

Shang Xia nodded. "Go ahead and do what you must. If you need anything, ask Song Zhen or True Immortal Yings from the Spirit Ruling World."

He then turned to Ying Lianxi. "Brother Ying, could you prepare a medium Star Ship for us? I need Zhu Nang to return to the Starsea Market immediately and deliver news of the situation here to inform Patriarch Kou of what is happening."

Ying Lianxi answered without hesitation, "That’s easy enough. Though we only have one large Star Ship, the Spirit Ruling World still has a few medium ones. True Immortal Zhu can follow the direction of the void current upstream and enter the Chaotic Sea of Stars from another path."

As he spoke, he handed a Star Chart to Zhu Nang. It was the very route once taken by the Twin Star Pirates when they fled into the chaotic streams while hunted down by the Three Fleet Star Pirate Alliance, ultimately leading them to the Spirit Ruling World.

At that moment, Song Zhen voiced his concern. "Sage Shang, would Zhu Nang be in danger if he returns to the Starsea Market now?"

Before Shang Xia could reply, Zhu Nang chuckled, "Danger? We’ve crossed the great vortex and lived to tell the tale. If anyone should be worried, it’s Pei Yuanji and Yan Yu!"