Chapter 1834: Fourth Star of the Seven Star Realm

Within the vast and boundless chaotic streams, two Spirit Worlds moved in tandem against the flow, always maintaining equal distance as they advanced upstream.

The process lasted for nearly a full month. With Shang Xia and his Origin Star Avatar pushing in unison, and the help of multiple Star Ships, both worlds shifted over 10,000,000 miles against the pull of the vortex.

By then, the strength of the chaotic streams had significantly weakened, and the impact on the worlds was greatly reduced. With the formation that balanced the forces of attraction between the worlds intact, they were almost completely insulated from the pull of the spatial vortex.

With that, the relocation efforts came to a temporary end, and the cultivators and Beast Kings of the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost World no longer had to worry about being dragged into the great spatial vortex.

Still, Shang Xia sighed regretfully as he explained to the Ying Brothers and the Giant Ape King, "We could have pushed the worlds even further, but doing so would have placed them dangerously close to the Original Stars Corner, where lost travelers or stray ships can easily find you."

The Ying Brothers understood it better than the Giant Ape King. After all, they had once fled that very region, suffering heavy losses at the hands of the Three Fleet Star Pirate Alliance before being forced into the giant spatial vortex.

Both the Ying Brothers and the Giant Ape King expressed sincere gratitude to Shang Xia, and all agreed that their current location was sufficiently safe.

However, Shang Xia cautioned, "The expansion of the spatial vortex may not stop. It can once again accelerate its absorption, and its pull might spread further upstream. At that point, your worlds can once again be dragged into its grasp."

Despite the warning, the Ying Brothers and the Giant Ape King seemed to regard that possibility as non-existent.

Of course, they might also have had their own motives for not pushing the issue.

Shang Xia made no further comment on their stance. He simply instructed Song Zhen to lead his team in assisting both worlds as they recovered from the displacement. He also distributed part of the high-grade resources that had been brought from the Starsea Market aboard the large Star Ship.

Those treasures had been specifically chosen by Song Zhen and Zhu Nang during their evacuation due to their value and quality. For the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost World that were isolated within the spatial vortex and cut off from wider trade, they were critically needed resources.

Shang Xia did not leave immediately after the worlds were secure. Once the two worlds had been moved and the Origin Star Avatar fused back into him, he suddenly sensed an opportunity. It was a chance to break through to the fourth star and become a mid-level Sage!

After assigning Song Zhen and the others to help with the recovery of the world, Shang Xia ventured alone into the deeper parts of the spatial vortex.

That alone distinguished him from other Sages. Shang Xia could attempt a breakthrough outside his native world!

From the moment he had advanced to the Six Direction Realm, Shang Xia’s soul had been branded into the World Origin Source connected to the You Continent. That meant that his cultivation was supposed to be tied to the Essence Luxuriant World, requiring him to return before trying anything.

Even his breakthroughs to the first and second star of the Seven Star Realm had been completed in the Essence Luxuriant World.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Those experiences had only reinforced his belief that his path forward was increasingly independent of his world which would seem inconceivable to most Sages.

Yet for Shang Xia, severing all shackles and relying entirely on himself had always been his goal.

Although he hadn’t yet cut all ties with the Essence Luxuriant World, and still sought mutual benefit from that connection, he had consciously maintained a measured balance. It was enough to remain useful, but he wouldn’t be tied down to it.

Under his subtle influence, even the Essence Luxuriant World’s Will seemed to have gradually accepted and adapted to their loosely tethered relationship.

This philosophy was likely also understood by Kou Chongxue, which was why they had been able to collaborate so closely on the rise of the Essence Luxuriant World.

Once Shang Xia had distanced himself from both worlds and reached a secure position deep within the void, far enough that his advancement would not disturb either world, he carved out a pocket of stable space and began the breakthrough process to the fourth star.

His current cultivation was already at the peak of the third star, and after refining some of the energy from the core of the great spatial vortex, he reached the very limit.

Moreover, his effort in pushing the two worlds through the void had sharpened his senses and allowed him to capture the fleeting opportunity to break his limit.

Entering deep meditation, the seven stars around his Big Dipper Star Origin started to slowly light up again. Inner qi overflowed from the Big Dipper Star Origin, lighting up the first star, the second, and then the third..

After fully illuminating the third, some energy still remained.

Now, Shang Xia’s task was to channel the remaining energy into the fourth star. If he succeeded in igniting it, he would officially enter the fourth star, becoming a mid-level Sage.

However, the bottleneck was no small hurdle.

Advancing from the third to fourth star marked the transition from low to mid-level. It was a significant threshold. Worse still, in the depths of the void, Shang Xia could not draw upon the energy of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field to assist him. He had to rely solely on his personal reserves.

As such, the cost and effort required were far greater than before.

The fourth star seemed like a bottomless pit, endlessly devouring his inner qi, yet still showing no sign of ignition.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, the Crimson Soul Tablet once again came to his aid.

Sensing Shang Xia’s struggle, it voluntarily began peeling off portions of the energy it had previously refused to release.

Powered by his Seven Star Seven World Spiritual Stabilization Art, Shang Xia quickly refined the new batch of energy into inner qi, replenished his Big Dipper Star Origin, and directed it into the fourth star.

Finally, a faint light flickered within it. Though not yet as radiant as the three closer stars, the flickering glow held an unmistakable, enduring brilliance. It was a light that signified an unyielding, immortal will.