Chapter 1843: Outside the Forbidden Region

"I have one last question. Aside from me, who else have you invited for this trip into the Nebula Forbidden Region?" Shang Xia looked directly at Sage Jin as he asked the question.

Sage Jin was slightly taken aback but soon smiled and asked in return, "Why do you ask, Sage Shang? Do you not think the two of us are enough?"

Shang Xia shook his head and snorted, "Sage Jin, you spent centuries laying down roots in the Spirit Abundance World and even managed to place your representative as the chief guardian of the 6th Starsea Market. No matter how you look at it, I don’t believe you will approach the Nebula Forbidden Region so hastily without a proper plan."

Sage Jin roared with laughter at that. He pointed at Shang Xia and continued, "No wonder your Essence Luxuriant World could rise so swiftly after the Star Curtain was lifted. You even managed to shake off the Star Origin Lord’s control! Heh... You’re impressive indeed.”

After a pause, Sage Jin's expression turned serious. "You’re right. Besides the two of us, there are two more Sages who will take part in the operation. Also... I think you may be quite familiar with both of them."

In the Yuancheng Star Field of the Chaotic Sea of Stars...

Though it was a remote region, the region actually linked several Heavenly Fields. It could be considered a core region in the Chaotic Sea of Stars, connecting many different powers.

Both the Nebula Forbidden Region and the Essence Frontier Heavenly Field that Sage Jin had mentioned earlier were located somewhere there.

Three days after their first meeting, Sage Jin led Shang Xia to the Yuancheng Star Field.

For two mid-level Sages, three days normally wouldn’t be enough to cross even a portion of the Chaotic Sea of Stars. However, with Sage Jin’s guidance, they found a void tunnel hidden in the ruins of a destroyed world some hundreds of thousands of miles from the 6th Starsea Market. It was a stable void tunnel carved out over time by Star Beasts.

After crossing it, they arrived at the outer edge of the Yuancheng Star Region.

There, Shang Xia met the other two companions for their expedition.

Just as Sage Jin had said, both were indeed familiar faces. One in particular, he knew quite well.

"Zhuo Gudao... I didn’t think it would be you.”

Shang Xia was surprised but not entirely caught off guard. Somehow, the old freak’s appearance strangely made sense.

What truly shocked him, however, was the aura now radiating from Zhuo Gudao. He had already reached the third star of the Martial Emptiness Realm.

The last time Shang Xia encountered him, Zhuo Gudao had just revealed that he had broken into the second star. Barely a few years had passed since then, and yet he had advanced again.

Shang Xia suspected that Zhuo Gudao’s rapid progress might be tied to the Spirit Observation World’s promotion into an Essence World, but there were still many things that didn’t add up. Whatever it was, it wasn’t the time to question them.

One had to know that the first time Zhuo Gudao clashed with Shang Xia, he had just become a Sage and Shang Xia was a high-level True Immortal! Less than 20 years had passed since their first exchange, and Shang Xia’s appearance hadn’t changed much. He still looked like a youngster with his powerful vitality. Even so, he had already surpassed him and became a mid-level Sage on par with Sage Jin!

Zhuo Gudao, who was in the third star himself, understood how difficult it was to make another breakthrough. It was no less difficult than reaching the Martial Emptiness Realm from the Martial Void Realm!

Moreover... At least one could use advancement medicines when breaking through to the Martial Emptiness Realm!

Going from the third star to the fourth star wasn’t something that could be relied on external treasures. It had to be done through the constant accumulation.

"Sage Shang, it’s been a long time. I see you’ve reached a new level again. Congratulations!" Zhuo Gudao said calmly, showing no trace of the storm in his heart.

"Thanks," Shang Xia replied blandly.

His gaze then shifted to the other person standing beside Zhuo Gudao. That was another third star Sage, and she was a woman at that.

"And this is...?"

He had a faint guess, but lacked confirmation.

Sage Jin quickly made the introductions. "This is Sage Yuan Ping from the Essence Hong World.”

A look of realization appeared on Shang Xia’s face, and he cupped his fists politely. “Well met!”

Yuan Ping smiled and replied, "Sage Shang is a young prodigy. All of us can only look on with envy..."

Shang Xia waved his hand modestly and quickly replied, "I’m flattered. You’re giving me too high of a praise...”

From the timeline, from the Azure Origin Calendar to the fusion of the worlds to create the Spirit Luxuriant World... To the 40th or so year of the Spirit Luxuriant Calendar to the 10th year of the Essence Luxuriant Calendar... Shang Xia felt that he could hardly be called a young prodigy any longer.

Still, thanks to the rapid rise of his cultivation early on and its impact on his longevity, his youthful appearance had remained.

And, in fairness, compared to the three present elders who had each cultivated for 300 to 500 years or more, Shang Xia could still be considered a young man.

Sage Jin laughed and interrupted all of them. "Now that we’re all acquainted, let’s head to the Essence Frontier Heavenly Field. Since there are four of us, they will notice us if we linger too long.”

As he spoke, Sage Jin tossed out a small golden Star Ship which was longer and larger than what Shang Xia had.

When all of them boarded, it shot through the void instantly, leaving behind a long trail of golden light. It didn’t last long as they disappeared into the darkness in the next second.

Inside the ship, Shang Xia sat by the window, watching the stars stream past. He couldn't help but marvel at its speed.

From the stern, Sage Jin said, "At this pace, we should reach the edge of the Nebula Forbidden Region in two days. Once there, I’ll take you to the void tunnel I used to escape all those years ago."

Zhuo Gudao suddenly spoke. "Are you sure that tunnel still exists? Or that it’s never been discovered after all these years?"

Sage Jin remained impassive. "I can't be sure. But tell me, Sage Zhuo... How many options do we really have left? Do you plan to end up like me, struggling for centuries while your cultivation slowly slips away?"

Sage Jin's words caused Shang Xia to stare at Zhuo Gudao silently.