Chapter 1850: Talisman Sword’s Guidance vs Crimson Soul Tablet’s Guidance

Even with Shang Xia’s cultivation having reached the mid-level Seven Star Realm, which placed him at the peak of the power pyramid in the Chaotic Sea of Stars, he still had no choice but to retreat in the face of the massive spatial collapse and the torrent it had triggered.

While watching from a distance and sensing the surge, he vaguely caught sight of something swept away within it, something that looked remarkably like a Hollow Heaven Stone. It disappeared in the blink of an eye.

If he hadn’t been mistaken, that Hollow Heaven Stone seemed unusually large.

Deeply regretful, Shang Xia patted the Cloud Rune Stone Mysterious World tied to his waist and muttered with dissatisfaction, "You survived this long with some of the Heart Lamp Sect’s disciples. Did you really not discover the existence of Hollow Heaven Stones? Sage Jin mentioned that the Nebula Forbidden Region, having fully absorbed the Essence Wilderness World, now produces Hollow Heaven Stones."

Su Chi’s voice responded from the jar, tinged with unease. "Senior, I truly know nothing of that! To say I wandered the Nebula Forbidden Region with the Heart Lamp Sect’s last disciples would be untrue. We were practically hiding within the Mysterious World like turtles in their shells. I know very little about the situation outside. Even so, we barely held on for 100 years before hope ran out. After I died of old age, the rest fell into total despair..."

"What a bunch of useless fools," Shang Xia muttered. "They pooled all their remaining resources to build the Cloud Rune Stone Mysterious World, but beyond that, the Heart Lamp Sect's survivors took no steps to save themselves. They just hid inside and lied to each other till despair consumed them, and they turned to killing each other."

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He no longer cared to hear more.

At present, there were no floating islands or land fragments around him. It was just an empty stretch of void.

Shang Xia now faced a dilemma. He had just escaped being trapped by the raging spatial torrent. Yet when he reactivated the Talisman Sword for guidance, he sensed a faint reaction from the Crimson Soul Tablet in his mind. The problem was that the directions indicated by the two were entirely different.

Should he follow the Talisman Sword to quickly locate Sage Jin’s exit route and regroup with the other Sages? Or should he follow the Crimson Soul Tablet’s signal to investigate further?

Logic suggested the former. It was safer and more prudent.

But as he felt the stirring of the Crimson Soul Tablet, Shang Xia ultimately chose the latter.

His rising cultivation and the progressive restoration of the Crimson Soul Tablet had made their connection stronger than ever. From the faint signal it gave, Shang Xia could already tell that it had detected a location resembling a World Origin Source, a place filled with dense world origin.

Temporarily sealing and storing away the Talisman Sword, Shang Xia began cautiously navigating the dangerous Nebula Forbidden Region, guided only by the faint pull from the Crimson Soul Tablet.

Meanwhile, in another part of the Nebula Forbidden Region, Sage Jin had already reunited with Yuan Ping at some unknown point. The two now stood atop a half-submerged formation barrier embedded in the void, where an old but intact Talisman Sword swam like a fish within.

Just moments earlier, the Talisman Sword had been activated, its tip pointing in a clear direction.

But shortly after, it lost its bearing, swaying aimlessly inside the formation.

"Did it lock onto the target?" Yuan Ping glanced at the wooden Guardian Talisman Sword in Sage Jin’s hand. It had just pointed in the same direction as the other Talisman Sword before losing the connection.

Sage Jin retrieved the floating sword and replied calmly, "It was too brief. He clearly anticipated this and quickly blocked the connection. Even if we go in that direction now, he’s likely already gone. And it won’t be easy to find him either."

Yuan Ping smiled lightly, not at all surprised. "Everyone has their secrets. In a place this dangerous, no one is going to trust anyone easily."

Sage Jin sighed. "I never meant harm when I invited them. I made no false promises. Whether it’s the Hollow Heaven Stones Shang Xia needs or the solution to Zhuo Gudao’s soul fragmentation, both might be found in this Nebula Forbidden Region. If only we trusted each other, everything would be easier."

Yuan Ping scoffed. "Even if you mean no harm, I doubt your motives for entering this Nebula Forbidden Region are so simple."

Sage Jin paused, choosing not to respond. Instead, he turned and said softly, "At least you still trust me."

"Hah!" she sneered. "I don’t trust you either. I’m just desperate to find a way to break through to the mid-level of the Martial Emptiness Realm."

Sage Jin frowned. "Is this about the Spirit Mammoth World? Honestly, I didn’t expect you to come. I thought you’d stay in your Essence Hong Heavenly Field to prevent their ascension."

She snorted and smiled bitterly. "Heh, the Star Origin Lord really deserves his reputation as someone who survived the annihilation of the Heaven Observation Sect over 1,000 years ago, even when all the major Heavenly Fields allied with those from beyond. His schemes and foresight are truly unmatched."

Sage Jin shook his head. "Not entirely. His plan to reach the Eighth Order through his scheme that ran for 1,000 years ultimately failed."

Yuan Ping disagreed. "That only proves he chose the wrong path. His plan was solid. Even in failure, he still managed to manipulate us, rebuild his true body, and remain at the peak of the Chaotic Sea of Stars."

Sage Jin looked at her closely, sensing something unfamiliar in her tone. "What are you trying to say? This isn’t like you."

She didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, she stared into the void. "Nothing. I’ve just decided to try a different path, since the one I’ve followed for over 100 years has led nowhere."

Sage Jin stared at his old friend of several centuries, suddenly realizing something. He asked grimly, "You chose to cooperate with the Star Origin Lord? You came here deliberately to avoid being there for the Spirit Mammoth World’s ascension?”

She remained silent and indicated her quiet confirmation of his suspicions.

Sage Jin understood she had only revealed things because she had passed the point of no return. Though he was confused and even angry about why she could conceal it, he knew it was too late. With a heavy heart, he sighed, "You’ve made a deal with a tiger. You’re risking an entire Heavenly Field on a promise. Even if the Spirit Mammoth World succeeds and the Star Origin Lord keeps his word, its detachment from your Essence Hong Heavenly Field will tear the Heavenly Field apart. Even you will be affected..."

Before he could finish, Yuan Ping chuckled bitterly. "It’s too late. It already happened.”

Sage Jin turned abruptly and saw blood seeping from the corners of her mouth and nose.

Her cultivation, once at the peak of the third star of the Martial Emptiness Realm started to fluctuate before beginning its collapse.