Chapter 1857: Trap and Betrayal

Within the Nebula Forbidden Region, danger lurked at every turn. However, with four Sages working together in full cooperation, most threats could be handled with relative ease. Even the truly dangerous zones could often be avoided if they discovered it in advance.

Despite that, Sage Jin had sighed multiple times along the journey, remarking how the dangers within the Nebula Forbidden Region had lessened considerably. He speculated that it was due to the Essence Wilderness World being thrust into the Nebula Forbidden Region, which suppressed many of the threats. After all, the Nebula Forbidden Region had ceased expanding within the Original Star Corner ever since it happened.

"Are you regretting entering the Nebula Forbidden Region so late?" Yuan Ping asked sharply, as usual, cutting straight to the point.

Sage Jin quickly replied, "How could I? In the past, I didn’t have three fellow Sages to aid me like now!"

Zhuo Gudao, growing impatient, asked bluntly, "How much farther do we have to go?! Though the Essence Wilderness World has been shattered and scattered throughout the Nebula Forbidden Region, we can still make out its rough shape. But why does it feel like we’re traveling from one end of the world to the other? Is your soul anchored in some remote continent?”

To their surprise, Sage Jin replied calmly, "You’re not wrong. My soul was indeed anchored in one of the continents at the edge of my world." Pausing slightly, he eventually continued, "Have you forgotten? I mentioned before that the sect I hailed from ranked only in the mid to lower tiers among the Elysium-level powers. Naturally, we had no claim to the prosperous central continents."

In truth, if one disregarded the centuries of decline that followed, Sage Jin’s early rise in the Essence Wilderness World bore the unmistakable aura of being the protagonist of the world. His fortune wasn’t unlike Kou Chongxue at all! In fact, if not for Shang Xia emerging as an anomaly in the Essence Luxuriant World, Kou Chongxue’s rise would have fit the mold of a world’s chosen hero perfectly.

"Anyway, we should be close now," Sage Jin said in a low voice, glancing at the crimson light that guided their path.

The next second, Shang Xia felt a rising unease in his heart, as though he had overlooked something critical. But no matter how he tried, he couldn’t recall what it was.

Just then, the Cloud Rune Stone Mysterious World hanging from his waist stirred. Without drawing attention, he brushed his fingers across it. At the instant of contact, the voice of True Immortal Su Chi rang quietly in his ears. "Sage Jin anchored his soul essence in the Fen Continent. When Qin Ming invaded, that was the very first place to fall."

Shang Xia’s heart went cold. He immediately halted his flight, breaking formation with the others.

The other three ahead quickly noticed his abrupt stop and turned to look at him.

Shang Xia raised his head, his gaze sharp and steady as he looked straight at Sage Jin. "Sage Jin, do you know where Sage Qin Ming first began his invasion of the Essence Wilderness World?"

Sage Jin froze briefly, then shook his head. "I’m afraid I do not. In fact, very few know the details of what happened back then."

Yuan Ping and Zhuo Gudao were both quick thinkers. Hearing Shang Xia’s question, they immediately sensed that something was amiss and turned their attention toward him.

Shang Xia’s expression grew solemn. "Then tell me, how many in the Essence Wilderness World knew that you had the inheritance of the Heart Lamp Sect? Did Sage Qin Ming who was once your closest friend, know about it?"

Sage Jin didn’t answer right away. Even his own expression darkened.

The shift in atmosphere was obvious. Yuan Ping and Zhuo Gudao’s expressions turned tense with suspicion.

At last, Sage Jin spoke, his tone uneasy. "You don’t suspect me of setting a trap, do you?"

Shang Xia shook his head. "As we’ve traveled, we’ve passed through the remnants of four or five continents, each shattered beyond belief. The ambient world origin is rich and altered, yes, but not once have we sensed the presence of a World Origin Source."

Yuan Ping interjected, as if to defend Sage Jin, "With the land so fragmented, how could any World Origin Source survive?"

But Zhuo Gudao said gravely, "Exactly. So, how can the World Origin Source connected to his continent remain at all? It makes no sense."

Sage Jin’s expression grew worse. If they were merely guessing that Qin Ming had set a trap with the World Origin Source of the continent, Sage Jin had anchored his soul... What had once seemed like conjecture was now taking the shape of a truth too hard to ignore.

If it really was a trap, then Sage Jin’s hope of reclaiming his fragmented soul was effectively zero. His path to restoring his cultivation would be cut off.

However, Sage Jing was clearly unwilling to give up. Everyone could see it plainly in his eyes.

Yuan Ping hesitated, then said, "Even if it is a trap, there are still four of us here...”

Zhuo Gudao sighed, "But Qin Ming is a fifth star Sage. Also... Do you really think he would come alone?”

Sage Jin’s gaze flickered once more.

Shang Xia toyed with the Cloud Rune Stone Mysterious World in his hand and asked suddenly, "Sage Jin, has the Essence Wilderness World’s Will truly vanished? As one once recognized by it, surely you could still sense if it remains?"

Zhuo Gudao and Yuan Ping both reacted in shock.

"What?! The World’s Will hasn’t perished?"

"How can the World’s Will still exist?"

They both turned their eyes to Sage Jin, clearly expecting an answer.

What greeted them instead was silence, and Sage Jin’s cold, unreadable face.

Even Yuan Ping, who had once seemed tacitly aligned with him, began to edge away. She subtly aligned herself with Shang Xia and Zhuo Gudao.

"Brother Jin Quan," a sudden voice called from deep within the void behind Jin, "so you’ve finally slipped up."

As drifting land fragments parted to either side, a corridor opened in the void behind Sage Jin. A middle-aged man stepped out. His appearance was refined, and three strands of beard remained on his chin. Even though he looked harmless, his presence exuded an unmistakable chill. His overwhelming aura pressed forward, stunning Zhuo Gudao and Shang Xia.

Even though Qin Ming was a fifth star Sage, he shouldn’t have been able to suppress them so thoroughly with his aura alone...

There was no doubt about it! He could receive the assistance of his Heavenly Field!

The only question they had at the moment was why Qin Ming was able to use the power of his Heavenly Field in the Nebula Forbidden Region. When Sage Jin fell into it back then, he had been cut off from the Essence Wilderness Heavenly Field entirely. How could Qin Ming still utilize the power of his Heavenly Field?!

While Shang Xia and Zhuo Gudao reeled in disbelief, Yuan Ping suddenly stepped forward, disregarding Qin Ming’s pressure.

"Why would you do this?" She asked, her voice trembling. Compared to Zhuo Gudao and Shang Xia’s silence, she felt completely hurt by his betrayal.

Sage Jin looked briefly ashamed, but the emotion quickly faded into indifference. "Apologies. I no longer have a choice."

Sage Qin Ming laughed lightly, and from the void corridor behind him descended a faint but distinct World’s Will. The sound of crashing tide echoed forth as a powerful stream of world origin emerged. It brought with it a familiar aura, that of Sage Jin’s soul. At the same time, a flickering soul-flame fused into Sage Jin’s body. World origin poured into him in an endless tide.

In that instant, Sage Jin’s waning cultivation surged back to the fourth star of the Martial Emptiness Realm. With the assistance of the weakened World’s Will, his strength gradually reached the peak of the fourth star.