Chapter 1858: Grievance

Sage Jin’s sudden betrayal had not only taken Shang Xia and Zhuo Gudao completely by surprise. It was something even Yuan Ping found difficult to understand.

Now faced with a fifth star Sage empowered by his World’s Will and another at the peak of the fourth star supported by a weakened, but still active World’s Will, Shang Xia, Zhuo Gudao, and Yuan Ping found themselves on the back foot.

Yet while Yuan Ping’s questioning met only silence from Sage Jin, Shang Xia instead turned his gaze to Sage Qin Ming and asked, "I’d like to know... If you’re willing to sacrifice a World Origin Source from an Essence World just to secure Sage Jin’s loyalty, then what exactly do you seek from the three of us?"

Sage Qin Ming, of course, understood that it was the same question Yuan Ping had raised. Just because Sage Jin refused to answer did not mean Qin Ming wouldn’t.

"It’s nothing particularly elaborate," Qin Ming said casually. "I simply want the three of you to venture deeper into the Nebula Forbidden Region for me."

Shang Xia pressed further, "Then what lies in the depths of the Nebula Forbidden Region that’s worth all this scheming?"

Qin Ming answered openly, as though already assured of victory, "Perhaps a path to advance beyond the high-level Martial Emptiness Realm. Perhaps even a gateway to a realm beyond the Chaotic Sea of Stars. Or perhaps clues to ascending to the Eighth Order. Regardless, we need you to blaze a trail to find a safe route deeper."

Shang Xia was about to ask another question, but Sage Jin interrupted him with a cold bark. "Enough with the nonsense. Hurry up and enter the depths of the Nebula Forbidden Region. Don’t even think about escaping!"

After he spoke, Sage Jin flung out two objects. A jade slip landed in Zhuo Gudao’s hand while the other treasure flew toward Yuan Ping.

"One of these jade slips contains the Heart Lamp Sect’s inheritance for gathering scattered soul fragments. The other is a Holy Artifact filled with world origin gathered during my journey to the various worlds all these years. It’s enough for the Essence Hong World to push two more continents to a state of perfection. You can make up for the backlash you suffered when the Spirit Mammoth World was forcefully torn away.”

Then, turning toward Shang Xia, Sage Jin said, "As for you, Sage Shang, I never lied. The likelihood of finding Hollow Heaven Stones is indeed highest in the depths of the Nebula Forbidden Region."

He exhaled slowly, as if relieved. "With this, I’ve fulfilled my promises to you all."

Zhuo Gudao accepted the jade slip with a grim face and scanned it briefly with his divine soul before putting it away.

Yuan Ping, however, didn’t even glance at the pearl that contained world origin. She simply slapped it back toward Sage Jin with a sneer. "There’s no disgrace worse than yours."

Sage Jin caught the pearl and, without any visible reaction, replied, "This pearl belongs to the Essence Hong World. Once this affair is over, I’ll bring it to them anyway."

"Enough talk. Everything has been said. The three of you, on your way now." Qin Ming stepped forward, bringing the full weight of the Essence Frontier Heavenly Field’s power down on them to force them toward the deeper regions of the Nebula Forbidden Region.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Ping stepped into the pressure head-on and charged straight at Sage Jin.

"Careful!" Shang Xia called out in alarm.

Yuan Ping, who was already injured from the backlash from the severance of the Spirit Mammoth World from her Heavenly Field, was no match for two mid-level Sages.

Sage Jin hesitated, perhaps out of guilt, and did not react immediately. However, Qin Ming’s expression turned cold. He sent a palm strike through the void.

The air ahead of her collapsed in layers. Yuan Ping’s charge froze midair, her protective domain shattered, and she spat blood with a sickening grunt before being hurled back at even greater speed.

Shang Xia stepped in to catch her, softening the impact while channeling energy to help dispel the suppression that Qin Ming had inflicted on her.

"Yuan Ping, was this necessary?" Shang Xia asked quietly, frowning as he evaluated Qin Ming’s strength.

"You should’ve used that moment to escape," she replied, her tone full of mockery and clearly unimpressed with his decision.

Only then did Shang Xia notice that Zhuo Gudao had taken the opportunity to flee, turning sharply and rushing back the way they came.

But before he could flee 1,000 miles, the floating fragments of the Essence Wilderness World suddenly shifted, blocking his escape as if directed by an invisible hand.

Only someone who had a connection with the Essence Wilderness World’s Will could have done such a thing. There was only one person present who had the ability to do such a thing...

"Jin Quan, you treacherous dog!" Zhuo Gudao yelled in fury as he turned to flee in another direction.

But Sage Jin had no intention of letting him get away. With a flash, he vanished from Qin Ming’s side and reappeared directly in Zhuo Gudao’s path.

That was the true terror of a Sage who held the geographical advantage. Even if the Essence Wilderness World’s Will was barely holding on, it still allowed him to travel anywhere that it covered.

Knowing escape was no longer an option, especially in such a dangerous place as the Nebula Forbidden Region, Zhuo Gudao stopped dodging and attacked Sage Jin.

His strike was vast and resplendent, filled with diverse, chaotic energies that overwhelmed the senses, enough to trouble anyone of the same level. However...

Sage Jin only sighed at his attempt. "I’ve told you before, you might be strong, but the source of your power is too chaotic!”

With a flash, a golden sword light burst forth. Sage Jin’s radiant blade cleaved through Zhuo Gudao’s torrent of energy, then surged straight at him.

Just that one exchange made it clear: Zhuo Gudao had no chance of breaking through by force.

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Faced with the incoming blade, Zhuo Gudao didn’t dare meet it head-on. He retreated diagonally, weaving to deflect the force behind it.

But that was exactly what Sage Jin wanted. He gave chase, pressing Zhuo Gudao relentlessly.

With no time to chart a proper path through the Nebula Forbidden Region, Zhuo Gudao could only fall back again and again while being forced deeper into the Nebula Forbidden Region.

"Before, I might’ve been helpless. But now that my strength has recovered, even partially, what’s a castoff dog abandoned by the Star Origin Lord compared to me?" Sage Jin’s voice carried a hint of grievance, as if venting frustrations he had long bottled up from his previous dealings with Zhuo Gudao.

Meanwhile, having just helped Yuan Ping, Shang Xia found himself targeted by Qin Ming.