Chapter 1868: First To Strike

In the depths of the Nebula Forbidden Region, within a fortress built using strange resources by a foreign consciousness, Qin Ming and Sage Jin were attempting to extract secrets from the possessed Zhuo Gudao through some strange method.

As for the True Immortal originally stationed there... It was unclear where he had gone.

"You think the likes of you are worthy to peer into the Martial Eternity Realm? The Eighth Order is something beyond your reach! Even if you learned of an inheritance, the Chaotic Sea of Stars couldn’t possibly bear the birth of an expert at the Martial Eternity Realm! Hahaha... All you're chasing is a delusional fantasy!"

Zhuo Gudao’s eyes were pitch black, and he looked like he had gone mad. Clearly, it was the eerie and unfamiliar consciousness speaking through his body.

"Then who are you, really? Where are you from?" Sage Jin asked calmly, knowing Qin Ming likely knew more about the Nebula Forbidden Region's secrets. He would not let the chance slip by.

"Heh... You think I’d tell you?" The twisted smile on Zhuo Gudao's face became increasingly sinister.

Sage Jin remained expressionless. He was about to continue questioning when Qin Ming suddenly interrupted him. “Brother Jin, there's no need to ask further. It’s not that they won’t speak, they likely know nothing at all."

Sage Jin frowned. "And how would you know?"

Qin Ming smiled and replied, "Brother Jin must’ve forgotten, I mentioned before that I, too, was once corrupted by these things deep within the Nebula Forbidden Region. Fortunately, I discovered it in time and expelled the foreign consciousness through severing a clone. The information I gathered came from that very strange consciousness when it awakened, and because of the unique bond between my clone and me, I can confirm its truth."

Sage Jin's expression turned grim. He took two steps back and growled in a suspicious tone, "You were really corrupted by them?"

Qin Ming appeared unconcerned and changed the subject. "Perhaps we should attempt to awaken Zhuo Gudao's original consciousness. Maybe we can learn something more about the Heaven Observation Sect, or the mysterious Star Origin Lord."

"The Heaven Observation Sect?!" The foreign consciousness possessing Zhuo Gudao suddenly reacted. The twisted smile faded into a confused expression.

It was as if Qin Ming’s mention of the Heaven Observation Sect had struck a buried memory. The look of surprise wasn’t faked. Clearly, the name triggered something, but the memory had been sealed away.

Neither Qin Ming nor Sage Jin missed the opportunity. They asked in unison, "What about the Heaven Observation Sect?"

"What else do you know?"

The confused look vanished, replaced by a cold sneer. "If you want answers, it's simple. Leave the Chaotic Sea of Stars!"

Qin Ming immediately followed up, "How do we leave? What lies beyond it? How many Star Fields are there?"

The foreign will suddenly went silent. In that instant, Zhuo Gudao's breathing and heartbeat stopped.

"Hurry! Awaken his true consciousness, or he might die!" Qin Ming shouted and reached out to press his palm against Zhuo Gudao’s forehead.

But just then, he noticed something strange with Sage Jin.

Spinning around, he saw Sage Jin’s aura fluctuating violently. The power of the Essence Wilderness World’s Will, which had been supporting him, began to dissolve. His cultivation, which had recently recovered to the fourth star of the Martial Emptiness Realm, was rapidly falling. Though Sage Jin struggled to stabilize it, his efforts were futile.

"Brother Jin, you...” Qin Ming frowned. However, his expression quickly shifted. His body instinctively shot backward as he shouted, "What are you doing?!"

Boom!

A muffled shockwave blasted through the void. The supposedly stable region of space shattered under the impact of two Sages clashing at close range.

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Sage Jin’s sudden sneak attack left Qin Ming wounded, not just physically, but with intense fury and confusion over why Sage Jin had acted up.

Sage Jin, however, took the opportunity to seize Zhuo Gudao and, just as his cultivation completely fell from the mid-level of the Martial Emptiness Realm, shattered the seals on Zhuo Gudao’s body.

Though Zhuo Gudao appeared to be in a deathlike trance, his eyes suddenly snapped open as Sage Jin took hold of him. His original consciousness returned in full.

At the same time, Zhuo Gudao’s cultivation plummeted to the third star, barely stabilizing.

Sage Jin’s strength had dropped even further. In fact, he was likely weaker than the newly awakened Zhuo Gudao.

Still, Zhuo Gudao stood silently beside Sage Jin. He quickly formed a united front with Sage Jin to face Qin Ming.

Although his body had been controlled, Zhuo Gudao wasn’t exactly unaware of what had happened. He had witnessed Qin Ming and Sage Jin interrogate the foreign consciousness from within.

"Brother Jin, you’re still suspecting me!" After the initial burst of rage, Qin Ming calmed down and finally understood why he was attacked.

Sage Jin had been empowered by the remnant Essence Wilderness World’s Will, but Qin Ming’s Essence Frontier Heavenly Field ultimately controlled it.

He had seen how tightly the cultivators of the Essence Frontier Heavenly Field guarded the final bastion of the Essence Wilderness World. Even if he went all out, he knew breaking the grand formation alone was nearly impossible.

Just moments ago, he sensed a looming danger. Before he could react, the power of the remnant World’s Will vanished, and he could no longer feel the connection with his soul.

His first thought was that everything was a trap by the Essence Frontier Heavenly Field! Only Qin Ming was capable of something like that...

Neither of them had ever trusted each other. Their alliance had always been based on mutual benefit, and Sage Jin had remained on high alert.

That was why he struck first without hesitation.

"I should never have trusted you!” Sage Jin said coldly, having barely stabilized his collapsing cultivation.