Chapter 1903: Exposed

The sudden tremor at the center of the spatial vortex was not only detected by Zhang Yusheng, but also noticed by the Sages aboard several other Star Ships. In fact, they were even more convinced than Zhang Yusheng that it was created by someone, and some even suspected that it was Shang Xia’s doing.

As for the concern of whether a Sage could extend their divine sense across the hundreds of thousands of miles between the vortex’s surroundings and its center, none of the other Sages saw this as an issue at all.

At their level of cultivation, they had long mastered countless secret techniques. Backed by immense factions, they had access to nearly any treasure they desired. While it might be rare, owning one or two artifacts capable of projecting their divine souls across vast distances was entirely plausible.

After all, if Shang Xia lacked such means, he couldn’t have brought back the earlier intelligence about the foreign existence descending through the spatial gate.

Soon, several transmission talismans arrived, asking what had happened. Shang Xia gave it some thought but decided not to hide the truth, sharing the details of his recent clash with a foreign divine soul with the other Sages aboard the various Star Ships.

After the eight Star Ships had formed a coordinated fleet formation, they created a relatively stable zone of space within. Communication between them became quite efficient.

In fact, those talismans had not just flown to Shang Xia. A few had also reached the ships of Sage Loudmouth, Mister Drama, and Lightning Master, the mid-level Sages.

Even though many had already suspected Shang Xia was behind the disturbance, when he personally confirmed the confrontation with an entity beyond the Star Field, they still couldn’t help but feel a jolt of shock.

Previously, when Shang Xia brought back news of the spatial gate and his battle with an external entity, many had remained skeptical, especially about the latter part.

But now, with two such incidents occurring in succession, disbelief was no longer an option.

At that moment, following a period of repairs and preparation, Shang Xia exchanged several quick message talismans with Sage Loudmouth and Lightning Master aboard the two lead ships. Moments later, talismans from the flagship vessels arrived, announcing that the fleet would proceed into the vortex. All ships were instructed to maintain formation and monitor their spacing closely at all times.

After relaying the message, Shang Xia temporarily took control of the Jiao Continent from Huang Jinghan and Gao Qin, who had been steering the ship and maintaining its place in formation.

Indeed, during the previous approach toward the vortex, it had been these two who controlled the Star Ship's pace and helped sustain the overall formation.

With Shang Xia infusing his Seven Star Qi into the core formation of the Star Ship, his divine soul instantly spread across the vessel. He could observe all surrounding activity around the ship via the defensive formation. Through the chains linking the vessels, he could even monitor the general status of the other seven Star Ships.

At that moment, the two super Star Ships at the front took the lead and began their advance. Shang Xia’s vessel followed immediately, staying precisely aligned with the lead ships.

Mister Drama’s Star Ship was slightly delayed in initiating movement, but not enough to disrupt the fleet formation.

Soon after, the remaining four Star Ships followed suit, and the massive fleet formation adjusted mid-journey. In the next instant, it surged together into the vast spatial vortex.

As the fleet crossed the boundary into the true core of the vortex, the entire formation seemed to be pried halfway apart. Each Star Ship began to rock violently.

That was only the edge of the vortex, where the spatial distortions were already several times more intense than outside.

Even so, thanks to the fleet formations, they managed to neutralize nearly 80 to 90 percent of the vortex's power.

Just a few years prior, the merchant fleet of the Essence Luxuriant World had crossed the same spatial vortex to trade with the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost World in the perilous chaotic streams.

Yet in only a few years, the danger posed by the vortex had grown more than a hundredfold.

That was just the beginning as they had only just entered the vortex.

As the Sages aboard each ship unleashed their power, the shaking subsided. The eight Star Ships gradually stabilized, and the power of the formation of the fleet climbed sharply.

Once again, the two flagships took the lead, while the remaining six ships kept pace at their assigned positions.

There were occasional anomalies along the way, and as the fleet penetrated deeper, the destructive force generated by the vortex intensified. However, it still hadn’t caused any real damage to the formation. For the time being, all eight Sages were handling the situation with ease.

Before long, they had traveled over 200,000 miles.

Zhang Yusheng, stationed atop the wooden observation deck, reported a new observation: though the fleet continued heading toward the vortex's center, its path was slowly curving under the vortex's influence. Compared to their original entry angle, the fleet had already veered noticeably off course.

Shang Xia wasn’t surprised, but after some thought, he sent a transmission to the two flagships, relaying Zhang Yusheng’s findings to Sage Loudmouth and Lightning Master.

While doing so, Shang Xia noticed that talismans within the vortex’s influence now struggled to fly steadily, like tiny boats bobbing on stormy seas. Still, under his precise control, the talismans managed to reach the flagships.

Moments later, two replies returned.

Sage Loudmouth’s reply came. "Lord Seven Star, please closely monitor the degree of directional drift. If possible, estimate our original entry point into the vortex, as well as our likely return trajectory."

Lightning Master’s message was more direct. "There’s a Stargazer aboard your ship?"

Shang Xia’s expression remained neutral. He casually crushed Lightning Master’s talisman in his palm, turning it to ash.

As for Sage Loudmouth, he sent only a short response. "I’ll do my best."

Of course, before sending Zhang Yusheng’s findings, Shang Xia had already expected that the presence of a Stargazer aboard the Jiao Continent would be inferred. But given that they were all working toward a common goal, sharing the observation helped the fleet adjust course in time to avoid potential hazards.

And in truth, exposing the presence of a Stargazer wasn’t that serious. Stargazers were well-known across the Chaotic Sea of Stars. Though few in number, Shang Xia was confident that at least five or six of the eight ships had Stargazers on board.

However, from Shang Xia and Zhang Yusheng’s perspective, those so-called Stargazers were merely apprentices or Astrologers at best, perhaps a couple of Stargazers at best. Most likely, their heritage was incomplete, and their art of stargazing was flawed.

To accurately and swiftly calculate their shifting path and determine the fleet’s position and trajectory despite such spatial distortion required a high-level Stargazer. From that alone, someone could deduce that their group likely hailed from the Heaven Observation Star Region.

After all, only the present-day Heaven Observation Star Region, once known as the Heaven Observation Field, still possibly housed the last hidden stronghold of the Heaven Observation Sect, where a complete stargazing legacy might remain.

Of course, speculation was one thing. Calling it out directly was another matter entirely.

Especially since Lightning Master’s message had a faint accusatory tone, it only made Shang Xia dislike him more.