Chapter 2001: Peerless Battle

"Borrowing the power of the Big Dipper to conceal the Heavenly Field... He can also gather that same power to form a barrier, and naturally, the power of the Big Dipper can also be used to destroy the Heavenly Field!”

Kou Chongxue quietly listened as Shang Xia explained to him the sixth form of his Seven Star Mace Technique, Dipper Annihilation.

When he finished, Kou Chongxue slowly said, "This technique of yours essentially gathers the power of the Big Dipper, combining concealment, defense, and offense. It resembles the Star Curtain that the Star Origin Lord once used, but it also feels somewhat like your strike that pierced through the Essence Chong Heavenly Field. However... Back then, I recall that you comprehended the fifth form of your Seven Star Mace Technique, Dipper Vortex, during the destruction of the Essence Chong Heavenly Field, not this.”

Having only recently emerged from seclusion, Shang Xia poured tea for Kou Chongxue inside his residence and replied, “Patriarch Kou, you are right. Back then, before the Star Origin Lord’s true awakening, he used the Star Curtain to shroud the Heaven Observation Field, hiding the region but also imprisoning us like caged birds. That technique left a deep and lasting impression on me, it was truly awe-inspiring!"

"Moreover, with the invasion imminent from the foreign Star Fields, and the Star Origin Lord still fixated on and resentful toward our world, concealing our Heavenly Field might not resolve these threats at their root, but it should at least buy us valuable time."

Kou Chongxue pondered for a moment before ultimately nodding in agreement with Shang Xia’s assessment.

Sensing the faintly fluctuating aura around Shang Xia, like ripples across the surface of a deep sea, impossible to fathom, Kou Chongxue asked softly, "Then how much longer until you reach the seventh star?”

Shang Xia smiled. "It seems I overestimated myself. After creating the sixth form of my Seven Star Mace Technique, I thought I could ride the momentum straight into the seventh star, but in the end, I found I’d only touched the edge of it. My foundation still needs tempering. I’ll need anywhere from six months to a year."

Kou Chongxue grunted in acknowledgement. "It’s already past the half year mark of our 25th year. Whether it takes shorter or longer, by the time you break through, it’ll be the 26th year at the earliest.”

Shang Xia nodded, then asked with a smile, "Patriarch Kou, you seem especially concerned about my cultivation progress. Is the Giant Ape King getting impatient?"

Kou Chongxue chuckled. "He’s already sought me out no less than five times. The first two times, it was via a transmission talisman. The last three, he came in person, leaving the Spirit Frost World alone to find me."

Shang Xia laughed out loud. "I thought that the monkey had great wisdom, but when it comes to an opportunity to advance to the seventh rank, he’s just as impatient as the rest!"

Kou Chongxue shook his head. "It’s precisely because he has great wisdom... Now that the Spirit Frost World has become our subordinate world, your help may be his only chance to reach the seventh rank."

Shang Xia eventually spoke after making his decision. "Then let him wait one more year."

Kou Chongxue nodded before getting to his feet. "So be it. Continue your seclusion and push for your advancement. I’ll handle the rest."

Shang Xia rose to escort him out, but then suddenly remembered something. "Patriarch Kou, since the Essence Du Heavenly Field collapsed, has Senior Youshang returned to our world?"

Kou Chongxue shook his head. "He long since infiltrated the Essence Du Heavenly Field. When our four great Heavenly Fields split it up, he went somewhere."

Shang Xia opened his mouth, stunned, unsure what to say. In the end, he could only chuckle wryly. "Has he become addicted to being a spy? Or does he just not want to return home?!"

Kou Chongxue thought for a moment and said casually, "Perhaps both. By the way, he’s found a family again in the Essence Du Heavenly Field."

With that, Kou Chongxue waved and departed, leaving Shang Xia standing there with his jaws agape in disbelief.

Far out in the void, some 10 million miles from the 4th Starsea Market in the Chaotic Sea of Stars, a massive Star Ship battle was raging.

The Invincible Pirates, who had risen to fame in the Expedition of the Essence Du Heavenly Field years ago, had proven themselves fearsome in the following years. They quickly grew from a large Star Pirate Group to a super Star Pirate Group.

Moreover, as a predominantly female force, they carried a certain mystique that made them famous across the Sea of Stars, drawing the eyes of many factions.

In their rise, it was inevitable they would clash with other groups, facing open and covert suppression from rivals.

Fortunately, the Invincible Pirates were strong. Backed by a Heavenly Field, with most of their main Star Ships newly built and a full range of ship types, they could make effective battle formations. In their battles with factions of all sizes, they rarely suffered losses. Instead, they steadily grew stronger. But conflicts continued to grow and accumulate.

Now, dissatisfied that they possessed the strength of a super Star Pirate Group yet were denied recognition by the other factions of the Chaotic Sea of Stars, they set a plan in motion to seize the 4th Starsea Market by sheer force and become its guardian.

Unfortunately, they underestimated the methods and shamelessness of their rivals. As soon as their fleet set sail for the market, their route and parts of their plan were leaked by an internal spy to high-ranking leaders of the various factions operating in the surrounding void.

When their fleet was still 10 million miles away, numerous forces lying in ambush struck all at once.

The battle began in bloody earnest. Betrayal and sabotage crippled them early. Two medium Star Ships and three small ones were destroyed instantly, with several others suffering varying damage. Over 100 cultivators were killed or seriously injured.

Fortunately, the Invincible Pirates’ main ships were all newly built products by the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field. They had excellent defense and their key positions were manned by elite core members.

When the ambush hit, the large and medium Star Ships reacted quickly, forming combined battle formations to block the initial onslaught, buying precious breathing space.

Even so, the Invincible Pirates’ situation was still perilous.