Chapter 2012: The Sudden Guest

"Use the origin qi seeping through the seal from the Illusory Sea of Stars?"

Before Shang Xia could respond, Gu Yi had already exclaimed, "Do you wish for the seal to hold back the Illusory Sea of Stars’s invasion for an even shorter time? Can Yan Yu even use origin qi from another Star Field?”

After speaking, Gu Yi noticed that the Star Origin Lord wore a calm smile, while Shang Xia’s was one of thoughtful hesitation. He was stunned and asked, "Are you guys serious?"

The Star Origin Lord laughed, "Shang Xia has always shown a peculiar interest in drawing... No, plundering the energy from various worlds. Surely all of you who have paid attention to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field and Shang Xia’s rapid rise in recent years must have noticed the pattern."

"I venture to think that his swift rise in strength may have a direct connection with his ability to fully utilize the origin qi of different worlds. I wonder if my words are correct?"

Before Shang Xia could reply, Kou Chongxue sneered, "I did not expect that such a junior upstart could receive such attention from the Star Origin Lord. This is surprising indeed!"

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The Star Origin Lord only smiled, ignoring Kou Chongxue’s sarcasm, and turned to Shang Xia. "Sage Shang, if you are willing to lend a hand, not only can you alleviate Yan Yu’s lack of origin qi and lifespan, but he can also consume as much of the origin qi seeping from the Illusory Sea of Stars. This would, in turn, delay the invasion."

Kou Chongxue wanted to speak again, but Shang Xia stopped him. "This matter is indeed something I can attempt, but it will require certain modifications to the seal. What do you two think?"

His words were clearly directed at the Star Origin Lord and Gu Yi.

The seal had originally been created entirely by the Star Origin Lord and Shang Xia. Later, to resist the assault of several high-level Sages from the Illusory Sea of Stars, Gu Yi had joined in. Now the seal carried the energies of all three high-level Sages. To modify it required not only Shang Xia himself but also the approval and cooperation of the other two.

Before the Star Origin Lord and Gu Yi responded, Shang Xia looked at the other Sages present and continued, "Furthermore, if we are to maximize the use of the Illusory Sea of Stars’ origin qi, our cooperation is not enough. This will require other rare spirit materials as well. I’m afraid we will need help from every Heavenly Field.”

As soon as Shang Xia finished, the Star Origin Lord replied, "If this can delay the Illusory Sea of Stars’ invasion, I will give my full cooperation. My Five Essence Heavenly Field will also provide the necessary materials."

Gu Yi followed up, "This seal was primarily the work of the Star Origin Lord and Shang Xia. I merely lent a hand. My Essence Ming Heavenly Field has only modest reserves, far less abundant than the Essence Worlds of your Five Essence Heavenly Field. Even so, we will lend all the support we can!"

Kou Chongxue added, "Our Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field cannot shirk this duty!"

With the three Heavenly Fields led by the high-level Sages leading by example, the other Heavenly Fields followed with their commitments. Even those unwilling dared not openly refuse in the face of such a grave matter.

With strong backing from all the Heavenly Fields, Shang Xia summoned the elites from the Institution’s Formation and Talisman Halls. Using the high-grade materials transported from the various Heavenly Fields, they built an immense formation above the floating island that carried Yan Yu’s Dao Field.

This formation was linked to the central section of the seal beneath. More precisely, it resonated with the Seven Star Mace embedded within. Indeed, Shang Xia had taken his Seven Star Mace that he had tempered and nourished repeatedly since his advance to the Seven Star Realm and driven it into the core of the formation, making it the key that would absorb and transform the origin qi of the Illusory Sea of Stars’ origin energy for the Dao Field’s use.

By the time it was complete, it was already the 27th year of the Essence Luxuriant Calendar.

By then, the Sages of the various Heavenly Fields had already left the void where the Void Mirage lay.

After finishing the construction, Shang Xia bid farewell to Yan Yu and, together with the cultivators of his Heavenly Field, boarded the large Star Ship, the Hai Continent, back to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field.

With the help of the Essence Gathering Formation, although Yan Yu’s lost lifespan could not be restored, his cultivation had stabilized and would not drain further with each battle.

On the journey back to Heavenly Field, Chu Jia entered Shang Xia’s cabin uninvited. "That formation has a problem. You siphoned off a large portion of origin qi, didn’t you?"

When Chu Jia was alone with Shang Xia, she had no qualms about his status as a Sage. In truth, even in front of others, Chu Jia often behaved with casual disregard.

Shang Xia was not surprised that she saw through it and he simply chuckled, "So, are you able to construct a rank seven formation yet?"

Chu Jia deflated like a balloon, but she quickly came up with something else to say. "What’s your problem? You want me to build a rank seven formation? Fine. How about you personally serve as the core of the formation? I’ll be able to make a rank seven formation that way!"

Shang Xia waved his hand with a wry smile. "Don’t be ridiculous!"

Chu Jia rolled her eyes and pressed, "You still haven’t answered. The method you used to siphon off origin qi in that formation wasn’t exactly subtle. I think the Star Origin Lord, Gu Yi, and even the mid-level Sages like Shi Guan must have noticed the trick."

Shang Xia smiled faintly. "You underestimate them. Not just Shi Guan or the others. Even Yan Yu himself knows perfectly well. Everyone simply chose not to mention it."

Chu Jia raised an eyebrow and shot him a look. "So... Your rapid advancement is truly connected to your ability to transform and utilize the origin qi of multiple worlds?"

Shang Xia chuckled, "You’ve been holding onto that question for a long time, haven’t you? Not just you, many in the institution must have suspected the same. The Star Origin Lord wasn’t the only one to notice it. However, no one wished to speak it out loud out of respect for me."

Chu Jia continued, "And why should anyone? Your rise was never for selfish gain. You didn’t seize too many of the institution’s resources either. On the contrary, your growth has gone hand in hand with our expansion. Later, you even singlehandedly grew our institution, and our world with it. We expanded and acquired massive resources. Our institution, and all of our Essence Luxuriant World, gained countless benefits from your rise. Even I, without your constant support, would still be just an ordinary rank four Formation Grandmaster. Reaching the fifth rank would be the absolute limit...”

Shang Xia laughed softly and waved. "Don’t belittle yourself. In the end, everyone must rely on themselves. Opportunity is always there. Some people simply fail to grasp it."

Chu Jia giggled, "So this time, is it just like the Star Origin Lord said? Are you really close to reaching the seventh star?"

Shang Xia smiled and nodded.

A moment later, Chu Jia left his cabin, cheerful, and even took with her an origin qi crystal formed by Shang Xia’s secret art.

In truth, that had been her real goal all along.

In the Tongyou Institution, aside from Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue, she was the one with the easiest access to such rare treasures.

As Shang Xia settled down again to resume his cultivation, he was once more interrupted before he truly started.

From outside the cabin came a knock, and a disciple of the institution entered. Before he could report, Shang Xia sighed and rose to his feet. "I know. Let them come on board."