Chapter 2015: Seventh Star

The secret that Zhuo Gudao revealed before parting left Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue with a lot to think about.

It was not until they returned to their Heavenly Field and entered the void around the Essence Luxuriant World that they were jolted awake by the scene before their eyes.

"What is going on? Is the Essence Luxuriant Palace hosting some grand gathering?"

Watching as high-level cultivators from their auxiliary Spirit Worlds passed through turbulent currents of the void into the Essence Luxuriant World’s space, Shang Xia asked Kou Chongxue curiously.

The Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field had grown ever more strict, yet the tradition of the Essence Luxuriant Palace’s assemblies had not been abandoned. Instead, with its functions gradually shifting, it had become an increasingly important venue for communication and coordination between the Essence Luxuriant World and the Spirit Worlds.

Especially when it came to decisions that concerned the entire Heavenly Field. The Essence Luxuriant Palace was a place where every faction could express their views and contribute ideas.

Thus, its status within the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field had become ever weightier.

"Hehe, and isn’t this all your doing, brat?" Kou Chongxue chuckled as he explained to the puzzled Shang Xia: "Didn’t you leave behind a complete movement art inheritance in the void outside your residence a little over a year ago?"

Shang Xia gasped softly. "At that time, I just had a passing inspiration, so I walked a few steps in the void. Perhaps I left some imprints behind."

Kou Chongxue laughed, "The set of footwork you left behind was extremely profound. After you left, it was discovered by two Martial Dipper Realm cultivators who had helped construct the Star Observatory. At first, they were merely curious and followed your imprints, shifting about in the void. Unexpectedly, just by fully understanding a few steps, their movement techniques improved greatly. Their void traversal skills grew sharper, their inner qi circulated faster, and even though they were clumsy in the arts of stargazing, both advanced their art of stargazing, and they became astrologers in a year.”

"Any one of those improvements could happen to a cultivator and wouldn’t attract too much notice. But when so many different advancements happen to one or two people at the same time, they can’t help but stand out."

“Word spread quickly. Since the members of the Stargazing Hall and Heavenly Star Palace had been involved in building the observatory, they were the first to benefit. Later, more high-level cultivators from other sects of the Essence Luxuriant World came to try their luck. Eventually, the news spread even to the experts of our Spirit Worlds.”

"But because more and more people came, though few could truly master it, the imprints you left in the void were repeatedly disturbed and thus dissipated quickly."

Hearing Kou Chongxue’s account, Shang Xia smiled helplessly. "I never imagined it would cause such a commotion."

Kou Chongxue laughed, "I have examined your void imprints carefully. Though the threshold to comprehend it is high, those who do will greatly increase their chances of escaping danger in the future. It is of great significance."

After they returned to Shang Xia’s floating island, they suddenly heard a disturbance not far off in the void, accompanied by fluctuations of the auras of many high-level cultivators.

Both Sages exchanged a glance, knowing that the imprints of Shang Xia’s footwork in the void had fully dissipated.

Kou Chongxue laughed. "Give your movement art a name. After all, it has already spread."

Shang Xia thought for a moment before speaking again. "Let’s call it the Big Dipper Star Shift Steps. The full inheritance has 81 steps. It was something I unintentionally left behind in the void while pondering the rank seven Golden Sun Talisman, but in essence, it comes from the arrangement of the Dipper Star Formation.”

After they sat down again, Kou Chongxue asked, "Right, I didn’t ask you yet... What is your External Avatar doing now with Zhuo Gudao and Sage Jin? When you were sealing the Void Mirage again, the Sages of our Heaven Observation Star Region had gathered. I thought you would recall him. But instead, you left him with Sage Jin and the rest. Even Zhuo Gudao came to look for you alone this time..."

Shang Xia laughed. "He’s starting to get more ambitious... Also, he simply doesn’t want to come back.” He paused, then added, "Of course, he also has a legitimate reason for doing so."

Kou Chongxue’s curiosity was piqued. "Oh? What reason?"

Shang Xia replied, “Sage Jin has never given up on the Nebula Forbidden Region. This time, he and my External Avatar have already set out there ahead of others, and Zhuo Gudao should join them soon."

Kou Chongxue frowned. "The Essence Frontier Heavenly Field blocks the most accessible entry points to the Nebula Forbidden Region. After the last incident, Qin Ming will not let Sage Jin succeed so easily."

Shang Xia shook his head and continued his explanation. "The Nebula Forbidden Region is also changing. Its situation may not yet be as bad as the great spatial vortex, but it is likely no better than our Void Mirage. In order to secure full support from other Heavenly Fields in the Original Stars Corner, Qin Ming and his Heavenly Field have already announced that the safe passage into the Forbidden Region is open. He has even begun to deliberately steer his Heavenly Field away."

Kou Chongxue said in a grave tone, "The great spatial vortex of the Distant Star Region, the Nebula Forbidden Region of the Original Stars Corner, and the Void Mirage of our Heaven Observation Star Region... These celestial phenomena have been growing, and the Forbidden Regions are getting more dangerous. I fear the situation in other Star Regions is no better. A great invasion by other Star Fields is imminent."

Shang Xia nodded, then suddenly said, "In a few day,s I plan to take the Giant Ape King to the edge of our Chaotic Sea of Stars to hunt the slumbering rank seven Bird Emperor."

Kou Chongxue was stunned, then gave him a peculiar look. "You reached the seventh star already?"

Shang Xia nodded. "Yes. While bestowing lifespan to Zhuo Gudao, it happened naturally."

Kou Chongxue nodded. "That shows your accumulation was already sufficient. But why did I not notice any disturbance back then?"

Shang Xia chuckled, "There was movement. But since I was channeling the power of the Dipper Star Formation deep in the void, my aura was already surging. Your attention was on the column of starlight falling from the void, so you did not notice the change in my cultivation."

Kou Chongxue nodded thoughtfully. "How do you compare to the Star Origin Lord?"

Shang Xia shook his head and said solemnly, "I fear I am still inferior. No one knows just how many cards that last heir and Star Origin Lord of the Heaven Observation Sect still holds."