Chapter 2023: Can’t Even Compare To A Beast Pt.Final

Within the floating island in the void around the Essence Luxuriant World.

Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue simultaneously cast their gazes in the same direction. Though they were separated from the outside world in Shang Xia’s residence, their sight seemed to penetrate the void, as if they could already see everything happening in the distant space.

"I had thought the void imprint you left behind had long since been consumed after being touched by so many disciples, yet I never imagined they would even set a duel just for the chance to touch it once!" Kou Chongxue stroked his long beard beneath his chin, speaking with clear interest.

Shang Xia laughed, "It was originally just an accidental creation, yet I never expected it to draw so much attention. That was indeed a bit beyond my expectations."

Kou Chongxue said, "Since it was unexpected, why did you make this old man send a clone over?"

Shang Xia explained with a smile, "Actually, it was nothing serious. Most of these beast kings rely only on instinct for growth. Even if the Giant Ape King is considered gifted, to step across the threshold of the seventh rank would still be difficult. This time, by troubling you to make a move, it was only to use the chance to purify its bloodline."

Seeing Shang Xia so serious, Kou Chongxue asked, "Do you truly believe the Giant Ape King can advance to the seventh rank? Our Heavenly Field may still barely support another Sage, but the Spirit Frost World’s World Origin Source cannot accommodate a Sage."

Shang Xia said in a deep voice, "That is why I plan to bring it to the edge of the Chaotic Sea of Stars, to hunt the slumbering rank seven bird emperor!"

Kou Chongxue was startled, then as if he suddenly realized something, his expression turned thoughtful. "So you actually also want to take this opportunity to uncover the details of those rank seven beast emperors and the surviving Sages who may be slumbering in those stars?"

Shang Xia nodded, but he did not speak further. His gaze simply turned to the depths of the void.

Right then, violent spatial turbulence came from the direction he was looking. But after approaching the floating island where Shang Xia’s residence was located, it gradually dissipated, not affecting the island in the slightest.

In the distant void, the clash between the Giant Ape King and Kou Chongxue’s clone had clearly begun. From the very start, both sides launched the most dangerous and violent strikes.

Their conversation broke off for a moment.

After a pause, Kou Chongxue spoke again. "Have you noticed that those beasts of the Spirit Frost World show an especially strong affinity toward the void imprint you left behind?"

Shang Xia nodded. "I deliberately observed the state of those void imprints I left. Apart from the Stargazers of the Stargazing Hall and the high-level beast kings the Spirit Frost World, the proportion of cultivators who could truly grasp some essence from my movement inheritance is extremely low."

Kou Chongxue couldn’t help but ask, "And do you know why? The essence of your movement inheritance should come from the Dipper Star Formation that you comprehended. Could it be that these beasts have greater affinity to the stars than cultivators?"

Shang Xia shook his head. "That I do not know. But in both our world and the Spirit Ruling World, there are still many high-level beasts beasts. Next, we may as well deliberately guide them to make contact with the Big Dipper Star Shift Steps and see how they comprehend it."

Kou Chongxue agreed. "That will have to do. This old man will hint to those cultivators who have learned this set of movement inheritance to test it out."

While the two spoke, the battle in the distant void grew more intense. Kou Chongxue showed a look of admiration and said, "The Giant Ape King truly is extraordinary. To persist so long under my sword qi is rare indeed. And under my sword qi’s tempering, its bloodline has already been purified quite a bit."

Unexpectedly, Shang Xia shook his head. "Not enough. It’s far from enough. The Giant Ape King’s potential has not yet been fully drawn out."

Kou Chongxue raised his eyebrows while staring at Shang Xia. "Still not enough? You must know that although I only dispatched a clone, because we are both here, my clone has the strength of an ordinary Sage! If not for this, my clone might already have been torn apart by the Giant Ape King!"

Yet Shang Xia smiled with a hint of mischief. "Patriarch Kou, are you willing to part with this clone?"

"Huh?” Kou Chongxue was greatly astonished by what he was hearing. "What do you intend to do?"

Shang Xia suddenly lifted his hand and threw something out.

Kou Chongxue saw it and exclaimed in surprise, "You brat, are you serious?"

Not far from the floating island, the battle between the Giant Ape King and Kou Chongxue’s clone seemed to be reaching a foreseeable outcome. The Giant Ape King had displayed tremendous might that left all the high-level cultivators present shocked as the formation laid down jointly by several True Immortals and beast kings had nearly been torn apart by the shockwaves of the battle.

However, as time dragged on, the intensity of the battle weakened.

That did not mean either side was exhausted. On the contrary, these slower exchanges were growing increasingly dangerous, where even the slightest misstep could mean one side would be heavily injured. Because of that, most of the spectators could now see more clearly. As the duel deepened, Kou Chongxue’s clone, though growing fainter due to consumption of his inner qi, still pressed the Giant Ape King harder and harder, leaving it mostly on the defensive with little chance to strike back.

If the Giant Ape King had no hidden trump cards, then judging by the situation, the battle should have ended. Though many still hoped to see it display power capable of challenging a Sage, how many in the Chaotic Sea of Stars could truly achieve such a feat?

In truth, whether cultivator or beast, the higher one’s cultivation, the harder it became to challenge experts of higher levels. Moreover, those who truly understood the battle also knew that a clone under the control of their true body was not the same as one that relied purely on instinct, and that different Sages produced clones with different strength. Kou Chongxue’s clone was clearly far beyond ordinary ones.

His invisible sword qi, when unleashed, even without the blessing of his Hidden Frost Sword, was so sharp and unfathomable that the Giant Ape King could hardly contend with it.

What’s more, the clone was obviously still under the control of Kou Chongxue’s true body.

In fact, the Giant Ape King being able to persist against Kou Chongxue’s clone up till that point had already surpassed the expectations of everyone present.

Yet just when many were waiting for this battle to end, a new change happened on the battlefield. The void, churned up by both peak existences fighting with full strength, suddenly split open.

The very next moment, a stone rod emerged and landed straight into the Giant Ape King’s hand.