Chapter 2072: Bad News, Good News

After Yuan Qiuyuan displayed his talent in the art of stargazing, he received massive support from the institution and Shang Xia himself.

Yuan Qiuyuan’s aptitude for cultivation was above average as well, so his cultivation progressed smoothly. Diverting some of his effort to study the arts of stargazing had not held him back.

In fact, both Kou Chongxue and Shang Xia had repeatedly reminded him throughout his growth to pay attention to his foundation, lest his cultivation advance too quickly like a skyscraper without a strong base.

Yuan Qiuyuan had always accepted the elders’ guidance with humility, so his cultivation had surged all the way to the Martial Void Realm without major problems. Yet sometimes, lessons had to be learned the hard way. Even when taking them very seriously, one could never learn properly unless they slammed into a wall themselves. What was more, as a cultivator’s cultivation rose ever higher, their martial path became increasingly marked by their unique traits. At that point, others’ experience and lessons often had very little effect. Everyone had to ultimately rely on themselves.

This time, when Yuan Qiuyuan tried to cross the threshold to become a high-level True Immortal, he failed at the final moment and failed.

Fortunately, Shang Xia noticed in time and used the power of the stars he drew from the Dipper Star Formation to precisely tether Yuan Qiuyuan’s soul and his cultivation, so that after his failed attempt to break into the level of Dao Harmony, the backlash didn’t damage his dantian or caused his cultivation to regress. He had only suffered some shock to his meridians and organs as he coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.

Of course, his vital energy was greatly depleted, but thanks to Shang Xia’s assistance, he retained the chance to try again in the future.

In truth, as soon as the earliest signs of Yuan Qiuyuan’s impending failure appeared, Shang Xia had been alerted.

Had Shang Xia acted then, while he could not have helped Yuan Qiuyuan reach the level of Dao Harmony, there was still a good chance he could have helped him avoid the severe depletion. Even when Yuan Qiuyuan had just been injured by his failed advancement, if Shang Xia used his martial intent, Star Shifting Constellation Transformation, he could, to a certain extent, have caused the injuries Yuan Qiuyuan suffered to rewind to their initial stage, or even to a time before the injury.

But when Shang Xia instinctively prepared to act, he hesitated at the final moment.

If the failure to break through came without any price, then what meaning would the failure hold for Yuan Qiuyuan?

Shang Xia watched the entire process from start to finish. He saw Yuan Qiuyuan suffer from the backlash of his failed advancement as the energy drained from his body. His meridians ruptured and his internal organs were injured, causing him to spit out mouthfuls of fresh blood. That wasn’t all. His cultivation, which was at the peak of the third tier, started to decline. It began to ebb away until he was a step away from dropping back to the second tier when it stopped.

Having gradually caught his breath, Yuan Qiuyuan finally reacted. He hastily mobilized the scant inner qi within him to circulate through his body and rein in the energy rampaging in all directions. Meanwhile, the cabin where he had been in seclusion should have been as sealed as a drum, yet boundless starlight suddenly descended from afar.

Dense power of the stars surged into his body, strengthening his inner qi until he finally suppressed his internal injuries.

Only then did Yuan Qiuyuan heave a sigh of relief, knowing that his cultivation would not fall further and that his injuries had been brought under control. More importantly, his foundations had not suffered severe impact, and he had preserved hope of assaulting the bottleneck again.

After Yuan Qiuyuan had stabilized his injuries for the time being, Shang Xia had to turn more of his attention to the cabin where Chu Jia was in seclusion. Although the formations there had been personally set up by Chu Jia, a mighty Formation Grandmaster, so much so that even Shang Xia’s divine soul found it difficult to penetrate, Chu Jia had opened a back door for Shang Xia, allowing him to view her condition easily.

Even so, during such a sensitive period, Shang Xia did not extend his divine soul at will to check on her state. He could only make rough judgments based on the changes in the flow of energy around her cabin. Although Chu Jia had yet to show any signs of breaking through, her aura was slowly growing steadier. It was clear that her foundation surpassed Yuan Qiuyuan, and her chances of advancing to the next level were better than his.

Shang Xia felt much more at ease at that and he was able to devote more attention to the Star Ship fleet. After taking in a large number of survivors from the Essence Yue Heavenly Field and world fragments from the fallen Heavenly Field, the mighty fleet would definitely draw the eyes of many powerful factions when crossing the Chaotic Sea of Stars. Among them, not just the super Star Pirate Groups, but even the forces of those from foreign Star Fields who might have slipped through the forbidden regions.

Although, with the Cai siblings stepping forward, the fleet’s overall strength surpassed that of those super Star Pirate Groups, the sheer amount of resources they were carrying made them a tempting prize for all. Everyone wanted a bite.

Even if those forces could see that the Blizzard Pirates had undoubtedly climbed into the good graces of a Heavenly Field and had a Sage backing them, it made little difference since they didn’t know the monstrous existence on board.

Thus, during this period, with Shang Xia refusing to show himself, the fleet led by the Cai siblings suffered attacks from all sides. They seemed to be assaulted by a pack of wolves. Although the Cai siblings were strong and had two large Star Ships to hold their ground, along with the aid of the former Blizzard Pirates, experts like Tian Mengzi from the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field, along with the cultivators of the Essence Yue Heavenly Field... The rotating harassment, coordinated with an uncanny tacit understanding by all parties, coupled with the fleet’s load that made swift responses difficult, left them constantly on the back foot.

Though each raid seemed to inflict minor losses, the nibbling attrition still resulted in several small Star Ships being destroyed, and more than ten small and medium Star Ships suffering varying degrees of damage.

Of course, it wasn’t that the Cai siblings and the others didn’t kill the enemies, but the forces eyeing the fleet were clearly made up of many fleets. With losses spread across so many parties, the damage hardly mattered to any one of them. In fact, the Cai siblings had more than once intended to go aboard the Spirit Ark and ask Shang Xia for help, but in the end, Tian Mengzi reminded them, "We certainly could seek the Sage’s aid, but which of the super Star Pirate Groups doesn’t have a Sage backing them? At a time like this, perhaps not alarming the various Sages is precisely the tacit understanding everyone shares."

The Cai siblings were quick-witted. With just that reminder, they understood what was going on.

"So that means Sage Shang is leaving things up to us from here on?” Cai Zhuifeng’s expression did not look good, and his tone was uncommonly grave.

Cai Yingxue added, "If Formation Grandmaster Chu were here... With her abilities, she could personally command the fleet and lay down a powerful Star Ship battle formation. No matter how they attack us, they will be smashing straight into a wall. Unfortunately, she is in seclusion to break through, and so far, there are no signs of it."

Cai Zhuifeng looked to Tian Mengzi. "True Immortal Tian, can you contact the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field and ask them to dispatch a fleet to receive us and provide aid?”

Before Tian Mengzi could reply, a string of light coughs came from the cabin behind them. Yuan Qiuyuan, whose face was a little pale, emerged. "We sent a transmission a long time ago. However, the distance is just too far. I’m afraid we cannot wait for the Heavenly Field to send reinforcements. Besides, the Heaven Observation Star Region is also facing the threat of the Void Mirage right now, and they may not be able to spare many people."

"However..." Yuan Qiuyuan shifted his tone but could not help coughing twice before he continued, "However, the Invincible Pirates should arrive ahead of them."

The Cai siblings’ emotions rose and fell with Yuan Qiuyuan’s explanation, but the final outcome was at least favorable.

Cai Zhuifeng exhaled a long breath eventually. "So we only need to hold out until the Invincible Pirates arrive?"

The Cai siblings naturally knew the name of the Invincible Pirates. Even if they hadn’t before, they would have learned it after being brought under Shang Xia’s command.

Cai Yingxue muttered, "The urgent task is to stabilize the survivors of the Essence Yue Heavenly Field as much as possible. Although most of the factions among them were broken up during reorganization, it’s hard to guarantee that some will not harbor ulterior motives under threat. If someone seizes the chance to cause trouble in a critical moment, it could spell calamity for the entire fleet!"

Cai Zhuifeng had intended to ask something, but stopped just as the words reached his lips.

At that moment, several modified Star Ships that possessed terrifying speed leaped out from the depths of the void, then aligned their formation before charging toward the fleet’s flank.

When Cai Zhuifeng saw the incoming Star Ships, he gnashed his teeth. "It’s those bastards from the Flying Crane Pirates!”

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Cai Yingxue got to her feet and growled, "I will stop them!"

But before she could head back to the Welcoming Snow, Tian Mengzi rose to block her. "Better let me go. The Chasing Wind and Welcoming Snow are the key anchors maintaining the safety of the battle formation. They cannot be moved lightly! I’ve heard of the Flying Crane Pirates, and you two have a past with them. It’s just the right time for me to pay them a visit!"

Yet just as Tian Mengzi led several small and medium Star Ships to form a detachment to meet the Flying Crane Pirates, three more teams of modified Star Ships leaped out of the void from other directions in succession and launched attacks on the fleet from different directions.

Although the Cai siblings and the others quickly responded, worry deepened on both their faces.

"We’re far too passive! They’re leading us by the nose the entire time!”

Cai Zhuifeng sighed helplessly. "I am sure of it. Those bastards didn’t just join forces, but they’re forming a ring around us from multiple directions! We need to increase our speed. If that doesn’t work, we can only change the battle formation, throw away some deadweight, and accelerate to punch through the encirclement. Otherwise, it won’t be long before at least six or seven super Star Pirate Groups launch simultaneous attacks on us!"