Chapter 2086: A Clone?!

“Did the Star Origin Lord really die?!”

“As someone at the grand completion stage of the Martial Emptiness Realm... The last Star Origin Lord of the Heaven Observation Sect... Did we really manage to kill him all by ourselves?”

Just as several Sages of the Heaven Observation Star Region voiced their disbelief, another voice followed. “Of course it can’t be that simple! Don’t forget, the one who truly restrained the Star Origin Lord was Sage Shang Xia! Had he not bound the Star Origin Lord with his martial intent, how could our strikes have landed so easily?”

Everyone was shocked that the person who spoke was actually Gu Yi.

However, they realized that there was no reason to doubt him. In the earlier exchange, only someone who was also a high-level Sage like Gu Yi could have clearly grasped the situation of the battle between the two grand completion stage Sages.

Even so, those like Zhuo Gudao, who knew the Star Origin Lord well, were still filled with doubt.

Shang Xia’s voice came next, silencing everyone. “Naturally, the Star Origin Lord isn’t so easily killed. What we destroyed was merely one of his clones.”

“A clone?!” Shi Guan exclaimed in disbelief. “A clone at the grand completion stage of the Martial Emptiness Realm?! If that is really true, how strong is he actually?!”

His words carried a shiver of dread as he continued, “Did the Star Origin Lord take that step to enter the Eighth Order?!”

At that, every Sage in the Heaven Observation Star Region turned pale.

None doubted Shang Xia’s words. Their fear was rather that the Star Origin Lord might already have broken through.

Fortunately, Shang Xia chuckled and explained, “Relax. The Star Origin Lord hasn’t taken the final step. Otherwise, why would he trouble himself with us and not crush all of us like ants?”

The logic was plain, yet the fact remained astonishing. A clone at the level of a grand completion stage Sage.

Even Shang Xia’s External Avatar who had cultivation at the third star was already extraordinary... There was no need to mention the Star Origin Lord.

Soon, Lord Gu Yi voiced the doubt in everyone's mind. “Sage Shang... Do you know how the Star Origin Lord created such a clone? And where is his True Body now?”

Shang Xia shot him a half simile. “The Star Origin Lord’s true body is naturally within the Five Essence Heavenly Field. He’s in the Essence Ping World. You should know this already.”

Shi Guan mused, “So, it may not be long before the Star Origin Lord creates another clone at the same level? As long as the Five... Or Six Essence Heavenly Field exists, or rather, the Essence Ping World, remains intact, the Star Origin Lord can never truly be destroyed?”

Shang Xia smiled. “That does seem to be the case.”

Hong Jing frowned. “Then once he forges a new body, he may well come to take revenge against us?”

Shang Xia contemplated for a moment before mumbling, “It won’t be difficult for him to build another clone at the level of a Sage, but to create another at the grand completion stage wouldn’t be easy. Even with his powerful skills and the resources of the Heavenly Field, it won’t be that fast...”

Yu Kun, also uneasy at the thought of revenge, immediately said, “What if we attack their Heavenly Field now? Can we not wipe him out completely?”

Kou Chongxue shook his head. “I fear not.”

As the others turned to him, he explained calmly, “It is hard for the Star Origin Lord to make a clone at the grand completion stage, but to create several ordinary clones won’t be difficult. And don’t forget... What he lost was ultimately just a clone. Barging into his territory would not be wise.”

Zhuo Gudao added, “Do not forget... There are at least four other Sages in their Heavenly Field...”

At this, Sage Jin suddenly interjected, “Rather than argue over what cannot be done, we should act at once to stop the Essence Zhen World from entering the Five Essence Heavenly Field. At least we must not allow the Star Origin Lord to grow stronger. Otherwise, his next clone will appear even faster!”

Shang Xia nodded. “Sage Jin is right.”

The Sages moved at once.

Having seen the Star Origin Lord command the void currents, they guessed that they would be able to locate the Essence Zhen World if they followed it to its end.

Yet all knew their limits. Even a mere branch of the void currents was beyond their abilities to handle, except for Shang Xia.

“As it stands, only Sage Shang can follow it. The rest of us can only hurry together to the Five Essence Heavenly Field’s border and see if we can intercept the Essence Zhen World before it arrives.” Shi Guan’s tone voiced his helplessness.

Gu Yi opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, no words came.

Though the Star Origin Lord’s clone had been destroyed and the void currents had dispersed, Shang Xia had prepared long in advance, marking its path through the void. He could find it at any time.

Once the Sages reached an agreement, they acted immediately. Though they surely knew the chance of intercepting the Essence Zhen World was already slim as the Star Origin Lord’s clone had delayed them enough.

And as Zhuo Gudao and Shang Xia had both said... The Five Essence Heavenly Field did not hold only the Star Origin Lord’s clone. It had at least four other Sages and perhaps more clones of the Star Origin Lord.

Shang Xia exchanged a word with Kou Chongxue, then vanished into the void.

Soon, he found the tracks of the void currents. It corroded the space where it traveled, and it formed some sort of ‘riverbed’. When Shang Xia discovered it, space was slowly repairing itself.

Had Shang Xia come later, the traces would have vanished.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

He raced along its tracks, quickly finding the retreating void currents. Before long, he entered a broader channel where the void currents turned stronger. There, its corrosive power against space was even greater.

Naturally... It didn’t matter to him. Even across layers of void, he summoned the power of the Dipper Star Formation to create a robe of starlight to protect himself.

With that starry garment, he could move without fear of the erosion of the void currents. As he traveled, he became sure of one thing. The Star Origin Lord had personally redirected the void currents, pushing the Essence Zhen World from the Flood Star Region.

No matter what... No Sage from the Flood Star Region would willingly allow the Star Origin Lord to steal an Essence World. What puzzled Shang Xia was how the Essence Zhen World was able to drift across the void without protection from the Star Origin Lord. After all... If he had been holding the Sages of the Flood Star Region back, who protected the world?