Chapter 2116: It’s Over

The overflowing void currents surged wildly throughout the Flood Star Region, yet it never once spilled beyond its borders.

By then, the world fragment of the Essence Mu World had been ambushed countless times as they drifted down the void currents. Thankfully, with Mei Jingya’s tenacity, along with the power she borrowed through the Emberkindled Legacy Talisman, she managed to withstand the attack from the Sages of the Flood Star Region.

The talisman that Shang Xia had given her should have only been a one-time-use item. However, that limitation only applied if Shang Xia wasn’t nearby to provide more energy.

If he wished, and if the distance allowed, Shang Xia could continuously channel his inner qi through the fourth form of his Seven Star Mace Technique, Emberkindled Legacy, to sustain and amplify the user’s strength nearly indefinitely. Even as he faced high-level Sages above the sinking Essence Mu World, streams of his energy had been sent through the Dipper Star Formation to Mei Jingya.

Even as his energy was constantly depleted, Shang Xia still maintained perfect composure and a stable aura, revealing no trace of weakness to his enemies, leaving them uncertain and afraid to act rashly.

Confronted by Shang Xia’s unshakable calm and relentless pressure, the three high-level Sages of the Flood Star Region and the expert from the Gathered Sea of Stars found themselves at a complete loss of what to do.

With a sneer, Shang Xia’s aura flared suddenly as if he was about to unleash a devastating strike.

The experts of the Flood Star Region immediately responded.

Rong Ding called out suddenly, “Sage Shang! No matter what, you’re a member of our Chaotic Sea of Stars. Surely you know how unreasonable it is to interfere in the operations in dealing with foreign Star Fields for a mere Essence Mu World?”

“Heh...” Shang Xia snorted with mockery clear in his tone, “If you truly cared about the bigger picture and dealing with foreign Star Fields, you wouldn’t have even tried pushing an Essence World of our Star Region into the origin of the void currents.”

His tone carried no attempt to conceal the scorn within it.

Qian Hu growled, “Even if we let Mei Jingya and her followers go, do you truly think you can ride a mere branch of the void currents and break free from our Flood Star Region?”

At that, Shang Xia smiled. “Looks like you guys are fine with making the deal with me then. In that case, I’ll leave the matter of how it departs to your imagination.”

The moment he finished speaking, his figure flickered, and his true body vanished without a trace. Only a single clone remained behind, still hovering menacingly above the battered Essene Mu World.

His clone appeared dull and motionless, but the surrounding void, though filled with churning chaos, had fallen into a strange, oppressive silence.

After a brief pause, Qian Hu, the weakest of the high-level Sages present, asked hesitantly, “Did any of you see how he left?”

Rong Ding let out a bitter sigh. “I didn’t sense any spatial disturbance. And with this entire region already turned to chaos, space itself shattered into fragments, no one would dare attempt to travel through the void casually.”

Then the voice of the Sage of the Gathered Sea of Stars echoed faintly through the chaos. “Shan Lao, do you recognize the method he used to depart?”

Shan Lao sighed softly. “Starlight...”

The expert from the Gathered Sea of Stars replied, “Indeed! That man’s martial heritage must be related to the ancient Heaven Observation Sect. What a pity that your Star Region has no high-level Sage Gazers left. Otherwise, you might have detected his escape.”

At that, Qian Hu gave a disdainful snort, “Even if he’s gone, does he think a mere clone can intimidate us? Surely we’re not so weak that we can’t deal with a clone?!”

Silence fell again, broken only by the rush of the void currents and the rumbling of the sinking Essence Mu World.

After a long pause, the Sage from the Gathered Sea of Stars chuckled softly. “Perhaps you guys don’t know, but this Sage Shang once hid himself within the lake of chaos. Moreover, I suspect he has stayed there for quite some time.”

Rong Ding answered, “If he could manipulate the void currents as the Star Origin Lord once did, he must possess some kind of powerful artifact.”

The Sage of the Gathered Sea of Stars replied, “A powerful treasure? Even our shuttles can barely survive within the void currents, and we never dare linger too long. What sort of treasure could he possibly have that surpasses even that?”

Rong Ding’s tone hardened. “What are you suggesting?”

Lowering his voice into an eerie murmur, the expert from the Gathered Sea of Stars joked, “Perhaps... Sage Shang doesn’t rely on any external treasure at all. Perhaps he can survive within the void currents by relying on his physical body.”

This time, neither Qian Hu nor Rong Ding said a word.

After a while, Shan Lao spoke slowly. “You mean to say... He might have left his clone here just as a guide? And he may be hiding in there ready to make a move? Or do you think he has other aces up his sleeves?”

The expert added, “Don’t forget, Mei Jingya was able to borrow his power earlier. There’s no reason his clone wouldn’t be capable of the same. If he’s hiding in there...”

His words plunge the region into silence once more.

Just then, as if to confirm their speculation, the seemingly dull clone hovering above the Essence Mu World suddenly came alive. His gaze swept across the surrounding void, and a crafty smile appeared on his face.

At that same moment, on the drifting world fragment carrying several continents of the Essence Mu World, starlight began to converge. From within it, Shang Xia’s true body emerged.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

A strange smile could be seen on his face as he swept his gaze across the void. Instantly, several Sages of the various Heavenly Fields who had been preparing to strike at the world fragment faltered. They all withdrew at once, retreating tens of thousands of miles away.

They were terrified of drawing the attention of the living calamity.

Though those Sages were not as deeply involved in the plan as the Qian Hu, Rong Ding, or Shan Lao, they had seen everything that happened in the origin of the void currents. Even if they hadn’t participated, they could tell that even when working together, all three high-level Sages of their Star Region failed to do anything to Shang Xia.

Seeing him appear completely unscathed, none of them dared to provoke him further.

The moment Shang Xia appeared, Mei Jingya flew up from the world fragment, her expression one of relief and joy.

Meeting her expectant gaze, Shang Xia smiled faintly and nodded. “Alright, we got lucky.”