Chapter 2120: Talisman Seed and External Avatar

The fragment of the Essence Mu World that had escaped finally arrived in the Heaven Observation Star Region. Though by that time, only about the equivalent of four continents remained.

Although those four continents could not, in sheer size or scale, compare to a complete Spirit World, and though they had suffered severe erosion from the void currents current during the migration, the fact that someone had managed to move such a massive fragment from outside the Heaven Observation Star Region right under the Star Origin Lord’s nose, was, to almost everyone, an utterly inconceivable feat.

Yet that was precisely what had taken place before the watchful eyes of the Sages of the Heaven Observation Star Region.

The impact and astonishment it caused among those mighty figures could easily be imagined.

Thus, not long after the fragment of the Essence Mu World descended into the section of void, several of the Sages followed the lingering spatial turbulence and the violent fluctuations to locate where it had gone.

However, because both Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue were present, along with Mei Jingya, another mid-level Sage, those who approached kept a cautious distance. None dared to venture too close to the world fragment, even to the turbulent barrier taking shape around it.

"Seems the two of you have done quite a lot behind our backs." Gu Yi spoke, the only high-level Sage of the Heaven Observation Star Region apart from the Star Origin Lord and Shang Xia. His gaze, however, shifted past them and fell upon Mei Jingya. "I don’t believe we’ve met. May I ask your name and where you come from?"

Seeing that Shang Xia’s attention was clearly elsewhere, Kou Chongxue stepped forward to reply. "For everyone’s understanding, this is Sage Mei Jingya of the Essence Mu World. From today onward, she will be making her home here in the Heaven Observation Star Region."

Mei Jingya then stepped forward, bowing gracefully toward the auras in the void where the other Sages were hidden. She said with a smile, "Mei Jingya of the Essence Mu World greets the honored Sages of the Heaven Observation Star Region."

"Essence Mu World? Then Sage Mei must be from the Flood Star Region?"

The question came from Sage Jin, who, like Mei Jingya, was not originally from the Heaven Observation Star Region.

Mei Jingya was momentarily startled but quickly looked toward him and answered, "Indeed. I was able to escape the Flood Star Region only thanks to Sage Shang’s assistance."

That single sentence revealed much to those present.

It was not that Mei Jingya had said too much. Anyway, those matters weren’t exactly a secret. Anyone with sufficient interest could soon uncover the truth, and in no time, the tale would spread across every Starsea Market or settlement in the region.

Sage Jin chuckled lightly. "I see. I, too, was not born in the Heaven Observation Star Region. It was Sage Shang’s aid that allowed me to settle here in the end. In the future, when time allows, perhaps your Essence Mu World and our Essence Hong World should keep in closer contact."

Mei Jingya accepted the gesture politely, though her response was calm, without the joy one might expect from being warmly received so soon after arriving.

Her condition, truthfully, was far from good. Since severing a portion of the Essence Mu World, she suffered greatly as someone whose soul had been branded in the World Origin Source. For decades, perhaps even centuries, her cultivation might stagnate. Whether she could even maintain her current cultivation at the fourth star was uncertain.

Fortunately for her, she was under Shang Xia’s protection and therefore had the support of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field. After exchanging some pleasantries with the Sages of the Heaven Observation Star Region, everyone took their leave.

Before departing, Kou Chongxue promised Mei Jingya that a fleet from the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field would soon arrive with supplies. Then he too bid farewell and left.

After all, the world fragment was attempting to restore a heavenly screen and rebuild itself into a complete world again. The turbulent space at its outer edge was still unstable, and the remnant World’s Will was far too fragile to bear the long-term presence of multiple Sages besides Mei Jingya herself.

Still, a team led by Chu Jia and several other experts of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field remained behind. In addition to stabilizing the void anchors and accelerating the world’s recovery, they were tasked with helping construct a basic defensive system in case of external threats.

As for Shang Xia, he had left even earlier. By the time the Sages of the Heaven Observation Star Region were dispersing, he had already vanished, only exchanging a brief farewell with the two of them.

After relocating the fragment of the Essence Mu World from another Star Region, even with the aid of his deep foundations and Chu Jia’s formation as protection, his External Avatar had nearly collapsed from the strain.

Thus, he grabbed his External Avatar and returned ahead of time to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field.

Surprisingly, Kou Chongxue did not return immediately. He first made a detour to inspect the seal around the Void Mirage before heading back.

When he finally arrived at the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field and approached the floating continent where a special residence had been prepared, he saw Shang Xia before it, channeling waves of dense inner qi into his External Avatar’s body. Each rune he created and slammed into the void brought about strong fluctuations.

"Huh? You’re planting the seven rank seven talismans into your External Avatar?” Kou Chongxue raised a brow and asked in surprise. "Wasn’t the Talisman Seed meant for your own use?"

Shang Xia had just embedded the last of the seven talismans, specifically, the Winding Stream Diversion Talisman, into his External Avatar. Though the results were not yet visible, Kou Chongxue could already tell that the nearly-collapsed body was slowly knitting itself back together.

Shang Xia slapped away the dust from his hands and turned around, sweat faintly visible on his brow.

The strain of the translocation had not only pushed his External Avatar to its limit; even Shang Xia himself had nearly exhausted the energy in his dantian from the prolonged flow of inner qi.

It was a feeling he had not experienced since reaching the Seven Star Realm.

Drawing a deep breath, he circulated his inner qi, pulling in the surrounding energy from thousands of miles in every direction until the nearby void was nearly empty. Only after some time did his pale face regain a healthy color.

Gesturing for Kou Chongxue to sit, Shang Xia explained, "The purpose of the Talisman Seed is to provide a path ahead for those unable to comprehend their martial intent. It’s a shortcut to the grand completion stage. However, it’s not a true martial intent. The energy of the Talisman Seed isn’t one with the user’s origin. However... If I implant the seed into my External Avatar, not only will his damaged body mend rapidly, but he will also grow stronger. His strength will increase accordingly, and he’ll even be able to wield the martial intent created from it. In time, he might even be at the same level as a high-level Sage."

Kou Chongxue shook his head, thinking the method rather wasteful, though he knew there was no changing Shang Xia’s mind.

After a moment’s pause, he said, "Speaking of External Avatar, some time ago, I received word from within the Six Essence Heavenly Field... The Sage of the Essence Zhen World hasn’t been seen since they merged. He’s been in seclusion for years...”

Shang Xia frowned slightly but did not seem surprised. "It fits our earlier speculation. The Six Essence Heavenly Field likely can’t support any cultivator above the second star, apart from the Star Origin Lord himself. The fifth star Sage of the Essence Zhen World will probably never emerge again.”

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Kou Chongxue nodded solemnly. "Which means you should be cautious. If our guess is correct..."

Shang Xia’s expression turned serious. "You mean...?"

Kou Chongxue’s tone hardened. "The Star Origin Lord may already have created a new clone, one capable of unleashing an even greater portion of his true strength.”