Chapter 2199: Sad Bois

After Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue finished discussing the recent changes sweeping across the Chaotic Sea of Stars and agreed on a general plan for their next actions, the two left Shang Xia’s residence and turned their attention to the Eternal Golden Boat Shang Xia had brought back.

By then, Chu Jia and others, having heard the news, had already dragged the damaged boat into the void dock used for constructing Arks.

When Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue arrived, Chu Jia was leading a group of Formation Masters and several dozen high-level Blacksmiths specializing in Ark construction, examining every part of the Eternal Golden Boat both inside and out.

Without alerting the others, the two quietly entered the interior and, under Shang Xia’s guidance, headed straight toward the core housing the Eternal Artifact.

"The construction of an Eternal Golden Boat clearly requires far more than just Formation Masters and Blacksmiths working together." Shang Xia spoke to Kou Chongxue in a low voice.

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Kou Chongxue nodded. "I realized the moment I stepped inside. The high-grade materials used in this vessel are extraordinary. It’s not merely a matter of formation level or refining skill. Many parts require the participation of Sages. And in certain crucial sections, even Sages who had just broken through won’t be enough, only high-level Sages can purify or refine those materials."

Shang Xia nodded in agreement, then added, "And that’s still not all. Many of the high-grade materials in an Eternal Golden Boat are extremely rare within Star Fields. They come from the Star River. But only high-level Sages can withstand the erosion of space and time there. Even mid-level Sages might lose too much vitality in a single trip."

Kou Chongxue exhaled quietly. "So repairing this boat will not be easy?"

Shang Xia, however, smiled. "It is damaged, yes, but still capable of entering and exiting the Star River. And I did not return empty-handed. I acquired several rare treasures from the Star River itself."

As he spoke, he opened the core cabin. Beneath the pool of warm, golden liquid that was the Eternal Artifact used to craft it, he reached out and revealed several rank five treasures from its depths.

Kou Chongxue looked between the treasures, the golden pool, and Shang Xia with surprise. "You had to store them this way?"

He could tell at a glance that those treasures were extremely rare and possessed unique properties requiring special preservation methods. Otherwise, Shang Xia would not have stored them inside the golden pool.

Shang Xia explained with a smile, "Though these items are not Eternal Artifacts, they were formed in the Star River and have been bathed in the power of space and time for ages. Removing them suddenly from that environment could damage them. This golden pool is also born from a star within the Star River, so storing them here is far safer."

Kou Chongxue nodded, but his attention had already shifted entirely to the golden pool. He gestured slightly, then slowly immersed his hand into the liquid.

The instant his fingertips touched the pool, his expression changed slightly, and his hand paused slightly. Shang Xia wasn’t surprised in the slightest as he watched Kou Chongxue with a calm smile.

After a brief pause, Kou Chongxue gathered and suppressed his aura, then continued lowering his hand into the pool, focusing his senses.

Through the golden surface, Shang Xia could faintly perceive a layer of sharp inner qi coating Kou Chongxue’s hand, and pure sword intent flickering at his fingertips.

After a moment, Kou Chongxue withdrew his hand and sighed softly, "This Eternal Golden Boat you brought back, even damaged, saves at least three generations' worth of accumulation of a Heavenly Field."

He already knew somewhat how rare Eternal Golden Boats were. To build one from scratch was enough to stall every Heavenly Field in existence. After all, the material had to be collected from the Star River. Even a high-level Sage who spent their remaining 300 or 500 years gathering materials in the Star River might still fail to gather even half of what crafting it required.

Shang Xia chuckled, "It was pure luck. I never expected that expert to charge straight into the Dipper Star Formation I had just set up. It was like trapping a turtle in a jar."

Kou Chongxue laughed softly. "If I ever get the chance, I’d like to visit the Star River myself, perhaps even refine a Starlight Curtain to use as a sail for an Eternal Golden Boat."

Shang Xia’s expression grew serious. "The Star River is not safe right now. Many stowaways are guarding the entry point from the Chaotic Sea of Stars, hoping to seize the chance to ascend to the Eighth Order. Entering now risks falling into an ambush. You should wait until you become a high-level Sage. Then, at least you’ll have the ability to advance or retreat freely."

Kou Chongxue smiled. "I’m in no hurry."

After resealing the core cabin, the two left.

They chose a quiet area in the void and gazed upon the Essence Luxuriant World, which was still wrapped in the protection of its heavenly screen. Neither spoke for a long time.

Eventually, Shang Xia said softly, "Has our world origin already begun merging with the origin qi of the foreign Star Fields?"

Kou Chongxue sighed and nodded without elaboration.

Shang Xia frowned slightly. "The resistance must be fierce, yes?"

Kou Chongxue replied coolly, "It is inevitable. Some must pay the price. Those who cling stubbornly to old ways bring ruin upon themselves. But rest assured, they cannot affect the larger picture."

Shang Xia nodded, though with a hint of helplessness. "We have no choice. Initiating the fusion ourselves is the least damaging path. If we waited until the foreign Star Fields forced our World Origin Source to change after the fusion process, the transformation would be violent, and the losses far worse."

Kou Chongxue let out a cold hum, "They call this proactive pollution... Ill-intentioned people claim it is just another excuse for our Tongyou Institution to suppress rival sects and control the Heavenly Field."

"Another excuse?" Shang Xia caught the word and smiled faintly. "It seems many still nurse their hidden ambitions."

Kou Chongxue said calmly, "Nonsense. Such people and such voices have always existed. They are scattered across every major sect, even among the Holy Lands and the auxiliary Spirit Worlds. And a portion of it is fueled by encouragement from other Heavenly Fields."

"That is unavoidable. Just as we have people hidden there to do the same thing..." Shang Xia spoke lightly, then shifted the topic. "Perhaps it is time to create another subordinate Spirit World. You could use the opportunity to break through your bottleneck."