Chapter 2230: GRAND STAR FIELD

Including the Chaotic Sea of Stars, all nine Star Fields could now be regarded as a single, unified entity. Yet, the distribution of origin qi among them still varied greatly.

Before the eight Star Fields had merged into the Chaotic Sea of Stars, their origin qi had all flowed toward the Chaotic Sea of Stars. Consequently, the concentration of origin qi in the Chaotic Sea of Stars’ territory was far richer than in any of the others.

Furthermore, as the eight Star Fields merged and migrated inward, the Heaven Observation Star Region gradually came to occupy the very center of the Chaotic Sea of Stars. It once again became a converging hub of essence, and with both the Star Origin Lord and Shang Xia channeling origin energy there for their own purposes, the Heaven Observation Star Region’s density of origin qi surpassed every other region.

Now that all nine Star Fields had merged into one, the distribution of essence still remained uneven. Thus, to hasten the metamorphosis of the new Grand Star Field, Shang Xia decided that it was time to return the abundant essence accumulated in the Heaven Observation Star Region back toward the eight Star Fields.

Because all nine Star Fields existed as a single entity, it was far easier for him to pierce the void again and open spatial passages to them.

When the eight purified streams of origin qi split from the Crimson Soul Tablet and poured into them, torrents of origin qi erupted at eight distant edges. Those waves spread rapidly outward, sharply increasing the concentration of origin qi in those regions and accelerating the transformation process.

What no one realized, however, was that while the Crimson Soul Tablet could indeed absorb and store massive amounts of origin qi, the energy it gathered from the Heaven Observation Star Region was refined under the guidance of Shang Xia’s Dipper Star Origin. The process accelerated fusion and purification to a degree unseen before.

Originally, the newly fused origin qi within the Heaven Observation Star Region contained only 60 to 70 percent purity. But by the time it was diverted through the eight void channels and spread across the void, its purity reached nearly 80 percent.

Meanwhile, within the Heaven Observation Star Region itself, the enormous vortex of essence sustained by Shang Xia continued to expand. From 100,000 miles, it reached 150,000 miles before expanding once again to 200,000 miles.

At first, the tablet’s absorption and storage, bolstered by Shang Xia’s guidance, had nearly reached its limit when it reached 100,000 miles.

But after he opened the eight channels and released the refined origin qi outward, the Crimson Soul Tablet was freed from its limits, allowing it to draw in energy even more fiercely.

The visible vortex spanned 200,000 miles, but its true influence extended to nearly 1,000,000 miles, altering the flow of energy across multiple Heavenly Fields. It even began to weaken the overall concentration of origin qi within the Heaven Observation Star Region.

Several Sages who had recently arrived knew of Shang Xia’s fearsome reputation, but not his temperament. Though uneasy and suspicious, none dared to question him directly.

Eventually, they turned to the older Sages, those who had long lived within the Heaven Observation Star Region, to plead for an explanation.

Figures such as Zhuo Gudao, Sage Jin, Yu Kun, and Hong Jing had initially chosen to remain bystanders. After all, the vortex Shang Xia created lay at the edge of the Star Region and posed no threat to their Heavenly Fields.

Moreover, judging by past events, whenever Shang Xia caused such immense disturbances, it was almost always connected either to his preparation for his breakthrough to the next level or to his conflict with the Star Origin Lord, two matters that any wise cultivator would avoid at all costs.

Yet, pressed by the newcomers, who offered generous favors, and seeing the disturbance grow larger with no sign of stopping, the veterans reluctantly agreed to act.

In the end, they nominated Zhuo Gudao to approach the vortex and speak with Shang Xia.

At the heart of the vortex, Shang Xia was unsurprised by Zhuo Gudao’s arrival. If anything, he was mildly amused that it had taken him so long to come.

Although the vortex had reached the point of distorting space and piercing the void, it was still far safer than the massive vortex Shang Xia had once created in the Crowned Star Region.

At least someone of Zhuo Gudao’s cultivation could travel from the edge to the center and see Shang Xia standing atop the Crimson Soul Tablet without facing any real danger.

Upon seeing him, Zhuo Gudao spread his hands and smiled wryly. "Brother Shang, they pushed me forward to come and ask you a few questions."

Once, at the end of his lifespan, Zhuo Gudao had received Shang Xia’s help, gaining 20 more years of life. Later, he successfully broke through to a mid-level Sage, extending his life even further.

The experience had created a private bond between him, Shang Xia, and Kou Chongxue, known only to the three of them.

Though Zhuo Gudao had been chosen by consensus, had he truly refused, no one could have forced him.

Shang Xia smiled lightly. "Ask whatever you wish to ask."

Hearing the calm tone, Zhuo Gudao’s complicated emotions eased at once. "In truth, there are only two questions. Sage Shang, why are you channeling the accumulated origin qi of our Star Region elsewhere, causing the local concentration to drop? And second, how long will this vortex last? Will it continue to expand?"

Shang Xia had clearly anticipated his questions.

"To answer your first question, I merely wish to accelerate the transformation and ascension of our Star Field."

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"As for the second, it won’t last much longer."

Zhuo Gudao wanted to ask further, but as he spoke, Shang Xia’s figure slowly faded into the starlight. After a moment of thoughtful silence, Zhuo Gudao cupped his hands toward where Shang Xia had stood and then turned away without hesitation.

Beneath the pillar of starlight, Shang Xia still stood atop the Crimson Soul Tablet. Watching Zhuo Gudao’s departing back through the haze of starlight, he revealed a faint smile before turning his focus back to the tablet, more precisely, upon the eight purified streams of origin qi that flowed from it into the void channels.

Even he had not expected that the key to triggering the ascension to a Grand Star Field would end up so naturally and effortlessly in his grasp.

Time slipped quietly through his fingers. Then, in a sudden flash of intuition, Shang Xia abruptly halted the outflow of origin qi into the eight channels.

The Crimson Soul Tablet dissolved the descending starlight and once more shrank, falling neatly into his hand.

In the next instant, the massive vortex, which had spanned over 1,000,000 miles and had existed for such a long time, vanished completely, leaving not even a trace behind. It was as though it had never existed at all.

But Shang Xia already knew the truth. The new Grand Star Field had completed its ascension and transformation.