Chapter 2245: Too Late

How great could the commotion be when two Eighth Order existences clashed?

Even though their battle took place within the Seven Essence Heavenly Field, the immense void ripples spread far beyond it, reaching deep into the void. The shockwaves extended well past the boundaries of the former Heaven Observation Star Region, spreading through what was once the Chaotic Sea of Stars.

Anyone who was in the Martial Dipper Realm and above could faintly sense the impact of the titanic struggle.

The aftermath of Shang Xia and the Star Origin Lord’s confrontation traveled deep and wide, so much so that even the farthest Heavenly Field clusters within the Ninefold Star Field could perceive the faint tremors of the void. Though the fluctuations seemed weak from such distances, they never truly faded.

In the many Heavenly Fields in the Ninefold Star Field, countless powerful beings were quietly watching. For the first time since the ascension of the Grand Star Field, two Eighth Order existences had come to blows, and none dared ignore it.

Most of them were Sages, masters and rulers of their respective Heavenly Fields. Though few still harbored hope of ever reaching the Eighth Order, and many had long abandoned such dreams, they could nonetheless feel something from afar. Some instinct deep in their souls drew them toward the distant clash, as though the battle itself held some truth that called to their martial path.

However... They could not sense what it was.

Still, they all understood one thing clearly. Anyone reckless enough to approach the area where both Eighth Order beings were fighting would meet only one outcome, death.

The unspoken law was so absolute that when the Star Origin Lord suddenly sensed someone intruding into the Seven Essence Heavenly Field at that very moment, shock was quickly followed by incredulous anger. Whoever dared to approach was surely courting death.

After all, even other Sages from nearby Heavenly Fields, and the most daring of the Star River Stowaways, would flee as far as possible from such a battlefield.

But when the Star Origin Lord saw who it was, a chill crept into his heart.

The intruder who came was none other than Shang Xia’s External Avatar, one that had been transformed by power of creation and had attained the combat strength of a peak-level Sage.

The moment he entered the Seven Essence Heavenly Field, his body began to disintegrate under the destructive force of the shockwaves. The deeper it advanced into the Heavenly Field, the faster his body crumbled. Even with Shang Xia diverting some energy to shield it, the decay could not be stopped.

After all, the Seven Essence Heavenly Field was the Star Origin Lord’s domain. Shang Xia could move freely within it only by virtue of his overwhelming might. Any lesser being, no matter how well protected, could not possibly resist the pervasive erosion of the Worlds’ Will.

That begged the question... Why did Shang Xia call upon his External Avatar?

A flash of doubt crossed the Star Origin Lord’s mind. He did not believe that Shang Xia’s External Avatar could possibly change the battle’s outcome. No matter what, the Star Origin Lord didn’t believe he would be able to breach any of the Essence Worlds. Even if he couldn’t control his Heavenly Field to perfection, how could an insect of the Seventh Order invade the flesh of an Eighth Order giant?

But the next instant, his expression darkened.

Within the Essence Abundance World, the world origin in the World Origin Source connected to two continents suddenly vanished. They were completely wiped out without warning.

Not a single drop remained.

The Essence Abundance World contained 26 continents in total. Once, after inheriting portions of the fallen Essence Ping World, it had even more. But during Shang Xia’s first invasion of the Seven Essence Heavenly Field, heavy losses had already been inflicted upon every world. Later, in order to balance the foundations of all seven worlds, the Star Origin Lord had relocated several of its continents elsewhere.

Even so, losing the world origin contained in the World Origin Source connected to two continents would only slightly weaken the world, it would not destroy it.

However, that weakening immediately reduced the Star Origin Lord’s power to suppress the awakened Essence World Clones’ souls, allowing one of them to slip free of his control. Acting on instinct, the Essence World Clone of the Essence Abundance World contended for the right to command his World’s Will.

Compared to the Star Origin Lord, such defiance was like an ant shaking a tree, but it nonetheless caused violent unrest within the Essence Abundance World, like an illness festering inside a giant’s body, leaving cracks across its surface for outside forces to invade.

And in this case, Shang Xia’s External Avatar bursting into the Seven Essence Heavenly Field was the outside force.

"You actually planted a spy within my Heavenly Field?!" The Star Origin Lord’s voice carried no rage, only disbelief, and a hint of grudging admiration. "I didn’t expect that your side could plan so far ahead."

To his mind, the only way Shang Xia could have infiltrated his Heavenly Field was by using a native of one of its worlds, long before they merged into the Seven Essence Heavenly Field.

Such a spy would have needed to possess the strength of a high-level True Immortal. Otherwise the Star Origin Lord’s control over his Heavenly Field would have exposed them instantly.

No outsider could have hidden so deeply under his watch, much less caused such devastation without his knowledge.

But by the time the Star Origin Lord acted, it was already too late, especially with Shang Xia blocking his way.

Shang Xia’s External Avatar had entered the Essence Abundance World with full resolve to sacrifice himself. The instant he pierced the heavenly screen, he unleashed his full might

The undefended Essence Abundance World was engulfed in Shang Xia’s External Avatar’s horrifying might instantly. The land collapsed, magma rivers burst forth, and ash clouds rolled across the skies. The world trembled as though the apocalypse had arrived.

Yet amid the chaos, the awakened Essence World Clone of the Essence Abundance World showed signs of reconnecting with the Star Origin Lord. Shang Xia instantly realized why. Though the explosion had weakened the Star Origin Lord, it had also devastated the Essence Abundance World.

But Shang Xia and his External Avatar had prepared for such an outcome. Their next action came swiftly as his External Avatar began to cut apart the Essence Abundance World from within.

Even though it was met with resistance from the remaining World’s Will, the awakened Essence World Clone made no attempt to stop him.

Instinct drove the World’s Will to resist destruction, yet reason guided the awakened Essence World Clone to weigh the consequences of his action.

To sever the world might indeed cripple the World’s Will, perhaps even cause it to fall from an Essence World. But it would also sever the Star Origin Lord’s control. The portion of the world that was cut free would once again belong entirely to himself.

Moments later, the continents of the Essence Abundance World started to split apart. The world began to split, separating into two separate portions.