Chapter 371: Opening the Spatial Tunnel (cont)

The first group of experts was still waiting for the signal to enter the spatial tunnel as the Martial Extermination Realm experts did their thing.

However, they weren’t exactly idle. The world origin that escaped from the spatial barrier turned into pure heaven and earth qi that filled the air.

Shang Xia wasn’t the only one who came into contact with world origin in the past. There were many cultivators who were stuck at their respective bottlenecks and they absorbed as much heaven and earth qi as they could during the process.

When that was happening, Shang Xia discovered someone peculiar. The heaven and earth qi that came from the chaotic world origin seemed to be affected by some sort of suction force and a huge portion of them were pulled into the depths of the Tongyou Institution.

He could tell that the Tongyou Mysterious World was the one that produced the suction force, but surprisingly, it wasn’t absorbing the heaven and earth qi for itself. Instead, it was increasing the density of the heaven and earth qi in the institution.

With the departure of those in the Martial Extermination Realm, the atmosphere became a lot more relaxed. There were many who started absorbing heaven and earth qi but there was also a potion of them who started chatting with each other.

Shang Xia’s attention was focused on the beam of light that emerged from the Tongyou Mysterious World, but he managed to catch some of what those around him were saying.

“Senior Brother Yuan, is the spatial barrier becoming weaker?”

“Senior Brother Qian has been roaming outside for quite some time now. Did you hear something about it?”

Shang Xia felt his heart trembling slightly and he could guess who those people referred to.

‘Senior Brother Yuan’ was probably Yuan Zhen of the Protection Division and ‘Senior Brother Qian’ was probably Qian Sitong of the Outreach Division. Yuan Zhen was the more recognizable of the two as Qian Sitong was usually stationed outside the institution to look for intelligence. It was said that he’s been roaming around the various continents of the Azure Origin World when he wasn’t back in the institution.

The discussion among them quickly entered Shang Xia’s ears again.

“Nonsense! I only heard about the weakening of the spatial barrier from the higher ups of the institution. However, those also seemed like rumors that were floating around. Brother Yuan, you’re the head of the Protection Division and should know a lot more about this…”

“AI… Brother Qian must be kidding. Only the true experts of the institution would be able to confirm this. I’m not in the Martial Extermination Realm and the institution wouldn't tell me these things for no reason.”

“Brother Yuan, you mean…”

“I’m close to breaking through to the Martial Extermination Realm. Why don’t we join forces and fight together in the battlefield between the two worlds?”

After a short period of silence, the eighth blast came from deep within the spatial tunnel before Qian Sitong gave his answer. “I’m honored that Brother Yuan is willing to work with me but there are so many other experts in the Martial Intent Realm who are going to take part in the war. Why did you choose me as your ally?”

“Brother Qian, is there a need to ask something you already know the answer to?”

“Hehe… It hasn’t been long since I returned and there are some things I don’t know. I hope Brother Yuan can enlighten me…”

“Brother Qian, you’re being dishonest here. Why would you remain in the institution after the war? As one of the heads of the Outreach Division, there is no way you haven’t heard of it.”

“Brother Yuan, you seem to be mistaken. I really don’t know anything! I received Deputy Patriarch Yun’s order to remain here as we’re lacking in manpower to start another war after opening the spatial tunnel again.

Yuan Zhen frowned and snapped, “Since Brother Qian is unwilling to admit it, I’ll lay it out for you. I hope this can allow you to see my sincerity.”

“Alright!”

“Brother Qian, do you know what happened after the war for the Tongyou Mysterious World? Each of the four great clans managed to obtain an extermination origin. Other than the Shang Clan, the other clans had already produced another Martial Extermination Realm expert.”

“I know about that. I can see three more additions to those in the Martial Extermination Realm from the four great clans.”

Yuan Zhen didn’t stop there. “That’s not the point here. Anyway, Zhang Haogu and Gu Shou also managed to enter the Martial Extermination Realm. As for the Shang Clan, it doesn't matter whether or not they produce another Martial Extermination Realm expert. They already have two to begin with.”

Qian Sitong muttered, “I heard that if not for Gu Shou suffering from serious injuries in the Coral Forest, the Shang Clan Patriarch wouldn’t have been the one to break through…”

A sneer appeared on Yuan Zhen’s face. “See, I knew you had an idea of what happened. Anyway, I’m trying to say that it’s unfair that the four great clans managed to get one strand of extermination origin each while our institution only received two.”

Qian Sitong didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he paused for a second and continued, “That’s actually a little unfair. Even though the four great clans greatly contributed to the institution’s victory, it’s a little unfair for all the benefits to go to them… Looks like there are some problems with the higher ups of the institution…”

Chuckling softly, Yuan Zhen added, “That was what I thought too. However, Deputy Patriarchs Ji and Yun did the same thing as Deputy Patriarch Shang and relieved themselves of their position in their respective clans to focus on the institution. As the Division Masters of the Protection Division and the Outreach Division, Deputy Patriarch Ji and Deputy Patriarch Yun seem to be planning to pass down their positions to worthy individuals too…”

The last part of his revelation seemed to have truly shocked Qian Sitong. After a period of silence, Qian Sitong finally snapped back to reality. “Is this true? If what you say is truly the case, the institution’s act of giving each great clan a strand of extermination origin wouldn’t be exaggerated at all!”

“Heh, Brother Qian, the position of the Division Master…”

“Haha, I’m not qualified to take on the position as the Division Master of the Outreach Division! At least not yet. However, Brother Yuan Zhen, it wouldn’t be a stretch if you were to take over the Protection Division!” Qian Sitong roared with laughter suddenly.

With his tone dropping slightly, he growled, “Brother Qian, do you think the position of a Division Master in our Tongyou Institution would go to anyone under the Martial Extermination Realm?”

Sighing softly, Qian Sitong finally gave Yuan Zhen the reply he wanted. “Brother Yuan, I understand. Now that we’re going to attack the battlefield between the two worlds…”

“This will determine if we can advance into the Martial Extermination Realm and take on the roles of the Division Masters of our respective divisions! What do you say?” Yuan Zhen growled once again.

“Here’s to our pleasant cooperation!” Qian Sitong muttered softly.

Even though they didn’t transmit their voices directly to each other, they surrounded themselves with a barrier made from their divine senses. Not many people would be able to eavesdrop on them.

However, they would never expect that there would be someone who could listen in to their entire conversation without alerting either one of them!

Shang Xia discovered that since he comprehended the Man and Heaven Synergy Chapter, the degree of fusion with the world around him increased. He was able to bypass their divine sense barrier without much problems and he also discovered a more terrifying fact. The greater his insights into the Man and Heaven Synergy Chapter, he would be able to transform the aura around him to disguise himself!

The ninth burst of light emerged from the Tongyou Mysterious World, shooting straight into the spatial tunnel when their conversation concluded. A loud blast unlike any of the eight that happened before it resounded in the ears of everyone present.

Snapping back to reality, Shang Xia realized that the time had come.

A thick stream of heaven and earth qi poured out from the tunnel all of a sudden as the density of heaven and earth qi in their surroundings increased several folds.

Shang Bo’s voice came from within the tunnel and raised the curtains of the impending battle. “The spatial tunnel has been connected! Everyone, enter the battlefield between the two worlds and get ready for battle!”

As soon as he spoke, huge energy fluctuations came from within the spatial barrier.