Splitting the Heavens

The celestial phenomenon of the Original Star Corner, the great spatial vortex.

The celestial phenomenon of the Distant Star Region, the Nebula Forbidden Region.

The celestial phenomenon of the Crowned Star Region had been used with the ruins of an Essence World.

The celestial phenomenon of the Flood Star Region was the Lightning Prison.

The celestial phenomenon of the Heaven Observation Star Region was the Void Mirage.

During his exchange with those Sages, Shang Xia quickly learned about various celestial phenomena across several Star Regions of the Chaotic Sea of Stars and gained a basic understanding of their nature.

However, the exchange among those Sages did not cease. News of the newly born celestial phenomenon in the Heaven Observation Star Region, the Void Mirage, and discussions about the Star Origin Lord and the remnants of the Heaven Observation Sect held little value to Shang Xia.

After all, as someone second only to the Star Origin Lord within the Heaven Observation Star Region, Shang Xia's knowledge and grasp of their internal affairs far exceeded that of these other Sages.

At this moment, Sage Loudmouth suddenly said, "That newly emerged celestial phenomenon in the Heaven Observation Star Region resembles a mirage. It reminds me of another celestial phenomenon that is somewhat similar..."

"Oh? Which celestial phenomenon might that be, and in which Star Region is it located?" Shang Xia asked.

When Sage Loudmouth spoke, the other divine thoughts reacted indifferently, clearly familiar with the celestial phenomenon he mentioned.

Sage Loudmouth, relieved that someone followed up to ease the awkwardness, chuckled and said, "Naturally, I'm referring to the celestial phenomenon in the Eastern Star Region, the Void River. The celestial phenomenon often shifts between illusion and reality, constantly changing. If one fails to evacuate the area it passes through in time, once it turns real, the surging torrent can sweep away even Sages."

Shang Xia was stunned. "So... Those who were swept away... Do they drown?"

Sage Loudmouth hissed, "All of them were dragged in and disappeared without a trace."

Shang Xia was momentarily dazed, but quickly realized from Sage Loudmouth's words that a Sage might have gone missing in the Eastern Star Region because of the celestial phenomenon.

At that moment, Sage Loudmouth suddenly added, "Lightning Master, you always listen without speaking. You're acting like a damn block of wood. Now that Lord Seven Star has joined us, you should at least share something, shouldn't you?"

From Shang Xia's brief interaction, he had already noticed that among the seven of them. Graceful Lady and Lightning Master were usually the most tight-lipped. But unlike Lightning Master, though Graceful Lady rarely spoke, she never held back useful information when exchanging intelligence. After sharing her own information, she would simply remain silent in discussions.

Because of that, the others had long come to accept Graceful Lady's manner, even valuing her presence in the group. Lightning Master, on the other hand, was notorious for being stingy.

He refused to share information but loved freeloading off others' updates. When criticized, he would reluctantly toss out a vague statement, often cryptic and confusing.

Over time, his behavior made him unwelcome. The others even considered kicking him out of the group. But every time, as if sensing the tension, Lightning Master would drop some worthwhile intel or trade valuable rare items, then shamelessly stay among them.

Sage Loudmouth's public demand for Lightning Master to share intelligence was immediately echoed by other Sages like Vortex Observer and Lord Actor.

Lightning Master, who hadn't spoken even when Mister Drama introduced Shang Xia to the group, was finally forced to speak. "A wild beast emerged from the Wasteland Forbidden Region in the Floating Star Region. It may have reached the seventh rank."

"What? Are you serious?" Sage Cat, usually aloof, suddenly became agitated.

Yet Lightning Master refused to say another word.

Even as Sage Cat pressed and questioned repeatedly, he remained silent.

If not for his divine soul still lingering nearby, Shang Xia might have thought he had simply left.

Regardless, the emergence of a possible rank seven spiritual beast from outside the Chaotic Sea of Stars in the Floating Star Region was a major incident.

Let alone the fact that it might be of the seventh rank. That alone was terrifying.

Shang Xia had never even heard of a seventh rank exotic beast, let alone seen one. But what was more surprising was Sage Cat's reaction, their urgency didn't seem feigned.

Everyone couldn't help but suspect Sage Cat came from the Floating Star Region, and their Heavenly Field was close to the Wasteland Forbidden Region.

However, if Shang Xia's guess was correct, Sage Cat should have heard about it first-hand instead of learning it from Lightning Master...

As he pondered, Shang Xia suddenly felt the divine soul of the others shift toward him.

His heart tensed, and he became alert, mentally guarding against their presence.

Then, Mister Drama's voice once again came through. "Lord Seven Star, there's no need to be on edge. Earlier, each of us shared valuable information as a sign of goodwill. Might you have anything to share in return?"

After a short pause, Shang Xia suddenly spoke. "I believe everyone would be interested in what I discovered near the edge of the spatial vortex during my deep exploration."

As expected, this stirred up interest from the others. In fact, it might have been their real reason for inviting him into their circle in the first place.

After all, for over half a year, those monitoring the spatial vortex had found that they could no longer approach its edge casually.

Though the vortex had ceased expanding, the power it generated continued to intensify, forcing even the strongest beings to observe from farther away.

That explained why Shang Xia's forceful entry into the range of 300,000 to 500,000 miles from the vortex triggered their attention.

They were all desperate to know...Had anything changed inside the vortex?

At this moment, Lord Actor's voice grew solemn. "Please, Lord Seven Star, tell us, what did you find inside?"

Shang Xia considered for a moment, then said, "At the center it stands a pillar of energy so dense it's nearly solid..."

"If that's all," said Vortex Observer, sounding disappointed and scornful, "then there's no need to continue. We discovered that pillar years ago. Its essence isn't a secret."

Several other divine souls dimmed, and two or three even began to retreat.

Of course. Even though Shang Xia broke through to reach close range, most of his effort likely went into shielding himself from the chaotic void. How could he have the capacity to observe anything deeper?

But just then, a sly smile tugged at the corner of Shang Xia's lips.

"If you all already know about the energy pillar," he said slowly, "then surely you've also noticed the spatial gate forming within it?"

Silence fell instantly.

The previously drifting divine senses froze in place. Even those about to leave forcefully halted their retreat, causing the void around them to ripple.

Then, in the next moment, a flood of voices erupted. Even the silent Graceful Lady and Lightning Master spoke up.

"A spatial gate? What spatial gate?"

"Lord Seven Star, are you certain?"

"Does the spatial gate lead beyond the Chaotic Sea of Stars?"

"How far along is its formation? When might it become usable?"

"Did you discover anything else?"

"Can the spatial gate be destroyed? Would destroying the pillar suffice?"

"How much time do we have left?"

The voices of seven divine souls surged toward Shang Xia's mind all at once, nearly overwhelming him. Had his mental state been any weaker, he might have been instantly incapacitated.

"Everyone, calm yourselves!" Shang Xia had to unleash his own divine soul like a torrential wave, immediately subduing the chaotic voices.

At the same time, his horrifying might forced all of them to be wary of his strength.

Then Mister Drama asked, "Lord Seven Star, pardon us. What you just shared... It is truly shocking!"

Shocking?

Shang Xia couldn't help thinking to himself.

If I told them I clashed with the presence behind that spatial gate, would they faint from fright?

A frown appeared on Shang Xia's face. "Did none of you anticipate this when you gathered to monitor the vortex's expansion?"

No one answered immediately. Only Mister Drama replied. "May I ask, besides discovering the spatial gate within the pillar, did you notice anything else?"

"Other discoveries?" asked Shang Xia. "What do you mean?"

Mister Drama hesitated, then said, "Anything... Peculiar? Do you feel like anything there requires your attention?"

Shang Xia scowled. "So you people still don't trust me. In that case, I'll take my leave!"

"No! Please, Lord Seven Star, wait!"

Several voices tried to stop him.

He didn't actually intend to leave, but seeing their panic, he sneered coldly, "If you want me to share, then at least tell me what you want to know. What, do you think I'm some fool to spill everything just like that?"

Sage Loudmouth hastily tried to smooth things over. "Lord Seven Star, you may not know, but Mister Drama always speaks in riddles. You'll get used to it! What we truly want to know is, did you actually touch the pillar of origin qi itself?"

"The pillar itself?" Shang Xia pretended not to understand. "Isn't it just the product of the vortex condensing the surrounding origin qi?"

"Well..." Sage Loudmouth hesitated, but before he could speak, Graceful Lady interrupted.

"The origin qi drawn by the vortex comes from the surrounding Heavenly Fields, especially from the Original Star Corner. Now, with the vortex's growth, those worlds are losing world origin rapidly, stunting their development, and in some cases, even causing them to shrink."

Her statement shocked the others.

She continued, "The energies drawn from those Heavenly Fields gather in the center, forming the Origin Pillar. But that pillar doesn't merely accumulate energy, it fuses and even elevates the world origin it absorbs. In fact, the energy there now surpasses any world origin."

Shang Xia frowned. "You don't actually believe that pillar has produced energy surpassing what an Essence World is capable of producing, do you?"

Graceful Lady said, "Not completely. But what if it's a Pseudo-Eighth Order energy? You're familiar with how lower-tier cultivators can simulate Seventh Order energy using external aids, aren't you?"

Shang Xia nodded. "So that's your real goal, the Pseudo-Eighth Order energy condensed within the pillar?"

Graceful Lady nodded. "But now, from what you've told us, it seems that power is already being used, or worse, the entire vortex's expansion may be the work of the presence behind that spatial gate!"