Splitting the Heavens

"You were looking for this old man?" A ghostly voice suddenly echoed out from the void surrounding Shang Xia's External Avatar.

Even though it was merely an External Avatar, a chill shot through it as if Shang Xia's very soul had been startled.

Spinning around in alarm, Shang Xia's External Avatar held several rank six talismans. But when he saw the figure emerging from the void, he blinked in surprise. "Commander Zhuge Xiang?!"

However, Shang Xia's External Avatar quickly realized something was wrong. The real Zhuge Xiang had long since perished, his body and soul obliterated, and his true body had been one of the key participants in that event.

Shang Xia's External Avatar instantly grasped the implication and said, "Star Origin Lord... Looks like you have come. Looks like this junior's guess was correct. You really did find this place."

The person wearing Zhuge Xiang's face didn't deny the title and simply replied, "Your Fate Star was truly hard to locate, my young friend. But since your External Avatar has appeared here, it seems my search direction wasn't so far off after all."

Shang Xia's External Avatar couldn't help but praise, "As expected of the final and complete inheritor of the Heaven Observation Sect, your abilities are indeed formidable. My true body only acted a few times in your presence, and you still managed to trace it here."

However, the Star Origin Lord wearing Zhuge Xiang's face shook his head. "Your method of concealing your Fate Star is quite remarkable. Even now, I can only confirm that it lies somewhere within this region of the void. But which star exactly... or perhaps which stars? I still don't truly know."

When the Star Origin Lord suddenly pointed out that there might be more than one star, Shang Xia's External Avatar's heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, as he was only an External Avatar, his expression was already rigid and wooden by nature. He didn't betray anything under the Star Origin Lord's gaze.

Still, deep within, Shang Xia's External Avatar was secretly stunned. His true body had thought the Star Origin Lord might be limited by traditional thinking and wouldn't imagine that there could be more than one Fate Star. Yet he had clearly considered that possibility.

Of course, it might have been a mere probe. But by pointing it out, the Star Origin Lord had already shown that Shang Xia had underestimated him.

Fortunately, even though the Star Origin Lord had guessed that Shang Xia might have multiple Fate Stars, it still posed no immediate threat to him.

Shang Xia's External Avatar forced a stiff smile and said, "Your line of thought does catch this junior off guard. But I am curious, was your goal in coming here solely to find my Fate Star?"

"Of course!" the Star Origin Lord said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Now that you've reached fifth star, you're a major figure in the Chaotic Sea of Stars. It's only right for me to take you seriously."

"Then I'm truly flattered!" Shang Xia's External Avatar cupped his hands perfunctorily and continued, "Star Origin Lord, do you have any further instructions? If not, I'll be taking my leave."

With that, Shang Xia's External Avatar turned to go, already on high alert and prepared to flee at a moment's notice.

"With your cultivation and awareness, you must already know that external forces from beyond the Star Field are about to invade the Chaotic Sea of Stars, yes?" The voice of the Star Origin Lord, still wearing Zhuge Xiang's face, suddenly came from behind.

Shang Xia's External Avatar halted but didn't turn back. "Star Origin Lord, what do you want to say about that?"

Rather than answering directly, the Star Origin Lord asked another question. "You're here for the Essence Chong Heavenly Field, aren't you?"

Shang Xia's External Avatar finally turned around, his expression cold. "What, are you planning to interfere?"

The Star Origin Lord laughed and waved his hand. "That's your business. Besides, the Sage from the Essence Chong World did take part in hunting you down back then. He brought this on himself."

Shang Xia's External Avatar smirked. "What, don't tell me you actually want to help?"

Surprisingly, the Star Origin Lord chuckled again. "Why not?"

Shang Xia's External Avatar raised his eyebrows and followed up, "Then what's your price? Of course, if you're still insisting on merging my Essence Luxuriant World into your Four Essence Heavenly Field, you'd best not even bring it up."

The Star Origin Lord laughed. "I truly haven't thought that far ahead. Let's just call it you owing me one, how about it?"

Shang Xia's External Avatar shook his head. "A favor from my true body doesn't come cheap. Besides, I'm not in a position to owe favors on his behalf. If you really want to collaborate, you should talk directly with him, or with Patriarch Kou."

The response didn't surprise the Star Origin Lord. He simply said, "Actually, I'm quite curious about one thing. The Essence Luxuriant World may have established a Heavenly Field, but it only has a single affiliated Spirit World. And yet, it not only sustains two Sages, but you even became a fifth star Sage in record time. Either of these would be beyond the reach of an Essence World that ascended within the last 20 years. Can you offer me some insight into your cultivation?"

Shang Xia's External Avatar chuckled. "Now that's the wrong thing to ask. I'm just an External Avatar. How could I possibly know the core secrets of my true body?"

"Fair point!" the Star Origin Lord nodded in agreement. But then he added, "That being the case, why don't you come with me? I'd really like to find out what other secrets this avatar of yours is hiding."

Even before he finished speaking, the Star Origin Lord reached out and grasped at the void where Shang Xia's External Avatar stood.

Shang Xia's External Avatar's expression changed drastically as he immediately leapt backward in retreat.

Yet, he quickly realized something was wrong. Instead of accelerating, he started to travel slower and slower. The surrounding void grew increasingly viscous under the Star Origin Lord's influence.

Although Shang Xia's External Avatar only had the combat strength of a fifth tier True Immortal, he carried a sliver of Shang Xia's divine soul. Reacting instantly, he activated two rank six talismans.

The first was a rank six Myriad Tinted Cloud Talisman. A cloud fortress formed around him.

Unfortunately... Under the strength of a Sage, the cloud fortress began to twist and warp the moment it emerged, unable to withstand the crushing pressure of the surrounding void.

Fortunately, the talisman was extraordinary in its own right, managing to buy Shang Xia's External Avatar a precious second or two.

Next, he activated the Six Harmony Teleportation Talisman.

In the blink of an eye, Shang Xia's External Avatar's figure fell backward into a spatial rift and vanished.