Splitting the Heavens

The Star Origin Lord, wearing the face of Zhuge Xiang, made it clear that the Star Origin Lord had refined him into a special type of avatar. Compared to Shang Xia's External Avatar, it resembled more of a puppet formed through possession.

That reminded Shang Xia of a method he had witnessed used by Gu Yi of the Essence Ming World. Before the Essence Luxuriant World had been established, Gu Yi had once deployed two high-level True Immortals into their space to sabotage them. He employed a similar method of possession, and one of those experts, after being severely injured by Shang Xia, was used as a temporary vessel for Gu Yi's descent, briefly allowing him to display the power of a Sage.

However, the Star Origin Lord's methods were clearly superior to Gu Yi's. The current avatar using Zhuge Xiang's body evidently surpassed the level of an ordinary clone that could only display the might of a first star Sage.

Shang Xia didn't hesitate when he activated the Myriad Tinted Cloud Talisman and the Six Harmony Teleportation Talisman. His response was swift, and the decision was executed with resolve.

Yet he had still underestimated the Star Origin Lord's intent to capture him. At some unknown point, faint starlight scattered across the void had already been woven into layers of a nearly invisible net.

Shang Xia's Six Harmony Teleportation Talisman tore through the void, but failed to breach the net of dim starlight.

However, Shang Xia had previously seen this trick firsthand from the Star Origin Lord. With his escape path severed, Shang Xia's External Avatar did not show much panic despite the failure.

As the Star Origin Lord's Avatar closed in, the nets of starlight that once served as obstacles now converged and layered themselves onto his body, forming a tangible robe of starlight. At a glance, it bore a striking resemblance to Shang Xia's Origin Star Robe.

The Star Origin Lord's avatar spoke as he advanced. "I must thank you, Young Friend Shang, not only for restoring the Heaven Observation Great Constellation Talisman, but also for successfully integrating it into the Star Robe. Now, through the inherited secret techniques of the Heaven Observation Sect, this avatar of mine, using Zhuge Xiang as a vessel, can possess the strength of a third star Sage. I can even roam freely across various Star Regions in the Chaotic Sea of Stars."

As he spoke, he reached out in the void. The cloud fortress created from the talisman was instantly torn open, leaving a massive cavity.

"It's useless. Though this talisman has the foundation of a rank seven talisman and is strong in defense, it is ultimately not a rank seven talisman. It cannot stop me!" The Star Origin Lord's avatar tore another portion of the cloud fortress to shreds, exposing Shang Xia's External Avatar within the thinning mist.

Just then, the remnant clouds surged outward from within, and the shadow of a staff pierced through the void, carrying the force to reshape space itself. Its power reached the peak of the Martial Void Realm, enough to make even clones created by Sages to retreat.

Unfortunately, the Star Origin Lord's Avatar was no ordinary clone. He was no typical clone.

Forming seals with both hands, he swiftly conjured a massive swirling vortex of starlight. Though dim, its emergence instantly devoured the mighty staff strike, along with the remaining mist and light of the cloud fortress.

With that, Shang Xia's External Avatar was completely exposed to the Star Origin Lord.

Yet even under such threat, he showed no sign of panic. Retrieving another talisman, he activated it, summoning a mighty surge of energy. A powerful aura descended and he became several times stronger than before.

Facing the sudden surge in Shang Xia's External Avatar's aura, the Star Origin Lord didn't seem shocked. Instead, he didn't even bother slowing down.

Shang Xia's External Avatar had used a Heaven Liberation Talisman, but because it was only a rank six talisman, even though it borrowed a portion of Shang Xia's strength, its rank limited its effects. At best, he would be able to gain the strength of a peak-tier True Immortal, or an initial-level Sage.

To the Star Origin Lord, it was a futile gesture, a waste of a rare talisman.

As he reached out once more, intending to capture Shang Xia's External Avatar alive, the situation changed again. Intense beams of starlight erupted from the depths of the void in multiple directions. Those beams, infused with energy from the seven suns, shot through space and poured directly into Shang Xia's External Avatar.

Already at the peak of the Six Direction Realm, Shang Xia's External Avatar absorbed the light and broke through to the Seven Star Realm.

Moreover, his energy didn't stop rising.

From the first star, to the second star... He even showed signs of touching on the third star. Even though he eventually failed to reach the third star and was still lacking compared to the Star Origin Lord's Avatar, he already gained the ability to defend himself.

Actually, the second Shang Xia's External Avatar gained strength comparable to a Sage, the Star Origin Lord had already lost all hope of capturing him. In fact, even destroying his External Avatar completely became a problem.

With endless power surging in his body, Shang Xia's External Avatar swung the stone rod in his hands again. A sweeping motion tore through layers of space, forcing the Star Origin Lord's Avatar to retreat temporarily.

"What... What did you do?!" The Star Origin Lord's Avatar asked in astonishment after pulling back slightly. "Heh... This secret art of yours... You can't sustain it forever, can you?"

Shang Xia's External Avatar had put distance between them by then and sneered, "Even if it's brief, I can withdraw at any moment."

The Star Origin Lord's Avatar nodded slightly, a touch of resignation in his voice. "That's true. I'm beginning to believe your martial inheritance has little to do with the Heaven Observation Sect. Just a second ago, I sensed at least seven Fate Stars!"

Shang Xia's External Avatar merely smiled without responding, concealing any emotional response that might give him away.

"If you have no more to teach, then I'll take my leave," he said.

He intended to retreat while the power of Emberkindled Legacy was still active. However, the Star Origin Lord's Avatar was no fool. He disturbed the surroundings to block any attempts to tear through the void before asking with a smile, "You still haven't answered my first question. What exactly is that move?"

With a snort, Shang Xia's External Avatar struck the unstable void, shattering it completely. Then, leaping into the fractured space, he disappeared.

His voice, however, lingered in the air. "That's the newest form of my rank seven martial arts. It's called Emberkindled Legacy. Your true body has experienced it before!"

As the words faded, Shang Xia's External Avatar had vanished into the broken void.

The Star Origin Lord's Avatar stood with a shifting expression but made no further move to intercept. He silently watched the escape unfold.

"A strike that crossed several Star Regions without losing power... Although he leveraged a rank six talisman to bear the load, it still counts as a technique only high-level Sages can wield." The Star Origin Lord's Avatar murmured to himself as he watched the void restore itself.

Moments later, the Star Origin Lord's Avatar gradually faded until he disappeared completely.

About the time to burn a stick of incense passed and a small point of light appeared in the distant void. It rapidly expanded into a shuttle-shaped Star Ship that began circling the area. Streams of perception swept across the space, repeatedly scanning for confirmation.

After ensuring the area was safe, the ship cautiously approached. Under the lead of a high-level True Immortal, three other True Immortals began scouting the surroundings.

"True Immortal Wei, is there really Seventh Order energy?" A low-level True Immortal asked nervously.

The high-level True Immortal maintained a grim expression as he explained, "Without a doubt. Two Sages clashed earlier."

Another True Immortal hesitated before asking. "Could it have been someone using borrowed power?"

True Immortal Wei shot him a glare and growled, "I wish that were true. But the intensity far exceeded anything a typical clone or borrowed force could replicate. Both parties were at least second star Sages or higher!"

The others gasped in shock.

A third True Immortal asked anxiously, "Shouldn't we report this to Sage Pei immediately?"

True Immortal Wei looked at him like he was a fool. "Of course we'll report this, but what Sage Pei decides is beyond us."

The True Immortal quickly realized his mistake and stammered an apology.

True Immortal Wei snorted, "Let's go. Now that we understand the situation, we need to leave. In this place, even without Sage Pei's presence, few Sages would dare approach casually."

Not long after their ship departed, the Star Origin Lord's Avatar reappeared in the void.

Watching their vessel vanish into the distance, he muttered, "Does Shang Xia plan to target the entire Essence Chong Heavenly Field? Or is he trying to carve out a fallback route for Essence Luxuriant World?"

He shook her head, seemingly unable to reach a conclusion, and vanished once again.

Elsewhere, Shang Xia's External Avatar, having used the Heaven Liberation Talisman and absorbed energy though the seven stars, even forcefully unleashed the fourth form of his Seven Star Mace Technique, Emberkindled Legacy. He used up all the trump cards he had and had no choice but to abandon his surveillance mission to head back to his true body.

Actually, the retreat was also prompted by a message transmitted from his true body.

Although Shang Xia's External Avatar didn't know the reason for the urgency, he trusted that it was necessary.

Fortunately, the trip wasn't fruitless. His encounter and clash with the Star Origin Lord's Avatar had yielded valuable intel.

Meanwhile, back at the spatial vortex in the Original Star Corner, Shang Xia's true body had been meditating in seclusion. Not only had he fully restored his depleted energy, but by absorbing the energy he obtained from the Origin Pillar, his cultivation subtly advanced.

At the fifth star of the Seven STar Realm, such improvement was extremely difficult, and yet he had clearly sensed progress.

But the moment of peace didn't last long. The same divine souls soon contacted him again with urgent news. Their true bodies had arrived! They intended to gather once more to discuss how to jointly destroy and divide the massive Origin Pillar that was suspected to contain world origin from worlds surpassing Essence Worlds.

After considering the timing of his External Avatar's return and the expected arrival of a Star Ship from the 6th Starsea Market, Shang Xia agreed.

Three days later, a chime echoed through the void. At the previous gathering point of the divine souls, mysterious figures began to emerge.

This time, perhaps due to concerns over leadership and profit distribution, the newly arrived Sages concealed their faces and auras but did not hide their cultivation levels.

By the time Shang Xia arrived, six of the eight of them had assembled. Among them, Mister Drama wore a moon-white robe and carried a fan he intermittently opened and closed. Despite his eccentric flair, his cultivation clearly placed him in the middle ranks at the fourth star of the Martial Emptiness Realm.

Not far from him stood Graceful Lady, dignified with an ornate hairpin, emanating a steady presence at the third star.

Beside Mister Drama was Lord Actor, though he too had now revealed a cultivation level at the third star.

Near him stood Sage Loudmouth, appearing as an elderly figure. His cultivation matched Shang Xia's at the fifth star. He had undoubtedly cultivated a much longer time than the others present.

Closer to Graceful Lady was Sage Cat. Seemingly frail and almost intangible, their aura suggested they might vanish at any moment. Of those present, Sage Cat had the lowest cultivation at the second star.

Shang Xia's arrival brought with it a heavy, unseen pressure. Though the others had suspected his high cultivation, the sheer weight of his presence which was as deep as the abyss, left them breathless.

Even though Sage Loudmouth matched him in cultivation realm, he had not created such an oppressive atmosphere when he arrived.

"There are still two more to come. Why not wait a little longer, Lord Seven Star?" Mister Drama said with a strained smile. His usual playful rone was notably forced.