Splitting the Heavens

"Hold steady!" Huang Jinghan's steady voice echoed through the Jiao Continent, and immediately after came a violent tremor. All around the cabin, the sound of creaking and groaning filled the air, as if the entire ship might disintegrate at any moment.

The massive hull of the Star Ship wobbled precariously within the chaotic maelstrom, like a fragile eggshell caught in a storm. It was on the verge of capsizing or even shattering completely.

With Shang Xia not intervening personally, Huang Jinghan typically assumed command of the Jiao Continent. Even Gao Qin, whose cultivation and strength exceeded his, acted only as his assistant.

Because of that, even in such a perilous moment, Gao Qin still found time to glance toward the ship's bow.

Despite the protective barrier surrounding the vessel and everyone having retreated into the cabin, one figure still stood at the very front.

Even as the ship lurched and jolted like a toy thrown about at sea, Shang Xia remained standing firm on the deck as if rooted there, his figure unmoving, not swaying in the slightest.

For some reason, despite her growing anxiety over the danger they were facing, Gao Qin felt strangely reassured at the sight of Shang Xia's calm, motionless silhouette.

"Hah... If Sage Shang hasn't taken action, what is there to panic about?"

"If he hasn't moved, it must mean he sees no need to. The danger may seem grave, but clearly, he does not believe it will truly put us in danger."

"As long as he is here, we need only focus on protecting the Star Ship. If things reach a critical point, Sage Shang will surely act."

Those kinds of murmured sentiments had become familiar to Gao Qin, she had heard them many times. She had even come to accept them. In fact, she no longer questioned his decisions even though she was likely over a century older than Shang Xia in both age and experience.

Outside the ship, in the chaotic maelstrom, the Jiao Continent had just evaded a wave of void current when it was suddenly caught in a collapsing region of space. The Star Ship began to spin violently, dragged downward by the implosion.

Huang Jinghan immediately ordered the Formation Master at the core of the formation to accelerate the dissolution of the embedded origin fragment. A moment later, the ship's protective barrier burst forth with an intense brilliance. The overloaded formation pushed the hull to its absolute limit, and the ominous groaning returned, pressing in on every cultivator aboard with the sensation of impending collapse.

At the same time, a powerful force of repulsion erupted from the Jiao Continent. Not only did it halt the spinning motion, but it also created a counterforce that began to lift the ship out of the collapsing zone, though with visible strain.

"Hold steady!" Huang Jinghan called. "Spatial collapses like this are extremely erratic. They may disappear at any moment! No one is to let their guard down!"

Sweat had begun to form on his brow, but his voice remained composed and unwavering.

Others might not fully understand the gravity of their current situation, but Gao Qin, who was coordinating with Huang Jinghan, knew that they were facing their most dangerous moment since entering the vortex.

Her gaze drifted instinctively back to the bow.

Is he really still ot going to act?

Actually, she knew that if Huang Jinghan asked, Shang Xia would take action instantly to stabilize everything.

But after working with the famously honest man from the Essence Luxuriant World, Gao Qin had come to understand his character. Unless the situation truly reached the brink of life and death, he would never ask for help.

While she was lost in thought, the Jiao Continent climbed 100 more meters above the spatial collapse.

Unfortunately, that seemed to be the limit of the Jiao Continent. It was like a spent arrow.

Just as Gao Qin clenched her teeth and prepared to go over Huang Jinghan's head and call for Shang Xia's help, the ship suddenly jolted. The hull surged upward like a kite cut from its string, accelerating so rapidly that the protective formation began to shake violently as if it would shatter the next second.

"Not good! The spatial collapse has vanished, the pull is gone!" Huang Jinghan shouted to the crew, urgently instructing everyone to stabilize the ship while explaining the situation.

At that exact moment, Gao Qin instinctively looked toward the deck again, only to freeze. That calm, upright figure was gone.

"True Immortal Gao!" Huang Jinghan's shout brought her back to reality. "What are you doing?!"

Startled, Gao Qin realized that her momentary lapse had caused her to fall out of sync with Huang Jinghan. Their teamwork wavered, which threw off the stabilization of the ship. Worse still, a void current that should have been directly ahead was now slamming toward the side of the Jiao Continent!

If not corrected immediately, the ship could be flipped, just like Master Lightning's super Star Ship, which had tumbled uncontrollably into the depths of the void.

Gao Qin quickly resumed her role, working with Huang Jinghan to correct the course, but the incoming wave was far too fast. The Jiao Continent, already struggling against chaotic currents, was too slow to shift themselves.

"Brace for impact!" Huang Jinghan commanded.

At that point, nothing else could be done. They could only hope that the ship's structure and barrier could withstand the collision.

"Why hasn't he acted yet?" Gao Qin felt anxious now, even a little resentful.

The next moment, the wave of void crashed into them. The Star Ship was like a paper kite in a storm, forced backward faster and faster. Everyone aboard did their utmost to stabilize the hull and reinforce the main formations, trying to keep the ship from being swept away entirely.

"Something's coming in that wave!" Someone screamed suddenly, catching Gao Qin and Huang Jinghan off guard.

The next second, a completely out-of-control large Star Ship emerged from the void current, rolling end over end. It flew at them at a speed far greater than their retreat.

No... It wasn't just heading in their general direction. It was going to slap right into them!

A collision between two large Star Ships would be catastrophic.

But at that very moment, a cold, commanding voice rang out beyond the ship.

"Break!"

Not even the howling void could muffle his voice.