Splitting the Heavens

To those who had been watching the movements of the three large Star Ships from the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field, the moment appeared to be their best opportunity to strike.

What they didn't know, however, was that once the anchor chains had been entangled, even though it would take some time to free the Jiao Continent from the spatial vortex, Shang Xia was more than capable of traveling around the region of chaos. The only thing stopping him before was to protect the Star Ship, and he didn't know which direction to go, but with the chains, all his problems were solved.

It was just that those hiding in the dark had not yet revealed themselves, and since the Star Ships could still hold their formation, Shang Xia preferred to wait and see. He wanted to see which assholes were fucking around in the dark.

If he were to reveal his presence, he would most likely scare them off, giving them another chance to strike in the future.

Shang Xia's External Avatar outside the spatial vortex, who had established contact with his true body the moment the chains were bound together, instantly understood Shang Xia's intentions.

With the assurance from Shang Xia's External Avatar that Shang Xia could emerge at any time, the previously uneasy hearts of Xiao Yugang and Song Zhen were finally at ease.

In the very next moment, two more attacks came from different directions in the void, targeting the battle formation.

Though the ships were held back by the Jiao Continent and could not dodge, simply sitting still and absorbing damage wasn't a sustainable plan either.

The Star Ships commanded by Xiao Yugang and Song Zhen responded immediately. One conjured a spear of origin qi, while the other produced an icy spike gleaming with cold light to intercept the incoming assaults.

Their counterattacks failed to stop the incoming strikes. The spear and ice spike were both annihilated, and the attacks from the void crashed against the barrier of their battle formation.

Fortunately, the initial resistance had weakened the blows significantly. The two Star Ships, already prepared, only shook violently in place without being pushed back, and the battle formation among the three remained largely intact.

However, under such conditions, any attempt to drag the Jiao Continent out of the spatial vortex had to cease. Maintaining the connection of the anchor chains and simply resisting being pulled back into the spatial vortex was already the best outcome they could achieve.

From the eyes of the lurking enemies, though, it looked like a clear sign that the Star Ships were caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.

Emboldened by their perceived advantage, those hiding in the dark were emboldened as they dropped their cautious pretense. Though they still didn't expose their identities, they no longer concealed their positions as carefully. When the third wave of attacks arrived, it wasn't just stronger. There were six different strikes coming from six different directions.

Of them, only three possessed the power of a Sage. The others came from high-level True Immortals.

Clearly, the first two rounds of defense by the Star Ships of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field had caused a major misjudgment. Their opponents believed the ships, weighed down by the trapped Jiao Continent, could only defend and had little strength left to counterattack.

Xiao Yugang and Song Zhen weren't the only ones who took part in the defense this time. Even the Star Ship commanded by Shang Xia's External Avatar made a move. The defensive might of their battle formation reached its peak state to stop the attacks flying their way.

Amid the thunderous explosions, their defensive barrier trembled violently, as if it would shatter the next second.

Yet, whether because the Star Ships had committed everything to defense or because of some unknown hidden art, the three Star Ships, though visibly struggling, held firm without moving the slightest inch backward.

What no one noticed was that even though the ships weren't moving, it didn't make sense, as the last ship that was trapped in the spatial vortex should have been pulling them back. Even while defending against so many waves of assaults, the three Star Ships were not being pulled in. In fact, even the tightly coiled anchor chains were mostly taut in appearance only. They weren't rattled no matter how strong the attacks were.

"Fellow seniors... Fellow cultivators... Do you really intend to oppose my Heavenly Field?"

With Shang Xia's External Avatar cueing him, Xiao Yugang called out loudly from one of the Star Ships.

In a situation like that, Shang Xia's External Avatar was clearly the worst person to reveal himself. As for Song Zhen... Though he was a guardian of the 6th Starsea Market, basically everyone knew he was backed by Shang Xia. He, too, couldn't act too openly.

Xiao Yugang, however, had rarely left the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field. As a high-level True Immortal, his name was practically unknown in the Chaotic Sea of Stars.

"Hehe. Fellow cultivator of the Heaven Observation Star Region, let's not beat around the bush. We sincerely invite the Stargazer aboard your ship to visit our Heavenly Field and share their teachings. Please allow safe passage for our invitation." A clear, unhurried voice, echoed from somewhere in the void.

Xiao Yugang turned toward the voice and saw a faint silhouette standing amidst a radiant nebula. Their figure was partially hidden, but the undisguised aura of a Sage radiated from the figure.

The was no doubt about it. It was the clone of a Sage.

Xiao Yugang silently muttered to himself, but replied calmly, "Senior, your actions are quite domineering and frankly reek of someone who loves taking advantage of the situation. This conduct hardly suits your lofty status. When the Sages of our Heavenly Field seek justice, how are you going to deal with it?"

The faint silhouette burst into laughter. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. A newly advanced high-level True Immortal dares speak to me like that? And where is your Heavenly Field's Sage? They should be trapped in the spatial vortex, right?"

Xiao Yugang did not respond immediately.

Instead, a cold, grating voice came from another direction in the void: "Why waste words on a junior? If they won't surrender, break the formation and seize them all!"

A third Sage created a giant palm from the origin qi in the surroundings that went crashing down on the Star Ships. "Hurry and act. Others are beginning to notice the disturbance here. If we waste any more time, trouble might come."

Only after striking did the third figure speak.

The second one to speak earlier also started to gather inner qi before tossing a meteor hammer through the air.

"Wait, wait! We haven't even discussed how to divide the Stargazers! ..." The first Sage finally spoke, but before he could finish, a high-pitched sword cry rang from within the battle formation, cutting them off.