Splitting the Heavens

When Shang Xia first created his technique to make an External Avatar, the body was formed through the fusion of numerous high-grade materials and rare treasures. It was already capable of wielding the combat strength of a high-level True Immortal.

After undergoing multiple modifications, Shang Xia's External Avatar could now normally maintain the cultivation and combat power of a fifth tier True Immortal.

If faced with a life-and-death crisis, his External Avatar could rely on a series of secret techniques to amplify his strength, enough to contend with any being below the Martial Emptiness Realm. If his true body was close enough, he could channel power from his true body to temporarily rival a Sage.

Even so, under ordinary circumstances, Shang Xia could not elevate the quality of the External Avatar, nor allow it to maintain Sage-level combat strength for extended periods.

Unless a breakthrough was achieved, Shang Xia's technique would be inferior to other Sage's secret arts of splitting off puppets, lacking the unique strength of independent adaptability that his External Avatar was supposed to demonstrate.

However, after his recent venture into the great spatial vortex, Shang Xia vaguely sensed he might have found the key to elevating his secret art to the next level.

His method was to attempt to reconstruct an origin core for his External Avatar, an idea inspired by the spatial gate located within the solidified Origin Pillar at the center of the vortex.

When Shang Xia first realized it, the Jiao Continent was still trapped deep within the vortex, under constant threat, and his External Avatar was not by his side. Thus, he could only set the matter aside for the time being, though it lingered on his mind.

Once the Jiao Continent escaped the vortex and danger had passed, Shang Xia immediately entered seclusion to begin deducing the preparations and detailed processes required for upgrading his External Avatar.

Though he was in deep meditation, Shang Xia remained fully aware of everything happening aboard the four Star Ships thanks to his External Avatar. He even led and drove the plan to locate the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost World and integrate them into the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field.

By the time Shang Xia emerged from seclusion, the four Star Ships, with the Jiao Continent as their flagship, had already reentered the turbulent void currents.

"The expansion and chaos of the great spatial vortex have had a far greater impact on the chaotic streams where their worlds reside than we anticipated."

No sooner had Shang Xia come out than Song Zhen, Xiao Yugang, Gao Qin, and Huang Jinghan rushed from the other ships to report, paying their respects and briefing him on the recent experiences of the fleet.

Shang Xia's gaze shifted past the high-level True Immortals to settle on Xin Lu and Zhang Yusheng, the Grand Stargazers of the fleet seated below. He asked, "Have the changes in the void affected your observations as well?"

Xin Lu replied seriously, "There has been significant interference. But for now, we can still manage. We can still track the original void coordinates of the Spirit Worlds, but..."

Seeing her hesitate, Shang Xia smiled. "Why are you being so hesitant? If you've something to say, just state it."

Xin Lu's previously serious expression collapsed into a smile. "Although the void current has greatly hindered the use of our stargazing arts, we can still roughly determine, through our observations, that their worlds are no longer in their original positions."

After Xin Lu gave her conclusion, Shang Xia merely nodded slightly, showing no surprise.

Though he was aboard the Jiao Continent, his divine soul allowed him to perceive the violent condition of the void currents outside. He knew that, under the vortex's influence, the turbulence was several times fiercer than before.

Under such conditions, even with the grand formation in place, the Spirit Ruling World and Spirit Frost World could likely no longer resist the influence of the void currents.

Naturally, their worlds would not sit and wait for death. But to avoid being dragged into the vortex, they could only push themselves upstream in the void current, away from the great spatial vortex.

"Then is it possible to trace the paths they took?" Shang Xia asked again.

Xin Lu responded, "It's extremely difficult. The chaotic void current nearly erases all traces. Still, the worlds would have moved in the direction away from the vortex, so it's not a shot in the dark. Regardless, we need to first investigate their original location."

Shang Xia nodded and then turned his gaze to Song Zhen. "Has the message been sent back to our Heavenly Field?"

Song Zhen quickly replied, "It has. But I didn't wait for a response."

Shang Xia nodded again to indicate he understood, but he did not dwell on the second part.

It was also then that Huang Jinghan spoke. "Sage Shang, the reason we've come is to ask for your permission. When we resume the search for the worlds, may we temporarily split the fleet and proceed in different directions? That would allow us to search more efficiently."

Shang Xia thought briefly, then said, "That would not be wise. We should act in pairs instead. This way, Xin Lu and Zhang Yusheng can take charge of each pair. I will personally remain aboard the Jiao Continent, and my External Avatar can accompany the other two Star Ships. That way, even if you are attacked by another Sage like before, you will be able to hold them back."

His words caused the gathered True Immortals to exchange glances, particularly at the last part, which left them wondering if they had misheard.

It was Song Zhen, who had long served under Shang Xia, who reacted first. A look of joy spread across his face as he asked, "Sage Shang, could it be..."

Shang Xia nodded with a smile. Under everyone's watchful gaze, he split off a clone. His clone walked to his External Avatar before fusing seamlessly together.

Throughout the process, not only the True Immortals on board, but even Martial Dipper Realm cultivators like Xin Lu and Zhang Yusheng could clearly sense the intense transformation happening in the body of Shang Xia's External Avatar.

With his aura rising rapidly, it reached the level of Extreme Harmonization. Then, as the energy completely transformed in quality, it crossed the threshold to reach the level of a Sage, becoming an External Avatar who really possessed the power of one!

However, that wasn't what shocked them the most.

What truly astonished them was that after Shang Xia's External Avatar became a Sage, no matter how they used their divine souls to probe, they could no longer detect any trace of him being a clone.

Had they not witnessed the transformation with their own eyes, they would've thought the person standing before them was the true body of a Sage!