Splitting the Heavens

How could someone tolerate someone snoring on the other side of their bed?

Whether it was Shang Xia or the being that had once slumbered in one of the suns, neither side would allow the other to remain in the region of space unchallenged.

Although Shang Xia had sensed the other's presence when he had been exploring in the past, he had not yet advanced to the Seven Star Realm. He was still finding suitable stars, and by the time he finalized their positions, he understood that a battle was inevitable.

What he didn't expect was for that clash to come so soon!

After the fiery onslaught launched by the being hidden behind another star was swallowed by his newly-created fifth form of the Seven Star Mace Technique, Dipper Vortex, Shang Xia immediately launched a counterattack.

The void torn by the earlier strike had not yet mended before he expanded it further with his World Establishing Art. The very next instant, he unleashed Shattered Starry Skies and channeled all its power at the star the beast was hiding behind.

That being within the star clearly recognized the might of Shang Xia's technique. A sharp, piercing screech rang through the void. It was a sound that could split metal as it struck at Shang Xia's soul.

"Rank seven spiritual beast?!" Shang Xia frowned slightly as he dispelled the blast against his soul.

Far away in the void, tens of millions of miles away, an enormous bird-like spiritual beast wreathed in whiteish-gold flames soared into the sky from the heart of a star. With a beat of its wings, it swiftly distanced itself from the stellar surface.

Perhaps due to the beast's departure, and the origin light it took with it, the originally blazing star dimmed into a faint, dusky hue.

A moment later, Shang Xia's attack arrived. The void shattered, and the searing brilliance of the dimmed star was forcefully displaced before the energy contained in Shang Xia's strike slammed into the core of the star.

The massive star hanging in the void began to quake intensely, with streaks of light erupting from within like shattered glass. Then, a colossal fragment broke free from the star and was hurled into the depths of space.

With the power contained in Shattered Starry Skies, the massive star was split!

Seeing its former home torn apart, the beast cloaked in flames was clearly shaken by Shang Xia's fierce assault. It immediately unfurled its wings, which, when fully spread, could cover a quarter of the star. It turned into a blazing arc, fleeing into the distant void.

Naturally, Shang Xia had no intention of letting it escape.

In fact, the moment he unleashed Shattered Starry Skies, he had already begun preparing for another strike.

Third form of his Seven Star Mace Technique, Guided Dipper!

Though he wasn't using it with his Seven Star Mace, he had become a high-level Sage. With the seven suns flickering behind him, he was stronger than ever.

The bird-like beast that had transformed into a rainbow streak, tried to flee, but a sudden pull disrupted its escape. Spinning out of control, it crashed into several giant meteors and another star before regaining its balance and resisting the pull of Shang Xia's move.

Having already resolved to teach it a lesson, Shang Xia wouldn't give it another chance.

He wasn't just restraining the beast with Guided Dipper. He was also using the technique to rapidly close the distance between them.

Along the way, he selected several of the largest meteors scattered through the void, guiding them as he flew.

Sensing that the beast was beginning to resist and break free from Guided Dipper, Shang Xia, who was within two million miles, took another chance to attack.

The meteors he had drawn along his path were hurled forward one after another.

Empowered by the second form of his Seven Star Mace Technique, Falling Dipper, they transformed into a chain of blazing meteors, crashing toward the fleeing beast.

Covered in radiant fire, the spiritual beast sensed the oncoming danger.

Its massive body twisted in space, and with a powerful sweep of its wings, it spun midair to face the incoming meteors.

The first meteor, infused with the power of Falling Dipper, was incinerated before impact by the origin flames that flared from its wings.

But the second meteor followed close behind, and this time, it failed to react in time. The meteor tore through the flames that appeared.

Feathers of light scattered in the void. Though the meteor appeared to strike its chest, the flames surrounding it absorbed and neutralized most of the impact. Still, the beast was blasted back thousands of miles.

The chain of meteors didn't stop there.

The third broke through its damaged defenses, striking its body directly. Though the meteor didn't pierce the flames around its body, the fire was greatly quelled and the beast was sent reeling again.

The fourth quickly arrived.

It was finally intercepted by the beast's wings, which dulled the force. Though it didn't pierce its fiery armor, its protective flames were burned away, exposing its golden wings.

Still, Shang Xia's onslaught did not relent. The fifth meteor followed.

This time, it shattered the protective flames completely. Amidst a painful screech, golden feathers and blood were scattered into the void. The spiritual beast was knocked another three thousand miles away.

But as the beast was continually battered backward, Shang Xia needed to maintain the power of Falling Dipper, and so the influence of Guided Dipper gradually weakened.

Though the beast was wounded, it was visibly close to breaking free of Shang Xia's restraint.

Then came the sixth and final meteor, chasing the retreating beast and crashing into its chest once more!

It could no longer resist with pure technique alone. It could only endure the blow with its natural strength and vitality.

A shriek tore through the surrounding void as the meteor made impact.

At last, the energy fueling Falling Dipper was spent, and the pull from Guided Dipper had reached its limit.

Relying on its sheer physical might and vitality, the beast managed to twist its enormous body and flee during the brief pause in Shang Xia's assault.

Watching the vanishing silhouette of the beast in the starry void, Shang Xia shook his head in mild regret.

Had he not just advanced to the sixth star, the beast might not have escaped.

I can command six meteors now with Falling Dipper... But what will happen when I reach the seventh star? Will I be able to command seven meteors?

Sensing his Big Dipper Star Origin in his dantian and the six dimmed auxiliary stars that were slowly resonating again with six of the seven suns on the starry void, Shang Xia realized that he might have been thinking about it too simply.

Perhaps, when the time came, the meteors he could control through Falling Dipper wouldn't stop at seven!

Still, despite seriously wounding that rank seven spiritual beast, it seemed that his time to stabilize his cultivation had not yet come.