Splitting the Heavens-Chapter 2060: Desolate Forbidden Region Pt.3

True Immortal Qiu was startled by the sudden voice in his ear, and for a moment, he could not suppress his injuries. A fit of violent coughing left the second tier True Immortal unable to straighten his back.

Just then, faint starlight gathered in the dim void. He felt a jolt in his chest and abdomen, and immediately spat out a mouthful of clotted blood.

Though his wounds did not improve, his body suddenly felt lighter. The suppressed energy in his dantian started to circulate once again, and the unstoppable cough ceased at once.

True Immortal Qiu straightened his back and clasped his hands toward the Spirit Ark. "Many thanks for your aid, Lord Sage!"

There was no reply from the Spirit Ark. Instead, the gathered starlight around him suddenly compressed and, in mere moment,s condensed into a drop of Starlight Essence.

The drop hovered before him as the voice came again. "This is a drop of Starlight Essence. I made it in haste and could not refine it further, but it will greatly aid your recovery. Take it now. After you recover, come to the Spirit Ark to speak with me."

True Immortal Qiu bowed low, received the drop of Starlight Essence, and quickly returned to his quarters.

...

"Regarding the Desolate Forbidden Region, this junior knows little." True Immortal Qiu admitted. "I was only born in an auxiliary Spirit World under the Essence Yue World. Unlike the experts of the main Essence World, what I know are mere rumors.”

After swallowing and refining the Starlight Essence, his injuries took a turn for the better. He came aboard the Spirit Ark to thank Shang Xia, and at his questioning, spoke of what he had heard about the Desolate Forbidden Region.

Shang Xia smiled. "No need to be nervous, True Immortal Qiu. Whether from records or rumors, just tell me what you know."

True Immortal Qiu nodded and steadied himself, then recounted in detail all the legends he knew.

At times, Shang Xia interrupted with questions, but for the most part, he listened intently.

Only when startled cries from the other ships outside reached them did Shang Xia raise his hand.

"Thank you, True Immortal Qiu. That is enough for today. More ships are arriving. Please go help the Cai siblings and Senior Brother Tian with the coordination."

True Immortal Qiu bowed and departed. He was quickly led by elite Martial Dipper Realm experts over to Tian Mengzi.

"Perfect timing, True Immortal Qiu! I really could do with more help here!" Tian Mengzi beamed. From his sleeve, he pulled a formation diagram, pointed at a dozen points, then gestured to the ships drifting closer in the distance. "Ignore the new Spirit Ark, Azure Ark, and small Star Ships. Of the medium ones, these six are yours to direct according to this battle formation diagram!"

Without waiting, Tian Mengzi stuffed the diagram into his arms and hurried off.

Stunned, True Immortal Qiu opened it again. After triple-checking, he realized it was a complete battle formation diagram.

Though not versed in formations, he could see its quality. It was at least of the fifth rank, but from the scale alone... It was definitely a rank six super fleet battle formation! It was intricate and brilliant, far surpassing anything he had seen.

In the Essence Yue Heavenly Field, a formation diagram of that level would be a sect’s treasured secret. There... They handed it casually to a newcomer.

Were the experts of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field truly so careless? Or did such a diagram mean little to them?

Surely, it wasn’t because of trust. They hadn’t built that yet.

Reason told him there was no way it was because they trusted him, but in his heart, a sense of duty stirred.

I have to do my best!

Even though Chu Jia was cultivating in seclusion, she had left the formation diagram with Tiann Mengzi and the others in advance. She even anticipated the fleet’s growth, giving detailed instructions on what they should do. All they had to do was follow everything she had stated.

Looking at the ships he had been given command of, True Immortal Qiu commanded them well while turning to stare at the new Spirit Ark that had joined.

He recognized the Spirit Ark. It belonged to the Southern Yue Sect in the Essence Yue Essence World.

The Southern Yue Sect used to be a super faction that produced a Sage. However, conflicts broke out among them and a portion of elites split off to establish a new sect up north.

Because the sects came from the same origin, even though they had their conflicts, their martial inheritance was the same. Even their traditions remained alive for many generations.

In the end, cultivators of the Essence Yue World called them the Northern Yue Sect because of their geographical location.

As time passed, the origin of the grudge between both sects had been lost in the rivers of time. But the Northern Yue Sect started to flourish, and they not only nurtured a Sage, they also established a Dao Field through the efforts of their experts.

With these accomplishments, they took their spot as the strongest faction in the Essence Yue World.

The Southern Yue Sect might have fallen behind, but with their accumulations, they were second only to the Northern Yue Sect.

Of the Essence Yue World’s three Spirit Arks, two of them belonged to the Northern Yue Sect, and they were commanded by their Sage. The last belonged to the Southern Yue Sect, and it was the one True Immortal Qiu was looking at.

With the Essence Yue World destroyed, the Southern Yue Sect’s Spirit Ark contained the last of their legacy and all of their hope.

"True Immortal Qiu, why are you here?" A familiar True Immortal called from a nearby medium Star Ship.

Snapping back to his senses, True Immortal Qiu exchanged a few pleasantries, congratulated them on their survival, then went to assign their vessel according to the chart.

Meanwhile, the Cai siblings rejoined the fleet before rushing over to the Spirit Ark to find Shang Xia.

"Sage... We may have brought trouble!" Cai Zhuifeng confessed.

Cai Yingxue added, "The scattered refugee ships fled blindly. But the great sects had clear destinations. The Southern Yue Sect and the Northern Yue Sect planned to reunite as the Essence Yue Sect. They planned to bring their Star Ships to the Essence Hu Heavenly Field, where Sage Lu Xin would take them in.”

"Now... We intercepted the Southern Yue Sect’s Ark. News has already spread, and we received news that Sage Lu is already close to the Desolate Forbidden Region. We’re afraid Sage Lu might show up soon!” She finished and looked up.

But Shang Xia seemed absent, as if lost in thought.

The siblings exchanged uneasy glances before Cai Zhuifeng called out softly, "Sage?"

As Shang Xia refocused, he glanced at the Cai siblings and muttered, "The Lu Xin you speak of. He is already here."