Splitting the Heavens-Chapter 2118: Diversion

Shang Xia had never imagined that when he and Mei Jingya guided the world fragment to the Heaven Observation Star Region, they would be able to slip past everyone’s notice. Especially when there was a weird old man like the Star Origin Lord. Even Shang Xia himself knew he was not yet a match for that man.

What was more, his current methods of controlling and guiding the void currents had, to a large extent, been derived from the Star Origin Lord’s techniques. There was no way such movements could escape his perception. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Therefore, when the current that had been surging forward through the void suddenly began to reverse, Shang Xia was not surprised in the least. He had long been prepared for the Star Origin Lord’s intervention.

The only thing that stirred his curiosity was how much power the Star Origin Lord could truly display this time.

During Shang Xia’s time in the lake of chaos, he failed to gauge the passage of time. It was only after he rejoined Mei Jingya that he learned the exact date from her. Calculated according to the Essence Luxuriant Calendar, it was the 36th year, three or four years after the Star Origin Lord had merged the Essence Zhen World into his Heavenly Field to create the Six Essence Heavenly Field.

Although they had already changed their name, the full integration of the Essence Zhen World would require time, and three or four years were far from enough. Thus, the Star Origin Lord was definitely unable to unleash the full extent of his strength.

It was not that his power had diminished. Since they absorbed a new world, his might could only grow, but the process of integration undoubtedly demanded a considerable portion of his attention and divine soul.

Facing the reversing void currents, Shang Xia nodded slightly to Mei Jingya. In a flash, he appeared above the world fragment. Raising the Seven Star Mace in his hand, he pointed at the incoming surge. The recently opened channel suddenly collapsed downward, and an unstable pocket of space formed from nothing.

The torrents and the backward-rolling waves all cascaded into it like a waterfall. Though the pit was quickly filled, the once-thundering tide lost all momentum.

The clash between Shang Xia and the Star Origin Lord shattered the surrounding void along the void currents’ course. The violent shock rippled all the way to the Heaven Observation Star Region, instantly drawing the attention of every Sage.

Those who had already sensed disturbances from Shang Xia’s earlier actions managed to pinpoint their exact spot with the latest change in the situation.

Although none of the major Heavenly Fields had yet taken a clear stance, that did not stop their Sages from looking at the battle, ready to observe how it would unfold. After all, with the Star Origin Lord himself leading the charge, they could afford to watch and act only if opportunity arose.

Still, there was one thing that puzzled them all. No one could sense Kou Chongxue’s presence.

By all logic, given the magnitude of Shang Xia’s attempt to escort the fragment of the Essence Mu World into the Heaven Observation Star Region, Kou Chongxue and the other senior figures of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field should have been fully prepared. Kou Chongxue ought to have met Shang Xia immediately, joining forces to face the Star Origin Lord.

Yet now, with Shang Xia locked in combat and the void currents already halted, the Essence Mu World fragment stranded outside the Heaven Observation Star Region, there was no sign, not even of a single expert from the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field present.

Has a rift formed between Kou Chongxue and Shang Xia?

The same thought flashed almost simultaneously through the minds of every single Sage, but most dismissed it just as quickly. To outsiders, it was true that the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field, housing two mighty Sages possessing remarkable power, had to be under immense strain. They could also tell that Shang Xia’s extraordinary existence should have long exceeded what their Heavenly Field could sustain.

Yet even so, in the current situation, a falling-out between them was impossible.

Moreover, according to all intelligence gathered over the years, Shang Xia’s rise owed much to Kou Chongxue’s mentorship and protection.

Even after Shang Xia’s cultivation caught up with, and surpassed, Kou Chongxue’s, the two had continued to cooperate and mutually benefit.

Their relationship was clearly extraordinary. Any divergence born of the Heavenly Field’s limitations would arise in the distant future, not now.

If that was not the reason, then what was happening?

Where were Kou Chongxue and the other experts of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field?

How would they aid Shang Xia in breaking through the Star Origin Lord’s blockade, or did they have some deeper schemes?

Indeed, the rapid growth of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field in recent years had been nothing short of astounding.

If the fragment of the Essence Mu World were to merge with them, whether they were absorbed into the Essence Luxuriant World or if they established another Spirit World, the Heavenly Field would grow stronger, allowing Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue to grow even more.

From that perspective, discord between them was even less plausible.

The doubts only deepened the caution of every Sage watching the battle. None dared to act rashly until the truth became clear.

Meanwhile, outside the Heaven Observation Star Region, the battlefield blazed. The void currents had been severed by the Star Origin Lord, and his duel with Shang Xia had reached the peak.

The surrounding void had long since collapsed into chaos.

Shang Xia realized that even though he had deliberately overestimated the strength the Star Origin lord could wield under current constraints, he had still underestimated the old monster’s true might. From beginning to end, the Star Origin Lord had not revealed a single clone. Whether it was because he hadn’t been able to create another clone at the grand completion stage, or whatever other reason, he showed no weakness even though he was only projecting his power from the Six Essence Heavenly Field.

Yet perhaps because of that very distance, the Star Origin Lord failed to notice the world fragment had already withdrawn nearly 10,000 miles during their battle.

That distance was enough to keep them safely beyond the reach of the duel’s shockwaves, even without Shang Xia’s immediate protection.

In truth, even if their movement had been noticed, it would not have drawn much alarm. Many of the Sages of the Heaven Observation Field were watching both the battle and the drifting fragment, yet none took action.

Firstly, even without Shang Xia’s protection, it was impossible for anyone to seize the fragment for their Heavenly Field.

Secondly, Mei Jingya was a genuine mid-level Sage. She stood high above the world fragment, and few in the Heaven Observation Star Region could suppress her.

Whatever it was, what no one expected, not even the Star Origin Lord, was that the void suddenly flared with starlight. They gathered above the fragment of the Essence Mu World without the rest of the Sages understanding what was going on.

The Star Origin Lord eventually discovered something was amiss, but he was stuck in a deadlock with Shang Xia. He was unable to extend his divine soul over to make a proper examination.

The next second... The starlight covered fragment disappeared into the void!