Chapter 1996: Chapter 1996

Yan Yu’s will to survive was far stronger than Shang Xia had expected.

When the four high-level Sages gathered before him, Yan Yu expressed his willingness to cooperate fully almost the instant he understood their plan.

The largest and most well-developed continent in Essence Du World, home to Yan Yu’s sect, was to be preserved, along with the Dao Field.

The former would allow the Essence Du World to retain a small portion of territory to cling to, and a hope of one day rebuilding their world.

The latter would enable Yan Yu to maintain his current cultivation at the third star and combat strength for some time. Of course, the condition was that he would take Essence Du World’s remaining forces into the space where the Void Mirage lay, maintaining the seal that Shang Xia and the Star Origin Lord had set, suppressing, or more precisely, delaying, the invasion from the other Star Fields.

In exchange, Yan Yu would, during the division of the Essence Du World, fully pacify and suppress the World’s Will so that Essence Du World could be taken apart as thoroughly as possible. In the end, the Four Essence Heavenly Field retrieved six continents while the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field secured four. Their newly built Essence Ark made two round trips to transport the continents back.

The Essence Ling Heavenly Field and Essence Ming Heavenly Field took two continents each.

Of the remaining 12 continents, the other Heavenly Fields divided nine among themselves.

The Essence Du World was, in the end, inferior to the Essence Xing World. Even with Yan Yu’s best efforts to deceive and calm the Heaven and Earth will, keeping it alive with three continents was his absolute limit.

The final moment of Essence Du World was near, and the great Heavenly Fields had already begun to withdraw.

From the start of the Essence Du Heavenly Field campaign to now, the forces of the Heavenly Fields had spent over two years. In the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field, it was already the 24th year.

With everything complete, Yan Yu was ready to sever his contact with the Essence Du World’s Will before leading his disciples and the rest of the surviving forces away.

But before he left, Shang Xia approached him alone, asking him to wait a little longer.

"Observe the complete destruction of the Essence Du World?" Yan Yu looked at Shang Xia with suspicion. "Is this so important to you, Sage Shang? Don’t say I didn’t warn you, though my Essence Du World has only three continents left, once I leave and release my control over the World’s Will, I can feel that the force unleashed in its final collapse will be enough to destroy everything around us!"

Shang Xia merely smiled in response. "Thank you for the warning, Sage Yan. I know my limits."

He nodded to Yan Yu, and as he turned away, his gaze paused briefly on a point in the void beside Yan Yu before flashing toward the void where the last three continents lay.

"He did the same when the Essence Chong World was destroyed! In fact, he even watched it up close!" A voice came from where Shang Xia’s eyes had lingered. Yuan Ling’s figure slowly emerged from the void.

"Do you know why he does it?” Yan Yu suspected there was some secret here.

Yuan Ling thought for a moment before responding. "Maybe he gains some insight at the moment a world collapses. Or maybe he’s just curious about such destruction?"

Yan Yu clearly didn’t believe his casual guesses.

The destruction of a world was extremely dangerous. He could not imagine Shang Xia risking serious injury just for a few scraps of insight.

"But if you insist, don’t blame me if something happens!” With that, Yan Yu’s aura surged as he released his connection to the final part of the Essence Du World’s Will.

Immediately, he sped away toward the far reaches of the void, leaving the last three continents far behind.

At the same time, he could clearly feel the surge of sorrow, rage, and profound despair from the World’s Will the moment it was released!

As the World’s Will began to fade, and the last three continents started collapsing from the inside out, the Essence Du World’s completely disappeared from the void.

The power unleashed by the destruction of an Essence World was terrifying.

For Shang Xia, who was watching from close range, it was like taking a full-force blow from a mid-level Sage head-on.

Even for someone of his cultivation, without preparation, the shockwave from such a collapse could tear him apart.

Of course, Shang Xia ignored the danger entirely. All his focus was on observing and recalling the moment the Essence Du World perished along with the exposure and disintegration of its final origin point.

It was his third time watching the complete end of an Essence World up close. Each time brought immense shock, but also entirely different gains.

Once digested, those gains would add to his foundation bit by bit, until one day they would burst forth in full.

Meanwhile, far away in the void, Yan Yu suddenly felt as if something vital had been ripped from him. His soul and will plunged into emptiness and fear, his cultivation realm wavering as though ready to fall at any moment.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood. Even though he knew it was the backlash of the Essence Du World’s destruction, he could not shake the fear. The backlash was unavoidable and the only way to ease the pain was to reach the Void Mirage as quickly as possible to once again merge his Dao Field and the continent he saved.

Even then, he didn’t know if he could keep his cultivation. Even if he could, it would only be temporary.

With just one Dao Field and a fragment of an Essence World, there was no way he would be able to maintain his cultivation forever.

Over time, his cultivation would decline, and even his thousand-year lifespan would shorten.

Unless he could rebuild a world and grow it into an Essence World, there would be no way to prolong his existence.

Shang Xia lingered in the ruined void for two to three months, until the space fully stabilized and Star Ships from other Heavenly Fields and wandering adventurers began to pass frequently through the remains.

The disturbance finally pulled him from his thoughts.

With his divine soul flickering, he scanned the area thoroughly. The next second, he took a step forward and vanished into the void.

The adventurers who were exploring the ruins never realized that a Sage had been beside them the whole time.

Shang Xia did not immediately return to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field. Instead, he hovered outside, feeling its growth. As soon as he approached, he clearly felt that it had become a lot stronger. Even the feeling of oppression was greater.

A helpless smile appeared on his face. He could feel the Heavenly Field, along with the Essence Luxuriant World’s Will, growing more distant from him.

Though he had expected it, it left him with mixed feelings.

"Why did you stop?" Kou Chongxue had sensed Shang Xia approaching the moment he drew near, but was puzzled when he stopped and didn’t take another step. Curious, Kou Chongxue came out to meet him.

Shang Xia sighed softly, "She’s becoming more and more of a stranger to me."

Kou Chongxue was taken aback for a moment before a smile appeared on his face. "Which is exactly why you need to get closer to the Heavenly Field and our World’s Will! Your soul may not reside in the World Origin Source any longer, but our world and the Heavenly Field have grown with your guidance. They may feel distant as they grow, but they will never shut you out." Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn NoveI-Fire.ɴet

Shang Xia smiled. "Like a girl growing up."

Kou Chongxue roared with laughter. "Exactly! Like a girl growing up."

As they spoke, both Sages entered the Heavenly Field. Just like Kou Chongxue had said, the World’s Will might feel distant, but it never rejected Shang Xia. In fact, there was even a faint curiosity, as though it were slowly adapting to his soul and aura.

"Your aura feels different. Did watching the Essence Du World’s destruction really give you an insight that advanced your cultivation?"

With the blessing of the World’s Will enhancing his abilities, Kou Chongxue easily noticed the change and asked with interest.

Shang Xia smiled. "I did gain something."

Kou Chongxue raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Then how far are you from advancing to the seventh star?”

Shang Xia thought seriously for a moment before speaking again. "Perhaps I am not too far. If I can create the sixth form of my Seven Star Mace Technique, I might be ready to attempt the breakthrough."