Splitting the Heavens

Chapter 1349: Targeted

Because Song Zhen remained in the Spirit Luxuriant World for some time back then, he understood a good portion of the resources produced in the world because of Kou Chongxue and Shang Xia’s help. The Tongyou Institution also prepared resources rarely found in the Chaotic Sea of Stars because of his input.

With both sides helping each other, Song Zhen’s trading group would definitely strike it rich. Also, the Tongyou Institution would be able to obtain a trading route in the Chaotic Sea of Stars because of him, widening the resources they could get their hands on. There would be many more choices for the experts of the institution because of it.

When Song Zhen finally left, he obtained another batch of mid to high-level talismans, including 4 rank six talismans that could save his life.

Bidding farewell to Song Zhen, Shang Xia fell deep into thought. He remained in the teahouse for some time before finally getting up to head back to the Spirit Luxuriant World.

He felt that the Spirit Mammoth World was trying to get their hands on Hollow Heaven Stones because of the Spirit Luxuriant World.

When Shang Xia brought the Spirit Ark back from his solo operation around the Essence Xing World, many continents expanded and 2 True Immortals were born. Such a massive change couldn’t be hidden from the rest of the worlds and every other world in the Heaven Observation Field probably already learned of their possession of a Spirit Ark. At the same time, they would be able to make the connection that the Spirit Luxuriant World already had a channel that led out of the Heaven Observation Field to interact with other powers in the vast sea of stars.

Shang Xia felt a chill running down his spine when he thought about it. Since he was unable to hide the news of the Spirit Ark, when the Spirit Mammoth World asked the Essence Hong World for help, they would definitely reveal information regarding the Spirit Luxuriant World. That would mean that the Essence Hong World would know what happened and the Essence Xing World might be able to learn of it as well. When that happened, Shang Xia’s identity as someone from a Spirit World would be revealed and the Dachen Dynasty would learn that he stole their shit!

When the time came, it seemed as though they would have to settle all their scores.

From the looks of it, he had to head over to the Essence Xing World as soon as possible. Otherwise, his identity might be exposed before he even went.

Before he left, he would have to prepare enough defenses in Star Beast Nest No.2. Without a high-level True Immortal guarding the place, it would be in danger of being invaded.

At the very least, he would have to ensure everyone in Star Beast Nest No.2 would be able to leave before the experts of the Essence Xing World invaded them. They would also have to destroy the spatial tunnel while retreating.

…

After returning to the Spirit Luxuriant World, Shang Xia didn’t immediately rush back to the Star Beast Nest. Instead, he stood above the heavenly screen and carefully inspected the Elysium Grand Formation that was starting to be constructed around the world.

Even though they only had 7 Elysiums at the moment, it didn’t matter where they were in the Spirit Luxuriant World. The grand formation encompassed the entire world and the Elysium True Immortals would be able to wield the energy from where they were.

Shang Xia smiled to himself as he realized when the Tongyou Institution established the new Elysium in the Jiao Continent, the Spirit Luxuriant World would be completely shocked.

He planned to head back to the Formation Hall to grab a bunch of resources that had been prepared when he suddenly turned to look in the southeastern direction where the Hai Continent was located.

A second ago, he discovered auras of many Martial Dipper Realm experts tangled together and 1 of them even died. As soon as it happened, the others scattered.

Even though it was extremely far away and he hadn’t entered the world, he could still feel everything clearly through the heavenly screen.

The intense fluctuation caused by experts of the Martial Dipper Realm going all out wasn’t exactly subtle, and there were so many of them.

Oh? Did something happen there?

Shang Xia raised an eyebrow but eventually shook his head. He was a high-level True Immortal at the moment and it wouldn’t be nice if he interfered with them. Even if the experts who suffered were from the Tongyou Institution, he couldn’t do anything.

Shaking his head slowly, he entered the heavenly screen and headed back to the You Continent.

Arriving in the Formation Hall, Shang Xia handed over a batch of high-level talismans and grabbed the resources they prepared for the Formation Masters of the Tongyou Institution to work with in Star Beast Nest No.2. As he was about to leave, he received urgent news from the Hai Continent where a Martial Dipper Realm expert from the Tongyou Institution was ambushed by several sea spiritual beasts and was killed.

Shang Xia couldn’t help but sigh as he felt their aura above the heavenly screen earlier. He felt that those sea beasts were pretty smart as they not only knew how to work together, they also concealed their aura to attack their target before scattering immediately.

Heading to the Five Element Teleportation Formation to leave, he suddenly heard that the Martial Dipper Realm expert who was slain was Ju Hang, an instructor in the Outer Division!

Shang Xia’s footsteps paused as he headed back into the Tongyou Hall where the deputy patriarchs usually met.

“Oh? It’s rare to actually see you…” Ji Wenlong couldn’t help but tease after not seeing Shang Xia for such a long time.

The other deputy patriarchs quickly perked up when they noticed his arrival. Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue were the same. They would either not appear, or when they did, they would have something important to relay.

“Uh…” Shang Xia grunted softly, “I just came back and heard about Ju Hang dying to sea beasts…”

“Sigh… It’s a shame! He was a talent our institution was nurturing. Even though he wasn’t as good as Haiwei and Qingzhu, he took every step of his cultivation seriously and he had strong foundations. He was preparing to refine his fourth fate dipper, but was killed before he could do so…” Yun Jing muttered softly.

Shang Xia frowned and asked, “Are we really sure they are Sea Beasts?”

The deputy patriarchs were experienced experts. They exchanged a glance and Shang Bo eventually asked, “Did you discover something?”

After a moment of silence, he mentioned what he felt earlier.

Liu Zhiyuan looked at the other deputy patriarchs, before replying, “I understand you were from the same batch of students as Ju Hang, but you might be thinking too much into it. After all, rank five spiritual beasts developed their intelligence and it’s normal for them to lay a trap to gang up on their enemies. However, you can rest assured that our institution will look into his death in detail.”

Shang Xia also knew that he reacted that way because of his relationship with Ju Hang, and what Liu Zhiyuan said was really reasonable. After all, the Tongyou Institution only had several tens of Martial Dipper Realm experts even with their recent rapid growth. The death of any was a serious setback. The Tongyou Institution would definitely look into the matter and if Shang Xia randomly decided to butt into the matter, he might disrupt their progress.

Shang Xia nodded and quickly acknowledged his mistake. “Indeed… I was a little too rash. However, I would like to ask if there have been many high-level cultivators who died at the hands of sea beasts.”

Liu Zhiyuan was very satisfied with how Shang Xia no longer tried to interfere with their investigation, and he quickly replied, “There have been disciples in the Martial Extermination Realm who were killed, but those were still acceptable. After all, our disciples had to temper themselves in some way. This is the first time a Martial Dipper Realm cultivator was killed. As such, we will definitely pay more attention to it.”

Shang Xia nodded slowly and bid the deputy patriarchs farewell. However, he seemed to have thought of something after he turned around and he turned back to ask, “How about among the various powers of the Spirit Luxuriant World? How many Martial Dipper Realm cultivators died there?”

“Not many… The last time something like that happened was 2 months ago. A Martial Dipper Realm expert from the Yuanchen Sect went too deep in pursuit of a sea beast and might have caused a big commotion and drawn over a large number of them. In the end, he was also killed…” Liu Zhiyuan thought for a moment before explaining.

A light flashed in Shang Bo’s eyes. “Are you suspecting that the sea spiritual beasts are killing high-level experts of the various sects?”

“How… How can that be possible?” Liu Zhiyuan interrupted before Shang Xia could say anything.

However, he seemed to have thought of something as he fell silent the next moment with a deep frown on his face.

Ji Wenlong, who was standing at the side, noticed his reaction and asked, “What’s the matter? Did you think of something?”

With a distant gaze in his eyes, Liu Zhiyuan seemed to be recalling something as he mumbled softly, “The Yuanchen Sect lost a second element Martial Dipper Realm expert 2 months ago. 3 months ago, the Three River Sect of the Wu Continent also lost another Martial Dipper Realm expert. Going back a few more months, an expert from the Liang Continent died to a small-scale sea beast tide… I’m not too sure about what happened before that, but…”

The deputy patriarchs also noticed several strange points because of what he said.

Yun Jing turned serious and asked in a frosty tone, “Are you saying that the sea beasts would bait and kill Martial Dipper Realm experts from time to time? How are they doing it? Even if they developed some intelligence, it shouldn’t be at the point where sea beasts of different species would be able to work together. No matter how we look at it, it’s a little difficult to understand.”

Ji Wenlong also spoke in a low voice, “Since that’s the case, we should look into it. Martial Dipper Realm experts aren’t nameless fools. It won’t be difficult to trace their deaths or where they went!”

“If they really are being killed by the sea beasts… What do we do then?” Liu Zhiyuan asked suddenly.

“If that’s really the case, rather than suspecting their intelligence is more developed than ordinary spiritual beasts, we should wonder if there is actually another monstrous beast commanding them. In fact, there might be more than 1 of those beasts. For it to command many high-level sea spiritual beasts… It might just be a rank six sea spiritual beast we haven’t discovered yet!” Shang Xia threw out a guess that shocked everyone present.