Splitting the Heavens

Chapter 1187: Preparations Before Seclusion

After bidding Feng Ziying farewell, Shang Xia’s clone went to meet up with the other clone and Shang Xia’s true body. With 2 clones and his true body, all 3 existences who had combat strength in the Martial Void Realm didn’t bother heading to the Star Relay. Instead, they tore through the spatial barrier and left.

Even though Shang Xia had been away for more than half a year, nothing serious seemed to have happened in the Spirit Luxuriant World.

Actually, after the ascension of the Spirit Luxuriant World, many factions were still digesting the gains the world ascension brought, and slightly more than 10 years wasn’t enough.

There wasn’t even a need to mention how they devoured the Azure Flame World and several continents from the Spirit Faith World during that time, strengthening the foundations of the Spirit Luxuriant World Further in the process. They were in a strange state of growth at the moment.

That was also why unless a major accident happened, the various factions were basically focusing on their own growth. Instances of conflicts dropped drastically.

As usual, Shang Xia’s return to the Tongyou Institution didn’t alarm anyone. However, he quickly discovered that Kou Chongxue hadn’t remained in the institution when he was away! In fact, he couldn’t find traces of the patriarch in the You Continent.

Shang Xia quickly recalled the clone he left in the institution, and learning that Kou Chongxue left quickly after coming back from the Star Origin Dao Field, he took his leave.

He heard that Kou Chongxue left for the region around the Spirit Faith World. To be more exact, he was headed to the Ruined World where the Spirit Emptiness World once stood and Shang Xia understood what the patriarch was thinking of.

He quickly found Kou Chongxue’s clone in the institution and he didn’t beat about the bush. He asked directly, “Did the patriarch say anything before leaving?”

Kou Chongxue’s clone seemed happy to see Shang Xia and he muttered, “My true body said that you should know what he plans to do and if you don’t mind, you should stay in the institution and hold the fort for some time. He also mentioned that after Tong Yutang took over the position of Star Origin Guards Commander and opened up the Dao Field again, he went over to the Spirit Mammoth World and Spirit Abundance World for some secret investigation. The patriarch discovered traces of high-level True Immortals and feels that Tong Yutang replacing Zhuge Xiang as the Guards Commander didn’t signal the end of the story. Instead, a larger conspiracy seems to be taking place. Under such circumstances, our Tongyou Institution and our Spirit Luxuriant World needs our own high-level True Immortal.”

Shang Xia couldn’t help but sigh. Kou Chongxue’s instincts had always been sharp and knew what he should do next.

Shang Xia also came to the same conclusion, and he was even more sure that something was amiss. However, that was because he saw what happened to Zhuge Xiang for himself, and personally took part in what happened next.

However, Kou Chongxue could sniff out what happened with so few clues, and he came to a similar conclusion as Shang Xia.

No matter what, Shang Xia couldn’t help but admire the old patriarch.

He continued to ask, “Did the patriarch go alone? Or did he bring a bunch of people with him?”

Kou Chongxue’s clone replied, “My true body said that he needed to create a secret spatial tunnel that will allow a Star Ship to pass through and he can’t let anyone know what is happening. Other than you, no one knows about this.”

Shang Xia couldn’t help but nod slowly. He understood Kou Chongxue’s considerations, and he knew the true reason behind the patriarch’s actions.

There was a spatial tunnel leading to the space around the Spirit Faith World, but it was connected to the Star Beast Nest the Spirit Luxuriant World had control of. Even though only 1 True Immortal was stationed there, it was controlled by the great powers of the Spirit Luxuriant World equally.

Since Kou Chongxue had set his sights on the Ruined World where the Spirit Emptiness World once stood and planned to use the secret method Tong Yutang used to enter the fourth tier of the Marital Void Realm, his plan definitely couldn’t be leaked to the others.

However... To lay down such a massive formation was going to be a monumental undertaking. It wasn’t something he could do if he just brought a few people over with some spatial artifacts.

Of course... If he truly mobilized a huge group and brought a Star Ship... Or even multiple Star Ships for that matter... The various powers would definitely catch wind of what he was doing and start investigating and his secret plan would go up in smoke.

Most importantly, the moment news of what Kou Chongxue was attempting to do spread to Star Origin City, Tong Yutang would definitely connect the dots.

If that happens, other people might not be completely sure what Kou Chongxue would be up to, but Tong Yutang might just mobilize the entirety of the Star Origin Guards to deal with the Tongyou Institution.

Because of their considerations, Kou Chongxue needed to think of a way to create a secret spatial tunnel that led to the Ruined World so as to avoid the prying eyes of the other great powers.

After thinking to himself, Shang Xia asked, “Did he say if he needs anything from me?”

“Nope. However, he said that with the help of a Stargazer, opening the spatial tunnel would be much easier. It would be harder to get lost too...” The clone explained.

Nodding slowly, Shang Xia realized that they didn’t think they were missing anything when the institution lacked Stargazers, but now that there were actual competent Stargazers among them, there were actually a lot of places they could be put into use.

After a short moment of contemplation, Shang Xia said softly, “I will enter seclusion in the institution for some time. I know that even though you’re extremely far away from your true body, you should be able to receive some simple feedback. If anything feels amiss, or if the patriarch faces any danger, you have to inform me right away.”

“My true body said something similar once and I don’t have to act so politely around you all the time!” Kou Chongxue’s clone joked.

Shang Xia burst out laughing and eventually bid the clone farewell. He decided to make preparations to enter seclusion in order to consolidate his gains.

He estimated that he would be in secluded cultivation for a pretty long time, and as such, he had to ensure that he passed down all his instructions clearly and everything was in order before he could disappear.

Instruction his 3 clones to head over to the Talisman Pagoda, the Tongyou Elysium, and the Shang Clan, Shang Xia headed for Hai Min’s courtyard in the city.

Every time after he returned to Tongyou City, he would stay in Hai Min’s courtyard for some time.

Even though Hai Min wasn’t too focused on her cultivation and was inclined to living like a normal person, she managed to enter the Martial Extermination Realm with Shang Xia’s gradual assistance.

Hai Min might have been lazy and refused to train properly, but her daughter, Hai Yuanyuan, was a legendary figure in the later generations nurtured by the institution. Hai Yuanyuan had also entered the Martial Extermination Realm, and she had already surpassed her mother by far.

Shang Xia’s cultivation philosophy had always been open to the 3 divisions of the Tongyou Institution, and there had been many students who attempted to walk down the same path as him by accepting his ideology.

However... Strictly speaking, Hai Yuanyuan was his first official student and only disciple who would receive his full inheritance.