Splitting the Heavens
Chapter 1776: Azure Qing World’s Ascension, Star Curtain - Drawn

Chapter 1776: Azure Qing World’s Ascension, Star Curtain - Drawn

In a perilous region on the edge of the Heaven Observation Field, riddled with spatial fractures, no one had expected to find a relatively intact Barbaric World hidden within.

Perhaps it was due to its proximity to the border that it had gone unnoticed for centuries by those inside the Heaven Observation Field.

But one day, a rift in the Star Curtain suddenly appeared in the chaotic streams near the Barbaric World. Some 2 or 3 centuries later, the rift was discovered by a Sage from beyond the Heaven Observation Field who had long been searching for a way in. The Barbaric World entered his line of sight.

As the Star Curtain weakened over time, the Sage managed to send a portion of his strength through the rift. He used the minuscule infiltration to begin sending subordinates through the gap to probe and eventually penetrate the interior of the Heaven Observation Field.

Because the initial infiltration was incredibly weak and difficult, the Sage had to accumulate his strength little by little over time.

Back then, the Barbaric World that was closest to the rift became the ideal stronghold for storing his growing power.

Since it was a Barbaric World, it could only support experts up to the Martial Extermination Realm. Even if a Martial Dipper Realm expert or two were fortunate enough to be sent in, they would require Holy Lands or separate spaces to hide from the World’s Will. Because of the weak World’s Will, it wasn’t as easily detected.

Furthermore, the surrounding void was riddled with spatial fractures. Although they didn’t form chaotic streams, they severely restricted communication with the outside world. Over centuries of isolation, the native cultivators of the Barbaric World had grown extremely closed off.

Under such circumstances, how could they possibly resist foreign invaders? The Sage merely needed to send 2 to 3 Martial Dipper Realm experts and several more Martial Extermination Realm cultivators to take control of the world.

Over the next 100 years, the Barbaric World was rebuilt and fortified. By the time the Star Curtain was on the verge of collapse, they had gathered a force equivalent to a peak-tier Azure World. They had 4 True Immortals, of which there was a high-level True Immortal, a few dozen Martial Dipper Realm cultivators, and over 100 Martial Extermination Realm cultivators.

Although the Barbaric World could not support 4 True Immortals under normal circumstances, the construction of a massive Holy Land served as a temporary base for those who weren’t True Immortals. Even their regular cultivation wasn’t affected.

Originally, the stronghold was meant to serve as a staging ground for invasion once the Star Curtain fell. However, an unplanned war forced their hand, dragging them into conflict prematurely. As a result, over 60 to 70 percent of their accumulated strength was destroyed. 2 of the 3 True Immortals they sent out were killed, and the last was seriously injured. At the same time, their position was exposed to the experts of the Heaven Observation Field.

Now... They would welcome a battle for their ultimate survival.

Guided by Tongyou Institution’s Stargazers, Xiao Yugang and Song Zhen led first tier True Immortals Yan Ming, Lady Yu, Yin Wanxiang, and Li Yunchao, dozens of Martial Dipper Realm and Martial Extermination Realm cultivators to the stronghold. With 3 mid-scale Star Ships and multiple small-scale ones, they forced their way through the fractured void and launched a direct assault.

After being ambushed by Kou Chongxue’s strike fleet, 2 of the 3 True Immortals the stronghold sent out were slain. The third barely restored half his combat strength. With a second tier True Immortal who had been left behind, the stronghold made a desperate attempt to hold out with their formations and defenses of their Holy Land.

It was useless as Xiao Yugang and Song Zhen didn’t fuck around. They activated 2 Secret Void Brilliance Talisman instantly and blasted a path through the formations and defensive barriers. Their defenses were instantly breached and the experts of the Essence Luxuriant World established a spatial gate that led into the Holy Land.

With both third tier True Immortals leading the charge, they easily located and held back the injured high-level True Immortal. The 4 first tier True Immortals part of their crew also entered the Holy Land, and in an instant, the swelling qi caused the internal space to crack and rupture from within.

In truth, the moment the stronghold was exposed and the Tongyou Institution’s Stargazers locked on to their location, their fate had already been sealed.

Xiao Yugang and Song Zhen had even prepared for the possibility that the Sage on the other side might send reinforcements through the rift. But no such help came. It was as if the Sage had already given up on the stronghold.

From the moment their fleet attacked until the battle concluded, everything went remarkably smoothly. Not a single mishap happened.

The only regret was that, even gravely wounded, the high-level True Immortal managed to escape from Xiao Yugang and Song Zhen. His injuries, however, were significantly worsened.

After eliminating all foreign cultivators within the stronghold, forces from the Essence Luxuriant World and Azure Qing World began clearing out the site. The Holy Land still held a wealth of resources, many of which remained despite prior consumption. Among them were rare and high-quality spiritual treasures.

For the cultivators from both worlds, the spoils were a great reward. But the real prize, both strategically and symbolically, was the capture of the Barbaric World itself and the relatively intact Holy Land it contained.

Anchor chains were dropped from the ships and secured to the continents of the world.

Though what they were secured to could barely be called the World Origin Source, it was the closest thing it could be compared to.

As the ships secured the Barbaric World and the Holy Land for relocation, the Essence Luxuriant World’s Stargazers and Formation Masters cleared a relatively stable void corridor through the spatial fractures with the protection of their True Immortals.

With Xiao Yugang and Song Zhen’s fleet dragging the complete Barbaric World, the other fleets also returned with gains of their own.

Gao Qin and the 2 second tier True Immortals she led bombarded a fortress constructed above 3 Earth Stars. Though they met some resistance, they were easily overwhelmed. At the cost of 3 small-scale Star Ships, Gao Qin and the others plowed through every enemy. They destroyed a third of an Earth Star and crushed their fortress.

Though the enemy casualties were high, the loot was not particularly satisfying. Still, they returned towing 2 intact Earth Stars.

Earth Stars were rich in martial culture and dense populations. Even though they couldn’t compare to a Barbaric World and a Holy Land, they would still greatly accelerate the Azure Qing World's ascension.

Before they even arrived, Yi Jingzi, the first tier True Immortal of the Heavenly Star Palace who accompanied the fleet, offered to pay a huge price in exchange for the Earth Stars.

The Heavenly Star Palace possessed a unique rank six inheritance. They could enter the Martial Void Realm by anchoring their souls to Earth Stars before merging them into the World Origin Source for a much safer breakthrough.

Though the method was complicated, slow, and riddled with risks, its success rate was unusually high.

However, agreeing to her conditions was not a decision Gao Qin could make. The matter would have to be brought before the Essence Luxuriant Palace for everyone to decide upon.

Meanwhile, third tier True Immortals Yifan and Fei Xuzi returned with 3 massive floating continents. Each were comparable in size to a major continent in the Azure Qing World.

Originally, the floating continents had been part of a single piece. It was roughly the size of a continent of a Spirit World. However, during the battle, several True Immortals clashed and shattered the landmass. The 3 they brought back were the largest.

Though all 3 fleets were still en route home, their harvests were massive. There was a complete Barbaric World, a Holy Land, 2 Earth Stars and the essence they contained, and 3 vast floating continents. It was obvious the Azure Qing World’s ascension was basically set in stone.

It was sobering to remember how much hardship the Azure Origin World and Azure Spiritual World had to endure when they tried to ascend back then.

Now... With the Essence Luxuriant World’s full support, the Azure Qing World could ascend effortlessly!

Of course, the Essence Luxuriant World’s true goal in supporting the Azure Qing World was to quickly complete their foundation to establish their Heavenly Field. It would enhance the Essence Luxuriant World’s overall security, aid all cultivators, and, most critically, begin to fill the shortage of high-tier combat strength.

At the same time, in the Essence Luxuriant Palace, Shang Xia gathered with several Elysium True Immortals. There were also Stargazers of the Tongyou Institution and the Heavenly Star Palace around them. The atmosphere was notably heavy as they stared at each other.

After a while, Shang Xia finally asked, "Are we really sure about this?!”

Yuan Qiuyuan, a newly advanced True Immortal and a rank six Grand Stargazer, looked around before replying solemnly, “Yes. The Star Curtain will fall in the next month or so. The reason the foreign Sages didn’t react to our attack on their strongholds is probably because they didn’t wish to trigger any anomaly that would affect the fall of the Star Curtain.”