Splitting the Heavens

Chapter 1348: Hollow Heaven Stones and Spirit Ark

“Hollow Heaven Stone?! What is that?” Shang Xia asked.

Shang Xia couldn’t be considered a frog in a well, but he still hadn’t heard of something like that before.

“Uh...” Song Zhen was slightly taken aback as he revealed a complicated look. He eventually explained, “A Hollow Heaven Stone is... It’s the core that contains the soul of an expert in the Martial Void Realm or higher! It’s produced when a True Immortal dies...”

Shang Xia’s expression changed slightly before he spoke in a serious tone, “Continue.”

“Lord, didn’t you ask me about ways to become a True Immortal back then?” Song Zhen asked.

Nodding slowly, Shang Xia mumbled, “The first is to brand their soul into the World Origin Source, Elysium, or a Dao Field. The second is like you who branded your soul into a secluded Earth Star in the sea of stars.”

Song Zhen sighed, “A Hollow Heaven Stone is produced when a Martial Void Realm expert dies and the Earth Star remains...”

Raising an eyebrow in shock, Shang Xia could hear the storms of blood Song Zhen had seen because of treasures like that. He could also hear the helplessness in his voice. He couldn’t help but continue to ask, “Can a Hollow Heaven Stone only be produced like that? Wouldn’t a world produce a Hollow Heaven Stone when a True Immortal dies and their soul is extinguished in the World Origin Source?”

Song Zhen shook his head in response. “The moment a world is destroyed or when a True Immortal who reached their cultivation realm that way dies, the World Origin Source would assimilate the remnant energy left in their soul. Anyway, any invader who kills a True Immortal probably has their eye on the World Origin Source anyway and they’ll devour it eventually.”

Shang Xia sighed and thought of something. He stared at Song Zhen with a deep gaze.

Song Zhen quickly forced a chuckle, “That’s right... That is why the location we branded our soul is the greatest secret we have. We cannot reveal that we’re True Immortals who ascended using the second method or we will be hunted down...”

Shang Xia understood how cruel their fate was but he couldn’t help but ask, “In that case... Wouldn’t that mean that True Immortals who relied on their world to ascend would be the safest?”

“They are...” Song Zhen replied instinctively, but he quickly realized his response wasn’t too respectful and he lowered his gaze and softened his tone. “Cultivators who brand their soul into the world through the World Origin Source will grow much faster than those who advanced the other method. For example, cultivators like me can only rely on myself and there wouldn’t be much help provided from where I advanced. It would be much more difficult to grow...”

Song Zhen paused for a second and revealed a complicated look on his face as he continued, “That is how most of the True Immortals in the Chaotic Sea of Stars are. In order to obtain more cultivation resources, they formed groups of different sizes to kill and plunder one another. They would also gather together to attack other worlds, and that is how many Star Pirate groups formed.”

Shang Xia fell deep into contemplation, and no one knew what he was thinking about.

Song Zhen didn’t dare to disturb him as he quietly enjoyed his tea while waiting for Shang Xia’s next instruction.

A moment later, Shang Xia snapped back to his senses and laughed apologetically before asking a question that caused Song Zhen to become uncomfortable. “I once saw a strange and special method used to become a True Immortal. The person branded his soul into an Earth Star before integrating it into a world... Have you heard of a method like that?”

Shang Xia was clearly talking about the Heavenly Star Palace’s advancement method, which the Tongyou Institution also learned about somehow.

Even without Song Zhen’s response, the look on his face gave Shang Xia the answer he needed.

Thinking for some time, Shang Xia continued, “For experts at your level, are you still able to transfer your soul into a world?”

Song Zhen hesitated for a long time before speaking slowly, “There is actually a secret technique like that in the Chaotic Sea of Stars. There have been people who tried it but no one has been able to verify it.”

“Continue doing your thing. If you are able to obtain the secret technique and verify its authenticity, I’ll fight for a piece of land in the Spirit Luxuriant World for you in the future so you can transfer your soul over...” Shang Xia spoke seriously.

With his eyes widening in shock, Song Zhen gasped with a slight trace of hesitation, “Are you serious?!”

Even though an expert would be able to enter the Martial Void Realm in different ways, one didn’t need to be a smart man to realize which way was better and safer. Even if the Spirit Luxuriant World was only a Spirit-level World, there were high-level True Immortals watching over it. They also had a grand formation that could allow them to control Seventh Order energy to defend themselves... Compared to the Earth Star Song Zhen relied on to advance, it was countless times safer!

Shang Xia didn’t bother himself with Song Zhen’s doubt. He chuckled and stated simply, “Of course I’m serious. However, you should also know that it won’t be easy for me to do something like that as many True Immortals in my world will oppose the idea. As such, you need significant contributions so that no one would be able to say otherwise. With the backing of me and Patriarch Kou, 2 high-level True Immortals, things would become much easier.”

Even though there were still some lies in whatever Shang Xia had said, Song Zhen had no choice but to believe him. He felt that he would still be able to reach the third tier of the Martial Void Realm in his current state. If his soul could be transferred into a world, he might just be able to become a high-level True Immortal!

Seeing how excited Song Zhen had become, Shang Xia couldn’t help but caution him, “However, you will still be considered an outsider to the Spirit Luxuriant World when we start the transfer. Will making the change affect you in any way? Also... We have to consider the rejection the World’s Will might have on you.”

One had to know that the Spirit Luxuriant World had the experience of invading several worlds. They knew what would happen to the cultivators of the world after it was destroyed. If those under the Martial Dipper Realm were unable to transform their inner qi after arriving in a new world, their cultivation would be greatly affected. Even ordinary mortals would need several generations before they would be fully integrated into the new world.

If Song Zhen’s soul was transferred into the Spirit Luxuriant World, integrating himself might prove to be a challenge.

Whatever it was, he gave Song Zhen hope to grow stronger and he would fight for it regardless.

Seeing how Song Zhen was starting to get lost in his imagination, Shang Xia coughed softly and caught his attention again. “Right, let’s return to the topic of the Spirit Mammoth World. Are you here to tell me that they’re looking for Hollow Heaven Stone in order to build an ark?”

“Lord, you’re a genius!” Song Zhen quickly flattered before he continued, “From what I heard, the Spirit Mammoth World might call themselves the subsidiary of the Essence Hong World, they are extremely mysterious and are in a special spot. The Essence Hong World gave them a lot of freedom and there are even rumors that say that the Spirit Mammoth World is the strongest vassal world of the Essence Hong World.”

Even though Shang Xia had already thought as much when Song Zhen first relayed the news to him, he still had to suppress his shock now that he heard it for himself.

Not only did the Spirit Mammoth World collude with the Essence Hong World, but the relationship between them was actually so deep! That would mean that during the expedition to the Essence Ping World, it was very possible for the experts of the Essence Hong World to pretend to be from the Spirit Mammoth World to join in the battle.

The reason for the Spirit Mammoth World finding Hollow Heaven Stones to craft arks didn’t need to be said.

“Does that mean that the Essence Hong World also knows that they are looking for Hollow Heaven Stones and their subsequent plan?” Shang Xia mumbled softly.

“It’s not that easy to build an ark. Only a few selected powers have the secret art to create one. Most of the time, the various worlds would gather all the resources they could before asking those great powers to craft the ark. For the Spirit Mammoth World to gather Hollow Heaven Stones... They should be gathering resources for now. They will most probably ask the Essence Hong World to craft an ark for them after they are done.” Song Zhen explained.

Shang Xia asked another question, “Is any Hollow Heaven Stone enough to craft an ark?”

After thinking for some time, Song Zhen responded, “Azure Arks only require the Hollow Heaven Stone created during the death of an ordinary True Immortal. Spirit Arks can only be made with Hollow Heaven Stones left behind when a high-level True Immortal dies. As for the even higher quality Essence Arks... It’s not something I know at the moment.”

Shang Xia nodded slowly. “Your report came at the right time. What I need you to do next is to pay attention to the movements of the Spirit Mammoth World and Essence Hong World. Oh right, for you to be able to come here with your little trading group... Does that mean that the spatial tunnel connected between the Essence Ming World and the Chaotic Sea of Stars is safe to use?”

Song Zhen looked pleased with himself as he replied, “Lord, please rest assured, I have established 2 other paths I can use to smuggle goods if I wish to do so and I have already bribed or controlled the guards there.”

“What if you wish to smuggle a Spirit Ark over?” Shang Xia threw him a bomb before he could prepare himself.

With his eyes widening in shock, Song Zhen naturally knew which Spirit Ark Shang Xia was referring to. He quickly forced a chuckle, “Lord... This... This is going to be difficult. The routes I managed to secure can only handle a few small Star Ships at most. As long as I give them enough treasures, the guards will definitely let it pass. However, if I try to bring a Spirit Ark over...”

Shang Xia sighed softly in response, “Looks like I was thinking too big.”

“No, wait. It’s not like I don’t have other ideas. I can create a new route myself, but it would be quite difficult and the risks will be pretty big.” Song Zhen said after thinking for a second.

“Oh...” Shang Xia fell into contemplation for some time before he continued, “In that case, I need you to investigate a world. These are its approximate coordinates. Start from the Chaotic Sea of Stars to see if anyone heard of them. If there is, get me everything you know about it!”