Splitting the Heavens

Chapter 1155: Small Surprise

In the Star Observatory of the Spirit Luxuriant World…

When Xin Lu entered the Star Observatory which was the Heaven Supporting Jade Pillar of the Tongyou Elysium, she looked around with interest.

Not too far away from her, Shang Xia, Yan Ming, and Yuan Qiuyuan quietly observed her actions.

After some time, Xin Lu finally shifted her longing gaze away from the Starry Tree in the corner and revealed an expression as though she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She was stunned for a good amount of time without being able to speak.

Shang Xia couldn’t help but chuckle, “How is it? Are you satisfied with this Star Observatory?”

Xin Lu snapped back to attention and turned to stare at Shang Xia in shock. “It… It’s actually you, True Immortal Shang Xia of the Tongyou Institution!”

Shang Xia was also surprised by her reaction. He didn’t think that she would notice that she was in the Tongyou Elysium, but it was also then that he realized his disguise had disappeared.

“Oh? I didn’t think that Stargazer Xin would recognize me.” Shang Xia chuckled softly.

Xin Lu revealed a look as though he was insulting her by asking her such a simple question and replied, “There’s no need to even mention your achievements. Your cultivation realm soared to the third tier of the Martial Void Realm in several short years, and you’re a talent rarely seen even in hundreds of years. Of course, many people would have taken notice of you. Moreover, Star Origin City keeps a record of most True Immortals, including their appearances.”

She paused for a second, before sighing softly, “It’s just that I didn’t think that your Spirit Luxuriant World would be behind this! True Immortal Shang, your actions are truly unpredictable. Are you not afraid that by kidnapping me you will draw the ire of Star Origin City by doing this?”

“Young Lady Xin, I was the one who grabbed you. You won’t be the cause even if we draw trouble to ourselves.” Shang Xia smiled.

A soft giggle left Xin Lu’s lips, but she quickly turned serious. “What do you want me to do? Are these the Astronomers your Tongyou Institution has been nurturing? Oh? This…”

Shang Xia followed her gaze, and he saw her staring at Yuan Qiuyuan with a strange look on her face.

“This brat is called Yuan Qiuyuan, and he’s a student who just graduated from the Upper Division of the Tongyou Institution. He’s a rank three Astronomer. Is there something wrong with him?” Shang Xia joked.

With a strange look in her eyes, she seemed a little unsure as she questioned, “Does your Tongyou Institution already have 2 sets of Stargazer inheritance? Both of them seem to be going down different paths!”

Shang Xia exchanged a glance with Yan Ming, and eventually, Yan Ming replied, “Young Lady Xin, how can you tell?”

“I heard Senior Brother Xiao speak of it once, but I can’t be sure. Astronomer Yuan seems to be combining the martial path of being a Stargazer with its inheritance… It’s said that only core disciples of the Heaven Observation Sect can receive an inheritance like that!” Xin Lu mumbled.

Turning to Shang Xia, Xin Lu gasped in shock, “I didn’t think that your Tongyou Institution would also have the inheritance of the Heaven Observation Sect…”

Shang Xia forced a chuckle while shaking his head, “It’s a shame… What we have is merely fragments of the inheritance. The kid was only able to reach his current level because of luck and pure raw talent. The inheritance stopped at his current level, and he’s stuck at the third rank…”

Xin Lu shook her head in response. “Don’t tell me you wish for me to help him restore the rest of the inheritance? That will make things slightly difficult for me. I can’t do it… Even if you took all the records from the Star Observatory in Star Origin City, I won’t be able to do a thing! Otherwise… The Heaven Observation Sect’s inheritance would have long been restored by them!”

Shang Xia broke out laughing. “Actually, there’s something you don’t know. Even Grandmaster Xiao barely learned of it when I left earlier. Star Origin City actually already had a set of scattered inheritance from the Heaven Observation Sect.”

Xin Lu revealed a shocked gaze, but Shang Xia simply continued, “I feel like one of the reasons Grandmaster Xiao wanted me to take you away was because of those bronze fragments that made up the Secret Bronze Book of the Heaven Observation Sect. From his reaction, he clearly didn’t know those things existed before.”

“Secret Bronze Book?! Are you sure that’s what it is?” Xin Lu took a step forward and she looked extremely emotional when she heard what it might be.

She wasn’t the only one who was moved. Even Yan Ming couldn’t help but feel a little passionate. She knew about the existence of the Star Map, and the Secret Bronze Book they were talking about and couldn’t help but shift her thoughts in that direction.

Shang Xia chuckled softly, “I don’t know if it's the Secret Bronze Book, but Grandmaster Xiao was certain that was what it was when he saw it.”

“There’s no mistaking it then!” Xin Lu sighed. “Senior Brother Xiao’s grudge against Xing Xingtian back then because of Xing Xingtian’s abrupt rise probably came from this!”

With a smile on his face, Shang Xia eventually shifted the topic back on track. “My Tongyou Institution already has a portion of the Heaven Observation Sect’s inheritance, and with the fragments of the Secret Bronze Book, I believe Young Lady Xin will be able to help us piece it together to form a complete inheritance.”

Opening her mouth slightly, Xin Lu glanced at the 3 others on the Star Observatory but didn’t speak immediately. She thought for a moment before she mumbled, “I can only do my best. But are you certain you will allow me to look at these fragments however I wish?”

“I wouldn’t have given you the task if I were to suspect you. After all, I won’t make use of anyone I don’t trust. However, what I said before will not change. For the foreseeable future, Young Lady Xin, you will have to remain in the Tongyou Elysium.” Shang Xia explained.

Xin Lu chuckled in response, “It’s just several years, and maybe a little more… What’s more, being able to move freely about an Elysium is better than being someone’s slave…”

Shang Xia thought for a moment and continued, “The inheritance of the Heaven Observation Sect has to be restored, but the set of Stargazer inheritance the Star Origin City came up with cannot be lost. Not only would you have to improve your skills, but you will have to guide Junior Sister Yan in the future.”

Yan Ming smiled happily in response, “I’ll have to learn from Young Lady Xin from now on!”

Xin Lu accepted the praise humbly. After all, even though Yan Ming was a rank three Astronomer, she was still a Martial Dipper Realm expert. Her cultivation realm was increasing rapidly, and be it in terms of cultivation or combat abilities, she was leagues ahead of Xin Lu.

Xin Lu never experienced such respect before. In the Star Observatory of the Star Origin City, there were always people talking bad about her behind her back. Even Xiao Shengyi was wary of Xing Xingtian’s might, and he could only take care of her in secret.

Shang Xia spoke again, “Perfecting the inheritance isn’t something we can achieve quickly anyway. However, there’s something I need you to take special note of and to focus on.”

“True Immortal Shang, do tell…” Xin Lu immediately became serious when she heard what he said.

Shang Xia quickly explained, “I need you to quickly bring our Star Observatory up to operational standards.”

Xin Lu nodded in response. “That’s easy. Even though this Star Observatory is small, it’s located in an Elysium. It’s also the Heaven Supporting Jade pillar, and operating it would be easy.”

Pausing slightly, she continued, “However… After it is activated, are you planning to use it to carry out ordinary observations in the space around, or are you planning to focus on a single region?”

Shang Xia was slightly taken aback at her question.

However, a thought quickly flashed through his mind and he quickly replied, “We’ll focus on a single place. Lock on to the northern region outside the Spirit Abundance World. Oh, right… We need the coordinates too!”

“The space north of the Spirit Abundance World? Are you thinking about observing the Void Spatial Tide?” Xin Lu gasped softly. “In that case, we don't need the coordinates. The Star Origin City has been paying attention to that region, and I know it well.”

Shang Xia raised his eyebrows in shock, and he quickly asked, “Did Grandmaster Xiao or the others say anything about the Frost Tide the Spirit Abundance World experiences?”

Xin Lu shook her head slowly. “It’s said that there might be a world hidden there, but it has been many years. Be it the Spirit Abundance World or the Star Origin City… Actually, even the Spirit Mammoth World knows about it. No one discovered anything. However, the region has always been under observation, but its importance has just been slowly lowered over the years…”

“There isn’t anywhere else we need to pay special attention to. Other than the space north of the Spirit Abundance World, just carry out ordinary surveillance in the region around our world. The 2 of them can try their hand at it. I will have to trouble you about the rest…” Shang Xia nodded.

Xin Lu chuckled, “Of course. Speaking of which… It’s my first time taking charge of a Star Observator. Um… If you don’t have anything else, I’ll try to activate it.”

Shang Xia was slightly taken aback. “Do you not need my help?”

Xin Lu glanced at him with a strange gaze before she turned to look at Yan Ming and Yuan Qiuyuan. She seemed to realize something and she released a bout of hoarse laughter, “Why would I? This Star Observatory is small, but it’s exquisite. It’s the best way to replenish the energy of an Elysium, and we won’t need to use the power of the Elysium to activate it.”

Shang Xia looked at Yan Ming and Yan Ming could only shoot him an awkward stare. He turned to look at Yuan Qiuyuan, and he saw that the kid remained completely emotionless.

Helpless, he glanced at Xin Lu and sighed, “I’ve embarrassed myself. We only used this Star Observatory several times before, but it’s always been powered by Patriarch Kou or myself… As for using the Elysium to sustain its operations…”

Xin Lu burst out laughing before he was done. “Who… Who told you to do that? They seem pretty unreliable and they might have some bad intentions… Moreover, don’t you have that?”

Shang Xia and the rest looked at where she was pointing and looked at the Starry Tree.

Xin Lu continued, “The Starry Tree is a divine treasure that has the ability to draw on the power of the stars! Even though it hasn’t matured, it has already gathered condensed Star Essence in the Star Observatory.”

After she spoke, she flicked a drop of Star Essence Liquid before forming hand seals rapidly. The drop of Star Essence Liquid burst into intense starlight that shrouded the Star Observatory.

At the same time, Shang Xia raised his head only to see the vast sea of stars above shifting. He even felt like they were getting closer and closer, such that he would be able to pluck a star by stretching his hand out.

“Both of you, come. We’ll lock on to the Spirit Abundance World next before looking for the position north of it.” Xin Lu’s voice came from the dense starlight.

The next moment, Shagn Xia saw the sea of stars above the Star Observatory shifting rapidly when Xin Lu made another hand seal.

Shang Xia suddenly thought of something and asked, “Young Lady Xin, are you able to refine the power of the stars like what they were doing in Star Origin City?”