Splitting the Heave

…

Somewhere within the Cloud Water Gorge…

Shang Pei stared at the dense fog around her with an exceedingly solemn expression.

Fifth Uncle Cen rushed over from behind her and before he could say anything, Shang Pei spoke up. “Is everyone here?” 

“Yes. Third Sister, did something happen for you to gather all of us so suddenly?” Fifth Uncle Cen seemed extremely concerned by the sudden summons. It had been barely a day since Shang Xia left for the secret region when Shang Pei gathered them all. He wondered if something had gone wrong.

“Did any of you notice the thinning of the fog in the Cloud Water Gorge?” Shang Pei asked suddenly.

“Huh?” Fifth Uncle Cen turned to look all around him but failed to notice any difference.

“Never mind.” Shang Pei knew that their divine sense wasn’t as sensitive as her divine perception. Moreover, there seemed to be traces of world origin hidden in the mist. Only Martial Extermination Realm experts would be able to feel it and determine the changes that happened to the Cloud Water Gorge.

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“Tell everyone to follow me. We’re leaving the Cloud Water Gorge immediately!” Shang Pei muttered softly.

A look of confusion appeared on Fifth Uncle Cen’s face. “What’s going on? If we leave now, what will happen to Shang Xia?” 

“There’s no need to worry about him. Let’s just pray that we manage to leave the Cloud Water Gorge in one piece…” Shang Pei sighed in response.

…

In the skies above the Cloud Water Gorge…

Xu Chenkang, the Martial Extermination Realm expert from the Divine Capital Sect, received a secret transmission and the smile on his face grew wider after reading it.

“Martial uncle, how is the situation around the Cloud Water Gorge now?” Even though Zuo Changqing was younger than Xu Chenkang, his position in the Divine Capital Sect was higher than any of his 3 martial uncles standing in front of him. 

Xu Chenkang handed the secret transmission over to Zuo Changqing directly and grinned, “Everything happened as we expected. As the clouds that cover the Cloud Water Gorge start to thin out, the Abyssal Secret Region is definitely going to appear. The strongest families and sects of the Bing, Ji, Si, and Yan Continents have arrived. Even the scattered cultivators of the Taihang Mountains formed a massive alliance to try to fight for some benefits the moment the Abyssal Secret Region appears.” 

Zuo Changqing mumbled in response, “I wouldn't be surprised that the experts of the four continents arrived quicker than the rest. Anyway, the Yan Continent is the worst of them all. They only managed to produce the Zhongxuan Gate with their meager talent. However, that’s precisely the reason behind their unity. We cannot underestimate the Zhongxuan Gate no matter what. As for the Bing Continent, they only possess the Yanmen Institution which is as good as trash. There’s no need to mention them at all. It’s the White Deer Sect from the Ji Continent that we need to be careful with. They have strong foundations and huge accumulations. Martial Uncle, did the secret transmission say anything about the White Deer Sect?” 

Zuo Changqing knew that Xu Chenkang had his reasons for bringing him along. The unspoken connections in the sect aside, he could tell that the old expert had intentions to nurture him. Since Xu Chenkang handed him the report, it showed that he had no intentions to hide anything.

A mirthless smile appeared on Xu Chenkang’s face after hearing the question, which slightly confused Zuo Changqing. “Did I make a mistake somewhere? Martial Uncle, please guide me…” 

Xu Chenkang waved his hand casually before him and laughed in response, “Martial Nephew Zuo Changqing, looks like you’re not a cultivation fool like what they say back in the sect. You have a slight understanding of the powers in the various continents. However…” 

Pausing slightly, Xu Chenkang continued, “... Your understanding of the various powers seems a little outdated. What you understand of the Zhongxuan Gate from the Yan Continent is basically correct. However, the White Deer Sect didn’t send their experts over this time. Instead, the 3 great families of the Ji Continent are the ones who came. After the White Deer Sect failed their scheme to attack the Tongyou Institution and suffered a serious loss after Kou Chongxue counterattacked, they kept a low profile. The Zhang, Liu, and Guo Families of the Ji Continent rose swiftly to fill the gap. As for the Bing Continent… We might have underestimated the powers in the Bing Continent this time…” 

Zuo Changqing gasped in shock. “Martial Uncle Chenkang, how did we underestimate the Bing Continent?” 

Before Xu Chenkang could say anything, a low blast came from the depths of the Cloud Water Gorge, attracting everyone’s attention.

Countless pairs of eyes turned to look at the gorge and if anyone felt that the subtle changes to the Cloud Water Gorge weren’t obvious enough, it was time they were proved wrong. The dense clouds that covered the Cloud Water Gorge started to dissipate at a rapid pace and a giant crater appeared right smack in the middle of the gorge. It seemed to be created by the explosion earlier, but it was quickly covered up by whatever fog there was left.

A secondary blast echoed through the skies not too long after and huge chunks of rock started falling from the void above the Cloud Water Gorge.

Loud explosions rang in succession from deep within the Cloud Water Gorge and the heaven and earth qi in the region started to fluctuate violently.

Xu Chenkang didn’t need to remind Zuo Changqing and everyone in the area knew that the Abyssal Secret Region was about to show itself soon.

…

No matter how they looked at it, Shang Xia was in deep shit. 

He reacted a little too late, and Shang Xia was nothing more than a larger target board who was exhausting his inner qi to remain in mid air.

As the silver hammer rose into the skies once again under Tao Mosheng’s control, the void trembled violently. It was obvious Tao Mosheng was going all out in an attempt to seriously injure Shang Xia.

At the very last second, Shang Xia revealed the Hexagonal Lantern he had been holding all along. He made his preparations after surviving the blade light and poured what was left of the Divine Fire Wine into the lantern. A deep orange flame flickered aggressively and Shang Xia poured his inner qi into the lantern without reserve. 

The flickering flame turned into a pillar of fire as it tore through the skies. It crashed directly into the silver hammer in the sky.

“Misty Palace Lanter! You… You’re from the Divine Capital Sect!” Tao Mosheng recognized the lantern the moment Shang Xia took it out. However, he completely missed the mark with Shang Xia’s identity. Thinking that Shang Xia was from the Divine Capital Sect, a trace of fear appeared in his heart.

Despite his feelings, he knew that it was too late to turn back now. Pouring even more energy into his hammer, Tao Mosheng decided that he had to get rid of the problem in front of him.

“Swish!” Tearing through the pillar of fire, Tao Mosheng’s silver hammer went straight for Shang Xia’s head.

Before the hammer arrived, the massive pressure along with waves upon waves of spatial fluctuations came crashing down on him. The Auspicious Cloud Cape behind Shang Xia billowed violently as he prepared himself to counterattack.

Remaining unusually calm in the face of danger, Shang Xia’s Scarlet Star Spear shot into the air. Releasing his Celestial Disruption Spear, countless specks of starlight erupted in the skies above.

Shang Xia stabbed out countless times in a split second and every single strike landed directly on the silver hammer. Eventually, the hammer was forced to stop.

Naturally, Shang Xia had to deal with the recoil from the strikes and he flew even further through the Abyssal Secret Region.

“Oh no!” Tao Mosheng roared after noticing how Shang Xia flew through the air. He realized that Shang Xia was borrowing his strength to fly closer to the divine weapon.

Shang Xia actually wanted to risk it all and obtain the divine weapon before Tao Mosheng could react.

The only part Tao Mosheng didn’t understand was how Shang Xia could withstand the consumption of his inner qi. One had to know that flying through the secret region exhausted a lot of energy. Not to mention the fact that Shang Xia just defended against his attacks. 

With confusion filling his heart, Tao Mosheng stared at the cape fluttering on Shang Xia’s back. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to discover the secrets it held.

He wondered if Shang Xia was truly risking it all. Even if that was the case, he couldn’t sit by idly and watch as the divine weapon fell into someone else’s hands.

Just as he prepared to make his move, the auras of 2 Martial Extermination Realm experts filled the skies. They came from the mountain peaks on the opposite side, and Tao Mosheng gasped softly in fright. “How are there 2 more Martial Extermination Realm experts hiding in here?!” 

He quickly understood that those 2 had probably entered the Abyssal Secret Region before him. After surviving the blade light, they hid their presence so no one would be able to detect them.

One could only say that the 2 Martial Extermination Realm experts were pretty lucky. They were hiding in the opposite direction where Shang Xia and Tao Mosheng were traveling. 

Now that Shang Xia was rushing at the divine weapon, the two of them had to do something.

A sneer appeared on Tao Mosheng’s face as his silver hammer went for Shang Xia’s back. Even though the distance separating them was close to 1000 feet at the moment, he didn’t hold back and crazily poured his inner qi into his weapon.

Back when Shang Xia blocked Tao Mosheng’s hammer and flew in the direction of the divine weapon, he threw caution to the wind and wanted to be the first person to get his hands on it. He didn’t expect there to be experts hiding in the other mountain peaks, especially not two of them!

Now that the two of them had made their move, Shang Xia was surrounded on 3 fronts. If he was in trouble earlier when Tao Mosheng attacked him in mid air, his current situation was several times worse. After all, the suppression the Abyssal Secret Region had on him was also present.

Quickly making a decision, Shang Xia didn’t bother avoiding or blocking the attacks thrown his way. Instead, he circulated his inner qi and pushed himself to the limit as he accelerated yet again.

The Auspicious Cloud Cape flapping in the wind seemed to fuse with his Four Seasons Extermination Origins as they propelled Shang Xia towards the peak that contained the divine weapon. No, more accurately, he shot straight for the boulder that held the blade.

“Are you tired of living?!” 

Shang Xia’s actions caught all 3 Martial Extermination Realm experts off guard. His reckless actions would definitely provoke the divine weapon. Even if the 3 of them stood off to the side now and withdrew their attacks, he would most probably be killed by the Abyssal Blade.

In fact, that was what they were doing at the moment. They were desperately withdrawing all the energy in their attack. They couldn’t be bothered with Shang Xia as they were afraid of drawing the ire of the divine weapon.

“Boom!” 

Under several incredulous gazes, Shang Xia smashed straight into the boulder that held the Abyssal Blade without showing the slightest trace of slowing down.