Splitting the Heavens

Chapter 1363: Beast Warrior

“Because of the way they cultivate and the influence they received from the Star Beasts after hanging around them for too long, their souls would start to mutate after they reached the Martial Intent Realm. Even though they possess some sort of human-like clarity, they are greatly influenced by bestial instincts.” Gong Zhuo explained as he glanced at the figure on the deck.

Shang Xia pressed his lips together and muttered, “If they are really following a path of cultivation, how can they be affected just by staying around Star Beasts?”

Gong Zhuo opened his mouth, but he chuckled softly eventually.

“True Immortal Shang, you’re right...” Zhang Shun, who was standing beside them, spoke. However, he quickly started to ask again, “True Immortal Shang, from your behavior, you don’t seem to know much about them. Does your Essence Ping World not experience frequent intrusions by Beast Warriors?”

“Invasions?” Shang Xia raised an eyebrow and was slightly taken aback by the question. “Are Beast Warriors really so powerful as to dare to invade worlds protected by Martial Emptiness Realm Sages?”

Shang Xia thought that those Beast Warriors would at most be able to launch attacks on Star Ship fleets with the cover of the chaotic streams of space. They might be able to affect the plans of several worlds, but he didn’t think they possessed enough strength to be able to invade one. However, what Zhang Shun mentioned about them made them seem a lot more powerful than he thought.

Zhang Shun laughed in response, “Even though there are a lot of variations of Beast Warriors, all of them have 1 thing in common. Their souls have mutated because of their interaction with the beasts. Their strength was greater than experts of the same level, and they also had longer lifespans. In the vast sea of stars, there is no lack of cultivators who are dedicated to the path of cultivation. However, there are some who don’t wish to die, and there is no lack of those who try to follow their path of cultivation in order to extend their lifespans.”

Gong Zhuo added, “True Immortal Shang, you might not know, but Star Beasts are creatures with some sort of hive-mind. Those Beast Warriors are able to control a few strong beasts with their soul, effectively controlling the rest of the pack. Powerful Beast Warriors control a Star Beast Pack that way. Since they hide in the chaotic streams of space most of the time where even Martial Emptiness Realm Sages can’t remain for long, no one is able to discover their presence. If any worlds weaker than an Essence World were to fail to pay attention and have their heavenly screen torn through, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to destroy it completely. There are even powerful Beast Warriors that can control more than 10 rank six Star Beasts. They have a record of surrounding and killing a Martial Emptiness Realm Sage in the chaotic streams of space. The only problem with verifying whether that is the truth is that no one has seen it for themselves.”

Stroking his chin, Shang Xia had a profound and unreadable expression.

Zhang Shun, who was standing at the side, suddenly asked, “From the looks of it, True Immortal Shang really doesn’t know much about Beast Warriors. Your Essence Ping World is really lucky to not be attacked by those monsters...”

To that, Shang Xia only shook his head regretfully. “Those Beast Warriors don’t just control Star Beasts, right?”

“Of course not. Even the weakest Star Beasts live in the streams of chaotic space. In order to enter them, the Beast Warrior will have to be in the Martial Dipper Realm at the very least. To mutate their souls to control STar Beasts would mean that they have to be an expert of that level at the very least.” Zhang Shun explained.

Raising his eyebrows in shock, Zhang Shun noticed the tone of questioning Shang Xia had. He couldn’t help but ask, “From what you say, does your Essence Ping World also have traces of Beast Warriors?”

Shang Xia sighed softly in response. “I’m afraid they have already existed for a long time. However, they managed to hide themselves well and they have become a hidden threat to all of us.”

“Oh? What do you mean?” Zhang Shun probed.

Shang Xia had long since noticed the other party’s attempt to dig out more information on him, but he didn’t plan to hide it. “They have been hiding in the sea. Those Beast Warriors have always been hiding in the depths of the great ocean.”

With his tone changing slightly, Shang Xia muttered in a low voice, “Fellow True Immortals, I believe after this ends, it’s time for me to return to my world.”

“Of course.” Zhang Shun and Gong Zhuo exchanged a glance before responding in unison.

...

Zhang Shun determined that the attack on the fleet to be something coincidental, instead of a premeditated attack on the Wanyun Association.

Shang Xia might feel a little surprised, but that was the Wanyun Association’s fleet. Whatever Zhang Shun said was law. Anyway, he was merely hired help and he knew he shouldn’t interfere with their operations.

In the end, they killed 2 Star Beasts, and captured another alive. It was eventually killed in captivity.

Stopping for some time in the streams of chaotic space, they started to reorganize themselves. It was especially so since the fourth ship’s structure above deck had been destroyed.

They also had to deal with the massive corpses of the Star Beasts.

Shang Xia watched as they dealt with the corpses and noticed how much the Spirit Luxuriant World wasted back then.

The Star Essence Core of the beast, along with its skin, were the most valuable parts of the beast. After its death, the beast would usually fossilize and become something like a piece of rock. There were still parts that could be used, and perhaps after the use of some special arts, they would be able to leave behind a portion of its worth to be turned into an artifact or some sort of formation.

From a certain perspective, the presence of the Heaven Observation Field provided too much protection for the worlds within it!

After Shang Xia watched them deal with the corpse of the beast, he returned to his cabin to continue crafting talismans.

After he returned, Zhang Shun and Gong Zhuo who were on the fourth Star Ship were discussing something among themselves as they helped with its restoration.

“Did you see how he killed the beast at the very front?” Zhang Shun asked with a serious expression.

“I saw it for myself. He killed it with 1 blow. His move was clean and perfect.” Gong Zhuo replied. He thought back to the staff that pierced through the skull of the beast.

“Hmm...” Zhang Shun nodded his head and muttered, “I went to take a look as well. The beast he killed had extremely strong combat abilities. It definitely had the combat prowess of a high-level True Immortal and with the assistance of the chaotic streams, its destructive capabilities would only grow stronger. Even I wouldn’t dare to fight it head on. He killed it while I was looking for the Beast Warrior in the void. It’s clear that he is even stronger than me!”

“Director...” Gong Zhuo wanted to say something else, but he was stopped by a single gesture from Zhang Shun.

Zhang Shun chuckled softly, “It’s nothing I can’t admit. It is true that I’m weaker than him. Do you really think I will be affected by something like this? Moreover, you also understand... Even though you injured the beast, an injured Star Beast is even scarier than when it’s in perfect condition. Also, True Immortal Shang can be considered a good friend of yours now. He is also helping us to achieve our goal. Isn’t him being stronger a good thing for us?”

Gong Zhuo nodded after thinking for a moment. However, he hesitated slightly before he continued, “But... Why do I feel like you don’t trust him completely?”

Zhang Shun nodded casually. “I probed him out a few times and his reactions seemed genuine, but he just seems a little too confident.”

“Maybe he’s that way because he has absolute confidence in his strength?” Gong Zhuo said after thinking for a moment.

Zhang Shun nodded, but he shook his head the next moment. Gong Zhuo found his reaction a little strange.

“Let’s just maintain our relationship with him for now. There’s just one thing... I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something strange about the Essence Ping World.” Zhang Shun sighed.

Gong Zhuo replied, “Director Zhang, even if you didn’t say anything, I would have done so. No matter what, he’s a pseudo rank seven Talisman Grandmaster. He’s the only person capable of crafting our Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans...”

Zhang Shun tilted his head down slightly and instructed, “Since True Immortal Shang killed the fourth tier Star Beast on his own, send the skin and Star Essence Core to him. Oh yes, send him the skin of the other beasts too. Tell him that they are the key ingredient in crafting the special talisman paper to craft Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans.”

“Director Zhang, isn’t this a little... No matter what, he wasn’t the person who killed the other beasts.” Gong Zhuo revealed an ugly expression as he spoke.

Zhang Shun frowned and snapped at him suddenly, “Don’t be foolish! Don’t forget what the true motive of this trip is! It’s just a few pieces of Star Beast skin. If we can secure the future of our Wanyun Association for the next hundreds of years, what if we give the beast skin to him?! Even if we give him the skin of 30 Star Beasts, it won’t matter!”

...

After the goods were delivered, Shang Xia was slightly taken aback. He might have expected them to give him a portion of their gains, but he didn’t think they would give him so much. Of the 3 Star Beasts that were killed, they gave him 3 complete pieces of the skin and the Star Essence Core of the strongest beast. That would mean that they only kept 2 Star Essence Cores for themselves.

“True Immortal Gong, I cannot accept this!” Shang Xia said seriously. “The beasts were killed with our combined effort. How can I take so much? This is inappropriate...”

Gong Zhuo expected Shang Xia to reject the treasures, and he simply pushed them over to him once again. He said in a solemn voice, “True Immortal Shang, you know the true goal of our Wanyun Association. If not for you killing the strongest beast, we wouldn’t have been able to complete our battle formation to kill the rest. I’m afraid even our main ship would suffer serious damage. If that happens, we will be forced to return empty handed. As such... I feel that this is still too little! Not to mention your skills in talisman crafting... These Star Beast skins are the key ingredient in crafting the special talisman paper for making Myriad Tinted Cloud Talismans.”