On the deck of the Hai Continent, as the Star Ship’s protection barrier opened, Zhuo Gudao, who had long been waiting outside, stepped aboard. "Sage Shang, I have come to trouble you again..." The moment Zhuo Gudao set foot on the deck, he clasped his hands from afar and greeted Shang Xia with a smile. Shang Xia grinned in response. "Sage Zhuo jests. Let us speak inside." Both Sages entered the cabin one after the other, and very soon, disciples of the Tongyou Institution served fragrant tea. After everyone had left, Zhuo Gudao didn’t bother beating about the bush. He asked, "Surely my visit this time was not outside of Sage Shang’s expectations?" Shang Xia set down his teacup and smiled faintly. "Though there was some distance between my External Avatar and me, making direct communication impossible, once he learned of your arrival, he naturally gave me a prompt reminder. After all... Your arrival is pretty significant.” Zhuo Gudao nodded, then sighed lightly, "I must confess, this time, I was deceived by the Star Origin Lord. I never expected that when he promised to help me advance swiftly to the third star, it would all be at the expense of my own lifespan and potential." Shang Xia snorted flatly, "Sage Zhuo, you should have been prepared to pay such a price." Zhuo Gudao looked regretful. "It was I who trusted him too much. Having once served under him, I lost my vigilance. He concealed my flaws at first, but in recent years, when my life force began draining away more quickly, I finally realized I had been tricked." Shang Xia didn’t say anything else about it but shifted the topic with a question. "Then what is your intention of looking for me?" Zhuo Gudao turned solemn before bowing deeply to Shang Xia. "I beg for your aid. My lifespan is running short. Despite my efforts, I haven’t gained enough. Some time ago, I learned from your External Avatar that you may have a way to help me, so I came to shamelessly make this request." Hearing him, Shang Xia did not immediately agree. Instead, he fell silent for a long time while remaining thoughtful. Seeing his resurrection, Zhuo Gudao slapped his forehead as though he had nearly forgotten something. He quickly drew something from his sleeve and said, "This is a specialty of the Essence Hong Heavenly Field. It is a small token of my respect for you. I hope Sage Shang will accept it." Shang Xia looked at the item with surprise. "Is this the legendary ‘Hong Essence’?" Zhuo Gudao nodded. "Sage Shang has keen eyes. Indeed, this is the special spiritual treasure called the Hong Essence, nurtured from the Essence Hong World’s World Origin Source.” Shang Xia held it in his hand as he examined it carefully. "I have heard that the Essence Hong World possesses a unique method of inheritance. When a cultivator of the Martial Void Realm or above nears the end of life, they can condense their soul and entrust it to the World Origin Source. It is what forms the Hong Essence. If someone later obtains it they may inherit one or two of that cultivator’s inheritances. Furthermore, if the successor’s cultivation is slightly lower, it can even help them ascend at least one minor realm. If the gap is large, rising two or three major cultivation realms is not impossible." Zhuo Gudao smiled. "It is exactly as you say. This item is of no use to us, but as a gift to disciples, it can save them years, even decades, of effort. The Hong Essence you hold was left behind by at least a high-level True Immortal." Shang Xia clicked his tongue appreciatively and slipped the item naturally into his sleeve. He sighed, "This is indeed an amazing treasure, but there are far too few of them..." Zhuo Gudao’s eyelids started twitching, but he quickly suppressed his emotions and chuckled, "It is true there are few of these even in the Essence Hong World, but not as rare as you might think. I still brought two more this time." As he spoke, Zhuo Gudao placed two more Hong Essences before Shang Xia and added, "However, the owners of these Hong Essences never reached the high-level of the Martial Void Realm." Shang Xia burst into laughter. "Sage Zhuo is far too generous. These Hong Essences are part of your Essence Hong World’s foundation. How can I possibly take more?" Zhuo Gudao hurriedly said, "Our world and your Essence Luxuriant World have long been allies, watching over each other. This trifling gift is nothing. Sage Shang, please do not be polite." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novelꞁire.net Seeing that his refusal would not be accepted, Shang Xia finally said, "Then I shall not decline your goodwill." When Shang Xia collected the remaining two Hong Essences, Zhuo Gudao finally felt at ease. He cautiously asked, "But about that secret art your External Avatar mentioned about prolonging life..." Shang Xia smiled. "As it happens, when this Star Ship returns to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field, the new Star Observator should be completed. At that time, I can employ the observatory to perform the secret art." Zhuo Gudao’s heart finally settled. However, he asked again, "May I ask, Sage Shang, how much lifespan can your secret art extend?" Shang Xia raised an eyebrow and mumbled, "About 20 years." Zhuo Gudao froze, appearing doubtful. But seeing Shang Xia’s calm demeanor, he realized this was no lie. Excited, he exclaimed, "That long?" After the Hai Continent returned to the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field, Shang Xia and Zhuo Gudao met with Kou Chongxue before temporarily settling him in Shang Xia’s residence. "Do not let word of Zhuo Gudao’s arrival in our Heavenly Field spread. I have already instructed the crew of the Hai Continent." The first thing Shang Xia did when alone with Kou Chongxue was demand secrecy. Kou Chongxue laughed, "Rest assured, I gave the order immediately. But tell me, do you truly have a secret art to extend his lifespan? And you can extend Zhuo Gudao’s life by 20 years at once?" Shang Xia replied, "It was something I discovered by chance while adjusting the Dipper Star Formation. But this 20-year extension is not perfect, it comes with certain restrictions. I have already explained it to Zhuo Gudao, and he did not mind." Kou Chongxue snorted, "Compared with gaining 20 more years, what are a few restrictions? Sages may seem to have millennia-long lifespans, but in truth, to most cultivators, that time is fleeting. 20 years may be little against a thousand, but for one whose end is near, those twenty years could be their last chance to make a breakthrough." Shang Xia smiled. "Three days from now, I will need Little Yuan and several Stargazers to cooperate with me at the new Star Observatory. We will stage a performance and make my secret art seem more dangerous and profound. That way, Zhuo Gudao will feel the Hong Essences he offered were well spent." Kou Chongxue’s eyes glinted with a hint of mischief. "Is it really hard to perform?" Shang Xia chuckled in amusement. "Nope. In reality, it’s very easy to perform." Both Sages burst into hearty laughter.