Chapter 18: Bai Yuan
Wen Zhao regarded Wang Jie with a half-smile. “You want to cooperate with me?”
Wang Jie did not hesitate. “I do.”
“What can you offer me?”
Wang Jie chuckled. “If I don’t help you, I’ll help your enemies instead.”
Wen Zhao’s expression shifted. That statement struck straight to the heart of the matter. Among the second batch of trial participants, she indeed had enemies.
And Wang Jie… was strong.
“What do you want to know?” she asked.
Wang Jie glanced at the sky. “I don’t enjoy conversing in the rain.”
Before long, they relocated to an abandoned high-rise. Seated on the edge of the crumbling structure, a Snow Steed between them, they overlooked the vast expanse where heaven and earth blended into one.
“The trial has two objectives. Completing either one ensures success.”
“First, subjugate the natives until they no longer dare resist.”
“Second, defeat all other trial participants.”
“Achieve either, and you qualify as a disciple of Armor One Sect.”
Wang Jie was unsurprised. “Who was the strongest among the first batch?”
“Me.”
Wang Jie was momentarily speechless. So blunt?
Wen Zhao met his gaze, amusement glinting in her eyes. “Which means you defeated the strongest of the first batch.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Believe it or not, it’s the truth. That’s why I never sought alliances with any of the trial participants. And I still don’t plan to.”
“What about the second batch?”
Wen Zhao’s expression darkened. “They’re all Eight Seal level. Given my current strength, I’m among the top, but… I have a formidable enemy among them.”
“Honestly, the second batch shouldn’t concern you. You’ve already defeated me. What you should really worry about is… the third batch.”
Wang Jie stiffened. “There’s a third batch?”
Wen Zhao smiled. “Who told you there wasn’t?”
“Nine Seal level?”
“Yes.”
“There isn’t a fourth batch, is there?”
Wen Zhao did not answer. The silence was deafening.
Wang Jie’s gaze flickered, his fists clenching.
Wen Zhao glanced at him, a hint of sympathy in her eyes. “The first and second batches were manageable; at least there was room for negotiation. But once the third batch arrives, your fates will be out of your hands. To them, the lives of the natives are worthless. After all, they’re destined to be thrown onto the Interstellar Battlefield sooner or later. Whether they die early or late makes no difference. That is Armor One Sect’s philosophy… and the belief of the powerful races that dominate the universe.”
Wang Jie met her gaze. “The powerful races of the universe?”
Wen Zhao turned her gaze skyward. “Armor One Sect is terrifyingly strong. Even a random stone falling from its domain might crush your Blue Star. Yet, it is far from the strongest force in the universe.”
“In the depths of the cosmos, there exist civilizations beyond imagination, mighty races, and colossal Star Beasts.”
“Life forms so alien we cannot comprehend them, yet they exist.”
She stroked the Snow Steed, which whined affectionately. “I once witnessed a single claw tear open the universe. Its full form was unimaginable—because my elder told me that what I saw was merely the claw tip.”
“With a casual swipe, hundreds of planets shattered.”
“And once, a single blood-stained feather drifted through the stars. On its surface, dozens of planets were impaled, soaked in crimson.”
Wang Jie stared at her, speechless.
Wen Zhao smiled. “I’m not lying. But you don’t need to know too much. Among the natives in the trial, very few ever enter Armor One Sect—because the power you cultivate is flawed.”
“You call it Seal Power, but in truth, it’s Lock Force—a power with a hard limit. Your ceiling is predetermined. You cannot break through it. That’s why the Interstellar Battlefield is your final destination. To the trial participants, you aren’t considered people. To Armor One Sect, you aren’t considered people either. There are simply too many of you.”
Wang Jie asked many questions. Wen Zhao answered most. Yet, some had no answers even for her.
The more she explained, the quieter Wang Jie became. Just hearing the truth was already brutal enough.
“Why have you stayed here all this time?” he finally asked.
“To cultivate.”
“Seeking Cataclysm Materials?”
“Yes. The wilderness is far more suitable for training than any base. Initially, I planned to seize control of your base and have you all gather the materials for me… but you ruined that plan.”
“Zuo Tian will definitely break through to Eight Seal level.”
Wen Zhao’s eyes narrowed. “I know.”
“You know of Zuo Tian?”
“I only know that intelligent people always find loopholes. Zuo Tian seems to be one of them.”
Wang Jie nodded. “As long as no second Blue Star human learns of the breakthrough, it doesn’t count. Nothing escapes Armor One Sect’s notice.”
Wen Zhao stroked the Snow Steed. “Correct. Armor One Sect is never something you should be concerned about. As long as no second Blue Star human learns of it, this is the loophole.”
“So… are we allies now?”
“We can be.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Upper Capital City. To kill Zuo Tian.”
Wen Zhao silently watched Wang Jie. “We are allies, not master and subordinate. I’m not going.”
“I’ll help you reach Nine Seal level. In return, you help me kill Zuo Tian.”
“I can reach that level on my own.”
“I’ll teach you Finger Techniques.”
Wen Zhao’s eyes widened in surprise. “Deal.”
“One more thing.” Wang Jie glanced at the Snow Steed, a mischievous grin appearing.
Amidst the pouring rain, a pained howl echoed through the wilds.
The rain nourished the land, and the vegetation flourished.
Centered around the Golden Hill Base, the surrounding fifty-kilometer area was once deemed a safe zone. However, with the arrival of the Ten-Year Transformation Period, this safety has been steadily shrinking. Other bases face the same predicament.
Now, spurred by Zuo Tian’s call to arms, the major bases have once again prioritized the eradication of mutated flora and fauna. Although the transformation has made battles even more perilous, resulting in heavier casualties, the yield of Cataclysm Materials has also increased.
A hundred kilometers north of Golden Hill City, a white blur darted across a lotus pond, moving with incredible speed. Beneath the water’s surface, a wooden-hued lotus root lashed out like a whip. At the same time, countless floating leaves, each the size of a palm, shot forth like a storm of daggers, filling the air as they hurtled toward the white figure.
The white blur was none other than Snow Steed. It bared its teeth at the attacking lotus root, though the sight was almost comical—where once it had a pair of pristine fangs, now only a single tooth remained. This realization filled it with sorrow.
With a flick of her fingers, Wen Zhao unleashed sword energy, her strikes raining down like a torrential downpour. Each blade of sword qi shredded the floating leaves, while the remaining force severed the attacking lotus root cleanly in half.
A thunderous explosion rumbled in the distance. Shortly after, at the edge of the lotus pond, Wang Jie arrived, a large bundle strapped to his back. The pack was filled with a trove of Cataclysm Materials.
“You’re not taking any of this?” he asked, momentarily stunned by Wen Zhao’s empty hands.
She cast him a sidelong glance. “Of course I am.”
“Then why—?”
She lifted her slender fingers and gave a slight shake of the ring on her hand.
Wang Jie was puzzled.
“It’s a Storage Ring. Everything I collect is stored inside,” Wen Zhao explained.
Wang Jie examined the ring curiously. “You’re saying… items can be stored inside a ring? How does that work?”
She shook her head. “No idea. As long as it works, that’s all that matters.”
A thought occurred to Wang Jie, and he retrieved a ring from within his clothes. “Like this one?”
Wen Zhao nodded. “Seems like you’ve killed a Trial Taker before. But it’s useless. Once a Storage Ring has been claimed by its owner, it can only be opened by them or through their blood. Otherwise, it’s nothing more than a trinket. Yours is worthless.”
Wang Jie clicked his tongue in regret. Wen Zhao had no reason to deceive him.
“Do you have another one?”
“No. And even if I did, I wouldn’t give it away. These are incredibly rare.”
Wang Jie raised a brow. “But don’t all Trial Takers have them? What’s so rare about that?”
Wen Zhao chuckled. “You seem to have some misconceptions about Trial Takers. Do you think just anyone can become a Trial Taker of Armor One Sect?
“Let me put it this way: If the Three Gods and Five Extremes of Blue Star were to take in disciples, who do you think has a better chance—those living outside the bases or the heirs of the great families and financial syndicates?”
Wang Jie understood. These Trial Takers weren’t ordinary people. No wonder they were so well-dressed and carried themselves with such arrogance. Their elevated status wasn’t just because of their titles, but because of their backgrounds as well.
Like Flame Four—wasn’t he a prince of Flame Nation?
“If carrying all that weight is a hassle, I can store it for you,” Wen Zhao offered.
Wang Jie tightened his grip on his bundle. “I’m fine.”
Wen Zhao chuckled, gave Snow Steed a light pat, and moved on.
A few days prior, they had agreed to collaborate—Wen Zhao would assist Wang Jie in assassinating Zuo Tian, and in return, Wang Jie would teach her finger techniques. Their ultimate destination was Upper Capital City, but preparations had to be made first.
Gathering Cataclysm Materials was a necessity.
Thus, they combed the outskirts of Golden Hill Base, covering a hundred-kilometer radius. Any further than that, and the risks outweighed the benefits.
Before the Ten-Year Transformation Period, the major bases rarely hunted beyond this distance. Food supply and Seal Power were the primary limitations. Venturing too far meant encountering formidable mutated creatures, and if they emerged from a battle empty-handed, even returning to base could prove impossible.
Of course, there were cultivators who wandered freely without immediate plans to return. But surviving in the wild was a constant struggle—no one, not even the Three Gods and Five Extremes, could claim absolute safety.
On Blue Star, the number of mutated creatures vastly outnumbered that of humans. Despite the past decade, despite the rise of the Three Gods and Five Extremes, it was still the mutated beasts that dominated the planet. Humanity had merely carved out small, isolated pockets of existence.
Unless firearms could be used again.
According to Hong Sword, production of firearms had been possible for years—but no one dared to proceed. The moment the apocalypse struck, a mysterious force obliterated all of Blue Star’s weaponry and manufacturing facilities. No one knew what this force was. No one dared to test its limits.
For the next ten days, they would remain in the wilderness, hunting mutated creatures and gathering as many Cataclysm Materials as possible. After that, they would set off for Upper Capital City.
Meanwhile, in Upper Capital City, sunlight bathed a tranquil courtyard. Beneath a parasol, a young maiden dressed in white leisurely read a book. Nearby, a servant watered the hedges, while in the shadowy corner of the house, a black cat lazily scratched its head before curling up for another nap.
“Xiao Lan, go wake my father.”
“M-my lady, I dare not.”
The young maiden turned her gaze to the cat. “Little Black, you do it.”
The black cat opened its sharp, piercing eyes, a cold glint flashing within. With a powerful leap, it bounded onto the second floor. Moments later, a furious roar erupted from within the house.
“Little Black, you dare scratch me? Just you wait! When I catch you, I’ll skin you and dry your hide into cat jerky!”
Meow~~
The black cat landed in the maiden’s arms.
A middle-aged man in sleepwear stormed out, seething with rage as he glared at Little Black, his teeth gritted in frustration.
The maiden spoke calmly. “Father, it’s already midday. Time to get up.”
Faced with his daughter, the man’s anger dissipated into resignation. “Xiao’er, your old man was stuck chatting with that Zuo Tian half the night. I barely got any sleep. Can’t I rest just a little longer?”
Her name was Bai Xiao, and the man before her was none other than Bai Yuan, one of the Three Gods.
With a bright, radiant smile, Bai Xiao replied, “A man of your age should sleep early and wake early. Or… have you finally mastered that one sword technique?”
Bai Yuan looked away. “Not yet.”
“You’re too complacent.”
“What kind of daughter pushes her father to train harder? I’ve been working diligently!”
“Then, are you invincible?”
Puffing out his chest, Bai Yuan declared, “Of course!”
“And you’re satisfied with that?”
“…A little.” Seeing his daughter’s dangerous gaze, he quickly changed his tone. “No, not at all! Alright, fine. I’ll go train now.”
“Don’t forget to inform everyone about my birthday banquet. It coincides with the Upper Capital City Conference, so we should at least extend invitations.”
“Yes, yes.”
Bai Xiao smiled softly and resumed reading her book.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation