Chapter 20: Upper Capital City
Of course, the common cultivator wouldn’t know this identity. It was Hong Sword who had directly reported it to the Upper Capital City Base.
No matter how highly Wang Jie regarded Wen Zhao, Hong Sword would never allow her to enter the base under a concealed identity. That would be irresponsible to all of Blue Star.
Trial Takers were still considered adversaries of Blue Star.
Two hours after their arrival, another aircraft landed, carrying a familiar face—Lian Fei.
Wang Jie hadn’t expected to encounter her again. Fate truly worked in strange ways.
Lian Fei noticed him and the group isolated from the others. She hesitated briefly before walking over.
“Why did you send a false signal?” she asked directly.
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow. “You’re still hung up on that?”
Lian Fei fixed her gaze on him. “With your strength, you didn’t need to send that signal to escape. There’s only one explanation—you were deliberately leading us in the wrong direction. You were trying to hide your identity back then, so I suspect you ran into Hu Guan and were forced to do it. Otherwise, I can’t think of any other reason.”
She continued, “And it was also you at the Mutated Hawk’s Nest, wasn’t it?”
Wang Jie didn’t deny it. Smart people didn’t need confirmation, but he also wasn’t going to admit it outright.
Lian Fei didn’t expect him to confirm it anyway. His expression was answer enough.
Her brows furrowed as her gaze landed on Wen Zhao. “A Trial Taker?”
Wen Zhao glanced at her but didn’t seem to care.
“No wonder you’re being kept separate. There are quite a few external Trial Takers around, and some have even teamed up with locals. But bringing one in so openly like this? That’s rare.”
As a woman, she was more sensitive to details and immediately noticed the differences in Wen Zhao’s demeanor compared to the others.
Wang Jie had no choice. Bringing Wen Zhao to Upper Capital City Base required this approach. She could have jumped off the aircraft midway, but that would have immediately raised suspicions.
Besides, Hong Sword was already aware. There was no way to keep it hidden.
Since that was the case, he might as well be open about it. He needed Wen Zhao’s combat strength. The rest would depend on the Upper Capital City meeting.
“You are Lian Qin’s daughter, one of the Five Extremes, aren’t you? If you’re here, does that mean she’s coming too?” Wang Jie suddenly asked.
Lian Fei met his gaze. “Why do you ask about my mother?”
“Just curious.”
Lian Fei changed the topic. “Where’s the Mutated Hawk Egg?”
Wang Jie chuckled. “I’m being isolated, not imprisoned. Are you interrogating me?”
“I want to buy it. Name your price.”
“You can’t afford it. I have plenty of money.”
At these words, Old Five and Old Nine puffed out their chests with pride.
Lian Fei glanced at Wang Jie’s attire. Money? Really?
Even Wen Zhao instinctively glanced at him.
“Wang Jie, if you’re interested, you can join Southern Base. This is an official invitation. Consider it seriously.”
With that, Lian Fei turned to leave.
“Wait.”
She looked back at him curiously, then at Old Five and Old Nine.
Whatever. He had already embarrassed himself with those ridiculous calisthenics. Wen Zhao had forcefully covered for him. Might as well keep going.
Combat techniques were important.
“If you want to buy the Mutated Hawk Egg, it’s not impossible. But you need to show sincerity.”
Lian Fei frowned. “What kind of sincerity?”
“Write me a marriage proposal letter.”
Silence.
Everyone was stunned. Even the guards standing nearby stared in disbelief, thinking they had misheard.
Lian Fei rubbed her ear. “What did you say?”
Wang Jie remained calm. All for the sake of combat techniques. The Starry Finger Technique had to be terrifyingly powerful if Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger was already so formidable. Yes, terrifying.
“Write me a marriage proposal letter. Make it sincere.”
Lian Fei’s gaze turned strange as she looked at him.
Wen Zhao silently withdrew her gaze. As expected, this guy had a screw loose.
Lian Fei left, unsure how to respond.
Wang Jie sighed. Was it really that difficult? If a marriage proposal was already such a hurdle, then what was Will of the Loser supposed to be?
“Ahem, Boss, isn’t this a bit too desperate?” Old Nine asked cautiously. They had been with Wang Jie for two years now, but his mental state seemed to be deteriorating.
Old Five, however, looked resolute. “Boss, forget the letter. Just tell me who you like, and I’ll go talk to her for you.”
Wang Jie silently sat down to rest.
To the east, the sky lightened as the sun’s rays broke through the clouds, casting a comforting glow.
More aircraft arrived. Not just one, but eight—a grand display.
Wang Jie and his group turned to look.
Leading Pillar Group. Qing Zheng had arrived.
Wherever Leading Pillar Group went, they commanded attention. Especially now that the rumored Prince, who had been in a coma after an encounter with a mutated plant, had awakened. His recovery had shaken all five major bases of Hua Xia.
It was no surprise that the first place Qing Zheng visited after waking up was Upper Capital City Base.
Whether in peacetime or in the apocalypse, Upper Capital City remained the unshakable heart of Hua Xia.
Qing Zheng’s arrival represented Leading Pillar Group itself.
But outsiders didn’t know the truth. If Wang Jie hadn’t been coming to Upper Capital City, Qing Zheng wouldn’t have come either.
Eight aircraft, carrying over a hundred cultivators—an imposing display. A Six-Seal Master was sent to greet Qing Zheng.
Yet when Qing Zheng requested to join Wang Jie’s group, they threw him into isolation as well.
If he wanted to be with them, fine—but he wouldn’t be free to leave.
“Boss, come here, give me a hug!” Qing Zheng rushed towards Wang Jie the moment he stepped inside.
Wang Jie swiftly dodged.
Qing Zheng slammed into the wall with a loud thud, rubbing his sore head before turning a pitiful gaze toward Wang Jie. “Boss, you’re still as heartless as ever.”
Old Nine chuckled as he rubbed his own head. “I say, Second Brother, you sure are noisy the moment you show up.”
Qing Zheng rolled his eyes at Old Nine. “What do you mean, ‘Second Brother’? Call me ‘Elder Brother’! Back then, I won our match of rock-paper-scissors. That means, for the rest of your life, I am your second elder brother.”
Old Five leaned in with a sly grin. “Second Brother, I’ve always been curious… You were in a coma for two years. Did that thing down there still work after all that time?”
Wen Zhao frowned at the crude remark.
Qing Zheng raised his chin proudly. “Are you kidding? How could it not work? Here, let me show you!”
“Shut up! That’s disgusting!” Wen Zhao snapped.
Without a word, Qing Zheng reached into his pocket and pulled out a handheld gaming console.
Wen Zhao: …
Before anyone could respond, footsteps approached from outside.
Beyond the doorway, more than a hundred cultivators from the Leading Pillar Group spread out, their presence a display of sheer dominance. Wang Jie and the others turned their gazes toward the entrance.
A woman entered, dressed in a traditional qipao. She was tall and striking, with snow-white skin and a face that balanced an air of nobility with delicate beauty. Yet, the way her eyes moved—carrying both allure and authority—made her presence all the more commanding.
“Little Boss, this is Older Sister Tang, one of the Five Extremes,” the man assigned to protect Qing Zheng hastily introduced her, as if terrified that Qing Zheng might offend her.
Qing Zheng raised a brow and set his gaming console aside. “One of the Five Extremes? That’s quite a big deal.”
Older Sister Tang stood in the doorway, her hands resting on her hips in a bold, carefree stance, an attitude that starkly contrasted her refined attire. “What big deal? Compared to your Leading Pillar Group, I’m just a broke hag.”
Qing Zheng said nothing and simply turned his gaze to Wang Jie.
Older Sister Tang did the same, already well-informed—Hong Sword had sent her a report.
Wang Jie. The man who stood against an Eight-Seal Trial Taker, his true strength unfathomable, yet clearly superior to Hong Sword’s.
“You’re Wang Jie?”
Wang Jie gave a slight nod. “I’ve long heard of you, Older Sister Tang.”
Older Sister Tang scoffed. “And I’ve heard plenty about you too. You’re at the top of the Bounty List—I’m dying to know, just what did you do to make Zuo Tian hate you so much? And why have you suddenly come to Upper Capital City?”
“Is this an interrogation?”
“Just curiosity, really. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. As for that Trial Taker…” Older Sister Tang flicked a small device toward Wang Jie, who caught it midair.
“Stick this on her. We need to track her location at all times.”
Wen Zhao’s gaze turned icy as she locked eyes with Older Sister Tang.
Older Sister Tang didn’t back down. The two women, both possessing extraordinary auras, stood face-to-face in a silent battle of wills, lighting up the dimly lit room with their striking presence.
Wang Jie casually tossed the device to Wen Zhao. “Do me a favor.”
Wen Zhao held her glare for a moment longer before taking the device and placing it on her shoulder.
Older Sister Tang smirked as she turned her attention back to Wang Jie. “Not bad, little brother. What’s your relationship with her?”
“No relationship.”
“She’s the Eight-Seal Trial Taker who tried to seize Golden Hill Base, isn’t she? Seems like what Hong Sword said was accurate.”
Wang Jie wasn’t sure what Hong Sword had told them, but it certainly hadn’t been anything too damning. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be standing here in a mere standoff; they would have been surrounded and eliminated already.
After Older Sister Tang left, Wang Jie and his group smoothly entered the Upper Capital City Base.
Compared to Golden Hill Base, the roads and city planning here were far superior. But just like everywhere else, countless tents sprawled beyond the city walls—too many people, too little space.
In the early days of the Apocalypse, every major base had rushed to construct fortifications against the Beast Tide. Naturally, the smaller the area, the easier it was to defend. But over time, this meant that as the population grew, there was simply no space left for new arrivals. The only solution was to expand the safe zones beyond the city.
But it had been ten years. Outside the Five Great Bases, smaller settlements had been wiped out one by one.
Humans simply could not match the reproduction rate of Mutated Beasts.
That was the cruel reality.
In an underground chamber within the Upper Capital City Base, a group of people watched a screen intently.
Older Sister Tang was among them. Beside her sat Bai Yuan.
“Analyzing her power will take time. This method isn’t efficient unless we can lock her in one place,” an elderly man muttered as he adjusted his glasses.
The screen displayed Wen Zhao’s location. The tracking device wasn’t just for positioning—it was also analyzing her power.
This had been arranged between Hong Sword and the Upper Capital City leaders. Otherwise, there was no way an Eight-Seal Trial Taker would have been allowed to enter the base so easily.
Older Sister Tang frowned. “She’s an Eight-Seal, and even if we worked together, we might be able to suppress her… But that Wang Jie is troublesome. He’s strong—I can feel it.”
The old man pondered for a moment. “Wang Jie is from Blue Star. He wouldn’t turn against us for her, would he?”
“Hard to say. He has his own motives.”
Bai Yuan, silent until now, took a sip of tea, lost in thought. Moments later, he set the cup down. “If my guess is correct, Wang Jie’s goal is tied to Zuo Tian. As long as the Upper Capital City Conference remains unheld, they won’t leave. There’s no rush—we’ll analyze them at our own pace.”
With that, he turned and left.
The elderly man hesitated. “At our current pace, even by the time the conference ends, we’ll barely have analyzed one percent of her power.”
Bai Yuan, without looking back, waved a hand dismissively. “We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
“Upper Capital City’s strongest warrior—Bai Yuan. One of the Three Gods. Publicly recognized as Hua Xia’s mightiest expert.”
“He was among the first to cultivate after the Apocalypse. Wielding an ornamental sword that was never meant to be used in battle, he carved a path through the chaos, creating the Upper Capital City Base with nothing but his own strength.”
“It’s said that no one can withstand three of his sword strikes.”
These words came from the man assigned to protect Qing Zheng.
Wang Jie and his team listened in silence. Since they had entered Bai Yuan’s domain, it was crucial to understand his power.
Old Five glanced at Wang Jie. “Boss, between Bai Yuan and Zuo Tian… who’s stronger?”
The man protecting Qing Zheng interjected, “Obviously Bai Yuan. That’s common knowledge.”
Old Five ignored him, as did Qing Zheng. They all looked at Wang Jie instead.
After all, no one knew Wang Jie’s strength better than they did.
Two years ago, they had attempted to assassinate Zuo Tian.
They had failed.
But even then, they had sensed that Zuo Tian had not displayed even half of his true strength.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation