Chapter 27: Clash

Zuo Tian chuckled as he observed the group before him. “It seems my research was not in vain. Desperation truly does force out one’s hidden potential.” His gaze fell upon Wang Jie. “Two years ago, eight assassins were sent after me. That batch of orphans numbered in the hundreds, and for a few to survive and even rise to become elites—well, that’s not too bad.”

Qing Zheng clenched his fists, ready to strike, but Wang Jie stopped him.

Now is not the time.

Zuo Tian smirked. “Little Boss of the Leading Pillar Group, you don’t seem to be among them. Why are you helping them?”

Qing Zheng gritted his teeth. “Because you are a beast.”

Zuo Tian merely laughed. “Success comes at the cost of stepping over the corpses of failures. Your father never taught you that? I even went easy on you.”

“I don’t need your mercy!” Qing Zheng roared.

Bai Yuan interjected, “Enough, Zuo Tian. No more of this.”

Zuo Tian’s eyes lingered on Wang Jie. “The best resources should go to the most suitable individuals, allowing some to grow stronger first. That is the true path for humanity’s future. I am likely ten years your senior. You should be grateful.”

Wang Jie’s expression remained cold as he stared back at him. “Not only should I be grateful, but the orphans you burned alive should thank you as well. I’ll send you to meet them soon.”

Zuo Tian chuckled but said no more.

Wang Jie turned to Wen Zhao. “Are you certain it’s Insect Ruo Ruo?”

Wen Zhao nodded, her expression grim as she gazed into the distance. “She’s asserting dominance. This is a classic Heavenly Insect People tactic. Humans instinctively fear insects. By using an Insect Tide to threaten Upper Capital City Base, she is creating panic, making it easier to achieve her goal.”

“What does she want?” Older Sister Tang asked impatiently.

Wen Zhao narrowed her eyes. “Either the base… or me.”

“You?”

“I have a grudge against her.”

Bai Yuan looked at Wang Jie, who nodded in understanding.

“What’s the best way to deal with her? And what exactly are these Heavenly Insect People?”

Wen Zhao explained their nature, leaving Bai Yuan, Zuo Tian, and the others astonished. They had always thought humans were simply humans, with no fundamental differences. But now, they were learning that there were individuals who could control insects—and that there were many other special groups across the universe.

Zuo Tian’s eyes gleamed with fascination. So this is the vast universe. The starry seas that everyone longs for.

Blue Star was nothing more than a remote corner of it.

Older Sister Tang spoke gravely, “So we have no way of dealing with this Insect Ruo Ruo? If she controls the Insect Tide to attack the base, what then? What of her own combat strength? Can we assassinate her?”

Wen Zhao considered this. “She likely won’t attack the base.”

Bai Yuan and the others remained skeptical, waiting in silence.

According to Wen Zhao’s estimation, the Insect Tide would continue its display of force for two days, gathering even more insects. Meanwhile, Bai Yuan and the others debated whether they should attempt an assassination.

However, they did not need to wait long.

Insect Ruo Ruo appeared sooner than expected.

Riding atop a massive centipede, the girl exuded arrogance as she faced Upper Capital City Base. “Listen well, all of you inside! You are surrounded! Surrender Wen Zhao at once, and I will spare your lives. Otherwise, you will face utter annihilation!”

“I will say it again, bring her—”

Everyone stared at the distant Insect Ruo Ruo.

Bai Yuan subtly moved his fingers. The distance was within range; he could attempt a strike.

Sensing the killing intent, the giant centipede suddenly reared up, positioning itself between Insect Ruo Ruo and the base.

Bai Yuan relaxed his hand. This centipede was powerful; he had no confidence in slaying it with a single blow. Moreover, the Insect Tide contained many Eight Seal Insects. The scale of this Insect Tide surpassed any prior Beast Tide.

Older Sister Tang and the others turned to Wen Zhao—so she was indeed the target.

Wen Zhao looked out calmly. “You have two choices: continue holding me here and wait for the Insect Tide to dig me out, or let me leave. It’s up to you.”

No one answered.

No one knew what to do. Upper Capital City Base was still analyzing Wen Zhao’s abilities. Though progress was slow, given enough time, they could potentially unlock insights that might transform the cultivation methods of Blue Star Humans.

But now, with the Insect Tide at their gates, they did not wish to provoke a direct battle.

“If we let you go, and you instead ally with Insect Ruo Ruo, we will be in even greater trouble.” Zuo Tian spoke calmly, his gaze piercing. “How do we trust that you and she are truly enemies?”

Wen Zhao was indifferent. “Believe what you will. I prefer to stay in the city, at least for safety.”

Zuo Tian did not refute her. She was not wrong.

Bai Yuan turned to Wang Jie.

The situation was complex. They could not release Wen Zhao, fearing it might all be an elaborate act to rescue her. But they could not keep her either—if the enmity was real, the Insect Tide was a real danger to Upper Capital City Base.

Zuo Tian’s voice was transmitted via a drone to Insect Ruo Ruo. “We can give you Wen Zhao—but only as a corpse.”

Insect Ruo Ruo flew into a rage. “What use do I have for a dead body?! I must prove to Brother Xiao that this woman is far beneath me! You natives dare to kill Wen Zhao? I will raze your base to the ground!”

Wang Jie frowned. This sounds even more like a ploy to rescue Wen Zhao.

Zuo Tian glanced at Wen Zhao. “Based on your understanding of this girl, will her Insect Tide truly slaughter everyone in Upper Capital City Base?”

All eyes turned to Wen Zhao, anxious and uncertain.

No one felt confident in facing such an overwhelming Insect Tide.

Wen Zhao spoke plainly. “No.”

She gazed into the distance. “Insect Ruo Ruo is not virtuous, but neither is she purely wicked. The Heavenly Insect People have the right to enter the Armor One Sect’s Inner Courtyard freely. She came here to surpass me, to prove herself—not for a trial. Even if you refuse to let me go, you don’t have to fear her massacring the base.”

“With that logic, we really might not let you go now.” Older Sister Tang smirked.

Wen Zhao shrugged. “That’s your problem.”

Wang Jie spoke firmly, “Even if we don’t launch an attack, how long can the base hold out while surrounded by the Insect Tide? No reinforcements can enter, and we have no way out—we will be trapped. Meanwhile, the other bases will have to face the Trial Participants alone. By the time the third batch of Trial Participants arrives, we will be powerless to resist.”

Zuo Tian nodded in agreement. “Now that we’ve completely severed ties with the Trial Participants, our priority should be strengthening ourselves. We must continue hunting Mutated Beasts rather than exhausting our forces in a war of attrition against the Insect Tide.”

Hearing this, he turned to Wang Jie. “You said all that—do you have a plan?”

Wang Jie met his gaze. “I do. I’ll take her out.”

Wen Zhao was stunned.

“Boss!” Qing Zheng and the others exclaimed in shock.

Wang Jie raised a hand to silence them and then looked at Zuo Tian. “I’ll keep an eye on her. Even if Insect Ruo Ruo came to rescue her, I can at least take one of them down or heavily wound them before I die. And to be honest, I don’t think she’s acting. She told me long ago that she had an enemy among the Heavenly Insect People. She couldn’t have known in advance that she’d be trapped in the Upper Capital City Base.”

Bai Yuan and the others gave Wang Jie a deep, thoughtful look. “Once you leave the base, your fate will be uncertain. Are you willing to take that risk?”

“I have no choice.” Wang Jie’s tone was heavy.

Wen Zhao stared at him in silence.

“But I have two conditions,” Wang Jie continued. He raised a hand and pointed at Zuo Tian. “First, he comes with me.”

Zuo Tian narrowed his eyes.

Bai Yuan frowned. “The bigger picture is more important right now.”

Wang Jie cut him off coldly. “Spare me the talk about the bigger picture. My revenge won’t wait. He follows me out for three days. After that, whether he lives or dies is up to his own abilities.”

Everyone turned to Zuo Tian.

Qing Zheng and the others tried to dissuade Wang Jie, but he stopped them, instructing them to stay at the base.

“Fine.” Zuo Tian agreed.

Wang Jie locked eyes with him. “What if you don’t last the full three days?”

Zuo Tian lifted his head. “Then Bai Yuan will kill me. And he must.”

Bai Yuan’s gaze sharpened, and after meeting the murderous looks from the others, he gave a reluctant nod.

Wang Jie also agreed.

“What’s the second condition?” Bai Yuan asked.

Wang Jie glanced at the three brothers behind him. “From this day forward, as long as they do nothing to betray the Blue Star Humans, no one is to trouble them under any excuse.”

Old Five clenched his fists. “Boss, we’ll go with you.”

“I’m fast. I can probably escape,” Old Nine added.

Qing Zheng gritted his teeth. “I’ll mobilize all the resources of the Leading Pillar Group to attack the Insect Tide. We will capture that woman.”

Wang Jie smiled faintly. “Did you already forget what I just told you? Even if we break through the Insect Tide, we can’t break free from the fate of being War Slaves. I have my own path to take.”

The three of them fell silent, their gazes dim.

Wang Jie was willing to take this risk for one reason: a single word Wen Zhao had spoken—”fight.”

Fight to carve out a future.

He refused to become a War Slave. He refused to let the people of Blue Star become War Slaves. He would rather turn Blue Star into a battlefield than a purgatory. So he would fight. The Insect Tide was dangerous, but it also provided an endless supply of Cataclysm Materials. Through his fusion of Calisthenics and Seal Power, he could increase his strength. This was a path forward. Even without the Insect Tide, he had already considered heading into the Danger Zones to hunt Mutated Beasts.

Facing the Insect Tide, facing the endless hordes of Mutated Beasts, he still had a chance. But if he were thrown into the Interstellar Battlefield, there would be no chance at all.

He did not believe that his current power was enough to stand against forces capable of shattering stars at will.

Right now, he couldn’t even destroy a single city.

And bringing Zuo Tian along served a dual purpose. He didn’t know if Zuo Tian could survive the three days, but at least it was better than letting him continue enjoying his comforts in the base.

Wang Jie looked at Wen Zhao. “Let’s go.”

Wen Zhao gazed at him deeply. “You will die.”

“I know.”

She nodded. “Alright.” Without hesitation, she walked to the edge of the city wall, stepping into the view of the Insect Tide.

Insect Ruo Ruo immediately caught sight of her, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She stood and shouted without a shred of decorum, “Little Zhao! You really are still alive! Hahaha! Come on, my little bugs will welcome you! You won’t escape this time! Brother Xiao will see you grovel, hahaha!”

From her vantage point, Wen Zhao looked down at Insect Ruo Ruo. “You damn brat. Your chest is flat, but your mouth sure is big.”

Insect Ruo Ruo froze.

Everyone else who heard the remark was stunned. That was… vicious.

“Ahhh! You’re dead, Wen Zhao! You wretched woman! You’re dead! I’ll kill you! I swear I’ll kill you!” Insect Ruo Ruo screamed, her voice raw with rage. The Insect Tide beneath her stirred restlessly and charged toward the Upper Capital City Base.

Bai Yuan and the others’ expressions darkened.

Wen Zhao glanced at Wang Jie. “Let’s go.”

Wang Jie turned to Zuo Tian.

Zuo Tian took a deep breath. “I’ll say it again—I have no regrets about my choices. The resources had to be used by some first.”

“Spare me the nonsense.” Wang Jie leaped down, landing among the churning tide of insects. Then, without hesitation, he turned and ran.

Wen Zhao followed immediately.

Zuo Tian landed a moment later, trailing behind them.

That was the condition. Otherwise, he could have chosen to run in another direction, avoiding the Insect Tide altogether.

This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation

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