Chapter 38: Bridge Construction
Wen Star Ru proceeded to unveil the universe’s perception of the enigmatic bridge. Though she could not reveal everything, she provided Wang Jie and the others with a glimpse into its mysteries.
It was a bridge without origin or destination, yet those who built it were gifted with unparalleled mastery over Bridging Techniques.
Wang Jie recalled hearing about this from Wen Zhao. Back then, she had said he would only truly understand once he left Blue Star. Now, he finally grasped what she had meant.
“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Bai Yuan questioned.
Wen Star Ru’s gaze deepened. “Defeating Shu Mu Night is not only about aiding your Blue Star. It is also about reclaiming the Bridging Techniques that rightfully belong to Armor One Sect. You cannot fathom their power. Anyone who possesses such mastery is granted direct entry into the sect, bypassing all trials and examinations. Moreover, the strength of one’s Bridging Technique determines their status within the sect.”
She paused momentarily before adding, “And Shu Mu Night will not deny this truth.”
Wang Jie and his group exchanged uneasy glances. This revelation was beyond anything they had imagined.
Originally, this trial had seemed straightforward—the worst outcome being that Blue Star cultivators would become War Slaves, thrown onto the Interstellar Battlefield. Ordinary civilians could still struggle to survive in this apocalyptic world. But now, even that semblance of normalcy was at risk. The Bridge Sacrifice and Stake-Driving Method meant that Blue Star itself had been chosen as the offering.
Wen Star Ru rose to her feet. “I have already gathered the Trial Participants. You need not lift a finger beyond tracking Shu Mu Night’s whereabouts. Whether you believe me or not does not affect our mission.”
She looked at Bai Yuan and continued, “At worst, Armor One Sect would make you War Slaves. Even if we sacrifice Blue Star for the Bridging Techniques, you would be relocated to another world. Your civilization would not be erased. But Shu Mu Night? He cares nothing for any of this—only the Bridging Techniques matter to him.”
Wang Jie frowned. “If this man is only at the Eight Seal level, shouldn’t Armor One Sect be able to deal with him easily? Why send you? Based on what you’ve said, you shouldn’t be able to defeat him either.”
Wen Star Ru turned to Wen Zhao.
Wen Zhao explained, “Because of sect rules. Once a trial begins, it cannot be interrupted under any circumstances. External forces are prohibited from interfering, unless one willingly withdraws from the trial. The sect may save lives, but it will not interfere with the Trial Participants or the native inhabitants.”
Wang Jie’s frown deepened. “Even in such a dire situation?”
“When you step into the universe, you’ll understand,” Wen Star Ru stated. “Tradition holds supreme in the cultivation world. No one dares violate it, for it is the accumulated wisdom of ancient powerhouses, refined over countless generations into the most rational system.”
Of course, there were other reasons she did not elaborate on—such as the Star-Guardian People.
Regardless of whether Wen Star Ru was telling the truth, they had to locate Shu Mu Night. At the very least, he was a Trial Participant—which made him an enemy of Blue Star.
Wang Jie pressed Wen Zhao for more details about Shu Mu Night, but she knew nothing. However, she did know that Wen Star Ru had no need to partake in trials—she had already participated once and achieved an Armor-Level Rating.
More Trial Participants began arriving from various bases.
Wen Star Ru demanded Bai Yuan release the captured Trial Participants, but he refused. Trusting her outright was out of the question—who was to say she wasn’t deceiving them?
But Wang Jie suspected she was telling the truth.
Insect Ruo Ruo had mentioned that man before. His strength was terrifying.
And Wen Star Ru had no reason to undertake another trial.
The Trial Participants obediently waited outside the base, including Wen Star Ru herself.
Qi Five and Yun Lai soon returned.
“Wen Star Ru?” Yun Lai exclaimed in surprise. “That signal—it was you? But you’ve already undergone the trial, haven’t you?”
Wen Star Ru glanced at him. “You lost with dignity.”
Yun Lai’s expression darkened, and he shot a glare toward the Upper Capital City Base. “What’s going on? Why was the trial interrupted? And why aren’t you going inside? Bai Yuan and Wang Jie can’t possibly stop you.”
Wen Star Ru exhaled. “Prepare yourselves. Sincere One Dao has infiltrated.”
Yun Lai was visibly shocked. “Sincere One Dao? Who? Why would they infiltrate this trial?”
“Shu Mu Night.”
Yun Lai froze, as if he had misheard. “Who?”
Qi Five also looked dumbfounded. “Who?”
Wen Star Ru answered calmly, “Shu Mu Night.”
“That’s impossible,” Yun Lai and Qi Five blurted in unison, their faces filled with disbelief. This was nothing short of absurd.
Inside the Upper Capital City Base, Wang Jie received an unexpected visitor—Bai Xiao, Bai Yuan’s daughter.
“Thank you for saving my father,” Bai Xiao said, bowing deeply in gratitude.
Wang Jie waved it off indifferently. “It was nothing.”
Behind him, Old Five and the others stared at Bai Xiao with awe. She was renowned as the most beautiful woman in Upper Capital City, and her reputation was not only due to her strength and noble background but also her breathtaking beauty.
A beauty that even other women admired.
Wang Jie, too, was struck by her allure—but after seeing Wen Zhao, he had built some resistance.
Bai Xiao’s bright eyes fixed on him as she smiled. “Do you have time? I’d like to treat you to a meal as thanks.”
Wang Jie replied, “No need. Just forget it.”
“Boss,” Qing Zheng leaned in, whispering, “This is basically a confession, Boss. You love collecting marriage proposals, but now that a stunning beauty is confessing to you, you’re rejecting her?”
Wang Jie sighed. “First, this is not a confession. Second, never bring up the marriage proposal letters again.”
Bai Xiao blinked. “Marriage proposals?”
Old Five stepped forward with a grin. “Lady Bai Xiao, our boss gladly accepts your invitation. When and where shall we meet?”
Bai Xiao smiled, gave them the details, and then departed.
Old Five turned to Wang Jie and winked triumphantly. “Boss, it’s settled.”
Wang Jie sighed helplessly. “With a great enemy at our doorstep, you still have time for this nonsense?”
Qing Zheng chuckled. “Precisely because of the looming threat, we must ensure your lineage endures. Think about it, the more Blue Star people we have, the greater our chances of survival. If we are all taken as war slaves and perish on the Interstellar Battlefield, or worse, become sacrifices on a blood altar, even if one person survives, even if it’s only a child, it is still a victory.”
“I’m only eighteen. You’re all overthinking it,” Wang Jie retorted, turning back toward his chambers.
A few more days remained until the next Beginner’s Calisthenics, but the depletion of Cataclysm Materials had become an issue. The stock Bai Yuan and his people had provided was exhausted, and the short time left was insufficient to gather enough materials to enhance his power. As for breaking through the Nine-Seal Lockforce, it seemed unattainable for now.
It was time to gather more.
The next day, a large shipment of Cataclysm Materials arrived.
Wang Jie frowned. “What’s this?”
Qing Zheng waved a hand. “Take it, use it.”
“Yours?”
“My father’s. He sent it for you.”
Wang Jie nodded. “Much appreciated.”
The Leading Pillar Group was as wealthy as the Five Great Bases, and the materials they provided were plentiful. It should be enough for him to undergo another session of Beginner’s Calisthenics.
“There’s more coming. Use as much as you need, Boss.”
“Doesn’t the Leading Pillar Group need it?”
“My father says we must learn to invest. Right now, there are only two people worth investing in on Blue Star. One is Bai Yuan—he has the Upper Capital City Base behind him, so he lacks no resources. That leaves you, Boss.”
Wang Jie smirked and moved all the materials into his room.
Two days passed. By his estimate, Beginner’s Calisthenics would take place either tomorrow or the day after. The exact timing remained uncertain due to fluctuations in duration.
Meanwhile, another formidable warrior from Armor One Sect had arrived—Qi Xue Yin, the eldest daughter of the Galaxy Combat Equipment Company.
Upon arrival, she didn’t enter the base but instead stayed close to Wen Star Ru.
At last, Shu Mu Night’s whereabouts had been discovered.
For days, the majority of the Five Great Bases’ cultivators had been searching for him. They had deployed drones, many had perished, but finally, they pinpointed his location—Mountain City.
However, in this post-apocalyptic era, Mountain City was long overrun by Mutated Beasts. Finding him would not be easy.
Wang Jie, Bai Yuan, and their team boarded a Flying Vessel, heading for Mountain City.
From all corners of Hua Xia, other Flying Vessels carrying Trial Participants took off simultaneously.
By the time Wang Jie and his team arrived, the forces of Heavenly Prefecture Base were already present. They had brought a Ten-Seal Trial Participant who, upon seeing Wen Star Ru, immediately bowed in respect.
Meanwhile, Wen Star Ru and her group had their eyes fixed on a distant figure in the sky.
The man stood there, suspended above the earth.
Wang Jie’s pupils contracted.
Eight-Seal Lockforce. The sensation was unmistakable.
But how? How could he stand in midair?
Even with advanced footwork techniques, Wang Jie could only maneuver momentarily at high altitudes; maintaining suspension was impossible.
And yet, that man stood there as if the heavens themselves bore his weight.
“How is he flying?” Older Sister Tang gasped.
Wen Star Ru spoke solemnly. “For Shu Mu Night, nothing within the Ten-Seal Lockforce is impossible.”
Wang Jie turned to her. “There are limits to human capability. But you speak as if he has no boundaries. How much do you really know about him?”
Silence.
No one answered.
It was clear Wen Star Ru and her companions did not wish to elaborate.
Wang Jie turned to Yun Lai, eyes gleaming with disdain. “Seems like you don’t know either.”
Yun Lai’s face darkened. “I don’t know? He—”
“Silence.” Wen Star Ru cut him off sharply.
Yun Lai clenched his teeth and held back his words.
Nearby, Qi Xue Yin observed Wang Jie, then turned her gaze to the distance. Unlike Wen Star Ru and Wen Zhao, her attire was distinctly more advanced, featuring technological enhancements, and her face bore a Battle Power Detector.
Another Flying Vessel arrived, carrying a peculiar individual.
A bald, short-statured youth, barely over a meter tall, resembling a child. He held a—sword?
Wang Jie scrutinized the weapon. It was called a sword, yet it seemed as though it had been crudely carved from a tree branch. The carving was incomplete, the blade’s edge still adorned with extending twigs. He had never seen such a bizarre weapon before.
And why was a child here?
The moment this youth appeared, Wen Star Ru and the others stiffened and moved to greet him.
“We greet Senior Brother Silent,” Wen Star Ru said, bowing.
Yun Lai and Wen Zhao immediately followed suit, their actions indicating familiarity.
Qi Xue Yin also stepped forward. “Xue Yin greets Lord Silent.”
Though many Trial Participants had never met him before, they followed suit and bowed as well.
Only the cultivators from Blue Star remained motionless.
The bald youth lifted his head, his gaze dull and lifeless as he scanned the group. But when his eyes landed on Shu Mu Night, a spark of light flickered within them. He stepped forward, brushing past the gathered warriors, heading directly toward the distant figure.
Wen Star Ru quickly intercepted him. “Senior Brother Silent, please wait. Insect Xuan has yet to arrive. We should wait for him before taking action.”
The bald youth gave no response and continued forward, one step at a time.
Wang Jie turned to Wen Zhao.
Wen Zhao lowered her voice. “His name is Silent. He hails from the Three Zen Heavens. That sect is on par with our Armor One Sect. I never expected the sect to invite him. He reached the Ten-Seal Lockforce pinnacle years ago, yet has never broken through.”
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow. “How old is he?”
Wen Zhao shook her head. “In the vastness of the universe, battle prowess is not determined by age. Remember, some are born with strength exceeding the Star-Breaking Realm.”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation