Chapter 43: A Single Battle
In the distance, Wen Star Ru and the other trial participants remained silent, their expressions frozen in shock. The strength Wang Jie had displayed was beyond their comprehension.
This power… it defied all reason.
Anyone with even the slightest understanding of the universe knew what it meant to push back Shu Mu Night, a warrior who had undergone the Third Transformation. The moment word of this battle spread, it would dominate the headlines on Star Dome Vision, becoming a legend that countless people and factions across the cosmos would discuss in awe.
And what was even more astonishing—Shu Mu Night actually sought to take Wang Jie away with him.
If Wang Jie agreed, he would be envied by all. This was a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step.
Yun Lai glared at Wang Jie with deep resentment. How could a mere native be so lucky as to catch Shu Mu Night’s attention? It was maddening!
Wang Jie glanced down at his own hands, now covered in blood. His fingers trembled as he realized just how much he had pushed himself—his arms were completely spent. But the sheer effort he had exerted only served to reinforce the terrifying strength of his opponent.
[If it weren’t for the Wrist Guard I obtained from the fields, which allowed me to enhance my strength through those exercises, I wouldn’t have lasted even a single move against this man. I would’ve been no different from those other so-called prodigies.]
Taking a deep breath, Wang Jie asked, “If I go with you, will you spare Blue Star?”
Shu Mu Night smiled faintly. “If this was merely about Bloodline Bridge Surpassing, I could consider it. But what I seek is the Source Bridge Surpassing method. You are not worth such a sacrifice.”
Wang Jie sighed. “Then it seems we can only fight to the death.”
Shu Mu Night tilted his head, intrigued. “It is merely an ordinary planet. When you set your sights upon the greater universe, you will realize how insignificant it truly is. To throw your life away for something so trivial—it is not worth it.”
He swept his gaze over the other trial participants. “Ask them. The honor of following me, Shu Mu Night, is an unparalleled opportunity.”
“If I offered them the chance, ask if they would refuse.”
A heavy silence followed. Of course, they would accept. Even Wen Star Ru, a member of the Wen Family, held no certainty in rejecting such an offer.
“No.”
A quiet yet firm voice broke the silence—Silent.
Wang Jie reacted without hesitation, pointing his finger towards Shu Mu Night. A Spiral Qi Force shot through the air, but Shu Mu Night merely flicked his hand, effortlessly dispersing the attack.
Just then, darkness surged from the sky—a massive swarm of mutated insects descended upon Shu Mu Night.
At the same time, from beneath the ground, countless mutated ants erupted forth, their chittering sounds sending chills down spines.
Shu Mu Night turned his left palm, unleashing a crushing force that made the earth cave in, the cracks extending outward in a terrifying chain reaction. A violent energy surged from the ground, splitting open the sky.
Wang Jie retreated rapidly.
Around him, countless insects swarmed past, surging forward.
Insect Xuan arrived. “Surround and kill him!”
Insect Ruo Ruo leaped into action, directing the tide of creatures.
From every direction, an endless Insect Tide surged forth, bearing down upon Shu Mu Night like an unrelenting flood.
Old Nine appeared beside Wang Jie, lifting him onto his back. “I’ve got you—”
“No need,” Wang Jie said, shaking his head. “My arms are just exhausted, that’s all.”
Qing Zheng grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. “Boss, you’re incredible.”
Old Five let out an amazed sigh. “I always knew you were strong, but I never expected you to be this strong. Even those aliens are in shock.”
But Wang Jie didn’t share their optimism. His eyes remained locked on Shu Mu Night, who stood amid the swarm of insects.
[Only those who have fought him understand how terrifying he truly is. Can this insect tide actually wear down his Star Force?]
A thunderous explosion shattered the air. The very fabric of space twisted before rupturing. Shu Mu Night emerged from the sea of insect corpses, unscathed. Ignoring Insect Xuan and the others, he fixed his gaze on Wang Jie.
He raised his hand and flicked something toward him—a severed insect leg.
Wang Jie shoved Old Nine aside just in time. The sharp appendage whizzed past his throat, grazing it, leaving behind a thin line of blood before vanishing into the distance.
This man wanted him dead.
Shu Mu Night had developed true killing intent toward Wang Jie.
As he prepared to strike once more, Silent unleashed a sword strike, the combined forces of Seal Power and Star Force surging to their peak. The attack forced Shu Mu Night’s attention away from Wang Jie.
At the same moment, the sky darkened, and snow began to fall—Qi Xue Yin, Wen Star Ru, and others had joined the fray.
“Take me away from here,” Wang Jie muttered. He was not suicidal—he could still absorb Cataclysm Materials to grow stronger, continue breaking through his limits. There was no need to die here.
But in the blink of an eye, Shu Mu Night vanished.
He had avoided every attack.
Wang Jie’s pupils shrank. He shoved Old Nine and the others away before executing Armor Eight Steps.
The moment he stepped forward, Shu Mu Night appeared at his original position, a flickering shadow. The air itself split apart in layers, as if it had been cleanly sliced.
A cold sweat broke out over Wang Jie’s entire body. Had he not moved in time, he would have been dead.
Shu Mu Night raised an eyebrow. “Such keen intuition—you actually evaded it.”
Wang Jie snapped his fingers.
From above the clouds, a devastating force descended. The ground trembled as another force surged skyward.
Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger.
Shu Mu Night looked down, then up again, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. “This is… the long-lost technique of Armor One Sect?” He turned his gaze back to Wang Jie. “Did you obtain this from the Martial Hall’s Phantom?”
Wang Jie’s body was drenched in sweat. Never before had he executed this technique so quickly. But he had to. He needed to prevent Shu Mu Night from launching a second attack.
Because if there was a second strike—he might not be able to dodge it.
Shu Mu Night chuckled. “Now it is even more worthwhile to kill you.”
Raising his hand, his five fingers curled slightly. A severed insect limb, now honed to the sharpness of a blade, materialized in his grip.
With a single slash toward the sky—
The heavens flowed like water, formless and traceless.
A single stroke, like a river’s current, severed the Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger in two.
At the same time, countless blade-like arcs rained down, wiping out swaths of insects. Silent, Wen Star Ru, and the others found themselves within the attack’s radius. Snowflakes froze midair, forming mountains—only to be crushed to dust.
Only Silent’s sword strike persisted, continuing its path toward Shu Mu Night.
Unfazed, Shu Mu Night swung his blade again.
A second slash descended.
Not only did he shatter Silent’s sword strike, but he also left three deep, bone-revealing wounds on him, sending him flying through the air.
“Myriad Insects Overturning the Sea!” Insect Xuan bellowed.
From all around, the vast Insect Tide condensed into an enormous, intangible hand, crashing down upon Shu Mu Night.
Shu Mu Night unleashed his third slash—
It tore through the Insect Tide, wounding Insect Xuan.
Then came the fourth slash—
Aimed at Wang Jie.
Even though Wang Jie had fled far away with the aid of Old Nine and the others, it was as if Shu Mu Night had marked him for death.
Suddenly, the fourth slash never fell.
Shu Mu Night spun sharply, his expression shifting for the first time, filled with solemnity. “Death Realm.”
Wang Jie had no idea what was happening, only that Shu Mu Night’s attack had ceased, and he was now being carried away on the back of a colossal flying insect, soaring into the distance.
“Hey, I just saved your life. How do you plan on repaying me?” came the voice of Insect Ruo Ruo from up ahead.
Beside Wang Jie were Old Five, Old Nine, and Qing Zheng, while Insect Ruo Ruo flew alongside Wen Zhao.
“Many thanks.”
Insect Ruo Ruo pouted. “Just ‘many thanks’?!”
Wen Zhao interjected, “Your brother was the one who told you to save him, not you yourself. Don’t make a fuss.”
Insect Ruo Ruo bared her teeth. “Still, I did the work! What, do you expect me to help for free?”
Wang Jie said nothing, only gazing back at the distant Heavenly Prefecture Base, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
“Boss, you did your best,” Qing Zheng said helplessly.
Old Five and Old Nine remained silent.
Even with all of Blue Star’s strongest cultivators gathered and the might of the Insect Tide, they had still been utterly crushed. Could a being like Shu Mu Night even be considered human? With their retreat, Heavenly Prefecture Base was as good as lost.
But they had truly done everything they could.
Wang Jie pressed his hands against the insect’s back, trying to stand, only to nearly collapse from exhaustion.
Old Five hurriedly supported him. “Boss, what are you trying to do?”
With Old Nine’s help, Wang Jie moved to stand behind Insect Ruo Ruo, lowering his head in a deep bow. “Thank you.”
The others looked at him strangely.
Even Wen Zhao studied Wang Jie in surprise.
Insect Ruo Ruo, looking flustered, awkwardly turned her head away. “Go back, go back! Stop trying to be sentimental. You still owe me.”
Wang Jie met her gaze seriously. “I will repay you. But can you do me one more favor?”
Insect Ruo Ruo raised an eyebrow. “What else do you need?”
Wang Jie looked down at the earth below. “I need Cataclysm Materials, as much as possible.”
Insect Ruo Ruo sighed. “It’s useless. Even if you break through to Nine Seals, even Ten Seals, you still won’t be able to defeat Shu Mu Night. You have no idea what kind of monster he is—someone who steps into invincibility over and over again.”
Wang Jie’s voice grew low. “Even so, I must take the risk. I am confident I can at least cripple most of his combat power. Your brother came here because of Armor One Sect, didn’t he? If I can take down Shu Mu Night, it will help you complete your mission. Your brother will benefit, and so will you.”
“Trust me.”
Insect Ruo Ruo studied Wang Jie. Normally, she wouldn’t believe anyone—not even Silent, the esteemed expert. But recalling how Wang Jie had fought Shu Mu Night, how he had continuously evolved even as she pursued him for days, she hesitated.
Wen Zhao added, “Help him. You won’t regret it.”
Insect Ruo Ruo pursed her lips, glaring at Wen Zhao before shifting her gaze back to Wang Jie. “What exactly is your relationship?”
Qing Zheng was speechless. “Seriously, Big Sister? You’re asking that now?”
Insect Ruo Ruo huffed again and fell silent.
Wang Jie was about to say more, but Wen Zhao cut him off with a nod. The others understood immediately—this proud girl had already agreed; she just wouldn’t admit it aloud.
The flying insect shifted course, heading south, where the Insect Tide was denser.
If they wanted to gather as many Cataclysm Materials as possible, they had no choice but to rely on the Insect Tide.
That was why Wang Jie had asked for Insect Ruo Ruo’s help.
As they departed, the battle at Heavenly Prefecture Base came to an end.
Shu Mu Night stood amidst the aftermath, scanning the surroundings. “I didn’t expect a Corpse Sect Hundred Coffins member to have slipped in. Armor One Sect is truly incompetent.”
“If the Corpse Sect builds a bridge, things will get interesting.”
“I can deal with them for you, but remember—we owe each other nothing.”
Across the vast starry sky, atop a great waterfall, the stars revolved as figures from Armor One Sect gathered, gazing silently into a massive lake.
Nearby, numerous disciples knelt, not daring to make a sound.
“Greetings, Sect Master.”
“We pay respects to the Sect Master.”
The newcomer was an elder with crane-white hair but the complexion of a child. His face was calm, unassuming, yet no one dared to underestimate him.
He was Xi He, the current Sect Master of Armor One Sect.
“How is the situation?”
“Not good. Wen Star Ru and the others allied with the Insect Tide and the natives, yet still couldn’t stop Shu Mu Night. Worse yet…” The speaking elder hesitated. “Someone from the Death Realm appeared.”
“Shu Mu Night claimed they were one of the Corpse Sect’s Hundred Coffins.”
Xi He gazed at the lake. “Which one?”
“Unknown.”
The lake’s surface reflected dozens of images, showing the conditions of each Trial Participant, including Insect Ruo Ruo and Wen Zhao.
In the projections, Insect Xuan led the Insect Tide in retreat.
Wen Star Ru, Silent, and the others were carried away by insects, fleeing.
The remaining Trial Participants had scattered. Nearly half of Heavenly Prefecture Base’s defenders had perished, while the rest fled with the Insect Tide. Across Blue Star, in the oceans and glaciers, Trial Participants were still visible.
None were missing.
And yet, the Corpse Sect infiltrator remained undetected.
“The Corpse Sect’s Hundred Coffins seal cultivators of various realms within them, keeping their identities hidden so they can infiltrate major forces. I never thought one would appear in our Armor One Sect Trial.”
“Could Shu Mu Night have lied to prevent us from retaliating against Sincere One Dao after building the bridge?”
“It’s possible. But if a Hundred Coffins member truly infiltrated us and builds a bridge, the damage to our sect’s reputation will be far worse than if Shu Mu Night succeeds.”
Xi He looked downward. After a moment, he spoke.
“Issue the decree—release a hundred Slaughter Stones, and recall all Trial Participants immediately.”
The elders bowed. “As you command.”
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