Chapter 44: The Challenge
On Blue Star, Chu Yao lay sprawled atop a colossal insect, as if lifeless. After a long while, he finally lifted his head, rubbing his temples with a wry grimace. “Damn, that was brutal, Shu Mu Night.”
He glanced around, taking in his surroundings before slowly sitting up and exhaling deeply. “Where is he? That Blue Star native actually held his ground against Shu Mu Night. Forget about Bridge-Building, but if we bring him back to Corpse Sect, things could get interesting. Star Dome Vision would also love to get their hands on him. Heh.” With a sinister chuckle, he rolled off the insect’s back and let the Insect Tide wash over him as he strode southward.
After a few steps, he halted abruptly, tilting his head skyward to gaze at the Martial Hall’s projection.
“I refuse.”
At the same moment, atop a flying insect, Wen Zhao spoke: “I refuse.”
A third voice followed, clear and resolute: Insect Ruo Ruo. “I refuse.”
Wang Jie and the others turned, bewildered. “Who spoke? Refuse what?”
Wen Zhao met their puzzled stares. “The sect has ordered us to withdraw. This trial is over for us.”
Wang Jie’s expression darkened. “Is Armor One Sect making a direct move against Shu Mu Night?”
Wen Zhao shook her head. “The trial has ended—for us. But the trial itself continues. It cannot be stopped.”
Insect Ruo Ruo added, “Which means we leave. The rest of this trial is now up to you Blue Star natives, Shu Mu Night, and—most importantly—the mutated creatures.”
Qing Zheng frowned. “What do you mean?”
Wen Zhao raised her gaze.
High above, streaks of fire split the sky, descending like meteors toward Hua Xia.
Wang Jie narrowed his eyes. “More trial participants?”
His voice grew heavy. “No… those are Heaven Stones.”
His face turned grim. In 2200, when the Heaven Stones first fell, they annihilated Blue Star’s thermal weaponry and manufacturing infrastructure, forcing humanity into the era of cultivation. He had witnessed that catastrophic event before—he could never forget it. And now, it was happening again.
But this time, there were far more.
One after another, the Heaven Stones rained down, impacting the land like fiery meteors.
Insect Ruo Ruo hastily maneuvered her insect away as one crashed nearby, sending a tremendous shockwave that overturned the earth.
Wang Jie turned sharply to Wen Zhao. “What is Armor One Sect trying to do?”
Wen Zhao’s expression was solemn. “They want to forcibly elevate the power of Blue Star’s mutated creatures and use them to fight Shu Mu Night.”
A chill ran through Wang Jie’s spine. He looked up. Armor One Sect had completely abandoned any concern for Blue Star’s survival.
This trial had turned into hell.
Humans had failed to stop Shu Mu Night, so the sect placed all its hopes on mutated creatures.
With so many Heaven Stones falling, Seal Power would surge to unprecedented levels. In a short time, an unthinkable number of Ten-Seal Mutants would emerge. Forget about the bases—could Blue Star itself even withstand such a catastrophe?
This was mutual destruction.
Perhaps Shu Mu Night wouldn’t be able to build his bridge, but Armor One Sect would certainly lose their opportunity as well.
Yet in this brutal game of power, the ones who suffered the most were always Blue Star’s people.
They would be the first to fall, torn apart by the claws of the mutated beasts.
“Savages.” Old Nine gritted his teeth.
Qing Zheng stood, shaking with rage. He raised a fist toward the sky. “Armor One Sect, you heartless beasts! You care nothing for the lives of Blue Star’s people! May you suffer a thousand deaths!”
Insect Ruo Ruo and Wen Zhao remained silent. The truth was undeniable.
Blue Star was about to become a true hell. How many would survive?
Wang Jie’s gaze darkened. “Why haven’t you left?”
Wen Zhao herself didn’t know. She had refused on instinct.
Insect Ruo Ruo answered, “I’m waiting for my brother. I know him—he won’t leave.”
“Insect Ruo Ruo.”
She turned to Wang Jie.
“I need a favor. Help me.”
She exchanged glances with Wen Zhao, then bit her lip. “Alright.”
Many trial participants had already left. Yun Lai, for one, had fled without hesitation. But many had stayed. Wen Star Ru and the others—not a single one of them had left.
Meanwhile, Bai Yuan stood alongside Qi Xue Yin and Qi Five.
Qi Five’s face was mournful. “Young Miss, why can’t I leave?”
Qi Xue Yin’s voice was cold. “If you leave, who will serve me?”
Qi Five sighed. “Then you should leave too! Shu Mu Night isn’t someone we can fight!”
Qi Xue Yin looked toward the Heavenly Prefecture Base. “An Eight-Seal cultivator—no matter how powerful—has a limit. I refuse to believe he has none.” She turned to Qi Five. “Besides, this trial has reached its highest level. Anyone who survives will return with top-tier accolades. Doesn’t that tempt you?”
“Life is more important.”
Bai Yuan’s expression was grim. “The Seal Power is rising. And fast.”
Qi Five stole a glance at Bai Yuan, sighing. “This planet is doomed. It was chosen as a trial ground, then a Bridge-Building site, and now Shu Mu Night has arrived. It would be a miracle if Blue Star survives.”
Qi Xue Yin smirked as she gazed skyward. Top-tier accolades. Shu Mu Night didn’t matter. What mattered was that this trial had escalated to the highest level, ensuring the attention of Star Dome Vision.
A legendary Bridge-Building, a monstrous native with unfathomable power, whispers of the Death Realm—anyone who survived this ordeal would become famous.
And in business, nothing was more important than reputation.
Good or bad—it didn’t matter. As long as the name spread, fortune would follow.
Because at her core—Qi Xue Yin was a merchant above all else.
This might just be a grand spectacle watched by countless beings across the universe.
At Heavenly Prefecture Base, Shu Mu Night failed to locate any presence of the Death Realm. In silent contemplation, he once again elevated the base, directing it towards Mountain City.
The next day, Wang Jie and his group arrived at Golden Hill Base.
At that moment, Insect Ruo Ruo had begun gathering the Insect Tide around the outskirts of Golden Hill Base. Previously, Insect Xuan had already amassed the Insect Tide between Golden Hill Base and Heavenly Prefecture Base, leaving little remaining.
Upon reaching Golden Hill Base, an eerie silence loomed. When they learned the reason, they were struck speechless.
The Mountain City Sacrificial Altar had reached a height of three hundred meters.
Beyond the hundred-meter mark, it was composed entirely of human corpses, stacked upon one another.
The stench of blood soared into the heavens.
Millions had perished, and Heavenly Prefecture Base had been utterly annihilated.
And this harrowing scene was recorded by Shu Mu Night and transmitted to the Five Great Bases, declaring that Blue Star was doomed to become a sacrificial offering.
Despair permeated all who bore witness.
The base lost its former vitality.
Cultivation became meaningless. All that awaited them was death.
Wang Jie stared at the screen displaying the mountain of corpses—adults and children alike. People who had been alive just yesterday were now nothing more than lifeless husks, all to satisfy the ambitions of one man—Shu Mu Night.
Seated atop the sacrificial altar, Shu Mu Night gazed eastward, lost in inscrutable thought.
No one could muster even the energy for anger. Only silence remained. A silence so profound that words felt meaningless.
Even the Trial Participants, who saw Blue Star Natives as insignificant, felt disturbed at the sight.
Insect Ruo Ruo’s face was as pale as paper.
Beneath her veil, Wen Zhao’s complexion had lost all color.
Beyond that, the Heaven Stones continued to fall, their Seal Power accelerating the evolution of Mutated Beasts. The Safe Zone of Golden Hill Base had begun to shrink, as waves of these creatures advanced upon them.
Not just Golden Hill Base, but all bases were suffering the same fate.
The people of Blue Star faced an unprecedented calamity.
Doom had arrived.
Humanity had become the lowest rung of Blue Star’s hierarchy.
Without a word, Wang Jie stepped out of Golden Hill Base and charged into the Danger Zone. Old Five and the others followed closely behind.
Insect Ruo Ruo commanded the Insect Tide to assist in two ways: exterminating Mutated Beasts and collecting Cataclysm Materials.
For the Trial Participants, these materials had lost all meaning. The Trial was over. The Cataclysm Materials could be used to enhance Seal Power, but what use was that when they sought to expel it from their bodies to return to their sects? The moment the Trial lost its significance, the materials became worthless.
But Wang Jie still needed them. As many as possible.
Under the moonlight, he fought alone, unburdened by any companions, for it was simply more efficient that way.
The others also hunted Mutated Beasts, gathering materials for him.
For two whole days, he slaughtered countless Mutated Plants. On the third day, he began his Beginner’s Calisthenics.
Sixty-three times.
His strength had increased, but only slightly. He was reaching his limit.
Wang Jie longed to break into Nine Seals, but deep inside, he felt it wasn’t enough. Shu Mu Night stood at the true pinnacle. Even with Eight Seals, his strength was unmatched. If Wang Jie broke into Nine Seals, he might stand a chance against him. But what if Shu Mu Night also advanced to Nine Seals? The outcome would remain unchanged.
If Shu Mu Night could reach the limit, why couldn’t he?
He needed more power.
He needed to reach the true limit.
At Golden Hill Base, another transmission came through.
This time, it was Bai Yuan.
In the footage, Bai Yuan knelt before the entire world.
Everyone who saw this scene was shaken to their core.
From the second floor, Wang Jie gazed at the distant screen.
“I, Bai Yuan, humbly kneel before all the remaining Trial Participants, pleading for one more chance.”
“We are willing to slaughter Mutated Beasts and collect Cataclysm Materials for you.”
“We are willing to serve you in any way.”
“All we ask is for one more chance to fight against Shu Mu Night. Please, we beg you.”
With each plea, Bai Yuan slammed his head against the ground, his voice resounding in every ear.
Across the Four Great Bases, countless people watched, their despair etched deep into their bones. The desperation, the unwillingness to succumb, and the sheer defiance in Bai Yuan’s voice slowly ignited something within them.
“We may be destined for sacrifice, but even if our chances are one in a billion, we must still try.”
“All Blue Star Humans, hear me.”
“I have not given up, and neither should you.”
“We have faced despair before—ten years ago, we suffered the same fate. Yet, we survived until now.”
As he spoke, another scene appeared on the screen.
It was footage of Wang Jie and Shu Mu Night’s battle outside Heavenly Prefecture Base.
Wang Jie was stunned.
They recorded this?
The one who filmed this had been positioned within Heavenly Prefecture Base, viewing the battle from a different angle than Bai Yuan’s group. Even so, the impact remained the same.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
“He is Wang Jie. Many of you may recognize him. He is one of us, a Blue Star Human.”
“He stood against a force even Trial Participants could not match.”
“If that is the case, why not give him time to grow? If he can defeat Shu Mu Night, then we must survive to see that day. What use is his victory if Blue Star is already dead? What a tragedy that would be.”
“We have a chance.”
At Golden Hill Base, Gray Claw pointed at the screen, his voice trembling with excitement. “Wild Grass! That’s Wild Grass! I know him!”
“It’s him! He’s that strong?!”
“Remember that giant finger outside the base? That was his Combat Technique!”
“We have a chance! We are not without hope!”
Feng Yu, Liang Dong, Big Beard, and many others shouted in unison, “We are not without hope! Defend the base! Protect ourselves!”
“We have a chance!”
“Child, we will not die. Mother will protect you.”
“We will fight!”
“We will survive!”
As Golden Hill Base erupted with newfound determination, countless were inspired by Bai Yuan’s speech, rekindling the fire of resistance.
And Wang Jie smiled.
He had appeared so powerless in that battle against Shu Mu Night. Yet, in the eyes of others, his struggle had been awe-inspiring.
Looking at it from that angle… he actually looked pretty cool.
“Qing Zheng.”
“Boss.”
“Record this for me too. I will challenge Shu Mu Night.”
Qing Zheng clenched his fist in excitement. “Got it!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation