Chapter 59: Ephemeral Dreams

All eyes remained fixed upon Shu Mu Night, his body sprawled across the ground, unmoving. The crimson tide of his blood merged with the dust and gravel around him. Was he dead, or merely unconscious? None could tell.

Atop the sacrificial altar, Wang Jie swayed, a pained smile on his lips. The residual force of his final attack dissipated into the air, and the warm sunlight embraced his weary form—so comforting, so serene.

Within Armor One Sect, silence reigned. They had witnessed the impossible.

Shu Mu Night… had lost.

Even Gu Moon found himself at a loss for words. He had never conceived of such an outcome.

Ting He clutched her mouth, eyes glistening as she gazed at Wang Jie. For the second time, this man had pulled her from darkness into the light, basking in the warmth of the sun. His name… was Wang Jie.

Unnoticed, Xi He arrived, accompanied by a young woman—the same one who had played chess by the waterfall when Wang Jie first displayed the Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger. Even she, calm and composed, could not hide her astonishment as she gazed upon him.

Far beyond, upon the azure sea, Chu Yao stood dumbfounded. On the distant shoreline, Silent, Wen Star Ru, Insect Ruo Ruo, and the others stared in sheer disbelief.

Wang Jie… had won.

None knew how he had done it, but the truth lay before them—Shu Mu Night had fallen at his feet.

Wen Zhao stood motionless, staring at the altar. The figure bathed in sunlight imprinted itself deep within her mind—never to be forgotten.

Then, in an instant, she rushed forward.

Wang Jie closed his eyes. His body collapsed from the altar, crashing through the bodies of the fallen before Bai Yuan desperately reached out, catching him before he tumbled further.

He held onto Wang Jie with all his might, unwilling to let him fall. Yet, at this moment, Wang Jie no longer breathed.

Wen Zhao arrived just in time.

Around them, Hong Sword, Lian Qin, and the others gathered. Bai Yuan was pulled away as they all turned their eyes to Wang Jie.

Meanwhile, Wen Star Ru, Silent, and the others stood over Shu Mu Night’s battered form. Their gazes met in silence, shaken by the sheer brutality of the battle. Shu Mu Night’s entire body was on the verge of collapse, bones shattered beyond recognition.

Then, they looked at Wang Jie.

“Every bone in his body has been broken, over half his blood lost. His Seal Power has completely dissipated, his meridians torn apart, and…” Silent spoke, his tone carrying the weight of finality, “He is dead.”

A tremor passed through them.

Dead?

Wen Zhao knelt beside Wang Jie, grief clouding her eyes.

Older Sister Tang refused to accept it, shouting, “Impossible! He won! How could he die?!”

Insect Xuan sighed. “In the end, he was still no match for Shu Mu Night. He merely borrowed a power beyond himself to forcefully claim victory. Honestly… we respect him for it. But while Shu Mu Night has only lost, he will recover upon returning to Sincere One Dao. Meanwhile—”

He did not finish the sentence. He did not have to.

The outcome was clear.

Wang Jie had traded his life for this victory.

Suddenly, Hong Sword erupted into action, lunging toward Shu Mu Night with intent to kill.

A freezing aura surged forward, blocking his path. Qi Xue Yin stood before him, her gaze indifferent. “What are you doing?”

His voice was low and filled with suppressed rage. “Something you all lack the courage to do.”

Lian Qin stepped forward to support him.

Wen Star Ru spoke coolly, “He cannot be killed.”

Hong Sword snarled, “You all want him dead as much as I do! If we kill him, this trial ends on our terms!”

Insect Ruo Ruo sighed. These “natives” still hadn’t grasped the reality of their situation.

Wen Star Ru’s expression remained neutral. “We only sought to stop him. Have you ever seen him attempt to kill us?”

Hong Sword stiffened, gripping his blade tightly.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuan knelt beside Wang Jie, his sorrow so deep it suffocated him.

This was a trial.

A test for the Starry Sky Cultivators. Nothing more.

They—the people of Blue Star—were merely obstacles, fodder for the slaughter. They could die in the thousands, the tens of thousands, even millions, and no one would care. But these mighty prodigies? Their lives were precious. They could not be allowed to perish.

Just then, Silent moved.

His branch-like sword struck out four times—one blow each to Bai Yuan, Lian Qin, Older Sister Tang, and Hong Sword.

Before the others could react, the four collapsed.

Among them all, Silent stood undeniably as the strongest, second only to Shu Mu Night and Wang Jie.

As the realization set in, Wen Star Ru and the others turned to face him, confused.

He raised his head. “The trial of Armor One Sect is over.”

The trial had two objectives: one, to subjugate Blue Star; two, to conquer the other Trial Participants.

With Wang Jie dead, the strongest of Blue Star was no more. And now, the four strongest beneath him had fallen.

Thus, the second objective was fulfilled.

The trial had ended.

A beam of light descended from the heavens, enveloping Shu Mu Night, lifting him slowly into the sky, carrying him away.

One after another, beams of light rained down upon Silent, Wen Star Ru, and the other Trial Participants. Occasionally, scattered rays descended elsewhere, marking the presence of the few remaining Trial Participants across Blue Star.

As one such light bathed Wen Zhao, she lowered her gaze once more to Wang Jie, her eyes filled with helpless sorrow and regret. “Meeting you… was an honor.”

Nearby, Insect Ruo Ruo regarded Wang Jie’s lifeless form. Even in death, he remained the man she had once despised.

Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, another beam of light fell—not just upon Bai Yuan, but upon Wang Jie.

He… was supposed to be dead.

Wen Star Ru cast his gaze upon Wang Jie’s left arm, his interest piqued by the wrist guard that had withstood the devastating eighty-nine slashes of Shu Muye’s blade. Without a doubt, it was a Star Artifact, the last remaining value this man held.

Yet, just as a glimmer of light seemed to raise him, it vanished in an instant. Wang Jie’s lifeless body plummeted onto the bloodstained sands.

Suspended in the air, Wen Zhao and the others watched in confusion, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.

Far beyond, Chu Yao reclined in his flying vessel, rubbing his eyes with a sigh of resignation. He could not take the corpse away. That mighty brother was dead, truly dead, but even in death, his body still held value—especially to Corpse Sect. However, moments earlier, he had been locked onto, and Armor One Sect had attempted to seize Wang Jie by force.

Fortunately, Corpse Sect had anticipated such a move.

Yet, despite their preparations, even Chu Yao dared not approach Wang Jie’s corpse.

A pity.

He could only take the other two.

As for Armor One Sect… this debt would be settled another day.

At the base of the waterfall within Armor One Sect, tensions ran high.

Wen Si Yuan glared at Gu Moon and Ting He, his voice laden with authority. “What is the meaning of this? Star Dome Vision has never interfered in sect affairs. Do you truly believe you can stand above us?”

Gu Moon sighed and turned his gaze to Ting He.

Ting He, her expression forced into an impassive facade, stepped forward, facing Sect Master Xi He. She bowed deeply, her voice steady. “Sect Master, this has nothing to do with Star Dome Vision. This is my personal request—I beg you to grant Blue Star a chance.”

Xi He studied her with mild amusement. “I recognized you the moment you arrived. I even held you as a child. How are your elders?”

Ting He smiled. “They are well.”

Xi He nodded before his expression darkened. “Why aid Blue Star? Do you understand the cost?”

Ting He pressed her lips together. “I do. But—” Her gaze drifted toward the lake, where the image of Wang Jie’s body lay serenely upon the blood-soaked shore, a peaceful smile frozen on his face. “It is worth it.”

Wen Si Yuan’s voice was solemn. “No one willingly abandons the Source Bridge Surpassing Method. If you wish to aid Blue Star, you must find a way to push it aside, replacing it with another celestial body without hindering the bridge’s construction. Should you fail, you alone will bear the consequences. Furthermore, this man bore a Star Artifact.”

Xi He raised a hand, halting Wen Si Yuan’s words, before addressing Ting He directly. “The native is dead. His secrets perish with him. As for the Star Artifact, your personal plea is sufficient to nullify its claim. However, Elder Wen speaks true—the matter of the Source Bridge Surpassing Method is beyond your capability. The Starry Sky Martial Gathering approaches.”

Ting He bowed once more. “I have already requested my great-grandfather, Ting Can, to emerge from seclusion. He will ensure Blue Star is pushed aside and replaced with another, with no harm to Armor One Sect’s bridge.”

Xi He’s brows lifted in genuine surprise. “Ting Can still lives?”

Wen Si Yuan, too, was shaken by the revelation.

Ting He nodded. “Yes. He has always been here, reminding me to respect the elders of Armor One Sect. I have never dared to forget.”

Xi He and Wen Si Yuan exchanged glances.

Ting He then gave a deep, respectful bow. “I ask only that Armor One Sect grant Blue Star this chance, in honor of Wang Jie, who rid you of Shu Muye.”

Xi He and Wen Si Yuan considered her words before nodding. “Very well. It shall be as you say.”

Ting He exhaled softly, relief washing over her. “Thank you, Sect Master. Thank you, elders. Thank you, senior brothers and sisters.”

As Xi He and the others departed, Gu Moon regarded Ting He with a hint of exasperation. “Why help Blue Star? Do you realize what you’ve given up?”

Ting He silently observed the lake’s projection, her voice tinged with reminiscence. “My clan sent me out to experience the world. The first thing I saw was a mountain of corpses and rivers of blood. He was the one who brought sunlight into that darkness.”

“Not just once.”

“He arrived on sunlight… and was sent away by sunlight.”

“This was his fate.”

“All I can do is ensure he fulfills it, so that my own path of cultivation is not in vain.”

Gu Moon sighed, saying no more. He had intended for Ting He to witness the darkness of the universe through Bridge-Building, to shatter her naivety. She had seen it, true enough, but it had come too fast, too brutally. And yet, in that abyss, a mere native had defied the void and broken through the gloom.

Perhaps this experience would benefit her cultivation in the long run.

Speaking of which… what of the one from the Death Realm?

When Sister Tang, Hong Sword, and the others awoke, all trial participants and Bai Yuan had vanished. Only Wang Jie’s corpse remained.

The Martial Hall’s projection in the sky had disappeared as well.

A decade of The Apocalypse had ended as if it were a fleeting dream.

Meanwhile, Chu Yao had arrived in Upper Capital City, dragging Liu Ying from Four Eyes’ grasp. Another figure accompanied them—Zuo Tian.

Liu Ying struggled, her voice fierce. “I’m not leaving! I will stay on Blue Star!”

Zuo Tian struck her unconscious with a single palm and grinned at Chu Yao.

Chu Yao rolled his eyes. “You’re far too suited for the Death Realm. Let’s go. If we delay any longer, we won’t escape. This time, no one will stop Blue Star from being used for Bridge-Building.”

He smirked. “Say your goodbyes. You’ll never see it again.”

Zuo Tian merely shrugged. “No matter. The stars are my true home.”

Chu Yao shook his head. “Let’s move.”

And thus, peace returned.

At Southern Nation Base, Wang Jie’s body was brought back.

Hong Sword and the others summoned every doctor in the base, unwilling to accept the truth—even as his breath remained absent.

Yet the verdict was undeniable.

Wang Jie was truly dead.

“It’s a miracle he lasted this long. His body was crushed beyond recognition, as though a mountain had fallen upon him.”

Lian Qin dismissed the medics with a wave.

Shortly after, doctors from Golden Hill Base arrived, then those from Upper Capital City. Yet all reached the same conclusion.

Though they had long known Wang Jie’s death was certain, reality was difficult to accept.

Qing Zheng and the others stood in solemn silence beside his body.

Countless people expressed their gratitude for his sacrifice, offering prayers in his memory.

To the outside world, the crisis had ended. But Hong Sword and his comrades knew better. Shu Muye was gone, yet Blue Star was still doomed to be used for Bridge-Building. Their remaining days were numbered.

The most glaring sign? The disappearance of the Martial Hall’s projection.

For ten years, it had been a constant. Now, its absence left them feeling lost.

Old Five spoke at last. “Let’s take Boss back to Golden Hill. That’s where his home is.”

This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation

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