Chapter 90: The Master Bears the Burden
Wang Jie thought Mad Thunder had lost its mind. Was this not tantamount to seeking death? Did it truly believe the Eight Prison Realms could protect it? There was a chance they would be the first to strike it down.
As the battle raged on, Wang Jie found himself miraculously untouched by the chaos.
The Berserk Clan’s creatures tried to capture him, but their attempts were in vain.
Unless a Full Star Realm cultivator personally intervened, these ordinary Star-Breaking Realm warriors could do little to threaten him.
At that moment, Wang Jie hid within the ruins of Green Mountain City, surrounded by numerous hostile beings. It was only a matter of time before they found him.
The battle had only just begun when alarming news spread—
The Fourth Defensive Line had fallen.
Too fast.
Without Mad Thunder, the defenses crumbled against Frost Splendor Sect’s assault.
Enraged by the news, Mad Thunder launched a relentless attack on Jiang You Sheng, swinging its warhammer and shattering nearby stars. Countless fragmented peaks hurtled toward Green Square Star, raining devastation upon the land. The world trembled on the brink of ruin.
Puppeteer Tower never stood a chance against Mad Thunder’s wrath.
Though Jiang You Sheng could match Mad Thunder in strength, the horde of elite warriors from the Fourth Defensive Line overwhelmed the Puppeteer Tower, swiftly scouring the ruins until they finally found Wang Jie.
Encircled by hostile creatures, some of them at the Star-Breaking Realm, Wang Jie suddenly shouted, “I am a Celestial Refinement Master! No matter my crimes, taking me as a prisoner will absolve them, is that not right, Mad Thunder?”
Mad Thunder cast him a glance from afar. Hadn’t this fool already said that before? Why repeat it now?
But Wang Jie wasn’t speaking to Mad Thunder.
He was speaking to Xia Bei Yi.
Xia Bei Yi was still lurking somewhere within the Green Square Star Cluster.
If he wanted to avoid capture by the Berserk Clan, Jiang You Sheng alone wouldn’t be enough.
As the surrounding creatures closed in, Wang Jie resigned himself. He had no intention of fighting to the death.
Then, blinding white streams of energy erupted from the ground, morphing into towering ice pillars that pierced the heavens.
Xia Bei Yi had made his move.
Mad Thunder and Jiang You Sheng’s expressions darkened as they turned toward the source of the attack.
Arrows whistled through the sky, accompanied by the cry of a hundred birds.
Wang Jie let out a sigh of relief.
“Jiang You Sheng, deal with the real enemy first.”
Jiang You Sheng’s eyes flickered. If Wang Jie were taken to the Eight Prison Realms, there might still be hope of retrieving him. But if the Frost Splendor Sect got their hands on him, he would be lost forever.
With that realization, he struck in tandem with Mad Thunder.
However, Xia Bei Yi had taken Wang Jie by surprise, already standing at his side.
“Brother!” Wang Jie feigned an emotional outburst.
Xia Bei Yi had half a mind to slap this fool to death. But a Celestial Refinement Master was too valuable to kill outright. He only muttered, “If you don’t want to die, come with me.”
“I absolutely don’t want to die.”
“Let go of the master!” Mad Thunder and Jiang You Sheng attacked at once.
Xia Bei Yi sneered and charged forward with Wang Jie in tow.
Mad Thunder gasped and immediately pulled back. Jiang You Sheng instinctively moved to stop Mad Thunder, fearing the brute might accidentally strike Wang Jie down.
“Go on then!” Xia Bei Yi laughed. “Make your move. Let’s see who dies first—him or me.”
Wang Jie realized Xia Bei Yi wasn’t a fool. He was stalling for time.
The Fourth Defensive Line had already fallen, and Frost Splendor Sect was closing in. The Berserk Clan dared not cross into the Third Defensive Line. This place would soon belong to the Eighth Star Chain.
Mad Thunder clenched its teeth, eyes locked onto Xia Bei Yi, unsure of what action to take.
Jiang You Sheng didn’t care about the Ninth Star Chain. He only wanted to ensure Wang Jie’s survival. “Master, do not fear. I will get you out of this.”
Xia Bei Yi chuckled darkly. “Don’t worry. As long as you don’t attack, I’ll take excellent care of your master.”
In a flash, Mad Thunder swung its hammer, aiming to crush Xia Bei Yi.
Xia Bei Yi retreated swiftly. In front of him, flames ignited from thin air, and as the hammer struck the fire, it flickered and danced yet refused to yield. Instead, the flames devoured the hammer’s Celestial Power, causing it to melt.
Jiang You Sheng controlled a puppet, intercepting the blow. He roared, “Mad Thunder, what are you doing?!”
Mad Thunder’s gaze burned with determination. “This human can use Celestial Methods. He’s young and may be a Direct Disciple. Killing him would be just as great a victory.”
Jiang You Sheng intervened. “That would get the master killed!”
“I can’t afford to care. War spares no one.”
Jiang You Sheng blocked Mad Thunder, locking them in a deadlock.
Meanwhile, Xia Bei Yi retreated with Wang Jie, fending off countless pursuing creatures. He cut them down as they surged forward. His voice grew cold. “You better be worth this trouble, or else…”
The menace in his tone was unmistakable.
Wang Jie sighed. “I had no idea you were this strong, brother. If I had known, I would have sworn an oath of brotherhood with you—live together, die together.”
Xia Bei Yi sneered. You? With me? What a joke.
Still, a Celestial Refinement Master was immensely valuable. Though he had never officially joined a sect, his long years of cultivation had made him an unparalleled asset.
The Green Square Star Cluster trembled violently.
Cities had long since been reduced to rubble.
Mad Thunder was determined to either capture Wang Jie or kill Xia Bei Yi. Jiang You Sheng could only resist while searching for a way to rescue Wang Jie.
In the midst of this turmoil, the Green Square Star Cluster suddenly shuddered.
Celestial Power, visible as streams of translucent energy, surged from the earth and spiraled into the sky, forming towering beams of light.
The force spread like a storm, forcing even Mad Thunder and Jiang You Sheng to halt their battle.
And from the heavens—
Snow began to fall.
Xia Bei Yi’s heart pounded with excitement. He has arrived.
Jiang You Sheng’s expression darkened, while Mad Thunder didn’t even spare a thought—he turned and fled instantly. He never expected a Hundred Star Realm powerhouse to be present, hidden all this time.
Yet before he could escape into the cosmos, the falling snow abruptly solidified. In an instant, he was encased in ice. No matter how he struggled, he could not break free. Ultimately, he turned into a frozen mass and crashed onto the ground.
The entire process took less than three seconds.
A once-mighty Wandering Star Realm expert was dead, just like that.
Wang Jie stared in stunned silence. This… is the power of the Hundred Star Realm? Is the gap truly this vast?
The entire Green Square Star had transformed into a frozen wasteland.
Countless Ninth Star Chain creatures perished in the unrelenting frost, their lives extinguished in mere moments.
Jiang You Sheng landed slowly, his face pale, his body stiff. No one from Puppeteer Tower dared to move.
The Frost Splendor Sect had come prepared. Had this Hundred Star Realm powerhouse acted sooner, the Fourth Defensive Line would have long since fallen. He had hidden his presence until now.
“Greetings, Domain Master Ning.”
Suddenly, Xia Bei Yi bowed respectfully toward the sky.
At some point, two figures had appeared above the boundless ice. One was Vice Domain Lord Yan, and beside him stood an elder with a ruddy complexion and an imposing presence.
Wang Jie gazed at the two figures above. We meet again, Yan Fu Yu.
Yan Fu Yu, seeing Xia Bei Yi’s salute, turned his head—only to catch sight of Wang Jie. His eyes widened in shock. How is he still alive? And why is he with Xia Bei Yi?
Wang Jie merely smiled at him.
Yan Fu Yu felt a surreal absurdity creeping over him.
“Who are you?” the elder finally spoke. He was Domain Master Ning, a Hundred Star Realm powerhouse. He was the one who had just killed Mad Thunder.
On the ground, Jiang You Sheng respectfully bowed. “I am Jiang You Sheng, Tower Master of Puppeteer Tower in the Seventh Star Chain, Green Square Cluster. I greet the senior.”
Domain Master Ning frowned. “Why were you fighting Mad Thunder? The Seventh Star Chain should be aiding the Berserk Clan, no?”
Jiang You Sheng hesitated. Everything had happened so fast.
Xia Bei Yi stepped forward. “This disciple can explain.”
Domain Master Ning turned his gaze upon Xia Bei Yi. “You were the one carrying out the mission?”
Xia Bei Yi’s heart sank. “Yes.”
“Why did you fail?”
Xia Bei Yi bowed deeply. “As soon as I arrived, I was trapped by Puppeteer Tower and remained imprisoned until now, unable to complete my mission. Please, punish me, Domain Master.”
Domain Master Ning descended before Jiang You Sheng and beckoned Xia Bei Yi over.
Xia Bei Yi hurriedly approached, bringing Wang Jie with him.
At this moment, Yan Fu Yu had countless questions but knew it was not his place to speak. Though he held the title of Vice Domain Lord, his cultivation and status were leagues apart from Domain Master Ning.
“Speak. We have time to listen now.”
Jiang You Sheng and Xia Bei Yi exchanged glances. Seeing that Domain Master Ning was waiting for a response, Jiang You Sheng had no choice but to begin.
“This junior’s battle with Mad Thunder stemmed from this Celestial Refinement Master…”
The moment those words were spoken, Domain Master Ning’s eyes gleamed. His gaze instinctively locked onto Wang Jie.
Yan Fu Yu was stunned. He… he’s a Celestial Refinement Master? Impossible!
Xia Bei Yi glanced at Yan Fu Yu with confusion. What kind of expression is that?
Wang Jie keenly felt that Domain Master Ning’s gaze was growing softer, even admiring. Right, a Celestial Refinement Master’s greatest value is refining for Hundred Star Realm experts. And this Domain Master is also Hundred Star Realm.
This just got interesting.
Should I take out that ring or not?
Once Jiang You Sheng finished speaking, Xia Bei Yi followed up, his account matching Jiang You Sheng’s.
When all was said and done, Domain Master Ning smiled and carefully observed Wang Jie. “Forgive us, Great Master, for this war has caused you much trouble.”
Wang Jie stepped forward and respectfully saluted. “Junior Wang Jie greets the Domain Master.”
Domain Master Ning nodded, smiling. “Master, I trust you were not harmed.”
Wang Jie replied, “No, thanks to Brother Bei Feng and Tower Master Jiang, who protected me. Otherwise, that beast would have devoured me.”
“Hahaha! Master jests.” Domain Master Ning laughed heartily, while Xia Bei Yi let out a breath of relief. A Celestial Refinement Master was far more valuable than he had imagined.
Jiang You Sheng, on the other hand, felt bitter. The Celestial Refinement Master is gone… I’m lucky to still be alive.
“This junior accidentally acquired this item. Senior, please see if it is of any use.”
As he spoke, Wang Jie handed a storage ring to Domain Master Ning.
Taking the ring, Domain Master Ning examined it. His eyes suddenly sharpened as he turned to look at Vice Domain Lord Yan.
Yan Fu Yu took the ring, his expression shifting rapidly. He stared at Wang Jie in disbelief, then back at the ring. After a moment, he withdrew a vial of blood and dripped a single drop onto the ring’s surface. A beast hide map emerged from within.
Wang Jie observed the entire process.
The more he watched, the more confident he felt. It’s real.
Yan Fu Yu nodded at Domain Master Ning. “It’s the real one.”
Domain Master Ning stared deeply at Wang Jie. “How did Master acquire this?”
Wang Jie looked at Yan Fu Yu and smiled. “Because this was my task. Right, Vice Domain Lord Yan?”
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