Chapter 95: The Gong Nation
Jun Hua and Yu Dong were equally astounded. One was Jin Chu, the other Wu Mian—both formidable warriors.
Xia Zhen Zhen had only just stepped into the Star-Breaking Realm, but as a Direct Inheritor, her status far surpassed Jin Chu, a Full Star Realm powerhouse. Wu Mian, however, was an even greater anomaly—acknowledged as the strongest in Lock Force cultivation across the ancient and modern histories of the Frost Radiance Star Chain.
Would Xia Zhen Zhen truly go to such lengths, mobilizing such strength, all for Wang Jie?
Meanwhile, Wang Jie sought out Xuan for the third time.
“What exactly do you want from me? Just say it straight,” Xuan finally asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.
“I need a favor. Protect me,” Wang Jie replied.
Xuan was taken aback. “Protect you? You’re stronger than I am.”
“But I fight alone.”
“What do you mean?”
Wang Jie recounted everything that had transpired. Rather than rejecting the request, Xuan seemed oddly exhilarated. “Thank you. No matter the reason, dying on the battlefield is far better than dying here.”
Jun Hua wasted no time in issuing commands, and the empire moved swiftly.
The moment Xuan agreed to accompany Wang Jie back to Blue Star, the fastest starship in the empire was prepared. All routes along the journey were sealed off, carving a direct path from Imperial Capital Star straight to Blue Star, ensuring an uninterrupted voyage.
Wang Jie sent Jun Hua a brief message of gratitude before embarking on the journey with Xuan.
Shortly after their departure, another starship—matching their velocity—was launched. Aboard it were Jin Chu and a middle-aged man: Wu Mian himself.
It had taken Wang Jie nearly half a year to traverse from Blue Star to Jun Tang’s warship. Now, his return trip would take little over a month.
Though the surrounding stars were unfamiliar, a glance at the Cosmic Map confirmed it—Blue Star was close.
Yet, the sight before him was grim. Around Blue Star, multiple battlefronts had emerged. The Silver Radiance Empire’s warships fired streaks of energy across space, engaging a ghastly construct—an eerie Bone Vessel formed entirely of skeletal remains. This was the vessel of the Gong Nation, its bones harvested from its own people.
For the Gong people, death was not an end but an honor. There was no concept of burial—only endless war. Even in death, they fought on.
Their relentless assault had earned them the fearsome title: The Third Nebula’s Elite Warriors.
As warships were obliterated, desperate reports streamed back to the Imperial Capital.
Jun Hua was frustrated. These battleships didn’t need to be destroyed. The most effective strategy was to consolidate forces at a single point. But because of Wang Jie, the empire had no choice but to scatter its fleets around Blue Star, diverting attention to keep the enemy from discovering it.
To the Silver Radiance Empire, Blue Star was nothing but a speck. To the Frost Radiance Sect, however, the empire itself was the speck.
Wang Jie had already surpassed this so-called “speck.”
Several days passed before Xuan spoke up. “We’re almost there.”
The ship was vast, yet only two passengers occupied it—Wang Jie and Xuan. Operating the vessel was surprisingly simple.
Wang Jie turned to the Light Screen, and there it was—a blue planet emerging on the horizon.
Home.
Two years.
He had been away for over two years. In that time, he had endured countless tribulations: nearly crashing into Jun Tang’s warship, mining for survival, hovering on the brink of death, residing at Accompanying Lake Residence, suffering an unfortunate exile to the Ninth Star Chain, only to return as a wholly different person.
So much had happened, yet only two years had passed.
His cultivation remained at Ten-Seal, just as when he had left Blue Star. But his combat power—
A world of difference.
This time, even Blue Star itself would be different.
“Wait, what’s that?” Xuan exclaimed, staring at the Cosmic Map.
Originally, only two points had been flashing: Blue Star, their destination, and their ship. But suddenly, a third appeared. It blinked rapidly—a sign that their ship had detected a fast-moving object. Its trajectory was also aimed at Blue Star.
And unlike them, this entity was even closer.
“Magnify,” Wang Jie commanded.
Xuan had already begun the process, frowning. “I can’t make it out. It’s not a planet—at this distance, it’s just a dot. But it’s moving fast. If it stays its course, it will either land on Blue Star—or crash into it.”
Wang Jie clenched his fists, eyes locked onto the screen.
If something at such speed collided with Blue Star, there would be nothing left.
Seconds passed. Then the blinking dot halted.
Xuan exhaled in relief. “It stopped. No impact. It must be a vessel like ours.” Then his tone darkened. “This isn’t an imperial warship. If it were, we would’ve received a signal.”
Wang Jie remained silent.
If it wasn’t from the Empire, it was an enemy.
The Gong Nation had arrived before him.
Still, there was some relief—he was nearly there, too.
Blue Star had spent two years recovering, and humanity had grown stronger. The Massacre of Shu Mu Night had nearly wiped out the planet’s Apex Mutated Beasts, buying its people time to grow. Now, Seven-Seal and Eight-Seal warriors were commonplace, Nine-Seal warriors numerous, and even Ten-Seal warriors exceeded the count of his fingers.
Hong Sword. Lian Qin. They had long since stepped into the Ten-Seal Realm.
Territory once seized by Mutated Beasts had been reclaimed. Bit by bit, they had advanced toward the oceans.
And today—
For the first time in years, an overwhelming despair loomed over every inhabitant of Blue Star.
A colossal vessel of white bone loomed over the skies, casting an immense shadow upon the entirety of Golden Hill Base. The stark, skeletal frame glowed an eerie white beneath the sun, exuding an otherworldly chill that seemed to seep into the bones of those below.
Across the land of Golden Hill, every head tilted upward, eyes wide with stunned silence. The sight of this macabre ship, as though emerging from the very depths of the underworld, left them paralyzed with disbelief.
In Southern Nation Base and Upper Capital City, countless eyes watched the broadcasted scene. Across Blue Star, silence reigned supreme.
Upon the bone vessel, a towering humanoid figure stepped forth, its entire form cloaked in dark crimson. Standing at nearly two meters tall, it peered down upon Golden Hill Base, its piercing gaze piercing through even the drifting clouds below.
Its deep crimson eyes scanned the base before a grin split its face. With a single bound, it plummeted through the sky, slicing through the clouds before crashing into the heart of the base.
A thunderous impact.
The ground caved in, dust and debris erupting into the air. It was a scene reminiscent of the Trial Participants’ arrival.
The people nearby hastily retreated, and cultivators swiftly encircled the being.
At the forefront stood Hong Jian, leading Feng Yu and the others—all at the Ten-Seal level. Their eyes were locked on the figure emerging from the dust cloud, their expressions filled with shock and dread.
What was this oppressive presence? It was cold, overwhelming, an all-encompassing force that made even breathing feel like a distant luxury. It was as if unseen hands had wrapped around their throats, choking out their very essence.
The creature’s deep crimson eyes swept across them, and everyone it glanced at felt as if their skin would burst open. An indescribable terror crept into their hearts.
Whoosh—
A grayish-white mist seeped from the creature’s mouth, its razor-sharp teeth glinting as it curved its lips into a sinister smile. In a low, guttural voice, it rasped, “Slaughter Stone Planet… The Silver Radiance Empire’s Slaughter Stone Planet, is it?”
Hong Jian stepped forward, his voice steady despite the weight of its presence. “This is Blue Star. May I ask who you are?”
The creature’s crimson gaze locked onto him in an instant. With a single step, it closed the distance, now towering before Hong Jian. Though only a head taller, it felt as if a mountain had descended upon him. Hong Jian could see nothing but the creature’s rising and falling chest, from which emanated an overwhelming killing aura.
Instinctively, he staggered back—but the world spun, a sharp numbness struck his face, and everything went dark.
Around them, the others watched in shock as Hong Jian was struck aside with a single blow. The creature’s grin widened before it took another step forward, delivering the same crushing slap to the nearest person.
A loud crack. Blood sprayed through the air. The unfortunate soul was dead before they even hit the ground.
Feng Yu and the others paled. The sheer killing intent bore down upon them, rendering them unable to move. It was an aura that had crawled out of battlefield hell itself, accompanied by the tormented wails of countless fallen beings. Even more terrifyingly, it crushed them with a suppression that stemmed from sheer power—it strangled their ability to resist, leaving them as helpless as prey before a predator.
All they could do was watch, helplessly, as the creature slaughtered their comrades with casual ease.
It delighted in the carnage, reveled in the scent of fear. Its laughter rang louder, echoing through the base.
From atop the bone vessel, more figures emerged—beings of the same grotesque form—leaping down and landing amidst Golden Hill Base.
In an instant, the land was painted red with blood.
Drones captured the horror, transmitting it live to Upper Capital City and Southern Nation Base.
The people in both bases stood frozen, their eyes glued to the screens. Watching as the cultivators of Golden Hill Base fell like mere insects, unable to mount even the slightest resistance, the same despair from the Bloodstained Shores resurfaced. The image of the one who had once sat upon the throne of death burned into their memories once more.
These beings—they had come from hell itself.
In the distance, Hong Jian lay motionless upon the ground. He was still alive. The blood splattered across his face roused him from unconsciousness.
Through the haze of red, he saw his comrades being slaughtered one by one. He wanted to rise—but he could not. His injuries were too severe.
What… were these creatures?
Whoosh—
A familiar stench filled his nostrils, the same gray-white mist creeping through the air. Before her, Feng Yu stared, frozen, as one of the creatures suddenly appeared before her.
Run. Run. Run.
Her mind screamed at her, but her body refused to move.
She could only watch, helpless, as the creature’s massive hand swung toward her.
And then—
It stopped.
Its arm froze in midair before slowly turning toward the sky. The others followed its gaze, all eyes locking onto the same point.
A blazing fireball streaked through the heavens, hurtling toward Golden Hill Base. Its trajectory was set—directly toward them.
“Intercept,” the creature commanded.
From the bone vessel, enormous chains lashed out, stretching across the sky to ensnare the descending meteor.
Beyond Blue Star, a beam of light shot forth, clashing with the chains. The collision ignited a brilliant blaze, its radiance outshining even the sun itself.
The creature before Feng Yu narrowed its eyes, its crimson pupils locked onto the approaching fireball. It lowered its arm, choosing to watch in silence.
All around, dozens of its kin stood still, waiting for the fireball’s descent.
Feng Yu gasped for air, forcing herself to suppress the overwhelming fear. Never before had she wished so desperately for Blue Star to become a Trial Ground once more. For this fireball to be a Trial Participant.
She had no idea where the beam of light had come from. Nor did she know if the fireball was truly a Trial Participant.
All she knew was that she stood upon the very edge of death.
The fireball plummeted ever closer. Just before impact, the creature before her swung its massive chains, sending fragments of the intercepted light crashing into it.
A deafening explosion.
The surrounding creatures leaped into the inferno, unafraid of death.
They tore through the flames.
And found—nothing.
Feng Yu’s heart sank.
The creature before her turned back, grinning once more. Its arm rose again, preparing to strike.
She moved, regaining her senses—but she was too slow. The massive palm drew ever closer.
And then—it stopped.
Not by its own will.
But because another hand had seized it, locking it in place.
Feng Yu turned, staring in shock at the familiar figure before her. “Wang Jie?”
Beside her, Wang Jie held the creature’s massive, crimson arm in a vice grip. Yet his gaze was not upon it—but upon Hong Jian, lying in the distance.
He was still alive.
The creature’s pupils contracted as it stared at Wang Jie, attempting to move its arm.
It could not.
Not even an inch.
Why?
It was a Star-Breaking Realm being, while this human was merely Ten-Seal.
Why was he so strong?
Why was he utterly unfazed by its killing intent—the very aura that had drenched battlefields in blood, that even others of the Star-Breaking Realm feared?
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