Chapter 018
Chapter 18: Bai Yuan
Wen Zhao watched Wang Jie, a faint smile playing at her lips: “You wish to join forces with me?”
Wang Jie admitted openly without hesitation.
“And how could you possibly help me?”
Wang Jie smiled: “If I don’t help you, I’ll simply aid your enemy.”
Wen Zhao’s expression changed instantly. Those words stabbed right at her heart. Indeed, among the second wave of trial takers, there was one who was her enemy—and this Wang Jie was undeniably powerful.
“What do you want to know?” Wen Zhao finally spoke.
Wang Jie glanced at the sky: “I don’t want to chat in the rain.”
Shortly afterward, inside a ruined building, Wen Zhao and Wang Jie sat at opposite ends, a snow steed resting between them. They gazed into the distance, the earth and sky blending into a seamless gray.
“There are two ways to complete the trial; succeeding at either one means passing. First: dominate the natives so they dare not resist. Second: defeat all other trial takers. Achieving either one qualifies you to become a disciple of the Armor One Sect.”
Wang Jie wasn’t surprised: “Who’s the strongest among the first batch of trial takers?”
“Me.”
Wang Jie paused—[Not humble at all, is she?]
Wen Zhao glanced at him, eyes twinkling playfully: “So, you’ve already defeated the strongest among the first wave.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not—it’s still true. That’s why I’ve never allied with any other trial taker, nor do I plan to.”
“What about the second wave?”
Wen Zhao’s expression grew serious: “The second wave trial takers are all eight-seal cultivators. With my current strength, I’d still rank among the best there. But among them, I have one particularly powerful enemy.”
“Actually, there’s no need for you to worry about the second wave since you’ve already defeated me. Your true concern should be the third.”
Wang Jie was startled: “There’s a third wave?”
Wen Zhao smiled: “Who told you there wasn’t?”
“Nine seals?”
“Yes.”
“Then… there couldn’t be a fourth wave, right?”
Wen Zhao didn’t reply. Her silence was louder than words.
Wang Jie’s eyes flickered with determination as he slowly clenched his fist.
Wen Zhao looked at him, a touch of sympathy in her gaze: “The first and second waves are manageable—you can still negotiate. But by the third wave, your fate rests entirely in your own hands. The lives of natives mean nothing to them. After all, you’ll be thrown onto the interstellar battlefield sooner or later, so dying now or later makes no difference. That’s the Armor One Sect’s way, and also the way of the universe’s great powers.”
Wang Jie met Wen Zhao’s eyes: “The universe’s great powers?”
Wen Zhao raised her eyes toward the endless sky: “Armor One Sect is immensely powerful—terrifyingly so. Even someone struck by a random stone dropping from the sky might possess enough power to destroy your entire Blue Star with a single blow. Yet, Armor One Sect is far from the universe’s strongest.”
“In the depths of space, there are countless civilizations beyond imagination, powerful races, and cosmic giant beasts. Many beings are beyond your and my understanding, yet they truly exist.”
She gently stroked the snow steed, which affectionately leaned into her palm with a soft whimper. “Once, I witnessed a claw tear through the universe, its size impossible to fathom. A senior disciple told me it was merely the tip of the claw. One gentle swipe destroyed hundreds of planets.”
“I’ve also seen a blood-soaked feather covering the entire starry sky. As it softly drifted down, dozens of planets clung to it, immersed in blood.”
Wang Jie stared at her, speechless.
Wen Zhao smiled softly: “I’m not lying. It’s all real, but there’s no need for you to know more. Natives rarely enter Armor One Sect because the power you cultivate is incorrect.”
“You call it seal force, but it’s actually ‘lock force’—a force with an upper limit already set. You can’t surpass that limit, and your ultimate destiny lies on the interstellar battlefield. This is why trial takers never see you as humans. Even Armor One Sect doesn’t consider you true people—there are simply too many of you.”
Wang Jie asked many questions, and Wen Zhao answered patiently, though there were some questions even she couldn’t answer. The more Wang Jie heard, the quieter he became. The truth was harsh enough simply listening to it.
“Then why have you stayed out here all this time?” Wang Jie asked, puzzled.
Wen Zhao replied simply: “Cultivating.”
“Seeking disaster materials?”
“Yes. The wilderness is far better for cultivation than the bases. I initially planned to capture your base and have your people gather disaster materials for me, but you ruined my plan.”
“Zuo Tian will certainly break through to eight seals,” Wang Jie stated firmly.
Wen Zhao looked directly at Wang Jie: “I know.”
“You know Zuo Tian?”
“I only know that clever people always find loopholes in the rules. Clearly, this Zuo Tian is clever.”
Wang Jie nodded: “As long as no second person from Blue Star learns of your breakthrough, it technically doesn’t count. Armor One Sect won’t miss anything.”
Wen Zhao stroked the snow steed again: “Exactly. Armor One Sect isn’t your concern. The rule’s loophole is that your breakthrough only counts if another Blue Star native knows.”
“Then, are we cooperating now?”
“We can.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Upper Capital City—to kill Zuo Tian.”
Wen Zhao calmly regarded Wang Jie: “This is cooperation, not obedience. I’m not going.”
“I’ll help you break through to nine seals, and you help me kill Zuo Tian,” Wang Jie bargained.
“I can break through myself.”
“I’ll teach you a finger technique.”
Wen Zhao’s eyes lit up in surprise: “Deal.”
“But first, do me a small favor,” Wang Jie said, looking at the snow steed with a mischievous grin.
In the heavy rain, a mournful wail echoed through the wilderness.
The nourishing rain awakened the plants, making them lively once more. Originally, Golden Hill Base was safe for fifty kilometers, but as the ten-year mutation period progressed, this safe zone shrank continually. Other bases faced similar situations.
Due to Zuo Tian’s recent call to action, bases resumed intense efforts against mutated creatures and plants. Despite increased difficulty and higher casualties, the bounty of disaster materials had grown.
A hundred kilometers north of Golden Hill City, a streak of white flashed rapidly over a lotus pond. Beneath the water, a wooden-colored lotus root lashed out, accompanied by countless palm-sized floating grasses, spinning like blades toward the speeding figure.
This white shadow was the snow steed. Facing the lotus root, it bared its teeth angrily—though laughably, it now had only one beautiful fang left. Remembering this brought sadness to its heart.
Wen Zhao’s fingers shaped sword qi, falling like a rainstorm and slicing the grasses mid-air. The remaining sword rain severed the attacking lotus root.
Elsewhere, a booming sound arose. Soon after, Wang Jie appeared beside the lotus pond, carrying a bundle filled with disaster materials.
“You don’t want any materials?” Wang Jie asked, noticing Wen Zhao’s empty hands.
Wen Zhao gave him a glance: “Of course I do.”
“Then why…?”
Wen Zhao raised her hand, showing the slender finger adorned with a ring.
Wang Jie was confused.
“It’s a storage ring. My things are stored inside.”
Wang Jie stared in astonishment: “Things inside a ring? How does that even work?”
Wen Zhao shook her head: “I don’t know. It just does.”
Remembering something, Wang Jie took out a ring from his pocket: “Like this?”
Wen Zhao nodded: “Seems you’ve killed a trial taker before. But it’s useless now. Once bound to a master, a storage ring can only be opened by them or with their blood. Yours is worthless.”
Wang Jie sighed regretfully, believing her easily.
“Do you have another?”
“No. Even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you. They’re too precious.”
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow: “Every trial taker has one. How can they be so precious?”
Wen Zhao smiled knowingly: “You misunderstand trial takers. Becoming an Armor One Sect trial taker isn’t easy. Imagine your Blue Star Three Gods or Five Extremes recruiting disciples—would commoners outside the base or wealthy family heirs have greater chances?”
Wang Jie understood instantly. No wonder these trial takers appeared proud and privileged.
“If your bundle is heavy, I can hold it,” Wen Zhao offered casually.
Wang Jie tightened his grip: “It’s fine.”
Wen Zhao laughed softly and spurred the snow steed onward.
Their alliance had begun, aiming for Upper Capital City. But first, they had ten days of gathering disaster materials in the wilderness.
Meanwhile, in Upper Capital City, sunshine warmed a tranquil courtyard. Beneath a parasol, a graceful young lady in white leisurely read a book. Nearby, servants watered plants, while a lazy black cat napped in the corner.
“Little Black, wake dad,” she commanded softly.
The black cat’s eyes gleamed sharply. Soon, an angry roar echoed: “Little Black! I’ll skin you into a cat rug!”
The cat returned happily to her arms. Bai Yuan emerged, frustrated.
She smiled gently: “Dad, it’s late.”
He sighed helplessly before obediently heading off to train, promising to prepare for her birthday party, coinciding neatly with the upcoming Upper Capital City meeting.