Chapter 038
Chapter 38: Bridge Building
Next, Wen Star Ru shared some insights into the cosmic understanding of the bridge. Though it was impossible to explain everything, she provided Wang Jie and the others with some clarity.
A bridge with no origin and no destination, yet it could bestow upon those who built it the powerful bridge techniques.
Wang Jie had heard of these techniques from Wen Zhao. At the time, Wen Zhao had said that once he left Blue Star, he would understand. He hadn’t been able to explain it back then, but now it all made sense.
“How can we be sure what you’re saying is true?” Bai Yuan asked, questioning her further.
Wen Star Ru’s gaze deepened. “Defeating Shu Mu Night is not just about helping Blue Star; it’s also about reclaiming the bridge techniques that belong to my Armor One Sect. You don’t understand the true power of the bridge techniques. Anyone who possesses them can directly enter a sect without going through the trial, and their power is the highest measure of their status in the sect.”
She paused and continued, “And Shu Mu Night… he won’t deny this fact.”
Wang Jie and the others exchanged glances, surprised by this unexpected revelation.
What had started as a trial had escalated beyond their imagination. The worst-case scenario had been that Blue Star’s cultivators would become war slaves, thrown onto the interstellar battlefield. The ordinary people, however, could still struggle to survive in the apocalypse. But now, even that had been taken from them. The sacrifice of Blue Star had become part of the bridge building process.
Wen Star Ru stood up. “I’ve already gathered the trial takers. You don’t need to do anything. Just find Shu Mu Night’s whereabouts. Whether you believe me or not doesn’t matter to us when dealing with Shu Mu Night.”
“My Armor One Sect will only turn you into war slaves at most. Even if we sacrifice Blue Star for the bridge, you’ll be relocated to other planets. We won’t disregard your lives or erase your civilization. But Shu Mu Night… he doesn’t care about any of that. All he wants is the bridge technique.”
Wang Jie spoke up, “Shu Mu Night is just an eight-seal cultivator. It should be simple for Armor One Sect to deal with him. Why send you all? According to what you said, you shouldn’t be his match either.”
Wen Star Ru turned her gaze to Wen Zhao.
Wen Zhao responded, “Because of sect rules, once the trial begins, it cannot be interrupted. No external forces are allowed to intervene unless they withdraw. The sect might save a life, but will not interfere with the trials or the natives.”
Wang Jie frowned. “Even in such an urgent situation?”
“Wait until you step into the universe and you’ll understand. Tradition holds a significant place in the cultivation world. No one can defy tradition because it is the most rational system, shaped over countless years by the greatest ancient cultivators.” Wen Star Ru explained, though there were other unsaid reasons, like the Star Guardian.
Whether they believed Wen Star Ru or not, they had to find Shu Mu Night. He was certainly a trial taker, and as such, an enemy of Blue Star.
When Wang Jie asked about Shu Mu Night again, Wen Zhao had no answers. But she knew that Wen Star Ru didn’t need to undergo the trial because she had already participated and had achieved a top-tier score.
More trial takers continued arriving from various bases.
Wen Star Ru asked Bai Yuan to release the captured trial takers, but Bai Yuan refused. They couldn’t just trust this woman’s words without more evidence.
Wang Jie, however, was certain that Wen Star Ru was telling the truth. Insect Ruo Ruo had mentioned this person, and her strength was terrifying.
Moreover, Wen Star Ru had no reason to return for the trial. Of course, Bai Yuan and the others wouldn’t immediately believe Wen Zhao either.
The trial takers were quite honest; once they arrived, they simply stayed outside the base, including Wen Star Ru.
Qi Five returned with Yun Lai.
“Wen Star Ru?” Yun Lai asked in surprise. “Did you send out that signal? Didn’t you already take the trial?”
Wen Star Ru glanced at Yun Lai. “You lost quite gracefully.”
Yun Lai’s expression shifted. He glared at the Upper Capital City base. “What’s going on? Why was the trial interrupted? And why aren’t you all going in? Bai Yuan and Wang Jie won’t be able to stop you.”
Wen Star Ru exhaled slowly. “Prepare yourselves. The people from Sincere One Dao have infiltrated.”
Yun Lai was taken aback. “Sincere One Dao? Who? What are they doing here?”
“Shu Mu Night,” Wen Star Ru replied flatly.
Yun Lai froze, thinking he had misheard. “Who?”
Qi Five was also stunned. “Who?”
Wen Star Ru repeated, “Shu Mu Night.”
“Impossible!” Yun Lai and Qi Five exclaimed in disbelief. This was simply absurd.
Inside the Upper Capital City base, Wang Jie met a customer—Bai Xiao, Bai Yuan’s daughter.
“Thank you for saving my dad,” Bai Xiao bowed deeply to Wang Jie, very serious.
Wang Jie didn’t mind. “No problem.”
Old Five and the others looked at Bai Xiao with admiration. She was indeed the First Young Lady of Upper Capital City. It wasn’t just her strength and background that had led her to form the Low Extreme Hunting Team—her beauty was also a major factor.
Her looks were stunning, even to women.
Wang Jie was also impressed, but after seeing Wen Zhao, he had developed a resistance to such beauty.
Bai Xiao looked at Wang Jie with bright eyes and a smile. “Do you have time? I’d like to treat you to a meal as thanks.”
Wang Jie shook his head. “No need, just forget about it.”
“Boss,” Qing Zheng interrupted in a low voice, “This is a confession, boss. You’re always receiving marriage proposals. A big young lady like her confessing to you—aren’t you going to respond?”
Wang Jie was speechless. “First of all, this isn’t a confession. Secondly, let’s never speak of marriage proposals again.”
Bai Xiao blinked. “Marriage proposal?”
Old Five stepped forward and smiled. “Bai Xiao Young Lady, our boss is more than happy to accept your invitation. What time and where shall we meet?”
Bai Xiao smiled, gave the time and place, and then left.
Old Five winked at Wang Jie, “Boss, I’ve got this handled.”
Wang Jie sighed. “With the great enemy approaching, you still have time for this?”
Qing Zheng laughed. “Precisely because the great enemy is coming that we need to help you secure your future. Think about it—if there are more of us Blue Star people, the chances of passing on our legacy increase. Even if we all end up as war slaves in the interstellar battlefield, or if Blue Star is sacrificed for the bridge, as long as one of us survives, it’s better than none, even if it’s just a child.”
“I’m only eighteen, you guys are overthinking it,” Wang Jie turned and returned to his room.
In a few days, the trial would begin again, but the consumption of cataclysm materials had been steadily increasing. The materials provided by Bai Yuan and the others had already been used up, and there wasn’t enough time to gather enough to enhance his power. As for breaking through to the ninth seal, it didn’t seem enough either.
It was time to gather some more.
The next day, a batch of cataclysm materials was delivered.
Wang Jie was puzzled. “What’s this?”
Qing Zheng waved his hand. “Take it and use it.”
“Yours?”
“It’s from my dad. He sent it for you.”
Wang Jie nodded. “Thank you.”
The wealth of the Leading Pillar Group was comparable to that of the five major bases. This batch of cataclysm materials was plentiful and should be enough for another round of enhancement.
“There’s more to come. Boss, feel free to use it.”
“Doesn’t the Leading Pillar Group need it?”
“My dad said to learn how to invest. Right now, the best investment points on Blue Star are two: one is Bai Yuan, backed by the Upper Capital City base, and doesn’t lack cataclysm materials. The other is you, Boss.”
Wang Jie smiled and carried everything back to his room.
Another two days passed. He calculated the time and realized that the trial would begin either tomorrow or the day after. He couldn’t be certain, though, since the schedule was now unpredictable.
Armor One Sect had sent another four experts. One of them was named Qi Xue Yin, a young miss from the Galaxy Combat Equipment Company.
She didn’t enter the base but stayed with Wen Star Ru.
Shu Mu Night’s whereabouts were found.
In the past few days, most of the cultivators from the five major bases had been mobilized to search for Shu Mu Night. Drones were sent out, and many had sacrificed their lives, but they had finally pinpointed his location.
Mountain City.
Shu Mu Night was currently in Mountain City.
However, in the post-apocalyptic era, Mountain City had long been overrun by mutated creatures. Finding him wouldn’t be easy.
Wang Jie and Bai Yuan boarded a flying vehicle toward Mountain City.
Flying vehicles from all five directions of Hua Xia were dispatched, carrying trial takers.
When Wang Jie and the others arrived, the Tianfu Base personnel were already there, bringing along a ten-seal trial taker. This person bowed respectfully to Wen Star Ru upon seeing her.
Wen Star Ru and the others looked toward the figure in the sky.
He was standing in midair.
Wang Jie’s eyes widened in shock. Eight-seal… it really felt like an eight-seal cultivator, but how was he standing in midair? Even with the right steps, Wang Jie could only maneuver through the air, but he couldn’t remain suspended.
But this person was standing right on the sky.
“How can he fly?” Tang Jie exclaimed.
Wen Star Ru spoke calmly, “For Shu Mu Night, everything within the ten seals is possible.”
Wang Jie turned to her. “Humans have limits. Yet you speak as if he has no limits at all. How well do you really know him?”
No one answered.
Wen Star Ru and the others didn’t wish to discuss this topic any further.
Wang Jie turned to Yun Lai, his eyes filled with disdain. “Looks like you don’t know either.”
Yun Lai grew furious. “I don’t know? He—”
“Shut up,” Wen Star Ru snapped.
Yun Lai gritted his teeth and said no more.
Qi Xue Yin, standing beside Qi Five, glanced at Wang Jie before looking toward the distance. She was different from Wen Star Ru and Wen Zhao in her attire, which was much more technological. She wore a combat power detector on her face and her clothes showed clear signs of advanced tech.
Another flying vehicle arrived, bringing a bald young boy. He was short, no taller than a child, and carried a sword—or at least something that resembled a sword.
Wang Jie looked at the weapon. It appeared to be a sword, but it looked like it had been crudely carved from a branch. The blade wasn’t even fully shaped, with tree branches extending from the edge. It was unlike any sword Wang Jie had ever seen.
And someone so small—could a child really be here?
The appearance of this person caused a shift in the expressions of Wen Star Ru and the others. They immediately went over to him.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Mo,” Wen Star Ru saluted.
Yun Lai and Wen Zhao followed suit, clearly recognizing this person.
Qi Xue Yin stepped forward. “Xue Yin greets Lord Mo.”
The other trial takers didn’t recognize him, but they all bowed respectfully.
Only the Blue Star cultivators remained unmoving.
The bald young boy lifted his head. His gaze was blank as he scanned over Wen Star Ru and the others before looking into the distance. Only when he saw Shu Mu Night did his eyes spark with life. With one step, he dashed forward, bypassing everyone to approach Shu Mu Night.
Wen Star Ru quickly stopped him. “Senior Brother Mo, please wait. Insect Xuan hasn’t arrived yet. We can wait until he comes to strike together.”
The bald young boy didn’t respond, continuing his walk toward Shu Mu Night.
Wang Jie looked at Wen Zhao.
Wen Zhao whispered, “His name is Mo, from Three Chan Heaven. This sect is as famous as my Armor One Sect. I didn’t expect the sect to send him here. He reached the ten-seal peak years ago, but has never broken through since.”
Wang Jie was surprised. “How old is he?”
“In the universe, don’t judge cultivation strength based on age. You’ll regret it. I’ve told you, some people are born with power that surpasses the star-breaking realm,” Wen Zhao reminded again.