Chapter 043

Chapter 43: A Battle

In the distance, Wen Star Ru and the others were silent. The strength Wang Jie had displayed exceeded their comprehension.

This man’s power was simply unfathomable.

Anyone with even a little knowledge of the universe would know that driving back the third reforge of Shu Mu Night was a shocking feat. If this news spread, it would surely dominate the headlines of Star Dome Vision, becoming a legend discussed by countless people and factions across the universe.

Especially the fact that Shu Mu Night had even considered taking him away.

Anyone who joined him would be envied by the universe. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reach the heavens.

Yun Lai glared at Wang Jie with envy, thinking, Where did this native come from? How did he catch the attention of Shu Mu Night? How infuriating.

Wang Jie glanced at his hands, blood dripping from them. Only his fingers could move; the rest of his body was immobile, having fought too fiercely. The more he felt this, the more he could appreciate the terrifying power of his opponent.

If it weren’t for the wristguard he obtained from the fields, which allowed him to enhance his strength with physical exercises, he wouldn’t even be able to survive one blow from this person. He’d be no different from the other heaven’s chosen prodigies.

“Will you let Blue Star go if you take me with you?” Wang Jie asked.

Shu Mu Night smiled faintly. “If it’s only the Bloodline Bridge technique, I could consider letting you go. But the bridge-building method uses the Source Bridge technique, and you’re not worthy of that yet.”

Wang Jie sighed. “Then I’ll have to risk everything.”

Shu Mu Night was curious. “A mere ordinary planet. Once you look beyond this star, you’ll see how insignificant this planet is. It’s not worth giving up your life for. Ask them. Ask them if they think it’s an honor to follow me, Shu Mu Night.”

“If I gave them the opportunity, they would eagerly follow.”

Far off, the trial takers were silent. Of course, they would follow; even Wen Star Ru, from the Armor One Sect’s Wen family, had no way to refuse Shu Mu Night’s tempting offer.

“I do not consent,” a voice cut through the silence. It was Mo, speaking seriously.

Wang Jie suddenly pointed at Shu Mu Night, his spiral qi force striking from a distance. Shu Mu Night furrowed his brows and casually dispelled the energy, just as a dark shadow fell from the sky—an army of mutated insects rushing toward Shu Mu Night.

At the same time, a massive swarm of mutated ants surged from the ground, emitting a hissing sound that sent chills down the spine.

Shu Mu Night turned his left palm, pushing down with his immense strength. The ground caved in, spreading and cracking, as terrifying power surged from the fissures below and shot toward the sky.

Wang Jie continued to retreat.

Around him, countless insects surged, charging forward.

Insect Xuan appeared. “Surround and kill him.”

Insect Ruo Ruo jumped up, directing the insects.

From all directions, an endless insect tide closed in, aiming to overwhelm Shu Mu Night.

Old Nine arrived beside Wang Jie, preparing to carry him away.

“No need to carry me. My arms are just exhausted, it’s fine,” Wang Jie said.

Qing Zheng gave him a thumbs-up. “Boss, you’re so tough.”

Old Five marveled, “I knew the boss was strong, but not this strong. Look at how those aliens are stunned.”

Wang Jie shook his head, gazing at Shu Mu Night, now covered by the insect tide.

Perhaps only those who had fought him firsthand knew how terrifying he was. Could the insect tide really deplete his star force?

A loud explosion rang out. The air twisted and burst, as Shu Mu Night stepped through the insect tide corpses, ignoring Insect Xuan and the others, his eyes locked onto Wang Jie. In his hand, he swung a severed insect limb through the air.

Wang Jie shoved Old Nine aside, and the severed limb flew past his neck, leaving a streak of blood that quickly disappeared into the distance.

This man wanted to kill him.

Shu Mu Night harbored a murderous intent toward Wang Jie.

Just as he was about to strike again, Mo stepped forward and slashed with his sword. The clash of imprint power and star force erupted, catching Shu Mu Night’s attention. At that moment, snow began to fall from the sky, as Qi Xue Yin and Wen Star Ru made their moves.

“Take me with you,” Wang Jie said. He wasn’t someone who sought death. He still had the chance to continue absorbing cataclysm materials and grow stronger, to break through his limits. There was no need to die here.

But the next moment, Shu Mu Night was gone.

He had evaded all attacks.

Wang Jie’s pupils constricted. He pushed Old Nine and the others away, activating Armor Eight Steps.

In an instant, just as Wang Jie took his first step, Shu Mu Night reappeared, flashing through the air, the space around him visibly distorting as though it had been cut.

A chill ran through Wang Jie’s body. If he hadn’t acted so quickly, he would already be dead.

Shu Mu Night was astonished. Such keen intuition. He actually dodged it.

Crack.

Wang Jie snapped his fingers.

Above the clouds, a finger broke through the air. The ground trembled as another finger soared into the sky.

Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger.

Shu Mu Night looked down at the ground, then up at the sky. “This is the lost Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger of Armor One Sect?” His gaze shifted to Wang Jie. “Did you learn it from the training hall’s shadow?”

Wang Jie was drenched in sweat. He had never executed a finger technique this quickly before.

It was all to ensure that Shu Mu Night wouldn’t make another move.

Because if he did, Wang Jie might not be able to dodge it.

Shu Mu Night laughed. “It’s more valuable when it comes to killing.” He raised his hand, fingers curling, gripping the leg of an insect-like limb, and slashed toward the sky.

The world split like flowing water, shape-shifting without a trace of form.

A blade of light, like Liu Shui, tore through the heavens and earth, splitting Wang Jie’s Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger in two.

At the same time, the Liu Shui-like blade scattered like rain, wiping out swathes of insects.

Mo and Wen Star Ru, along with the others, found themselves within the range of the attack. The frozen snowflakes, the forming mountain peaks—all were shattered.

Only Mo’s sword changed direction in time, still thrusting toward Shu Mu Night.

Shu Mu Night casually slashed a second time.

Not only did he break Mo’s sword, but three deep, bone-deep cuts appeared on Mo’s body, sending him flying away.

“Myriad Insects Overturning the Sea!” Insect Xuan roared.

Around them, the immense insect tide was compressed by an invisible force, transforming into a massive hand that pressed toward Shu Mu Night.

Shu Mu Night slashed a third time.

He cut through the insect tide, injuring Insect Xuan.

Then, a fourth slash came, aimed at Wang Jie.

Though Wang Jie had been carried far away by Old Nine, it seemed that Shu Mu Night had set his sights on him—he was determined to kill.

Suddenly, the fourth slash never fell. Shu Mu Night turned abruptly and looked in a specific direction. His expression changed for the first time, becoming solemn.

“Death Realm.”

Wang Jie didn’t know what had happened. Shu Mu Night’s fourth slash stopped, and he was suddenly carried away on a giant flying insect, soaring into the distance.

“Hey, I guess I just saved your life. How do you plan to repay me?” came Insect Ruo Ruo’s voice ahead.

Wang Jie, followed by Old Five and the others, glanced back at the base of Tianfu. His gaze was filled with unyielding resolve.

“Boss, you did your best,” Qing Zheng said helplessly.

Old Five and Old Nine fell silent.

The strongest cultivators of Blue Star, along with the insect tide, had been utterly defeated. Was this still human? Their escape meant the Tianfu Base was finished.

But they had truly given their all.

Wang Jie tried to rise, supporting himself on the insect’s back, but his limbs were too weak, and he almost fell.

Old Five hurried to steady him. “Boss, what do you plan to do?”

Wang Jie, with Old Nine’s assistance, walked to Insect Ruo Ruo and bowed deeply. “Thank you.”

The others exchanged puzzled glances.

Wen Zhao also looked at Wang Jie curiously.

Insect Ruo Ruo awkwardly turned away. “Go on, go on, stop with the dramatics. You still owe me.”

Wang Jie looked at her seriously. “I will repay you, but can you help me with one more thing?”

Insect Ruo Ruo raised an eyebrow. “What else do you need?”

Wang Jie looked toward the earth. “I need cataclysm materials. The more, the better.”

Insect Ruo Ruo sighed. “It’s useless. Even if you break through to nine seals or even ten, you still won’t be able to defeat Shu Mu Night. You have no idea; he’s a monster, a being who’s been invincible, and keeps becoming invincible again.”

Wang Jie’s tone was somber. “Even so, I have to give it a try. I’m confident I can at least deplete most of his power. Your brother came here because of Armor One Sect, right? If I can weaken Shu Mu Night and help you finish your mission, I believe your brother will benefit, and so will you.”

“Trust me.”

Insect Ruo Ruo looked at Wang Jie, hesitant. If anyone else had said this, she might not have believed them, including Mo, but remembering Wang Jie’s earlier battle with Shu Mu Night, and how he had continued to evolve despite being pursued, her uncertainty wavered.

Wen Zhao also looked at Insect Ruo Ruo seriously. “Help him. You won’t regret it.”

Insect Ruo Ruo bit her lip, eyeing Wen Zhao, then looked back at Wang Jie. “What exactly is your relationship with him?”

Qing Zheng sighed. “Elder sister, is this really the time for that?”

Insect Ruo Ruo huffed again, falling silent.

Wang Jie was about to speak, but Wen Zhao interrupted, nodding. The group understood—this proud young lady had agreed, but she wasn’t going to say it out loud.

The flying insect changed direction, heading south. There were fewer insects in the north, but more in the south.

If he wanted to gather as many cataclysm materials as possible, he had to rely on the insect tide.

This was also why Wang Jie had asked Insect Ruo Ruo for help.

They left, and the battle at Tianfu Base concluded.

Shu Mu Night stood in place, looking around. “I didn’t expect a Corpse Sect Hundred Coffins infiltrated here. Armor One Sect really is wretched.”

“If the Corpse Sect’s bridge-building succeeds, the fun will really begin.”

“I could solve this for you, but remember, we are not indebted to each other.”

Above the vast starry sky, on a waterfall, stars shifted as Armor One Sect lords gathered silently, gazing at the lake below. The disciples bowed their heads in silence.

“Greetings, Sect Master.”

“We greet the Sect Master.”

The newcomer was an elderly figure, with a youthful face and calm expression. Despite looking ordinary, no one dared to underestimate him—he was the current Sect Master of Armor One Sect, Xi He.

“How is the situation?”

“The situation is not good. Star and the others, with the insect tide and natives, were unable to deal with Shu Mu Night. What’s worse…” The old man hesitated. “Someone from the Death Realm has appeared.”

“Shu Mu Night said it was one of Corpse Sect’s Hundred Coffins.”

Xi He gazed at the lake. “Which one?”

“Unknown.”

The lake displayed numerous scenes, each showing the trial takers clearly, including Insect Ruo Ruo, Wen Zhao, and others.

In the footage, Insect Xuan retreated with the insect tide.

Wen Star Ru, Mo, and the others were dragged away by the insects.

The remaining trial takers scattered. Nearly half of Tianfu Base’s forces had perished, and half of those had fled with the insect tide. Elsewhere on Blue Star, figures of trial takers appeared across oceans and glaciers.

Not a single one missing.

But which one came from the Death Realm was still unclear.

“Corpse Sect has a Hundred Coffins, each sealing a cultivator of different realms. The outside world knows little about them, which is why they infiltrate various factions. I never thought our Armor One Sect trial would bring in Corpse Sect’s Hundred Coffins.”

“Could it be that Shu Mu Night said this to prevent us from seeking out Sincere One Dao after bridge-building?”

“It’s possible, but if a Hundred Coffins infiltrated and bridge-building occurs, the damage to Armor One Sect’s reputation will be far greater than the consequences of Shu Mu Night’s bridge-building.”

Xi He gazed below, then spoke after a moment. “Issue an order—release a hundred Slaughter Stones to retrieve all trial takers back.”

The group bowed. “As you command.”