Chapter 050
Chapter 50: The One Under the Sun
The bloodthirsty air of the mountain city spread under the scorching heat, suffocating the land with its rancid stench.
Wen Zhao looked at Wang Jie with concern. How could they possibly face such an opponent?
Wang Jie slowly sat down, closed his eyes, and rested.
No one disturbed him. Whether he wished it or not, this battle had to be fought.
Shu Mu Night stood atop the altar, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. When his eyes landed on Wang Jie, a smile curved at the corner of his lips. So, he had come. As long as he didn’t flee, everything would be fine.
As night fell, the land bathed in moonlight was eerily bright. Chu Yao made her way over in the dark. “Are you still going to fight?”
Wang Jie leaned against a large tree, gazing at the moon. “Yes.”
Chu Yao sighed. “I really don’t get you all. Fine, take this with you.”
Wang Jie took it without hesitation, not concerned about any notion of fair combat. To Shu Mu Night, this battle was merely a game, a chance to experience the power of the Bridge Law. But for Wang Jie, this fight determined the fate of Blue Star.
Neither of them considered this a fair duel.
If he could, Wang Jie would gladly summon a tenfold insect tide to drain Shu Mu Night’s strength.
But alas, Insect Xuan could only control so much.
After a night of rest, as the sun’s rays pierced through the leaves, they fell upon Wang Jie’s face and the distant flesh-and-blood altar.
Both Wang Jie and Shu Mu Night opened their eyes simultaneously.
A myriad of gazes followed.
Wang Jie walked toward the flesh-and-blood altar as if marching to his death.
And from the Armor One Sect, someone gasped, “He’s here.”
At the waterfall, Gu Moon was puzzled, staring at the image on the lake. A young man was walking toward the flesh-and-blood altar. He asked, “Who is this? Is he the heaven’s chosen prodigy you’ve sent to deal with Shu Mu Night?”
Wen Si Yuan walked over and looked at the image. “A native.”
Gu Moon was shocked. “A native?” He couldn’t fathom how a native could have the courage to challenge Shu Mu Night. Even more baffling was the reaction of the Armor One Sect—everyone seemed to awaken as the young man walked forward.
Wen Si Yuan spoke solemnly, “Remember the rule: don’t question the process, only record the result.”
Gu Moon didn’t understand. Something strange was happening.
Ting He watched, transfixed, as Wang Jie marched toward the blood-red altar, the vibrant energy of the morning sunlight dispelling the cold darkness. Her heart wavered as she watched him take each step toward the abyss. He would surely fall under that monster’s blade. He was so young, so much like herself, yet he was about to face such a being.
Blue Star?
At the altar, Wang Jie continued his approach. As he walked, the sky seemed to brighten, the sunlight spilling over the earth and reaching the altar, slowly pushing away the night.
Shu Mu Night stood, watching Wang Jie. His face caught by the sunlight, he remained motionless like a statue. “I hope you don’t disappoint me,” he said. “After all, I’ve waited for you for an entire month.”
Wang Jie shifted his arm. “Is it possible to wait another month?”
Those around him were speechless. To joke at a time like this?
Shu Mu Night chuckled. “That depends on whether you have the qualification.”
Wang Jie clenched his fist. “Then, I’ll begin.” He bent his legs slightly, lowering his body, eyes locked onto Shu Mu Night, and charged.
The ground shattered beneath him, and Wang Jie leaped forward like an arrow, a fist aimed straight for Shu Mu Night.
Shu Mu Night grinned, lifting his fist to meet the attack.
Bang!
The clash was deafening, a thunderous shockwave rippling through the mountain city. The flesh-and-blood altar was instantly driven down by several meters. The air around them twisted, then exploded outward in a violent shockwave.
From the Armor One Sect, Gu Moon was stunned. “What is this?”
The others around him were not surprised. They had seen this native’s terrifying strength before, in the battle outside the Tianfu Base. Although it was hard to believe, it was clear that Wang Jie could hold his own against Shu Mu Night. The question now was: where was his limit?
The clash of fists was just a test.
Taking advantage of the collision, Wang Jie flipped in mid-air, his body soaring high as he delivered another punch.
Shu Mu Night laughed. “It’s increased, just as I thought. You have the ability to temporarily increase your strength. I haven’t waited in vain.” He met Wang Jie’s every punch with his own, causing the altar to sink deeper. Blood spilled down its sides, and the surrounding air turned a deep red, the pressure from their strikes evaporating into the atmosphere.
Bang!
Wang Jie was knocked back by a punch, crashing to the ground. Shu Mu Night stood above him, drawing his blade and swinging downward.
The blade of starforce descended. The insect tide battle of the previous eight hours hadn’t forced him to use starforce, but now, against Wang Jie, his first attack was infused with it.
Wang Jie saw the blade, a sweeping force as powerful as Liu Shui, descending toward him. He raised his hand, a sword flying from a distance, gripping the hilt and executing the Hanging Stream Sword Style. The blade clashed with Liu Shui, and Wang Jie stepped back, disrupting the sharp edge.
Shu Mu Night leaped down, slashing once more with his single blade. Wang Jie had not used his sword style before, and Shu Mu Night hadn’t expected him to be able to withstand the attack. This battle was becoming more interesting by the second.
The second strike was far more powerful, like an endless wave.
Wang Jie deflected the second blade with a sweep, sending it soaring far away. It crashed into the earth, not far from Wen Star Ru, carving a deep gouge in the ground.
Wen Star Ru raised an eyebrow, his sleeve torn by the attack. “That strike… difficult to block. It contains the foundational move of the Sincere One Dao—the Moonlit Flowing Sky. But there’s power behind it. Wang Jie’s sword style is impressive?”
Wang Jie pressed forward, sword in hand. Under the Hanging Stream, his sword was thick and blunt, relying on force to overpower his opponent.
Shu Mu Night raised his blade to block, the ground beneath him cracking in a thousand pieces. Invisible force rose from the earth, lifting all the debris and sending it flying in all directions.
Insect Xuan and the others were forced to intervene, retreating once more.
Wang Jie spun, unleashing the Rainbow Drinking Sword Style.
The sword, like a rainbow in flight, seemed to multiply under the pressure of the imprint, sending out countless blades, each one aimed at Shu Mu Night.
Shu Mu Night raised his head. “All show, no substance.”
He slashed upward with his blade. The world became like Liu Shui, invisible, formless.
His single-blade slash shattered the rainbow, and as the sword’s tip fell toward Wang Jie, Wang Jie’s finger thrust out from behind the sword’s edge. The Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger—a direct, distant strike—appeared in the air, its fleeting tip pressing down on Shu Mu Night.
Shu Mu Night didn’t expect this attack. Caught off guard, he was struck head-on, his blade bending under the pressure. His body spun, twisting to avoid it.
The two fingers collided, sending a roar through the air. The shockwaves radiated outward.
Wang Jie’s feet moved, using the Armor Eight Steps to appear behind Shu Mu Night. He struck out with a finger, again using the Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger. This time, the attack was smaller, only the size of a palm, but it shot toward Shu Mu Night with incredible speed.
Shu Mu Night turned swiftly, raising his hand. His finger struck Wang Jie’s palm, sending him stumbling back three steps. His palm split open, blood dripping from his wrist.
Wang Jie wasted no time. He pressed forward again, thrusting his finger toward Shu Mu Night.
Shu Mu Night’s gaze darkened. His wounded right hand clenched into a fist, grabbing onto the finger technique and twisting.
The Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger shattered under his grip, and with a swift punch, he blasted Wang Jie in the chest, sending him flying through the air. Wang Jie slammed into the flesh-and-blood altar.
The surroundings fell into silence.
Old Five and the others looked on, their faces pale. “Boss…”
Wen Star Ru and the others were watching Shu Mu Night’s right hand. He had been injured. For the first time, Shu Mu Night had been hurt.
At the waterfall, Gu Moon was incredulous. “How is this possible? A native, someone who should have been easily suppressed by the trial takers, can actually go toe-to-toe with the current Shu Mu Night?” He had just witnessed Shu Mu Night unleash his second reforged strength, reaching the limits of human potential. This power had been forced out by that native.
Sword techniques, footwork, finger techniques, strength—everything was perfect.
Could this truly be what a native was capable of?
He turned to Wen Si Yuan, his disbelief growing. No wonder this elder had insisted on writing only the conclusion. If the result was made public, not only would the outside world disbelieve it, even the Star Dome Visage would have difficulty accepting it.
Inconceivable.
Ting He covered her mouth, her heart heavy as she watched Wang Jie, bloodied and trapped in the flesh-and-blood altar. He couldn’t have… died, could he?
Outside the altar, Shu Mu Night lifted his right hand, looking at the wound. For the first time, his palm had been torn open, blood spilling out.
He had thought this would be a simple game. An unavoidable game for the Armor One Sect. But he had never expected someone like this to emerge.
He raised his head, eyes cold. “Your power doesn’t seem to have reached its limit.”
Inside the flesh-and-blood altar, Wang Jie was covered in blood, his fists clenched as he gazed at his opponent. Above him were the lifeless bodies of those from the Tianfu Base.
He looked into their eyes, full of unfulfilled regret, and clenched his fists tighter. Not enough. It still wasn’t enough.
He had thought his physical strength was on par with Shu Mu Night’s, but that last punch made him realize that Shu Mu Night had been holding back. Now, with seventy-seven times his strength, he understood. Shu Mu Night must be above eighty.
He had held back too much during the battle at the Tianfu Base.
What was even more terrifying was that no one knew whether Shu Mu Night was still holding back.
He stepped out from the altar, blood-soaked, and locked eyes with Shu Mu Night.
Shu Mu Night casually drove his blade into the earth, raising his right hand to reveal his wound. “You’re the fifth one to injure me at this level. As a reward, I’ll use all my second reforged strength to respond.”
He clenched his fist and smiled cruelly. “Hold on. Don’t die.”
He took a step forward, and in the blink of an eye, his body appeared before Wang Jie. The speed was so fast that Wang Jie barely had time to react.
All he could see was the fist growing larger before his eyes.
Wang Jie instinctively raised his arms to block.
Boom!
The impact sent him flying, crashing through the flesh-and-blood altar and hurtling into the distance.
Shu Mu Night pursued, striking again with another punch. Wang Jie gritted his teeth, using the Armor Eight Steps, twisting his body to dodge. The earth shattered beneath Shu Mu Night’s punch, and even the distant mountains collapsed, shaking the entire mountain city like an earthquake.
Wang Jie continued to retreat. Shu Mu Night turned, unleashing another palm strike. The wind from his hand swept across Wang Jie’s head, stunning him momentarily, nearly causing him to faint. Meanwhile, the palm struck the altar, obliterating half of it, and rolled toward the east, where Insect Xuan and the others were watching.
They were shocked. They hadn’t expected to be caught in this. Escape was impossible now.
“All together!” they shouted.
Myriad insects overturning the sea.
White Fang Strike.
Shattering Peak Palm.
Thousand Snows Chill.
Armor One Divine Sword.
The group combined their strength to fight back, but still, they were forced back, coughing up blood.
It was unimaginable how Wang Jie could withstand such overwhelming attacks from Shu Mu Night.
Wang Jie had no time to react. The speed of Shu Mu Night’s strikes was impossible to follow. He could only dodge one of every three attacks, barely managing to avoid the second. The third would undoubtedly land.