Chapter 052

Chapter 52: Qi

In the small courtyard.

Qing Sheng sat across from Wang Jie, quietly sipping his tea.

“Xiao Zheng was very upset when he found out you were dead,” Qing Sheng said softly.

Wang Jie gave a low hum, acknowledging the words. “I know.”

Setting his cup down, Qing Sheng’s gaze drifted to the room. “For now, I can’t leave. The area outside the base is becoming more dangerous by the day. Ten-seal creatures are constantly emerging, and the safe zones are shrinking.”

“This is the last time I’ll deliver materials,” he added.

Wang Jie looked at Qing Sheng. “Uncle Qing, why are you willing to send materials to Four-Eyes? The sacrifice isn’t small.”

Qing Sheng looked around the room thoughtfully. “Someone has to take a different path. If Blue Star is doomed to perish, maybe he can build a spaceship and take a few people with him. As long as someone survives, Blue Star hasn’t truly died.”

Wang Jie watched Qing Sheng in silence, deeply moved.

Even if the heavens fall and the earth collapses, ants won’t wait for death—they’ll carve a path, no matter how absurd the process may seem to humans.

For Qing Sheng, he may not be strong enough to confront Shu Mu Night, but he had his own vision, no matter how laughable that might seem.

That was why Qing Sheng was Qing Sheng—the one who helped establish the five major bases at the beginning of the apocalypse, who protected countless survivors, drained his wealth, and possessed unparalleled determination. The five bases had not failed him; the Leading Pillar Group became the largest and only consortium to span all five bases.

“You’ve changed,” Qing Sheng observed, studying Wang Jie.

Wang Jie glanced at his body with a bitter smile. “I’ve become a cripple.”

Qing Sheng chuckled softly. “I meant your gaze has changed. It’s no longer full of hatred, but carries a sense of purpose. That’s good.”

Wang Jie silently took another sip of his tea. Purpose? Perhaps it was true. He didn’t want his homeland to be destroyed. He didn’t want to see the scene in River City again, with countless ordinary people standing in the way, giving time for cultivators, while behind them were the children.

Qing Sheng left without saying much, only offering a final remark before departing. “If Blue Star is truly without a future, I hope at least you survive.”

Wang Jie watched Qing Sheng’s departing figure, slowly clenching his fist.

Two days passed.

Wang Jie counted the days; the time to begin his exercises was drawing near. Four-Eyes had also finished preparing the medicine.

He himself had said it wouldn’t be effective, but Wang Jie had insisted on using it. Why? Wang Jie didn’t know how to explain it.

In this small courtyard, the sunlight was warm, but outside, the world was drenched in blood.

The four major bases were all besieged by beast tides. The safe zones had completely collapsed. There were no more safe zones, and ten-seal creatures roamed everywhere. All of Blue Star—Hua Xia—was in turmoil.

River City was destroyed.

A million dead, the rest scattered, not knowing where to run, left only to survive in the wilderness.

The trial takers no longer intervened. They all focused on Shu Mu Night, waiting for the bridge building to end before leaving. The lives of Blue Star’s people meant nothing to them.

Golden Hill Base was also attacked. Fortunately, Wen Zhao, Insect Xuan, and others were willing to help, using the insect tide to defend the base. However, as the number of ten-seal insects increased, Insect Xuan’s control over them weakened.

The Southern Base was besieged by countless marine and land creatures. Just as Lian Qin reached a breaking point, Shu Mu Night appeared, choosing the Southern Base as the next bridge building point. He slaughtered the mutated beasts along the southern coastline, painting the sea red with blood, and the stench of death filled the air for miles.

Although the Southern Base was temporarily saved, everyone knew it couldn’t escape its fate of being buried.

They wouldn’t survive, nor could they escape.

Upper Capital City Base also faced a beast tide. Bai Yuan and others tried to hold it off, but it was futile.

Luckily, Chu Yao intervened. He wasn’t helping Blue Star’s people, but ensuring his own safety. Because Wang Jie refused to leave, if Upper Capital City Base fell, he had no idea how he would get Wang Jie out.

The only option was to hold the base steady until the bridge building ended.

Wang Jie’s recovery, in Chu Yao’s eyes, was a joke. Such injuries could only be healed by the starry forces in a short time; Blue Star didn’t have the ability for such rapid healing.

Watching Chu Yao move in and out, Wang Jie knew what he was doing.

No need for thanks. If it wasn’t for him being here, Chu Yao wouldn’t have acted.

Upper Capital City Base had already been devastated.

Although Chu Yao’s strength had not been fully revealed, he was undoubtedly powerful. He had abilities and threats that even Shu Mu Night had failed to uncover.

That night, a familiar voice echoed in Wang Jie’s ears.

Struggling, Wang Jie rose to his feet, forcing himself to follow the movements of his exercises. As the warm flow moved through his body, he combined the medicine with the movements. After only a few actions, he felt some relief. But the pain surged like a tidal wave.

Before, many parts of his body couldn’t even feel the pain.

Now, he could.

It hurt—really hurt.

His teeth ground together as sweat dripped down his forehead, soaking his clothes, and his skin grew covered with black grime.

The exercise didn’t last long.

But for him, this time was no different than the first time, and because of his injuries, the pain almost made him convulse. Yet, the results were obvious. When the exercise ended, his injuries had healed.

The medicine wasn’t what mattered. What mattered was the warmth amplifying its effects—it was miraculous.

Wang Jie collapsed to the ground, rubbing his wristguard. Without it, he would’ve died. There was no way he could have withstood Shu Mu Night’s punch. Where did this wristguard come from? With such miraculous effects from just one piece, what would a full set of equipment be like?

He didn’t know what kind of force could possess such items, but it was undoubtedly a powerful entity.

He moved his arm; his body felt light and easy, even though his strength hadn’t increased. The recovery itself was a great improvement.

Hastily, he opened the window—the room reeked.

After washing up, Wang Jie lay comfortably on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, he sat in his wheelchair as usual, with Liu Ying pushing him.

Chu Yao came out, staring blankly at Wang Jie.

Wang Jie glanced at him. “What’s wrong?”

Chu Yao sat down across from him, looking at Liu Ying with a grin, showing his teeth.

Liu Ying turned silently and walked away. She didn’t like this person.

Once Liu Ying was gone, Chu Yao’s expression suddenly became serious. He stood and leaned closer to Wang Jie, locking eyes with him.

Wang Jie felt uneasy under the intense stare. “What are you doing?”

Chu Yao sat back down, impressed. “You really have a lot of secrets.”

Wang Jie’s heart skipped a beat, looking at him in surprise.

“Not only can you increase your strength in a short time, but you can also heal yourself. Don’t deny it. In our Death Realm cultivation, we look at qi, not people. Your qi has fully recovered,” Chu Yao remarked.

Wang Jie hadn’t expected to be seen through. “Qi?”

“That medicine from Four-Eyes is mediocre at best. In our Corpse Sect, it wouldn’t even be considered low-tier. It’s absolutely impossible for it to heal you in one night. With so many secrets, you should come with me. The starry sects aren’t suitable for you,” Chu Yao said lazily, crossing his legs. “If they find out about all your secrets, they’ll crush you into dust.”

“You think Shu Mu Night wants you with him because he admires you? Wrong. He wants your secrets.”

“Sincere One Dao can push people to break their physical limits; he’s already had his third reforge. How long have you been cultivating? And you’re still on a trial planet, cultivating in the wild, yet you can force him to use so much power. It’s incredible. Whether it’s Sincere One Dao or Armor One Sect, if you go to either, you’ll wish you were never born.”

Wang Jie stared at Chu Yao. “And what about your Corpse Sect? It sounds even more terrifying.”

Chu Yao laughed. “Let me teach you something. The more terrifying a place sounds in the universe, the better it is for us. Because everyone has secrets.”

“Corpse Sect cultivation is body-centered. Everyone’s research is valuable, and it’s all based on secrets.”

“If Corpse Sect wants to explore those secrets, the lower ranks will revolt.”

“The more secrets you have, the more you should come with me. Otherwise, there won’t be a place for you in this universe.”

Wang Jie didn’t want to discuss this further. Everyone had their own reasoning. He didn’t trust the Armor One Sect, nor would he trust this guy.

“What did you mean by qi earlier?”

Chu Yao raised a finger. “What did you see?”

“A finger,” Wang Jie answered honestly.

“Obviously, anything else?”

Wang Jie shook his head.

Chu Yao shook his finger. “I have a flow of qi at my fingertip. Qi isn’t just some force. It’s the feeling of connection between oneself and the universe, or the channel that links us.”

“Humans have qi, beasts have their own qi, there’s luck, anger—these are all qi. Anything that can’t be seen directly but affects us can be called qi.”

“Even a country has its qi—its national fortune.”

“Every force has its own qi, you can think of it as momentum.”

“If two ordinary people, one has punched a million times, the other has never thrown a punch, and their height, weight, strength, and speed are identical, who do you think is stronger?”

“Don’t doubt it—of course, the one who’s thrown a million punches. That person has the feeling of punching, and that feeling is qi.”

“In the universe, the living train strength, the dead train qi.”

“You can’t see it because you haven’t cultivated. Normal people can’t see it, just like you can’t see your own luck.”

Wang Jie understood, though it still felt unclear.

Chu Yao looked him up and down. “Finger technique, footwork. Those are your strong points because your fingers and feet have more concentrated qi. Of course, because you have great strength, your body contains a lot of qi, and even your wrists carry qi, which shows you excel at using weapons.”

“I have to say, you’re quite well-rounded. You can do everything. I don’t get it—how did you learn so much in just ten years on a trial planet?”

He looked up at the sky. “Armor One Sect’s martial arts hall is full of techniques, but in just ten years, a person can only excel in one or two of them. You’re a true exception.”

Wang Jie was curious. “What about Shu Mu Night’s qi?”

Chu Yao rolled his eyes. “You think observing qi is everything? Powerful people can hide and shift their energy. Some seasoned experts even mask their qi range to fool you. So don’t casually observe others’ qi.”

“Only newbies like you would get seen so clearly.”

“Of course, there are ways to see through disguises, but that’s for later—if you’re still alive.”

He grinned. “So, how’s the universe? Pretty exciting, right? You know so little. There are countless cosmic powers, endless civilizations and races, boundless delicacies, flying swords in brothels… If you come with me, with your ability, even if you can’t find a way to avenge yourself against Shu Mu Night, you can still kill his disciples and grandchildren. There are so many hypocrites in Sincere One Dao. We’ll kill them together.”