Chapter 057
Chapter 57: A Slap
With a swift motion, Wang Jie raised his arm and unleashed a strike, a cold light flashing downward—bang.
His left arm trembled, his wrist aching. Gritting his teeth, he thrust his right hand forward, pointing sharply at Shu Mu Night’s shoulder. The attack pierced through, blood spraying into the air.
Shu Mu Night had underestimated him. He had not expected Wang Jie to take the blow from the Su Yue Liutian sword style head-on. How had he done it?
His gaze fixed on Wang Jie’s left wrist, sensing something there.
But Wang Jie gave no time for further observation. With a flick of his hand, he struck again.
If it weren’t for the wristguard, he would have been dead by now. But the wristguard also sparked an idea for how to counter Shu Mu Night’s blade technique—brace against it. This artifact was truly incredible. Even though Shu Mu Night was powerful, with only eight seals, it should still hold up.
And as expected, it did.
As long as he could track the blade’s trajectory, he could endure the strikes.
The trial takers hadn’t brought anything from the outside world to Blue Star—that was their weakness.
Shu Mu Night refused to believe it. He had never seen anything capable of withstanding his blade technique on Blue Star. Strike after strike, he cleaved down, but each was blocked by Wang Jie’s wristguard. Wang Jie seized the opportunity, counterattacking. This time, however, Shu Mu Night was prepared and prevented Wang Jie from breaking through his defenses, though he still received a few scratches.
From the outside, it seemed like Shu Mu Night was the one on the offensive while Wang Jie was defending, but in truth, Shu Mu Night was the one suffering more damage.
The situation had completely reversed compared to their previous encounters.
And this shift sent waves of excitement through the three major bases, lifting the spirits of millions.
Bai Yuan knelt at the altar, muttering to himself, We must win. So many lives have been lost. The entire Blue Star has been buying time… we must win.
In the distance, Qi Five watched in awe. “Young miss, if this battle is broadcasted, the whole world will explode. Who could have imagined that Shu Mu Night would be pushed to this point? The third reforge couldn’t even subdue a native. This native is… defying the heavens.”
Qi Xue Yin remained silent, unable to respond. Who could? No one had ever seen a Star Guardian forced into such a situation at the same level.
Unbelievable.
Eighty-nine strikes—Shu Mu Night had slashed eighty-nine times, giving Wang Jie eighty-nine chances to counterattack. The result was that Wang Jie’s left arm became completely numb, almost immovable. Though the wristguard blocked the blades, it couldn’t stop the shockwaves.
But Shu Mu Night fared worse. His body was covered in countless cuts. Though not fatal, his clothes were stained with blood—an unimaginable sight.
Just as Wang Jie was about to block another strike, Shu Mu Night suddenly stopped.
He stared intently at Wang Jie’s shattered clothes, which had already revealed the golden wristguard beneath.
“That’s a star artifact. How do you have a star artifact?”
Wang Jie glanced at the wristguard, its surface smooth and unmarred despite having been struck so many times. “A white-bearded old grandfather from the starry sky gave it to me once. He took me as his disciple and told me to find him once I reached the stars.”
Shu Mu Night was momentarily caught off guard, unsure whether Wang Jie was telling the truth. Blue Star was not supposed to have star artifacts.
Star artifacts were weapons and equipment infused with starforce. And star artifacts came in varying strengths. The weaker ones could not withstand the force of his blade, yet this wristguard—despite being just an accessory—showed no signs of damage. It was clearly something extraordinary.
The Armor One Sect, Wen Si Yuan, and others watched Wang Jie’s wristguard, perplexed. How could this be? Blue Star was a remote planet on the edge of the Armor One Sect’s star wall. Surely, if something like this existed, they would know about it?
But the wristguard was undeniably real.
This native’s words might not be lies, but if true, then why was he still cultivating lock force with no future?
No one knew if Wang Jie’s words were true. He simply spoke them casually before charging again at Shu Mu Night. Raising his hand, he struck out with a palm.
Having fought Shu Mu Night three times, Wang Jie’s understanding of power had deepened. Especially just now—he was not only counterattacking but also studying the Su Yue Liutian blade technique. An idea struck him, and he replaced his sword with his palm, executing the Rainbow Drinking Sword Style.
However, this time, Shu Mu Night didn’t engage with him. He allowed Wang Jie’s strike to pass, the palm force cutting through the air like a sword, splitting the sea beneath, nearly striking Chu Yao.
In the sky, the crimson clouds pressed down, and an ethereal sound of a flute began to play.
The moment the flute’s music echoed through the air, Wang Jie froze. A loud ringing filled his brain, and his vision blurred. It felt as if a heavy blow had struck him.
Not just him—every creature on Blue Star who heard the flute, whether human or beast, was momentarily stunned.
At the Armor One Sect, Gu Moon was stunned. “The flute method… he’s actually using the flute method?”
Wen Si Yuan stared at the screen, equally shocked.
The flute method of Sincere One Dao was known as Black Night, White Day.
This flute method was above the star method. Even those in the Star Breaking Realm couldn’t learn it. In his prime, Shu Mu Night had mastered it to an otherworldly level, but now, after his reforge, his realm was still only at eight seals—there was no way he could use the flute method.
Yet here he was.
Was this really Shu Mu Night? The greatest genius in the universe?
Previously, his use of the star method had shocked everyone, but the Black Night, White Day flute method was even more impressive—it could only be performed after mastering the star method, requiring far higher requirements than lifting the entire Tianfu Base.
“Last time he lifted Tianfu Base, he couldn’t have used the flute method,” Wen Si Yuan was certain.
Gu Moon’s voice was filled with awe. “We’ve been focused on watching this native’s progress, but we overlooked Shu Mu Night. He’s re-cultivating, and the reason he hasn’t broken through to nine seals is because he’s pushing his current realm to its limits.”
“Such feats are rare in history,” Wen Si Yuan said softly, his voice tinged with a sense of finality. “The outcome is already decided.”
On Blue Star, Chu Yao floated above the sea, the crimson waters swaying around him. He stared up at the sky, the flute’s music torturing his mind.
This guy is insane. Not only does he use the star method, but now the flute method too? This is cheating.
Everyone around him was collapsed, unable to stand. Lian Qin, Hong Jian, and the others could hardly even kneel.
The entire Blue Star was under the power of the flute method.
Wang Jie gritted his teeth, bending over to hold his knees, struggling to look ahead.
Shu Mu Night soared into the air, landing on the altar, his gaze cold and domineering. Despite his bloodstained clothes, the wind only made him look more powerful and inscrutable.
“I don’t give second chances. You’re the first.”
“Wang Jie, today, I offer you a second chance. Follow me, and you will become the second most powerful person in the universe.”
“If you agree, kneel.”
Wang Jie raised his head, blood dripping from the corner of his eye. His consciousness was on the edge, the relentless flute music pounding in his brain. The invisible pressure felt heavier than any blade strike, making him want to collapse.
But still, he moved forward.
Step by step.
Though the heavens seemed to tear apart around him, only the altar stood clear in his vision—only the golden figure bathed in sunlight remained crystal clear.
Another step forward.
No matter how difficult, he would keep walking.
In the distance, Wen Zhao coughed up blood, clinging to a tree, watching Wang Jie’s back. Her veil fell away, revealing her face.
Wang Jie’s silhouette was so lonely, the entire world seemed to stop while he walked alone.
Submit.
The words echoed in Wen Zhao’s mind. She hoped Wang Jie would surrender. At least that way, he could keep his life.
No one could win against Shu Mu Night at this level. Absolutely no one.
Limitless, beyond human.
This was Shu Mu Night.
A legend created at the eighth seal.
Only Wang Jie, one person, walked toward that legend.
Blood filled his eyes, his entire body reddening. His skin leaked blood, yet he kept stepping toward the altar. The blood footprints on the beach were indistinguishable—his or someone else’s.
Kneel? Ridiculous. So many had died to buy him time. He had said it before—if he had to die, it would be in front of all Blue Star’s people.
Shu Mu Night watched as Wang Jie climbed toward the altar, his brow furrowing.
“Why haven’t you given up yet? You should be at your limit.”
Shu Mu Night’s face was pale. Even for him, performing the flute method had pushed him to his limits.
Wang Jie didn’t listen, continuing to climb, stepping over corpses.
Bai Yuan watched, his world turning upside down, but Wang Jie remained so clear.
He let out a hoarse, unwilling cry: “Win.”
Wang Jie kept climbing silently.
Bai Yuan cried out again: “Win~”
Shu Mu Night’s gaze darkened further, blood dripping from his mouth. “Kneel. I’ll give you a way out.”
Wang Jie kept climbing.
Win~
No one, not even those under the flute method, could comprehend the pain. Chu Yao, who could lie in a coffin for a long time, had given up the moment the music began, drifting with the sea to ease the pain.
No one could understand how Wang Jie kept moving forward.
It seemed as if his blood had dried up.
All he could see was that beam of sunlight.
All he could hear was one word—win.
Shu Mu Night could no longer hold back. He raised his blade and struck.
Bai Yuan shouted, “Be careful!”
Wang Jie suddenly raised his head, leaping toward the blade. He grabbed the edge, his palm torn open, but he didn’t care. His body collided with Shu Mu Night’s chest, sending him stumbling back.
The impact wasn’t strong, but Shu Mu Night couldn’t hold his ground.
Wang Jie spun around, using the Armor Eight Steps, his left arm, still numb, swung around in a painful arc. With one mighty slap, he struck Shu Mu Night’s face.
Slap!
The sound was thunderous. Shu Mu Night was sent flying several meters.
The flute method faltered.
Those watching from Armor One Sect were stunned.
Time seemed to freeze. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Shu Mu Night on the altar—he had just been slapped across the face.
And at that moment, they remembered what Wang Jie had said before the battle—he would slap Shu Mu Night’s face.
Gu Moon couldn’t help but move forward. If this moment were broadcasted, the entire universe would be shocked. But without the context, who would believe it? No one would believe that the mighty Shu Mu Night had been slapped by a native.
Ting He laughed, clenching his fists, feeling relieved.
Wen Si Yuan exhaled deeply. “The flute method pushed Shu Mu Night to his limits, or else this native wouldn’t have had a chance.”
No matter the reason, Shu Mu Night had just been slapped.