Chapter 059
Chapter 59: A Dreamlike Illusion
Everyone stood motionless, staring at the fallen Shu Mu Night.
Around him, the blood from the gravel seemed to drown him, and he lay still, motionless, his fate unclear—whether dead or unconscious.
On the altar, Wang Jie grimaced faintly, his body swaying. The ripples of his power dissipated into the air, and sunlight bathed him in warmth, casting a comforting glow.
The members of Armor One Sect were stunned into silence.
Shu Mu Night had been defeated.
Gu Moon was at a loss for words, never imagining such a turn of events.
Ting He covered her mouth, watching Wang Jie with mixed emotions. This was the second time he had bathed in sunlight, the second time he had pulled her gaze away from darkness. This man, his name was Wang Jie.
Xi He appeared at some point, a woman accompanying her—none other than the young girl Wang Jie had encountered during his first use of the Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger. She stood silently, her eyes wide with shock as she took in Wang Jie.
On Blue Star, Chu Yao sat frozen in the airship, dazed.
And further out, the likes of Mo, Wen Star Ru, and Insect Ruo Ruo stood stunned, still processing the scene.
Wang Jie had won.
No one understood how, but Shu Mu Night lay at his feet, defeated.
Wen Zhao stared blankly at the altar. The figure bathed in sunlight was so clear in her vision, she knew she would never forget it for the rest of her life.
Suddenly, she rushed forward.
Wang Jie closed his eyes as he fell from the altar, crashing through countless bodies before finally being caught by Bai Yuan’s hand.
Bai Yuan gripped Wang Jie firmly, preventing him from falling further, but Wang Jie had lost his breath.
Wen Zhao arrived.
Around them, Hong Jian, Lian Qin, and others rushed forward, pulling Bai Yuan aside, their gazes all fixed on Wang Jie.
Wen Star Ru, Mo, and the others gathered around Shu Mu Night’s body, exchanging glances of growing disbelief. What kind of horrific battle could have ended like this? Shu Mu Night’s body was almost shattered.
Their eyes shifted toward Wang Jie.
“His bones are completely shattered, blood flowing uncontrollably, his imprint power dispersed, meridians torn. And…” Mo spoke slowly, his voice laced with the cold precision of one who knew healing arts. He rose to his feet, his expression grim, “He is dead.”
Bai Yuan’s body trembled. Dead?
Wen Zhao knelt beside Wang Jie, her gaze filled with sorrow.
Tang Jie, unwilling to accept this, shouted, “Impossible! He won! How can he be dead?”
Insect Xuan sighed. “He was still no match for Shu Mu Night to begin with. I don’t know how he broke through, but he forcibly drew upon power that wasn’t his own to defeat Shu Mu Night. Honestly, we admire him, but now… Shu Mu Night has been defeated. Returning to Sincere One Dao, he could recover. But…”
The words faded, and the conclusion was clear.
Wang Jie had won at the cost of his life.
Hong Jian suddenly lunged toward Shu Mu Night, intent on killing him.
A cold, chilling energy blocked his path. Qi Xue Yin stepped forward, her gaze indifferent. “What do you intend to do?”
Hong Jian’s voice was heavy with emotion. “What you’re too afraid to do, I will.”
Lian Qin also moved forward.
Wen Star Ru’s voice was calm, “He cannot be killed.”
Hong Jian growled, “Didn’t you all want to kill him too? If we kill him now, this trial will be decided by us.”
Insect Ruo Ruo pursed her lips. The natives still hadn’t grasped the truth of the situation.
Wen Star Ru raised his eyes. “We only wish to stop him. Have you ever seen him strike us?”
Hong Jian’s pupils dilated, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.
Bai Yuan knelt beside Wang Jie, his gaze unbearably heavy with sorrow.
This was the trial.
A trial for the starry cultivators, and nothing more.
But they were natives of Blue Star, the ones being tested. They could die—tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, it didn’t matter. But these powerful, heaven-chosen prodigies could not. That was the reality.
At that moment, Mo suddenly made his move, his sword striking four times like brittle branches. He hit Bai Yuan, Lian Qin, Tang Jie, and Hong Jian.
The other trial takers didn’t have time to react.
Looking at the scene, it was clear. Under Wang Jie and Shu Mu Night, the next strongest was undoubtedly Mo.
As the four fell, Wen Star Ru and the others exchanged bewildered glances.
Mo raised his head. “Armor One Sect. The trial is over.”
The trial had two goals: to conquer Blue Star and to conquer all the trial takers.
Now that the strongest, Wang Jie, had fallen, the next four were the strongest remaining. All four had been defeated. The second goal of the trial had been completed.
Which meant the trial was over.
Mo had forcibly ended the trial.
A beam of light fell from Star Dome, enveloping Shu Mu Night and slowly lifting him into the air, dragging him away.
Next, beams of light rained down upon Mo, Wen Star Ru, and the other trial takers. Occasionally, stray lights would land on other places on Blue Star, but those trial takers were few.
Wen Zhao gazed at the light surrounding her, then lowered her head to look once more at Wang Jie, her eyes softening with a mix of resignation and regret. “It was an honor to meet you.”
Nearby, Insect Ruo Ruo also stared at Wang Jie. This vicious man had died after all.
One of the beams of light fell upon Bai Yuan, surprising those present. But after a moment’s thought, it was no longer so unexpected, for Bai Yuan had mastered the Armor One Divine Sword, a weapon worthy of facing Shu Mu Night’s experts.
But another beam fell upon Wang Jie, catching everyone by surprise.
Wang Jie was already dead.
Wen Star Ru looked at Wang Jie’s left arm, recognizing the wristguard that had blocked eighty-nine strikes from Shu Mu Night. It was undoubtedly a star artifact—this was the only remaining value Wang Jie held.
However, the light quickly lifted him, and soon faded, dropping Wang Jie’s body back onto the beach.
Wen Zhao and the others rose into the air, confused by the sudden turn of events.
Far away, Chu Yao clutched his head from the airship, a look of helplessness on his face. He couldn’t take Wang Jie with him now. The big brother had died, but the body still held value. In fact, it would be of great interest to the Corpse Sect. But just now, he had been locked out, as Armor One Sect attempted to forcefully take the body.
Luckily, the Corpse Sect had been prepared.
But he still couldn’t get close to Wang Jie’s body.
Too bad, he could only take the two others.
Armor One Sect… he’d settle the score with them later.
At that moment, things were lively at the waterfall beneath Armor One Sect.
Wen Si Yuan glared at Gu Moon and Ting He. “What are you two playing at? Star Dome has never interfered with sect matters. Do you think you can truly outmaneuver Armor One Sect?”
Gu Moon sighed, glancing at Ting He.
Ting He maintained a solemn expression as she faced Xi He and slowly bowed. “Sect Master, this has nothing to do with Star Dome. It is I, Ting He, who asks that you give Blue Star a chance.”
Xi He observed Ting He. “I recognized you the moment you arrived. I used to carry you when you were young. How are your seniors?”
Ting He smiled faintly. “They are all well.”
Xi He nodded. “Why help Blue Star? Do you understand the cost of doing so?”
Ting He bit her lip. “I do, but…” She looked at the lake, where a scene of Wang Jie’s body lay in the blood-soaked sand, so peaceful, a smile still on his face. “It’s worth it.”
Wen Si Yuan’s voice grew deeper. “No one will abandon the laws of the source bridge. If you want to help Blue Star, you must find a way to move it away, replacing it with another star, without affecting the bridge building. If there is any impact, you will bear the consequences. Also, this person possesses a star artifact.”
Xi He raised a hand, silencing Wen Si Yuan’s words, and addressed Ting He. “The native is dead. His secrets will die with him. As for the star artifact, your face can offset the cost, but Wen Elder is right. You cannot afford to take responsibility for the source bridge. After all, the cosmic martial world is imminent.”
Ting He bowed again. “I have already called upon Great Grandfather Ting Cang to leave seclusion. We will move Blue Star and replace it with another star, ensuring no impact on Armor One Sect’s bridge building.”
Xi He’s eyes widened. “Great Grandfather Ting Cang is still alive?”
Wen Si Yuan was equally shocked.
Ting He nodded. “Yes, Great Grandfather has always been here. He often reminds me to respect the senior members of Armor One Sect, and I will never forget that.”
Xi He and Wen Si Yuan exchanged looks.
“Then, we will do as you say.” Xi He nodded.
Ting He sighed in relief. “Thank you, Sect Master. Thank you, all seniors, thank you senior brothers and sisters.”
Watching Xi He and the others leave, Gu Moon turned to Ting He, scolding, “Why help Blue Star? Do you know the price you must pay?”
Ting He gazed silently at the lake’s image. “The clan wanted me to train. The first thing I saw when I came out was a sea of corpses and blood. It was he who brought the sunlight.”
“And it was twice.”
“Stepping on sunlight, then being sent away by it.”
“That was his fate.”
“I can only help him fulfill that fate. It’s the least I can do for my cultivation.”
Gu Moon sighed, saying nothing more. The bridge building was blood-soaked, which is why they brought Ting He here. They had hoped to show her the darkness of the universe. She saw it, yes, but it was so overwhelming that it shook her to the core. At least that native broke through the darkness.
Well, let’s hope it benefits her cultivation.
By the way, what happened to that person from the Death Realm?
When Tang Jie, Hong Jian, and the others awoke, all the trial takers and Bai Yuan had vanished. The only thing left was Wang Jie’s body.
The projection from the Sky Martial Hall also faded. Ten years of apocalyptic trials, as fleeting as a dream.
At this moment, Chu Yao arrived at Upper Capital City, dragging Liu Ying from the Four-Eyes Doctor, with Zuo Tian by her side.
Liu Ying struggled. “I’m not going. I want to stay on Blue Star.”
Zuo Tian struck her unconscious with a slap and smiled at Chu Yao.
Chu Yao rolled her eyes. “You’re perfect for the Death Realm. Let’s go. If we wait any longer, we won’t be able to leave. Blue Star will soon be sacrificed for the bridge building. But this time… heh, no one can stop it.”
“Say goodbye to your homeland? You won’t see it again in this life.”
Zuo Tian shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. The starry sky is my true homeland.”
Chu Yao shook her head. “Let’s go.”
Everything fell silent.
At the South Base, Wang Jie’s body was brought back.
Hong Jian and the others summoned all the doctors in the base to examine him, still unwilling to believe.
But the conclusion only deepened their sorrow.
Wang Jie was truly dead.
“To say he didn’t die would be a miracle. His body is almost completely shattered, like being crushed by a mountain.”
Lian Qin waved his hand, dismissing the others.
Then the people from Golden Hill Base came, followed by those from Upper Capital City, and the results were the same.
They all knew Wang Jie was dead, but no one wanted to accept the truth.
Qing Zheng and the others arrived, standing silently beside Wang Jie’s body.
Countless people were grateful to Wang Jie for saving them. They silently prayed for him.
Outside, everyone thought the crisis was over. But Hong Jian and the others knew, though Shu Mu Night had gone, Blue Star was still facing bridge building. Their time to live was limited. The most obvious sign was the disappearance of the Sky Martial Hall projection.
It had been ten years, and its sudden disappearance was jarring.
“Take Boss back to Golden Hill. That’s where his home is,” Old Five suggested.