Chapter 085
Chapter 85: Thunder Well
The appearance of the marking signified that the task had to be completed within a set time frame, or the other party would depart.
Yuan Bei Yi glanced at Wang Jie and Jiang Cai, pondering how to shake these two off to meet his contact. Wang Jie, on the other hand, was thinking about how to get his hands on the item the contact was bringing. This item was certainly of great importance.
Both Wang Jie and Yuan Bei Yi, each lost in their thoughts, returned to the Puppet Master Tower. Along the way, Yuan Bei Yi’s attitude towards Wang Jie grew warmer. He began calling him “brother” repeatedly, even adding “kin” in his speech. His greatest grievance, however, was that Wang Jie had yet to reveal his name.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
During this month, Yuan Bei Yi approached Wang Jie three times, hoping to go out for a stroll. But each time, Wang Jie quoted a price of a second-grade Star Artifact, which left Yuan Bei Yi so enraged that he nearly slapped him dead. Where would he find such a large number of second-grade Star Artifacts? This wasn’t even in the Frost Radiance Star Chain. Even if he had them, he couldn’t give them away; it was too ridiculous. A trip out costing one second-grade Star Artifact would surely raise suspicions. Even an idiot could see the problem.
Jiang You Sheng had returned, expressing his deep gratitude to Wang Jie and showing him the Thunder Pattern Gold.
Wang Jie looked at the Thunder Pattern Gold in front of him, which gave off a tingling sensation at the touch, and exclaimed, “Good material.”
Jiang You Sheng laughed heartily, “If Master likes it, it’s yours.”
“How can I accept such a gift? Tower Master endured great hardships to gather this from Thunder Well,” Wang Jie replied.
“No worries, I can always go again,” Jiang You Sheng responded seriously. “By the way, I heard that the Berserk Clan requested you for Star Refining? Two hundred Star Artifacts? Three hundred days—Master, do you have confidence? If there’s difficulty, I can negotiate. The Berserk Clan still owes me some favor.”
Wang Jie waved his hand, “Only under pressure will there be motivation. I also want to speed up my Star Refining. No problem.”
Jiang You Sheng praised him, “Master’s Star Refining speed is something I’ve never seen before in my life. I truly admire it.”
After chatting for a while, Jiang You Sheng suddenly mentioned the essence of the Star Method. Wang Jie generously brought it out for him to see. After all, there wasn’t much to hide.
Jiang You Sheng declined politely, “But this is something Master worked hard to obtain. How could I look at it for free?”
Wang Jie smiled, “Tower Master is being too polite. We hit it off right away—there’s no such thing as free or not. Feel free to take a look.”
Jiang You Sheng took the Star Method and, after a moment’s reflection, said, “The cultivation world is full of deception. It’s rare to encounter someone like Master, who is straightforward. That’s the luck of your humble self.” He began to go through the method.
After reading, he thought for a moment and asked, “Do you think this can be of help?”
Wang Jie nodded, “Lock Force and Star Force are somewhat interconnected. I don’t know what the future holds, but if I can practice the Star Method with Lock Force, it will likely help me take a further step. Just think about how many people can never enter the Star Breaking Realm. I’m confident that the Star Breaking Realm is within my reach. This method gives me a clear goal.”
Jiang You Sheng nodded, “In that case, Master might as well come with me to Thunder Well. Thunder Well is the best place to cultivate the Star Method.”
He then went on to explain Thunder Well’s details.
According to him, Thunder Well suppressed both Star Force and Lock Force. Cultivating there would greatly improve the mastery of both forces, and many creatures also cultivated there.
“There are more than one Thunder Wells in the universe. This Ninth Star Chain has one, and others in different Star Links also have their own. Each Thunder Well attracts a large number of creatures for cultivation.”
“Where is Thunder Well?” Wang Jie asked.
Jiang You Sheng gave him the directions.
Wang Jie calculated for a moment and realized that his current position still hadn’t reached the required distance for the Mourning Water Art, but a trip to Thunder Well should bring him closer.
Moreover, if cultivation efficiency could be greatly increased, it would be worth it.
Jiang You Sheng wasn’t likely to harm him. He had no reason to. If he truly had any malicious intentions, who could stop him in this Puppet Master Tower?
Wang Jie agreed.
Jiang You Sheng then asked, “Master, are you not afraid I might have improper motives?”
Wang Jie smiled, “I trust Tower Master.”
Jiang You Sheng gazed seriously at Wang Jie’s puppet. “To be honest, I do have a master, right by the Small Round Lake. My master has been at the peak of Hundred Star Realm for a long time, just one step away from Star Refining Realm. However, he has always been unwilling to take that step, preferring to gather more materials, especially hoping to find a Celestial Refinement Master to help him.”
With that, he stood and bowed to Wang Jie, “If Master is willing, your humble self and my respected teacher will certainly not let you down.”
Wang Jie controlled the puppet to help Jiang You Sheng up, “Tower Master, you overstate it. But if there is something needed, feel free to ask.”
Jiang You Sheng was deeply moved, “Thank you, Master. Thank you.”
The journey began immediately. As for refining weapons, that could be brought along.
Before leaving, Wang Jie made a request to continue sealing the Puppet Master Tower, ensuring that no one inside could leave.
Jiang You Sheng didn’t understand.
Wang Jie explained, “I don’t want to get involved in any wars. What if there are practitioners from the Eighth Star Chain mixed in within the Puppet Master Tower?”
Jiang You Sheng, though feeling it unnecessary, still agreed to Wang Jie’s condition.
Yuan Bei Yi was unaware, as the Puppet Master Tower was initially going to be unsealed, but Wang Jie’s words sealed it again.
The Ninth Star Chain’s method of interstellar travel was through cosmic giant beasts. One such massive insect-like creature, armored with a hard shell, could carry over a hundred people.
With Jiang You Sheng nearby, Wang Jie could only pretend to engage in Star Refining.
Ten days later, they reached Thunder Well.
The closer they got to Thunder Well, the more overwhelming the sensation became. The sound, like a terrifying beast swallowing the universe, made the giant insect tremble.
Heavenly thunder erupted, filling the entire starry sky.
Wang Jie gazed ahead. The heavenly thunder pierced through the darkness, at times expanding, at times contracting.
Thunder Well, clearly a vast inferno of heavenly thunder.
“Thunder Well is divided into the Shallow Thunder Zone, Deep Thunder Zone, Heavy Thunder Zone, and the Thunder Abyss.”
“In the Shallow Thunder Zone, billions of heavenly thunders are dispersed every second, and it isn’t that large. The Deep Thunder Zone sees tens of billions flashing every second. The Heavy Thunder Zone contains hundreds of billions, and the heavenly thunder there also contains gravity.”
“At the very bottom, the Thunder Abyss connects not only the Ninth Star Chain but also major Star Clouds, and it is said to stretch across the entire universe.”
“I’m not sure how it connects. But the Thunder Abyss—anyone below Star Refining Realm entering it is courting death. The endless heavenly thunder there covers everything. No one can hide, and once inside, you’ll be bombarded by heavenly thunder at all times.”
“Thunder Pattern Gold is usually found in the Deep Thunder Zone. If Master wishes to cultivate, the top of the Shallow Thunder Zone will suffice. Only those at the Star Breaking Realm are usually able to cultivate here.”
The insect was reluctant to go any further.
Jiang You Sheng led Wang Jie through the cosmos. The puppet stayed behind on the insect’s back, as it couldn’t withstand the heavenly thunder’s strikes and was better off staying hidden.
Wang Jie felt very uneasy, but this was the cultivation world. One walked a thin line between life and death at any moment. During the early days of the Blue Star apocalypse, he had struggled just like those orphans, fighting for survival amidst the deaths of many. The earth was littered with bones, flesh consumed entirely.
He had survived that ordeal.
Suppressing his awe, he stared at Thunder Well.
His skin felt scorched, and the sound of voices became inaudible as the blinding light of heavenly thunder blinded him. The darkness slowly receded.
Jiang You Sheng watched Wang Jie closely, seeing that, though pale, he was still determined in his gaze towards Thunder Well. Secretly, he marveled.
It was rare not to be afraid when seeing Thunder Well for the first time.
Though Wang Jie’s eyes held awe, or perhaps fear, he wasn’t truly afraid. This was the mark of a Celestial Refinement Master.
“Master, we’ll officially enter Thunder Well now.”
Wang Jie nodded, “Please, Tower Master.”
Jiang You Sheng smiled, then led Wang Jie to leap down. Instantly, the heavenly thunder rushed toward them like a massive beast.
Wang Jie’s pupils contracted sharply as he watched the thunder bombard them. Everywhere—above and below—thunder cracked, sending a bone-chilling coldness through his body. He was staring death in the face.
Jiang You Sheng waved his hand, twisting the oncoming thunder and redirecting it forcefully.
Wang Jie felt a surge of heat and choked, coughing continuously.
“Master, are you alright?”
Wang Jie panted. Only someone at Star Breaking Realm could cultivate here, and he was still too early. But it wasn’t impossible, just not yet adapted.
He waved his hand, “I’m fine.”
Jiang You Sheng said, “This position is perfect. If it’s too much to bear, we can crawl out of Thunder Well. See those houses around? They’re where cultivators rest while cultivating. Some are fixed, and others are for rent.”
“Master, if you can’t handle it, you can go to one of those nearby houses. My humble self’s house is nearby. If you can’t bear it, feel free to return.”
Wang Jie looked outside Thunder Well and vaguely saw several houses. In the earlier rush of heavenly thunder, he hadn’t noticed them at all. These houses were scattered, some large, some small.
Jiang You Sheng led Wang Jie to one of the houses.
Once the door was closed, the sound from the outside world remained, but was much softer. At least, speaking was now possible.
Wang Jie was drenched in sweat, his face ashen, his skin trembling.
It took him some time to recover.
Jiang You Sheng marveled, “Master, to recover so quickly is truly impressive. Usually, Star Breaking Realm cultivators take days to recover the first time they come. It requires great determination to go back in. Of course, some flee, unwilling to return.”
Wang Jie smiled wryly, “Tower Master, don’t flatter me.”
Jiang You Sheng said nothing more, giving Wang Jie time to adjust.
Wang Jie gazed at the fierce heavenly thunder outside the house.
This wasn’t just about whether the body could withstand it, but the instinctive reverence for life.
Who wasn’t afraid of heavenly thunder?
For cultivators at his level, facing Thunder Well was no different from an ordinary person confronting an onslaught of heavenly thunder.
But after a brief experience, it didn’t feel as hopeless.
The thunder at the top was still within his acceptable limits. It just meant he had to cling to the Thunder Well’s edge and climb, unlike those at Wandering Star Realm who could walk through the universe, moving freely through heavenly thunder. He didn’t know if he would ever reach that level in his lifetime.
Not long after, Wang Jie looked at Jiang You Sheng, “Tower Master, I’m ready.”
Jiang You Sheng nodded, then led Wang Jie back in.
This time, he let Wang Jie climb the Thunder Well on his own. The edge of the Thunder Well had been battered by the thunder for so long that it formed a visible, charred void. It appeared to have solidified into some material, seemingly transparent from a distance, just right for non-Wandering Star Realm creatures to climb.
Wang Jie looked down at the endless heavenly thunder, like countless long snakes moving, sending chills down his spine.
He moved along the Thunder Well, dodging the oncoming thunder while carefully observing.
Several days later, he began to adjust and could climb along the edge of Thunder Well with ease.
With this, Jiang You Sheng could go ahead and collect the Thunder Pattern Gold himself.
“Master really can do it?”
“I can’t let Tower Master always accompany me in cultivation.”
Jiang You Sheng smiled, “That’s fine. As long as Master needs, your humble self will always be by your side.”