Chapter 094
Chapter 94: Wang Jie’s Command
The Frost Radiance Sect had suffered devastating losses on the battlefield, and external forces intervened to support the Ninth Star Chain.
All Silver Radiance Empire warships had been dispatched to the borders. Wang Jie could feel the shift in the atmosphere. He grew uneasy and used his privileges to investigate, discovering that all of the empire’s warships were arranged along the borders, with some even stationed within the borders. Among them, he saw warships heading toward the vicinity of Blue Star.
His heart jolted upon seeing this. He immediately headed to the imperial palace to find Jun Hua.
The first person he encountered was Yu Dong.
Yu Dong looked at Wang Jie with a peculiar gaze. Not long ago, he had given her flowers—something no one had ever done for her in this lifetime. The thought of it left her feeling complicated.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“I need to speak with the emperor about something,” Wang Jie replied.
Yu Dong refused, “The emperor is currently discussing the war situation. You should return for now.”
Wang Jie insisted, “It’s about the war. I need to understand something.”
“What is it?”
Wang Jie studied Yu Dong. She shared a close bond with Jun Hua and was also a member of the Frost Radiance Sect, with a cultivation level surpassing Jun Hua’s. She was sure to know more. He immediately revealed what he had found—the presence of warships near the Blue Star vicinity—and asked her why.
Yu Dong responded, “The warships in that area have already withdrawn.” She elaborated in detail, marking a line on the star map: “The warships will gather here next.”
The line excluded Blue Star from the safe zone.
“Why is that?” Wang Jie asked, his tone growing heavy.
Yu Dong hesitated, then spoke in a low voice, “The Sixth Star Chain is assisting the Ninth Star Chain, bringing the war directly to the Eighth Star Chain. There are already enemies beyond this line, but we don’t know where they are or how many there are. We can’t do anything but set up a fixed defense line to monitor them.”
“And what about the civilizations on the planets outside this line?”
“Abandoned.”
Yu Dong spoke decisively. Wang Jie’s heart sank. “Abandoned?” Blue Star was also being abandoned.
If they encountered enemies, Blue Star wouldn’t be able to hold its ground.
Noticing Wang Jie’s grim expression, Yu Dong’s gaze fell on the star map. Why was he so concerned about that region?
Wang Jie met her eyes, his voice serious. “Please, help me get an audience with the emperor. I need to speak with him.”
Yu Dong hesitated.
“I’ll be trouble for you. Please.”
Yu Dong looked at him, nodded, and entered.
Wang Jie waited outside for two full hours before he was finally allowed in.
“Is it about this location?” Jun Hua asked bluntly.
Wang Jie didn’t hide the truth, “Yes. Can the emperor reconsider abandoning that area? At least send warships to search. I’ll go with them.”
Jun Hua shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I’m not the one who decides these matters. The resource allocation, defensive setups, and transportation before the war were decided by Senior Sister Jin Chu. After the war started, the decisions fall to the higher-ups of the sect.”
“The decision to abandon this area was made by the sect’s higher-ups. I can’t change it.”
Wang Jie pressed, “Who can change it? Who made this decision?”
Jun Hua looked at him. “One of the sect’s true disciples, Wen Zhen Zhen. She was appointed as the commander for the Silver Radiance Empire’s range.”
Wang Jie thought of Wen Bei Yi. He, too, was a true disciple.
However, he had never been to Frost Radiance Sect, and Wen Zhen Zhen had likely always remained within the sect. Both her position and the intricate relationships she held were far beyond what Wen Bei Yi could compare with.
So what about him? Could his status as an honored guest be of use?
Yu Dong spoke up, “Wang Jie, do you know how much Frost Radiance Sect has lost in the Ninth Star Chain?”
Wang Jie shook his head.
“Now, all orders are coming directly from the sect’s higher-ups. The people below are not allowed—and dare not—oppose them.”
Jun Hua added, “The sect has been preparing for this war for a long time. They won’t allow failure. Don’t think you, even with your status, can influence things. Our opinions can’t even overrule Senior Sister Jin Chu’s.”
Wang Jie raised his gaze. “Then let Jin Chu come here. I’ll speak with her, as an honored guest of the Frost Radiance Sect.”
Not long after, Jin Chu arrived.
She had heard a joke about how a ten-seal lock force cultivator, sent on a suicide mission by the Silver Radiance Empire, was now claiming to be the sect’s honored guest. It was laughable, but she came anyway.
Wang Jie looked at Jin Chu, and she studied him in turn.
This was the first time she had scrutinized him so seriously.
“My status as an honored guest comes from Domain Master Ning, and Yan Fu Yu and Wen Bei Yi can attest to it. As for whether the sect has officially confirmed it, I’m not sure,” Wang Jie said.
Jin Chu frowned and looked at Jun Hua and Yu Dong, who both appeared equally uncertain.
“How did you become an honored guest?” Jin Chu asked.
Wang Jie clasped his hands behind his back. “Because I’m a Celestial Refinement Master.”
“A Celestial Refinement Master?” Yu Dong gasped.
Jin Chu stared at Wang Jie in surprise. “You’re a Celestial Refinement Master?”
Wang Jie nodded.
“You, a lock force cultivator, are a Celestial Refinement Master?” Jin Chu asked, incredulous.
“Who says a lock force cultivator can’t be a Celestial Refinement Master?” Wang Jie countered.
Jin Chu considered this but couldn’t refute it. It was beyond her understanding. After a moment, she said, “Wait here. I’ll report to the sect to verify.”
Wang Jie sighed. “Domain Master Ning is in the Ninth Star Chain, so he might not be able to finalize my status. Can’t you contact him directly? Yan Fu Yu and Wen Bei Yi would also work.”
Jin Chu didn’t respond. She went ahead and contacted the sect.
If Wang Jie truly was an honored guest, then it would be possible to request changes to the decisions made for the frontlines. But if it turned out to be false, that would be a big problem. Every second spent contacting the frontlines was serious business.
Meanwhile, Jun Hua and Yu Dong exchanged looks, both puzzled. Could he really be telling the truth? It was certainly something they could verify.
If it was true, things became even stranger. The Armor One Sect and Frost Radiance Sect had no direct connection. To the Armor One Sect, the Frost Radiance Sect might as well be a distant and obscure place. They might not have even heard of it. But if Wang Jie came from the Armor One Sect, many things that didn’t make sense would suddenly become understandable.
The Armor One Sect and their world were on entirely different levels.
It took most of the day before Jin Chu received a response. It wasn’t easy to contact the Frost Radiance Sect, as messages had to pass through several channels, consuming time and effort.
Jin Chu gazed at Wang Jie, her expression complicated. Slowly, she bowed. “Frost Radiance Sect inner disciple Jin Chu, meets the honored guest.”
Jun Hua and Yu Dong also bowed in respect. “Meets the honored guest.”
An honored guest held an extraordinary status. No matter their cultivation level, they were on par with true disciples. Most honored guests even had higher status than true disciples, equivalent to that of inner sect elders.
Naturally, disciples would bow to them.
Wang Jie breathed a sigh of relief. Domain Master Ning was reliable.
“No need for formalities.”
Jin Chu stood up straight, speaking with respect. She opened her mouth to address Wang Jie, but paused, unsure how to refer to him.
Had Frost Radiance Sect ever had an honored guest this young? It seemed not.
When addressing other honored guests, she would typically call them “senior” or “elder,” but with him…?
Wang Jie paid little attention to this. “So, will my status allow me to request changes in some of the war decisions?”
Jin Chu hesitated. “Sorry, but no, it still won’t work.”
Wang Jie’s heart sank. “Even as an honored guest?”
Jin Chu explained, “An honored guest is not an elder. They have no authority in the sect—only resources.”
“That’s fine,” came a voice from afar. Everyone turned to see.
The speaker was a woman in a green dress, her graceful demeanor and striking beauty accentuated by green leaf tattoos on her cheek, giving her an ethereal charm.
Jin Chu, Jun Hua, and Yu Dong bowed in unison. “Greetings, Senior Sister Zhen Zhen.”
Once a true disciple, anyone, regardless of age, held authority over other disciples.
The newcomer was Wen Zhen Zhen, one of the true disciples of Frost Radiance Sect.
Wen Zhen Zhen approached Wang Jie and performed a respectful bow. “Zhen Zhen greets the honored guest.”
Wang Jie didn’t know how to return the greeting, so he simply nodded. “Hello.”
Wen Zhen Zhen smiled. “Does the honored guest have any thoughts on the war arrangements?”
Wang Jie pointed to the star map. “This area contains my homeland. I don’t want it to be abandoned.” He couldn’t hide this anymore and decided to speak directly.
Otherwise, whether it was the Frost Radiance Sect or the Silver Radiance Empire, they would find out about Blue Star eventually.
With his current status, revealing Blue Star wouldn’t be dangerous—it might even help secure protection from the Silver Radiance Empire.
Wen Zhen Zhen was taken aback. “Is that so? In that case, we’ll follow the honored guest’s suggestion.” She turned to Jun Hua. “Send warships to protect the honored guest’s homeland. On the Silver Radiance Empire battlefield, the honored guest’s words are as good as mine.”
Jun Hua glanced at Wang Jie. “Understood, Senior Sister.”
Wang Jie felt grateful. “Thank you.”
Wen Zhen Zhen smiled. “You’re welcome. However, I’d like to remind the honored guest that the enemy we face is not simple. Relying on the Silver Radiance Empire alone may not be enough to protect your homeland. The sect is currently engaged in battles on all fronts and cannot spare more resources.”
Wang Jie asked, “The enemies from the Sixth Star Chain?”
Wen Zhen Zhen’s expression grew serious. “The Gong Nation. They’re the source of the Third Nebula’s cannon fodder. A disgusting group of pawns.”
Soon, Wang Jie learned more about the Gong Nation.
The Gong Nation ruled the Sixth Star Chain, and in terms of status, they were higher than the Eighth Star Chain. This was mainly because they had produced the most cannon fodder for the Third Nebula.
Star Link had its battlefields, and so did Star Cloud.
The Gong Nation’s pawns were placed into the Star Cloud battlefield. Before the Southern House of the Third Nebula vanished, they were highly regarded. This race wasn’t human but had an appearance close to humans. They reveled in death and were incredibly difficult to deal with.
“We suspected that attacking the Ninth Star Chain would bring support from the Seventh Star Chain’s Puppet Master Sect, but the Puppet Master Sect hasn’t moved. Yet the Gong Nation has.”
“Before this, no one knew the Gong Nation was part of the Anti-Nebula faction.”
Wang Jie heard this, though he didn’t fully understand. But it didn’t matter much to him. These matters were far from his reach. All he cared about now was returning to Blue Star.
After exchanging a few words with Wen Zhen Zhen, he immediately requested Jun Hua to send the fastest spaceship to Blue Star, which she agreed to.
But there was one final request.
“I want to take Xuan with me.”
Jun Hua’s eyes flashed. “You want to take him with you?”
Wang Jie nodded. “Since Jun Tang is dead, he no longer poses a threat to you. If the Gong Nation’s enemies do find my homeland, I’ll be hard-pressed to deal with them alone. The more skilled fighters, the better our chances. Please, emperor, allow it.”
Jun Hua hesitated.
Wen Zhen Zhen spoke up, “A mere Full Star Realm cultivator, what’s the problem, Junior Sister?”
Jun Hua quickly replied, “No problem. We’ll do as the honored guest wishes.”
Wang Jie breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.” After a final farewell to Wen Zhen Zhen and Jin Chu, he left.
As he departed, Wen Zhen Zhen spoke to Jin Chu.
“Junior Sister Jin Chu.”
“Yes, Senior Sister.”
“After the honored guest leaves, you’ll follow him with Wu Mian to ensure his safety. But if you don’t encounter the Gong Nation, don’t reveal yourselves.” Wen Zhen Zhen instructed.
Jin Chu was surprised. She hadn’t expected Wen Zhen Zhen to place so much importance on Wang Jie.
“Understood, Junior Sister,” she replied.