Chapter 110

Chapter 110: Threat

At that exchange rate, eight hundred Starsea Stone was eight million Starstone. No one in their right mind would trade like that.

A single Starsea Stone was worth far more than a mere Starstone.

Wang Jie’s opening bid of eight hundred Starsea Stone made the entire hall hesitate. For a moment, no one dared raise the price.

That was exactly what he wanted. If someone truly fought him for the Slaughterstone, he might not be able to outbid them.

Having over a thousand Starsea Stone sounded like a fortune, but it was really just Domain Lord Ning casually tossing him a bribe—using it to pull him in without demanding anything in return.

There were simply too many rich people in the Frost Splendor Sect.

All Wang Jie could do was intimidate them.

And, thankfully, it worked. Eight hundred Starsea Stone bought him sixty-two pieces of Slaughterstone.

The instant he got what he wanted, he left before the auction ended, wary of drawing the attention of anyone with ulterior motives.

“Move.”

The moment he stepped outside, he saw the Second Princess being shoved into a beast carriage. The giant beast hauling it surged forward at terrifying speed. In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the distance.

Through the carriage window, Wang Jie caught a glimpse of a fat man inside. The man’s grin was leering, his front teeth flashing as if they’d been polished.

The days that followed settled into a tense, brittle calm. Whenever Wang Jie had nothing else to do, he stayed with Master Luan while the old man refined pills. Master Xu came by more than once. Master Luan couldn’t refuse the visits, but each time Master Xu left, Master Luan’s mood darkened.

“If only he had half your humility,” Master Luan sighed. “Then he might be tolerable.”

Wang Jie didn’t answer. He wasn’t humble—he simply didn’t have the confidence to act any other way.

Outside, rumors spread like wildfire. People said he disrespected his seniors, that Master Xu had come to the mountain and Wang Jie hadn’t even gone to pay his respects.

Wang Jie ignored all of it.

Domain Lord Ning sought him out once, clearly wanting to say something, but in the end the words wouldn’t come.

Master Xu’s presence weighed on everyone. The man was openly supporting Domain Lord Han in the struggle for the position of Lord of Mist Peak, and Domain Lord Ning was already losing ground.

Wang Jie didn’t know how to help.

Then another piece of news arrived, making Domain Lord Ning’s situation even worse.

On the Ninth Star Chain, the Mad Clan had launched a counterattack. Deputy Domain Lord Yan had died in battle.

Wang Jie blinked, stunned. “Deputy Domain Lord Yan is dead?”

Xia Zhen Zhen’s expression was heavy. “Yes. But his death isn’t the important part. What matters is why the Mad Clan was able to counterattack at all.

“Back then, when Domain Lord Ning returned, he clearly said the Mad Clan was completely incapable of resisting. That’s why the sect agreed to split the Ninth Star Chain evenly with the Puppeteer Sect of the Seventh Star Chain.”

Her voice sharpened. “Now the Mad Clan is counterattacking, and the Puppeteer Sect immediately moved to support them. Worse, because of the earlier division, the Puppeteer Sect was able to enter the conflict smoothly. The huge advantage our sect gained at the beginning is gone.”

She let out a slow breath. “Right now, the sect is demanding answers from Domain Lord Ning.”

Wang Jie hadn’t expected things to turn this ugly. Domain Lord Ning was unbelievably unlucky.

On one side, Domain Lord Han had brought Master Xu in and was pressing relentlessly. On the other, the rear had collapsed.

The war on the Ninth Star Chain had been Domain Lord Ning’s greatest leverage in competing for Mist Peak. Now it had become his biggest liability.

“My grandfather says Domain Lord Ning has failed completely,” Xia Zhen Zhen said quietly. “There’s no chance the Lord of Mist Peak will be him.”

Wang Jie opened his mouth to respond—and then abruptly turned his head toward the courtyard gate.

Xia Zhen Zhen looked up at the same time.

“Is Master Wang here?

“This old man, Zhu Cheng, has come to request an audience.”

Wang Jie and Xia Zhen Zhen exchanged a shocked glance.

“It’s Domain Lord Han,” Xia Zhen Zhen murmured.

Wang Jie stepped outside. The elderly man waiting there was indeed Domain Lord Han—Zhu Cheng.

As a Hundred-Star Realm expert, Zhu Cheng was only being polite because Wang Jie was a Chen refiner. Otherwise, Wang Jie wouldn’t even be worth a glance.

“So it’s Senior Domain Lord Han,” Wang Jie said evenly. “Please come in.”

He opened the gate and invited him inside.

“Zhen Zhen greets Senior,” Xia Zhen Zhen said, bowing.

Zhu Cheng smiled at her. “You’re here too, girl. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your grandfather. Is he well?”

“He’s very well,” Xia Zhen Zhen replied with a polite smile. “Thank you for asking, Senior.”

Zhu Cheng nodded once. “I need to speak with Master Wang.”

Xia Zhen Zhen glanced at Wang Jie, then excused herself and withdrew.

Wang Jie gestured toward the house. “Senior, please—”

“No need.” Zhu Cheng didn’t move. “Have you heard what’s been happening outside?”

“Senior means…?”

“The Mad Clan has counterattacked. Domain Lord Ning has already gone to the Ninth Star Chain.” Zhu Cheng’s smile widened, and he didn’t bother hiding his satisfaction. “As for the position of Lord of Mist Peak—he no longer has the qualification.”

Something about that smile made Wang Jie’s skin crawl.

It wasn’t just arrogance. It was the unmistakable sense that Zhu Cheng didn’t consider him worth even the effort of pretending.

Zhu Cheng’s gaze landed on him like he was appraising merchandise.

Wang Jie met his eyes. “That matter has nothing to do with me. I’m only a Ten Seals lockforce cultivator. I have no interest in outside affairs.”

Zhu Cheng chuckled softly. “You should. You live on Mist Peak.”

Wang Jie’s eyes flicked. He was about to speak when Zhu Cheng lifted a hand, cutting him off.

“A Guest Elder may join the sect,” Zhu Cheng said calmly, “and a Guest Elder may also be driven out.”

His tone was almost conversational. The meaning was not.

“If Master Wang were no longer a Guest Elder of my Frost Splendor Sect, where would you go next?”

Wang Jie’s eyes narrowed. “What does Senior mean?”

“I mean only this.” Zhu Cheng’s voice stayed light. “Master Wang should understand where you stand.

“Anything Domain Lord Ning can give you, I can give you as well.”

He tilted his head. “That girl Zhen Zhen came as a lobbyist for her grandfather, didn’t she? Then let me be clear—her grandfather doesn’t have the ability to compete with me.”

Zhu Cheng’s smile turned cold. “The Lord of Mist Peak will be me.”

He glanced around the courtyard. “Pale-Moon Mountain is large. Mist Peak is larger still. But if Master Wang chooses the wrong path… you may not find your way back.”

Then he turned and walked away.

Wang Jie watched him go, unease tightening in his chest. Zhu Cheng spoke from above, without masking his contempt in the slightest.

It left Wang Jie restless.

On Mist Peak, his greatest support wasn’t Domain Lord Ning—it was Master Luan.

Once Master Luan came out of seclusion, Wang Jie would talk to him. Even if Zhu Cheng truly became the Lord of Mist Peak, he shouldn’t be able to sway Master Luan.

Xia Zhen Zhen returned not long after. “What happened?”

Wang Jie told her, plainly, what Zhu Cheng had said.

“He threatened you directly?” Xia Zhen Zhen’s eyes widened.

“In his eyes, I’m nobody,” Wang Jie said. “He has Master Xu behind him. He doesn’t care about my status as a Chen refiner.”

Xia Zhen Zhen frowned. “He’s already acting like he’s the Lord of Mist Peak.

“I never realized he was that arrogant.”

Wang Jie hesitated, then asked, “If he really becomes the Lord of Mist Peak… can he expel me?”

“No.” Xia Zhen Zhen answered immediately. “You were appointed as a Guest Elder by the sect.”

She paused, then added, “But… he can still restrict you.”

“What do you mean?”

“How many star-refining tasks does the sect require you to complete in a year?”

“Thirty.”

“What if he pushes it to fifty? Or sixty? Or even a hundred? What then?”

Wang Jie’s expression didn’t change, but a bitter thought flickered through his mind. It wouldn’t matter. It would take him one night. Of course, he couldn’t say that.

Xia Zhen Zhen continued, “You wouldn’t even have time to leave your residence, let alone cultivate. The sect is huge and power is dispersed. Mist Peak’s affairs are managed by the Lord of Mist Peak—there are limits to what even the Sect Master can interfere with.”

Wang Jie thought of the auction, of how cruel reality could be.

Especially now that there was another Chen refiner—one far stronger than him. The sect wouldn’t care about his situation at all.

And he couldn’t leave. If he left, the people from Blue Star in the Silver Radiance Empire would be in trouble.

He changed the subject. “Why doesn’t your grandfather compete for the position of Lord of Mist Peak?”

Xia Zhen Zhen sighed. “That’s just who Grandfather is. He doesn’t like fighting for things.

“But if you were willing…” Her gaze sharpened. “My grandfather could absolutely protect you.”

Wang Jie understood. She wanted him to become her grandfather’s exclusive Chen refiner—star-refining materials for him so he could break through to the star-refining realm.

“I’ll speak with Master Luan first,” Wang Jie said at last. “If there’s no other way… then Domain Lord Ning or your grandfather will both be options.”

A few days later, Wang Jie went to find Master Luan. Xia Xiao Nian intercepted him at the door with a straight face.

“That big scallion is inside.”

Wang Jie stared at him. “Next time, say that to his face.”

Xia Xiao Nian nodded solemnly. “I don’t dare.”

“Is Master Luan out yet?”

“Soon.”

“Then I’ll go in.”

“You’re not avoiding him?”

“It’s fine.”

Wang Jie stepped inside. The first thing he noticed was a deep green figure.

This was his first time meeting Master Xu face-to-face.

Master Xu looked him over and curled his lips into a sneer. “So you are Wang Jie?”

Wang Jie gave him a brief glance. “Yes.”

Master Xu’s eyes narrowed. “Is that how you greet me?”

Xia Xiao Nian hovered nearby, watching quietly.

Wang Jie looked genuinely confused. “How should I greet you?”

Master Xu’s voice turned icy. “Arrogant little junior. I had intended to take you as my disciple and teach you the methods of star-refining. Now I see you should first learn the rules of conduct.”

Wang Jie blinked. “Master Xu… you were willing to take me as your disciple?”

Master Xu lifted a teacup with practiced arrogance. “That depends on whether you are worthy.”

“Not worthy,” Wang Jie said, without hesitation.

Master Xu froze.

Xia Xiao Nian suddenly walked up as if he’d just received a message. “Master Xu, my teacher invites you.”

Master Xu’s gaze lingered on Wang Jie for a heartbeat, then he rose and followed Xia Xiao Nian away.

Xia Xiao Nian gave Wang Jie a small nod, signaling him to wait.

Master Xu didn’t stay long. When he left, his expression was sour.

Master Luan came out soon after, looking exhausted. The moment he saw Wang Jie, his brows knit in anger.

“That man is narrow-minded,” Master Luan said. “Young friend, be careful. Just now he actually demanded that I drive you out of Pale-Moon Mountain. Outrageous.”

Wang Jie was startled. “I didn’t offend him, did I?”

“He’s backing Domain Lord Han,” Master Luan said bluntly. “And Domain Lord Han and Domain Lord Ning are mortal enemies. Targeting you is hardly surprising.

“Besides, you don’t seem to take him seriously.”

Wang Jie shrugged. “A little.”

Master Luan let out a laugh with no warmth in it. “Too honest. Which means you must be even more cautious.”

“I understand. Thank you for worrying about me, Master.”

Wang Jie hesitated, unsure how to bring it up.

Master Luan produced a bundle of pills and handed them over. “These pills will trouble you to star-refine.”

Wang Jie accepted them. “No trouble. Star-refining tools or star-refining pills—it’s all the same to me.”

Master Luan studied his face. “With that expression… trouble?”

Wang Jie exhaled slowly and told him what Zhu Cheng had said.

Master Luan’s temper exploded. “Zhu Cheng dares to threaten a Chen refiner? Where did he find the nerve?

“Young friend, rest easy. Remain on Pale-Moon Mountain. Even if Zhu Cheng becomes the Lord of Mist Peak, he still can’t lay a finger on you.”

He waved a hand. “As for sect tasks, don’t worry about them. You star-refine pills for me, and that is already service to the sect. Those star-refining tool tasks can be ignored.”

Wang Jie stood and bowed. “Thank you, Master.”

Master Luan nodded firmly. “Relax. This sect is not Zhu Cheng’s to command.”

With that, he went back inside to rest before refining another batch of pills.

This time, the pills were no ordinary medicine. Master Luan called them Star-Nurturing Pills. Wang Jie didn’t ask what they did; he star-refined without caring about their effects.

He’d only heard they were used by Hundred-Star Realm experts, and that anyone below that realm would gain nothing from them.

They were probably worth a fortune.

As Wang Jie walked the mountain paths, his thoughts finally steadied. Master Luan treated him well—even if part of that kindness came from Wang Jie’s ability to star-refine pills.

From now on, he should raise his success rate a little.

Not too much. Too much would bring its own trouble.

His supply of pills was growing. Aside from the basics, he’d received a batch from Master Luan called Whole-Bone Pill—a Full-Star Realm pill.