Chapter 118

Chapter 118: A Life-and-Death Line

In a desperate rush, it struck, sending waves from the bottom up, shattering the broken swords one after another. The broken blades exploded from below, drawing the gaze of many creatures from Heavy Depth Star. Among them were Gong Nation individuals and bizarre, twisted forms—puppets.

Every broken sword was utterly destroyed.

Yet, the last of the broken swords pierced through the void as the starry sky fractured. They cut through Heavy Depth Star, embedding themselves deep into the cosmic expanse.

At the same moment, Wang Jie collided with the mountainside, tapping his personal terminal. Whether it succeeded or not didn’t matter—he sent the message anyway.

He borrowed power using a debt slip, delivering a peak strike in the form of a sword technique aimed at breaking Heavy Depth Star’s blockade and sending the message. This strike would not only send out the intelligence but also distract the Gong Nation forces from Wandering Star Realm, buying him a sliver of hope.

This was the worst-case scenario he had anticipated.

A life-and-death line.

Ding.

Wang Jie looked at his terminal. The message had been sent.

Far away, at a monitoring station outside of Heavy Depth Star, a disciple stared at the incoming data, horrified. “No, it can’t be.”

Another disciple, stunned at first, immediately sent the information to their sect. “It’s the honored guest Master Wang’s message. Regardless of whether it’s possible, we must relay it.”

“But why would Master Wang be on Heavy Depth Star?”

At the sect, the higher-ups received the transmission from the monitoring station.

“Heavy Depth Star has Gong Nation enemies—Honored Guest Wang Jie.”

Just twelve words caused a massive stir throughout Frost Radiance Sect.

At the Frost Radiance Domain, Elder Yan stared blankly at his personal terminal, pale as a ghost. “Not good. We’ve been exposed.”

At that moment, the Cold Domain Master contacted him. “What’s going on? How did this leak? How could Wang Jie know?”

Elder Yan gritted his teeth. “It seems the disciple who went to Heavy Depth Star was him in disguise. Now is not the time to discuss responsibility.”

“Act immediately.”

In just moments, the entire personal terminal network of Frost Radiance Domain was severed. Control over the ships was completely lost. The sect was thrown into chaos.

Disciples from the outer and inner sects rushed out, shouting to exterminate the internal enemy, Wen Guan.

On Lush Peak, Sect Master Wen Guan emerged, gazing toward the direction of Heavy Depth Star. There, a terrifying presence from the Star Refining Realm loomed. “Berserk Clan’s old ancestor, Mad Roar. I didn’t expect you to be here instead of the Ninth Star Chain.”

With those words, he took a step forward, soaring into the sky.

Wang Jie had made a mistake. He thought the ominous breathing came from a powerful Gong Nation hundred-star realm expert, but he was gravely mistaken.

The surrounding mountains melted, and the earth trembled. Heavy Depth Star itself quaked under the terrifying pressure.

All around, Gong Nation forces collapsed to their knees in fear, unable to raise their heads.

From the depths of the earth, an Eight Prison Berserk Clan creature emerged. Its overwhelming aura seemed capable of devouring the very heavens and earth. The planet was helpless against it.

With just a glance, the Gong Nation members at the Wandering Star Realm level were sent vomiting blood.

“Senior, spare me!” A Gong Nation warrior pleaded, prostrating on the ground.

The Berserker’s gaze ignored him, falling upon Wang Jie, lying in the mountains. “Wretch, a mere ten-seal human who can’t even be dealt with. Almost ruined our grand plans.” The words barely left its mouth when the Gong Nation warrior exploded from within, his body swelling in terror before erupting in a burst of blood.

The surrounding Gong Nation forces dared not speak.

Wang Jie, watching this unfold, was filled with despair.

It was over.

This wasn’t a small-scale invasion—it was war.

He had been thrust into the heart of the conflict.

At that moment, his mind flashed with countless images—Silver Radiance Empire, Formation Dao, Frost Radiance Sect invading the Ninth Star Chain, and so on.

All of it—false. It was all a lie.

This creature was far too terrifying. It was likely the Berserk Clan ancestor who had been heavily wounded in the past. It had been hiding here, and from the beginning, the invasion war had been a fabrication.

An overwhelming pressure descended upon him, and the world around him darkened. The very heavens and earth seemed to change color.

Wang Jie felt his body about to burst. Was this the end?

Suddenly, the pressure vanished, and he was struck by two forces. He coughed up blood, his skin cracked and bloodied.

“Old friend, what if you spare him this once?”

The Berserker creature turned, its gaze falling on a half-human-sized puppet, with no clear form. “Why?” it asked.

The puppet slowly approached. “Just an ant. Killing or sparing you makes no difference to you. Do me a favor.”

The Berserker creature withdrew its gaze from Wang Jie, staring up at the Star Dome, and let out a mighty roar. “Wen Guan, let’s settle this once and for all!”

With a single leap, it shot toward the sky, tearing apart the fabric of space, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

The Gong Nation forces around them finally exhaled.

“You take the lead,” came the puppet’s voice.

Around them, Lao Bone ships shot into the sky. Each carried thousands of Gong Nation troops, heading toward the stars.

Not only Heavy Depth Star, but also countless lesser-known planets launched their Lao Bone ships, all setting their sights on the Frost Radiance Domain.

The war had long been hidden beneath the surface.

It was just that Wang Jie was unlucky enough to land right in the center of the storm.

He lay in the mountains, too weak even to consume a revive pill, but he was still alive, though in agony.

A soft force pulled him from the mountain, lifting him beyond the 180-times gravity zone to the ground below.

Without the oppressive gravity, he finally caught his breath, coughing up blood but still able to stand.

He lifted his eyes to see the puppet standing silently before him.

“You are… a puppet master?”

The puppet spoke: “Xiao Yuan Lake, Jiang Yun Ji. Grandfather of Jiang You Sheng.”

Wang Jie was taken aback. “You’re Tower Master Jiang’s grandfather?”

“You are Wang Jie, right? Celestial Refinement Master. I’ve seen you before.”

Wang Jie was confused.

“Some puppets can record. The reason Jiang You Sheng survived after breaking through the fourth defense line in the Frost Radiance Sect must be explained. Otherwise, there would be suspicions of collusion. We saw everything through him, and thus, saw you too.”

Wang Jie understood, struggling to rise but unable to. “Thank you, Senior, for saving me.”

Jiang Yun Ji sighed. “War represents stance. We are both human. Frost Radiance Sect will fall, and your position doesn’t matter. Consider this repaying the favor for saving him.”

“But you have to come with me. To Xiao Yuan Lake.”

Wang Jie had no choice but to comply. “I understand, Senior. May I first visit the Silver Radiance Empire?”

Jiang Yun Ji controlled the puppet to ascend into the stars. “If you have the ability, go ahead. Little Five, he’s yours to watch. Keep an eye on him.”

The puppet entered the stars and vanished.

Wang Jie turned and saw another puppet nearby. It must be Little Five.

This was the Wandering Star Realm, its pressure far exceeding that of a Full Star Realm expert.

His heart finally settled.

After taking a revive pill, Wang Jie looked up at the cosmos. The war had begun. This was a battle for the destruction of Frost Radiance Sect. He had stepped into the heart of it, but now, he had been pulled out. He could only be thankful—if not for saving Jiang You Sheng, he would certainly be dead by now.

To a Star Refining Realm expert, a Celestial Refinement Master was expendable.

The Berserker creature would rather vent its fury.

The universe rippled with the aftermath, and Heavy Depth Star trembled. Wang Jie’s eyes widened—this was a Star Refining Realm clash. It was terrifying. It felt as though, with the slightest effort, the planet could be destroyed.

He glanced at Little Five. “Should we hide? The planet won’t explode, right?”

Little Five replied, “No, we’re far enough away.”

Wang Jie was surprised. Little Five was a woman? She didn’t sound that old.

“Far enough? We might still be affected. And Star Refining Realm can destroy far-off places with ease.”

“You’re really strange. You fought so hard against Gong Nation forces, but now you’re afraid of death?”

“Things are different now. I’ve fought my way through—there’s no way I’m dying just from being affected. That’d be too unfair.”

“Hmph, Grandfather will protect us.”

“That senior is your grandfather?”

“None of your business.”

“I didn’t know you were so young, yet in the Wandering Star Realm. Impressive.”

Little Five smacked the puppet onto the ground, causing dust to fly. Wang Jie was choked by the smoke, coughing up blood.

“Kid, who are you calling young? I’m much older than you. And stop trying anything sneaky. You thought of digging underground to escape, huh? You’re clever, but I’ll tell you, if you dare try to run, I’ll kill you. We’ve repaid Jiang Senior Brother’s favor. We owe you nothing.”

Wang Jie coughed again. “What can I do like this? You’re being too cautious.”

“Hmph. Although Jiang Senior Brother is grateful, he’s also said you’re incredibly clever. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to complete your task in Green Mountain City. I know what you were trying to do, but I’m not a fool. Be careful.”

Wang Jie pressed his lips together, remaining silent.

Soon after, the planet trembled again. Wang Jie looked at Little Five. He was truly worried the planet would explode.

At Frost Radiance Sect, on Fog Peak, Yuen Xiao Nian stared angrily at Elder Yan. He never expected this elder to be a traitor.

Master Luan was confused. “Elder Yan, whose side are you really on? Don’t tell me it’s the Berserk Clan. You’ve never cared for those brainless fools. Not the Xiao Yuan Lake either. You don’t specialize in puppetry. And certainly not Gong Nation’s cannon fodder.”

Elder Yan sat calmly. “Master Luan, don’t ask. After this war, Frost Radiance Sect will be no more. But I can guarantee your position won’t be shaken. You’ll just be living somewhere else—under better conditions.”

Master Luan’s gaze was complex as he quietly stared out the window.

He was in the Hundred Star Realm, as was Elder Yan, who was also skilled in battle.

Now, this person was here, while outside, he couldn’t help.

On the same Fog Peak, Master Que clenched his fists, glaring unwillingly at Tao Two. “You’re a traitor.”

Tao Two bowed to Master Que. “I have no choice, Master. Please forgive me.”

Standing nearby was a wandering star realm deacon from Frost Radiance Sect, who had already sided with their enemies. “Master Que, why get so upset? We won’t be rude to you. We’re just moving to a new place.”

“Exactly,” Master Xu said, coming forward with a smile. “Where isn’t the Artifact Forging Dao a place to live?”

Master Que glared at Master Xu. “Who exactly is behind you?”

Master Xu smiled. “You’ll know soon enough.”

On Rainbow Peak, dozens of disciples were engaged in fierce battle. Yuen Bei’s hand held an arrow, unmoving. He had been targeted by someone—the one known as Yuen Zhong.

Yuen Zhong, the top of Frost Radiance Sect’s five true disciples, a Wandering Star Realm expert.

A traitor.

Below, Huai Si smiled as the inner sect gradually fell under control. With Yuen Zhong’s intervention, the disciples were powerless to resist.

Despite some surprises, everything was falling into place.

Years of building alliances within Frost Radiance Sect, understanding its inner workings, had paid off.

Controlling the three peaks meant controlling the entire Frost Radiance Domain.