Chapter 122
Chapter 122: A Sincere Heart
Wang Jie was utterly exhausted and had no energy to converse with them. He merely greeted them with a few words.
Across from him, someone was watching, curled up in the corner, doing their best to stay out of sight. This person was Mu Ran, the formation daoist who had once made Wang Jie dig the earth to bury star sealing stones, and had also taught him a few things. Mu Ran believed that he held a certain esteemed place in Wang Jie’s heart, seeing himself as a respected lord.
Wang Jie had already spotted Mu Ran and briefly scanned the area, hoping to find any familiar faces. Unfortunately, none appeared—Master Luan, Yan Zhen Zhen, Yan Xiao Nian, Jin Chu, none of them were there.
Xing Xue was dragging the ship, fleeing.
Wang Jie exchanged a few words with Luo Yan, but Luo Yan had nothing new to offer.
Before long, the lights in the ship flickered and then went out, causing the ship to sway violently.
An overwhelming, indescribable force swept through, and the ship seemed like a small boat drifting on a vast ocean, constantly tossing and turning. Many people began to vomit.
Wang Jie grasped the window and looked outside. What he saw was beyond comprehension.
A massive star collided with another, sending the entire universe into chaos. The surrounding planets exploded one by one, but under the collision of the stars, they seemed no more significant than sparks.
The ship flipped over and swayed, and Wang Jie felt as if his organs were about to be torn from his body.
He had no idea how long it took before things finally stabilized.
Voices echoed from outside.
“How else do I need to explain for you to understand? You can go anywhere, but you must not go to the Fourth Star Cloud,” the voice was familiar—it was Jiang Yun Ji.
Wang Jie rubbed his head and looked outside.
Ahead, Xing Xue was there, and in front of her stood two people—one was a middle-aged man, refined in appearance, and the other, inside a puppet, was Jiang Yun Ji.
At that moment, countless shattered planets floated around the three, and there were vague fragments of cities, along with countless creatures struggling for survival in the vast cosmos. Yet, to the three of them, these sights were nothing more than a backdrop they ignored.
“I don’t care where I go,” Xing Xue said coldly.
“Senior, are you going to the Fourth Star Cloud for help, or to leave completely?” Jin Nuo asked.
Xing Xue’s tone was icy: “Either way, try to stop me.”
Jiang Yun Ji sighed. “Why bother? This will only escalate the Star Cloud War. If the Three Chan Heavens intervene, it will be troublesome.”
Xing Xue retorted, “You’ve chased me for so long just to stop me from going home?”
“Chan Lìng.” Jin Nuo spoke frankly.
Xing Xue shook her head. “The Three Chan Heavens’ Chan Lìng?”
“Yes.”
“Not with me.”
“Senior, don’t hide it. We’ve confirmed it’s not with Wen Guan, so it must be with you,” Jin Nuo insisted.
“I told you it’s not with me. If you’re so capable, come and search,” Xing Xue said firmly.
Jiang Yun Ji said, “Xing Xue, Frost Radiance Sect is gone, and it can never be rebuilt. Holding onto the Chan Lìng is pointless now.”
“Don’t tell me I don’t have it. Even if I did, let me hold onto it as a memory,” Xing Xue said softly.
“Then don’t blame us for being impolite. And that sect fire you’re carrying with your ship, it should be extinguished,” Jiang Yun Ji said.
Wang Jie’s heart sank. In the Star Refining Realm battle, it was always two against one, and if the Grand Elder had any ability, they would have dealt with them at the sect long ago. Now, being chased to this point, they clearly had no way to fight back.
Trouble was coming. Should he step out and greet Jiang Yun Ji?
At this moment, the world around him flickered. Wang Jie instinctively thought it was because the ship’s lights had gone out again, but he quickly realized it wasn’t. This flickering was coming from outside, from the very stars in the universe.
Jin Nuo’s expression changed. He turned his head to look into the distance.
Jiang Yun Ji, too, turned the puppet around.
Xing Xue let out a quiet sigh, her gaze complicated, and in the end, she lost face.
Amid the flashing black and white, someone stepped across the stars, drawing closer with each step. Each movement covered a vast distance, and with each step, the figure became clearer.
It was a young man, elegant in appearance, dressed in a long white robe with black stripes, exuding a sense of ancient grandeur and noble dignity.
The figure passed by Jin Nuo and Jiang Yun Ji, standing before Xing Xue and bowing slowly: “Nephew Zhi Ye, greetings, Aunt.”
Jin Nuo’s expression turned ugly. A person from the Zhi family. Why was he here? Black White Heaven was far from here—unless he had received word in advance.
Xing Xue’s eyes were complex as she looked at the young man before her. “You’ve grown.”
Zhi Ye looked up, meeting her gaze. His eyes were equally complex. “Aunt, come back. The family misses you.”
Xing Xue closed her eyes, a bitter smile on her lips. “I can’t go back now.” She glanced back at the ship, her hand brushing it. “A woman marries and leaves, but when her husband’s family is gone, she must rely on her family.”
Zhi Ye’s expression darkened. “Who made Aunt unhappy? Nephew is willing to teach them a lesson,” he said, turning toward Jin Nuo and Jiang Yun Ji.
“Oh? One from Ornate Jade Gate, one from the Puppet Master Sect. I’ve encountered many of your kind on the battlefield, and more have died by my hand. Do you two want to join them?”
“Why are the Zhi family people here?” Jiang Yun Ji asked.
Zhi Ye’s voice turned cold. “You think you can investigate my aunt and not have the Zhi family know?”
Jin Nuo spoke, “This is an internal war in the Eighth Star Chain. Does the Zhi family want to interfere? Isn’t that stretching too far?”
Zhi Ye smiled faintly. “And what if it is?”
Jin Nuo had no reply.
The Zhi family, like the Nan family, had once controlled the Star Cloud. But since the Nan family disappeared, the Third Nebula had no ruler, while the Zhi family remained strong.
Now, in the Star Cloud War, the Second and Fourth Star Clouds were devouring the resources of the Third Nebula. They had been at a disadvantage for quite some time.
Faced with the strength of the Zhi family, they lacked confidence.
Jiang Yun Ji slowly spoke, “Xing Xue, is this about bringing in the Fourth Star Cloud?”
Xing Xue’s voice was weary. “You can leave now. This battle ends here.”
Jin Nuo was unwilling. “What about the Chan Lìng?”
Zhi Ye’s gaze grew sharp. “I told you to leave.”
Jin Nuo shot a glance at Zhi Ye and eventually departed with Jiang Yun Ji. With Xing Xue alone, and now Zhi Ye joining her, the outcome of a fight was uncertain. Staying here was pointless.
Once they left, Zhi Ye turned to Xing Xue, smiling. “Aunt, the villains are gone. Shall we go home?”
Xing Xue’s tone was deep. “Let me say goodbye to the sect.”
Zhi Ye gestured for her to go ahead.
Xing Xue took a step, reaching the top of the ship. She stood there, gazing silently toward the Frost Radiance Sect direction, her eyes distant, speaking nothing for a long time.
Inside the ship, Wang Jie wrestled with himself, unsure whether to speak. If he stayed silent, no one would know what would happen to the Silver Radiance Empire, or what fate awaited Blue Star. Would they be enslaved? Battle slaves? Or simply ignored?
He looked out at the distant stars. The Silver Radiance Empire wasn’t far.
It was now or never. He had to speak.
He swallowed a breath-holding pill and climbed to the top of the ship.
In the distance, Zhi Ye glanced at him but didn’t care.
“Senior, I have something to say.”
“Say it.” Xing Xue didn’t care, still looking at the Frost Radiance Sect direction.
Wang Jie took a deep breath and spoke, “If we want to rebuild the sect, we need a stepping stone. Otherwise, the Eighth Star Chain will remain closed, and even if we want to reclaim territory, it will be very difficult.”
“My suggestion is to take some territory in the Eighth Star Chain to prepare for the future.”
Xing Xue looked at him with deep, unfathomable eyes.
Wang Jie bowed again. “This is the first. The second, I want to protect the Silver Radiance Empire and the people of my hometown. I hope, senior, that in exchange for the news I risked my life to send about the enemy on Heavy Depth Star, you can help me.”
Xing Xue was shocked. “You risked your life to send the message?”
Wang Jie recounted the events that had taken place on Heavy Depth Star.
Xing Xue was unaware of the specifics. She knew the enemy had invaded, but not the details of how they did so or who the traitors were.
Thinking of this, she turned to ask the others aboard the ship.
Most were unaware, but a few had heard rumors and confirmed Wang Jie’s words.
Mu Ran, trembling, spoke up. “Disciple, I’ve heard that Master Wang sent word to Heavy Depth Star about Gong Nation’s involvement, which caused the war to start earlier than expected. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have escalated so quickly.”
Xing Xue confirmed this and looked at Wang Jie with a changed expression.
Before, she had admired his spirit for battling Kui Slash with ten seals and his refusal to surrender to Gong Nation. Now, she felt a sense of satisfaction.
“So, you are an honored guest. A celestial refinement master?”
Wang Jie’s gaze was complicated. “I left my hometown and joined the sect, where I was cared for by Domain Masters and others, including Master Luan. I became friends with the sect’s true disciples, Yan Zhen Zhen and Yan Xiao Nian. I feel deeply connected to the sect. That’s why, even if I risked my life, I wanted to protect the sect and send the final message.”
“How did you survive?” Xing Xue asked, puzzled.
“Because of Jiang Yun Ji.” Wang Jie then shared the events that had happened in Green Mountain City, leaving Xing Xue stunned. She was shocked, but it made sense.
She sighed. “Little fellow, you are truly fortunate, surviving so many near-death experiences.”
Wang Jie smiled bitterly. “I didn’t want to face so much.” He looked at Xing Xue. “Senior, is there any way you can protect the people of my hometown? Even if you have to take them away?”
Xing Xue stepped out of the ship and walked in front of Zhi Ye, pointing toward the Silver Radiance Empire. “Let’s draw this area into the Fourth Star Cloud. It can serve as a stepping stone for the future rebuilding of Frost Radiance Sect. Of course, if Frost Radiance Sect is truly rebuilt, this sect will belong to Black White Heaven.”
Zhi Ye hesitated. “Aunt, this is the Eighth Star Chain. To draw an area out, we must cross the Ninth Star Chain. Not to mention the Puppet Master Sect’s attitude, such a long distance doesn’t benefit the Zhi family. It’s hard for me to decide, and the family won’t agree.”
“If the Puppet Master Sect doesn’t agree, and we start a war in the Eighth Star Chain, we’ll be at a disadvantage.”
Xing Xue’s voice was indifferent. “When I first married to Frost Radiance Sect, my family didn’t approve. I know the family won’t want to see Frost Radiance Sect rebuilt.”
Zhi Ye said nothing. That was the truth.
“Does the family still need this?” Xing Xue asked, taking out a token-like object and waving it in front of Zhi Ye.
Zhi Ye’s eyes lit up. “The Chan Lìng of the Three Chan Heavens? Aunt really has it?”
Xing Xue nodded. “I got this Chan Lìng from the Three Chan Heavens myself. It doesn’t belong to any sect; it belongs to me.”
“Now, the family has two choices. Either I use this Chan Lìng to exchange for the family’s protection of the Silver Radiance Empire, or I use it to secure the Puppet Master Sect’s protection. You choose.”
Zhi Ye’s eyes flashed. “Nephew doesn’t understand. Why would Aunt keep the Chan Lìng when being hunted by two star refining realm experts? Why protect an area? Is it really to rebuild Frost Radiance Sect? That’s not very meaningful.”
Xing Xue’s eyes darkened. “I’m getting old. This thing is useless to me now. If it can buy a sincere heart, it will be worth it.”
Zhi Ye glanced at Wang Jie inside the ship. A sincere heart? Lock-force cultivator?
Wang Jie saw this scene unfold and hadn’t expected Xing Xue would be willing to exchange the Chan Lìng for the safety of the Silver Radiance Empire. Even though he had contributed greatly to Frost Radiance Sect, it couldn’t compare to the value of the Chan Lìng.
This favor was enormous.
For Xing Xue, this act wasn’t just for Wang Jie’s sake, but also for those Frost Radiance Sect disciples watching. Those disciples were the flame of the sect. By doing this, she was telling them they still had a support, even if the sect was destroyed.