Chapter 132
Chapter 132: The Deadline
Wang Jie ascended to the eighth level, while Miao Tai remained in the seventh, planning to hunt more creatures. The strength of the surface creatures varied, but on the seventh level, he wouldn’t encounter anything too powerful, making it the safest option. Of the fifteen levels, this was the only one where he could stay. This was also the awkward reality for most Star Breaking Realm cultivators—they couldn’t descend further, nor did they have the strength to go up.
On the eighth level, Wang Jie encountered a creature with a combat power of fifty thousand, within the Full Star Realm. The difficulty was similar to that of the fifth level, though this creature wasn’t as strong as the one on the fifth. Wang Jie earned two hundred thousand starstones, but the reward was still far less than what he had gained on the fifth level.
Next came the ninth level.
Much like the fourth, fifth, and sixth levels, no one knew the required strength to break through the ninth level. It was common to encounter groups of Star Breaking Realm creatures within, and ordinary Star Breaking Realm cultivators would struggle against such odds.
Wang Jie entered and quickly exited, defeated. Inside, he detected a combat power of a hundred thousand—barely the minimum of the Wandering Star Realm. To pass through the ninth level required at least Wandering Star Realm strength, it seemed. Though he could try to push through using a debt slip, there was no guarantee of success, and if he did manage it, the reward might not be worth it. So, he chose to abandon the attempt, deciding to return when he reached the Star Breaking Realm.
Among the fifteen levels, five were dominated by Star Breaking Realm cultivators. Above the ninth level were the tenth and eleventh, which, if they existed, would mean Zhong Yi could pass through them.
Was she really that strong?
Her ten seals were on par with his current strength, but the Star Breaking Realm was far more unfathomable.
How did she cultivate? Wang Jie couldn’t help but admire her.
Returning to the surface, he thought for a moment at the entrance of the fifteenth level and decided to go to the fourth level to see the thousand-colored stones. He planned to use the gravity zone there to quickly refine his Star Method. This was not only material for the Heaven Reversal path but also a way for him to grow stronger.
Back on the fourth level, he made his way straight to the darkest part of the land, where the gravity was one hundred and fifty times the norm—just right.
There, he began his training.
Wang Jie didn’t realize that the Sword Mastery Heaven had a rule: once inside, a month was the time limit. If someone didn’t exit within a month, they were considered either dead or left to be eliminated by the next entrants. Those who eliminated them were rewarded by the Four Alliances and Lone Peak Gorge—an enticing prize indeed.
So, no one dared stay beyond the month’s limit in Sword Mastery Heaven.
As time passed, Miao Tai stood inside the ship, watching the Sword Mastery Heaven recede. That person hadn’t returned. Was there an accident? Perhaps, but maybe he didn’t know about the time limit.
It wasn’t as if Miao Tai had intentionally kept this from him; it was common knowledge.
Still, he didn’t feel sorry.
However, even so, the people who entered next would have difficulty dealing with him.
Every year, Lone Peak Gorge was the first to enter, with ten people staying for a month, followed by the Four Alliances. It wasn’t necessarily better to enter earlier; in fact, the earlier one entered, the more dangerous it was. Inside, resources were inexhaustible, and the Four Alliances had the advantage of entering later, making it easier to gather intelligence. They could also gauge the level of danger based on the entrants from Lone Peak Gorge.
This time, only three people emerged from Sword Mastery Heaven with Miao Tai. Aside from Wang Jie and the clearly deceased ones, the fate of the other three was unknown—most likely, they had perished too.
The outside world judged the Sword Mastery Heaven journey as dangerous, considering only four had come out.
Next would be the Four Alliances’ turn.
The Four Alliances could send fifteen people at once.
The fifteen entered, filled with unease, anticipation, and trepidation, heading toward Sword Mastery Heaven.
Wang Jie naturally stayed on the fourth level, focusing on the thousand-colored stones. He kept his gaze fixed for five days. Afterward, feeling a bit dizzy, he decided to take a break on the surface, get some food, and perhaps clear his mind. There, he encountered someone.
The man stared at him intently. His gaze was filled with surprise, along with a fleeting hint of murderous intent. Although it passed quickly, Wang Jie still sensed it.
What was this? Did he want to kill him?
The man looked at Wang Jie. “You’re one of those who entered from Lone Peak Gorge, aren’t you? Why haven’t you left yet?”
Wang Jie didn’t care to respond: “It’s none of your business.”
The man eyed him warily, clearly considering killing Wang Jie to claim the reward. After all, he was from the Star Breaking Realm. But after some thought, he reconsidered—too risky. This person had dared to stay beyond the time limit, which likely meant he was strong. It wasn’t wise to provoke him.
Just as he was about to leave, Wang Jie’s voice rang out: “Why do you ask why I haven’t left?”
The man turned back and looked at Wang Jie: “The month’s deadline has passed. I saw you hadn’t left, so I asked if you were facing any difficulties.”
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow: “A month’s deadline? What’s that?”
The man’s gaze shifted, confused. Didn’t he know about the month’s deadline? How had this person even arrived? Could he have come from outside the Lock Path Interval?
While wondering, Wang Jie began walking toward him.
The man turned and fled.
Wang Jie took a step, and the Armor Eight Steps swiftly closed the distance. In no time, he blocked the man’s path. The man couldn’t make out Wang Jie’s strength at first glance—he appeared to be at the Ten Seals level. But no Ten Seals cultivator was bold enough to chase after a Star Breaking Realm. Clearly, this man’s realm was something he couldn’t fathom.
The man bowed: “Please forgive me, Senior. I didn’t mean to offend. It’s just… I remembered something.”
Wang Jie smiled: “I asked you about the month’s deadline, and you turn and run—what does that mean? Do you look down on me?”
“Of course not, Senior. Please don’t misunderstand. I just suddenly remembered something I needed to do.”
“So, you ignored me.”
“No, it’s not that…”
“The month’s deadline.”
The man quickly explained the rule of Sword Mastery Heaven. It was brief—just a few sentences. Wang Jie thought for a moment, wondering if Miao Tai had purposely withheld this information.
“Is that all?” Wang Jie asked.
The man lowered his head: “Yes, that’s all.”
“Once the month is over, you just return. It’s that simple?”
The man’s gaze flickered. Seeing Wang Jie’s steady gaze, he didn’t dare lie: “Actually, if you manage to kill someone who’s overstayed their time here, you’ll get rewards from the Four Alliances and Lone Peak Gorge. That’s why no one dares to stay beyond the deadline.”
Wang Jie understood: “So, you were planning to kill me just now.”
The man’s face turned pale: “No, Junior never had such intentions. Please, Senior, don’t misunderstand.”
Wang Jie placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. The man felt a sharp pain, and instinctively tried to pull away, but Wang Jie’s grip was like iron—he couldn’t move.
The man’s face went ashen: “Senior?”
Wang Jie released him.
The man hurriedly checked his shoulder and found bloodstains. His face grew darker as he nervously looked at Wang Jie: “Senior, what is this about?”
Wang Jie suddenly remembered something. He had to collect a thousand Slaughter Stones. Buying them would be nearly impossible. Even the Frost Radiance Sect only had five thousand Slaughter Stones in reserve. Though there were many at Black White Heaven, they certainly wouldn’t let him buy them.
Even if he could buy some, how much money would he have?
Moreover, the material he needed didn’t require unused Slaughter Stones. It meant that Slaughter Stones from the Slaughter Stone planets could work too.
He had been deceived by the Silver Radiance Empire into thinking each Slaughter Stone planet only had one Slaughter Stone, but in fact, that was the least of it. The Lock Path Interval had tens of thousands of Slaughter Stone planets, and each one held different amounts. The Sword Mastery Heaven, in particular, had the most Slaughter Stones.
If Sword Mastery Heaven had so many Slaughter Stones, why not collect them?
He knew what to do now.
His own efforts were slow, but there were plenty of people around.
“You said there are fifteen people entering this time?”
“Yes.”
“Where are they?”
The man didn’t understand why Wang Jie was asking: “Junior doesn’t know. They could be anywhere.”
Wang Jie nodded: “I see. Oh, by the way, I just placed Sword Poison inside your body. Without my antidote, even a Wandering Star Realm couldn’t save you. So, sorry, but you might die.”
The man’s face changed dramatically, and he quickly checked his shoulder.
He had never heard of Sword Poison, but given the variety of poisons in the universe, it wasn’t surprising.
“Senior, why would you do this? Junior begs you, please forgive me. I truly didn’t mean to offend.”
Wang Jie smiled: “Relax. As long as you help me, I’ll cure the poison when you leave Sword Mastery Heaven. But if you don’t want to help, if you refuse, then you’ll die. No one can save you—not even here in the Lock Path Interval.”
The man was drenched in sweat, “What do you want me to do, Senior?”
“Collect Slaughter Stones from Sword Mastery Heaven.”
“Slaughter Stones?” The man asked, surprised.
Wang Jie raised a finger: “One hundred. As long as you collect a hundred Slaughter Stones, I’ll let you go. Of course, you can find others to help. For every person you find, I’ll reduce your task by ten Slaughter Stones. So, if you find ten people to help, your task is done.”
The man’s gaze flickered. He seemed to be thinking.
Wang Jie shared his personal terminal coordinates with him, then smirked: “Let’s go.”
The man looked at Wang Jie: “So, should I leave now?”
Wang Jie waved his hand, completely uninterested.
The man took a deep breath and left.
Wang Jie watched him go, thinking that without hardship, people never learned to be clever. He had indeed placed a shattered sword inside the man’s body. The so-called Sword Poison was just a cover—the true technique was the Sword Form. As long as he stayed within a certain range, the shattered sword would start moving inside him.
He couldn’t dig it out on his own.
Now, he only hoped there were enough Slaughter Stones in Sword Mastery Heaven.
Whether or not the Slaughter Stones contained Lock Force didn’t matter—any Slaughter Stone would do.
The man was half-suspicious as he ran off, but just as he had covered a short distance, the pain in his body flared up. His face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground, recovering only after a long while. When he tried to move again, the pain surged back, and he knew he couldn’t escape. This was the Sword Poison.
Now, even if he were allowed to leave Sword Mastery Heaven, he wouldn’t dare. He had to solve the poison before he could leave.
Wang Jie also began his own search for Slaughter Stones, keeping a close watch on the time. No one would get away.
Days later, on the surface of Sword Mastery Heaven, fierce creatures roared, spewing scorching flames across the land.
In the distance, the man Wang Jie had threatened with Sword Poison stared at his terminal and spoke to the person beside him: “It’s just ahead.”
The person next to him, also a Star Breaking Realm cultivator of similar age, replied, “Remember our deal. Once we take care of him, I’ll join Lord Feng’s faction.”
The man nodded: “Don’t worry. I won’t break my word.”