Chapter 135

Chapter 135: It Worked

At the sight of them, Wang Jie laughed. “Quite the lineup. You brought three Full-Star Realm experts just to deal with me.”

Lie Qiu sneered. “You’re ruthless, too. No one has ever dared use Yi Sword Heaven to threaten us. Who are you? Where are you from? What are you really after?”

Wang Jie looked at Feng Wen Sheng. “Did you bring the slaughterstones?”

Feng Wen Sheng lifted a hand. One slaughterstone after another fell from his storage ring—nine hundred and fifty-two in total, not one more, not one less.

“Your Excellency,” Feng Wen Sheng said, “can you tell us your true purpose now?”

Wang Jie stood and rolled his shoulders. “My purpose is those slaughterstones. Nothing else.”

Lie Qiu tied up her long hair and twirled her spear. “I told you. Some questions get asked after we trade blows. Asking now is pointless.”

She spun, and the spear smashed down from above, slamming into the scree slope. Terrifying lockforce erupted into spear-shadows visible to the naked eye, racing toward Wang Jie and ripping the ground apart in an instant.

Wang Jie arched an eyebrow, stepped aside with Jia Eight Steps, and whistled.

Rain began to fall.

A huge figure clawed up from beneath the earth and threw back its head with a furious roar.

Lie Qiu and the others stared, stunned. What in the world…?

They had never seen the stone-sword creature from the sixth layer. It had lived there its entire life and never left—until Wang Jie defeated it and dragged it out.

This was its first battle since leaving, and it practically vibrated with excitement.

Its body still bore unhealed wounds, but it didn’t hesitate. It raised its stone sword and brought it down in a brutal opening strike.

“Dodge!” Lie Qiu barked.

The three Full-Star Realm experts managed it, but the five Star-Breaking Realm cultivators went pale and bolted.

The stone-sword creature carried seventy thousand combat power and could burst to eighty thousand at its peak. Right now, aside from Lie Qiu, no one here could truly meet it head-on.

Wang Jie used the chaos. With Jia Eight Steps leaving afterimages, he tore through the five Star-Breaking Realm cultivators in five clean moves, dropping them before they could regroup. A black shadow clung to his back the entire time—the short Full-Star Realm cultivator.

His footwork was nearly as fast as Jia Eight Steps. Rare.

Feng Lang’s shock hit even harder than Wang Jie’s.

He could feel it clearly: Ten Seals. That was all this man was. Ten Seals—and yet he was this terrifying. He had beaten Old Cui, and his movement technique even surpassed Feng Lang’s. It was absurd.

Feng Lang was known as the fastest in Lock Interspace. Even Zong Cheng Ping—the recognized strongest Full-Star Realm cultivator here—couldn’t match him.

And this man was faster still. Feng Lang couldn’t even keep up long enough to force an exchange. Who was he?

Wang Jie suddenly pivoted. His footwork shifted—Sword Steps.

For a heartbeat, the transition slowed him, just a fraction.

Feng Lang seized it, dagger flashing for Wang Jie’s throat.

Too late.

That tiny hesitation couldn’t bridge the gap. Sword Steps surged to life. Wang Jie slipped the cut, then carved Sword Steps across Feng Lang’s legs.

Feng Lang barely avoided the worst of it—but Wang Jie was already turning, finger stabbing out.

Heaven-and-Earth Luo Xuan Finger speared through Feng Lang’s shoulder and blasted him backward.

Before his body fully settled, Wang Jie forced his joints into a grotesque twist with Power-Storing Method and fired a second finger strike from an angle no human frame should have allowed.

Feng Wen Sheng blocked it.

Feng Wen Sheng stared, stunned. The instant they clashed, Wang Jie had already hurt Feng Lang?

Of all five of them, Feng Lang should have been the last one to take a hit.

“Careful,” Feng Lang rasped, teeth clenched. “He’s faster than me—and our lockforce can’t suppress him at all.”

Feng Wen Sheng’s gaze sharpened on Wang Jie. Not far away, Lie Qiu was still locked against the stone-sword creature, spear hammering against stone. She held the upper hand in raw power, but the creature could still hold the line for now.

Which meant she couldn’t break off to help.

Wang Jie raised his sword and pointed it at Feng Wen Sheng. “Let’s see if you have what it takes to deal with me.”

Feng Wen Sheng’s pupils flickered. “Attack.”

He slammed both palms into the ground. A savage gale erupted, sweeping across the twelfth layer and condensing into countless wind blades that scythed down through the rain. Feng Lang stopped underestimating him and lunged in with everything he had.

Two Full-Star Realm cultivators, together.

Wang Jie didn’t dare relax. He went straight into Qi-Qi Convergence and fixed his gaze on Feng Lang and Feng Wen Sheng. Their qi patterns lit up—overt strikes, hidden angles. Behind him, swords speared into the sky one after another.

Sword Rig.

As his control over lockforce deepened, Sword Rig answered more smoothly, more viciously.

The twelfth layer shook. Creatures scattered in panic as the world trembled under the impact of full-power techniques.

The five Star-Breaking Realm cultivators retreated farther and farther, faces tight with helpless frustration. They’d thought they might contribute. They couldn’t even get close—not against Wang Jie, and certainly not against that creature.

And then the stone-sword creature howled and unleashed Rain Sword Art.

Swords became hilts. Rain became blades.

The sky filled with ringing steel—an endless chorus that drowned the thunder itself.

Lie Qiu froze mid-step, blood draining from her face. “Chen… Chen Art?”

The stone-sword creature roared, gleeful, and drove its stone sword down again.

Feng Wen Sheng’s eyes went wide. “A creature that can use Chen Art…?”

For a moment, it almost didn’t sound real.

The impact shook heaven and earth.

Only after a long stretch did the roaring die down. Dust and debris thinned under the wind. The rain fell harder.

Wang Jie stood atop the stone-sword creature’s back, sword angled down, and stared across at them.

Lie Qiu was breathing hard, battered and unsteady. Feng Wen Sheng and Feng Lang looked back with raw caution written into their faces.

In overall strength, Lie Qiu’s side was stronger.

But stronger didn’t mean they could win.

Not like this. Not now. Not when they couldn’t pin Wang Jie down—and when the stone-sword creature carried that terrifying unknown in its claws.

Where had Yi Sword Heaven ever produced something like that?

For a moment, both sides held still, neither willing to commit first.

“What is wrong with you two?” Lie Qiu snapped. “You can’t suppress him?”

Feng Lang’s mouth twisted. “His footwork is too fast, his power is too high—and our lockforce doesn’t suppress him at all.”

Feng Wen Sheng’s voice was heavy. “His combat experience is too deep. Numbers won’t solve this. If we want to win… it won’t be easy.”

Lie Qiu tightened her grip on her spear, eyes flicking to the stone-sword creature. That thing was worse. It could use Chen Art. Who knew what else it had in reserve?

If it was only what she’d seen so far, she was confident she could beat it.

But the uncertainty made her skin crawl.

Wang Jie lifted his chin. “So? You three. Are we fighting or not?”

The stone-sword creature threw back its head and roared alongside him.

“If you’re not, give me the slaughterstones. If you are, then keep going.”

Lie Qiu’s expression turned sharp. “You think you can win?”

Wang Jie shrugged, completely at ease. “No. But I can absolutely drag two of you into the grave with me.”

The wariness in their eyes deepened.

“As for which two,” Wang Jie added lightly, “who knows?”

Lie Qiu’s gaze hardened. “If you two are confident you can kill him, I’ll deal with that creature.”

Feng Lang didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

Feng Wen Sheng hesitated, then said, “If we had one more person, we’d be sure.”

“Bring Qiu Zhao?” Lie Qiu asked.

“Contact her.”

Wang Jie smiled faintly. “You’ve forgotten something.”

All three of them snapped their attention to him.

Wang Jie’s smile widened. “I don’t have to die here with you.”

The color drained from their faces.

Right. It wasn’t their choice.

He could leave. He could hide. He could stop fighting whenever he pleased.

Even if they brought Qiu Zhao and surrounded him with four people, what then? If he refused to commit, if he retreated into the layers, what could they do?

They needed to drive him out because he was sitting on Yi Sword Heaven. If they couldn’t solve him, who would ever dare enter again?

But if he refused to fight, they had no way to force an end.

Feng Wen Sheng raised his voice, trying to claw back control. “Your Excellency, if you have a goal, say it. We’ve already fought. We both know the stakes. There’s no need for games.”

“I said it. I want slaughterstones. If you won’t give them to me, I’ll stay in Yi Sword Heaven. One person comes in, I kill one. Two come in, I kill two.”

“Most of those slaughterstones are useless,” Feng Wen Sheng pressed. “What’s the point?”

“If you’re willing to find me the good ones,” Wang Jie said, “I won’t complain.”

Feng Wen Sheng’s jaw tightened. The whole exchange felt familiar in the worst way.

Wang Jie lifted his voice, letting it carry. “And here’s something else for you to remember. These fifteen layers—anywhere you can go, I can go. Anywhere you can’t go… I can go there too.”

Lie Qiu’s eyes narrowed. “What realm are you, exactly?”

Wang Jie tilted his head. “Guess.”

Lie Qiu looked ready to explode.

In the end, Feng Wen Sheng made the choice. He didn’t argue. He didn’t posture.

He simply tossed the slaughterstones toward Wang Jie.

Lie Qiu twitched, wanting to stop him—then didn’t.

Wang Jie caught them, exhaled slowly, and let the tension leak from his shoulders. Now he’d find out whether these slaughterstones were actually usable.

If he really needed a thousand unused slaughterstones… that would be a nightmare.

“Thanks,” he said.

Feng Wen Sheng’s gaze stayed hard. “Let me remind Your Excellency of something. Yi Sword Heaven is not your entire life. Sooner or later, you will leave.

“Consider these slaughterstones a gift from the Four Alliances and the Lone Peak Gorge. And in return, we ask that you don’t make things difficult for those who enter here in the future.”

It was plain enough: they were buying peace within Yi Sword Heaven. If Wang Jie ever left, that bargain ended.

Wang Jie’s lips curled. “Fine.”

Feng Wen Sheng and the others withdrew.

Wang Jie sank onto a rock, exhaustion washing over him as he stared up at the rain-dark sky.

Yi Sword Heaven wasn’t everything. But forcing the Four Alliances and the Lone Peak Gorge to bend meant he’d made enemies he couldn’t easily shrug off. In Lock Interspace, that would haunt him.

He had no choice.

He needed to climb faster.

The starry-sky martial tournament wouldn’t wait.

He had to reach Star-Breaking Realm—and soon.

—

Farther away, Lie Qiu’s hands trembled around her spear. “Backing down like that… that’s the shame of my life.”

Feng Wen Sheng let out a weary breath. “Yi Sword Heaven is enormous. He’s alone. If he hides, no one can find him.

“If it were only Lock Interspace, we could take our time. But if someone from Black-White Heaven comes through, and we can’t handle it… we’re finished.”

He looked at her. “To Black-White Heaven, everything here is ants fighting in the dirt. They won’t ask why.”

Feng Lang spoke quietly, eyes lowered. “But he has to leave eventually, doesn’t he?”

Feng Wen Sheng’s eyes flashed. “He’s waiting. He’s gambling. He’s betting we won’t abandon Yi Sword Heaven. He’s betting we’ll try to force him out. He wants the initiative at every step.”

“In his dreams.” Lie Qiu’s voice turned cold. “He thinks he can sit on a mountain and play king? We’re going back.”

Not long after, at the entrance of Yi Sword Heaven, a ship powered up and headed back toward Lock Interspace.

Once it left, it meant that even if Wang Jie wanted to go, he couldn’t—at least not right then.

He hadn’t planned to leave anyway.

Lock Interspace would find a way to force him out sooner or later. The slaughterstone matter was settled. Next came whatever the outside world decided to do about him.

Right now, he stood in his field, hand hovering over the green sprouts, heart hammering. In his grasp were a thousand slaughterstones.

He could hear his own pulse, loud in his ears. Thump. Thump. Thump.

One by one, he fed slaughterstones into the sprouts.

The sprouts began to contract.

When even the slaughterstones gathered from Yi Sword Heaven caused the same reaction, Wang Jie finally let out a breath.

They worked.

He poured in the rest.

When the last slaughterstone vanished, the sprouts shrank fully, glowing with a faint, steady light.

It worked.

It finally worked.