Chapter 152

Chapter 152: Rebellion

Wang Jie faced them and spoke plainly. “I won’t waste words. Suo Xing Jian must rewrite its rules.”

“The four refining grounds were never meant to be ruled by outsiders. Our affairs should be decided by us.”

The people opposite him stared, stunned, as if he’d spoken a language they didn’t understand.

Wang Jie laid out his plan.

The more Zong Cheng Ping and the others listened, the more their shock curdled into something else—until they looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

“You think the refining grounds can really break free from those lords in Black-White Heaven?” someone snapped. “Did you already forget Shen Wang?”

“If any of us dares rebel, they can toss another convict down here and we’ll all die.”

“You pick who you listen to and who you don’t—that’s just upper-level games. But if we stop listening to everyone, they’ll crush us like ants.”

“No one will help us.”

Wang Jie clasped his hands behind his back. “No one will help us?”

They fell silent for half a breath, remembering what they’d all conveniently forgotten.

This man had backing too.

Feng Wen Sheng’s gaze was dark. “So you’re really trying to hand Suo Xing Jian’s authority to the one behind you. Don’t dress it up.”

Wang Jie replied evenly, “I’m not dressing anything up. The one behind me won’t interfere with my decisions in Suo Xing Jian. They’ll only block those lords from doing filthy things when they can.”

He let that sink in, then asked, “If we can rewrite Suo Xing Jian’s rules, tell me—would you rather answer to me, or to Wu Yun?”

No one answered immediately, but the look in their eyes did.

Of course they didn’t want Wu Yun.

That woman never treated them as human.

Wang Jie was lawless, yes—but he was one of them. A Lockforce cultivator. And Zong Cheng Ping had said it more than once: Wang Jie was trying to break the limits of Lockforce.

He was a Chen Refiner.

And he had already fought Full-Star Realm as Ten Seals, shattering the boundaries of what they thought possible.

Even if there was only the smallest chance, they wanted him to succeed—wanted to believe someone like them could still reach higher.

But belief didn’t change reality. None of them truly believed Suo Xing Jian could separate itself from the outside.

Wang Jie said, “I understand your fear. Then do this: I’ll act. You wait for the result.”

Zong Cheng Ping narrowed his eyes. “What are you planning?”

Wang Jie glanced toward Yi Sword Heaven. “A batch of elders’ juniors are coming, aren’t they? I’ll talk to them.”

Fu An and the others went rigid. “You’re going to touch them?”

“No.” Feng Wen Cheng’s refusal was immediate. “Absolutely not.”

“Elders aren’t stewards. Every so often, elders’ juniors come to Yi Sword Heaven for trials. Even Wu Yun demanded we host them carefully, offend them in nothing.”

“An elder’s authority isn’t something a steward can compare to.”

“Even the Zhi family gives them face.”

Wang Jie’s mouth curved. “So if I do it—and remain safe—then you’ll believe me.”

Zong Cheng Ping let out a breath. “If you can remain safe under the Elders’ Court’s authority, we’ll believe.”

“And in truth, some of us can ignore Black-White Heaven to a degree. We’ve all been to the star-cloud battlefield. We have forced conscription exemption.”

Wang Jie frowned. “Exemption?”

Zong Cheng Ping explained.

Every year, Suo Xing Jian had to send a batch of Lockforce cultivators to the star-cloud battlefield. Wang Jie knew that much. What he hadn’t known was this: if you survived and met certain conditions, you could choose to remain on the battlefield—or return to Suo Xing Jian.

And once you’d gone through it once, you gained exemption. Forced conscription could no longer touch you. You could stay in Suo Xing Jian permanently.

Only then did Wang Jie understand why Full-Star Realm like them could remain here rather than being dragged back to war.

They were survivors—people who had walked down from the battlefield.

Fu An’s eyes went distant, dread still lingering behind them. “They call it a battlefield, but what we saw was only the tip of the iceberg.”

“Even so, we were lucky.”

He glanced at Zong Cheng Ping. “The person I respect most is Senior Xiao Rong. He chose to stay there. That courage… we don’t have it.”

Zong Cheng Ping nodded. “Master has crawled through too many life-and-death struggles. We can’t compare.”

Wang Jie remembered Zhi Xing Xue’s warning. He glanced at Zong Cheng Ping, then spoke firmly. “So it’s settled.”

“If I can remain safe under the Elders’ Court, you’ll follow me and rewrite Suo Xing Jian’s rules.”

Zong Cheng Ping spoke first. “I agree.”

Cui Si followed.

Then Fu An. Lie Qiu. The Feng brothers.

With them on board, the rest of Suo Xing Jian didn’t matter. They controlled most of it.

Qiu Chou was the strongest here, but he didn’t involve himself. And he would never interfere with Wang Jie.

Wang Jie boarded his ship again and headed for Yi Sword Heaven.

Du Xian’s intel said the elders’ juniors would arrive soon.

The Feng brothers were responsible for hosting them.

At Yi Sword Heaven, the stone-sword creature seemed delighted to see Wang Jie again. It had honed another stone sword—larger, heavier.

Wang Jie sent it away and waited at the entrance.

It was reckless. But if he didn’t solve Suo Xing Jian’s problem now, trouble would follow him forever.

He couldn’t guarantee he’d survive the next Shen Wang.

Only by acting first could he carve a path.

A few days later, a ship approached.

Wang Jie sat in his own ship, watching the stars.

Inside the arriving ship, dozens of people were feasting. Fine wine. Rich food. Loud laughter. They treated the trip like a holiday.

The Feng brothers stayed in the corner, silent. These people didn’t see them as equals—only servants.

They were used to it.

But this time their eyes held something different.

“Second Brother,” Feng Wen Cheng murmured, “do you think he really dares?”

“He dares,” Feng Wen Sheng answered.

“And what about us? We really follow him?”

“We don’t have a choice.” Feng Wen Sheng’s voice was heavy. “Haven’t you noticed how the sect senior looks at him?”

“He might be able to change our fate.”

Feng Wen Cheng hesitated. “Life isn’t that bad right now…”

Feng Wen Sheng glanced at his brother. “How many puppets who obeyed the people above ever ended well?”

That shook Feng Wen Cheng. His gaze hardened.

A shout rang out from across the hall. “You two—bring more wine! Can’t you see the cups are empty?”

“Lockforce cultivators really are trash. No sense at all.”

Feng Wen Sheng inhaled, forced a smile, and hurried over. “Yes. Right away.”

The ship landed at Yi Sword Heaven.

Half a day later, the hatch opened. The Feng brothers stepped out first. A group followed, curious and excited, looking around at the famed treasure land of the Fourth Nebula.

To Black-White Heaven, Yi Sword Heaven was valuable. Even though it suited Lockforce cultivators best, it was still considered an excellent trial ground for the juniors of certain lords.

Cultivate Lockforce or not, the rule stood.

Someone squinted. “Huh? Why is there another ship over there?”

“You two.” A handsome young man with a gloomy air pointed at Wang Jie’s ship. “Who came?”

“Didn’t I say no one is allowed in during our time—especially those trash Lockforce cultivators?”

A beautiful woman behind him sneered. “A mere Lockforce cultivator thinks they’re worthy to train with us? Useless.”

The elders’ juniors stared at the Feng brothers with hostile eyes.

The Feng brothers met their gaze, saying nothing.

Then the hatch of Wang Jie’s ship opened.

Wang Jie walked out and raised a hand, smiling as if greeting old friends. “Hello. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Their faces twisted with contempt at once.

Wang Jie didn’t care. He strolled toward them. “Let me confirm something. You’re elders’ juniors from the Elders’ Court, yes? Big backgrounds.”

“Don’t misunderstand—just making sure I’m not grabbing the wrong people.”

The gloomy young man stepped forward. “Who are you?”

Wang Jie smiled. “Suo Xing Jian’s decision-maker. In other words, in Suo Xing Jian, I call the shots.”

They burst into laughter, as if he’d told the funniest joke in the universe.

The Feng brothers retreated a step, silent.

The gloomy young man sneered. “You call the shots? What are you? You dare spout nonsense here?”

Wang Jie’s smile didn’t change. “I am Wang Jie. I’m the one who decides your fate.”

“Remember it.”

He lifted his hand and slapped the gloomy young man so hard he flew.

Then he surged into the group like a tiger into sheep—one kick, one body. In moments, the entire party was sprawled on the ground, bruised and wailing.

“You—you dared hit me?!”

“Do you even know who I am?”

“My grandfather won’t let you live!”

“Surname Wang, not even Zhi family… what nerve—”

Wang Jie’s eyes went cold.

Lockforce crashed down like a fallen sky canopy, crushing them until some nearly passed out.

Even the Feng brothers twitched as if to intervene—this was too much.

Wang Jie looked over the groaning pile. “Won’t let me live?”

“You should be thinking about how to make me let you live.”

He turned to the Feng brothers. “Throw them into the ship. Pack them up. I’m going to have a chat with the Elders’ Court.”

The Feng brothers were stunned.

They’d thought Wang Jie might seize them to send a warning—enough to make a point, but safe enough that everyone could still walk away.

Instead, he’d beaten them without a single word of negotiation.

And now he wanted to “chat” with the Elders’ Court?

With them in this state, what was there to chat about—how to kneel and beg forgiveness?

But Wang Jie understood something they didn’t.

Back when the Jia Yi Sect couldn’t personally interfere with Shu Mu Ye’s bridge, Wang Jie had learned a hard truth: in this universe, rules were heavier than heaven—especially the rules set by the old ancestor.

The four refining grounds were meant to be self-governing. That was the public rule.

Black-White Heaven, the Elders’ Court, even the Zhi family—none of them could openly break that rule.

That was why Wang Jie dared to act.

Of course, death was the line. These elders’ juniors couldn’t die. If they died, there would be no turning back.

But Wang Jie hadn’t intended to kill anyone.

They weren’t worth death.

They were leverage.

The Elders’ Court was severe and imposing. Any disciple who entered it felt their heart race.

Black-White Heaven’s power stood on three legs: the realm lord of the Black-and-White Realms, the Elders’ Court, and the Zhi family.

This place represented a third of that authority.

Usually, disciples didn’t even dare raise their voices here.

That day, an elder’s furious roar tore through the sky, shaking disciples into trembling.

And then the rumor spread:

Suo Xing Jian had rebelled.

At Zhi Upper Realm, Zhi Ye stared at the messenger. “Say that again.”

“Suo Xing Jian seized the elders’ juniors heading to Yi Sword Heaven and opened talks with the Elders’ Court. They demand a public acknowledgment that Suo Xing Jian sets its own rules.”

“Anyone who interferes openly or secretly must be punished by the Elders’ Court.”

Zhi Ye blinked once. “Who seized them?”

The messenger swallowed. “Wang Jie.”