Chapter 174
Chapter 174: Give Me Some Face
Spending three hundred fifty million star stones on three thousand Thunder Sealing Pills would have once pained Wang Jie deeply, but by now he’d become numb to such extravagance.
He decided to use the Thunder Sealing Pills first.
After three full months, Wang Jie looked at the deeper brown thunder patterns etched on his skin. His defenses had become even more powerful. But to reach the next level of thunder patterns, he would need at least ten thousand pills, meaning he still lacked six thousand.
Yet the market had none left.
He could only order more from Du Xian, along with other materials. Who knew how vast the Star Dome Trading House’s resources truly were?
At any rate, they definitely surpassed Black White Heaven’s.
On this day, when Wang Jie opened his store again, many eyes turned toward him. Having closed the shop for months right after opening it, many had assumed he’d met with misfortune.
Who else would close a shop just after launching it?
Inside, Wang Jie sat holding his star disk, looking far more professional now.
As soon as the doors opened, someone rushed inside anxiously, staring at Wang Jie, “Master, please read my fate!”
Wang Jie was speechless. He’d completely forgotten he’d stuck a task card on this person. The man had endured for so long. Wang Jie’s fortune-telling had intimidated the Three Paths enough that they hesitated to move against him, and now that he’d accomplished his goal, continuing might not be necessary.
“Fated one,” Wang Jie said lightly, “you must travel far away.”
The man looked sorrowful: “I can’t. I’m stuck inside Zhi Academy.”
This man’s mission required him to travel twenty times farther than his current distance, meaning he had to leave Zhi Academy. But he was unable to get out.
This was truly unfortunate.
Wang Jie made a show of resolving the issue for him. The man left filled with gratitude.
Not long after, a familiar figure appeared—a slender girl dressed in white, a veil covering her face beneath a bamboo hat. Through the veil, her lovely features were faintly visible.
“Master, we meet again,” she greeted softly.
Wang Jie looked up in surprise: “Su Le?”
“It’s me. Forgive me for intruding,” Su Le replied gently with a smile.
Wang Jie hadn’t expected Su Le to visit. After all, this young lady was the disciple of that renowned Alchemy Heavenly Master. He quickly offered her a warm welcome.
“What brings you here, Young Lady? Are you in trouble again?”
“No trouble this time. I’m just curious about this.” Su Le took out an Explosive Star Pill.
Wang Jie recognized it immediately. He’d sold it to Du Xian but never imagined Su Le would have one. “Star Dome Trading House actually sold this?”
“They didn’t sell it openly,” Su Le explained, smiling slightly. “But my Master collaborates with Star Dome Trading House. Whenever they find peculiar pills like this, they give us some to study.”
“Ah, so that’s it.” Wang Jie didn’t think Du Xian would sell such pills anyway. Star Dome Trading House didn’t lack money and would naturally prefer research.
Su Le gazed intently at Wang Jie: “I’ve heard this pill comes from you, Master?”
Wang Jie nodded, standing up and pointing toward the shelf.
Su Le opened a bottle and examined its contents, her eyes brightening. “Master can truly refine starforce pills?”
“Somewhat,” Wang Jie said modestly. “Still needs more research.”
“Could you study it with me?” she asked earnestly.
Looking at Su Le, Wang Jie suddenly saw an image of Master Luan overlapping with her. He coughed slightly, feeling conflicted: “I can, but I still have some hidden troubles to solve first. Once resolved, I’ll find you.”
Su Le blinked softly: “I don’t think there’s any trouble left, Master. Your reputation has spread widely. Those people won’t dare touch you anymore.”
Wang Jie shrugged: “Getting hit without hitting back isn’t my style. Besides, one of my friends is still imprisoned.”
Su Le nodded in understanding: “If I guarantee that as long as Master doesn’t provoke others, no one will provoke you, will you study starforce pills with me?”
“You can guarantee that?”
“I can.”
“Then prepare more rare star stones.”
Su Le smiled radiantly, her lovely face making even the sunlight seem brighter. “Don’t worry.” Saying this, she activated her personal terminal, contacting someone right in front of Wang Jie: “Master Bian.”
“Young Lady Su?” A voice responded respectfully.
“I have something to request of Master Bian.”
“Please speak.”
“Release Master Wang Jie’s people. From now on, Master Wang Jie is under my protection. No one is to harm him, or else they’ll answer to me.”
Master Bian paused before asking seriously: “Why do you care so much about Wang Jie?”
Su Le’s voice turned icy, her expression stern: “Master Bian, please give me some face.”
After another pause, Master Bian answered decisively, “Very well.”
Su Le immediately contacted two others, then closed her terminal, turning toward Wang Jie with a bright smile: “Done.”
Her swift change in expression left Wang Jie somewhat bewildered: “Thank you.”
“Actually,” Su Le explained gently, “this is all part of Zhi Upper Realm’s internal struggles. It should never have involved you, Master Wang. Black White Heaven is quite fair; if you’d reported your abilities earlier, they would’ve protected you.”
Wang Jie kept silent—[I wasn’t dragged into this; I started most of it myself.]
Su Le departed happily to prepare rare star stones, mentioning she’d bring additional pills for joint research.
Not long afterward, Wang Jie received a call from Mu Ran: “Master, we’re free now. Thank you.”
Wang Jie nodded: “Come to Four Path Marketplace.”
“Yes.”
Elsewhere, Master Bian sneered coldly. He’d stopped earlier out of caution toward Wang Jie, unable to explain to Zhi Upper Realm. Now Su Le had openly interfered, and with Bai Ye behind her, he wouldn’t dare offend her. Let Zhi Upper Realm handle it themselves.
Master Bian immediately reported upward. Feng Hu and Xu Yang did the same.
The Three Paths’ leaders at Zhi Academy could no longer openly target Wang Jie.
But Ji Zheng emerged quietly from He Tong Star, moving resolutely. Even if Master Bian stopped, Ji Zheng wouldn’t. If direct methods failed, he’d simply try another.
That man had to die.
Meanwhile, Wang Jie counted silently. Of all those who received his task cards, only two hadn’t come. Either they had completed their tasks, died, or simply didn’t know he could solve their issues.
He had three urgent tasks now:
First, train relentlessly to push his strength to the very limit of the Star Breaking Realm, absorb more materials to strengthen his Lock Force, and naturally break through into the Full Star Realm.
Second, firmly establish his position at Zhi Academy while pushing back against Zhi Qing’s influence, enhancing Zhi Xing Xue’s authority. He would never forget that Zhi Xing Xue was his foundation in Black White Heaven.
Third, make money—lots of it—to buy more materials, pills, and resources. In this, his relationship with Su Le was crucial. Her background could greatly aid him.
Also looming ahead was the Star Dome Visage examination.
Time was what he needed most, yet what he had the least. The Starry Martial Meet wouldn’t wait.
He absolutely must participate.
Deciding to leave his store, Wang Jie considered staying at an inn. Perhaps he’d stay near Gao Chi?
Not long after stepping outside, a feeling of unease arose, as if something invisible watched him. Having faced life and death countless times, his intuition was rarely wrong.
He took out his star disk, expanding its range. Initially finding nothing suspicious, he eventually detected a wandering star realm expert, stronger even than Gao Chi.
He turned a corner, and the presence followed. If he stopped, it stopped. It stayed at a constant distance, patient and relentless.
Wang Jie led the figure to a remote area, messaging Du Xian for intel.
Du Xian replied: “Customer, I’m no bodyguard.”
“I’m buying information on the one tracking me.”
“Please wait.”
Evening shadows lengthened. Wang Jie drifted further from the bustling streets into isolation.
Du Xian responded: “Careful. He’s Ding, one of Zhi Academy’s four infamous assassins. His combat strength is estimated at 200,000, but due to assassination techniques, assume 220,000.”
“Zhi Academy allows assassins?”
“Why wouldn’t they? It’s convenient for certain lords in Black White Heaven.”
Wang Jie understood. Zhi Qing’s people had hired him.
Just after Su Le had publicly protected him, enemies sent an assassin.
[220,000 combat strength. Manageable.]
Du Xian cheerfully charged two million star stones for this intel.
Wang Jie entered an isolated garden under moonlight.
Suddenly, the assassin moved.
Wang Jie spun around, thunder patterns erupting as Heaven Thunder exploded, shattering nearby windows.
A pale-faced man appeared silently under moonlight, eyes surprised but expressionless. His dagger slashed through lightning sparks.
Wang Jie attacked, but the assassin vanished, instantly reappearing behind him, faster even than Armor Eight Steps.
[Impossible! How is he surpassing Armor Eight Steps?]
The dagger came swiftly again.
Wang Jie blocked, realizing suddenly—
[He’s not faster—he’s borrowing force!]