Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Melee

Stars revolved—real and unreal—spinning down within Wang Jie’s finger shadows.

Zhi Nan Xing’s pupils shrank. “Chen art—!”

He snapped the copper slips back into a defensive ring and, at the same time, hurled starforce skyward. A formation scroll flashed into his hand.

He began to set a formation.

Too late.

If Zhi Nan Xing had taken out the formation scroll at the start, he might’ve been able to block Wang Jie.

But now—

Wang Jie had already gained experience from Wen Yuan.

The instant the formation scroll appeared, Wang Jie blasted it with several Myriad-Stars Finger shadows, shaking its stability. At the same time, he flashed in with Sword Steps, pierced through the formation scroll’s space, and struck the copper slips directly.

The impact slammed Zhi Nan Xing flying.

The formation scroll activated a heartbeat later—

—but Zhi Nan Xing had already been knocked out of its range. Only the copper slips still guarded him.

Finger shadows fell like rain, smashing into the copper slips.

Zhi Nan Xing felt endless force crashing down. Blood burst from his mouth. His consciousness snapped—

—and he collapsed.

With his faint, the copper slips dropped. The finger shadows dispersed.

Wang Jie exhaled, gaze flicking toward the activated formation in the distance. He didn’t know what formation it was, but if Zhi Nan Xing had tried to use it as an emergency shield, it wasn’t simple.

If Zhi Nan Xing hadn’t been arrogant, Wang Jie might not have been able to do anything to him.

Wang Jie picked up the copper slips. Hard—absurdly hard. He couldn’t tell their grade.

Then he dragged Zhi Nan Xing into the wreckage of the exploded ship.

Zhi Nan Xing woke with his skull pounding, mouth bitter, vision blurred by flickering firelight. Memories came rushing back. He tried to sit up and nearly toppled from the pain.

“Two hours and you’re awake,” Wang Jie said from the shadows. “Not bad.”

Zhi Nan Xing turned, eyes locking onto Wang Jie—who was calmly turning the copper slips over in his hand.

“Give them back.”

Wang Jie laughed softly. “Since when do spoils of war get returned?”

Zhi Nan Xing’s face went pale. He sat down, forcing the words through clenched teeth. “Fine. Keep them. Let’s see whether the Zhi family person behind you makes you return them.”

Wang Jie’s gaze sharpened. “Zhi family person behind me?”

Zhi Nan Xing pointed with his chin. “Zhi family Spring-Autumn Hand requires twelve copper slips. This is standard equipment for Zhi family core disciples.”

He swallowed blood. “Each copper slip is a three-tribulation chen artifact. When I reach Full-Star Realm, I can upgrade them to four-tribulation chen artifact. Their value is enormous.”

His smile turned sharp. “Someone once thought he could get rich by robbing Zhi family core disciples. Want to know what happened?”

He didn’t wait for an answer. “The Zhi family clan rule: if copper slips are stolen, they will spare no effort to retrieve them.”

His eyes turned icy. “As for the target—kill on sight.”

Wang Jie snorted. “That’s not all.”

Zhi Nan Xing stared.

“What do they do to the Zhi family descendant whose copper slips were stolen?”

Silence.

Wang Jie smiled, then put the copper slips away. “If you want them back, go report it yourself. Let the Zhi family come ask me for them.”

He leaned closer. “I’m curious what punishment you’ll get.”

Zhi Nan Xing’s expression darkened. “Wang Jie. You really think the Zhi family can’t touch you?”

Wang Jie’s eyes went cold. “And you really think I don’t dare kill you.”

Zhi Nan Xing’s voice rose, sharp with disbelief. “How dare you. If you kill me, no one can protect you, no matter who’s behind you!”

Wang Jie stood and stepped toward him, killing intent tightening the air.

Zhi Nan Xing’s pupils shook. He glared up stubbornly.

He didn’t believe it. He was a Zhi family core disciple. In the fourth nebula, who dared touch a Zhi family member?

No one.

Absolutely no one.

Wang Jie stopped in front of him and looked down. “Didn’t you say I’m bold?”

His smile was thin. “Then I’ll show you bolder.”

He grabbed Zhi Nan Xing and pulled out the Nine-Form Diagram.

“Do the moves.”

Zhi Nan Xing froze. “What…?”

“Move.”

Time passed.

Zhi Nan Xing stared at the ground, hatred burning in his eyes.

This bastard was humiliating him.

Strange postures. Strange motions. Over and over.

What was the point?

Wang Jie put away the Nine-Form Diagram, satisfied. “Done.”

He gave Zhi Nan Xing a small smile. “See you.”

A palm dropped.

Zhi Nan Xing went limp.

Wang Jie buried him deep underground. That ended Zhi Nan Xing’s Star-Devourer contest. He could crawl out after it was over.

Wang Jie stepped across the Nine-Form Diagram.

Now he was Zhi Nan Xing.

He headed for the ship parked nearby—the one Zhi Nan Xing had arrived in. The poor fool had come to investigate a stranded vessel and instead found the worst day of his life.

Wang Jie piloted the ship toward Yun Ju’s position.

Yun Ju had never bothered to hide his location. Wang Jie knew exactly where he was.

Not long after, he arrived.

Yun Ju stared at the approaching figure, clearly surprised. “Zhi Nan Xing?”

Wang Jie gave a faint smile—Zhi Nan Xing’s kind of smile—and walked up.

Yun Ju smiled back and stepped forward to greet him.

As a White Realm Lord’s disciple and one of the white roamer, Yun Ju’s status was high. But no matter how high, it couldn’t surpass the Zhi family. At most, they stood as equals.

“Junior Brother Nan Xing,” Yun Ju asked, “what brings you here?”

Wang Jie kept the same reserved arrogance, polite but distant. “Senior Brother, have you found that Wang Jie?”

Yun Ju’s brows knit. “Not yet. But I will.”

“Then hurry,” Wang Jie said lightly. “Don’t let someone else find him first.”

“If my subordinates weren’t so stupid, I’d have solved it already,” Yun Ju said, irritation rising. Then he looked at Wang Jie again. “Junior Brother, why did you come to me?”

“I need a favor,” Wang Jie said. “Not for myself. I’m only passing a message.”

Yun Ju waved his men away. “I know who you’re close to. What do you want me to do?”

Wang Jie deliberately took out a copper slip, letting a trace of killing intent leak. “Kill Li Cai.”

Yun Ju’s eyes widened. “Who?”

“Senior Brother didn’t hear, or Senior Brother doesn’t want to,” Wang Jie said, voice mild.

Yun Ju’s expression turned uneasy. “Do you realize Li Cai is Elder Li Tong He’s son? He represents the Elders’ Council.”

“If he dies, it’ll be a massive disturbance. Even I can’t bear that.”

“Then cripple him,” Wang Jie said. “Cripple him hard. Leave the rest to me.”

Yun Ju’s eyes narrowed, gaze lingering on the copper slip. “Why must Li Cai die?”

Wang Jie’s tone remained steady, as if reciting something decided long ago. “Why couldn’t Wang Jie be dealt with in Suo Xing Jian? Because the Elders’ Council established rules. Elder Li Tong He, together with the Zhi family senior behind him, set them.”

“Anyone who dares oppose us pays a price.”

He looked Yun Ju in the eye. “Senior Brother can relax. You cripple Li Cai in the name of fighting for the token. Killing him—I’ll handle.”

Yun Ju felt something off, but couldn’t articulate it.

Wasn’t it Elder Si Shang He who had established the rules?

And Li Tong He was still in the ying yang battlefield.

Wang Jie drew out the bait slowly. “Do this for us, and our faction will grant you one condition.”

“Any condition.”

Yun Ju didn’t hesitate. “Fine.”

He knew Zhi Nan Xing was close to Zhi Shu, and behind Zhi Shu stood Zhi Qing—an existence second only to the Old Ancestor.

With that backing, it was more secure than the White Realm Lord.

Crippling Li Cai wasn’t the same as killing him outright.

“Where is Li Cai?” Yun Ju asked at once, suddenly impatient. “Tell me.”

Wang Jie didn’t actually want to kill Li Cai. Li Cai had no personal grudge with him.

He only wanted chaos.

Yun Ju would never dare truly kill Li Cai. And Li Cai wasn’t easy prey. If both sides ended up heavily injured, that was when Wang Jie would take control.

Wang Jie was about to steer the conversation—

A shout ripped through the air.

“Yun Ju! Get your ass out here—!”

Yun Ju’s face contorted. He sprang up. “Him again. That bastard really thinks I’m afraid?”

Wang Jie frowned.

Shi Wei.

That voice belonged to Shi Wei.

He’d finally caught up.

“Junior Brother,” Yun Ju snapped, already moving, “wait a moment. I’ll deal with this idiot first.”

He leaped out, and battle erupted instantly.

Wang Jie exhaled through his nose. Shi Wei couldn’t have shown up at a worse time.

Then Wang Jie turned sharply.

In the distance—

Wen Yuan.

Wen Yuan had arrived too.

He looked ragged, fleeing in a panic. And right behind him—

Li Cai.

Li Cai was chasing Wen Yuan, killing intent obvious.

Wang Jie’s eyes flicked toward Yun Ju, who was locked in combat with Shi Wei, and he shouted loudly enough to carry across the battlefield:

“Li Cai is here! The jade token is on him!”

Everyone heard it.

Wen Yuan’s head whipped around, disbelief on his face. Who was the idiot still claiming the jade was on Li Cai?

Then he saw who had shouted.

Zhi Nan Xing?

Shi Wei’s brows furrowed as well. Hadn’t Wang Jie stolen the jade from Wen Yuan? Why would it be on Li Cai?

Yun Ju, however, understood immediately.

This was Zhi Nan Xing handing him the excuse he needed.

Good Junior Brother.

Li Cai was the most furious of all. “Who said the jade is on me?”

He spotted Wang Jie and snapped, “Junior Brother Nan Xing, the jade was stolen by Wang Jie long ago! Wen Yuan ambushed me and I lost it. Everyone in Star-Devourer knows this!”

Wang Jie didn’t even blink. “Senior Brother Li, there’s no need to deny it. With your combat power, how could a mere lockforce cultivator steal the jade from you?”

The words sounded flattering, but they twisted the truth into a noose.

Li Cai’s expression was livid. “It was Wen Yuan who ambushed me! Wang Jie only reaped the benefit. Junior Brother, if you want the jade, go after Wang Jie—I’m going to kill Wen Yuan first!”

“Li Cai,” Yun Ju called coldly, turning away from Shi Wei. “Hand over the jade.”

He attacked.

Li Cai instinctively raised Thunder Pattern to block. The blow sent him skidding back.

Li Cai roared, “Yun Ju! Are you insane? The jade is with Wang Jie!”

Yun Ju sneered. “Stop the act. Wen Yuan can ambush you?”

“That lockforce cultivator is only Star-Breaking Realm. Even if he can fight a Roaming-Star Realm, you’re not some ordinary Roaming-Star Realm yourself.”

“It’s clearly a trap you set with Wen Yuan.”

He glanced toward Wang Jie—toward “Zhi Nan Xing”—and cold amusement tugged at his mouth. “Junior Brother Nan Xing is right. To avoid being surrounded, you really did use your brain.”

Li Cai froze.

You could argue it like that?

Wen Yuan looked back, shocked.

You could argue it like that, too?

“Yun Ju!” Shi Wei roared, chasing him. “Apologize to my sect!”

Yun Ju’s jaw clenched. He dodged Shi Wei’s strike and kept pressing Li Cai.

“Hand over the jade!”

“It’s not on me!” Li Cai bellowed. His eyes locked onto Wen Yuan. “Wen Yuan! Stop right there. Don’t you dare run!”

Wen Yuan fled again.

Yun Ju chased Li Cai.

Shi Wei chased Yun Ju.

Li Cai chased Wen Yuan.

Four Roaming-Star Realm experts crashed into each other again and again, tearing the terrain apart.

From a distance, Wang Jie watched quietly, eyes calm.

Good.

Completely chaotic.

Outside Star-Devourer, those watching were stunned.

What was happening?