Chapter 203
Chapter 203: I Have My Pride Too
From the back of the crowd, Wang Jie helplessly stepped forward. He had already guessed this outcome.
Others might not understand, but how could Zhi Ye be unclear about his true strength?
Si Shang He relaxed his brows slightly—[As expected].
Heavenly Master Bai Ye smiled faintly. Of course she knew Wang Jie’s capabilities; anyone who learned about them would feel shocked. But matters of sect competition had nothing to do with her. Whomever Realm Lord Bai chose was irrelevant.
Qi Xue Yin watched Wang Jie emerge from behind the crowd, her heart sinking to the depths.
He truly hadn’t changed—still so formidable.
She had thought Wang Jie was merely outstanding below the ten seals on Blue Star. Perhaps later, his incredible strength would fade, leaving him ordinary. But now Zhi Ye had personally called him forth, which meant Wang Jie was still highly valued in Zhi Ye’s eyes.
Could he still be as unimaginably powerful as he had been on Blue Star?
Zhi Ye smiled gently, calmly looking at Qi Xue Yin: “Lass, why not let your disciple spar a bit with my junior here? Any rank within the Breaking Star stage is fine.”
Qi Xue Yin stared deeply at Wang Jie.
From behind, Gui Jian stepped forward, leaping onto the Dueling Platform and looking toward Wang Jie from afar.
Zhi Ye’s words—“Any rank within the Breaking Star stage”—were an insult to him. It implied Wang Jie could not only defeat him but even surpass Mu Lan at the Full Star realm. Ridiculous. He had already won six battles in a row, yet Black White Heaven still underestimated him.
“Your disciple is impatient already,” Zhi Ye turned toward Wang Jie: “Make it quick—I have my pride too.”
Wang Jie exhaled lightly, “Yes.” Then, he moved toward the Dueling Platform.
The surrounding disciples of Black White Heaven murmured in surprise: “Isn’t he that Celestial Refinement Master who was targeted by Young Master Yun Ju and almost expelled from the Pill Conference?”
“I’ve heard of Wang Jie. Something happened during the Lock Path interval, right?”
“He practices Lock Force cultivation; for us to know his name means he must have done something remarkable.”
“I heard he won the Devour Star battle. My cousin from the Discipline Hall personally saw him deliver proof to Elder Yan.”
“Could all that be true…?”
Though Wang Jie’s name had been whispered several times within Black White Heaven, most disciples treated it as mere gossip. Stories about the Lock Path interval, the pursuit by Deacon Wu Yun, and the Devour Star contest were too chaotic and legendary. Disciples listened casually, dismissing them as absurd.
Who would have thought those rumors were real?
It was as unimaginable as a slave striking a slave master, with the master not daring to retaliate.
Yet now, with Zhi Ye’s acknowledgment, these tales suddenly felt true.
On the Dueling Platform, Gui Jian stared sharply: “Gui Jian. Please instruct me.”
“Wang Jie. Please instruct me.”
Gui Jian raised his hand, immediately releasing Eight Cloud Arrow. Eight arrows shot out together, much stronger than when he faced Shen Zhao.
Quickly?
Then I’ll defeat you quickly.
Below the stage, Shen Zhao’s eyes tightened. How many arrows had Gui Jian used against him? Now he began with eight. He had heard of Wang Jie too but assumed his feats were exaggerated by the sect to support the Lock Path interval. He hoped this wouldn’t be embarrassing.
Wang Jie watched the eight arrows approach. These arrows would return. Eight Cloud Arrow—what a familiar technique.
With one Sword Step forward, Wang Jie instantly approached Gui Jian.
Gui Jian was startled—[So fast]! The eight arrows swiftly turned back, piercing toward Wang Jie from behind. At the same time, he activated his starforce, distorting the air around him into an illusory haze—Mirage Starforce.
Wang Jie ignored the Mirage Starforce, directly rushing toward Gui Jian. Though the eight arrows moved fast, they couldn’t surpass his Sword Step.
Gui Jian had no choice but to retreat. But it was already too late.
Wang Jie had reached him. His eyes flickered, pinpointing Gui Jian’s next movement. Raising his arm, Wang Jie swept forward. A tremendous force erupted like a violent storm, instantly enveloping the stage. Gui Jian felt his breath halt—[What kind of power was this]? Unable to move, he was hurled uncontrollably off the platform, crashing onto the ground below.
As Gui Jian landed, Wang Jie turned, flicked his arm again, and swept away all eight arrows in a single motion. They pierced the stone walls outside the platform, burying themselves deep.
It was over.
Everyone stood stunned.
Whether disciples from Black White Heaven or First Star Cloud, all were frozen in disbelief.
[So quickly]?
From the spectators’ view, the entire fight lasted mere breaths. Gui Jian fired eight arrows; Wang Jie stepped forward once, swept his arms twice, and Gui Jian had already lost. Too easy.
As simple as dusting off a table.
Shen Zhao gaped. No one knew better than him how devastating those arrows were; each had made him wary. Yet Wang Jie merely brushed them aside effortlessly. Was the gap really that huge?
On the raised platform, Zhi Ye’s lips curled into a faint smile—unsurprised.
Su Le cheered joyfully.
Everyone else was still trapped in shock.
Breaking Star Realm should have been a mere beginning, not something that would awe Hundred Star or even Star Refining cultivators. Yet Wang Jie won far too easily. Even First Star Cloud’s Breaking Star prodigy Gui Jian, who had defeated Shen Zhao effortlessly, had been crushed instantly.
Qi Xue Yin also wasn’t surprised.
He remained unfathomably strong. Perhaps within the same realm, only a prodigy like Shu Mu Night could rival him?
Mu Lan stepped out, ascending the Dueling Platform: “Full Star Realm, Mu Lan. Please instruct me.”
Wang Jie looked at this woman—experienced in combat, possessing two strange starforces, and formidable techniques like Guillotine and Earth Fortress. She was an opponent. Yet, she also wasn’t truly a threat.
“Wang Jie. Please instruct me.”
As she finished speaking, Mu Lan immediately activated Earth Fortress. Burning Sand Starforce anchored her deeply underground, rays of dazzling light erupted, and vast starforce surged forward. Guillotine rose high, prepared to meet her opponent with full strength.
Wang Jie raised his hand, Heaven’s Thunder roared, and a crimson Thunder Pattern condensed. Under everyone’s shocked gazes, he charged.
No extreme speed, no special technique—just charging straightforwardly with the Thunder Pattern leading.
Mu Lan’s expression changed dramatically—[A red Thunder Pattern]? A Breaking Star cultivator having a crimson Thunder Pattern? Wasn’t that a power exclusive to the Wandering Star realm?
As soon as the crimson Thunder Pattern appeared, Qi Xue Yin’s heart sank once again. [It’s over.]
Mu Lan probably couldn’t even break through that Thunder Pattern.
Holding the crimson Thunder Pattern like a shield, Wang Jie crashed fiercely into Mu Lan.
She wanted to dodge, but her Earth Fortress had anchored her firmly in place. This had been her instant reaction after seeing Gui Jian lose; she thought Wang Jie would again fling her off the stage with brute force.
But she was mistaken.
Wang Jie was charging straight through.
She couldn’t escape—no time to react.
The crimson Thunder Pattern mercilessly crashed through her Light Ripple Starforce and Guillotine technique, striking the Earth Fortress and sending Mu Lan flying.
It ended again.
This seemed even faster than the previous fight.
Mu Lan had intended to restrain Wang Jie’s movements, yet unknowingly restrained herself instead.
Si Shang He chuckled. Just as Mu Lan previously defeated Zhi Qing Po using the Zhi Family’s Fixed Star Technique, she now fell victim to her own method.
This Wang Jie was ruthless—turning his opponent’s tactics against them.
The fight ended before anyone could fully grasp it. The words “swift, ruthless, precise” surfaced in everyone’s mind simultaneously.
Truly too fast.
Wang Jie glanced at Mu Lan, who had crashed heavily onto the ground: “Thank you.” Then, he returned to the raised platform.
Next would be Luan Dao.
He wasn’t someone Wang Jie could handle; their gap was enormous.
Luan Dao’s gaze locked onto Wang Jie, seemingly eager to fight. Yet even Zhi Ye wouldn’t allow Wang Jie to face him. That wouldn’t be a duel—it would be suicide.
Realm Lord Bai calmly observed all of this unfold.
Qi Xue Yin gasped in amazement: “Who would have thought that Black White Heaven was hiding such an expert? A Star Breaking Realm Lock Force cultivator, defeating Gui Jian and Mu Lan in quick succession. Senior Zhi Ye, could he become the next Six Dao Wanderer?”
Zhi Ye smiled at her gently: “That depends entirely on him.”
Qi Xue Yin raised her eyes thoughtfully: “Could you lend him to my Galaxy Combat Equipment Company? Junior is truly curious—a Lock Force cultivator who’s also a Celestial Refinement Master and possesses such incredible strength. If he accompanies me to the First Star Cloud, it would astonish countless people.”
“Even Senior’s old friends would be stunned.”
Zhi Ye had not paid much attention at first, but Qi Xue Yin’s last words piqued his interest, causing him to hesitate rather than refuse outright.
With this, the Alchemy Gathering concluded.
Though called an Alchemy Gathering, it was closer to a martial arts contest.
First Star Cloud intended to completely overshadow Black White Heaven. Yet, a certain Wang Jie suddenly appeared, claiming two clear victories and restoring Black White Heaven’s dignity.
From this moment on, Wang Jie’s name would truly resound across Black White Heaven as a heroic figure, unstoppable by anyone.
Not long after, Wang Jie arrived at Zhi Upper Realm.
Since he’d come to Black White Heaven, how could he not pay respects to Elder Zhi Xing Xue?
It was Little Blue who personally went to Zhi Learning Valley to fetch him.
“Junior Wang Jie greets Great Elder,” Wang Jie hurriedly saluted upon seeing Zhi Xing Xue in the courtyard.
Zhi Xing Xue welcomed him warmly inside.
Little Blue smiled brightly as she brewed tea for Wang Jie.
Wang Jie stood up anxiously, not daring to accept this honor.
“That’s enough; there’s no need for such formality here,” Zhi Xing Xue said gently.
Wang Jie replied gratefully, “Thank you, Senior Little Blue.”
Zhi Xing Xue watched Wang Jie fondly, eyes twinkling with amusement: “You’ve certainly caused quite the stir this time.”
Wang Jie smiled bitterly: “Junior didn’t intend it; Senior Zhi Ye specifically called me out.”
“You’ve done well. Do you realize how great a benefit you’ve brought the sect?”
Wang Jie felt helpless. The greater the benefit he brought, the more closely Qi Xue Yin would watch him.
Zhi Xing Xue took a sip of tea, saying calmly, “This time, Galaxy Combat Equipment Company came specifically for Bridge Building benefits.”
Wang Jie had just reached for his tea, but hearing this, his heart shuddered. “Bridge Building?”
Zhi Xing Xue nodded gravely: “You should know by now. Bridge Building grants access to the Bridge Law. In the boundless universe, Bridge Building points are like tiny needles in an endless ocean—finding even one is heavenly fortune.”
“Every powerful force desperately seeks Bridge Building points. Black White Heaven discovered one and completed the foundations, but Galaxy Combat Equipment Company learned of it. We had no choice but to share its benefits to avoid war.”
“Miss Qi, the third miss of the Qi family, came specifically to gain greater leverage. Six battles and six victories was her way of making a statement. She was letting us know clearly that if we did not offer enough benefits, Galaxy Combat Equipment Company wouldn’t hesitate to go to war.”
Wang Jie’s heart grew heavy. [Bridge Building…] He remembered Blue Star. Cruel and merciless—this was the reality of the cultivation world.
“If the profits were not immense, she wouldn’t have been so ruthless; she would have at least allowed us one victory for dignity,” Zhi Xing Xue’s expression darkened as she continued. “Zhi Ye stepped forward not truly for the sect’s benefits but rather for his own pride. Jun Qian, however, completely disregarded our interests. Even knowing you were present, he ignored you, losing a guaranteed victory. I’ll join forces with the Black Realm Lord and the Elder Council to formally question him about this.”
Wang Jie turned solemnly toward Zhi Xing Xue, asking, “Senior, is Bridge Law truly so powerful?”