Chapter 207
Chapter 207: Star Guardian
If size were ignored and only its shape considered, Great Star Mountain looked like a sword thrust diagonally into the heavens—not sharp, yet perfectly straight from a distance.
The closer the spaceship drew, the more jagged the mountain appeared, revealing its immense size.
The Stacking Heavenly Light Star Method was placed at the mountain’s peak. Everyone who wished to cultivate it had to ascend from the base step-by-step. Directly descending from the stars onto the summit was forbidden; otherwise, the mountaintop would never know peace. This rule was established long ago.
Although Wang Jie often broke rules, it was only when the rules hindered him unjustly. There was no need to deliberately flout reasonable traditions. Such arrogance wasn’t necessary.
He aimed to join Heavenly Light Pavilion. If he stirred trouble at Great Star Mountain, even if he successfully joined later, he wouldn’t be of any use to Elder Xing Xue. This was what Little Blue had warned him about.
Some rules could be broken, but others must remain untouched.
The spaceship landed at the foot of Great Star Mountain. The open space stretched out, nearly deserted, with only a few ships docked. Most cultivators were currently at Thunder Well, so only those qualified to ascend were here.
Following Luo Yan’s instructions, Wang Jie easily located the qualification verification site and registered the authorization he had obtained from Thunder Well. Without this verification, anyone attempting to climb the mountain would be attacked by all cultivators present.
During their earlier conversations, Wang Jie had asked Luo Yan about this. It was strange—disciples who reached One Glance Three Thousand were extremely rare, even with special lenses aiding their sight. With such a vast mountain, why restrict entry?
Luo Yan’s answer had been simple: it was bothersome.
At the summit of Great Star Mountain, there was only one place to practice Stacking Heavenly Light. If everyone could casually visit or attempt cultivation, it would disturb those truly capable. These rules were established precisely because, without qualifications, one had no chance of mastering the method.
Wang Jie began his ascent.
The mountain was enormous, piercing beyond the Star Dome itself, yet with his speed, Wang Jie quickly neared the summit.
Along the way, he saw not a single soul.
Only upon reaching the peak did he encounter others. Surprisingly, more than ten cultivators were present—an impressive number indeed. The Star Method was notoriously difficult; for over a dozen people to achieve One Glance Three Thousand was already remarkable. Of these, perhaps only one or two might master it.
Wang Jie’s arrival instantly drew everyone’s attention.
There was only one path leading from the mountain base to its peak, making his approach exceptionally noticeable.
His gaze, however, was swiftly drawn to the Star Sealing Stones scattered nearby, each brimming with concentrated starforce—this was the essence of the Stacking Heavenly Light method. Cultivators sat quietly around them, immersed in practice.
Wang Jie moved toward the stones.
But after only a few steps, someone stepped out to block him, eyes cold as ice, stating curtly, “You can’t cultivate here.”
The words drew the attention of everyone around.
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow, replying simply, “Why not?”
“Hmph! What gives a Lock Force cultivator the right to cultivate a Star Method?” the man sneered disdainfully.
Those around gasped—Lock Force cultivator?
Wang Jie’s eyes darkened. Clearly, this man recognized him; otherwise, his Breath Concealment Method would’ve hidden his Lock Force status completely.
“Who decided Lock Force cultivators can’t practice the Star Method? Was it you?”
“And what if it was?”
“Then try and stop me.” Without another word, Wang Jie moved to strike. Clearly, this man belonged to Zhi Qing’s faction, already suspecting Elder Xing Xue’s ambitions towards Heavenly Light Pavilion. If not for continuous interference, Wang Jie would have arrived long ago.
This place was their final obstacle.
The one blocking him was a Wandering Star Realm cultivator, quite strong—his initial attack carried the force of nearly 150,000 units, equal to Mu Lan. Yet facing Wang Jie’s Thunder Pattern, he was helplessly pushed back step by step, unable even to shake the defense.
“Brother Zhang, Brother He, help!” the man shouted desperately.
Two cultivators immediately attacked from either side. One wielded a thorn-covered whip that lashed toward Wang Jie, while the other leaped up, unleashing rapid kicks that echoed with bestial roars.
Both were Wandering Star Realm cultivators.
Three Wandering Star Realm opponents awaited him here.
Wang Jie ignored the two newcomers, his right palm driving fiercely through the Thunder Pattern once again, pushing the first attacker further backward. Without pause, Wang Jie raised a finger, releasing a devastating Luo Xuan Finger strike through the air. The man’s expression twisted in shock—he had expected to stop an ordinary Star Breaking Realm Lock Force cultivator from learning the Stacking Heavenly Light, not someone as terrifying as this. Even the Zhi Family’s Star Breaking Realm cultivators couldn’t possibly be so formidable.
This single strike nearly pierced through his entire body.
From the side, Brother Zhang’s whip lashed towards him. Wang Jie grabbed it casually with his left hand. Brother Zhang sneered, knowing the whip was covered in poisoned barbs—one touch was certain death.
But Wang Jie held tight, using tremendous strength to fling Brother Zhang toward Brother He.
Brother He, alarmed, quickly retracted his kicks, crashing onto the ground instead.
With another mighty pull from Wang Jie, Brother Zhang’s face flushed red as his weapon slipped from his grip, tearing off a layer of skin from his palm. Blood flowed freely.
Before Brother Zhang could react, the whip wrapped around his own neck. In panic, he cried out, “Stop! I’m sorry, Senior Brother, please spare me!”
With a disdainful toss, Wang Jie hurled him off the mountain entirely.
Brother He no longer dared attack.
No one was foolish; a brief exchange clearly demonstrated their disparity in strength. Wang Jie was dangerous.
Wang Jie turned to face the one who had initially stopped him.
Pale-faced, the cultivator quickly bowed before leaping upward into the stars.
The greatest weakness of the Star Breaking Realm was their inability to walk the starry skies, unlike Wandering Star Realm cultivators.
Wang Jie let him flee. This person was merely a lackey, after all.
Brother He fled as well.
Those present were stunned. Among those qualified to cultivate Stacking Heavenly Light, these three Wandering Star cultivators normally looked down upon everyone else. Yet they’d been decisively crushed by this Lock Force cultivator.
Who exactly was he?
His power was frightening.
Wang Jie stood quietly, examining his palm. His protective qi and powerful physique had neutralized the whip’s poison. Had the whip been higher quality, he might not have been able to grasp it bare-handed.
“Come out,” Wang Jie suddenly called, turning toward a shadowed corner. “Your pawns have already run away. How long do you plan to watch?”
In that corner sat a young woman with an utterly calm presence, seemingly ordinary, as if merely Full Star Realm.
But Wang Jie dared not underestimate her.
Zhi Shu.
After punishment from the Devour Star incident, her whereabouts were unknown. Unexpectedly, she was here.
None present had any idea someone who could determine their fate sat quietly among them.
Zhi Shu stared serenely at Wang Jie. “We expected you’d come, but you won’t get past me.”
Wang Jie had assumed Zhi Shu would immediately fight him. After all, at Devour Star, he had attacked her by surprise—she must have resented it. Yet now, she showed no intent to strike.
Had her punishment changed her character?
“You’re not sure you can defeat me,” Wang Jie challenged lightly.
Zhi Shu replied coldly, “Even if I can’t, you still won’t cultivate Stacking Heavenly Light here.”
Understanding her meaning, Wang Jie turned and left without hesitation.
Facing Zhi Shu in peak condition, he wasn’t confident in winning. Zhi Shu’s uncertainty stemmed from Wang Jie’s Thunder Pattern and Lock Force, abilities beyond the constraints of Fixed Star techniques. Otherwise, she would have attacked immediately.
Neither was certain they could defeat the other.
“From this moment onward, no one is permitted to ascend the peak to cultivate Stacking Heavenly Light,” Zhi Shu’s voice carried down Great Star Mountain. She hadn’t forgotten how Wang Jie shamelessly disguised himself as Zhi Nan Xing, and even pretended to be her during the battle for Devour Star.
Wang Jie descended Great Star Mountain, boarding a spaceship at its foot. He set off toward the nearest trading post, intending to purchase intelligence from Star Dome Exchange to see if anyone at Great Star Mountain could assist him.
Inside the spacecraft, he suddenly saw his cheap master standing before him.
Wang Jie was speechless: “Master, could you stop frightening people? Perhaps next time you could wait outside and knock first? Your disciple promises to greet you on his knees.”
Shu Rang’s expression was solemn: “You encountered the Skeletal Clan?”
Wang Jie nodded.
Shu Rang’s eyes deepened with seriousness: “You’re quite fortunate indeed—to encounter the Skeletal Clan and yet still be alive.”
Almost anyone who knew the Skeletal Clan said the same thing. Hearing it repeatedly, Wang Jie himself began to believe his luck was extraordinary.
“Master, the Skeletal Clan must be truly terrifying.”
Shu Rang sneered coldly: “A bunch of monsters who’ve willingly discarded their humanity. No matter how dreadful they are, the universe will never belong to them.” He looked closely at Wang Jie once more: “How did you come to know Qi Xue Yin?”
Facing Shu Rang, Wang Jie did not hide anything. He described all the events on Blue Star honestly and truthfully.
At their first meeting, Shu Rang had already asked how Wang Jie learned Qi cultivation. Back then, Wang Jie hadn’t answered, and Shu Rang didn’t press him further. This was the second time he asked.
Wang Jie could lie to many people—even Zhi Xing Xue—but not Shu Rang. Not only because of the bond of master and disciple, but because this master of his had abilities far beyond his comprehension. Shu Rang asked not because he didn’t already know, but because he wanted Wang Jie to speak the truth himself.
As Shu Rang listened to Wang Jie speak of his past on Blue Star, even he, who considered himself experienced and knowledgeable, was astonished. His gaze toward Wang Jie was filled with disbelief.
He could not imagine how a native of a mere Slaughter Stone Planet had defeated Shu Mu Night, a prodigy chosen by heaven itself. Even with all he’d witnessed, Shu Rang couldn’t understand it.
No wonder Wang Jie knew Qi Xue Yin.
That Qi Xue Yin even willingly brought him to witness bridge building—that certainly wasn’t an ordinary relationship.
“I had thought you might have romantic entanglements with the third Miss Qi of the Qi Clan. As your master, I was prepared to separate you two. But now, that no longer seems necessary.”
Wang Jie didn’t understand: “Why must you separate us?”
Seeing Shu Rang’s peculiar gaze, Wang Jie quickly clarified: “Disciple truly has no romantic feelings for Qi Xue Yin. It’s just simple curiosity.”
Shu Rang replied slowly: “This matter is related to something I need you to do. We’ll discuss it another day.” He circled Wang Jie, examining him closely, which made Wang Jie very uncomfortable—he felt like merchandise being appraised.
“Little fellow, not bad. To think you actually managed to defeat Shu Mu Night once.”
“Do you truly know who Shu Mu Night is?”
“Master knows him as well?” Wang Jie asked, relieved there was finally someone he could inquire with.
Shu Rang let out a breath: “This place we inhabit is known as a Bridge Pillar. You’ve seen it yourself; it truly is just a Bridge Pillar. Though the universe you know appears vast and boundless, in truth, it’s merely circling the Bridge Pillar. Beyond the Bridge Pillar is not forbidden, but going there means certain death, as absolute forces that bring doom exist beyond.”
“Those forces are like the tides of a vast sea. They continuously approach the Bridge Pillar, steadily eroding the space in which we live.”
“To resist, divert, and monitor these forces, a profession known as Star Guardian was born.”