Chapter 218
Chapter 218: Recent Tidings of Old Friends
After Wang Jie arrived, he rested for two full days. With the aid of a revive pill, he had finally overcome his serious injuries. Even so, he still couldn’t move about easily. He merely waited patiently to perform his exercises.
In these past two days, he spent all his time reminiscing with Yan Xiao Nian, hearing much news of old acquaintances.
Back when Frost Radiance Sect had fallen, aside from Elder Yan, who possessed the Heavy Depth Star, and the Cold Domain Master Zhu Cheng, there had been another traitor—the Lord of Snow Region, none other than Yan Zhen Zhen’s own grandfather.
Wang Jie could never have imagined this.
Besides that, Master Xu had originally come from Ornate Jade Gate.
Even Master Que Yi’s disciple, Tao Two, had betrayed them.
Among the disciples, the first True Inheritance disciple, Wei Zhong, had also betrayed the sect, along with Yin Bei Yi, who switched sides during battle.
As for Yan Xiao Nian, he had been captured alongside Master Luan. As for Yan Zhen Zhen, there was no need to even ask—her grandfather was a traitor, so naturally, she was taken directly to Ornate Jade Gate.
Counting carefully, it seemed quite a few old friends had ended up within Ornate Jade Gate.
Yan Xiao Nian sighed softly, “In that battle, our sect disciples suffered terribly. Ornate Jade Gate had prepared for far too long. Frost Radiance Sect never stood a chance of escaping annexation. Their true goal is to seize control of the Third Nebula and become the second Nan Family.”
“Our days at Ornate Jade Gate have been difficult. Well, perhaps not so for Zhen Zhen—her grandfather holds quite a high position there. Master Luan could have lived comfortably as well, but he refused to concoct pills for Ornate Jade Gate. That angered them, and so they sent me here to the Star Cloud Battlefield as a warning.”
“That Yin Bei Yi, though, has thrived splendidly, becoming close friends with Wei Zhong and the Ornate Jade Gate disciples,” Yan Xiao Nian remarked with bitterness.
He didn’t ask Wang Jie about his life in Black White Heaven. There was no need. After all, if someone with sealed force cultivation was sent to the Star Cloud Battlefield, his situation couldn’t be good. The only puzzling matter was why Wang Jie, as a Celestial Refinement Master, had been dispatched here too.
Wang Jie shook his head helplessly, “A Celestial Refinement Master has high status in Frost Radiance Sect, but in Black White Heaven, it’s nothing special.”
Yan Xiao Nian nodded, “That’s true. Those at Star Refining Realm don’t require a Celestial Refinement Master’s aid. Black White Heaven rules absolutely over the Fourth Star Cloud, so naturally, they have more than one or two Celestial Refinement Masters at their command.”
At this moment, an alarm sounded in the distance.
Yan Xiao Nian’s face changed abruptly, “Change directions—run!”
Immediately, everyone on the mountainside purposefully charged in one direction. Right after their departure, countless beams swept past, exploding violently. A dreadful silence fell afterward—the unmistakable power of Phoenix Cry Hall.
Wang Jie followed beside Yan Xiao Nian, and no one questioned him.
Though Yan Xiao Nian wasn’t favored at Ornate Jade Gate, he was still an Alchemy High Master, possessing considerable status. Moreover, he had already broken through to Wandering Star Realm, ranking among the strongest present.
Yan Xiao Nian turned to Wang Jie and asked quietly, “What do you think? Would you consider joining Ornate Jade Gate with me?”
Wang Jie silently stared back.
Yan Xiao Nian coughed awkwardly, adding, “Though my situation is poor, Zhen Zhen’s status is decent. She could help bring you in. And you’re a Celestial Refinement Master.” He paused abruptly, shaking his head, “No—forget it. That giant leek is also there. If you went, your days wouldn’t be pleasant.”
The “giant leek” naturally referred to Master Xu, who had always targeted Wang Jie at Frost Radiance Sect.
“Yin Bei Yi and I are also on terrible terms,” Wang Jie quietly added.
Yan Xiao Nian sighed again, “If it weren’t for these factors, joining Ornate Jade Gate wouldn’t actually be bad. They will soon unify the Third Nebula. When that day comes, their foundations, built upon those left by the Nan Family, will likely rival or even surpass Black White Heaven swiftly. You must know—the Third Nebula’s total strength is actually greater than Black White Heaven’s. Had the Nan Family not vanished, how could Black White Heaven dare invade our territories so brazenly?”
Wang Jie questioned curiously, “The Nan Family’s foundations? Has Ornate Jade Gate found them?”
“Not exactly,” Yan Xiao Nian replied, shaking his head, “I mean the plans laid out by the Nan Family across countless years. Have you not noticed the special qualities of the Third Nebula?”
Wang Jie truly hadn’t noticed before.
Yan Xiao Nian began explaining, “The Third Star Link, Tech Machine City, merges technology with cultivation and excels in transportation—they possess endless battleships.”
“The Fourth Star Link, Fallen Bow Hall, specializes in offense, ideal for cover. Fifth Star Chain’s Shield Mountain boasts unparalleled defense. Sixth Star Chain’s Gong Nation offers endless reproduction, meaning limitless soldiers.”
“Seventh Star Chain is the Puppet Master Sect. The Eighth Star Chain holds Frost Radiance Sect, and Ninth Star Chain is the Eight Prison Berserk Clan.”
“If you disregard the star links and combine these forces, what do you think they form?”
Wang Jie answered with surprise, “A war configuration.”
Yan Xiao Nian nodded gravely, “Only after joining Ornate Jade Gate did we realize how high the heavens are. The Nan Family prepared thoroughly. When they ruled Third Nebula, each star link had clearly assigned roles, specifically arranged to defeat enemies in battle.”
“Don’t underestimate Third Nebula’s scattered appearance now. On this Hanhai Sea battlefield, it isn’t easy for Black White Heaven to conquer us.”
Wang Jie recalled vividly: beneath a rain of arrows, countless shields surged forward, with the people of Gong Nation used as cannon fodder.
Black White Heaven lacked this coordination.
So, this was all according to the Nan Family’s designs.
“Ornate Jade Gate has nearly unified most of Third Nebula now. The more intense the Star Cloud Battlefield becomes, the less anyone notices internal changes within Third Nebula, providing Ornate Jade Gate the perfect chance. Soon, the nebula will unify, and Ornate Jade Gate will become the second Nan Family. Though our lives within Ornate Jade Gate aren’t easy, our external status won’t be any lower than disciples from Black White Heaven,” Yan Xiao Nian concluded.
He looked directly at Wang Jie, adding solemnly, “Countless Ornate Jade Gate disciples long for this outcome. Their hearts are united. No one can stop them.”
Wang Jie’s gaze flickered briefly, recalling Silver Radiance Empire.
Presently, the regions occupied by Black White Heaven near Silver Radiance Empire were secure only because Third Nebula hesitated to open another front. But once Ornate Jade Gate unified Third Nebula, everything would change.
Thinking of this, Wang Jie’s heart felt heavy.
“However, most only know the outcome. Few understand the details of the process. I only discovered Ornate Jade Gate’s intentions by overhearing Master Xu speaking to my master,” Yan Xiao Nian explained further.
“You mean, reinforcing the battlefield as a cover for their unification plans?”
Yan Xiao Nian nodded solemnly.
Another day passed, and once again, they changed their location.
There was no truly safe place anywhere on the Hanhai Sea battlefield. During this time, many people from Third Nebula joined their ranks. Wang Jie, fearing someone might recognize him, slightly disguised himself. He didn’t alter much, just enough to avoid immediate recognition.
“Hey, did you hear about that thing?” someone asked quietly.
“What thing?”
“You know, the incident at Honor Mountain.”
“You mean Yue Bai?”
Wang Jie opened his eyes slightly.
“It’s spreading all over Honor Mountain,” the person continued, “they say Yue Bai lost control and started digging into someone else’s secrets.”
“Really?”
Another person leaned closer, whispering, “I heard Yue Bai stole someone’s wife.”
“No, no, I heard he confessed but got rejected.”
“I thought he forced himself on a junior sister?”
“No way, that’s not it. I heard—”
Wang Jie closed his eyes again. [Revealing three secret admirers might make sense within a sect, but this is a battlefield. Who has time for secret love when everyone’s busy fighting for their lives? They’re practically madmen on the field.]
He deliberately chose that card. Yue Bai had nearly killed him before, so he deserved a little lesson.
“Yue Bai holds quite a high position at Honor Mountain, doesn’t he?” Wang Jie asked Yan Xiao Nian.
Yan Xiao Nian nodded softly, “He’s the top disciple at Honor Mountain. He once lost to the Six Dao Wanderer of Black White Heaven. Even at Ornate Jade Gate, he’d easily be in the top three.”
“The battlefield truly isn’t a good place; even Yue Bai was driven mad.”
Wang Jie stayed silent…
Two more days passed. On this day, Wang Jie performed his exercises again.
Yan Xiao Nian glanced briefly, then turned to look into the distance, confused but respectful.
Wang Jie did his exercises underground to avoid attracting attention.
Once finished, he felt clear-headed and refreshed, fully recovered at last.
He looked down at his wristguard, astonished. Others with wounds as severe as his would take months to heal—even with a Revive Pill. With only a Restoration Pill, recovery on the Hanhai Sea battlefield was practically impossible.
Yet he healed in mere days. His exercises perfectly enhanced the Revive Pill’s effects.
Unable to hold back, he handed Yan Xiao Nian a bottle of Revive Pills. If Yan Xiao Nian had had any left before, he wouldn’t have given Wang Jie a mere Restoration Pill.
Yan Xiao Nian stared, startled. “Where did you get Revive Pills?”
“Stolen,” Wang Jie replied casually, “just lucky.”
“My master gave me many before coming here, but they’ve all been used up.” Yan Xiao Nian felt deeply grateful. A single bottle of Revive Pills was worth at least twenty million star stones—extremely precious.
Wang Jie took out several other pills, especially Explosive Star Pills. He avoided giving the Sixth Fragrance level ones, as those would stand out too much. Instead, he offered lower-ranked pills, which could still save lives in critical moments.
These Explosive Star Pills were useless to Wang Jie himself, good only for selling. Better to give them to Yan Xiao Nian.
He even threw in a few Swift Movement Pills.
Yan Xiao Nian quickly shook his head, “No, these are too valuable—I can’t accept.”
Wang Jie forcibly pressed the pills into his hand.
Yan Xiao Nian had Master Luan’s backing, so he’d come with many pills. But the battlefield had consumed them all. Yan Xiao Nian had saved Wang Jie’s life, so this was only fair repayment.
Wang Jie always repaid kindness and settled grudges without fail.
“Take them,” Wang Jie smiled warmly, “if someday I can’t survive at Black White Heaven anymore, maybe you can pull me out.”
Yan Xiao Nian gazed at him deeply, “Thank you.”
Later that same day, a voice echoed, “All disciples, listen closely. Conceal your presence completely; do not make the slightest sound. Follow me.”
Yan Xiao Nian reminded Wang Jie gently, “It’s our turn. If we face disciples from Black White Heaven, escape during the chaos.”
Wang Jie nodded, hiding his aura and silently following.
A Hundred Star Realm expert suppressed everyone’s aura with starforce, gathering them onto a large planetary fragment. Mountains had been piled high to obstruct vision, and then the fragment slowly drifted toward a distant location.
“You can speak now, but keep your voices low,” Yan Xiao Nian whispered.
Wang Jie gazed far ahead, “Does the enemy do this too?”
Yan Xiao Nian nodded, “Look at all these planetary fragments in the Hanhai Sea battlefield. Don’t you notice many look similar? They’ve been reshaped and piled up by Hundred Star Realm experts to hide large groups.”
Wang Jie understood. It truly seemed that way.
The planetary fragment drifted slowly, barely noticeable.
“Look, there’s a group of unlucky fellows on the fragment ahead.”
Wang Jie looked forward. Indeed, several dozen people rested on the fragment ahead, some standing guard.
“Haha, they have no idea we’re approaching. They’ll wet themselves when they finally see us.”
“They won’t escape this time.”
“Poor unlucky fellows, hahaha.”
Wang Jie was speechless. Remembering how he and Zhi Nan Xing had been ambushed earlier, he wondered what those who cornered them must have mocked them with.