Chapter 223
Chapter 223: Fate Draws Near
Hiss~~
The person drew a sharp breath, looking at Wang Jie with newfound respect, eyes wide with admiration as he spoke: “Brother, you’re amazing! You’ve returned from the Hanhai Sea battlefield in such a short time, and you’ve even advanced to Battle Soldier rank. Impressive, truly impressive!”
Wang Jie exchanged a few polite words with him. Then, the middle-aged man called him over, having already made the connection for him.
The man watched Wang Jie’s retreating figure, recalling how Wang Jie once claimed his strength matched a Wandering Star cultivator. It seemed he had spoken the truth. Advancing so swiftly on the deadly battlefield of the Hanhai Sea and managing to return safely—he must have powerful support behind him. Especially since he himself had contacted the sect first, yet Wang Jie’s communication had gone through even faster. Clearly, whoever he contacted held significant power.
Indeed, he was someone noteworthy, despite being merely a Lock Force cultivator.
[A pity. If only I had recruited him into my team back then. It’s too late now.]
Meanwhile, Wang Jie heard Zhi Xing Xue’s voice.
“You went to the Hanhai Sea battlefield?”
Wang Jie responded with a soft acknowledgment, “I was lucky. I advanced to Battle Soldier and managed to leave that place.”
“Good. It’s luck alone that lets people survive there.”
“Senior, Junior accidentally heard something important,” Wang Jie said. “They say if Ornate Jade Gate keeps sending more forces to the Third Nebula battlefield, it means they’re preparing something big there—perhaps even taking control of the entire Third Nebula.”
Zhi Xing Xue’s voice turned grave instantly: “Who told you this?”
“A Frost Radiance Sect disciple named Yan Xiao Nian. She’s a True Disciple of the sect and the personal disciple of Honored Guest Master Luan.”
“Understood. I’ll look into it immediately. If this proves true, you’ve made a great contribution.”
Ending the conversation, Wang Jie walked away thoughtfully.
If this was indeed true, the Silver Radiance Empire would face danger. He sincerely hoped the information was false.
In Black White Heaven, Zhi Upper Realm, Zhi Xing Xue summoned Little Blue as soon as their conversation ended. “Have our hidden people in the Third Nebula investigate the movements of Ornate Jade Gate immediately. Pay special attention to the Third Star Link’s Tech Machine City and the Fifth Star Chain’s Shield Mountain.”
“Yes, Master.”
The Decree Platform had countless missions.
The Ying Yang Battlefield was vast, and Battle Soldiers had autonomy, unable to be directly controlled. Missions became the best way to guide them—offering sufficient rewards to motivate them into fierce battle, but never allowing them to remain idle. This was Wang Jie’s understanding of how missions operated on the Decree Platform.
He soon took on a new mission—a time-sensitive Battle Soldier assignment—to disrupt enemy battlefield transport.
This type of mission was among the most common.
All factions constantly transported supplies and personnel into the battlefield, and where there was transportation, sabotage naturally followed.
Transporting disciples from sects directly into the Ying Yang Battlefield was protected by Hundred Star Realm cultivators, not something Battle Soldiers could handle. However, shipments from central hubs to various battlefronts, including materials for formations set by Formation Daoists, were perfect for Battle Soldiers like him.
Many cultivators could accept this task simultaneously, but exactly how many, Wang Jie didn’t know. He only knew he had to arrive at the designated location immediately after accepting the mission and wait there for further instructions.
This also risked enemy spies discovering their positions.
As Wang Jie set out aboard his spaceship, gazing into the endless starry sky, a feeling of loneliness settled within him.
He thought of Second Brother and the others. [When I gain a firm foothold in Black White Heaven, I’ll bring them here.]
Several days later, in Zhi Upper Realm, Zhi Ye visited Zhi Xing Xue.
“Aunt, why did you activate our hidden operatives in the Third Nebula?”
“Am I not permitted to?” she calmly replied.
“Of course, you have permission,” Zhi Ye said carefully. “But activating them recklessly risks exposure. Aunt should understand that the operatives personally activated by you hold high status. Planting even one was costly.”
Zhi Xing Xue relayed the information from Wang Jie.
Zhi Ye’s expression grew solemn. “It’s possible. Such schemes aren’t clever, but they’re effective. Wu Yuan already headed to the Hanhai Sea battlefield from Ying Yang. And the Third Nebula has indeed sent considerable reinforcements.”
“Aunt made the right move. Thank you.”
As he turned to leave, Zhi Ye added thoughtfully, “If this proves true, Wang Jie has earned another great merit. Aunt’s judgment is excellent.”
Zhi Xing Xue smiled slightly but quickly turned thoughtful, a complicated look in her eyes. Wang Jie had changed profoundly.
[The battlefield truly molds people. Perhaps it’s time we also send reinforcements,] Zhi Ye murmured to himself, leaving quietly.
…
Ten days later, on the Ying Yang Battlefield, Wang Jie arrived at the designated location, quietly awaiting further instructions.
Two days passed before the mission transmission finally came. Checking the new coordinates, he saw they weren’t far—two hours at most.
His ship quickly took flight again.
Beneath the endless stars, an enormous transport ship drew gradually closer.
Wang Jie watched the monitor. [Such a massive vessel—likely carrying equipment for repairing battleships and Star Stones.]
According to the mission instructions, in exactly ten breaths, he was to strike.
Given the ship’s speed, ten breaths were exactly the time required for it to enter his effective range as a Wandering Star Realm combatant. The mission was specifically designed for Wandering Star Realm Battle Soldiers, excluding those of any other cultivation levels.
Three breaths later, a beam of strange, dark yellow starforce lit up the void, streaking toward the transport vessel.
[Someone else has made a move already. Another cultivator assigned to this mission.]
This mission had meticulously indicated every detail—coordinates, timing for strikes, and every instruction clearly outlined. Once published, it signified that the Decree Platform believed the assigned cultivators were sufficient to complete the task. If the numbers were insufficient, the mission would be canceled rather than activated.
When Wang Jie stood in this exact spot, it meant the mission was already ninety percent complete.
Two breaths later, someone attacked from another direction.
Inside the transport ship, a Wandering Star Realm expert blocked the blow, making sure the ship remained unharmed. A vast shield of light wrapped around the vessel, beams shooting out in all directions.
In the next four breaths, two more attackers struck in quick succession.
At precisely the tenth breath, Wang Jie finally moved. His hand, already gripping the sword hilt tightly, pulsed with qi. Swinging forward, he unleashed a dazzling strike. The brilliance of the Star-Gazing Sword Style shone like starlight, countless sword qi falling upon the transport ship.
Within the vessel, several Wandering Star Realm cultivators each defended a single direction. As Wang Jie’s sword qi descended, someone shouted: “Careful!”
But the warning came too late.
Every strike was beyond what an ordinary Wandering Star Realm cultivator could endure. The sword qi pierced the protective barrier, slicing deeply into the transport ship and setting off a chain reaction. The attacks from the other assailants followed immediately after.
Explosions erupted across the ship from every direction, countless figures crying out in panic as they burst free. Small vessels shakily fled the destruction; some exploded halfway, while luckier ones escaped intact. Several Wandering Star Realm cultivators charged fiercely toward their attackers.
Two of them sped toward Wang Jie.
Wang Jie glanced at their combat power on his detector: around one hundred twenty to one hundred thirty thousand. [I could kill them,] he thought cautiously, yet he held back. Instead, he pointed a single finger, sending out a spiral qi force that crossed the void toward them both.
The two cultivators tried to withstand the blow together but were forced back by the strike. Neither dared advance again, only watching helplessly as Wang Jie calmly boarded his ship and departed.
“Too strong.”
“We’re no match for him.”
“Let’s just say we didn’t find him.”
“Mission failed. Now we’ll be forcibly sent to the Hanhai Sea Battlefield.”
From a distance, Wang Jie looked back, easily satisfied with his accomplishment. This mission showed him the terrifying power of intelligence warfare. Black White Heaven had pinpointed the enemy’s transport route and timing with frightening precision, even down to the perfect moment to strike.
If Black White Heaven could manage this, perhaps other major forces could do the same.
It seemed every faction had infiltrated their enemies thoroughly, like sieves filled with countless holes.
Their enemy didn’t even know who had attacked.
Wang Jie withdrew his gaze and returned to report his mission.
At the same moment, far away on the Hanhai Sea Battlefield, a young woman stood respectfully before Su Su and reported, “Senior Sister, we found the one who rescued Li Tong He. His name is Wang Jie, and he’s a Lock Force cultivator.”
Su Su’s eyes widened in shock. “A Lock Force cultivator? How is that possible?”
Thinking back to that day, even though her attention had been fixed on Li Tong He, Yue Bai, and those experts, she wouldn’t have overlooked someone using Lock Force.
“His information is already here, Senior Sister. You can review it.”
Su Su began to read, her surprise growing with every word. Her eyes sparkled with intrigue the more she learned.
“How interesting. Inciting rebellion during the Lock Path Interval within Black White Heaven, forcing the Elders’ Court, opposing Zhi Qing’s faction, and even stealing the Devour Star. None of these feats seem like something a Star-Breaking Realm Lock Force cultivator could achieve.”
“To have accomplished all this, calling him a genius isn’t an exaggeration.”
“But…” Her expression suddenly darkened, and murderous intent filled her gaze, “He dared to trick me. His life ends now.”
She issued a chilling order.
Every disciple of Ming Huang Hall stood solemnly at attention.
“Do whatever it takes to lure out and kill Wang Jie. I want him to regret ever provoking me,” Su Su commanded fiercely.
“Yes, Senior Sister!”
“Yes…”
Wang Jie returned to the central base and handed in his mission at the Decree Platform.
His identity token gained one drop of blood. That meant he was now officially a one-drop Blood Battle Soldier. He continued browsing for similar tasks. Missions like these were quite comfortable.
Yet, they weren’t without risks. There was always a high chance he’d be ambushed and killed instead.
What Wang Jie relied upon was his Star Disk.
He soon found another task. Just as he was about to leave, Li Tong He approached him.
“Greetings, Elder,” Wang Jie bowed.
Li Tong He’s expression was grave. “Your application to join the Black White Heaven Club was rejected.”
Wang Jie wasn’t surprised. “The reason?”
“Lock Force.”
Just those two words left Wang Jie speechless, stifled with frustration. He could accept being targeted, even accept rejection because of the conflict in Zhi Upper Realm, but he couldn’t accept “Lock Force” as the sole reason.
He indeed cultivated Lock Force, but before even reaching his limits, the world had already judged him.
The same thing happened whenever he tried joining teams. Others would rather have a genuine Star Force Star-Breaking Realm cultivator than him, even though his strength matched the Wandering Star Realm.
All along his journey, he’d endured far too much prejudice.
“There’s something else,” Li Tong He began hesitantly, unsure how to phrase it.
Wang Jie smiled gently. “Please speak freely, Elder. I can take it.”
Li Tong He looked at him, sympathy shining in his eyes. “Until you reach Wandering Star Battle General, you cannot leave the Ying Yang Battlefield.”
Though Wang Jie had mentally prepared himself, knowing it would be difficult to leave, he hadn’t expected it to be this tough.
What exactly did Wandering Star Battle General mean?
It wasn’t just killing a few dozen Wandering Star Realm cultivators. Instead, he had to defeat specific opponents whose rank matched his own identity token. If he reached three drops of blood at Battle Guard level, only defeating another three-drop Battle Guard or higher would earn him the next drop. Defeating random Wandering Star Realm cultivators was useless.
It was no longer merely a matter of ability; luck was equally important.
If Zhi Nan Xing had luck, he would’ve left long ago and wouldn’t be stuck in the Hanhai Sea Battlefield.
On the Star Cloud Battlefield, luck mattered as much as strength.
Not every mission gave a drop of blood either. Tasks became harder the further he advanced, sometimes even more difficult than killing enemies.