Chapter 235
Chapter 235: Clearing the Path
After saying this, Qing Huan looked carefully at Wang Jie, “If someday you really stumble upon a stroke of dog luck and achieve Time Space Touch, your fate will transform completely. Even if Lock Force holds no future, countless factions will still desperately welcome you. Because you would become a walking Time Space Connector. Endless people would wish to use you to achieve Time Space Touch.”
Wang Jie smiled and replied, “Then let me congratulate Wandering Gods in advance. May you soon achieve Time Space Touch and become the greatest of the Wandering Gods.”
Hearing this, Qing Huan brightened and was about to laugh, when Wang Jie suddenly changed his tone, “No, not merely the greatest among the Wandering Gods.”
Qing Huan frowned unhappily, staring at him.
Wang Jie took a step back and bowed deeply, saying respectfully, “Eventually, Wandering Gods will surpass even the Hundred Star Realm. I wish for Wandering Gods to become the foremost master of Tian Cang.”
Qing Huan blinked in surprise, then smiled even brighter, praising Wang Jie with delight, “You even know of Tian Cang?”
“I heard it by chance.”
“Then I’ll borrow your blessed words. If that day ever comes, I promise to carry you along.”
“My deepest thanks, Wandering Gods.”
Qing Huan hummed in acknowledgment and gave Wang Jie a small green leaf, saying, “This is my token. If you ever need help, blow on this leaf. As long as you are within a certain distance, I will come and aid you once. Consider it repayment for the gift of teaching me.”
Wang Jie solemnly stored the leaf away, “Thank you again, Wandering Gods.”
Qing Huan glanced into her storage ring thoughtfully, then drew out Zhong Yi’s sword and handed it to Wang Jie—but her grip tightened immediately, “Here, yours. I’m returning it to you.”
Wang Jie looked at the sword held tightly by Qing Huan and pursed his lips, “No need. This sword and I aren’t suited for each other.”
Qing Huan hurriedly stored the sword again, looking at him with eyes shining excitedly, “Truly, you don’t want it?”
“No,” Wang Jie replied firmly. [I certainly can’t accept it,] he thought silently. [This lass clearly doesn’t wish to part with it. Heaven knows her real temperament—taking it could mean losing my head!]
Qing Huan hesitated, “I dislike owing others favors. You helped me and even gave me that sword. Let me think of something else to gift you.”
“No need. Wandering Gods, just help me deal with that person, and it’ll be enough. It will count as saving my life.”
“Him? Don’t worry. You’ll never see him again for the rest of your life.”
Wang Jie thought quietly, [She really has a harsh way of speaking.]
“Oh, right, take this.” Qing Huan drew another item from her storage ring and tossed it to Wang Jie.
Wang Jie caught it and exclaimed in shock, “Three Chan Heavenly Zen Token?”
“You recognize it?” Qing Huan was surprised.
“I’ve seen one before. It’s said to be extremely precious.”
“It’s not bad. With this, you can directly enter Three Chan Heaven, receiving treatment equal to a true disciple, or you can ask them for a single favor. But it’s useless to me. If I encounter trouble, even Three Chan Heaven can’t help. For you, though, it should hold great value.”
Wang Jie sincerely expressed his gratitude, “Thank you very much, Wandering Gods.”
Although a Five Tribulations Star Artifact was valuable, it paled in comparison to this Zen Token.
Zhi Xing Xue once traded a Zen Token to Black White Heaven, forcing Third Nebula into submission and protecting an entire star region of the Silver Radiance Empire. It was clear how deeply Black White Heaven valued the token.
Now with this token, Wang Jie effectively held a new identity: a prospective true disciple of Three Chan Heaven.
“That’s all then. I’ll be going now,” Qing Huan said, bidding farewell. Casually, she picked Wu Yan up and hung him beneath the crescent moon. Then she turned back and smiled at Wang Jie, saying lightly, “Wang Jie, there’s plenty of ice essence below ground. It should be helpful to you—take as much as you like.”
Wang Jie looked down in surprise beneath the frozen earth.
“I’ll clear a path for you as I leave, otherwise, you might not get out easily.” With those words, she tossed her long hair back, her lips curving softly. Under the misty yellow glow of the moon, her delicate profile was enchantingly beautiful.
In the next instant, the crescent moon swept forth, a faint yellow shadow extending into the endless distance.
Wang Jie stood shocked as the frozen earth before him split into two halves.
He stared in disbelief, frozen with awe, [This… this power!]
Pleased by Wang Jie’s stunned expression, Qing Huan chuckled lightly and vanished.
Wang Jie stared at the boundless crack spreading from beneath his feet, splitting frozen earth and even polar earthworms as it surged towards the distant stars. This level of strength was terrifying.
This was frozen earth even experts of the Wandering Star Realm struggled to damage.
If that were not true, the previous battle would have destroyed the entire spaceport.
Even battles between Hundred Star Realm cultivators failed to affect more than a limited area. Yet Qing Huan, with only Wandering Star Realm strength, effortlessly tore apart an entire direction of frozen land.
Her power surpassed even ordinary Hundred Star Realm experts.
This was the true battle strength of Wandering Gods.
Moreover, she had barely exerted herself.
Wang Jie took a deep breath, wondering when he might achieve such might.
[Time to go back,] he thought. [This direction is definitely safe. Once I leave the spaceport, I can contact central command and return.]
[Wait a moment… Qing Huan said something about ice essence underground?] Wang Jie glanced beneath him, seeing a white river flowing. [Could that truly be all ice essence?]
He never imagined there would be so much.
Did these polar earthworms usually absorb and store such vast amounts?
Ice essence was incredibly precious, especially valuable for body cultivation. It would certainly benefit him greatly.
With determination, Wang Jie quickly began collecting, deciding to take every bit.
Soon afterward, a massive chasm extended endlessly in one direction. Remarkably, not a single polar earthworm appeared along either side of the fracture. Wang Jie smoothly followed the fissure’s path until reaching the edge of the spaceport. Looking back, he saw beneath the white frozen ground countless hidden dangers. [Thank heavens I survived this,] he thought.
He quickly contacted central command.
…
At this moment, a gloomy atmosphere enveloped central command. The spaceship docks and the Decree Platform were lifeless. Countless cultivators waited silently in the rest chambers.
This heavy mood wasn’t due to the earlier battle at the spaceport—it was because Wang Jie had vanished.
Indeed, Wang Jie’s disappearance had shaken the entire Ying Yang Battlefield.
Initially, despite heavy casualties at the spaceport, Black White Heaven had been prepared, and many cultivators had safely retreated, losses within tolerable limits. Moreover, Yue Jian’s betrayal had finally been exposed, removing a hidden threat, and Zhi Nan Xing had also been successfully rescued.
Originally, it should have been a joyous event.
Aside from Wang Jie’s disappearance.
But Wang Jie himself was insignificant—at least that’s what most people thought.
Even though he’d formed his own team and dazzled on the battlefield, leaving others amazed; even though he’d reached roaming-star combat strength at the breaking-star stage, surpassing ordinary wandering-star realm experts; even though he had powerful allies within the Zhi family—
None of that meant his disappearance could shake the entire Black White Heaven’s Yin Yang Battlefield.
Yet, right after the battle at the Starport ended and everyone returned to Central Command, strange things began to happen.
First, Zhi Upper Realm made contact, and it was Zhi Xing Xue herself. Her tone was extremely unpleasant as she questioned the entirety of Central Command, especially Elder Li Tong He and Elder Ming. Even Ye Shou and others sent as reinforcements couldn’t avoid her interrogation.
One by one, hundred-star realm experts endured Zhi Xing Xue’s stern inquiries about every detail of the battle. Everyone knew she was concerned about Wang Jie and had mentally prepared themselves for this reaction. War was war; deaths were inevitable.
Elder Li Tong He felt deeply troubled. Wang Jie had saved his life; he’d repaid him, but still considered Wang Jie one of his own. Knowing Wang Jie was likely dead filled him with sadness.
Elder Ming, however, was delighted. Even though he’d suffered severe injuries at Starport, he couldn’t hide his joy.
Zhi Xing Xue’s rebuke had little effect on him. They simply took it as an elder venting frustration, nothing more.
But soon afterward, the Black Realm Lord contacted them directly. He questioned the details of the Starport battle and specifically asked about Wang Jie. Everyone was puzzled—why was the Black Realm Lord so concerned about someone like Wang Jie? Nevertheless, they truthfully answered his questions.
The reality was, no one had plotted against Wang Jie. It was Wang Jie’s own misfortune. He’d warned Yue Jian about Wu Yan’s sneak attack, only to discover Yue Jian himself was a traitor. Then Wang Jie was targeted by Wu Yan and vanished along with him. To be honest, having Wu Yan perish alongside Wang Jie felt like a gain.
Right now, the person feeling most uncomfortable was probably the Dagger Bearer.
Following the Black Realm Lord, even the White Realm Lord reached out. His tone was calm, yet he also carefully asked about Wang Jie’s fate, hoping they could confirm whether he was alive or dead.
Confirm? Return to Starport again? Only a fool would go back there.
But immediately afterward, Celestial Master Bai Ye made contact, plunging Central Command into tense silence. Celestial Master Bai Ye supplied most of the essential pills for Hundred-Star Realm cultivators, and he wasn’t nearly as courteous. He directly scolded everyone at the Yin Yang Battlefield as worthless wretches, unable to even protect Wang Jie.
Wait a moment, why was it their responsibility to protect Wang Jie?
Elder Ming was dissatisfied.
Ye Shou was even more irritated—who was Wang Jie, anyway? He didn’t even know the man.
But they could only listen, unable to argue.
Next came a message from a Celestial Refinement Master, politely urging the Yin Yang Battlefield to not give up and to save Wang Jie. He didn’t force them, merely expressing sincere regret at the loss.
Then came a message from Zhi Ye himself.
This third-generation leader of the Zhi family was influential enough to sway both Black and White Realms and Zhi Upper Realm. Within the entire Black White Heaven, only Ancestor Zhi Yu held greater influence. Zhi Ye personally intervened, issuing a strict order for the Yin Yang Battlefield to search for Wang Jie—alive or dead.
As lord after lord continued to inquire, Central Command was utterly shocked.
What was going on? How could Wang Jie be important enough to influence all these prominent figures?
Yet this wasn’t even the end. Another piece of news arrived from the First Star Cloud Galaxy Combat Equipment Company, requesting an update on Wang Jie’s status. They were preparing to transfer select personnel to the First Star Cloud for special training, and topping their list was none other than Wang Jie himself.
Upon hearing this, Elder Li Tong He became utterly numb with shock.
Whose son was Wang Jie? Whose grandson? Or whose disciple could he possibly be? Why was his influence so far-reaching that it even touched the First Star Cloud?
Not daring to delay, Central Command immediately organized a new mission into Starport to search for Wang Jie.
At this moment, even Elder Ming fully cooperated, and Ye Shou personally led the rescue. Anyone daring to obstruct them would become an enemy of the entire Black White Heaven.
As for Wang Jie’s team—
Yun Ju, who had been openly gleeful and had loudly proclaimed that Wang Jie deserved to die, now stayed completely silent, fearing she might become someone’s target for revenge.
Amidst this chaos, Wang Jie finally made contact.
“Who is this? Wang Jie, is that you?” Elder Li Tong He had never before awaited a person’s voice with such eagerness.
Standing at the edge of the frozen wasteland, Wang Jie gave his personal communicator a confused glance. The elder’s urgency made it sound as if someone’s grandfather had arrived: “Yes, Elder, it’s me. Your disciple is trapped in the frozen lands. Could I trouble Central Command to send a ship to pick me up?”
“Where exactly are you?” Elder Li Tong He’s voice trembled with excitement and urgency.
Wang Jie sent his coordinates.
“Stay right where you are! No—hide yourself carefully nearby, somewhere safe. I will immediately request Ye Shou to come and get you.”
Wang Jie felt puzzled: “Who did you say?”
“Ye Shou, a Hundred-Star Realm expert under the Night Realm Lord’s command. Don’t worry, he’ll definitely bring you back safely!” Elder Li Tong He shouted, anxiety filling his voice.
Wang Jie’s heart grew uneasy. Why did that reassurance sound oddly like he was being captured?
“Elder, the traitor in Central Command was Yue Jian,” Wang Jie cautiously reminded him.
“I know.”
“I… haven’t committed any wrongdoing, have I?” Wang Jie asked very carefully.