Chapter 236
Chapter 236: Request
Li Tong He knew he had been overly emotional. Taking a deep breath, he softened his voice, saying gently, “You’ve done nothing wrong, Wang Jie, truly nothing wrong. It’s just that too many from the sect have been asking about you. It’s enough that you’re alive. Rest assured, Ye Shou already received your coordinates. He will bring you back soon.”
Wang Jie felt dazed and slowly lowered his personal terminal. [Many people from the sect have asked about me? Exactly how many would cause Li Tong He to react so strongly? Besides Zhi Xing Xue, who else could it be? Could it be that master of mine stepped forward personally?]
It seemed only that explanation made sense.
He carefully hid himself in the surroundings, waiting for nine entire hours. Finally, after those nine long hours, a ship approached.
His personal terminal rang.
“You may come out now; it’s me, Ye Shou.”
Wang Jie stepped out, turning toward the landing craft.
As the ship descended slowly, the hatch opened, and several figures stepped out. Leading them was a man Wang Jie had never seen before.
The man studied Wang Jie carefully, then shifted his gaze toward the enormous rift in the distance. [What is that?]
Wang Jie hastily greeted him, “Disciple—”
But before he could complete his bow, the man gently stopped him. A faint smile appeared on his pale face, and he said quietly, “No need for formalities. You’ve been through much. Let’s return.”
Wang Jie awkwardly murmured a soft acknowledgment and boarded the ship with the others, heading back to the Central Hub.
Before departing, the man cast one last wary glance toward the distant rift.
On the journey back, Wang Jie felt increasingly uncomfortable under the man’s gaze.
Although the man did not stare openly, Wang Jie still felt eyes subtly watching him, vigilant and unrelenting.
As Ye Shou, this man understood the fierce power struggles within the sect all too well. Black-White Realm, Zhi Learning Valley, the Four Great Training Fields, and Zhi Upper Realm—behind each one stood powerful lords scheming against each other. Yet, somehow, this man’s brief disappearance had drawn the attention of every lord in the sect.
It felt as though it wasn’t a mere Star-Breaking, Lock Force cultivator who had gone missing, but Ancestor Zhi Yu himself.
Such a thing had never happened before.
He didn’t dare to imagine—if it had been this person instead of Zhi Nan Xing trapped at the starport, would even Ancestor Zhi Yu have personally intervened?
[Just who exactly is this young man? Could he be from the core lineage of the Zhi family? No, that couldn’t be; if he were, he wouldn’t cultivate Lock Force.]
No one could solve this mystery until Wang Jie returned and spoke up himself.
Yet, that mysterious rift remained something Ye Shou had to inquire about.
“Wang Jie,” the man said quietly.
“Disciple is here,” Wang Jie replied.
“That enormous rift in the frozen lands, who made it?”
Confusion showed in Wang Jie’s eyes. “Disciple truly doesn’t know.”
The man gazed deeply at him, asking no further questions.
[Qing Huan warned me not to speak of her involvement,] Wang Jie thought nervously. He didn’t dare say a word, terrified of causing trouble.
After some time, Wang Jie finally saw the Central Hub, and relief washed over him like escaping a terrible fate.
The ambush at the starport, Yue Jian’s betrayal, Yun Que’s severe injury—he could find no solution. Yet now, it seemed things weren’t as dire as he’d thought.
Awaiting Wang Jie’s return was Li Tong He, accompanied by Elder Ming, Liu Lin, his teammates, and many others. To all present, Wang Jie now seemed unfamiliar, almost astonishingly so.
Wang Jie descended from the ship amid their complex gazes, eventually taken aside by Elder Li Tong He.
“Sit down,” Elder Li Tong He said softly in a quiet lounge, gesturing for Wang Jie to join him.
Inside the room, there was no third person, not even Elder Ming.
Wang Jie took a seat, unable to resist asking, “Senior, what exactly is happening? Isn’t this all too grand? Disciple hasn’t done anything earth-shaking.”
Li Tong He stared speechlessly, “Nothing earth-shaking? Do you know how many asked about you during your absence? Let’s set aside our sect; even the First Star Cloud reached out.”
Wang Jie’s heart skipped a beat. “Who?”
“The Galaxy Combat Equipment Company.”
“What did they want from me?”
“They want you transferred temporarily for cultivation exchanges.”
“Didn’t I already refuse?” Wang Jie replied helplessly. When Qi Xue Yin had asked previously, he’d outright rejected her. Later, that woman demanded a Lock Force cultivator from Black-White Heaven specifically requesting Wang Jie, but that was denied too. Yet here she was again, unwilling to give up.
Li Tong He looked at Wang Jie in awe and disbelief. “Just who exactly are you?”
Wang Jie had no idea how to answer.
Calling himself an ordinary disciple now felt like treating others as fools.
Li Tong He waved dismissively. “Fine, I won’t ask more. Your safe return is enough. It gives me something to report to those above. You disappearing caused the entire Yin Yang Battlefield to tremble; it’s truly unprecedented.”
He sighed, adding wryly, “Even my death as an Elder wouldn’t get this much attention.”
Wang Jie quickly changed the subject. “Senior, how did things end at the starport?”
Li Tong He explained briefly, “That battle was always a setup within a setup. The sect received intel that Ornate Jade Gate planned to unify the Third Nebula, using war as a smokescreen. We knew there would be an ambush but never imagined the enemy would strike directly at the starport rather than the Central Hub.”
“But it matters little. Both sides prepared extensively.”
“Ye Shou, Yun Que, and Zhi family experts mobilized, bringing most of our people safely home.”
“Also, the Third Nebula’s schemes were disrupted by our sect. Ornate Jade Gate dreams of becoming another Southern family—they’re just dreaming.”
A glint flashed in Wang Jie’s eyes. [Could my earlier warning have made a difference?]
Matters involving Star Clouds were delicate, and Li Tong He didn’t elaborate further. After all, Wang Jie was still only a disciple, and certain things weren’t necessary for him to know.
After leaving Li Tong He, Wang Jie briefly met his teammates, exchanged a few words, then went to rest.
Soon, the Central Hub regained its usual liveliness.
But before resting fully, there remained one more important task—to report his safety to Zhi Xing Xue.
Many had reached out to him, but Zhi Xing Xue was the only one he could inform personally. Others, like Master Bai Ye, he couldn’t contact due to restrictions with Zhi Learning Valley.
At the Decree Platform, when Wang Jie appeared, the disciple responsible for external communication eagerly ushered him forward, granting him priority. Those behind in line offered no complaint.
Not long after, Zhi Xing Xue’s familiar voice came through clearly:
“Wang Jie.”
Wang Jie respectfully said, “Senior, junior is still alive.”
“Yes, it’s good you’re alive,” Zhi Xing Xue responded happily, “The central command already informed me earlier.”
“Thank you, Senior, for keeping me in mind.”
“I had thought to withdraw you from the battlefield, but unfortunately, I couldn’t manage it. You… have taken a master?”
Wang Jie knew he couldn’t hide it. His master had caused such a commotion that he had directly pressured Zhi Upper Realm to transfer him to the battlefield. Yet, Wang Jie found it strange that this wasn’t mentioned before, only coming up now. “Yes, I’ve taken a master. But my master doesn’t want me to speak of it.”
“No matter,” Zhi Xing Xue replied calmly. Those types were always shrouded in mystery, though she had already heard the truth from Zhi earlier.
A Star Path Master was, after all, the most enigmatic type in the entire universe, from ancient times to now. The universe universally recognized the strongest method was known as the Star Dao Celestial Technique.
Though Zhi Xing Xue did not know exactly what the Star Dao Celestial Technique was, she understood clearly that Wang Jie’s relationship with such an existence would completely change his future. She no longer needed to watch Zhi Qing so closely. Zhi Qing wouldn’t dare move against him now.
After their brief conversation, Wang Jie noticed Zhi Xing Xue’s attitude toward him had subtly changed.
It was an indescribable feeling, complex and delicate.
Yet, this was to be expected. Originally, Wang Jie had survived under her protection, exchanging his life to help her gain influence. Even if he died, Zhi Xing Xue would have suffered no loss. But now things were different. Whatever she wanted him to do, she would first have to consider the person behind him. It was like a kite that had broken its string; naturally, her attitude would shift.
“Senior, junior wishes to ask Senior to decline the transfer request from Galaxy Combat Equipment Company,” Wang Jie said.
Zhi Xing Xue replied easily, “Very well, this is simple enough. Transfers were always voluntary anyway.” Yet, she paused before adding hesitantly, “However, if that person insists on it, I won’t be able to stop him.”
By “that person,” she naturally meant Shu Rang.
Wang Jie responded, “That won’t happen. Junior has no intention of leaving the Fourth Star Cloud for now.”
Zhi Xing Xue hummed briefly in agreement, then continued, “There’s one more matter. You’ve heard about what happened in the Third Nebula, haven’t you?”
“I’ve heard some,” Wang Jie answered.
“If not for the timely intelligence you provided, Ornate Jade Gate might have succeeded in conquering the entire Third Nebula. You deserve the greatest credit for this. Go on, name your reward. This is directly from the sect, so ask for whatever you wish.”
Wang Jie’s heart stirred slightly. “Anything?”
“Yes, anything.”
“Junior wishes for Blue Star to be moved into the Lock Path Interval,” Wang Jie said, making his request.
Zhi Xing Xue was startled. She hadn’t expected him to mention Blue Star again. Blue Star was Wang Jie’s home planet. When they fled from Frost Radiance Sect to Black White Heaven, he had pleaded for its protection. At that time, she had lost all hope. Seeing Wang Jie’s determination to guard his home planet had moved her deeply, as his wish matched her own desire to protect Frost Radiance Sect. Given that Wang Jie had contributed greatly, she had exchanged a Buddhist decree to compel Black White Heaven to carve out a protected region in the Third Nebula.
That region was the Silver Radiance Empire, where Blue Star now rested.
Yet now Wang Jie mentioned Blue Star once more.
He had never forgotten his homeland.
Warmth filled Zhi Xing Xue’s heart at his words. This child had loyalty and devotion. Offered an immense reward, his first thought was still his home. Such loyalty was rare in the treacherous world of cultivators.
Realizing this, her gaze softened. What did it matter that Wang Jie had a Star Path Master backing him? She was also someone who supported him.
“Good. I’ll pass your request to the sect and do everything I can to achieve it for you,” Zhi Xing Xue said, her voice gentler now.
Wang Jie had never intended to change Zhi Xing Xue’s opinion of him. He had merely been thinking of Blue Star. Wandering alone far away, he missed that little blue planet and all the people he’d left behind.
“Wait here. I’ll be back shortly,” Zhi Xing Xue instructed before leaving.
Ending their conversation, Wang Jie waited quietly on the Decree Platform.
People nearby glanced at him from time to time.
Zheng Qi arrived, eyes lighting up upon seeing Wang Jie. He hurried over, his expression exceedingly respectful and flattering as he said, “Big brother, you’re finally back! Wonderful! I was so worried something happened to you. I requested several times for central command to send someone to find you at the spaceport, but they refused every time. As long as you’re alright, big brother!”
Wang Jie rolled his eyes, [As if I’d believe that.] “Back to your stall?”
“No, I came looking specifically for you, big brother.”
“What for?”
“Just to see you safe with my own eyes and set my heart at ease.”
“…”
Zheng Qi clung to Wang Jie. In the past, he’d thought Wang Jie was just a powerful figure, backed by some lord from Zhi Upper Realm. Now, however, he realized Wang Jie had the entire sect—even the First Star Cloud—behind him. His influence reached beyond the sky itself.
Why hadn’t anyone accepted him when he’d first tried to join a team here? Had someone done so, they’d be soaring high by now.
Those who’d rejected him must regret it bitterly.
Of course, Zheng Qi himself was among them, deeply regretting his previous choice.
Had he known earlier, he would have warmly invited Wang Jie the moment he first appeared on the Decree Platform, treating him generously and befriending him immediately.
With Zheng Qi chatting by his side, Wang Jie found himself no longer bored.
After some time, Zhi Xing Xue contacted him again.
“It can be done,” she reported.
Wang Jie’s spirit soared. “Thank you, Senior.”
“But it will take a very long time.”
“Why?”
“It’s easy enough to destroy a planet, but moving one isn’t simple at all. You should understand this.”
Wang Jie nodded solemnly. He understood. He had requested this once before, only to be refused.