Chapter 243

Chapter 243: The Universe Is Vast

“Captain, you’re insane,” Li Cai said loudly, eyes bright with genuine admiration. “I respect you.”

Shi Wei, Wen Yuan, and the others stared at Wang Jie with the same awe.

Han Song’s voice turned heavy. “In such a short time, you adapted to war, learned to command war, and raised your battle power. Captain, you’re the first person I’ve ever seen like this. Even a six-path roamer might not have your ability.”

Even Yun Ju couldn’t argue.

Some six-path roamers specialized in combat. Some specialized in command.

But he’d never seen one who excelled at both.

If you threw them into the battlefield, the most they could contribute was the impact of a single hundred-star realm expert.

Wang Jie had decided an entire battlefield’s outcome.

Wang Jie laughed. “Enough. If you keep going, I’ll get arrogant.”

Han Song and the others laughed with him.

The warship returned to Command Hub.

Ying Yang Battlefield’s victory was decisive, but the cleanup was endless. Elder Wu Yuan, Li Tong He, and Elder Ming were all busy.

Even the supporting Night Hunt was involved.

When Wang Jie’s group arrived at Command Hub, they happened to run into Yun Que—who was preparing to leave.

During the Skyport battle, Yun Que had been badly wounded. If not for a Zhi family expert arriving in time, he would’ve died there.

He’d been healing at Command Hub ever since.

This was their first real meeting.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Yun Que,” everyone said, saluting.

Yun Que nodded and smiled. “Junior brothers, I trust you’ve been well.”

Li Cai grinned. “We’re doing great. Ying Yang Battlefield’s basically over. Senior Brother, you’re leaving?”

“Yes,” Yun Que said. “My injuries are mostly healed. It’s time.”

Then he looked at Wang Jie and stepped closer. “You’re Wang Jie.”

Wang Jie returned the greeting. “Greetings, Senior Brother.”

Yun Que studied him, then sighed in astonishment. “I’ve been to Suo Xing Jian’s Yi Sword Heaven. Fourth layer. Eighth layer. Thirteenth layer.

“What about you?”

Wang Jie thought for a moment. “Fifth. Ninth. Thirteenth.”

Yun Que’s eyes widened. “As expected. You’re far stronger than I am.

“I truly admire Zhong Yi. For a lockforce cultivator to reach her height is unbelievable.”

“You’ll be the next Zhong Yi,” Yun Que said warmly. “I look forward to seeing what you become.”

After Yun Que left, Han Song spoke quietly. “Among the six-path roamers, Senior Brother Yun Que is one of the kinder ones. He’s willing to talk to junior disciples, so everyone likes him.

“It’s a good thing he didn’t die at Skyport.”

Wang Jie agreed.

Yun Que didn’t have that slippery, false feeling.

Han Ling had been polite too—he even greeted Wang Jie during the pill assembly—but there was always something hard to name, something hollow behind the friendliness.

Back at Command Hub, the squad rested for a time.

The busiest—and happiest—people in Ying Yang Battlefield were Black-White Heaven.

The sect’s rewards and commendations poured in. Elder Ming and Li Tong He were grinning so hard their faces almost split.

All of it was because of Wang Jie.

Li Tong He didn’t miss the chance to tease Elder Ming about it.

Wang Jie ran into Di Zi once on the Edict Platform. The instant she saw him, she turned and walked away.

As for Zhao Kun—he’d died on the battlefield.

An elder’s disciple, following Di Zi—a powerhouse—and he still couldn’t escape death.

That was war.

One day, Li Tong He came to find Wang Jie.

He granted Wang Jie a direct promotion to Battle Elite.

Five hundred million starstones.

And a Zhi Affairs Token.

This Zhi Affairs Token could mobilize one million disciples—just like the one Wang Jie had obtained from Wu Yun.

But it also came with an additional authority.

Twenty roaming-star realm cultivators.

This token could mobilize twenty roaming-star realm cultivators of Black-White Heaven.

Anyone.

Unless the target also possessed a Zhi Affairs Token.

Wang Jie’s heart stirred. “Can it mobilize a six-path roamer? Or someone from the Zhi family?”

Li Tong He looked at him like he’d asked something idiotic. “You think they don’t have Zhi Affairs Tokens?

“Even if their authority is tiny, a Zhi Affairs Token can override mobilization. Always.”

Wang Jie’s excitement cooled.

Li Tong He laughed and shook his head. “All right. There’s one last reward—the biggest.”

Wang Jie’s eyes brightened.

His plan had decided Ying Yang Battlefield’s final victory. He’d known the rewards wouldn’t stop at simple praise.

Even giving intel earlier had allowed him to make demands. This time would be more.

Li Tong He’s expression turned solemn. “You’re allowed to choose one item from the Zhi Vault.”

Wang Jie froze. “The Zhi Vault? What is that?”

Li Tong He’s envy was blatant. “The Zhi family’s collection.

“From the old ancestors down to the direct descendants, anything of value owned by Zhi family members is evaluated after death. If it meets a certain standard, it’s stored in the Zhi Vault.”

“It’s the most precious place the Zhi family has.”

“Second only to the Zhi family’s bloodline Bridgeway Art.”

Wang Jie’s breath caught.

The Zhi family ruled Black-White Heaven.

Maybe Black-White Heaven wouldn’t rank in the top three if you placed it in First Nebula—but that was First Nebula.

The Zhi family’s hoard, accumulated across endless years… no one knew what lay inside.

Li Tong He clicked his tongue. “I’m jealous. Honestly, no matter how much merit you earned, you shouldn’t be able to touch the Zhi Vault. It belongs to the Zhi family, not Black-White Heaven.”

“Maybe Senior Xing Xue pushed hard for you. Letting you choose one thing from the Zhi Vault… that’s already extraordinary.”

“Any single item in the Zhi Vault is worth a fortune. Some can’t even be priced.”

“When do I choose?” Wang Jie asked immediately.

“Now.”

“Now? We’re returning to the sect?”

“No need.” Li Tong He opened his terminal. A simple page appeared—black background, white silhouettes.

No descriptions. No colors. No text at all.

Only shapes.

Wang Jie stared. “What is this supposed to mean?”

“Choose,” Li Tong He said dryly. “You thought you’d get to enter the Zhi Vault yourself?

“If you pick, the Zhi family will send it.”

Wang Jie was speechless. “This is ridiculous. I don’t even know what I’m choosing.”

Li Tong He laughed. “If you knew, would you still be an outsider? Even direct descendants don’t get to know everything in there.”

“You pick based on shape. That’s it.”

“Just hurry up. Anything you pick will be worth an absurd amount. Even if you don’t use it, you can sell it back to the sect for a fortune. It’s basically free money.”

Wang Jie rolled his eyes.

Free money?

Without the nine-form diagram, he wouldn’t have earned any of this.

He stared at the page.

There were countless items, scrolling past slowly. Spheres, rectangles, long strips, strange twists—impossible to guess.

The “sizes” were all identical in the display.

For all he knew, that round shape could be a chen artifact—or a pill.

In the end, Wang Jie sighed, swiped the screen without looking, and stopped wherever it landed.

He tapped once. “That one.”

Li Tong He nodded and closed the page. “Fine. The Zhi family will deliver it soon. Then you’ll be leaving.”

“Leaving where?” Wang Jie asked.

Li Tong He’s eyes carried a hint of pity. “First Main Battlefield.”

Wang Jie’s heart sank. “I thought we had to reach battle general before we could go there.”

“Ying Yang Battlefield is conquered,” Li Tong He said. “How are you supposed to become a battle general here?”

Wang Jie’s jaw tightened. “So you’re sending me to First Main Battlefield to become a battle general?”

“You’ll understand when you arrive.” Li Tong He’s tone turned weighty. “First Main Battlefield is nothing like this.”

Then he added, quietly, “The intensity isn’t the same either.

“If Black-White Heaven’s forces across all battlefronts are five parts, First Main Battlefield holds four of those parts.”

Wang Jie’s stomach sank even further.

He knew First Main Battlefield was Hao Qian Domain—that was the one he’d personally assigned lockforce cultivators to.

Rumor said the sect’s chief huntsman was there.

And the black realm lord.

Second Main Battlefield’s highest realm here had been hundred-star realm.

First Main Battlefield already had two star-refining realm experts, as far as he knew.

Zhi Ye was responsible for Hao Qian Domain—he might be there too.

That was where the true danger lived.

Back in his resting room, Wang Jie rubbed his forehead.

His bargain master clearly wasn’t going to let him off.

Throwing him into the deadliest battlefield… he didn’t even know if he could survive.

His terminal rang.

Zhi Nan Xing.

“Where are you?” Zhi Nan Xing asked.

Wang Jie sent the location.

Not long after, Zhi Nan Xing arrived.

Since being rescued at Skyport, he’d been healing at Command Hub, just like Yun Que. This was their first real meeting since then.

Zhi Nan Xing looked at Wang Jie for a long moment, expression strange. “You’ve changed.”

Wang Jie shrugged. “Luck.”

Zhi Nan Xing’s smile was bitter. “It seems your future won’t be in Fourth Nebula.”

“I’m just a lockforce cultivator.”

“I’ve heard about Zhong Yi,” Zhi Nan Xing said.

Wang Jie raised an eyebrow.

Zhi Nan Xing’s gaze stayed steady. “The lockforce limit you reached might be our ‘limit.’ If that’s true, then it isn’t a limit at all.”

Wang Jie leaned back. “Why did you come?”

“I’m leaving,” Zhi Nan Xing said. “Ying Yang Battlefield is over.

“I came to say goodbye.”

“And to smooth things over… on Zhi Shu’s behalf.”

The moment Zhi Shu was mentioned, Wang Jie’s eyes darkened. “Don’t.”

Zhi Nan Xing’s voice stayed calm. “Zhi Shu obeys Old Ancestor Zhi Qing in everything.”

“I know,” Wang Jie said. “I’m just saying—Zhi family doesn’t need to fear a lockforce cultivator.”

“You’re not an ordinary lockforce cultivator,” Zhi Nan Xing replied. “When I disappeared, Command Hub’s rescue was massive, but that was also the result of three factions maneuvering.”

“When you disappeared, it drew far more attention than it should have. Your status is already very high.”

Wang Jie’s expression didn’t change. “Can you speak for Zhi Shu?”

“I can’t,” Zhi Nan Xing admitted. “But if one day she falls into your hands… I hope you’ll spare her life.”

Wang Jie looked at him. “You think too highly of me.”

Zhi Nan Xing’s laugh was strained. “How long has it been since you first stepped into Han Hai?

“In that short time, you’ve surpassed Zhi Shu completely.”

“I can’t think of anyone in the sect who can win against you now, except a six-path roamer.”

“Give it a little longer, and you might even fight for a six-path roamer position.”

“No one can afford to underestimate you.”

Zhi Nan Xing’s voice turned quieter, heavier. “Zhi family rules Fourth Nebula and looks like it stands above everyone.”

“But that’s only because certain existences don’t care to fight for Fourth Nebula.

“Most of my family can’t see that. But I’ve been through war. I understand.”

“The Zhi family’s upper limit… might be nothing more than someone else’s starting line.”

“We’re nowhere near as glorious as outsiders think.”

“Otherwise, Old Ancestor Xing Xue wouldn’t have been forced to return at such a cost.”

Wang Jie didn’t argue.

The more he learned, the more he understood they were all frogs in a well.

Even Beidou bridge-pillar might be nothing more than a corner of the true universe.

The full-star realm monsters Si Yao had shown him—any one of them dropped into Black-White Heaven could crush everyone below the early six-path roamers.

And he didn’t even know their origins.

That was the most frightening part.

A skeleton clan living being killing a Zhi family six-path roamer with a single strike—

That image would follow him for the rest of his life.

The universe was vast.