Chapter 246
Chapter 246: Yunxi Domain
“Take cover again.”
Wooden shields pressed heavily upon the earth, met immediately by a flurry of blades.
In this instant, Wang Jie’s thunder pattern shone especially vivid.
Then, in the next heartbeat, a Thunder Roar Hound charged forward. It ceased summoning heaven thunder and attacked directly. Countless cultivators surged behind it, their battle cries shaking the heavens.
A Thunder Roar Hound lunged straight toward Wang Jie.
Its momentum was astonishing.
Yet, Wang Jie swept it aside with a single powerful kick, sending it flying through the air. The sight stunned those nearby.
Streams of sword qi slashed toward Wang Jie, but he brushed them away effortlessly. Casually dispatching an enemy, he took the fallen sword and began cutting through foes. His swordsmanship was also extraordinary—one by one, heads fell to the earth beneath his blade.
In this battle, Wang Jie witnessed for the first time how cultivators of the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper fought.
Though he had heard many tales, seeing it firsthand was altogether different. Unlike the chaotic styles of the Second Star Cloud or Third Nebula, all the cultivators from Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper trained exclusively in swordsmanship, differing only in the strength of their techniques.
Many Wandering Star Realm cultivators dotted the battlefield.
Yet, the enemy had even more. The Thunder Roar Hound at Wandering Star Realm possessed at least two hundred and fifty thousand combat power, overwhelming Black White Heaven’s side completely. Moreover, the average strength of cultivators on Wang Jie’s side was far weaker.
Facing such conditions, many began retreating.
Some had already cut the chains, drawing their planets away from the battle.
Enemies flowed endlessly from afar. Who knew what powerful experts lay hidden among them?
A cold unease gripped Wang Jie’s heart.
Leaping upward, he landed upon a distant drifting planet, temporarily safe from harm.
“You all must realize by now we cannot win this battle. Leaving now is the wisest choice. But the enemy won’t easily let us escape, so stay alert. If any powerful foe draws near, intercept them immediately,” commanded a Wandering Star Realm woman sharply. Her presence was strong, her expression severe.
Around her were only experts—two already at the Wandering Star Realm.
They stood at the edge of the planet, watching closely as the battlefield slowly faded from view, a fight no longer belonging to them.
Suddenly, a bolt of heaven thunder split the void and crashed toward them.
The woman raised her eyes, fingers curling as she lifted dust from the earth, hurling it skyward to meet the lightning.
The heaven thunder shattered the cloud of dust, sending it swirling.
The Thunder Roar Hound stalked toward them across the void. The woman’s expression darkened as she was forced to face it.
The planet drifted further away from the battlefield, yet the hound pressed closer, heaven thunder crackling.
The others did not aid her. Instead, their eyes remained fixed on the distant fight, prepared for enemy pursuit.
Strangely, despite their clear advantage, the enemy did not chase them. Instead, they coldly watched from afar, their gazes cruel and distant, as if viewing those already dead.
An oppressive heaviness filled everyone’s hearts.
The woman defended herself from the Thunder Roar Hound’s attacks while glancing anxiously toward the distant battlefield. This was exactly the situation she had feared most.
As if confirming her fears, a figure stepped out from the opposing ranks.
The woman’s face paled instantly. “Cheng Feng? How can he be here?”
On the battlefield, a young man calmly walked forward, passing through his own troops. He looked at the escaping planet, his eyes filled with mocking amusement.
The person next to Wang Jie trembled as he spoke, “Cheng Feng? Why is he here? Shouldn’t he be fighting in larger battles?”
“It’s over. No one can stop him.”
“I knew that Thunder Roar Hound looked familiar—it’s Cheng Feng’s mount!”
Surprised, Wang Jie glanced at the Thunder Roar Hound. A mount?
A mount? He had never considered having a mount before, especially one this powerful.
From above, Cheng Feng gazed down at them, his lips curling slightly. “Surrender, and you live.”
Four words.
The woman instantly lost all will to fight, retreating further.
The Thunder Roar Hound howled skyward, unleashing heaven thunder.
Dodging swiftly, the woman stared at Cheng Feng. “You said surrendering meant you wouldn’t kill.”
Cheng Feng regarded her coldly. “Will you surrender?”
“I…” She bit her lip, unsure what to say. She had finally gained some freedom on this battlefield, hiding in corners to avoid larger conflicts. Never had she imagined encountering Cheng Feng here.
To surrender meant joining Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper—forever separated from family and friends. Yet, worst of all, Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper would never permit her to leave the battlefield. She would continue fighting wars, endlessly. Even more terrifying was the possibility of becoming their spy. Once discovered, it would be worse than death.
Cheng Feng’s gaze turned icy. “If you surrender, I’ll kill everyone else here. No one will ever know your secret.”
The woman shuddered deeply. Now it was certain—Cheng Feng wanted her to betray her own people.
Faces around hTwo Changed drastically as they stared at her anxiously.
“Senior Sister, don’t listen to him! We’ll fight to the death!”
“That’s right! Fight to the death!”
“To the death!”
They, too, wanted to surrender. But clearly, Cheng Feng would only choose between them and this woman—and anyone could guess who he preferred.
The woman hesitated, deeply conflicted.
In the distance, Cheng Feng straightened himself, his presence like a blade drawn from its sheath, his killing intent sharp and piercing.
Pressure bore down even heavier on the woman.
Feeling Cheng Feng’s cold murderous intent, surrounded by flashing thunder, she was about to speak.
At this very moment, a figure suddenly appeared before her, facing the Thunder Roar Hound. With a single powerful kick, he sent it flying backward, scattering the heaven thunder completely.
The woman stared blankly.
Everyone else froze in shock, staring incredulously at the man who had kicked away the hound. Who was he?
The Thunder Roar Hound flew back violently, crashing at Cheng Feng’s feet, embedding deep into the ground.
Cheng Feng’s expression darkened as he glared at the newcomer. “Who are you?”
Before the woman’s eyes, Wang Jie raised his head, calmly meeting Cheng Feng’s gaze. “Just a nameless nobody.”
Every gaze fell upon Wang Jie.
This man had only just escaped and hadn’t been seen clearly before. Now, upon closer inspection, a powerful aura of Lock Force radiated from him. Was he a cultivator of Lock Force?
How dare a Lock Force user show himself at a time like this?
At Cheng Feng’s feet, the Thunder Roar Hound lunged forward in rage, its eyes glowing red as it glared at Wang Jie as if eager to devour him.
Wang Jie narrowed his eyes slightly and warned: “Control your beast, or I might slaughter it.”
The young woman beside them was stunned; this man dared speak to Cheng Feng in such a manner?
The Thunder Roar Hound understood the threat and rushed forward furiously but stopped immediately when Cheng Feng shouted an order.
Cheng Feng stepped past the Thunder Roar Hound and descended upon Wang Jie’s planet. “My senses are never wrong. You haven’t reached Full Star Realm yet?”
The pupils of everyone present trembled slightly. [Could it be? Is he really at the Star Breaking Realm?]
Wang Jie merely shrugged. “You’re also Full Star, aren’t you?”
“You dare compare yourself with me?”
“Why not?”
Cheng Feng narrowed his eyes, nodding slowly. “Fine, let’s compare.”
With a rush of wind, his body vanished, reappearing instantly before Wang Jie. A sword flashed coldly as it thrust forward with astonishing speed.
Wang Jie exhaled softly. He hadn’t expected to meet such a powerful Full Star cultivator so soon. The chilling sense he’d felt earlier had come from this man.
Although just at Full Star, his strength far exceeded that Thunder Roar Hound.
[He’s powerful.]
Yet, as long as the opponent wasn’t Wandering Star Realm, Wang Jie wouldn’t retreat.
As the sword aimed for his brow, Wang Jie raised his finger and gently flicked, the clear sound of impact ringing out as the blade was deflected easily.
Cheng Feng’s gaze changed sharply. [He deflected my sword so easily?] He used the momentum to spin gracefully and strike again. His sword danced like willow leaves drifting unpredictably, yet each thrust precisely targeted Wang Jie’s forehead.
Wang Jie responded by repeatedly flicking the blade aside with his fingers.
With each clash, Cheng Feng’s sword moved faster, but Wang Jie still effortlessly deflected every strike.
Finally, Cheng Feng erupted with Star Force. Dark, shadowy Star Force surged along the sword, transforming into an immense, dark blade that slashed downward from above.
Wang Jie raised his head, recognizing the fierce sharpness of the Star Force. Taking one step forward, he executed the Armor Eight Steps, brushing past Cheng Feng.
Cheng Feng’s blade sliced deeply into the earth, splitting the planet beneath their feet in two. Now standing behind Cheng Feng, Wang Jie flicked lightly against his opponent’s sword hand. The powerful strike jolted Cheng Feng’s palm, making it impossible to keep his grip. For any swordsman, losing hold of the sword was the greatest humiliation.
As long as there was a shred of possibility, Cheng Feng would never relinquish his blade willingly.
Yet the force behind Wang Jie’s single finger was overpowering, nearly piercing through his palm, forcing him to watch helplessly as the sword fell to the ground.
At that instant, both men turned to face each other.
Cheng Feng had never imagined himself being suppressed by someone still in Star Breaking Realm.
Wang Jie extended his finger, using the Starry Finger Technique.
Stars revolved as countless shadows of fingers descended toward Cheng Feng. Cheng Feng’s face darkened in alarm. [A Star Method? No, this is Lock Force! He cultivates Lock Force, making this a Lock Method.]
Facing the torrent of finger shadows, Cheng Feng gathered all his Star Force. Darkness engulfed him, and he became like a sword himself, soaring upward to break through the attack.
The Starry Finger had often failed previously because Wang Jie had faced far stronger Wandering Star Realm opponents. But Cheng Feng, despite his strength approaching that of Han Song, was only Full Star Realm. Even his powerful Star Force sword failed to fully pierce the shadows.
A single finger shadow broke through Cheng Feng’s Star Force, pressing him deeply into the ground.
At that moment, a strike of Heaven Thunder crashed down—attacked by the Thunder Roar Hound.
Wang Jie lifted his left hand, summoning the Thunder Pattern.
The Heaven Thunder exploded harmlessly upon the Thunder Pattern. The Thunder Roar Hound rushed towards Wang Jie, claws slashing fiercely downward.
Wang Jie used Armor Eight Steps again, appearing directly over the beast’s head, and pressed downward with his foot.
Immense power forced the Thunder Roar Hound underground beside Cheng Feng. Suddenly, an indescribable chill swept over Wang Jie, identical to the sensation he’d felt before. Instinctively, he employed Armor Eight Steps to evade his original position.
From the ground, Cheng Feng emerged once more, while the Thunder Roar Hound struggled to rise, snarling angrily at Wang Jie.
The spectators around were utterly astonished.
Cheng Feng, whom they’d believed unbeatable, had been completely suppressed from start to finish. Who exactly was this mysterious newcomer? Was he a secret reinforcement from another sect?
Wang Jie observed Cheng Feng’s dark expression, particularly intrigued by the sword qi swirling behind his back. [What in the world? Sword qi from his spine?]
“Senior Brother, be careful,” the young woman warned from afar. “This is the Edge Sect’s Cheng family Bridge Technique, known as—Sword Spine.”
“The Cheng family can fuse sword qi into their spines, integrating it fully with their body’s sword intent and then releasing it.”
“The more sword qi they gather, the stronger the released power. This technique exceeds ordinary battle strength measures and can’t even be accurately assessed.”
The faces of those around grew somber. Such was the strength of the Cheng family.
Compared to this, even Black White Heaven fell short. The Zhi family’s Fixed Star Technique paled against Sword Spine’s raw power.
[Sword Spine?]
Wang Jie stared at Cheng Feng, carefully observing his aura. The qi had fully gathered behind Cheng Feng, now sharply defined, embodying the essence of sword sharpness. [So, this is sword qi?]
Cheng Feng stared coldly at Wang Jie. “What’s your name?”
Wang Jie met his gaze steadily. “That Bridge Technique feels like cheating. Just how much does it boost your strength?”
Cheng Feng drew a deep breath, slowly suppressing the Sword Spine.
The gathered qi dispersed back into his body.
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. [He’s not going to attack?]