Chapter 257
Chapter 257: Whose Disciple?
Wang Jie was thrown before Tong Shou, the Star Refining Realm expert of Edge Sect. Beside Tong Shou stood a middle-aged man, Luo Kui, and an elder at the Hundred Star Realm. All three gazed at him in astonishment.
“Luo Kui, he’s alive?” asked the elder.
Luo Kui respectfully replied, “Disciple clearly knocked him into Yunxi with a single strike and saw him fall myself. I don’t know how he survived.”
Facing their questioning gazes, Wang Jie calmly explained, “I practice Armor Eight Steps. Just before I fell into Yunxi, I activated the technique. From above, it looked like I plunged into the creek, but in truth, I stepped backward and grabbed hold of the cliff.”
Luo Kui frowned. [Was that really what happened?] At the time, he had been quite far away and couldn’t see clearly.
But the Hundred Star Realm elder wasn’t bothered by this detail. Anyone above Wandering Star Realm wouldn’t worry about Yunxi since they could walk freely in the void, while those below it struggled. Above Yunxi was no different from the starry sky.
What concerned the elder more was how Wang Jie had managed to break the formation.
“Kid, what’s your name?”
“Wang Jie.” There was no point lying. Black White Heaven clearly had spies within Edge Sect—otherwise, how would they have known he’d broken the formation?
“How did you break the formation?”
“Swordsmanship,” Wang Jie replied simply.
“Swordsmanship?” The elder was startled.
Luo Kui sneered inwardly. [Swordsmanship? You dare speak of swordsmanship in front of Edge Sect?]
Yet Tong Shou, intrigued, spoke up for the first time, “What kind of swordsmanship?”
Wang Jie replied, “Yi Sword Technique.”
The elder ordered him to demonstrate. At hearing “Yi Sword Technique,” Tong Shou’s brow subtly furrowed, unnoticed by the others.
Wang Jie’s storage ring had already been confiscated by Luo Kui, leaving him without a sword. Luo Kui carelessly tossed him one.
Wang Jie promptly executed the Sword Rain Technique.
Confused, the Hundred Star Realm elder asked, “How could such a technique break our formation? How did you even find the formation’s core?”
Wang Jie truly couldn’t explain—it had been through the Sword Form Technique.
Suddenly, Tong Shou spoke again, his gaze burning into Wang Jie, “This is Zhong Yi’s sword style.”
Everyone turned sharply toward Tong Shou.
Wang Jie was genuinely startled. “How do you know that?”
“Zhong Yi?” The elder seemed to recall something, his expression drastically changing.
Luo Kui’s face also paled. Clearly, this name carried special significance.
Tong Shou fixed Wang Jie with a fierce gaze. “Did you learn Yi Sword Technique from Zhong Yi?”
Wang Jie nodded. “That’s right.”
“Are you Zhong Yi’s disciple?”
Wang Jie neither denied nor confirmed, glancing at the elder and Luo Kui from the corner of his eye. Their faces had changed so obviously. [What relationship do they have with Zhong Yi?]
“I’m asking you,” Tong Shou pressed sharply.
Wang Jie replied casually, “Something like that.”
“Where is Zhong Yi?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how did you learn Yi Sword Technique?”
Wang Jie answered naturally, “I was taught.”
“By whom?”
“Zhong Yi.”
“Then where is Zhong Yi now?” the elder demanded again.
Wang Jie stared helplessly at them. “I really don’t know. She left right after teaching me.”
Tong Shou exchanged looks with the elder and finally said, “Take him away.”
Watching Luo Kui escort Wang Jie out, the elder’s face grew grim. “Tong Shou, could Zhong Yi be at the Fourth Star Cloud of the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar? This boy came from Black White Heaven, and that’s exactly where the Fourth Star Cloud is.”
Tong Shou shook his head slowly. “I’m not sure. But she originally came from the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar.”
“What should we do with this kid?” the elder asked.
Tong Shou’s voice became solemn. “If he’s truly Zhong Yi’s disciple, dealing with him will be troublesome. You know her reputation—one sword traveling alone across the universe, unmatched in swordsmanship. If we provoke her again, none of us can withstand it.”
The elder sighed deeply. “Never imagined we’d encounter someone like this here. What a headache.”
Not long after, Wang Jie was imprisoned deep beneath the Edge Sect’s central grounds. On the way, he tried asking Luo Kui about Zhong Yi, but Luo Kui refused to speak, clearly troubled.
Wang Jie sensed instinctively that Zhong Yi was likely quite remarkable even within the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper. Actually, she was probably extraordinary in the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar too. She had, after all, single-handedly challenged the entire Zhi Family. To battle her way out of the Fourth Star Cloud as a Lock Force cultivator was something even Wang Jie considered astonishing.
Such a figure would absolutely shine in the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper.
[That’s right.]
Zhong Yi specialized in swords—it made sense she’d visit the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper.
The prison cell had three sealed walls and a single exit, without even a window. It was utterly dark and quiet, without any sound.
Wang Jie calmly sat down. With his storage ring confiscated, he was now truly a prisoner. Yet Edge Sect had not bound him, nor poisoned him to weaken his body. [They’re really confident.]
Several hours later, someone came looking for him.
“Hey, Wang Jie!”
Wang Jie turned toward the entrance and saw a young girl, cheerful and lively, who looked quite charming.
“You know me?”
“Senior Brother Luo told me about you. You know Zhong Yi’s Yi Sword Technique, right? Can you teach me?” the young girl’s eyes sparkled eagerly.
Wang Jie withdrew his gaze and said nothing.
The young girl said, “My name is Hou Xiao. Hey, could you teach me the Sword Rain Technique? If you do, I’ll spare your life.”
Wang Jie looked at Hou Xiao, replying, “Why should I trust you?”
Hou Xiao tilted her head, thinking briefly before saying, “Then who would you trust?”
“Tong Shou from your Edge Sect,” Wang Jie answered.
“But I’m not from Edge Sect.”
Wang Jie was surprised, “You aren’t from Edge Sect?”
Hou Xiao nodded, showing a radiant smile as she said, “I come from Sword Pool. You should’ve heard of our Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper. Edge Sect belongs to the Three Sword Domains, but our Sword Pool belongs to the Five Sword Domains.”
Wang Jie finally understood. It was similar to Xiao Luo Si coming to the Black White Heaven battlefield. Sword Pool also had people entering Edge Sect’s battlefield.
Hou Xiao smiled again, adding, “Besides, you shouldn’t worry about whether to trust me. You should be thinking of ways to survive through me since you have no other options left, right?”
Though she seemed innocent, the girl’s thoughts ran deep.
Wang Jie remained indifferent, saying, “Edge Sect values Zhong Yi. I can exchange my Yi Sword Technique for my life, but there’s no guarantee in teaching you.”
Hou Xiao bit her lip, then said, “How about this—we make a trade. You teach me the Yi Sword Technique, and I’ll share Sword Pool’s insights into the Way of the Sword.”
“No need to learn from a dead person,” Wang Jie replied coldly.
“What’s wrong with you?” Hou Xiao said angrily. “Yi Sword Technique isn’t even that profound! Zhong Yi has plenty of sword skills. But what I’ll teach you is Sword Pool’s unique understanding of the sword. Luo Kui has always wanted to learn it, but I never taught him. Let me tell you, Luo Kui used Fang He against you as my gift for joining this battlefield. Hmph! You can imagine how high my status must be.”
Wang Jie stared at Hou Xiao, “I don’t believe you.”
Hou Xiao became annoyed, gave a huff, and left.
Not long after she departed, Luo Kui arrived, staring down at Wang Jie. “You have two choices. First, death. Second, becoming a spy. Choose.”
Wang Jie looked up at Luo Kui, “A spy?”
Luo Kui spoke lightly, “Our Edge Sect has many spies within your Black White Heaven. The more we have, the better. If you agree, we’ll let you return.”
Wang Jie shook his head helplessly, “I can’t do that.”
People from Blue Star lived in Black White Heaven—how could he betray them? Moreover, Xing Xue and the others treated him well, and even his informal master was there. His ties to Black White Heaven were simply too deep.
Luo Kui’s voice turned low and heavy, “Wang Jie, don’t burden yourself. Battles between Bridge Pillars are fundamentally territorial. We’re all human—betrayal means nothing.”
“Your identity was also revealed by a spy.”
“And likewise, Edge Sect has plenty of spies from Black White Heaven.”
Wang Jie tested, “Aren’t you worried I might be a double agent sent by Black White Heaven?”
Luo Kui laughed dismissively, “They wouldn’t dare risk you. And even if they did, once you’re in Edge Sect’s hands, you’ll have no choice. We have our ways.”
Wang Jie sighed and fell silent.
Luo Kui turned to leave, saying, “Think carefully. Your life is more valuable than anything. Achieving merit with us also grants entry to become an Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper. A Lock Force cultivator like you has no future anywhere else—why cling to foolish loyalty?”
Wang Jie’s eyes were calm. Even without a future, he couldn’t betray his homeland.
After Luo Kui left, no one else came.
Wang Jie was left alone in prison, able to do nothing but wait.
Half a month later, the wall behind him suddenly crumbled under a pointed finger strike.
Wang Jie turned quickly, asking, “Who?”
A muffled voice called out, “Little fellow, are you really Zhong Yi’s successor?” The voice was deliberately obscured—its gender, age, and characteristics completely hidden.
Wang Jie approached the hole in the wall and looked through, seeing a masked person quietly sitting on the other side.
Behind that wall was another prison cell, but this person didn’t appear to be imprisoned at all. Apart from their covered face, everything seemed normal, especially as the stranger was casually holding a pastry.
Wang Jie glanced toward the exit behind him, then back toward the masked figure, asking, “Who are you?”
“You don’t need to worry about who I am,” the masked figure replied. “Just answer me—is it true you’re Zhong Yi’s successor? Being honest benefits you.”
“Yes.”
“What does she cultivate?”
Without hesitation, Wang Jie answered, “Lock Force.”
The masked person paused briefly, then spoke slowly, “Edge Sect won’t kill you.”
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow, “Why not?”
“Let’s put it differently—Edge Sect wouldn’t dare kill you.”
Wang Jie stared at the masked person, repeating, “Who exactly are you?”
“That’s none of your concern. Just remember Edge Sect wouldn’t dare kill you. That knowledge should give you confidence.”
Wang Jie fell silent.
The masked person stood up, saying, “Alright, I’m leaving now. Remember, I helped you, genuinely helped you.” They began to walk away.
Wang Jie suddenly said, “Genuinely? Where’s the sincerity?”
The masked figure stopped, turning sharply back toward Wang Jie, “Wasn’t what I said clear enough?”
“Clear, yes—but sincere, hardly.”
“Little fellow, don’t be unreasonable. I’ve already told you Edge Sect’s bottom line. No matter what you do now, you won’t be killed. Isn’t that sincere enough?”
“I want to leave.”
“You can’t.”
“Then think of a way.”
The masked figure sighed, “I’m a very low-profile person; I can’t help you.”
Wang Jie said nothing more and began sealing the hole with small stones.
The masked person was speechless.
After a pause, the masked figure said, “Little fellow, you can pretend to be a spy.”
“I refuse.”
“Have feelings for Black White Heaven?”
“More or less.”
“Then pretend to be a fake spy.”
Wang Jie shook his head helplessly, “Edge Sect would control me.”
“Then just break free.”
“Easier said than done.”
“It’s not difficult at all. I’ll teach you a sword technique. Once you master it, no matter how Edge Sect tries to control you, it’ll be useless. You’ll easily break free. Then, you’re free to go anywhere you like.”
“Are you tricking me into becoming a spy?”
“Ha, is that necessary? Your life is already in our hands. At worst, you’d be tortured to death. Why trick you? You’re already considered a dead man.”
Wang Jie pulled away the stones again, staring curiously at the masked figure through the wall, asking, “What sword technique?”