Chapter 259
Chapter 259: Has It Been Well Since We Parted?
Within the limits of ten seals, Wang Jie had touched the peak three times.
The first peak was sixty-five times strength.
The second was eighty-nine times strength.
The third was ninety-nine times strength.
Now, he had surpassed his first limit. With his current exercises, he could reach eighty-nine times the strength of the Star Breaking Realm. Yet this wasn’t his ultimate pursuit; his goal remained at ninety-nine times.
He must polish his bones and muscles until his physical state also reached ninety-nine times strength.
But as for surpassing this peak once more, he held no hope. Surely, that woman wouldn’t come again.
Hou Xiao arrived, her expression resolute and unwavering.
Wang Jie turned toward her: “Find Luo Kui for me.”
“What for?”
“I’ll be your inside man.”
Hou Xiao showed disdain: “Didn’t I already say I could keep you alive? Yet you still offer to be a spy. Wang Jie, I despise such weakness.”
Wang Jie’s gaze dimmed: “Born as a favored child of heaven, how could you ever know our struggles? Fang He deliberately left me to die; this vengeance, I must have it. As for being your spy, the worst that can happen is death. But staying here also means death.”
“I’d rather die on the battlefield.”
Hou Xiao blinked rapidly: “Why do your words feel so strange?”
“Just go and find him.”
“Then teach me the next move of the Yi Sword Technique.”
Wang Jie closed his eyes and remained silent.
Hou Xiao mumbled a bit more, but seeing Wang Jie unmoved, rolled her eyes and went off to fetch Luo Kui.
Not long after, Luo Kui arrived. He gazed at Wang Jie, asking, “Have you finally come to your senses?”
Wang Jie stared back, replying calmly, “I have. I’m willing to be your inside man.”
Luo Kui silently exhaled in relief. Good—he’d finally accepted the offer. Truth be told, they’d faced a great dilemma lately. They couldn’t kill Wang Jie, nor could they release him. Taking him back to the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper was even worse—no one wanted Zhong Yi knocking at their door again.
Then what to do?
They couldn’t simply free him; they’d have no way to answer to the battlefield. Yet keeping him here risked Zhong Yi’s wrath if she came searching. Every option was troublesome, so they’d delayed until now.
Now, with Wang Jie offering to be their spy, things couldn’t be better.
Sending him to Black White Heaven secretly to aid their cause would not only be useful but would also offer an excuse for the battlefield. Even if Zhong Yi came searching, she’d seek him at Black White Heaven. The man wasn’t dead or captive—why bother Edge Sect?
So long as they didn’t kill him, Zhong Yi wouldn’t have a reason to trouble them.
At that thought, Luo Kui’s tone grew relaxed. Outsiders could never understand how deeply Zhong Yi had shaken the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper. Within Big Dipper Bridge Pillar, few rumors about Zhong Yi existed; that woman had targeted Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper exclusively.
“Accepting the spy’s role means having a restriction placed upon you. You know that, right?”
“I know.”
“Good. Don’t even think of betrayal, or you’ll die horribly,” Luo Kui said lightly, making the threat sound casual. “And don’t imagine someone else can lift it for you. If that were possible, Edge Sect wouldn’t have so many spies still trapped. Just as your Black White Heaven has spies among us, and we’ve never been able to free them.”
Wang Jie fixed his gaze on Luo Kui: “I can be your spy, but I have conditions.”
Luo Kui laughed angrily: “Conditions?” His first instinct was irritation, but the next moment he realized he had no choice—Wang Jie had to be released, and thus any condition had to be accepted.
Wang Jie calmly continued, “If you refuse, then don’t release me. My worth isn’t that of an ordinary spy.”
Luo Kui studied him carefully, “Then let’s hear your terms.”
“A thousand swords made of grade-six materials.”
Luo Kui was startled.
Before Luo Kui could speak, Wang Jie went on, “Three hundred swords made of grade-seven materials.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Luo Kui blurted out instinctively.
Ignoring this, Wang Jie continued, “Two sets of Five Tribulations Star Artifacts for defense.”
“Five thousand Revive Pills.”
“One hundred Insight Pills.”
“Two hundred Swift Movement Pills.”
“And various formation books—”
As Wang Jie continued listing items, Luo Kui directly interrupted him, eyes locked onto his, “Are you joking with me?”
Wang Jie answered seriously, “You can negotiate.”
“Negotiate? Why should I give you anything?”
“Because I’ll be doing your dirty work.”
“We’re already buying your life.”
“I’m not afraid to die.”
“Then why even volunteer as a spy?”
“I miss home.”
Luo Kui stared blankly at Wang Jie, unable to respond.
Wang Jie observed Luo Kui’s conflicted expression and knew immediately the masked man’s words were correct. His outrageous demands had been a test to gauge Edge Sect’s attitude. Under normal circumstances, Luo Kui would have struck him dead by now. Yet, instead, he’d argued this much—there was only one possibility: Edge Sect also wanted him gone.
Or at least, didn’t want him to die here.
This made things easier.
Luo Kui wasn’t foolish. He saw Wang Jie’s expression and realized his position was exposed. Wang Jie had guessed correctly, and their roles had now reversed. He turned and left swiftly.
Soon after, that elder from Hundred Star Realm arrived.
Wang Jie looked to the elder, “Have you agreed to my terms?”
The elder smiled gently at Wang Jie: “Little fellow, you’ll get some rewards for your service, but don’t be greedy. The amount is for us to decide. Otherwise, you’ll just stay here. We won’t kill you, but you’ll never leave and won’t be able to cultivate again.”
Wang Jie knew when to back down, “Fine, then I want swords.”
“Why do you want so many swords?”
“Trophies.”
“Nonsense,” the elder laughed lightly, “Swords, we have plenty. I’ll give you three hundred swords of grade-six materials, and personally gift you one sword of grade-seven materials. Its name is Little Return. Don’t even think about asking for anything else.”
A flicker passed through Wang Jie’s eyes: “Thank you, Senior.”
The Elder handed Wang Jie another identity token representing the Edge Sect, ensuring he wouldn’t be mistakenly killed by Edge Sect’s experts.
Even at a glance, Wang Jie knew this token was unusual.
He sensed it was entirely different from the tokens given to other spies.
Next came the restriction.
This restriction appeared as a drop of material, silvery and quicksilver-like.
“This substance is unique to me, the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper. It’s extremely sensitive to external forces and will frantically escape when approached. You’d best not let anyone try to remove it, or you’ll suffer greatly.”
“How can it be safely removed?” Wang Jie asked.
“Achieve merit—great merit. Or, when your term expires, we’ll remove it for you.”
Wang Jie watched as the quicksilver seal entered his body and swiftly vanished. He felt uneasy again; something else was now inside him, more alive than even the sword threads.
The Elder brought him to the edge of the planet, asking, “How do you plan to return?”
His storage ring was returned, and seeing the familiar mist in the distance, Wang Jie asked, “How did the other spies return?”
“We threw them randomly into various places. If they could hide, they hid. If not, well, that was their fate.”
“I’ll do the same,” Wang Jie replied calmly.
Surprised, the Elder asked, “Are you sure you don’t need our cooperation?”
Wang Jie shrugged. “Too much help will look suspicious. Many saw me fall into Cloud Stream, so the only believable way I’d survive is if you captured me.”
The Elder nodded. “Suit yourself.” Privately, he added, [Just don’t die immediately.]
With the Elder’s assistance, Wang Jie was dropped off near Cloud Stream, close to Black White Heaven territory. As long as he stayed there, cultivators from Black White Heaven would surely find him.
Wang Jie’s departure brought great relief to the Edge Sect’s central command.
Luo Kui felt aggrieved—clearly he’d captured Wang Jie, yet it felt like they’d begged him to leave.
Hou Xiao was most regretful—he hadn’t finished learning the Yi Sword Technique.
On a solitary fragment of a planet, Wang Jie sat cross-legged, using the sword threads to seek the quicksilver seal. The quicksilver seal was sensitive to external forces, but the sword threads were already inside his body. Coincidentally, the quicksilver seal settled right next to the threads.
Controlling his sword qi, Wang Jie pierced the quicksilver seal, forcing it from his body.
His arm tore open instantly, blood mixed with the expelled quicksilver seal.
Wang Jie exhaled softly, examining his injury—merely superficial. The quicksilver seal had lost its vitality, turning into a grey pebble-like substance, easily crushed beneath his foot.
The restriction was removed.
The tempered sword threads were truly useful.
Next—Fang He.
Ahead, a cautious voice spoke, “Someone is there? Be careful.”
“I am Wang Jie. May I ask if you’re fellow sect disciples?”
“Rain Reaper?”
On that day, the entire Black White Heaven command shook. Wang Jie, declared dead and mourned by countless cultivators, had returned alive.
The news swept through the central base like a storm, shocking even Xiao Rong and the others who had seen Wang Jie fall into Cloud Stream with their own eyes. How could he be alive? Was this an impostor, or had he been saved? At that critical moment, the only possibility was the Edge Sect. Had he become their spy?
This suspicion was everyone’s first thought. The only reason Wang Jie could be alive was that he had been captured by Edge Sect. Who else could have saved him?
But if that were true, how could he dare to return openly?
Countless eyes turned to that quiet place.
Right now, Tong Shou, Shuang Jin stared sharply at Wang Jie, as if attempting to see through him.
Beside them stood Elder Wu and Elder Mo, their gazes filled with suspicion and curiosity.
Wang Jie respectfully bowed before them. “Disciple Wang Jie has successfully completed the mission and returned to report to Tong Shou.”
Elder Mo frowned, circling Wang Jie carefully.
Wang Jie maintained his respectful posture without moving.
“You’re still alive?” Elder Mo asked.
Wang Jie calmly replied, “I was fortunate.”
“How did you survive? Didn’t you fall into Cloud Stream?” Elder Wu couldn’t help but ask.
Wang Jie raised his head. “Before explaining, I have something important I hope Tong Shou will address.”
Shuang Jin’s eyes narrowed. “Speak.”
Wang Jie straightened, his gaze sharp. “I formally accuse Fang He of desertion, intentionally leaving me to die, abandoning hundreds of thousands of fellow cultivators. His actions are shameless and deserve execution.”
Outside central command, Fang He had just returned, immediately sensing something was wrong.
A disciple he knew hurried over. “Wang Jie returned.”
Fang He’s mind roared, like being struck heavily, utterly stunned.
At that moment, Tong Shou’s voice called out clearly, “Fang He, come here.”
Fang He swallowed nervously, face pale, stepping forward reluctantly.
Staring at Wang Jie’s back, Fang He trembled slightly, each step feeling heavier as Wang Jie’s face slowly became clear.
Wang Jie turned to face him, smiling faintly, eyes icy. “Senior Brother Fang, have you been well?”
Fang He stared blankly at Wang Jie, fists tightening, then relaxing into a forced smile. “So it’s Junior Brother Wang Jie. You didn’t die? That’s wonderful news.”
Wang Jie smiled calmly. “Had I died, how could I accuse Senior Brother of desertion today?”
Fang He’s eyes shrank sharply, expression darkening as he shouted angrily, “What desertion? Wang Jie, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Wang Jie’s gaze hardened. “Isn’t it true? Senior Brother Fang could clearly have stopped Luo Kui but chose to run instead. I held out against Luo Kui for some time, but Senior Brother never appeared to help.”
Fang He’s gaze turned sinister. “Junior Brother Wang, have you been struck dumb? You’re talking nonsense. Besides, how did you return? I saw you fall into Cloud Stream myself—it’s impossible to survive that. The only explanation is you became an Edge Sect spy. Luo Kui saved you, didn’t he? You’re back only to sow discord.”