Chapter 262

Chapter 262: Head-On Clash

Wang Jie stared in surprise at Tong Shou, “You pushed it all the way here? Isn’t this the sect?”

Shuang Jin laughed softly, “Of course not. Do you really think I’m that powerful, strong enough to directly take you back to the sect?”

Wang Jie exhaled, realizing it made sense. [Indeed, that would’ve been too incredible.]

He turned again toward the Devour Star, finally regaining his senses. “Tong Shou, who exactly pushed the Devour Star here?”

Shuang Jin gazed deeply at Wang Jie. “Who do you think?”

Wang Jie didn’t answer.

Slowly, Shuang Jin continued, “No wonder so many people were looking for you when you disappeared. Congratulations, Wang Jie. To think you’ve actually become a disciple of a Star Dao master. Such good fortune is rare even among all of Big Dipper Bridge Pillar.”

“I can’t even imagine how a Lock Force cultivator like you managed this. Yet, it explains your incredible strength.”

Wang Jie didn’t explain. His strength had nothing to do with becoming the Star Dao master’s disciple.

Or rather, it was the other way around.

It was precisely because of his strength that this fortunate master took notice of him. He was chosen because he was strong, not made strong because he was chosen.

“To push this planet all the way here from the sect would be extremely difficult even for someone at the Star Refining Realm in my Black White Heaven. But for a Star Path Master, pushing stars around is just everyday business,” Shuang Jin said calmly.

She walked away after finishing.

Before she left, she reminded Wang Jie to replenish his Lock Force carefully.

Once Tong Shou was gone, Wang Jie looked at the Devour Star with burning eyes.

[My master is truly amazing, pushing the entire Devour Star here!]

Then suddenly, he remembered something crucial. He’d need assistance to absorb Lock Force from the Devour Star. Previously, Little Blue had helped him; otherwise, the Devour Star would have drained away all the Lock Force in his body instead.

“Oh, right,” Shuang Jin suddenly returned, “This Devour Star has been specially modified. You can absorb its Lock Force on your own without help.”

Wang Jie immediately thanked her, “Many thanks for the reminder, Tong Shou.”

Confirming Tong Shou had left for good, Wang Jie stepped onto the Devour Star. The landscape was unchanged, still bearing marks of the previous fierce battle for its ownership.

Thinking back, the struggle for this star hadn’t actually been long ago, yet it felt distant in his heart.

Next, it was time to absorb Lock Force.

His body hungered greatly for it.

He pressed one hand to the ground and activated the Heaven Reversal Path, starting to absorb.

In the next moment, Lock Force surged into him like an ocean, roaring and boiling within.

Wang Jie’s expression turned intense as he absorbed the energy furiously. Lock Force entered his flesh and blood, filling him rapidly toward the peak of the Full Star Realm. Breaking into the Wandering Star Realm required merging Lock Force into the bones, making it possible to wander through space without breathing, truly becoming one with the cosmos.

For others, Full Star Realm was merely a transitional state, one that didn’t even exist long ago.

But for talented cultivators, this realm was the best moment to widen the gap. The stronger the physical body, the more energy one could absorb, resulting in far greater strength upon entering Wandering Star Realm.

Thinking this, Wang Jie continued tirelessly absorbing Lock Force.

It took half a month before his body felt saturated. Anyone else observing might assume he’d already reached the peak of Full Star Realm, yet he knew he wasn’t at his true limit yet.

He took out his combat strength detector. Now was the perfect moment to test his current power after replenishing his Lock Force fully.

First, his normal battle strength.

With a serious look, he mobilized Lock Force within, releasing it explosively. A surge of Lock Force shot into the sky, causing the detector’s numbers to climb rapidly. Quickly surpassing his previous limit, it soared toward two hundred thousand. Wang Jie lifted his hand, fingers curled as immense power condensed, shaking even the entire Devour Star with tremors.

The detector’s reading surged even faster until it stabilized at two hundred and fifty thousand.

This was his current normal battle strength.

Next, he combined qi with physical force.

With a step, the reading immediately jumped again, swiftly breaking past three hundred thousand and continuing upward.

Then, qi combined with qi.

The number surged even faster, surpassing four hundred thousand before finally slowing down.

Watching the slowly rising numbers, Wang Jie knew this was his maximum measurable combat strength. Yet, these numbers didn’t reflect everything. Pills, formations, equipment, battle intuition, and the countering of techniques all influenced battle outcomes beyond mere figures.

But numbers clearly showed his current tier.

For most, normal battle strength represented the full release of Star Force. For Wang Jie, that was equivalent to qi combined with qi. Thus, compared to ordinary cultivators who didn’t cultivate qi, his baseline was around three hundred thousand.

Fully unleashed, he could battle opponents with strength over four hundred thousand.

Still, there was a big gap compared to a Six Dao Wanderer.

A Six Dao Wanderer’s basic battle strength alone was five hundred thousand.

If he wished to reach five hundred thousand in normal battle strength, it would be extremely challenging, even if he reached the highest Star Breaking Realm multiplier. He could only achieve this by breaking through Full Star Realm.

Yet Wang Jie was satisfied.

At the Star Breaking Realm, not even Six Dao Wanderer possessed this kind of battle strength. Perhaps the Four Traveling Gods had it; perhaps they didn’t. Wang Jie wasn’t sure.

Often, he felt battle strength measurement was flawed.

Cultivation realms couldn’t perfectly match battle power numbers.

A talented cultivator could easily surpass the expected limits of their current realm.

Thus, realm and battle power were two entirely different concepts. In war, neither realm nor battle power mattered completely. Only the number of enemies killed truly counted.

It was time to leave.

Devour Star was right here, ready to open whenever he wished. This planet belonged solely to him; even Tong Shou couldn’t bring anyone else inside.

This place should be safe enough.

Unless, of course, the core was breached.

Leaving Devour Star, Wang Jie intended to explore, something all cultivators stationed at the core had to do. Yet, as soon as he stepped out, he heard about Fang He fleeing from battle.

Hadn’t that previous matter been resolved? Fang He was a Six Dao Wanderer; no one dared to speak further on it.

However, when Wang Jie asked around, he discovered this was not about that old matter. Over ten days ago, Fang He had ventured out with Song Yan and others, but only Fang He returned—everyone else was dead.

Wang Jie’s expression filled with surprise, and he asked, “All dead? Not even one survived?”

The cultivator opposite him sighed, replying, “Yes, all dead. Fang He alone returned.”

From a distance, whispers rose again: “Fang He must’ve fled to save himself. Do you still remember the previous incident? He deserted in the face of the enemy, too scared to confront the Three Blades of Blade Gate, nearly causing that Rain Reaper to lose his life.”

“Exactly, and to think someone like him is a Six Dao Wanderer.”

“Poor Senior Brother Song. He brought Fang He along specifically, hoping Fang He would redeem himself and reduce his own time at the main battlefield. Who knew Fang He wouldn’t even save Senior Brother Song? Truly a disgrace to all Six Dao Wanderers.”

“Do you remember what Rain Reaper said clearly the day they left? He warned Senior Brother Song to be careful because Fang He would run to save himself. Who would’ve imagined his words would become reality?”

Wang Jie quietly listened. Was he surprised? Not really. Song Yan was a traitor; him taking Fang He along definitely meant trouble. What surprised Wang Jie was that Fang He had managed to escape. As for the others, their fate was none of his concern. Even if he had tried to stop them, they would still have gone. Besides, he had no evidence that Song Yan was a traitor.

He certainly couldn’t tell everyone he’d seen Song Yan’s qi in the underground dungeon of Edge Sect. That would spell disaster for himself.

Everyone had their own destiny. He wasn’t responsible for theirs.

“Shut your mouths. Whoever dares speak nonsense, I’ll tear them apart!” Fang He’s furious voice echoed throughout the area as he approached. All the surrounding cultivators quickly fell silent, no one daring to speak further.

Fang He’s expression darkened as he ground his teeth, growling, “I’ve said it countless times—Song Yan is a traitor! He deliberately led us into the enemy’s trap. He didn’t die; he defected to Edge Sect. I couldn’t save the others; even I barely escaped with my life.”

“If you dare to slander me again, I swear I’ll rip you apart.”

After speaking, his eyes landed upon Wang Jie. Fang He’s expression turned even more sinister, his voice filled with hostility as he accused, “Was it you who spread these lies? Dare to tarnish me, and I promise you’ll pay the price.”

Wang Jie raised an eyebrow. [I haven’t said a word, yet he’s already biting.]

Actually, Wang Jie was probably the only person present who knew Fang He was speaking the truth. But why should he defend Fang He?

“Don’t snap at everyone you see. I never slandered you—I simply enjoy telling the truth,” Wang Jie replied slowly.

Enraged, Fang He stepped forward, murder flickering openly in his eyes. With every step he took, starforce erupted from his body, pressing forward heavily as he threatened, “Kid, when I kill you, no one can stop me.”

Wang Jie sneered coldly and stepped toward Fang He as well. Under the astonished gazes of everyone watching, he unleashed his lock force. Energy clashed against energy, and a fierce, turbulent force surged outward, forcibly resisting Fang He’s oppressive starforce as Wang Jie mocked, “Six Dao Wanderer, you look quite lively. You don’t seem badly wounded at all. How come you couldn’t save even one person?”

All eyes turned suspiciously toward Fang He. Indeed, he didn’t look severely injured.

Fang He’s face twisted with fury as he spat, “You’re asking to die.” Immediately, he struck out, his palm producing countless blade shadows that covered the entire area, impossible for others to dodge. Simultaneously, he channeled his full starforce into the attack, clearly intending to kill Wang Jie with a single devastating strike.

Wang Jie had already been vigilant. He knew well the gap between himself and a Six Dao Wanderer—he dared not underestimate his foe.

Aura Watching.

Sword Step.

His feet swiftly traced the Sword Step technique, dodging beneath the storm of blade shadows. This was Fang He’s signature move—Rakshasa Dance—a strike impossible to evade at the same cultivation level.

Yet, Wang Jie navigated through blade lights relying on Sword Step and Aura Watching. He reached behind Fang He and struck with his palm. Fang He instantly twisted his blade backward in a sweeping counterattack. Wang Jie’s eyes sharpened, and he swiftly raised his left arm.

Clang!

A sharp collision rang out. Wang Jie’s wristguard barely held off the powerful strike. The blade’s edge scattered outwards, injuring several nearby cultivators who couldn’t escape in time. Seizing this chance, Wang Jie slammed his right palm into Fang He’s abdomen with immense force. He held nothing back, yet Fang He’s starforce was so dense, Wang Jie’s palm sank as if hitting mud—only two-tenths of his power actually reached Fang He.

Fang He’s blade swung downward again, intent on killing.

Wang Jie twisted sharply, his body bending at an incredible angle, narrowly evading the fatal strike, then swiftly retreating with Sword Step.

Fang He hadn’t expected Wang Jie to dodge two fatal blows. But there wouldn’t be a third chance.

The Blade Net had formed. [Die now!]

The deadliness of Rakshasa Dance wasn’t in the blade itself but in the net it formed. Once completed, even a fellow Six Dao Wanderer couldn’t escape unharmed.

Fang He reversed his blade, raising it high overhead. Cold lights flickered all around Wang Jie, completely sealing off escape.

Wang Jie’s gaze sharpened further. [Still not stepping in?]

Just as Fang He’s Single Blade Slash descended, a gentle breeze passed. The Blade Net shattered instantly, and an invisible force neutralized Fang He’s starforce entirely, pushing him back five steps. The recoil from his blade skill made Fang He cough up blood, his expression horrified—Tong Shou had intervened.

At this moment, Elder Luo appeared, his voice thundering angrily, “Fang He, Wang Jie, what are you two doing? How dare you fight privately within the core!”

Wang Jie respectfully bowed toward Elder Luo, saying, “Elder, please judge clearly. Senior Brother Fang He attacked first; this disciple only acted in self-defense.”