Chapter 263

Chapter 263: You Want to Run Again?

Fang He stared darkly at Wang Jie, his voice filled with bitterness as he accused, “It was you who slandered me first.”

Wang Jie turned calmly to Fang He, replying, “It has nothing to do with me.”

“Then who else could it be?” Fang He roared, but his injuries flared with the effort, causing him to cough up another mouthful of blood.

His wounds were real, inflicted during his outing with Song Yan and the others. Wang Jie had clearly seen this when observing his qi; Fang He’s innTwo Channels were blocked in several places. Those initial injuries weren’t severe. However, when Tong Shou forcibly interrupted Fang He’s Rakshasa Blade Dance, shattering his star force and causing a backlash, his injuries became much graver.

Elder Luo cast a cold glance at both of them, then fixed his gaze upon Fang He, saying, “Wang Jie has been cultivating in seclusion for over ten days and only just emerged. When would he have slandered you?”

Fang He’s face shifted. He had genuinely believed Wang Jie was behind the rumors tarnishing his name, particularly the whispers branding him a coward who fled from battle. Before he left with Song Yan, Wang Jie had even remarked that Fang He would probably return alone. Because of those words, Fang He had become an outcast, unable to move freely and shunned by everyone.

It had clearly been Wang Jie’s doing.

Yet, when Fang He returned, Wang Jie hadn’t even been around. If he had been, even a single casual remark would have counted as slander. But now…

Elder Luo frowned deeply at Fang He. “Go find Tong Shou yourself later. You’re dismissed.”

Fang He shot Wang Jie a venomous glare before storming away.

Wang Jie calmly watched him leave, then turned respectfully to Elder Luo, slightly bowing as he said, “Thank you, Elder.”

Elder Luo regarded Wang Jie thoughtfully without a word, then quietly departed. It was astonishing—a mere Star-Breaking Realm Lock Force cultivator had managed to block Fang He’s deadly moves not once, but twice. Even Elder Luo himself couldn’t fathom how Wang Jie had done it.

The cultivators nearby looked at Wang Jie with shock and admiration.

Wang Jie exhaled gently. The Six Dao Wanderer truly possessed formidable strength. Yet Fang He’s life would soon become difficult—not because of these accusations. After all, there was no direct witness; even if Fang He really had fled, no one could prove it, and Tong Shou could do nothing about it.

What would truly trouble Fang He next was the card.

Indeed, Wang Jie had secretly placed a card—”Women’s Swimsuit”—onto Fang He’s body.

This was Yunxi Domain, hardly a place for swimming. Besides, who would bring a swimsuit onto the battlefield?

He couldn’t wait to see how miserable Fang He would become.

Such cards had to be quickly thrown away, or they’d soon vanish. At this very moment, the card Wang Jie had slapped onto Fang He’s abdomen had already disappeared, unnoticed. Fang He was entirely focused on how he would explain himself to Tong Shou and Shuang Jin.

Meanwhile, Wang Jie intended to go explore the surrounding area. Immediately, many cultivators followed after him, hoping to form teams.

Wang Jie was speechless—he was technically still a traitor. Fortunately, he wouldn’t harm them.

Xiao Rong also joined the group.

Soon, Wang Jie set out with a large group of followers.

Over the following days, Wang Jie continuously explored the surroundings, while Edge Sect grew strangely quiet. Fang He’s life indeed became unbearable; rumor had it that Tong Shou had scolded him fiercely, and now nobody was willing to team with him. People avoided him on the battlefield as though he were a plague.

Fang He himself suffered immensely. Why was he desperately searching for a woman’s swimsuit? Why would he even have such thoughts? Had he lost his mind?

He couldn’t cultivate, his mind consumed by this bizarre urge for swimwear. It was maddening.

His gaze even became peculiar whenever he saw a woman.

Then one day, the central command called for a gathering.

The three Elders soared into the sky, and before them, planets lined up, stretching far into the distance.

Thousands of cultivators stepped onto these worlds. Over a thousand planets surged ahead, and through the mist, another thousand planets approached from the opposite side.

The Thousand-Planet Battle had begun.

Planets crashed against each other, cries of battle echoed endlessly. Millions of cultivators clashed, their figures flooding both the skies and the ground.

Wang Jie charged forth, immediately releasing his Sword Rain technique toward Edge Sect.

Rain poured down, sword qi surged violently. Not just Edge Sect— even cultivators from Black White Heaven feared coming too close, wary of unintended harm.

Wang Jie fought without restraint, holding nothing back.

Far away, Luo Kui stood amidst the battlefield, recognizing the familiar rain. [Wang Jie?] He watched Wang Jie’s merciless slaughter. [That fellow truly has no sense of being a traitor.]

“Luo Kui, let’s fight to the death!” Fang He roared, charging straight toward him. Fang He was desperate to cleanse the humiliation he’d suffered recently. Killing Luo Kui would suffice—and afterward, he’d uncover Song Yan as a traitor.

Luo Kui laughed loudly, mocking, “Fang He, you dare to challenge me again? You’re already defeated.”

Fang He gritted his teeth, blade lights scattering across the sky.

Wang Jie glanced into the distance. Fang He must truly be desperate to willingly challenge Luo Kui. Edge Sect’s overall strength exceeded Black White Heaven’s, and the Three Blades of Blade Gate surpassed even Six Dao Wanderers. Fang He had almost no chance of winning.

Yet Luo Kui couldn’t easily defeat him either.

If Fang He managed to fight Luo Kui to a standstill, even without winning, he would at least silence the whispers of cowardice and betrayal.

That outcome was unacceptable to Wang Jie.

He began contemplating how to intervene.

Suddenly, a familiar chill approached—it was Sword Ridge.

Wang Jie looked over, immediately seeing Cheng Yi. The young woman locked eyes with him, thrusting forward with her sword.

Beside her stood Cheng Feng, following closely behind her attack.

Wang Jie raised a single finger, Starry Finger technique activating. Stars rotated, finger shadows merging as he pointed directly at the incoming sword spine.

Finger and blade collided.

The sword spine shattered into countless pieces.

Cheng Yi was stunned. [He’s grown stronger.] “Younger brother, careful!”

Cheng Feng brought his sword down fiercely, star force exploding fully. Wang Jie raised his head, lips curving slightly upward as lock force surged upward in reverse, blasting Cheng Feng away like a violent hurricane. Cheng Feng’s breath halted, nearly coughing up blood from the shock.

Stumbling backward after landing, Cheng Feng’s eyes filled with disbelief. [How is this possible? How did he become so powerful so suddenly?]

Wang Jie swiftly approached with the Armor Eight Steps, and before his figure appeared clearly, the raindrops fell first.

Cheng Feng sensed the sword intent hidden in the rain and hurriedly dodged, but it was already too late. The Sword Rain Technique had completely enveloped him, tearing open wounds on his body with numerous streaks of sword qi. Cheng Yi rushed forward, channeling his star force upward, twisting the falling rain aside, and glared sharply at Wang Jie, “You broke through?”

Wang Jie smiled coldly, saying, “I’ve waited a long time for you two. Come at me together.” As he spoke, he surged forward using the Sword Step, gripped his sword, and swung horizontally.

Clang!

This strike clashed directly with Cheng Yi’s blade, forcing Cheng Yi backward. Wang Jie’s lock force and star force matched Cheng Yi’s perfectly, and with the added boost from his physical strength and qi, Cheng Yi was almost overwhelmed. Left with no choice, Cheng Yi pulled Cheng Feng backward.

Cheng Feng wanted to attack again, but Cheng Yi held him back urgently, “No, you’re no longer his match. Retreat now.”

Behind Wang Jie, a second sword appeared, then a third, layering their power into a triple Sword Rain Technique, raining downward fiercely.

Cheng Yi’s pupils shrank, “Quickly, run!”

Cheng Feng wasn’t foolish; although he wished to battle Wang Jie, he had no desire to die. Feeling the terrifying force of the triple-layered Sword Rain Technique, he knew this was the moment to flee.

Just as Wang Jie was about to pursue them, a slender figure darted past Cheng Yi and his sister, blocking his path playfully. “Let’s have some fun,” said a bright-eyed young girl with a sunny smile.

Seeing this lively young girl before him, Wang Jie’s head ached slightly. [Hou Xiao?]

Hou Xiao winked at him mischievously, “Sword Rain Technique never mentioned it could be layered.”

Wang Jie frowned, replying, “It never said it couldn’t, either.”

“So you’ve been hiding your skills. Let me test it.” Hou Xiao shook her sword lightly, and a crane’s cry echoed through the void. In an instant, sword qi flashed toward him.

Wang Jie swiftly retreated.

At the place where he stood moments before, sword qi tore through the earth, slicing deep into the planet and splitting open Cloud Stream below.

Wang Jie’s expression turned serious. [Such a powerful sword strike! I couldn’t even clearly see the sword qi. If it weren’t for sensing its presence, I wouldn’t have dodged it.]

Hou Xiao giggled lightly, “Be careful now. This is the Sound Sword Art.” With another gentle smile, she gracefully spun through the void like a clear flower blooming. The crane’s cry sounded again.

Wang Jie felt his scalp tingle, sensing the same intense pressure he had felt from Fang He.

[This woman’s power matches a Six Dao Wanderer. How did I not notice before?]

“Why are you chasing me?”

“You dared hide things from me.”

“I didn’t hide anything. Your incomplete understanding is your own problem.”

“You never said layering was possible. Teach me now.”

“Are you crazy?”

“We’ll see if your mouth or my sword is tougher.”

“You realize I’m a traitor, right?”

“How proud you sound. What does that have to do with me? I’m not from Edge Sect.”

Wang Jie was speechless, continuously dodging attacks. Hou Xiao’s casual sword qi easily tore apart everything nearby. Those from Black White Heaven and Edge Sect didn’t dare approach, much less overhear their conversation.

Though Wang Jie felt no killing intent—this woman clearly didn’t want to actually kill him—her attacks heavily pressured him.

In the distance, Cheng Yi and Cheng Feng exchanged shocked glances. They’d thought Hou Xiao was merely a cute and sweet girl who followed behind Senior Brother Luo Kui, constantly calling out “Senior Brother Luo” with admiration. Who knew she was actually this fierce?

Hou Xiao’s every strike brushed dangerously close to Wang Jie, pressuring him without causing severe injury, leaving Wang Jie frustrated yet helpless. This young woman even appeared younger than him.

“You still won’t teach me? Then I’ll strike harder.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to teach you. Everyone’s comprehension of Yi Sword Technique is different.”

“So, you’re saying your comprehension of the way of the sword is superior to mine? Hmph, I’d like to see that.”

Wang Jie sighed helplessly, “Are you trying to get me killed? Above us is the Hundred Star Realm battlefield. If they find out something’s wrong with me, how can I teach you in the future? I’m a traitor and will eventually join Edge Sect. We’ll see each other often, so there’s plenty of time to teach you. Don’t ruin things.”

Hou Xiao paused thoughtfully, “You’re right, there’s no rush.”

Wang Jie breathed a sigh of relief, glancing towards Fang He, who was locked in deadly combat with Luo Kui. His eyes flickered as an idea came, “Do me a favor.”

Hou Xiao raised an eyebrow, “You’re lucky I’m not killing you, yet you want my help?”

“The faster I complete my mission, the sooner I return to Edge Sect. Isn’t that better?”

“Speak.”

“I want Fang He utterly destroyed.”

In the distance, Fang He gripped his blade tightly, palms torn and bloody, his breath ragged, eyes bloodshot as he glared at Luo Kui.

Luo Kui gasped for breath, astonished. [This man’s insane—he’s truly risking his life. He wasn’t even this desperate when he was captured before.]

Fang He swung his blade repeatedly, trading wound for wound. He wanted everyone to witness his desperate struggle, wanted all to acknowledge him as a true Six Dao Wanderer.

Their strength was close, and with Fang He now fighting desperately, Luo Kui was also in trouble.

At that moment, a clear crane’s cry echoed.

Fang He’s hair stood on end. He dodged frantically as the void trembled—a powerful Sound Sword Art slashed through the air from afar. It was Hou Xiao. “Fang He, die!”

Luo Kui looked startled, “Junior Sister, he’s mine.”

Hou Xiao smiled sweetly at Luo Kui, “Senior Brother, today let’s join forces to kill a Six Dao Wanderer and gain merit. This man must die.”

Luo Kui didn’t understand Hou Xiao’s sudden fierce move, but her strength shocked him. Still, he didn’t need to think too much. On the battlefield, killing enemies was enough.

Fang He was instantly overwhelmed by their joint attack. Luo Kui alone was difficult, and Hou Xiao’s strength made his blood run cold. Forced back step by step, injuries accumulating, Fang He knew this was no time to continue his reckless struggle, or he would truly die.

[Where are the older-generation Wandering Star Realm masters from the sect? Why hasn’t anyone intervened yet?]

As Luo Kui and Hou Xiao’s attacks intensified, Fang He could only retreat.

At that instant, Wang Jie suddenly shouted loudly, “Fang He, you’re thinking of escaping again?”