Chapter 264
Chapter 264: Thunder Abyss Marrow Cleansing
A deafening sound echoed through the battlefield, drawing countless gazes.
Cultivators from Black White Heaven watched with contempt, though many secretly wished to flee themselves. Edge Sect’s cultivators were even more openly mocking.
Fang He glared angrily at Wang Jie, snapping back sharply, “Stop speaking nonsense! If you have the courage to hold back one, I’ll kill the other.”
Wang Jie shouted fiercely, “Fine! Even if I, Wang Jie, must die, I’ll hold one off for you. I only hope you mean what you say—kill the other and don’t run away again.”
[Who ran away?] Fang He burned to retort, but Luo Kui’s sword had already slashed toward him.
Helplessly, Fang He had no choice but to meet the attack.
Hou Xiao moved swiftly to intercept, calling out calmly, “Senior Brother, let me handle him.”
Luo Kui hesitated in surprise. At that moment, Wang Jie charged forward.
Watching Wang Jie rush straight toward him, Luo Kui wondered if the young man had gone mad.
Lifting his sword, Wang Jie shouted loudly, “No matter how powerful the Three Blades of Blade Gate are, you will never crush the spirit of us cultivators from Black White Heaven! Come, let us fight to the death.”
Luo Kui fell silent…
If anyone had asked at that moment whether strength or courage inspired greater confidence, every single person present would have answered without hesitation: courage.
They saw Wang Jie, only at Star Breaking Realm, fearlessly charge at Luo Kui.
They heard the defiant cry that spoke of backbone and honor.
Though many initially found it laughable, when Luo Kui’s sword struck Wang Jie down, staining his robes crimson with blood, no one could laugh anymore. Only shock and respect remained.
Wang Jie leaped forward again, rain pouring around him. Luo Kui deflected Wang Jie’s sword and shouted in a low voice, “What are you doing?”
“Let me rise higher, to help you all,” Wang Jie responded boldly.
Luo Kui was speechless. [What help could Wang Jie possibly offer?] They simply wished he’d vanish. Yet, Wang Jie kept charging recklessly, forcing Luo Kui to strike harder—but not too hard, as he couldn’t truly injure him severely. How was he supposed to handle this?
The sound of flesh tearing echoed sharply, blood scattering into the sky.
Wang Jie fell, rose again, and rushed forward once more, eyes blazing crimson.
Though Wang Jie appeared gravely injured, in truth, all were mere flesh wounds—Luo Kui refused to deliver a fatal blow.
Over and over, Wang Jie charged and fell back, leaving the Black White Heaven cultivators staring in disbelief, [Was this really necessary?]
Edge Sect’s cultivators were equally stunned. [How is he still alive?]
High above, Elder Wu and the others watched Wang Jie with astonishment. [Did this child truly have such profound feelings for the sect? Courageous, talented, intelligent—but what a pity he cultivated lock force…truly a pity.]
In comparison to Wang Jie, Fang He seemed utterly useless, continually forced back under Hou Xiao’s relentless assault.
Fang He hadn’t expected Hou Xiao’s battle prowess to match Luo Kui’s. More importantly, Hou Xiao’s strikes appeared gentle, making it seem to outsiders that Fang He was the one retreating timidly.
Suddenly, Luo Kui’s voice thundered across the battlefield, “I remember you now. You’re the one who fought me before and allowed Fang He to escape. Are you trying to save him again?”
Fang He froze at those words, turning stiffly…
Wang Jie raised his head proudly, declaring, “There will always be someone to uphold the spirit of our Black White Heaven.”
Fang He burned with rage, wanting desperately to speak, but Hou Xiao struck decisively, interrupting him and shouting, “Senior Brother Luo, how is it so difficult for you to deal with a mere Star Breaking Realm?”
Luo Kui snorted coldly, “He has resolve. His footwork is strange, and his defense is strong. He’s harder to deal with than that cowardly Six Dao Wanderer. Give me a little time.”
Fang He roared furiously, “Luo Kui, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Hou Xiao sneered mockingly, “Fine, this Fang He doesn’t dare to seriously fight me anyway. I’ll hold him off. Go ahead and kill that boy.”
“Very well.” Luo Kui raised his sword and struck again.
Fang He felt everyone’s eyes filled with disdain directed at him. [How did things come to this?]
Then, suddenly, the battlefield changed dramatically.
In the distance, a massive Way of the Sword Formation appeared, trapping several people, including an elder.
This was Edge Sect’s favorite tactic.
Wang Jie’s eyes brightened. He shouted, “Senior Brother Fang He, hold them off! I’ll rescue the elder.”
Fang He desperately wanted to kill Wang Jie himself, but with everyone listening and knowing he was the only one who could break the formation, he had no choice but to move. Yet Hou Xiao blocked his path once more.
Hou Xiao’s swordplay was elegant and ethereal, deceptively soft but filled with hidden killing intent. Fang He didn’t dare underestimate him, feeling even more pressured than when facing Luo Kui.
But outsiders didn’t understand this.
They saw only that Fang He had been halted by Luo Kui’s junior sister, seemingly ignoring Wang Jie’s plea, not even trying to stop Luo Kui.
Luo Kui’s sword struck Wang Jie again.
Wang Jie’s body flew through the air as he spat blood, calling, “Fang He, stop him!”
Fang He tried to reach him, but Hou Xiao stood like an unmovable mountain.
At that very instant, a black shadow streaked into the Way of the Sword Formation, forcibly tearing it open and rescuing Elder Luo. The shadow then revealed its Hundred Star Realm power, fiercely pressing toward Edge Sect. Edge Sect’s own Hundred Star cultivator appeared but showed no interest in prolonged combat, ordering the sect members to withdraw.
The battle concluded with Edge Sect’s defeat.
Luo Kui stared at Wang Jie bitterly, “I’ll remember you. From now on, your only opponent on the battlefield will be me, Luo Kui of the Three Blades of Blade Gate.” With those words, he withdrew.
Wang Jie supported himself with his sword, struggling just to remain standing.
Edge Sect’s cultivators retreated like the receding tide.
Elder Wu appeared behind Wang Jie, gently asking, “Are you alright?”
Wang Jie shook his head, “Disciple fought Luo Kui once before, and has imagined this battle countless times. I’m already used to it.”
Elder Wu sighed deeply, “You’ve suffered greatly. If only everyone in the sect had your resolve, how could we fear defeat?” He glanced at Fang He with a quiet gaze, fully aware that Hou Xiao’s sword skills were profound, and Fang He hadn’t retreated willingly. But outsiders saw none of this, especially compared to Wang Jie—such a stark contrast.
Only once everyone had returned to the central base did the battle truly end.
After this battle, everyone who saw Wang Jie greeted him respectfully as “Senior Brother Wang,” while Fang He was even more isolated, with no one willing to approach him.
“I didn’t believe it before, but now I see clearly—Fang He may have strength, but he has no courage or honor. On the battlefield, he purposely let Senior Brother Wang be hunted by the enemy. So despicable,” someone murmured indignantly.
“Exactly! The strongest disciple from the Edge Sect is Luo Kui, and that woman called Luo Kui her senior brother. She wasn’t even among the Three Blades of Blade Gate, yet Fang He couldn’t stop her? Clearly, he was deliberately giving Luo Kui a chance to kill Senior Brother Wang alone. Utterly shameless,” another replied bitterly.
“I watched Senior Brother Wang fight that woman before; he was definitely strong enough to face her. She’s much weaker than Luo Kui, yet Fang He, who had fought Luo Kui evenly, pretended he couldn’t handle her. Not only vile but stupid.”
“It’s truly tragic for the sect that someone like him became a Six Dao Wanderer.”
“There’s even more—I heard something strange. A female disciple felt Fang He had an improper look in his eyes. There’s a rumor he even asked her for a swimsuit.”
“What? Really? Is that true?”
“Who knows…”
Wang Jie heard these whispers too, but he simply greeted everyone with a faint, amused smile before retreating into seclusion to heal.
Fang He also heard the rumors, his expression darkening like storm clouds. No one in Cloud Stream Domain was willing to speak with him anymore. All his close companions had died with Song Yan’s group, and now no one defended him. He wanted to leave, but Tong Shou had trapped him in Cloud Stream Domain for ten years.
Tong Shou was not only the supreme commander of Cloud Stream Domain but also overseer of all three battlefields in Black White Heaven. Even the sect couldn’t change a word she spoke.
[How much longer must I endure this?]
[And that swimsuit—he actually did want one. How infuriating! How did it come to this?]
[Wang Jie.]
[Since this person appeared, not a single day has gone well for me. I must kill him.]
[How could he possibly stand against Luo Kui? Something is definitely wrong, yet now no one will believe me.]
Not long after, Tong Shou Shuang Jin summoned Fang He privately. No one knew what they discussed, only that after Fang He emerged, he was forbidden from staying at headquarters and ordered to remain in Cloud Stream Domain. The message was clear: for the ten-year duration of the Cloud Stream war, Fang He would earn no battle merits.
Some even heard Tong Shou openly calling Fang He shameless.
Tong Shou was also a woman.
Fang He’s expression sank into darkness as he left headquarters gloomily.
Days later, the sect received an official request from Tong Shou Shuang Jin: to strip Fang He of his title as a Six Dao Wanderer.
Soon after, Wang Jie emerged from seclusion.
He had suffered only minor wounds, easily healed by one training session.
As soon as he stepped outside, he heard about Fang He’s predicament.
Now, in Cloud Stream Domain’s headquarters, apart from Tong Shou and the Elders, Wang Jie held the highest position. Regardless of cultivation level or time spent at the sect or battlefield, everyone respectfully addressed him as “Senior Brother.”
Wang Jie had experienced such treatment before—once at Lock Path Interval, once at Yin Yang Battlefield, and now here again.
What could he say?
“Senior Brother Wang, quite a few new disciples arrived. Would you like to see if any catch your eye to serve by your side?” someone asked eagerly.
“Senior Brother, this direction has already been explored. We mustn’t waste your precious time,” another added quickly.
“That Fang He behaved disgracefully. I’ve heard Tong Shou requested the sect to revoke his Six Dao Wanderer title. We’re all hoping you’ll be the next one.”
Wang Jie blinked in surprise, “The Six Dao Wanderer title can be revoked?”
A slightly older cultivator respectfully answered, “Of course, Senior Brother. Only six can hold the title at one time, with 500,000 combat power as the standard. But those with poor character can lose their position, since it signifies not just status but authority as well.”
“Fang He clearly isn’t worthy.”
Wang Jie felt relieved he’d handed over that card against Fang He. Otherwise, Fang He’s battlefield performance alone wouldn’t have convinced the sect to revoke his title.
[Tong Shou Shuang Jin is a woman. Fang He’s swimsuit request must have deeply disgusted her, prompting such an extreme reaction.]
Just then, a lovely female disciple moved closer, blinking shyly with flushed cheeks, “Senior Brother, I’ve encountered some confusion in my cultivation lately. Could Senior Brother guide me?”
Wang Jie was speechless. [Why didn’t Fang He run into this girl first? Maybe then he wouldn’t have gotten into so much trouble.]
[All temptation.]
[Must stay strong in spirit.]
He sternly but politely declined, then began browsing through rewards available for battle merits. Now he had over three hundred million battle merit points—not a small amount—so it was time for a good exchange. Who knew when Master might suddenly toss him somewhere else?
After careful consideration, Wang Jie’s gaze settled on the “Thunder Abyss Marrow Purge.”
Battle merits could grant entry into the Thunder Abyss for marrow cleansing, escorted by a powerful cultivator. One million merits allowed entry into the Shallow Thunder Zone, ten million to the Deep Thunder Zone, one hundred million to the Heavy Thunder Zone, and one billion granted access directly to the Thunder Abyss itself.
The Shallow Thunder Zone suited Star Breaking Realm cultivators; Deep Thunder Zone was ideal for Wandering Star Realm; the Heavy Thunder Zone was for Hundred Star Realm cultivators.
With Wang Jie’s current strength, logically he should choose the Deep Thunder Zone suitable for Wandering Star Realm. But he required a true life-or-death crisis to surpass his current limit of eighty-nine-fold power.
The Deep Thunder Zone, guarded by experts, might be insufficient.
Therefore, it had to be the Heavy Thunder Zone.
Moreover, he needed to cultivate the Thunder Pattern technique.
[This is the one.]
Since this reward appeared here, a Thunder Well must exist nearby.
Resolutely, Wang Jie exchanged his battle merits for the Heavy Thunder Zone Thunder Abyss Marrow Purge.