Chapter 267
Chapter 267: Pressure from the Club
Shuang Jin, Zhi Ye, and the Black Realm Lord hovered quietly, expressions heavy, facing the three figures before them.
“Han Heng, I never thought you’d show up,” Shuang Jin said, his voice solemn.
Han Heng stood calmly, hands clasped behind his back, eyes scanning the three across from him. “It was about time I came out to stretch my limbs. Where is Shuang Ying? He nearly killed me back then. Although, I suppose I should thank him; forcing me to the brink helped me break through to the Star Refining Realm.”
Shuang Jin remained silent, his gaze cautious as he turned to the two mysterious figures beside Han Heng.
Zhi Ye and the Black Realm Lord stared as well, expressions equally grave.
Each stranger was more peculiar than the next.
One wore a torn black robe, his face hidden beneath its ragged hood. From the tears in his robe, scales resembling small swords could be seen on his skin, seemingly grown from within his own body. He emitted an eerie calmness, and when close, one could smell the faint scent of decay.
The other appeared more normal at first glance. Yet, on closer inspection, one would notice his skin, eyes, and hair were distinctly unnatural, as if he wore a false, synthetic shell.
“Sword Ghost and Mad Blade Maniac,” murmured the Black Realm Lord.
Han Heng’s eyes showed surprise. “As expected from the lord of Black Domain. Just how many spies have you planted in our Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper to even recognize these two?”
The Black Realm Lord’s voice was grave as he replied, “Sword Ghost was raised on corpses from childhood, swallowed rusty blades, and grew sword-like scales from within his own body. From those very scales, he forged a Five-Tribulations Star Artifact.”
“As for Mad Blade Maniac, he was a robot created by a technological civilization, who awakened to consciousness, slaughtered his own creators, and cultivated the Way of the Sword. It’s said even his bones were reforged as blades.”
“The fame of these two within the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper is so great, no spies were needed; their legends have long traveled far.”
Sword Ghost and Mad Blade Maniac both remained silent, seemingly unwilling to speak.
Han Heng laughed lightly. “Is that so? We, too, have heard your legends. Especially yours—” his gaze fixed onto Zhi Ye, “Zhi Ye, whose origin is known but whose destination remains uncertain. Your fame has spread widely from the First Star Cloud of your esteemed Bridge Pillar. Your name is listed even within our Sword Court.”
Zhi Ye smiled faintly. “To be noticed by the Sword Court is my honor. Brother Han Heng, your name likewise hangs prominently in Armor One Sect.”
Han Heng laughed openly. “Since that’s the case, let neither side hold back.”
In the next instant, the starry expanse twisted violently.
A wave of pressure surged forth, forcing everyone back.
The battleship’s defensive barrier shattered instantly.
The asteroid belt rippled as if caught in ocean waves.
Wang Jie watched in shock; before he could even discern how they’d attacked, everyone had already been pushed away. It reminded him vividly of his escape from Frost Radiance Sect. Even from afar, the power of Star Refining Realm experts had been devastating.
The battleship swiftly retreated.
Even the Hundred Star Realm cultivators hastily drew back.
The confrontation didn’t last long, merely a tentative clash exclusive to Star Refining Realm experts.
Soon, Tong Shou and his group returned, and calm gradually restored. Yet everyone knew this peace was merely the darkness before dawn. A great battle was soon to follow.
Wang Jie sat quietly in a corner of the ship, resting.
A sudden commotion drew his attention. Surprised, he turned—Han Ling?
Han Ling, one of the Six Dao Wanderers, was causing quite a stir with his arrival. Everyone watched curiously as he approached Wang Jie, speculating about his intentions.
Even Wang Jie himself was startled; he hadn’t expected Han Ling would seek him out.
He knew Han Ling had been present in this war zone but stationed in Haoqian Domain.
Han Ling smiled warmly as he approached. “Junior Brother Wang, you’re indeed here.”
Wang Jie stood respectfully, greeting him. “Senior Brother Han.”
Han Ling chuckled softly. “Shall we speak?”
“Of course.”
Looking out at the stars, Han Ling asked directly, “I heard there’s conflict between you and Fang He?”
Wang Jie nodded calmly. “I accepted a mission to rescue him, but he abandoned me. If my luck had not held, Senior Brother wouldn’t be seeing me now.”
Han Ling nodded knowingly. “Fang He is petty-hearted. Junior Brother should be cautious.”
Wang Jie turned, studying Han Ling carefully. “I thought Senior Brother was here to speak for Fang He.”
Han Ling laughed softly. “I barely interact with him. Though we’re both Six Dao Wanderers, we’re still rivals.”
Wang Jie smiled faintly. “In my eyes, Fang He can’t compare to Senior Brother Han.”
Han Ling laughed warmly. “You’re too kind, Junior Brother. I’ve noticed your swift advancement. Do you recall our talk during the Pill Conference? I wish to invite Junior Brother again into the Black White Heaven Club.”
Wang Jie, recalling clearly, shook his head. “Elder Li helped me apply, but I was rejected.”
Han Ling laughed again. “Elder Li asked the wrong people. If he went through normal procedures, naturally rejection was possible. But the club has its own rules: with the recommendation of two Six Dao Wanderers, no one can deny your entry.”
“My recommendation, along with Mo Wan Yin’s, would be sufficient to bring you in.”
Wang Jie’s heart stirred curiously as he looked at Han Ling. He’d barely interacted with him before, their first meeting having even been as enemies. Why was he suddenly helping him?
Han Ling gazed deep into the stars, exhaling slowly. “Junior Brother, do you know the pressure we face?”
“Pressure from the club?”
“Yes,” Han Ling explained. “The Black White Heaven Club gathers the sect’s finest disciples. Yet against other powerful clubs, we’re struggling just to breathe. Just one person, like Luan Dao, has already surpassed us, and he’s merely an external disciple sent to Three Chan Heaven from Galaxy Combat Equipment Company. Imagine how passive we are against giants like Armor One Sect or Three Chan Heaven.”
“And that’s not even counting other bridge pillars.”
He sighed deeply. “Inviting Junior Brother is partly hoping that your Lock Force can open a new path for us. At least, in Lock Force, I believe Junior Brother is unmatched. Though Lock Force is not mainstream, its power is undeniable.”
Wang Jie looked intrigued. “Is the club not limited to just the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar?”
Han Ling shook his head, replying, “Naturally. Other bridge pillars have their own clubs as well. War divides the pillars, but clubs can freely move between them. We’ve also journeyed to other pillars to compete for resources, opportunities, even talent, yet we rarely won. In truth, only a handful of clubs can truly compete.”
As he spoke, his eyes fixed seriously upon Wang Jie, “Junior brother, now you understand clearly. At present, our Black White Heaven Club has only a single Hundred Star Realm cultivator—Elder Wu Yuan.”
“Yet, Three Chan Heaven Club boasts three Hundred Star Realm cultivators. Each one’s strength equals or surpasses Elder Wu Yuan. And this is merely what we know. Three Chan Heaven itself falls under the Armor One Sect. Yet even Armor One Sect may not be the strongest among the great bridge pillars.”
Wang Jie’s gaze sharpened, realizing just how vast this gap was.
Han Ling continued, his voice lowering gravely, “What truly deserves to be called terrifying are clubs with Star Guardians. Star Guardians don’t participate in these wars directly, yet they may intervene in club disputes. When a Star Guardian appears, every other club can only retreat. There’s no other choice.”
“Why don’t Star Guardians join the wars? Could it be they don’t belong to our Big Dipper Bridge Pillar?” Wang Jie asked.
“Of course not. Several bridge pillars share the same Star Guardians. They are known as the Four Traveling Gods. Wandering Star Realm cultivators guard the Fourth Star Cloud. This Fourth Star Cloud is designated by our Big Dipper Bridge Pillar, simply to help your understanding. Actually, it merely represents a position. The Four Traveling Gods guard precisely that position at the height of the bridge pillar.”
Wang Jie was startled.
He had always assumed that the Four Traveling Gods belonged exclusively to the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar, and that other bridge pillars had their own Star Guardians.
Yet it turned out Star Guardians were shared among the various pillars.
Han Ling gazed into the starry expanse, adding softly, “And I’ll tell you something else: none of the Four Traveling Gods actually belong to the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar.”
Wang Jie’s face suddenly changed.
[Even Qing Huan doesn’t belong to the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar?]
Han Ling turned to leave, saying as he departed, “Only in club competitions can you step beyond the starry skies you’ve known. So come, Wang Jie junior brother. Let the outside world witness the limits a Lock Force cultivator can reach. Perhaps you’ll help earn a slight advantage for our Black White Heaven Club.” With these final words, he vanished.
Wang Jie stared at Han Ling’s retreating figure, sinking deep into thought.
He spoke so casually, as if once Wang Jie joined, he would become invincible in the path of Lock Force.
Yet nobody stipulated that Lock Force cultivators could only be fought by other Lock Force cultivators.
Even Hundred Star Realm experts could strike against him.
Elder Wu Yuan had been praised highly by Li Tong He, yet according to Han Ling, many other clubs had figures comparable or superior to Elder Wu Yuan. Three Chan Heaven alone had three, and even that claim might be conservative. Those three Hundred Star Realm cultivators could be stronger still.
Too dangerous.
He couldn’t help but feel that club competitions were even more perilous than the battlefield.
No wonder these clubs represented the sect’s honor.
…
Then one day, war erupted.
In the distant skies, Heaven Thunder formed a dense, advancing net of lightning. One by one, Hundred Star Realm experts struck, scattering bolts across space.
Warships unleashed concentrated beams of dazzling light toward the far distance.
From the opposite side, waves of light retaliated, interwoven with scarlet flames.
Urgent alarms rang throughout the ships.
Wandering Star Realm cultivators stood outside the warships, desperately shielding them from destruction. Yet amidst endless collisions of cultivators from both sides, they struggled just to survive, unable to protect the vessels.
Warships burst apart, one after another.
Standing atop his ship, Wang Jie brandished a sword in his right hand, his left hand alight with a Thunder Pattern.
His blade stabbed forward, unleashing the Star-Gazing Sword Style.
A red beam pierced toward him, only to be shattered by Wang Jie’s sword. Around him, Blazing Phoenix Serpents spewed roaring flames, causing his warship to shudder violently. No matter how fiercely Wang Jie defended, technology-made ships remained vulnerable to external attacks.
All cultivators aboard rushed outward, leaping swiftly onto nearby asteroids.
Thunder Roar Hounds howled fiercely, directing waves of Heaven Thunder through the asteroid belt. Ice Crystal Cloud Thunder erupted, freezing the hounds and clashing against the fiery serpents.
Wang Jie also landed on a massive asteroid.
Having survived countless battles across Hanhai Sea and the Yunxi Domain, standing atop these shattered fragments of worlds had become second nature to him.
Asteroids stretched endlessly around him; he had no shortage of ground to stand upon.
A long whip hung at his waist, prepared to instantly pull him to another asteroid if his current foothold shattered.
Above, small ships zipped through the stars, several hurtling straight toward him. Each vessel held an enemy inside.
Wang Jie summoned the Sword Rain Technique. As the enemy ships entered his range, they shattered instantly. Few within could withstand his devastating sword qi.
Only Wandering Star Realm cultivators posed any real threat to him now.
Across the vast battlefield, Star Refining Realm cultivators retreated to distant space, while Hundred Star Realm powers ravaged the surroundings. Far away, a Black White Heaven disciple shouted in fury, “Fang He, you’ve truly become a traitor!”
Across from him, Fang He sneered coldly, “Black White Heaven wronged me. What’s wrong with me joining Edge Sect?” With a wave of his hand, his powerful star force obliterated several Black White Heaven cultivators.
His gaze pierced across the distance. [Where is Wang Jie? That man must die.]
Infuriatingly, Wang Jie truly wasn’t a traitor after all.
In Yunxi Domain, Fang He had willingly joined Edge Sect with one condition: he wouldn’t serve as a spy. Instead, he planned to openly kill Wang Jie on the battlefield, exacting revenge upon Black White Heaven.
Although Black White Heaven hadn’t yet officially stripped him of his Six Dao Wanderer status, he knew it was only a matter of time.
If that was the case, he might as well leave first.
No matter where he went, Fang He remained powerful.
[Wang Jie, I will definitely see you dead.]