Chapter 270
Chapter 270: The War That Never Ends
Strangely, as each shard of ice was carefully plucked out, the cultivator’s blocked energy began flowing freely again. Wang Jie finally realized these ice shards were lodged precisely where the cultivator’s qi had been obstructed. Could they be the enemy’s destructive star force? Very likely. It meant that the palm strike had frozen the destructive force itself, and removing it was a direct, if somewhat brutal, form of healing.
“Next,” called the young girl lazily, her face weary from exhaustion.
Wang Jie pursed his lips. His injuries weren’t severe, and after some thought, he decided not to get involved, quietly turning to leave.
Just as he was about to slip away, he encountered Qi Xue Yin.
Qi Xue Yin spotted Wang Jie at the same moment.
Since almost everyone was waiting here for treatment, Wang Jie’s departure stood out sharply.
Seeing Qi Xue Yin gave Wang Jie an instant headache—he had no desire to meet anyone familiar.
But Qi Xue Yin’s eyes lit up, and she quickly approached him.
Trailing Qi Xue Yin was a little fatty who stared at Wang Jie in shock. Wasn’t this…wasn’t this him?
Qi Five.
The same Qi Five who had sold power detectors on Blue Star and made a deal with Wang Jie involving Yun Lai. Thanks to Qi Five’s promise, Wang Jie had received a fortune of ten billion starstones from Qi Xue Yin—a huge benefit, when he thought about it.
Qi Five had never imagined this man would still be alive. This Blue Star native, who had defeated Shu Mu Night and shocked those few who knew about it, was actually still breathing.
Qi Xue Yin hadn’t revealed this fact to anyone upon her return.
Wang Jie was equally surprised to see Qi Five here.
“You’re not at Ying Yang Battlefield anymore?” Qi Xue Yin immediately asked upon seeing Wang Jie.
When Wang Jie disappeared during the Ying Yang Battlefield’s spaceport battle, Galaxy Combat Equipment Company had even sent inquiries. That had actually been Qi Xue Yin’s own doing—she’d kept an eye on Wang Jie all this time.
Wang Jie sighed helplessly: “Got transferred here. Just my bad luck, I guess.” He then glanced at Qi Five, giving him a brief nod in greeting.
Qi Five exclaimed in shock: “Miss, you knew he was alive?”
Qi Xue Yin smiled faintly without explaining, instead glancing toward the distance. “Did you come here for Wei Ke Ke’s healing? Her treatments aren’t exactly gentle.”
“I was just curious and came to see. Wei—so that girl is from the Wei Clan of Flower Country?”
“That’s right. She practices the Heaven Healing Technique.”
“Is the Heaven Healing Technique really that amazing?”
Qi Xue Yin nodded slightly. “Though my First Star Cloud usually looks down on the other three Star Clouds, we still treat Flower Country seriously and often seek their aid. If not for Flower Country’s own reluctance, they would certainly have a place within the First Star Cloud.”
Wang Jie thought about it and agreed. Regardless of Flower Country’s overall fighting strength, their healing methods were truly unparalleled.
Qi Xue Yin was curious about Wang Jie’s appearance at Ying Yang Battlefield. Wang Jie wasn’t eager to chat, but knowing he couldn’t easily shake her off after encountering her, he reluctantly explained a little.
All of this was noticed by Su Su.
The Phoenix Cry Hall and Flower Country belonged to the Second Star Cloud, and their relationship was close. She’d come to find Wei Ke Ke, but unexpectedly saw Wang Jie chatting with Qi Xue Yin. Remembering Qiao Xi’s words, she wondered if this man really was someone placed in Black White Heaven for training by the Armor One Sect.
It wasn’t difficult to investigate. Su Su waved over a subordinate.
“Senior Sister?”
“Find out where Zhi He is.”
“Yes.”
Su Su gazed at Wang Jie, who was still chatting with Qi Xue Yin. This man was strangely powerful despite being a Star-Breaking Realm lock force cultivator. Regardless of whether or not the Armor One Sect had placed him in Black White Heaven, she needed answers. If Armor One Sect had found a way to solve the hopelessness of lock force cultivation, the balance of the universe would shift drastically. After all, lock force cultivators vastly outnumbered star force cultivators.
Wang Jie was unaware that Su Su was now observing him closely. He was still asking about the Heaven Healing Technique.
“In truth, the Heaven Healing Technique is a bridge law that transfers injuries. As long as both parties willingly agree, injuries can forcibly be transferred from one person to another,” Qi Xue Yin explained.
Wang Jie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Such a thing exists?”
Qi Xue Yin smiled faintly. “Bridge laws are naturally mysterious. It’s like your Black White Heaven’s Zhi Clan’s Fixed Star Technique—no one understands how it works, but it can freeze star force completely, though it has no effect on lock force.”
“Or the Heavenly Insect People’s control over insects.”
Wang Jie sighed with feeling. “No wonder all those powerful clans have bridge laws.”
After a short while, Wang Jie bid farewell.
Qi Five exclaimed in awe, “Who would’ve guessed this man was still alive? Armor One Sect confirmed his death back then, otherwise, they would have taken him away. If they knew he’d survived, Black White Heaven would never have kept him.”
Qi Xue Yin said calmly, “It won’t remain hidden after this battle.” As she spoke, she glanced toward another direction where Su Su had just turned to leave.
More and more eyes were turning toward Wang Jie.
His past would soon be revealed.
Just how many would be shaken by it?
As soon as Su Su left, she quickly found Zhi He. As a direct descendant of the Zhi Clan, Zhi He naturally drew attention and was easily located.
“I heard your elder sister died at the hands of a being from the Skeletal Clan?”
Zhi He slowly turned toward Su Su. His elder sister was Zhi Lan Xue, one of the Six Dao Wanderers, the very woman who had been preparing to receive another bridge law inheritance but was instead killed in a single blow by the Skeletal Clan creature.
Su Su said softly, “Don’t misunderstand; I’m not here to mock your misfortune. The Skeletal Clan is an enemy to us all.”
“You came here just to speak nonsense?” Zhi He replied coldly.
Su Su gazed steadily at him, saying, “Wang Jie, you’ve heard of him, haven’t you?”
Zhi He withdrew his eyes, looking back to the distant stars without answering.
Su Su continued calmly, “He cultivates Lock Force, so logically you shouldn’t know him. Yet, his past makes him impossible for you to ignore. I wonder if your clan truly knows more about him than I do?”
Zhi He turned abruptly, intending to leave. [Just pointless talk.]
“He knows the Armor Eight Steps technique,” Su Su called out clearly.
Zhi He paused instantly, turning to face Su Su again.
She studied his eyes carefully, hoping to detect something—yet she found nothing. [Does the Black White Heaven truly know or not?]
“He’s acquainted with Qi Xue Yin,” Su Su said next.
Zhi He’s eyes flickered slightly.
“Very closely acquainted,” Su Su added deliberately, “they certainly knew each other before Qi Xue Yin ever visited your Black White Heaven.” She was well aware that Zhi Lan Xue had been slain by the Skeletal Clan and that Black White Heaven had dealings with the Galaxy Combat Equipment Company.
Su Su continued thoughtfully, “When my junior sister Qiao Xi attempted to assassinate Wang Jie, he claimed he was a native assigned by Armor One Sect to undergo trial at Black White Heaven. I wonder, is that true?”
Zhi He left without answering.
Su Su watched his retreating figure and sighed inwardly. [Such a closed-off fellow.]
Zhi He was practical. He had heard of Wang Jie, even seen him, but never paid much attention. Clan struggles, disputes between Lock Force and Star Force cultivators—none of that interested him. Yet now, Armor One Sect was involved. He had no choice but to pay attention.
Thus, he immediately went to find Wang Jie.
Wang Jie had long since prepared his explanation.
Within the sect, he could conceal the Armor Eight Steps, and few could recognize the subtle way he executed his Qi. But outside the sect, secrets rarely remained hidden forever.
“It’s because I participated in an Armor One Sect trial—as a native,” Wang Jie explained calmly.
Zhi He showed surprise, asking, “You were a native participant in the Armor One Sect’s Slaughter Stone Planet trial?”
Wang Jie nodded. “That’s precisely where I learned the Armor Eight Steps.”
Zhi He frowned slightly, questioning further, “Where is your home star?”
“The Eighth Star Chain, Third Nebula,” Wang Jie answered truthfully.
“That’s within Frost Radiance Sect territory?”
“Yes.”
Zhi He continued, suspicion evident in his voice, “Then why did Armor One Sect choose there for their trial?”
Wang Jie shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“So, that’s also where you first met Qi Xue Yin?”
“Correct.”
Zhi He regarded Wang Jie deeply, his voice solemn, “I am of the Zhi family. Anything harmful to Black White Heaven means you are opposing my Zhi Clan. You understand this clearly?”
Wang Jie nodded respectfully. “Senior Brother speaks rightly. This disciple would never do anything harmful to Black White Heaven. Senior Xing Xue showed me kindness, and the sect has given me cultivation resources. I wouldn’t dare repay kindness with treachery.”
Zhi He turned and left decisively. Wang Jie hadn’t provided the answers he wanted, so he would leave it to someone else to resolve. That someone was Zhi Ye.
Only Zhi Ye had enough authority to thoroughly investigate Wang Jie’s past.
Presently, Zhi He was merely a disciple, lacking the necessary power.
Yet Zhi Ye himself did not pay much attention. Whatever Wang Jie’s background might be, he was now the disciple of that star path master of Black White Heaven. That alone was enough. Armor One Sect or not, Zhi Ye was certain Wang Jie wasn’t one of their people.
War erupted quickly.
The fierce battle of Star Refining Realm shattered the universe itself—or at least that was how Wang Jie and countless other cultivators saw it. The battlefield filled their vision, and a single moment of carelessness meant death.
For them, their small corner of space was the universe itself, yet within the vast conflict of Star Refining Realm cultivators, it seemed incredibly small.
The reinforcements brought by Su Su and others greatly eased Wang Jie’s burden. The scale of the battle was vast, but top experts found their match quickly. Wang Jie only needed to avoid Fang He.
The war dragged on for over half a month, leaving many dead, yet reinforcements from behind never ceased arriving.
Most were Lock Force cultivators, sent as expendable cannon fodder.
The Hundred Star Realm was collapsing.
Elder Mo died, and Wang Jie witnessed it with his own eyes. Elder Luo from before also perished. Of the three Elders of Yunxi Domain, only Elder Wu survived, and even he was grievously wounded, retreating to the rear.
He wondered bleakly if anyone he knew from Yunxi Domain was still alive.
Since abandoning the Three Domains, Wang Jie hadn’t seen Xiao Rong. He didn’t know if he was alive or dead.
His personal terminal chimed quietly, and Wang Jie glanced down: rotating rest periods?
It appeared the war would never pause.
Compared to the coming days, all previous battles would seem easy.
Cultivators with any reputation were scheduled for rotation to rest, and now it was Wang Jie’s turn.
He skillfully evaded enemies, weaving quickly between drifting asteroids until finally reaching the rear lines. Entering a battleship, he found chaos inside.
“What’s going on?” Wang Jie asked the nearest cultivator urgently.
The man’s gaze was dull and grim as he replied, “They’re choosing the dead.”
“The dead?” Wang Jie frowned in confusion.
“They’re selecting batches of Lock Force cultivators, forcibly implanting powers and even embedding technological weapons in their bodies, then driving them to charge at the enemy. They use their own deaths as weapons to inflict damage,” the man explained bitterly.
Wang Jie’s eyes narrowed sharply. Looking around, he saw Lock Force cultivators desperately hiding, some even performing tasks on the battleship yet still dragged away. Star Force cultivators were grabbing them without mercy. Some Lock Force cultivators resisted fiercely—but was resistance even useful?
Wang Jie clenched his fists as he watched them being taken away in despair. He longed to intervene, yet what right did he have? He was merely a disciple, a Star Breaking Realm disciple.
Inside the battleship, an elder gazed coldly at a screen displaying scenes of Lock Force cultivators being captured across multiple ships.
This elder had been specially summoned from the Elder Council by the sect.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He pointed decisively at the screen. “This one’s also a Lock Force cultivator. Go, seize him.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Wait,” the elder interrupted abruptly, standing up with a cold smile. “This old man will handle him personally.” The elder knew Wang Jie had connections, but to curry favor with the Zhi family’s faction, he had no choice but to act.
Even among the Elder Council, factions were inevitable.